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New Eden 25

the sorceror's staff

The wizard sat down in the small tavern. It had no name, just a picture of a mug of ale swinging in the breeze outside. He was lucky the town had a tavern at all. There were a few rooms for rent in the upper floor, but it wasn't used enough to call the place an Inn. He ordered a mug of cider, and sipped at it. He looked out the corner of his eye. One other person was in the tavern. He flicked his wrist, and a heavy necklace. A heavy chain connected to a small round piece of metal holding a simple blue stone. The stone glowed. He nodded, and tucked it into a pocket at the side of his robes. This was the one, at last. Tamarin pale face forced a smile as he looked down upon the gates to the town. It had been quite a trek to Verifier, and he was happy it was finally over. He thought back to when he'd met the young man in Hillsborough... a brief conversation about nothing over some spirits, and it had led him here. He'd been looking for a copy of this book for some time now, and after his short stay in Hat has to return his cousins horse, he'd finally had the time to come here, to the man's hometown, and pick up the tome. It was nothing special. To most observers it was just an account of a battle that happened many years ago, over things unknown today. But written in code throughout, like many books of knowledge of that time, was the final teaching of May Gabon, and he was anxious to study it at length. Anxious, but not desperate. For now, he was exhausted, and it was still in the early stages of dusk. He would take rest here on the hill, under the cover of tree, and make his way down after nightfall. This town was safe enough, but there was still the odd person who would take exception to a pure blooded elf walking around alone, and by the cover of night, he could mask his skin well enough to fool an eagle's eye. For now, he climbed the limbs of an old, twisted ash, concealing himself in its natural pocket, and stared into the horizon in a deep open-eyed sleep. Keys*He sat back in a far table shrouded from lamplight, seemingly comfortable in solitude and shadow, he had a plate of food before him, and ate of it, a mug of ale next to that, though it remained full for the moment. It seemed, that even though the solitary man was busily eating his meal that his eyes were focused on his environment. At least to the person who took the time to watch him closely. Which not many did. He wasn't well known within the city, but he was known enough as a fierce swordsman and not many wished to tangle with a man that carried such a reputation. Not to mention he was a "ranger" one of them strange folk that wandered the woods. Many a tale had floated from ear to ear about the goings-on of ranger, and none of them true. Made up fancies to catch the ears and set the tongues of bards wagging. Keys cared not. He would be resupplied within the next day, and then he would be on his way. Perhaps he would then find out what it was that bothered him so, along with nature. Something foul was in the air. He just didn't quite know what it was yet.* Marva awoke as a usually did, without any change of breathing or any movement to betray my change from slumber to wakefulness. My senses carefully probed the confines of my room for the slightest hint of something amiss. Finding none, I remove my dagger from under the pillow where it resides while I sleep, check both edges of the blade, more from habit than necessity, and swing my feet over the side of my sleeping pallet as I slip the dagger into to sheathe attached to my belt. Sleeping fully clothed has the advantage of limiting the required preparations for departure. After my daily routine of exercises to keep me limber and alert, I listen briefly at my door. Again, nothing is amiss. Removing the bar reinforcing the door, I slip out, closing it behind me, and place a marker which will tell me if it is opened in my absence. I now head down to the bazaar in search of something to eat and information which may help explain the sense of foreboding which AHS come to me as of late. Dorianne stood up, and walked over to the table Keys, smiling and nodding as he sat down, taking a sip at his cider. This, it seemed, was unusual for the man. He put on a chummy smile, even though it was completely obvious as to what his profession was." Hello there, sir. I'm a wizard, as you may have noticed. How would you like to go on a quest? All very noble and such. I don't really have a lot of time, so please, try and make a quick decision, and don't ask too many questions, although you feel free to do so." Marva notice that the bazaar is unusually active for this time of the day. A pall of concern casts its shadow over the usually boisterous conversations and sales pitches found here. After talking with several of the merchants, I purchase some fresh fruit. After carefully washing it to remove any chance that one of my competitors has taken this opportunity to increase their business through my "untimely demise", I eat it as I wander through the various stalls. I purchase a pouch to carry the various exotic plants I hope to obtain in order to make those elixirs that have uses opposite the medicinal, and attach it to my belt. The merchants, while talkative, have provided me with little information other than the fact that the marketplace shares my sense of unease and that some rather unusual characters have added their presence to our "quaint" little town. Since the market has proven unhelpful as a source of information or employment, I glide through the shadows towards the tavern to check my messages. Myrtle gentle breeze wound through the twisted floor of the forest valley, carrying with it an uneasy air. The leaves of the trees bowed lightly to the breath, as if to recognize its tone more then it's scarce power. It was enough to rouse the elf from his position. The night had drawn closer at hand, and he felt it safe to continue his journey onward. Making one swift motion, he hastily descended the large tree, and took a quick survey of the trees about him. He quickly spied what he was looking for, a lone willow draping over the bank in what appeared to be a desperate attempt to rest its aching limbs in the creek below. Moving to the north side of the tree, he reached down and tore away a small patch of emerald moss from the base. The outer side of the plant had a pregnant aroma, but the soil padding its roots was of no odor. It was a thick and pasty substance of a deep bronze color. He scraped it off in his hands, like he had done so many times before, and worked it into the flesh about his hands and face. Wrapping his black cloak over his shoulders, and drawing up the hood, not even the best rangers eye could make him out for anything but a well tanned human. He closed the distance to the town fast and, following the directions he had memorized over the past few weeks, found easily the home of his Hillsborough companion. He knocked softly, and the door opened shortly. There stood the young face he'd been waiting for. There was a quick greeting, and a very small exchange of stories, and the book was presented to him. No charge, as the young man had promised, but Tamar refused, and left him a pair of elf-woven gloves to replace the well-used pair he had seen him don until now. After another quick exchange, proper goodbye's and a decision to cross paths again, he set out again under the night's sky. Following the path that led beside the shopfronts, he gazed upon an almost invisible marker. Just a couple of mugs of ale swinging on an old, rotting sign swinging half-heartedly in the breeze. He entered the front door quietly. Not many patrons were here, which pleased him greatly. He headed for an empty, shadowed booth along the far wall. Sitting, he lit the single candle that centered the table. Leaving his hood up, he ordered a large mug of cider, and opened the cover of the book. *Keys quirked a brow as the robed figure headed over to his table. He was certainly not used to having company and most certainly not from the likes of a scholar. His left hand slid to the hatchet at his belt, just as a precaution beneath the table. But as he listened he could only chuckle at the young man's rather tactless way of approaching a task.*Well, Mr....ahh wizard? I can't very well accept employ into a quest that I have no idea for which I'd be questing. An adventure I'm sure, however I do like to know much of the terrain before me before I set out to travel the wood in earnest. Care to elaborate? I trust, if you're seeking employ, you have at least a moment to spare, to convince me? Syrian"Well of course I can elaborate. I want you, and probably a few others, if we can find any, to go around with me, and collect a few items from some remote locations. You see, in years long past, elder wizards locked away these items of magic because they were dangerous, Andes wizards have lost the art of figuring out what such items do. But, now we've found a way to do so, and wish to collect said items before they fall into the wrong hands. If you go along, I can assure you're having a great reward." He raised the cider to his lips, drinking deeply as he waited for the man to answer. So he didn't tell the whole truth, but all he said was true. If he should fail to mention one of the most powerful items was in the hands of the Emperor of the New Continent, it was simply a slip of the mind. He Haydn't told where the others were, either." So, you're coming along?" *He looked to the wizard with a slight half smile and chuckled.* My good wizard. To keep items of catastrophic magical power out of the hands of evil, is indeed a good thing, however I have noticed a sense of evil indeed about the lands. Honestly how do I know however that you are not the messenger for this evil and are simple seeking aid to procure said items for the ill of mankind? Anything else to convince me? MarvakMarvak observed the front of the tavern from the shadows across the street. Traffic to the inn was minimal. It usually was. After the most recent patron, wearing even clothing, entered the tavern, he moved silently across the street and went to the side of the building. The tavern's proprietor, being a man of great common sense and low moral values had provided his place of business with an entrance which was used to move items (or persons both living and unliving) to and from the tavern free from prying eyes. As part of his compensation for the removal of "certain business obstructions" such as competing tavern owners, Marva had been granted unfettered access to this entrance. After making sure he actions went unobserved, he slipped into the tavern. Once inside, Marva carefully closed the concealed door leading from the storage room to the alley. His eyes needed no time to adjust from the dim light of the alley to the darkness of the store room. Quickly, he located the stained apron and rags of a kitchen scull in a heap on the floor. Donning them, he stepped out into the main room of the tavern and began wiping down the badly worn and permanently stained bar. The tavern's employees and few regular patrons paid him no notice. Experience had taught that this was the wisest course. Besides the regulars, Marva observed two men in deep conversation, a wizard and a ranger, judging by their clothes. At one of the booths, the stranger who had entered the tavern prior to Marva sat reading and drinking a cup of the house "cider." Marvak watched both tables carefully as he removed spills of questionable origin from the bar. Syrian"Anything to convince you? I could easily prove myself to a fellow wizard, but, ....how can I convince you of my good intentions? I really don't have time to be sitting around all day with you, there are others who may help, but, ....it is suits you, I have something which should prove my good nature." He'd been sitting awkwardly, the heavy domed head strapped to his backstopping him from sitting normally in a chair. He stood up, and reached into one of his many punches before pulling out a single golden coin and laying it on the table. It had the SM, iling face of a goblin on the side facing up. Long, pointed ears tilted backwards, the long nose over the small chin which swept back into the thin throats of the creatures. It was a Golden Goodall from Goblin Country. Goblins lived in a large mountion clump to the west of here. The mountains, in fact, soared into the sky. It was surrounded on two side by a farce desert, and had a thick swamp to the south. In the east was a field of boulders and rubble laced my strong rivers and thick groves of brambles. The surrounding lands were inhabited my trolls and orcs and other nasty creatures. The country itself was a series of inner halls and passageways the connected the valleys sprinkled throughout the mountains. Goblins were kind heart creatures, but tough. They held great affection for elves, although they were shunned by elves as being lower than they were. Goblins accepted all even outcasts with great warmth, but other creatures had to show they were good people before entering the land. Their money was based on copper, gold coins being used to signify those who the King of the goblins smiled upon. To have one this far from the mountains, (though it was only a few days ride) spoke greatly of one's standing. Most people never made it there, what with the surrounding monsters, and those that did, got the coin, and could leave again couldn't be robbed my any ordinary means, and usually kept their coins secreted away, holding their experiences to themselves." How does that grab you?" *Keys gave a chuckle and then a nod.* Well man I suppose if the mountain kings think highly of you then your good in my book. Though it doesn't mean I trust you, I will follow you, if nothing else to find out what's pissing off the earth mother. So, lead on. I've other else to do but pick up my supplies in a bit from the merchants stalls. SorianMountain kings? Mother earth? Oh no, he'd gotten a weird one. He sighed, and dropped the coin back into it's pouch, picking up and downing his cider." Do whatever you need, I'll be here." He went one RTO the ABR, and sat down, propping his head in one hand and staring down at the bar." Well, that's one. Who else can I get?" Marianas the wizard slumped disconsolately over the bar, Marva carefully wiped the bar next to him. Without ceasing his task, he replied "It depends on who you are looking for." Wizard Dorianne didn't even bother to look up. He knew that carefully worded question when he heard it. He shifted, a little more at ease, placing his empty mug nearby." I don't think you'll change much. Why don't you pour me another cider and tell me who around here can be an asset on a quest and work for their money's worth?" Marva"It is a brave man or a fool who asks one skilled in the poisoner's craft to fetch him a drink," Marva replied. "However, since it is bad business to eliminate a prospective employer without first hearing his offer, you are indeed fortunate." Marva placed a newly filled mug of cider before the Wizard." I am known by the name Marva. I specialize in removing problems requiring discretion and certainty of removal."" This is but a poor town, mostly overrun by thieves, with the occasional wandering elf, ranger, or wizard thrown into the mix""Other than myself, and such travelers that may stop here for want of a better resting place, the only persons who may be able to or willing to assist you on your quest might be found in the Thieve's Guild." Dorianne reached up, and took the mug, sipping at it a moment. "And it is foolish to poison wizards, as they may be able to tell what they are drinking. Never forget that the ways of mages are dark and mysterious. Just because our stories are told to children do not mean they are untrue." He smiled to himself, and looked up at the man. "Hello, Marva. I'm Syrian. And I have a few....things that need to be removed. Would you care to discuss the quest, or just name a large number for your pay and double it whenever you feel?" MarvakMarvak returned the wizard's smile." With an offer of payment like that, I suspect that there is small chance of my surviving to collect. Nevertheless, I grow weary of the lack of challenges provided by my current business opportunities. I will join your quest, but I reserve the right to name my compensation at its end."" Do we have a bargain?" Dorianne appraised the man, and turned to his cider, taking a deep drink." Tell you want. You keep your compensation to material wealth, maybe a Kingdom or two, and you've got a deal." Marva"Then we have a bargain. When do we depart?" Fled grin Sorrow moved quickly down the slope, hoping my feet didn't drag but finding it impossible to watch them in the shadows beneath the tree limbs I moved through. I could hear their footsteps behind me, but there was no way of knowing exactly how many were there. Once you broke into the twenties, it was nearly impossible to decipher how many more there were, at least until the numbers grew incredibly greater. Either way, only a fool to stay behind to fight it out. I moved faster, hopping a few of the limbs I saw, or maybe I was merely jumping over shadows that looked oddly like limbs, and moved as swiftly as I could down the slope toward the clearing I saw ahead. I wondered if anyone might be waiting there, then decided it might be more intelligent to passed through the trees to one side of it than to go straight across the middle. As I moved, I kept one hand low, near the handle of my long sword, still sheathed at my waist. The other held tightly to the metal box I held, a beaten and old box that looked as though it couldn't hold anything of value, nonetheless what it actually held. The town is ahead, I told myself. I knew it was, and hoped they would lose my trail before I came to its limits. If they followed me, the townspeople would not protect me, even if they were capable. I decided to head further out to the side than originally planned, thinking it might convince them that I was heading in another direction. I hated to run, but it was my only option here. The MNE who chased me were too dangerous, and while I might defeat one or two in battle, more than that would surely finish me. Besides, I had what I had come for. Now to get it where it belongs again. Nadia The woods had darkened considerably as I traveled through, the night sounds a little comforting. Picking a lot the forest floor, I listened for anything out of the ordinary. A habit of mine, watch where I am going and where I have been. Traveling alone I had to be careful of my choices. Standing 5'4", small lithe frame and armed with a dagger and bow. There wasn't much protection outside of my thought process. The town wasn't too far away from here, I could camp here before entering at first light. I needed supplies to get me home, safety of the Even lands. I did not like human's, they were cruel for no reason, but because they could be. Selfish lot that gave no thoughts to the world around them. I was tempted more than once to take out a whole town of them. Just set it on fire and let them pay the price for their trespass on the forest. I had a mean streak in me, one that came out more often then naught. Sighing, I sat down on a rock and built myself a fire. I needed to eat and sleep and move on. I heard the steady noise coming long before I saw anything. Kicking dirt over the fire, I left into a nearby tree and readied my bow. Arrow notched I waited, glancing all around from my pivoting point on the tree. A flash of something went by in the tree line, a human? An animal they were hunting? Who knew, but I waited for them. They sounded so loudly, I was certain they could wake the whole valley up before they cleared by my location. The ground didn't shake and the tree's didn't topple over, but the noise echoed. Knowing I was safely hidden, I left down as the warrior's ran across the clearing towards town. Standing in the darkness of the tree, my bow was still ready in case I had need of it. Who were they chasing and why? And why would someone send forty men after one creature? I moved carefully towards town, only I kept myself to the side of those foul smelling brutes. The only thing I could complain about now was being downwind from those humans. "Have they not heard of water and soap?!" I spoke loud to myself. Covering my nose I crept towards town, still hiding in the cover of the trees. Syrian"Now sounds good. I got that other guy getting his ride, so we should be gone before morning. Maybe we can find some more friends before we head out." He looked to the other in the tavern, and raised his mug. "How about you, stranger? You up for a quest?" Tyrian rode into the town of Verifier with the dust and grime of leagues of travel caked over Sylthandall and me. Our travels had been long, and not quite uneventful, so when I saw the sign of the inn, I immediately made my way to it, almost tasting the cool ale in my parched throat. I first took care of my mount, cleaning his coat & making sure he had fodder and some grain. A copper for the stable boy assured that Sylthandall would have a full belly & a warm stall while I washed down the dust from the road. Shouldering my saddle & saddlebags, I made my way into the dimly lit inn. I made my way to a booth against a wall, & dropped my tack down, then took a seat. Very soon thereafter a barmaid came over.“What will you be having SER?”“ Ale, and whatever is hot to eat this day” I flipped the girl a silver & settled back to see who was in here with me, and await my long-overdue ale. Fled grin Sorrow They were still behind me, but not so close now. I doubted they could hear me any longer, not with the noise they were making. It was time Tory a trick, before I took any more risk of injury running in the dark like this. I slipped to my left, finding a young oak and beyond it, a cluster of briars. It might hurt, but I needed to stow away somewhere for a few moments. I pressed the briars parts and climbed carefully amid them, then eased them closed around me. Several stuck in my clothing and a few found my skin, but I held fast and waited. About a half-minute passed before they were right there, blundering past me, some coming far too close for comfort, a few muttering, "Where did the bastard go?" Then, they were gone, the horde, which was larger than I'd suspected, moving down the hill and away from the town. I gave it a moment longer, then eased my way out of the briar cluster, acquiring a few nicks and scratches in the process and headed back up the hill, thinking more of putting distance between myself and those who wished to find me. Dorianne turned to the newcomer to the little tavern." What about you, stranger? You want to undergo a brave and dangerous quest?" He probably seemed a loon, inviting everyone who was there to come along, but they had to get started quickly, and the added manpower would come in handy. Tyrian The serving girl plops down a bowl of unidentifiable stew, some bread, & my ale as the man over by the bar dollars a question at me." What about you, stranger? You want to undergo a brave and dangerous quest?" Looking at my stew, I reply" I may just be about to.", then dig a spoon into the stew, which actually is not quite bad." So, what kind of quest are you speaking of?" Dorianne left the hired killer to get ready, and carried his cider over to the booth, dragging over a chair. He sat down sideways, so hi domed head wouldn't make his sitting uncomfortable." Well, I'm a wizard, as one can tell by how I dress. Unless you need more proof, which I could bring out. Anyway, I've been sent to collect a few magic artifacts from some dangerous locales, but no wizard can get near them. So I need some help. They'll be some monsters, riddles, puzzles, mazes, that sort of stuff. But big rewards if you help." I took another long pull of my ale & motioned for the barmaid to bring me another. Then I turned & looked closely at the wizard." What kind of artifacts are you speaking of? I'm not all that interested in acquiring riches or fame, but if there are things out there that need to be found, then I may decide to lend my sword to the task." Syrian"Ancient thing of magic wizards locked away to keep them from the wrong hands. But the wrong hands are groping towards them. The council felt it was time to take them back." Tyrian took a long draft of my ale, & looked at the mage. I have never trusted mages much, but then again I have never had much cal to travel with one either. I sat my now empty tankard down with a resounding thump." Very well my good master of arts arcane, count me in." Syrian"Great! We leave, .... Oh, .... How's now?" He looked at the two around here. Apparently the other adventurer was either stabled across town, or had run like a little sissy. To tell the truth, he didn't care. He stood up, downed the last few drops of his cider, and set it down as he started marching towards the door to get his mount. Nadia Skirting the outer parts of the small village I kept an eye out for anything strange or unusual. I had come for a single purpose and that was to purchase a new string for my bow. Entering the armory, I spoke quietly to the proprietor, haggled a little over the price and paid him in full. He handed over the new waxed string and I felt a small disappointment with it. I had thought this string would be better than the one I had strung myself, but it appeared to be no better. So be it. I would live with it. Pocketing the string, I picked up my pack and headed back down the trail. I stopped short at the tavern, tempted to go in and purchase myself something to drink, but I felt eyes on my person and did not wish to linger long. I stopped in my tracks hearing a booming voice from inside the tavern. Tensing a moment, I decided it was best to scurry myself on to the next town instead of lingering. Somewhere in the forest I was told were some allies who would provide me with a place to rest on my journey, that is where I would head next. Marianas the wizard made his preparations to leave, Marva slipped out of the "borrowed" clothes. Again in his preferred attire, he "borrowed" some provisions from the tavern's kitchen and followed the wizard. Dorianne threw open the door, taking a deep breath as he looked around. He noticed what looked like a woman running off out of town. He shrugged, and put his fingers to his lips, giving a sharp whistle into the crisp air. A loud howl that sounded like that of a wolf resounded the hills in response. Syrian grinned, and turned around in the doorway, clapping his hands together." Ready?" OrlanderTwigs snapped underfoot as the blur moved through the forest. The sign had been given, and the well-trained creature was moving to follow the order. The sharp pitch of the sound let it know to stay well out of the town, so as not to make the inhabitants kiddish. Trees passed by as it moved. It was a large deep gray wolf from the Forests of Gran, which surrounded the mysterious fortress home of the wizards. It was nearly the size of a horse, And had high, pointed ears. Furthermore, it's eyes, focused ahead as it moved, were filled with the deep intelligence of the Collective. It came to a halt, feet digging into the ground as it stopped, raising its nose, it sniffed at the air before crouching in the underbrush near the road to the town. Fledgling finally came upon the town, having moved in various directions in the woods to ensure no one was following me. I entered cautiously, the small container I'd "acquired" hidden away beneath my cloak. As I headed toward the tavern, deciding it best to wash down some of my miseries. I moved quickly toward the tavern door, my head down, and as I heard a loud voice emanate from its doors, I walked square into a young woman, moving at a quickened pace in the opposite direction. I took a staggering step backward, unsure if I'd injured her in any way." Are you alright, Miss?" I asked, barely moving my lips. Nadia was abruptly knocked backwards as I body stepped into mine." Excuse me." I went to move around the stranger when he stopped to ask if I was alright?" Yes, I am fine. No worries." Hat perched on my head, I looked just like anyone else, but I still felt I could be discovered at any time." Good day Sir." I moved around him, my eyes lifting to catch his face. Pausing I halted in my steps and looked at him. He was even also? I did not recognize this stranger, but he was definitely of my kind. The voices grew louder as the group of men stepped outside the tavern, a wolf howled in the distance. Alright what was going on around here?" Don't you know it is not safe for us here?" I questioned him instead of leaving as I intended. FledgrinNot safe around here? She wasn't kidding, but I felt certain she did not know of my recent troubles. Something else was on her mind. I looked closer at her. An elf? No, it wouldn't necessarily be safe for an elf here, nor in many places these days." You are mistaken, miss," I replied. "I'm human. But I can see your concern." Oddly, I felt a comfort standing near her. Perhaps it was that I had been alone for so long, and that she seemed more vulnerable than I felt at that moment. I glanced around, feeling the need to ensure that the men were no longer behind me. I felt a fool for taking on this job, but the money would be good if I managed to drop the item off that was." Perhaps it would be better for both of us if we found somewhere less public to be," I suggested, not wanting to be alone, nor to leave the girl alone with as defensive as she had acted. I debated a friendly smile, but knew I couldn't pull one off. Smiling was my weak point. Nadia"My mistake Sir, do forgive me? I am headed into the woods, there is a Goblin camp a day away from here. They offer me shelter whenever I pass through, would you like to come? I did see the horde chasing you. Let's get off the streets at least?" I moved quickly, through the town and into the nearby brush, this would cover me from prying eyes. I felt a little uncomfortable in that town." My name is Nadia and whom are you?" I smiled, naturally I was kind to all who I came across, until something set me to be wary. I halted talking and held up a hand to indicate silence. Something was in the bushes, I could hear it panting or breathing heavily." There is something." I whispered pointing just behind him to the thick greenery. Fledgling heard the sound then, and my hand went straight to my long sword, more out of instinct than anything. On second thought, I reached over my shoulder with either hand, each gripping the handle to the short swords I held there. I waited, the weapons undrawn, and listened to see if I heard any more aggressive sounds. Nadia It sounded like a large beast of some kind. But why was it hiding in the thicket? I moved around the human to peer a little closer, I could hear the breathing and see something like fur between two limbs. Stepping back, my features twisted in wonderment, I had no idea what to do now? I would guess leave it be and get moving elsewhere!" I think we should move along... quietly and quickly as possible. Whatever it is, it's large!" I whispered to my newly acquired companion. Fledgling looked to her, nodding carefully, then shifted a glance around myself, to assure whatever it was alone. I moved quietly through the brush, taking steps that consisted of barely removing my feet more than an inch from the ground. I wondered what the beast was, but not so much to stick around. Whatever it was, it would be better to leave it alone. OrlanderThe large wolf turned it head, lifting itself onto all four paws as it caught a scent nearby. Crouching low, it silently began to follow whatever was out there an elf and a human, by the scent. Couldn't have spies lurking around. He'd give follow them until he got the second signal. No need to wait around. Nadia With a known destination in mind, I headed towards the goblin camp. A smelly ugly lot, but they welcomed me and gave me anything I asked for. Good allies to have and bad enemies to make. What ever it was back there in the forest I wanted no part of. I had a weird feeling off and on we were being followed, and my companion was a silent one for a while. I stopped now and then to check directions and gather herbs. Bow always handy if I needed a meal before reaching the goblin encampment. Finally tired of hearing my own thoughts rolling inside my head I asked the wanderer, "Why were those men chasing you?" Climbing over a fallen log, I stood on top and glanced down at him before landing in the moss on the other side. I paused and waited for him to join me. FledgrinEver graceful were elves. I noticed this for what must have been the thousandth time as she bounded over the log. I climbed it with less grace and hopped down next to her." They wanted something," I replied, then started walking again. "How much further? Where is this Goblin camp?" Nadia Glancing around, I searched out the landmarks to make sure I was in the right location." The goblin's camp is just over the rise. We'll be there in a few minutes." I jumped over a small stream and stopped to wait for my companion. Heading up over the rise, I couldn't help but smile. Tonight I would have a decent meal and entertainment. Heading down the other side of the rise, the walls came into view as did the guards stationed outside the only way inside. Now hopefully they recalled who I was? The Goblin Camp It was a small encampment. Goblins didn't like to leave their home mountains, and the few outlying camps they did have were used as military facilities to help hold the hordes that existed in the lands surrounding their home. It was almost a small town. High stone walls surrounded a basic structure. Barracks were just inside the open gates, to either side. A large hall, usually used as the mess hall was on the right beyond the barracks. A blacksmith, stables, and a small inn for passing travelers were also on the main road. It branched off, a few small stores for essentials, and some private homes for a few of the families who made the little area their permanent residence, although there were few of them." Halt!" Standing tall on the thirteen-foot wall were a pair of sentries. They were thin, and tall, but hunched over. They both wore the same deep forest green uniforms. The sleeves went down to their hands, which had long, slim fingers wrapped around their thick spears. They had large, thick black boots on their feet, protecting their large feet. Their uniforms had simple brass buttons, and no adornment, rank known only by their helmets. Both had large, domed heads strapped to their backs. The one on the right of the entrance had on its helm. Simple metal, it carved around the round head before it reached the eyeholes. They slanted out all around, moving forward to allow for the species large thin noses. Raising from the helms was the pair of ram horns of sergeant rank. The other had the helm of a single spike, (private's rank) in its hands. It's nose stuck out from its face, long and thin. Its head was round, flanked by a pair of long, pointed ears vaguely resembling that of an elf. Furthermore, it was completely bald. Its neck was thin, and it's large head sat awkwardly on it, giving a large drop from the chin, making the head seem to protrude from the creature as if liable to fall off at a moment. Despite stations across the wall, the two were standing on a flat area that seemed to have no access. They'd jumped up. Goblins were amazing jumpers, and known for their politeness, especially towards elves. There was a bit of a clamor rising inside, as long table were being set up. The goblin women, who resembled elves except for being green with black hair and having the same long fingers and noses of the males of their race, were setting out platters of food for the oncoming Feast of Reverence, one of their few holidays. The head of the encampment, a Major named Grippledigg, was overseeing the set-up as He sat at the head table, polishing his lavish helmet sporting a long spiral and set of wings. Fledgling halted, as asked, and looked up to see the two goblins standing there." Friend soph yours, I hope," I commented, lowering my hands to my sides, away from the handles of the swords on my back. Hopefully, they wouldn't notice the one at my side. I had no intention of drawing the weapon on a full encampment of goblins, but knowing it was close gave me some comfort, at least for the time being. Nadia Shedding my hat, I let my long blonde hair flow out and down my back. My ears stood out noticeably letting them know I was elf." It is I, Nadia. I have come to seek shelter for the night?" I waited as they glanced back and forth at each other." Don't move, I'll be right back." One called down from his perch above. Sighing I turned to my companion, "This will only take a moment. Don't worry." Offering a smile to ease his woes, I waited until I heard the clank and rumble. The doors were swinging open as the very short guard came waddling out." You may enter, You have been asked to join in the celebration festivities tonight. Come, come! Always welcome." I smiled, slipped on my hat and began to follow the green guy. Things were the same as before when I had taken time to stop. They liked to believe themselves to be kin to the even families. I never dissuaded that thought. In the center of their little make shift town things were being set up for this celebration. I could only guess what would come tonight for this one? We were shown to a set of seats as I made my way up to greet the elder." Grippledigg, it is good to see you hale and hearty." I bowed my head and smiled friendly at him." Yes, it is. Who do you be again?"" Nadia."" Ooooh yes, yes. Well, have a seat and celebrate with us!"" Thank you. I seek shelter for the night if that is permissible?" He grinned and nodded, "yes, that is fine. Heh? Uh who is your friend?" I turned to glance at my companion, "He is accompanying me for safety. I trust he is safe here as well as I?""Hmm, what?" he glanced back at me, "Yes, yes. He is safe, He is of no consequence so me. Sit, eat. Later we shall talk." I bowed and left, thankfully they did not raise too much of a ruckus over a human being in their encampment. I sat back down and waited, watching people come and go." We are safe here and welcomed. Do be careful and wary, they are an eager lot for a lot of strange things." The Goblin Encampment One of the tall creatures glanced out of the shadows, watching the pair. Like most of the species, it was amazingly tall, but because of how they stood, hunched over with their knees drawn a bit, they seemed almost half a head shorter than the human. This goblin, although wearing the same uniform of the goblin fighters, was wearing a simple green cap of the same material. He took long strides, walking up to the major and glancing towards the doors again. Grippledigg glanced up. And turned back to polishing his helmet. "Yes?"" It's a good sign for an elf to going us. Especially for the feast celebrating the beginnings of our race. But was it wise to let the human stay?"" Hewasher guest." The wrinkled face of the other goblin turned again to the doors, and then to the sky above. "Perhaps your right..."" You worry too much, Wriggle."" Perhaps," the aging scribe said, and looked again to the gate before pulling his legs up and jumping across the wide area to talk to the guards. Syrian"Hello? Anybody coming on the quest? Or you just going to sit on your hands?" He looked at those in the tavern, and glanced around before shrugging and starting the walk into the woods. Market seemed to take forever for the grinning wizard to finally decide to move. When he did, Marva shrugged and followed him silently into the forest. Tyrian"Great! We leave, .... Oh, .... How's now?" With that the mage downed his drink, stood, & walked out the door. I looked down at my now cool stew and empty mug. Well, I guess he's in a hurry. I picked back up my equipment, and shouldering my load I moved outside and into the stables. Sylthandall was looking at me as I walked inside, knowing good and well that he had earned a quiet night." I know old friend, but we have a new task before us." I threw his tack on him, & led him outside to meet up with the mage and any others he had convinced to go with us. Dorianne grinned as the two came. One on foot, the other on horseback. "Hope that thing's not skittish." He said before striding off towards the forest. They moved, passing a few villagers as they moved into the trees." So, .... Either of you know much about goblins?" MarvakMarvak considered the wizard's question then replied "I've never dealt with them. For that reason alone I distrust them." "I do know what works on them if need be though.""if you like I can alter my appearance. I understand that they do not love humans." Syrian"That's a rumor. About goblins and humans. It started because offspring of the two races, hobgoblins, are very evil and dangerous, so they try and keep the two apart as much as possible. I only asked because we're going deep into their Kingdom for the first artifact. So do try to act civilized. We'll be stopping at an encampment near here to get a guard, as they're celebrating their origins and without one of them, we can't gain admittance into their lands." Tyrian" I have had dealings with them before and found them to be an honorable people. And as for my mount being skittish, I believe he will be ok." Marva"Then I will conduct myself as you have represented things to be. But I will take my own counsel if they are not."" Let us hasten. Time is always short." Syrian"Yes." He turned, and, judging them to be far enough from the little town, he raised his fingers to his lips, and blew two sharp whistles. The underbrush began to move, and soon the giant wolf had arrived at their party. While the other two stared, the wizard mounted up, and looked off towards the encampment." Well, let's get a move on, shall we?" Marvin the wizard and the other wished to ride, it was no matter. Riders tended to draw nasty things like arrows. There was safety in being on the ground. Besides, his disciplines would allow him to keep pace with the riders at anything less than a gallop." I can run more easily if I may hold your riding harness, Master Wizard. Will your steed mind if I do so?" Syrian"No, he would not. Especially since he has no harness. Besides, he is performing this service of his own free will, and cannot be tethered. But that's beside the point. He could easily outrun you, without breaking a sweat. But we've got more important matters at hand." The wolf turned, and Syrian had to twist in order to look at them. "Coming?" With that, the mighty creature started off, running quickly down the path towards the encampment, being careful to pace itself for the others to catch up, if they ran hard. Marva"Very well. I shall follow. Lead on wizard." well, well Walloon I see that someone decided that the old sorcerer staff at least had a good title I have at least that much to be proud of (btw I am the author of the original sorcerers staff though it was made good by grand mage it would have sucked without him)I feel pretty good about that. Well you all have fun i don't think there's room for me here so ill leave y'all to it Fledgling was familiar with the story of Hobgoblins, and how they came to be, so when I saw the gazes of the goblins on me, I grew more uncomfortable. I kept my hands free from my weapons, trying to add ease to the situation, but I guessed my presence was one not all were comfortable with, even if the elf was with me. I doubted the patch that covered my eye was helping any. The scar that ran past it would unquestionably define it as having occurred in battle. I nodded as I moved past a small group of goblins standing to one side, together, eyeing the two of us with mixed responses. One nodded in return." I fear I am not welcome here," I whispered to Nadia. Nadia"Fled grin, as long as you are with me, you are welcome. Just please, do not make me regret that decision. Sit, relax. Stay with me the entire time and we will both be fine." I smiled as reassuringly as I could." They are setting up for a celebration, and will be merry tonight. We shall just use a vacant tent to eat and rest before we head out again. Though you have yet to tell me your destination?" Fled grin Sorrow eyed her carefully, the question catching me off guard." Perhaps now is not the time for such questions," I replied, looking around cautiously. It had just then occurred to me that those I wished to avoid could have found our trail and followed us here. They could have been outside the gates just as we spoke." Let's just say that I'm currently employed to track down an out of the ordinary object." I wondered if she noticed my discomfort over the matter. Nadia glanced up into his eyes, he was hiding something from me, but now was not the time to get the answers. It made me weary of him, being lied to was the one no-no we did not do. Shrugging it off, all in due time." Let's go get some ale and rest Fled grin, it may help somewhat." I moved up the steps to the Inn and walked inside. It was quieter than I would expect with a celebration underway, but it was perfect for me. I just needed some downtime and quiet. No more hassles nor humans to worry about. And hopefully I would not be asked to join in the fun too much. Perhaps I would be left alone as well? I ordered a mug and toasted to a safe journey, tossed it back and sat staring at the remaining liquid in my mug."innkeeper? We need two rooms for the night." I tossed him some coins for the ale and rooms." Somewhere on the first floor please." He nodded and fetched the serving wench to show us the way. Dorianne stared at the goblin encampment before turning back to the others." You've been kind of quiet. But here we are. You're my guests, don't embarrass me. C'mon." Fledglings she drank down the ale, I debated having a drink as well, then decided it was best to remain in total control, even if the effects of the ale would aid me in relaxing, letting some stress off. With the item so close at hand, why take risks? Nadia set down the half empty mug of ale and turned to my companion." Well we should get settled in, or are you planning on continuing on tonight?" I stood up and motioned him along with me as we followed the tavern's serving girl. She was a petite little thing, I wondered how she managed to keep her sanity in this den of smoke and sinners? I knew men, all men of any kind were the typical kind and loved to grope and manhandle as often as they could. Well in most cases, there were a few men who were respectful. But generally boring at the same time. Shrugging off the thoughts, she stopped by a set of doors and opened one and then the other." In here Nadia. We have it set up and cleaned for you and your guest. Need anything be sure to summon me." I thanked her quietly, handed her a small gold coin and stood outside waiting for his verdict." Well, we're all set for the night. Unless you wish to depart early?" Fled grin"I believe enjoying the festivities might be interesting," I replied, realizing that returning to the woods might be a fatal mistake so near to my escape from the men. I was not, however, looking forward to being left alone with the goblins." Perhaps you will join me?" Dorianne led the way down to the encampment. He heard a few yelled orders as the gate opened, and he went inside, hoping the other would follow him. He glanced around and the goblins." Hiya, everybody."" Greetings, Wizard Syrian," One of them said. "We have a scout ready for you, but first, enjoy some food before you go. I've got to go see if our other guests will join us for a bit to eat and honor our table." Other guests?, Syrian wondered. But who...? Nadia goblin guard came into the Inn and interrupted our conversation, "They are extending an invitation to the festivities. Will you join us and your guest?" He asked me rather loudly. Alle ars were now tuned into what we were saying. Sighing I smiled and nodded my head twice." Good, good, come with me, we are about to begin with the feast." he turned and walked to the door, "Well Fled grin, we're going to the party." I smiled a little, I was merely tired and wished to sleep, but I would never insult my guests by not going with them. Walking outside, we were taken to a long raised table sitting a little above the others below. I greeted the encampment leader and noticed some newcomers had arrived as well. Saying nothing, I was seated next to the leader and the Fled grin on the other side of me. Things were now being carried out of huts and various places and placed on the tables before us. Everything did smell heavenly, perhaps a little while wouldn't hurt? Dorianne grumbled, noting that all his fine adventurers were gone. He sighed, and sat down. "Wizard Syrian, will you be staying with us?" the old storyteller asked, the village was quiet as people silently went about finishing the preparations." No. It seems all the fine adventurers I was supposed to get chickened out. The world is doomed...." He looked across the table at the others. "Unless you two feel like saving the world? Because if you don't, I suggest we enjoy ourselves, as we'll all be crushed under the boot of an omnipotent dictator." MarvakMarvak was curious as to why the wizard never looked behind him. Ah, well. He had followed as he had been instructed. At this stage, things were rather slow. After all, there is little call for an assassin's services within a friendly encampment, particularly since the wizard's instructions had been explicit regarding the subject of offending their rather long-nosed hosts." Master Wizard," he inquired, "How long do you think that we shall cool our heels as guests of our current hosts?" Dorianne looked back at his one adventurer." Well, unless we get some help, you'll be going on a suicide mission. Eat up. We'll just have to sit tight until I can grab up at least two others, and maybe a goblin or two." MarvakMarvak was pleased that the wizard had taken note of him. That was about the only thing that pleased him. Despite the assurances that the goblins were friendly, Marva distrusted them. Smiling faces and tasty food often hid ulterior motives and tasteless death. The activity in the encampment seemed to be dying down. Marva still could not shake off his sense of unease. Since he was the one who occupied his skin, he was the one best equipped to assess the risks to it. With the excuse of taking care of an intimate bodily function, he slipped away from the table in order to conduct a quick reconnaissance to the camp environs. Once away from the festivities, he slipped quietly into the shadows and headed to inspect the perimeter of the camp. FledgrinSaving the world? Wizards had always been a bit on the dramatic side, but this one seemed at ease as he spoke. I glanced to the girl, wondering what the thoughts were on this issue. Perhaps I was getting myself into more than I could handle. I thought of the item I held beneath my cloak and realized I was already in at least that far. Psoriasis lone adventurer departed, and the other two seemed a bit surprised at his question. He shrugged, and got himself a mug of water and plate full of food. He looked around the camp once, then began to eat. Where was he supposed to find more adventurers, he wondered. He probably wouldn't. AT least the other wizards, what little were left, were coming up with a backup plan, which he hoped would be more successful. Nadia The wizard caught me off guard and the words he said were a bit of a shock. Was he serious? Did I laugh or feel fear? From the look on his face it was very serious. I toyed with my food on my plate, lost in my own thoughts. I had been in the forest awhile, so it is very possible I had no inkling what was going on in the world of man. Furthermore, I avoided it at all costs. His other men never arrived, so he was in need of aid to stop someone. Well, what more could I do? Tell him to piss off and go back to my forest? Fledgrin looked a little unease about the whole thing, but I spoke for myself when I said, "I am in." Taking up a cup of ale, I took a hearty drink and set it back down." Fledgrin, you do not have to venture along with me. You make your own choice in the matter." I turned and gazed at the wizard, "I will aid, just fill me in on what we're doing." Dorianne started, and coughed, hitting against his chest in order to finish swallowing. He gulped down his food, and looked up, staring at the elf for a moment. "You're....in?" He clapped his hands together. "Great! Okay, basically-the Emperor of the New Continent got his hand on an item of magic, and he's decided to take over the world. His already killed off most of the wizards. I need adventurers to help me collect other items of magic, so the remaining wizards can battle him. But they are protected by spells which set off traps if wizards get to close. So I need some adventurers to collect the items." MarvakMarvak moved from shadow to shadow as he examined the perimeter of the Goblin encampment. While it was solidly built, it was hardly impenetrable, particularly to one skilled in the art of stealth and disguise. On the other hand, there appeared to be no ulterior motives on the part of the goblins. The fact that the camp could be penetrated by the forces which opposed the wizard and his quest was something that he should be made aware of. Marvak slipped back into the central clearing and made the appropriate adjustments to his clothing. He sat at the table with the wizard and waited until he had finished talking to the others. "Wizard, are all in this encampment known to our hosts or accounted for by them? If not, we may have a problem." Dorianne glanced over at his companion, and rolled his eyes." The only in this camp besides us and these two are goblins. You can't exactly hide in a goblin encampment. And they've been watching us all since we entered. Besides, I doubt if the Emperor knows what we're up to, or, if he does, I doubt that he cares. You should be more worried about the Masters that live in the areas where the items are kept. They're the real danger." FledgrinHer words were true, but I didn't feel particularly welcome with this group, though that was probably more due to the fact that I carried the item, and the dangers that went along with it were...well, a little more than I wished to deal with. And all for moment, I thought. It's always over money...when will I get myself into something of greater importance? The wizard sat there, not seeming at all to notice me, but representing my last thought just the same."I will aid you as well," I responded. "If it pleases you, wizard." Moraine nodded. "Good," he said simply. He looked around a little, and then started eating again. He let them talk amongst themselves and eat, maybe even talk to him if it pleased them. But his mind was elsewhere, planning ahead. MarvakMarvak studied his companions. The female appeared competent, perhaps a bit rustic, but she was what she appeared to be. Her companion was different. He appeared ill at ease with her, the wizard, and him. Perhaps it was the unspoken gleam of avarice in his eyes. One mercenary can usually recognize another." So, he asked, "where are you from." Fledgling eyed the man we'd asked the question for a moment, then replied, "Far from here. And you?" Nadia Stabbing a piece of meat with my dagger, I popped it into my mouth and chewed in bliss. Loved how they prepared roasted meat. Swallowing, I motioned for one of the servers to bring me more water." Boys, do stop. Sit and enjoy the meal. Heh?" I smiled and went back to eating, Fled grin still looked a little unease about something. I eyed him questioningly, what is wrong was clearly in my eyes. I didn't get an answer, so I let it rest for now. Turning to the wizard I asked, "Where are you heading exactly?" Stabbing another piece of meat with my dagger I thanked the server and dug back into eating. Dorianne looked up from his food, swallowing slowly. "The Heart of the Goblin Kingdom. They've got one of the items there, in a small valley. It should be the easiest to get. After that, we've got a short jog South, into the Marsh. There's an old fort down in those swamps where I'm meeting someone to give me a few, ....things." He reached out, and helped himself to some more roast and some fruits from the abundance before them. Marianas expected, the other was unwilling to answer his question. Marva smiled. "It looks like we come from the same place then. I, too, am from far away. We also journey to the same place." He glanced at the wizard. Judging by the way he was eating, provisions might be difficult to come by wherever they went. Marva asked "So, wizard Syrian, when do we leave our hosts here?" Dorianne took another bite, then looked at his companion. He watched him for a moment as he chewed, and then the wizard swallowed. He turned his attention back to his plate." We have to wait for three things, first, everyone needs to eat their fill, second, we have to wait for our guide to be choose, and third, well, I guess there are only two reasons." MarvakMarvak thought the wizard's advice good, although by its tone, he would not be accompanying them. He reached out filled his plate with the fruit that others seemed to eat with impunity." Well wizard, the first I can and will do. As for the second, I feel that Nadia is probably the best versed in woodcraft." At least, amongst those I have no reason to distrust yet, he added as a mental afterthought. Dorianne frowned, and looked at his companion. "Who's Nadia?" He wondered who this Nadia person was. Perhaps the elf? It was possible, but how did he know her name, they hadn't been properly introduced yet. Oh well, he let it drop. He'd probably heard it around the camp. "No, I mean a goblin. Only they can get us passage into their lands during this festival. Even elves are turned away from the gates unless they come to an encampment first and bring a scout with them. It's an odd little tradition, but goblin are odd, if good, people." Nadia heard my name mentioned but not what was said, "Yes?" I turned to glance at the wizard and the man standing behind him, neither was even looking at me. Shrugging, I was more than full and ready to rest some. Taking the ale with me, I rose from my seat at the table." Good Eve everyone. Let me know when you are ready." I excused myself from the table and made my way over to the camp 'general'." Thank you for the warm welcome and sharing of your meal. I must excuse myself and get some much-needed rest before I continue on." I smiled warmly and left the scene. Festives were nice, but I was too worn out to stay up til late hours doing who knows what? I made my way back to the inn and sat down for one last drink before retiring. This quest the wizard wanted aid on was a mystery to me, perhaps later he would fill me in a little more before I lost my head? Fledgling listened as they talked back and forth, wondering if I'd made the right choice in agreeing to the quest. Oh, well. Mostly, I wanted to rid of the cursed item I carried, then I would be free to do as I pleased again. Mercenary work could be a burden more than anything, even when it paid well. I waited for more information on this journey I'd agreed to. Soriano that moment, one of the goblins stepped close and whispered in the wizard's ear in the even tongue. The aged wizard nodded, and excused himself from his companions. He went to the head to the camp, and said a few quick words, after getting a nod, he returned to the others." You two, eat all you can, get some supplies from the goblins, and mount up. I'm going to get the elf, then we'll be on our way." Nadia turned towards the back when I spotted him coming towards the building. There goes my idea of sleep. Sighing, I grabbed my things and walked out to meet him." I suppose we are leaving right away?" I asked quietly. Corinth wizard nodded, looking around a moment." Yes. We must leave as soon as we can. The scouts have returned. The trolls plan to attack. If we don't go soon, we'll have to fight our way out." Nadia"trolls?" Sighing, I shouldered my bag and nodded, "I am ready. Where are the others?" I fell into stride beside him and moved towards the celebration once more. Fledgrin said he would accompany us, where ever we were heading. Favors are on our side for now." Ready when you are." *nudge*IOC: Gm? How much trouble would my elf get into for shooting your character in the butt for slacking off????? Lol Come on, where is everyone??ok, so I was informed LATE that this one is over.*grumbles*all I could think of

the sorceror's staff|rating:3.0

(TouketsuSafaia) Return of the Twin Wolf Gods (Tr1ckY_1337)

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. Well, you know how the story goes. It's quite simple really, life is exactly what it is; life. Sometimes it goes completely your way. Maybe you just bought that new car you've been eyeing for about three months now. Or perhaps your boyfriend/girlfriend finally wants to go all the way (oh yeah). Or maybe even your dog Spot made it to love on to 27 in dog years. If so, then hey, kudos. That's one tough dog. But then again, life is life, so sometimes to pretty much spits in your face and just says "Fuck you". That's right, that's when life kind of sucks at the moment. You think you've got it bad sometimes? Imagine these two divinities that just weren't meant to be. Introducing both Angelo and Leon, two wolf gods that had spent much of ancient times becoming the number one worshiped pair for centuries. People revered this two day in and day out, offering them gifts and sacrifices in their name for plentiful harvests and protection from mother nature. Angelo was the one with black fur, hair that was coarse and tough, sharp teeth and nails and a growl that could scare Zeus or Buddha. He was charged with protect the people. For those that worshiped him, he gave them blessings in battle, protected their homes and towns from natural disasters and plagues. He was the defender of the people that followed both twins. Angelo did his task with honor and compassion, caring for those with a strong paw and warm heart. Leone, on the other hand, was the gentle one. His fur was a light gray, and while slightly taller than Angelo, he was a big softy. Leon was charged with handling their crops and giving them blessings for their families, good fortunes, or traveling safely. Think of this wolf as the one who took care of the more gentle matters. That did not mean that Leon did not get his fur dirty sometimes, it was just not as often. Well, on to the sad part. With the introduction of other polytheistic and monotheistic religions, the wolf twins were shunned into the darkest parts of the heavens. They saw their followers dwindle away, converted into other religions and beliefs or killed off in war, famine, or disease. Soon, they were left with only a single family that believed them, and they too passed away with time. Completely erased from the face of the Earth, the wolf brothers were forced to flee the heavens and seek refuge. For a century, they were unheard of. The kingdom was fairly busy today. After Sunday church, citizens were working hard to prepare food and supplies for the king's army. They were to conquer another land in the name of their king, expanding his empire far and wide unlike any people have seen. He controlled ten city-states, yet his greed did not stop there. He wanted to rule more and more. Thankfully, his officials were much kinder, treating the citizens with a gentle hand and soft words. Overall, life in the kingdom was tolerable and not bad. In the forest outside the kingdom, however... far off and past the lake where many children went and played, there was a strange shrine of some sort. On a pedestal surrounded by broken pillars and obelisks stood two wolves, one darker than the other. One stood tall and proud, the other laying down with his head held high. One was a protected, the other was a caretaker. The statue was the last standing relic to the honor of the Twin Wolf Gods. Ancient hieroglyphics began to shine and hum in the sunlight, dying down occasionally but soon coming back to life. The strange cat hybrid ran about with the younger children, even jumping into the lake, she had no family, no one but herself. Her black ears twitched water off of them while her light gray the other eye dark gray, her long slender body dripped water as the kids were called away from her and in for lunch, she herself wandered around in the forest behind the lake. She had remembered one of the younger kids mentioning there was a pedestal with broken pillars around somewhere back here. As she walked around she flicked her tail and ears while the sun and cool breeze dried her wet clothes and body, she wore a skirt and shirt, just like any other kid. Though she was very much older than them, the children adored her, would play with her, she was still a kitten in her own years, she would outlive humans without a doubt about it. After a little while she smelt something alluring to her nose, her senses felt alive, with what it was. She followed her nose which lead her to where she had been wanting to go, she looked around before backing away after she took notice of the two wolves nearby. Upon approaching the area, the hieroglyphics on the stone pedestal seemed to glow more. Then, they would hum softly for her to hear. They were calling out to her, reaching towards her for her touch. The statues themselves seemed to be glowing as well. Whatever was happening, it happened because the young cat woman was here. It was a sign of things to come, and no doubt, a sign ofsomethingto come. Within the heavens, Angelo picked up his head. The wolf looked at his brother who was sleeping peacefully, trying to get some rest. Now was not the time to rest, however. Angelo felt a strange aura around them, strange and bewildering to him. It felt like it was some sort of pathway, some sort of guiding hand trying to pull him along somewhere." Hey, Leon! Wake up!" The black wolf called, running over to his brother and nudging him. Leone quickly stirred, picking up his head and looking around. Immediately, he felt the aura as well, wondering what exactly it was. His eyes fared to Angelo." What's going on? Did you summon a spell or something?" The gray wolf asked curiously, getting on to his paws and looking around him. Angelo, however, shook his head left and right quickly." No, this isn't my doing. I think... I think someone else is casting a spell. And it has something to do with us."" You don't think...?" Leone began, looking at his twin brother wide-eyed." Impossible. No one worships us anymore. Why would they be trying to call upon us?" Kara stared as the hieroglyphics on the stone started to glow, before her knew it her boot covered feet were walking across, her hand set on the stone softly, her fingers brushing up against the pedestal. She walked around it, wonder and amazement in her eyes at the glow, she looked all up and down trying to see if she could understand anything. Of course, as her eyes scanned the glowing writing she knew she couldn't read it, she tried to step away, but her body wouldn't move. Kairi's ears twitched like crazy while her tail flicked back and forth, she looked up into the sky, she could feel something wrong, something in the air felt wrong. Yet she still could not pull away from the pedestal, she mewled softly, her ears flattening against her head while she stared up. She did the only thing she could do, stand and wait until she would be able to move again. Angelo and Leon began to tense as they felt more of the surrounding aura grow heavy. No, it wastighteningaround them, attempting to either grab them and drag them somewhere unknown or suffocate them. As more time passed by it became more of the first as Leon felt like he was sinking." Angelo, what do you think is happening?!" He called out to his twin brother, attempting to pull out his paws from the ground as light began to surround them. His twin began to suffer the same fate as he tried his best to free himself." How am I supposed to know?!" The block wolf replied and growled, sinking further and further as the light soon began to envelop them. The pedestal and its hieroglyphics shined brightly as her hand ran across the markings. It did not take long until a bright beam of pure light shot up into the sky. To anyone looking on, it would appear to be a pillar of immaculate white in the sky from the center of the forest. It touched as high as the eye could see, possibly going even farther as Kara stood there and waited. The pillar remained up for about five minutes before retracting back to the pedestal on the ground. It fell faster and faster until it revealed the hieroglyphics again, the light weakening on them until it completely went out. Along with that, came something else. Two grunts could be heard as the wolf twin brothers landed behind the pedestal. Angelo, the black wolf and protector groaned as he had landed on his side, and not too softly should one ask. Leon almost landed face first, the gray wolf and caretaker rubbing his head as he stumbled on to his paws." What just happened...?" Angelo mumbled, picking himself up slowly. Kara had closed her eyes as the light shot into the sky, as it stayed she could open them, her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she stared up, it seemed to never end. As the light retracted she looked around, she was able to take her hand away from the pedestal, she took a couple of steps away intending to make her way back to the village. She paused hearing a low grumble, she instead turned back around, she paused like a frightened rabbit seeing the two wolves." Are. Are. You alright?" She asks curiously looking at the two of them curiously, she dared not get any closer. Leon was the first one to hear the quiet voice. His head picked up towards the small cat creature before them. Her stance, her eyes... they all said that she was frightful of them. After all, perhaps she had been all alone previously. Now there were two fairly large wolves right behind her. Being ones of the heavens above, both Angelo and Leon were about one and a half times larger than an ordinary wolf. They had more muscles in this form compared to natural ones as well." Oh, um, hello." Leone said, his voice soft and threatening. Despite their lives to this point, Leon was the kinder and more accepting of the two. His ears were only perked up upon hearing her voice, but other than that, he tried to seem as friendly as possible." Yes I believe my brother and I are quite fine. Thank you for asking. Angelo, how are-"A black blur passed in front of the gray wolf's face as Angelo suddenly landed right in front of Kara, growling and snarling at her viciously with wild, angry eyes. His ears were down, his body poised into a position to lunge at her and rip out her throat if need be." How dare you summon us to this filthy world?! Do you know who you're standing before?!" Kara screamed, backing up against a tree as one of the giant wolves lunged at her, her eyes were as wide as they could be." I-I... w-what?" She asked meekly." I didn't summon you! I came by to look around, and I noticed the Hieroglyphics were glowing! All I did was take a closer look! Don't blame this on me!" She yelled back her eyes closed, before she flinched." I-I mean.... I don't know what happened. I just touched the glowing writing." She glanced off to the side, she was normally very shy and sweet, but when she became threatened and got scared, she puffed up. Growing up alone, she was very much like a lone animal, like the larger jungle cat's she could get fierce, her hands balled up, she knew this angry one could kill her. She didn't know what she could do, she didn't trust anyone, she knew even the children of the village would turn on her as they got older, it always happened. She looked up, staring up into his angry eyes, she said nothing at all, just looked up at him. "You're a liar. Your mortals can't be trusted. You'll just betray everyone's trust just to get what you want. Greedy animals." Angelo snapped, approaching her with a fierce growl again. He even bit the air in front of her to threaten her more. The black wolf crouched lower, about to pounce when suddenly Leon appeared between him and the cat creature." What're you doing, Leon?! Move out of the way, so I can kill this thing." He barked, growling at his own brother. The older brother glared at him angrily before turning around, kneeling down level with Kara. He offered the best smile he could with a wolf's muzzle, his eyes gentle." Please, do not be afraid. My brother simply has a hurt heart over the centuries that we've been away from watching over the mortal world you live in. You have my word that we will not harm you." He looked behind him at Angelo who simply gave another growl and sat there with his back turned." Much better. My name Leon, the Caretaker of this world when people still worshiped and prayed to me. May I ask your name, little one?" Leone asked sweetly, sitting down while letting his tail sway side to side gently. Kara shied away from the two brothers, her eyes stuck on the angry one, but she looked at the nicer one as he spoke to her." I'm Kara... I really don't know what happened... all I did was touch the writing... Furthermore, I guess it is my fault after all. Furthermore, I'm sorry." She says softly looking down at the ground under her boots." I'll do everything thing I can to help you get back up there." She says while glancing up at him. She sighed, she wouldn't be able to back to the village now, she'd have to go back to her house, she glanced at the large size of the two gods." I'd offer you my place to stay... but... your rather large. Being god's and all. You'd break apart my house..." She offers biting her lip, one little fang showed as she did so, slipping out and settling against her lip. Her own tail was swishing back and forth, her ears low on her head, like she was being scolded. Leon bowed his head gently to Kara in greeting." It's a pleasure to meet you, Kara." He told her, looking over to the pedestal she had been talking about. For a brief moment, he walked over to it and examined the ancient writings. They made very little sense to him, for it had been years since he read anything like them. With a sigh, he returned over to Kara and sat down." Whatever happened, it's the past now. We're here and that's all that matters. You have nothing to be sorry for, it wasn't your fault." Leone told her, nuzzling the top of her head gently with his muzzle. Perhaps using his paw would have been a bad idea. It was huge as well." Well, it's someone's fault that we're here..." Angelo mumbled to himself, receiving an annoyed growl from Leon." Whatever." The black spoke and continued to sit there. Leone thought about what she said about her home. With a small chuckle, the gray wolf shook his head." If you'd like, you can rest at home, and we will build a small home here in the forest for ourselves. We're pretty tough, we can handle rain and cold." He told her while wagging his tail happily." I promise you we'll be just fine, and if you'd like, you can come again tomorrow. Perhaps you can tell us more about this new world since we've been gone so long." Kara stared at him, a smile on her face at to nuzzle on the top of her head. "I can do it now, Its not nighttime yet. I have time to stay, since the villager's probably saw the light they won't leave there house's in fear anymore until tomorrow when they will probably have to hunt a little bit. What would you like to know about this place?" She asks curiously while sitting herself down on the dirt. She dragged her nails through it softly before looking up her eyes glancing between the two brother wolves, her eyes settled on the angry one." What's your name?" She asks curiously. She knew the nicer one was Leon, but the other brother hadn't given her a name and while she could just refer to him as the angry one, since he always seemed to be angry, and that anger was on her right now. Angelo looked behind him when she spoke to him. He simply snarled at her before standing up and walking away. They would watch the black furry god plant himself behind a tree. Leon gave a sigh and laid his ears down in a bit of embarrassment." You'll have to forgive him. He's not very social, Kara. His name's Angelo, the Protector. I'm sure if you give him time, he will warm up to you. I promise." The gray wolf said, laying down to relax a bit." As for what I'd like to know, tell me about where you live. Do you live in a town? A city? And tell me more about the people. We haven't been back on this world for centuries, so I'm sure there's plenty we need to catch up on." Kara nods, she ignored the brooding Angelo for the moment, she would give him the chance to get to know her, she wanted this two to not hate her, it wasn't really her fault. If it was dangerous they should have had a fence around it." Well. Let's see... the people are... skittish... they get very afraid, at least the ones in the village I go to, it's the only one I know of that's close by... the kids are good, they'll talk to anything and are so willing to accept. But something changes as they get older. They start being skittish like the people before them. I on the other hand. I live out here in the forest... pretty far away from the village. They don't like having me close by... but they let the kids play with me and tolerate me." She says with a sheepish smile." I haven't seen any tribute to any kind of god in the village, I don't think they pray, they don't trust or believe enough to. That's only my own thoughts on it though... So tell me about back when you two were back here." Leon listened intently to what Kara told him about the people and her town. So, if they wanted to go farther, they would have a ways to go. However, he learned more about what kind of people lived here. That was good to know." I see, I wonder what makes them so skittish. Do you know?" He asked curiously after she finished. What was odd to him though was learning that they did not prey. Mortals that didn't prey? Leon in his time had learned about many mortals that worshiped some higher power. It was an image of hope or power, something that these people worshiped to provide some kind of relief. He tilted his head when she asked about them while they were here." Well, the land was a bit gloomier. People seemed a lot less intelligent than you appear, Kara. To both my brother and I, you're thinking and processing on our mental intellect, so it's very interesting, really." The gray wolf toward her with a gentle nod, his tail swaying back and forth." They were also very primitive, hunters and gatherers that went out to get food and meat from animals. And to see them make something like this,"Leon pointed to the ancient pedestal." Is quite an achievement for them. I'm curious to learn more about your world, as I'm sure it's much more advanced." Kara nodded her head to his words." We still have hunters and gatherer's, but we have builder's, people who build houses out of stone, a bit like the pedestal. We have people who prepare food for everyone. Furthermore, we have people who help sick people get better, we have people who help other people give birth to children It really is something amazing." She smiles light while looking at the pedestal." Even now we can make stuff a bit better, then that, but they won't do it, I'm not sure what made them so skittish." She looked up into the sky before standing up." I have to start heading back home now, the sky is turning dark. I really would like for you to stay with me since it's my fault your here anyway... Furthermore, I'm sure if you need me you'll follow my scent." She says with a smile, her tail wiggled slightly, swaying." I'll come back by tomorrow, I have to make dinner before it gets too late." Leon gave a smile as he nodded upon her words." Your world sounds much more, well, diversified. There are many other things for people to do or handle, it's very interesting. Perhaps we can come into the town one day?" Of course, they were unaware that creatures their size were a bit uncommon. Actually, they were nonexistent. Yet, they did have an ability that might change that, though that was for another day. The gray wolf wagged his tail a bit, thinking about the town's people. They didn't seem like a brave bunch, that was for sure. Strange." Ah, I understand. Perhaps we'll help you make your home a little bigger one day. Won't we, Angelo?" The younger wolf simply remained silent as they continued to speak, the gray one shaking his head." Well, I look forward to speaking with you again, Kara. Sleep well." He told her as wagged his tail a little faster to express his friendliness. Angelo merely peered out from behind the tree, eyes peering over to Kara before he pulled back behind it. "Hmm. You want to come to town. Not to put it down, the idea is a great one, but.... now you don't find animals as large as you two...at all." Kairi says with a wave towards his brother, when he had peaked out from behind his tree." I'll come find you two again soon." She turned before making her way back through the forest, after a long walk she made it back to her own house, she is lite some candles around her house before making a small fire and beginning to make her dinner. Leon tilted his head in confusion initially, but the moment she provided her reason, the big gray wolf gave a chuckle." Ah, you do have a point. Well, perhaps I can work on some magic that'll change that. Though, we can talk about that some other time. You have dinner to make." He told her. Angelo peeked out again, catching her wave. He looked away, but then he let his tail come out. It wagged slightly, almost as if that was his own wave to her. However, he then ducked behind the tree completely, once again away from her sights." We'll see you again." Leone said in goodbye, walking over to the tree. They should probably work on finding their own dinner now.~~~~~The next day, it was a lovely shining day. There were a couple of clouds in the sky, but not a rain cloud in sight. Birds were chirping and squirrels ran around the forest, playing with each other or collecting acorns and nuts. However, bandits were out today as well, staying close to the trail and waiting for a victim to pounce upon. They hoped their next catch had some gold on them. The last guy didn't have anything, but that didn't mean they let him go. Kara was on the trail, she was going to stop in and play with the kids a little bit before she went to go find Angelo and Leon, she made her way down the trail and happy hop in her step. She hummed softly under her breath while she walked, she wasn't really paying any attention to her surrounding's. She jumped in piles of leaves, stepped on twigs, talked to the squirrels, she made her way around a bend in the trail and stopped dead in her tracks. Standing in front of her were a large group of bandits, she backed away and right as her feet set down a loud snap echoed around her, she closed her eyes. She was done for. The bandits turned around in unison, noticing the young cat girl before them. One chuckled immediately and approached her, grabbing her by the wrist. "Well, well, what do we have here? A pretty little thing walking all alone in the forest? Why, that's just asking for trouble little lady!" He teased her, his other hand holding her by the chin to make him look at her. He turned her head left and right, almost inspecting her as the rest of the group surrounded her. They all were soon crossing their arms and making sure she couldn't escape. "So, spare a few gold coins for the bandit cause, dear?" That brought forth laughter from all the men their, snickering and smirking. Kara honestly had no money, she had no need for it, she caught her own food normally, her cat instincts helped her chase things, she was helpless, and she knew it." I-i don't have any money." She whispered afraid, oh boy was she ever afraid, most days she would have been more careful, but she had been so eager to get back to the brothers. He had wanted to learn more and also tell them more of her time." H-honestly, I don't have any money, I don't live in the village... I catch my own food. Make my own stuff. Please let me go." She begged softly. The bandit in front of her gave a playful frown, almost mocking her as he shook his head. "Oh no, that's not good. So, you don't have any of this?" He held up a sack full of money from their last group of victims. He then laughed darkly, throwing it to one of his bandits as he pulled out a knife and held it to her neck. "No, no no, it's not that easy there, dear. We either get money and send you on your way, or we kill you. Though, that's if you're a man." The bandit said with an evil smirk. Suddenly, another grabbed her hands and held them securely behind her back. The one in front slowly began to bring his knife down her skin, just the tip scratching her until it reached her shirt, slowly starting to tear it. "Then again, you have other ways to pay...." Kara's eyes widened as her shirt was cut, it fell away from her large breasts, nothing under it as most woman didn't wear anything while working, tears gathered in her eyes as she sniffled."Oh, no... oh god no. Please... you can't." She cried softly. She started to struggle she started to panic she felt herself, the violent part of her start to bubble up from under the surface. "LET ME THE FUCK GO!" She growled as she leaned down and a bit hard into the bandit's hand that held the knife, her little fangs dug in deep, and she clamped her jaw down not letting his hand go as blood ran down his hand. "Oh wow, she's got quite a set of knockers, boys." He blurted out, receiving whistles from the crowd. He reached out to fondle her breasts, yet that was when the man behind her grunted. "She's... feisty!" He grunted before stumbling forward a bit. That was when the leader felt Kara bite him. He shouted in pain, trying to pull her off. Another bandit quickly yanked her hair and slapped her hard, the leader tending to his hand. "Damn bitch! I guess we'll just rape you and then kill you." He snapped. They held her head back by her hair, the leader quickly ripping off the rest of her shirt as he then attempted to slash at her pants. Leone sprung in at that moment. He suddenly tackled most of the surrounding bandits, pouncing on the leader and growling in his face. The sight of the huge monster wolf immediately sent half of the bandits running." I should rip out your throat, mortal filth." He snapped, growling in the man's face. He then hopped off the man and took him by his tunic. With it in his mouth, he slung him into the remaining bandits, stepping between them and Kara. A loud bark sent them fleeing, screaming in fear as they disappeared into the woods." Kairi! Are you okay?!" His voice shifted into one of fear as he knelt down to her, his gentle eyes looking into hers. Kara fell to her knee's holding a hand to her cheek, she pouted softly, her other hand covering her chest, she looked up at Leon, before she started to cry." L-leone!" She whimpered while crawling over to him and wrapping her arms around his leg. She cried into it, scared that she had almost been raped and happy that he had saved her. Her now bare breasts were tightly held against his chest, her pants that she had been wearing today had been cut enough by the bandits it showed her pussy even as she sat and cried against his leg. She pulled back away from his leg, unwrapping her arms from around him where she wiped her eyes, clearly leaving her breasts to his eyes, not on purpose of course. She then covered her arms over her chest." T-Thank you Leon. I owe you..." Leon felt the small cat creature wrap around his leg, clinging to him as she sobbed. It broke his head, and he sat down, gently nuzzling his head against hers. Gently, he even extended out his tongue to lap at her cheek just slightly (it was a broad tongue, after all)." It's okay, Kara. I'm here now. I'll take care of you." He told her, bringing his busy tail to the side to wrap around her slightly. When she pulled away, he offered her a smile, lightly letting his tail thump to also show his happiness." Don't thank me. I'd do it for you any day." The gray wolf said, letting his mind wander. The moment he did, his eyes glued to her chest, then soon went to her exposed nether regions. Leon quickly looked away, thankful that his fur could hide his red face as his paws did their best to hide his peaking wolf member.' Stop...' The wolf berated himself, gently looking down to Kara." Are you hurt at all?" He asked her worriedly, still trying to get a control of his body's reactions. Kara smiled softly at his lick against her cheek, she giggled a little big while rubbing her face, as his tail curled about her, she smiled more, she felt safe with him around." I'm not hurt. I don't think so anyway..." She says while getting up and looking around her body, giving him a good view of her whole body almost naked." Nope, I don't see any cuts, do you?" She asks looking up at him, her eyes were still glinting from her tears, her eyes slight red as well, she wrapped an arm around her chest lightly trying to hide at least her nipples. Her other hand pulled up her pants up, covering the view of her area, she shyly looked up." Would you mind coming with me back to my house...? I don't... I don't want to be alone right now..." She asks before shuffling her foot around in the dirt under her shoes, her ears were flat to her head, her tail wrapped around her waist. Leon looked down to see her smile creep upon her lips again. With a happy wag of his tail, the immortal wolf god gave a gentle nod." I'm glad you're okay. And you look better with a happy smile on." He told her and stopped his tail as she looked around her body. While he did want to remain noble and protective, the big lumbering gray wolf could not keep his eyes from wandering the female's body. She had an attractive body with curves in the right places, a lovely set of breasts, and a teasing view of her hidden flower. Leon tried to keep it from happening, but still the head of his member began to peek out from his sheath, his front paws and legs hiding it from her view." Of course, Kara." He replied to her with a smile, bowing forward to offer her a ride upon his back." It'll be quicker if you ride. Just tell me where to go." The wolf told her, awaiting her to climb on. Kara giggled softly while climbing onto of him carefully, she sat down and held onto his long fur softly, very carefully." Uhm, just follow the path back that away, It's not far from there I'll tell you where to leave the path." She says as he follows her directions, once to her part of the path she told him where to go. Not long later they were in front of her little log cabin, she had built it herself." This is it, It's not much. But its it." She slipped off him with a shiver, his fur was silky soft against her naked body and gave her a slight thrill, she realized she was starting to get aroused. She blushed a bit and turned her head away while holding her shredded pants of her still. The wolf took on a fairly moderate pace, trotting while making sure not to bounce her up and down much." All right, so I just keep following this path? Okay, I think that's pretty easy." He replied to her softly, soon coming to a small opening off the path." Here? Gotcha." The gray wolf nodded gently as he went off the path, enjoying the feel of her body against him. It felt strange to feel her skin against his furry body, yet very much welcome as he thanked other divinities that she could not see his hardening member. Thankfully, they didn't have much farther to go. It was perfect, actually. They got there in minutes." Oh no, your home looks cozy." Leone told Kara as he bent down to let her off." It's home to you." He told her, wagging his tail happily, or perhaps a little too happily. Kara meekly smiled at his words, they did make her feel better." I do wish you could come inside... I'm going to go put some new clothes on... something to cover myself." She blushed realizing she had left her breasts uncovered, she turned away slightly and made her way into her house. She went into the back, her room had a window on the side of the house Leon was waiting on. Furthermore, she started to undress, simply pulling her pants off, she looked in the mirror at her body, it was fine, no marks. Furthermore, she pulled on a dress, slipping it over her head. Leon nodded gently as he gave her the best smile he could muster upon his muzzle, sitting down as he heard her enter inside. Upon seeing her blush, he himself felt his cheeks go red (though, hidden perfectly by the fur). The very her body looked to him was so appealing, making his body quiver in hidden delight as he let his tongue hang out of his mouth, panting lightly." No!" The wolf reprimanded himself quietly, pacing around outside." It is wrong to have these feelings. I'm a God." It was a reminder. Mortals and immortals should never cross lines, yet still... the urges were inside of him, demanding an exit. Having not noticed his pacing, he came to a small window on the side of her home, gazing into it absentmindedly. Inside, he watched as Kara began to undress. If his wolf member wasn't hard before, it was now, nearly completely out of his furry sheath as attempts to wash away naughty thoughts failed." Oh..." Leone groaned softly, seeing her body free of scars or blemishes. Kara looked over to the window after having heard a soft panting noise, she blushed deeply as she noticed Leon was staring in her window, she giggled softly." Leone! Where are you making sure I had no scars?" She was sure that wasn't the reason he had been looking in the window but didn't want to make him feel embarrassed." I'll be right outside..." The wolf suddenly jumped as she saw him, immediately looking away and hanging his head low." Forgive me, I just felt worried about you." He lied, hoping that she could at least buy this horrible story. He beat himself mentally, shaking his head and quickly stepping away from her window." Stupid, stupid, stupid." Leone muttered to himself, soon stopping in front of the door and sitting down. His front paws and legs once again hid the canine erection between his legs, swallowing a lump in his throat as the beast there refused to grow softer. Kara smiled and made her way back out to Leon, she petted his fur softly while looking up at him." Don't worry, It's alright. But uh. I don't really want to go anywhere's anymore... If you need to get back to Angelo then you can go ahead and go. I'll probably lock my doors." She says while looking down, she stood under him, right where he was trying to hide his erection with his front paws, she hadn't noticed it still. Leon gave a sheepish nod to the cat girl, leaning into her hand affectionately as she spoke." I can understand, Kara. Honestly, I would feel safer knowing that I could keep watch over your home tonight." He told her, fearful of how close she stood. The wolf would not doubt start giving off a fairly noticeable aroma of arousal from his hard member. Gently, yet swiftly, the wolf rose her head with his nose, trying to smile and take any possibility of him being discovered away." That is, if you'll have me." That was when the wolf began to start coming up with ideas to try and keep his lust down." Perhaps, Kara, we can enjoy a dinner? I'm sure you make great food." He asked her, smiling sheepishly. Kara stared up into Leon's eyes before he mentioned dinner, she broke out into a huge grin. {b]"You can stay the night, I'd feel much better if you did as well... and yes!! I'll get started on some dinner!! Should I make a lot? By your size I would assume you would eat a lot as well. What would you like to eat?"[/b] She asked all excited and walked away from him a little ways, she walked around a little bit thinking. When she began speaking about dinner, he let out a relieved sigh. At least now he could attempt to relax. The wolf chuckled softly and remained calm, his tail thumping on the ground gently as he thought about what to offer up as an idea for dinner." Hm, what to eat, what to eat..." Leone repeated, watching her walk around." Well, I try to eat in moderation. Angelo is the one who's more of a pig than a wolf, he. Me, I try to eat based upon how hungry I feel. And, well, I am a little famished." He explained with a sheepish laugh, feeling his erection go down (thank the heavens)." Perhaps some chicken? I am fond of meat, being a wolf an all." Kara nodded softly. "I can do chicken, just one whole chicken for you or should I get two for you?" She asks with a smile softly teasing him a bit. She kept her food nearby, her wild chickens in the forest in a pin." What should we have with it, some potatoes or a soup alongside it?" She says while thinking out loud." Do you even like vegetables?" She asks looking up at him. Leon listened to the little cat girl, chuckling at her teasing. Yes, he could eat quite a bit, though he felt greedy for eating two chickens. Therefore, the wolf shook his head." One chicken should do for me. I'll behave." He told her with a wink, laughing gently afterward as he laid down, looking up at her with his head held high." Vegetables are good for the body, and the same goes for myself. Just, I prefer meat over it, though potatoes do sound nice. Do you happen to have some?" Leone asked curiously, still wagging his tail happily. He was excited at the thought of dinner with Kara. The only question that popped into his mind is where they would have it. He definitely couldn't fit in her home, judging by how he would practically take up half the room. Kara smiled brightly. "Of course I do! I'll make a soup to go along with it, as a sort of drink for you, Potatoes, carrots, I'll add something else in it as well. Let me go fetch a chicken for you and one for me, not that I'll eat all of mine, it will last me tomorrow as well." She says before heading out into the forest with a skip in her step, she found her chickens in her coop and grabbed two of them by there feet, killed them, smashed they're heads on a rock. She made her way back to her house with the two limp chickens in her hand." It will only take a little while, let me pluck them and get them all ready to cook then I'll start on the soup, we can eat outside, it's much nicer outside anyway." She says with a grin while leaving her front door open to let Leon talk with her while she does so. She cut off the heads and plucked the chickens. Leon listened to the object of his attraction speak, imagining the smell of the soup as he let his broad tongue lick his muzzle. He would savor the taste, his imagination already lighting up his taste buds. The potatoes, the carrots, and who knows what else Kara might toss in? Thoughts vanished as he watched her bouncing figure run out to the forest. For a moment, Leon had stood up on to his paws, ready to follow her till he noticed that she was still in view. That was fine with him. So long as she was within view, the gray wolf felt that she was safe. Besides, she did not take long at all. In fact, she came back with two dead chickens. They looked delicious. The wolf gave a nod as he wagged his tail happily." That sounds great!" He replied, soon laying down in front of the house while continuing to keep his happy tail in motion. It was a better indicator to show his joy and excitement. His grins needed work. It looked like he wanted to kill someone. Kara started to make the chicken's, putting them in to cook, browning them in her oven, small and made out of clay soon enough the smells coming out were delicious, but she left it in longer still while making the soup. She started with a broth, chopping up the carrot's and potatoes next, she dumped them into it while thinking, she added in a bit of wild celery to add a bit more flavor. While she was busy cooking, she had almost forgotten her mishap just a while ago, she shook those thoughts out of her head while she cooked. She glanced up at Leon before smiling." How's everything smell so far?" Leon had begun scratching his ears, yet the moment she began to cook those delicious looking chickens, his noses flared lightly as his ears perked up. Oh, that was a delicious small. It drove his tail wild as it wagged left and right frantically.' It smells heavenly. After eating raw meat, this will be an amazing meal. I can't wait!" The big, gray wolf thought as he looked over to Kara. She had asked him a question, and silly him nearly missed it." Forgive me, I was actually daydreaming about that smell. I can't wait to dig in!" Leone began, suddenly hopping on to his paws and jumping slightly in excitement. His massive size compared to other wolves was intimidating, yet underneath that fur were hard muscles and strong legs. Maybe looking past it, Leon might be good-looking... for a wolf, of course." Oh boy, how long till it's ready?!" He asked, panting lightly and letting his long, broad tongue hang out. Kara giggled as the huge wolf began to hop up and down outside of her house, it slightly shook the foundations of it, but she wasn't worried. She stirred the soup a bit more, to keep it from burning on the bottom." Hmm. It shouldn't be too much longer. Are you that hungry?" She asks curiously with a laugh. She walked away to check on the chicken's in the oven."Yeah, only a few more minutes." She stood back up and turned the soup down on low while getting out a bowl for her, she figured she could give him the whole pot to drink. She ladled her own soup out and set it off to the side while turning the soup off to cool down a bit. She then made her way back to the chickens, she opened it and carefully grabbed the pan with both chickens inside it and brought it out. The smell of the chickens took over her senses for a couple of minutes, and she couldn't think until it passed, wafting outside, she shook her head while bringing the food out to Leon. She set it all down on the ground, she stood in front of him, as she bent down the wind blew by slightly, blowing up her dress over her rear end showing she wore nothing under it. His wolf head happily nodded up a down as he watched her switch from the chickens to the soup. Both smells soon collided into a wonderful cacophony of delicious aromas, making his mouth water as he imagined the taste of it all. Kara must have honed her skills as a cook for the time she spent in the woods. Well, it was obvious. Everything looked perfect, cooked to the right degree or stirred just enough without too many spices or vegetables overpowering the other." Starving now that I get to taste your cooking." Leone replied with a couple of pants. It was then she came out with the chickens. He hopped back, wagging his tail faster and eyeing the chicken hungrily. They were that delicious brown color, steam rising off of them and soaking just slightly in their juices. All the right places looked crunchy, and others were tender. His tongue ran over his teeth as he straightened up and was about to approach the food until the wind blew. The gray wolf's eyes widened as he saw her dress rise up, revealing her pink slit. She had no underwear. For a moment, Leon simply stood there awestruck, eyes glued to her feminine region. Beneath him, his furry sheath revealed his slowly emerging member, it's twitching in desire. Kara pulled her dress down with a blush across her cheeks’s he hadn't worn anything under it not wanting to feel constricted like something was holding her. She turned around, as she did her eyes widened as she has seen his furry sheath had revealed his hard member. Her eyes were stuck to it as he stared at her, she bit her lower lip before clearing her throat." U-uh... Leon. Did you happen to see up my dress when the wind blew?" She asked curiously wondering if she was the reason he was hard.

(TouketsuSafaia) Return of the Twin Wolf Gods (Tr1ckY_1337)|rating:3.0

New Horizons (IC)

With the sun barely peaking over the horizon, you each one by one come to the door of the appointed Sky dock. The Sky dock is a large tower, wide at the base and tapering upward until it bulges suddenly, creating a massive oval bubble at the top in which the Astral Galleon is docked. The tower’s large double doors have a copy of the recruitment poster affixed to them, with the address crossed out and the word“HERE” Scrawled beneath. With the sun slowly rising behind, someone finally finds the wherewithal to knock on the door, and as soon as the third rap is finished the doors swing open, revealing a massive doorman. He stands near eight feet tall, with stony gray skin in mottled patches. In several places over his bare chest and bald head there are small rock like warts, each of which has been pierced and from which dangles a charm depicting a crescent moon over the bending of the horizon. His piercing blue eyes scan the knocker, as well as the small crowd of other recruits who gathered round after the doors opened. The large man steps out of the way of the door and bows slightly, still towering above most of those who enter.“Please, Enter. Recruits are meeting on the second floor.” His voice is as deep as a mine shaft, but he has a pleasant politeness to his tone. Entering the tower you can see the wooden floor of the story above you, and the hole that pierces through the center of it, as well as all the other floors. This central chute goes all the way up to the ships' underside, but offers to little sight for any details. A spiral staircase climbs the inside of the outer wall, leading to the second floor. Upon reaching the second floor you see that the spiral staircase continues upward on the opposite side of the room, travelling up to a flat landing that overlooks the room like a balcony, from which the staircase continues. There are many tables and chairs set up in this room, and several windows provide ample illumination with the rising sun. After some time waiting in this room, with many other recruits arriving in the interim, a slam is heard from the lower floor, and the Goliath climbs the steps into the room. He crosses the chamber silently and begins heading up the second flight of stairs. When he reaches the bottom of the third flight of stairs he stops, and again with his deep voice he calls out“Captain! The recruits have arrived.” He then steps back and puts his back to the wall. Within moments a door is heard opening and a trio descends from the third floor. In the lead is an older human man, with a neatly trimmed gray beard and long gray hair in a ponytail bound by various remnants of flags jutting out from beneath a brown bandana. He wears a long coat whose many pockets almost all have a bright metallic chain dangling from them. He walks fairly well, but supports some of his weight on a finely crafted wooden walking stick shaped like a hand whose fingers are interwoven with his own. His face is the kind that once, long ago before many voyages and battles, was handsome. Despite the wear he has a look of pride and vitality, as well as dignity and respect for the many people he sees gathered here. Behind him walks a very small woman whose wide eyes seems out of place against her dark, sunken eyes and shortcut raven black hair. Her clothing is practical in the extreme, with pants and coat covered in pockets crammed with various devices, a belt so covered in tools it is hard to see any leather, and an odd apparatus for a headband, with several varying pairs of spectacles and monocles hanging from repositionable arms, all of which can rotate around her head.Finally, the last of the group is another human male, but one whose appearance is hard to explain. Spoiler Hide Or would simply be done better justice by his player. Once the three of them join the Goliath on the balcony the first one steps forward to the railing and looks out over the crowd.“Welcome, all. Thank you for responding to my anonymous recruitment, I have often found it more advantageous to remain so. But no more anonymity henceforth, my name is Turn Hollis, and further henceforth I am Captain Turn Hollis of the Astral Galleon Nous Horizon. You have already met Mar’UK, my first mate. These two are Melissa, our ship’s artificer, and Thaddeus Allister, who has agreed to be our pilot.” The captain slowly begins walking toward the stair that will bring him to the lower level.“The first order of business is one of clarification. The Recruitment poster you read was not meant to be metaphorical, or symbolic. It meant what it said, and I second those needs here and now. I need a crew that is fearless, because I intend to sail to places that have scared off sailors since the dawn of the tradition. I need a crew that is Determined, so that no detriment shall hold them back. And most of all I need a crew that is loyal, because out there in the unmeasurable vastness of the Astral Sea, only one commodity has value, and it is trust.” He stops at the top of the steps, and turns around.“Don’t take me likely. I mean what I say. The ship you see above you will carry us to the edge of the known universe and beyond, into darkness and light of forms that no man, woman, child, with, or player has ever seen before. We will likely be forced to fight all manner of raiders, ghost ships, alien monsters, eldritch creatures, and horrid nightmares. We will restock by exploring spheres that no Travelers before us have ever stepped foot on, and by trial and error figuring out what can be used and what will cause us bodily harm. And we will not turn back, not for despair, not for losing our way, maybe not even for starvation. Only victory will send us back to port. What is victory you might ask? Even I do not know, for what we seek is the unknown which by its very nature is something we cannot yet identify. But rest assured my friends, we will be victorious, and the names of all who sailed the great Nous Horizon shall be membered as legends and spoken of for eons in every bar from White spire to Veldangryos.” Having reached the upward staircase in his pacing, Hollis turns his back on the gathering below. “At this time I ask that any of you who find my mission to vague, the dangers to great, or the voyage undesirable, please leave, and you will not be thought of worse for it.” The captain stands utterly still, and as he does more than half of the gathered recruits exits, almost all the most experienced or most nervous applicants are now gone. When the pattering of footsteps ends, the captain turns and smiles.“Now that we’ve got those spineless guppies gone how about we lighten things up. Mar’UK, Please fetch the ale.”“Aye Captain Hollis.” While the Goliath moves upstairs the captain and his entourage move down to the lower area, and sit at the nearest table." Now, I’d like each of you to introduce yourselves to me. Come forward, get a drink, and let’s see what kind of crew I have.” As each applicant approaches Mart’UK produces a mug of ale from a keg and the captain asks a few general questions.“What’s your name?” “How much experience on the Astral Sea do you have?” “What do you think of the Ale? “What special skills would you bring to my ship?” “Why would you want to risk life and limb on my ship?” “Do you prefer Rum?” “Do you swear to follow orders in line with the chain of command regardless of how counterintuitive or outright suicidal they may seem?” “Can you remain calm in the face of danger?” “Personally I prefer wine, but we can’t all be connoisseurs can we?” Spoiler Hide Each of you can answer in any order, and He’ll respond in kind to each of you. Everyone will need to post before we can move on. Also, Thaddeus feel free to hop in during the conversations and describe your appearance for us. WELCOME TO THE GAME Y'ALL!! A short, slender human woman slips around to manage to be one of the first to speak to Mart'UK." I am Corralled. I grew up where the water was pure, and alcohol was...discouraged. Furthermore, I know little of it, except that it tastes bitter." She shrugs at the mate helplessly, as if she is at a loss for words." The Astral Sea is as familiar to me as this city, and I seek to join you because life in the wild reaches seems a far more palatable proposition than life in this tiny realm. There is nothing that frightens or shocks me, you can rest assured, sir. And special skills? I am an asset when fighting ascetics and flayers, for I know the secrets of resisting some of their most devastating attempts to disable their enemies." She pauses and gives the mate a considering look." And begging your pardon, sir, but telling us you must trust us, and in the next breath, demanding we be willing to trust our very lives to you with little reason...does not inspire confidence. Give me a reason, and you may very well find that I can follow such orders." She scowls, briefly." But rest assured I won't upset the order on your skiff." A sturdy looking golden-scaled reptilian creature is the next to step up. He has brown eyes and is shouldering a steel flail with a white grip and a hefty looking bag of equipment. Leathery wings emerge from his chain armor. Hesitantly, he accepts the proffered mug of ale and begins politely taking sips of it. When he finely speaks, his voice is surprisingly soft and well-mannered for such a monstrous looking creature." Greetings, Captain Hollis. I am Arjuna of Io ram. I have traveled the Astral Sea for some years now, and have experience with the wonders of the multiverse. As far as what I can do for you, I feel I am accomplished warrior and I have some skill with magic. I am also strong and willing to do hard, demanding physical labor. But my greatest talent... It would not surprise me to hear that you and your crew have not heard of Io ram. In my years on the sea, no one has. It was attacked by terrible creatures, and in a moment of hopelessness, I simply...walked away" To demonstrate, Arjuna closes his eyes and seems to shimmer and for a moment vanish, appearing a few feet to the left with a "humph!" (invoking Planes walker's Jaunt, Know: Geo check:(1d20+6)[24]. "I am what is known as a "Planes walker", and can will myself and others across the Astral Sea. While it is exhausting and not without its perils, many captains have enjoyed the value of being able to move a small advance party down to the surface of a strange new world without risking their entire ship. The loss of my world is what inspires me to stay. For many of my fellow sailors, the idea of heading into uncharted space, facing unimaginable horrors and risking starvation or worse is unconscionable. I do not think less of them for it, and they are probably the wiser souls. For me, however, it is essential. That Io ram is not listed on any chart or known by any captain I have met implies that it lies 'off the beaten path', as it were. Only by joining ships such as yours can I have any hope of discovering the location and the final fate of my home I have witnessed much and have no doubt that I can remain stalwart in the face of whatever nightmares we may endure. I have the utmost respect for you as captain of this ship, and as long as your orders are fair and show respect for new life and culture we encounter, I will have no problem obeying them no matter how dangerous they may be to myself." Over this time, Arjuna has barely touched his ale." I am sure this is a fine drink, Captain, but I do not have much taste for the alcoholic beverages I have encountered thus far. My sincerest apologies. If I were to pick, however, I do prefer white wine". Arjuna offers a small bow and his best attempt at a friendly smile. Spoiler Hide A short, slender human woman slips around to manage to be one of the first to speak to Mart'UK. "I am Corralled. I grew up where the water was pure, and alcohol was...discouraged. I know little of it, except that it tastes bitter." She shrugs at the mate helplessly, as if she is at a loss for words. "The Astral Sea is as familiar to me as this city, and I seek to join you because life in the wild reaches seems a far more palatable proposition than life in this tiny realm. There is nothing that frightens or shocks me, you can rest assured, sir. And special skills? I am an asset when fighting ascetics and flayers, for I know the secrets of resisting some of their most devastating attempts to disable their enemies." She pauses and gives the mate a considering look. "And begging your pardon, sir, but telling us you must trust us, and in the next breath, demanding we be willing to trust our very lives to you with little reason...does not inspire confidence. Give me a reason, and you may very well find that I can follow such orders." She scowls, briefly. "But rest assured I won't upset the order on your skiff." Mar'UK shrugs at Torfaen's refusal of the drink, and downs the glass himself. When she finishes speaking of herself the captain bows his head." Forgive me my dear, I meant no disrespect. And in all honesty inspiring fear is a good way to thin the ranks as you just noticed. It is good to know though that you are willing and able, however, and a fine sword or spear is never out of place on one of my vessels. Thank you for coming today." Spoiler Hide A sturdy looking golden-scaled reptilian creature is the next to step up. He has brown eyes and is shouldering a steel flail with a white grip and a hefty looking bag of equipment. Leathery wings emerge from his chain armor. Hesitantly, he accepts the proffered mug of ale and begins politely taking sips of it. When he finely speaks, his voice is surprisingly soft and well-mannered for such a monstrous looking creature. "Greetings, Captain Hollis. I am Arjuna of Io ram. I have traveled the Astral Sea for some years now, and have experience with the wonders of the multiverse. As far as what I can do for you, I feel I am accomplished warrior and I have some skill with magic. I am also strong and willing to do hard, demanding physical labor. But my greatest talent... It would not surprise me to hear that you and your crew have not heard of Io ram. In my years on the sea, no one has. It was attacked by terrible creatures, and in a moment of hopelessness, I simply...walked away" To demonstrate, Arjuna closes his eyes and seems to shimmer and for a moment vanish, appearing a few feet to the left with a "humph!" (invoking Planes walker's Jaunt, Know: Geo check: [roll0]. "I am what is known as a "Planes walker", and can will myself and others across the Astral Sea. While it is exhausting and not without its perils, many captains have enjoyed the value of being able to move a small advance party down to the surface of a strange new world without risking their entire ship. The loss of my world is what inspires me to stay. For many of my fellow sailors, the idea of heading into uncharted space, facing unimaginable horrors and risking starvation or worse is unconscionable. I do not think less of them for it, and they are probably the wiser souls. For me, however, it is essential. That Io ram is not listed on any chart or known by any captain I have met implies that it lies 'off the beaten path', as it were. Only by joining ships such as yours can I have any hope of discovering the location and the final fate of my home I have witnessed much and have no doubt that I can remain stalwart in the face of whatever nightmares we may endure. I have the utmost respect for you as captain of this ship, and as long as your orders are fair and show respect for new life and culture we encounter, I will have no problem obeying them no matter how dangerous they may be to myself." Over this time, Arjuna has barely touched his ale. "I am sure this is a fine drink, Captain, but I do not have much taste for the alcoholic beverages I have encountered thus far. My sincerest apologies. If I were to pick, however, I do prefer white wine". Arjuna offers a small bow and his best attempt at a friendly smile. The captain listens to the first part of Arjuna's tale, then after seeing his special talent, he claps excitedly." A planes walker! Useful talents indeed, I almost wish now I hadn't spent a small fortune on an anchor." He chuckles lightly. After listening to the Dragon born's history and motivations, he holds his chin and closes his eyes." Ioram... Ioram... I'm sorry, I am not familiar with such a world. I will hope we come across this world, and that my belief in nightmarish monsters will prove ill-founded." Then as Arjuna walks away the captain can be heard saying"White it is then." The man called Thadeus stood behind his captain. Tall and sleek, his face bore the marks of many years upon the sea. Dressed in a brown leather trench, vest, white shirt and pants, and a black tricorn hat. His gray eyes twinkle mischievously, as though he knows something the rest of you do not." Greetings, and well met, Corralled, Judah. I am, as the dear captain has said, Thadeus Allister. It is good to meet two who are as familiar with the sea as I. This shall be a long journey, and it will be good to have new voices to speak with." Taking his customary glass of whiskey from Mar'UK, Thadeus gave the first mate a thanking nod, and continued to speak." As to why you should trust this man, Corralled, the simple fact is that there is no more masterful captain sailing the Astral Sea in these times. Captain Hollis has saved my life more times than I care to admit. He is a good man, and a better sailor. If any can bring us safely to the end of the Sea, it will be him." Jump Keen is somewhat of a professional adventurer, and helooksthe part. In a shining Even Breastplate, he stands a finger short of six feet tall. Various weapons bristle from his form, from a short sword in a fine sheath, to an assortment of small throwing spears, to a massive great sword, which he holds, unsheathed and menacing, over his shoulder. A large pack cleaves to his back, stuffed to the brim with breads, and cheeses, and dried meats, and his belt carries torches and waters enough for two. Curiously, he's missing rope of any kind... His fingers tap along the lengthy haft of this sword, beating out a tuneless rhythm, to a wordless song his waking mind had forgotten long ago and far below. His eyes shift uncomfortably around the room, as if being indoors was something he'd rather be avoiding, if he could. As the captain begins his speech, Jump wanes bored - he'd been tempted by the void before, heard its journey-song, felt the familiar paths of ship and crew - He'd assumed this would be another routine run, another bar of melody, to tide over his wanderlust. This boredom disappears entirely as the captain - his captain, no matter what, now - continues his speech. To visit the unknown, ply himself against a universe untamed, and see sights never before seen... Jumi finds himself answering the Captain's questions amicably and absentmindedly. His eyes are full of stars, a small melody humming its way through his body, echoed by his fingers and the glow of his sword. Spoiler Hide “What’s your name?” “How much experience on the Astral Sea do you have?” “What do you think of the Ale? “What special skills would you bring to my ship?” “Why would you want to risk life and limb on my ship?” “Do you prefer Rum?” “Do you swear to follow orders in line with the chain of command regardless of how counterintuitive or outright suicidal they may seem?” “Can you remain calm in the face of danger?” “Personally I prefer wine, but we can’t all be connoisseurs can we?” Jump works through the questions as they come, keeping his answers simple and without embellish me- well, that would be lying now, wouldn't it?" Jumi Keen, Sir. I've fought with the Elves on a dozen planets, scoured the Astral Sea for void-iron, and had my share of the finest Dwarves stout. Your ship is taking risks and going places that others simply won't, and frankly, if you didn't take me on I'd stow away. As long as you respect my limits, I'll follow your orders to the best of them. I have a bottle of Even pear-wine aging for me in a secret grove, if I might brag a little. It should be ready for me by the time I'm ready to move on, if you catch my drift. I can't wait." A female the height of a tall man joins the group just before the captain begins speaking. She clearly has some kind of dragon blood to her, as she is covered from head to toe in scales, ranging from almost crimson near her hands to a bronze color around her face. Large wings are held close to her, so as not to cause much bother in close quarters. She wears loose robes, of a nondescript sort, though covered with the wear and dirt of travel. Gani inclines her head at the captain's greeting, and listens intently at his description of the voyage ahead. However, instead of being discouraged by the list of potential horrors and mysteries that surely await, she grows more determined that this is the right place for her to be. She politely refuses the mug of ale offered to her, and when the time has come for her to speak directly to the captain she holds his gaze carefully as she speaks." I am Gain Air'Oxen, the clan name means Bronze fire in the common tongue, so if you have any problems pronouncing it, Bronze fire will suffice. I am a practitioner of magic, chiefly of the sort best suited for combat. Fire is my sword, and acid my lance, though I'm not a complete stranger to more conventional weapons either. I am also well-acquainted with the intricacies of magic, the understanding of which might be useful for a voyage such as this. I don't claim to be a scholar, but I do know quite a bit about the arcane arts. You have no need to worry about whether I am fearless. I have fought and killed my share in the past. I will give you no reason to doubt my mettle. The dangers and troubles to be found on the Astral Sea aren't something I'm afraid of... I'm looking forward to them." She opens her mouth in a grin that bears slightly pointed teeth. "I am always on the lookout for something new, new horizons I haven't crossed. New places I haven't been. In the past decade and a half, I've traveled most of this world and seen many things. They now bore me. I am now constantly having to be on the lookout for new things. The sights, wonders, and even the terrors of the Astral Sea are what have my interest now, which will not soon be slaked. I no longer drink or otherwise indulge in intoxicants, because they've caused me to miss other opportunities in the past and otherwise dull the senses. However, as far as being a connoisseur, I found that settling for something lesser is never as fulfilling as what you really want." As the conversation turns to more serious matters, her face hardens and her orange eyes narrow." As for the question of orders, I will obey them as long as can I see the purpose behind them. Generally though, so long as you don't order me to do anything vile or suicidal, then you will have my obedience. I don't look to start any trouble that's not already coming my way. However, I will make it clear that if you do take me on, I will be as loyal to you as you are to me. For as long as we sail together, I will take the risks needed to protect the ship and the crew. I won't claim just now to be willing to lay down my life for you, but I'll certainly put it on the line and do my best to ensure that I keep it." Spoiler Hide "Jump Keen, Sir. I've fought with the Elves on a dozen planets, scoured the Astral Sea for void-iron, and had my share of the finest Dwarves stout. Your ship is taking risks and going places that others simply won't, and frankly, if you didn't take me on I'd stow away. As long as you respect my limits, I'll follow your orders to the best of them. I have a bottle of Even pear-wine aging for me in a secret grove, if I might brag a little. It should be ready for me by the time I'm ready to move on, if you catch my drift. I can't wait." The captain listens to your story, intently taking in the underhanded detail and laughing heartily at the humor." Experience is always welcome, I don't believe you need stowaway my good man." And he finishes your discussion with a chuckle and a handshake. Spoiler Hide "I am Gain Air'Oxen, the clan name means Bronze fire in the common tongue, so if you have any problems pronouncing it, Bronze fire will suffice. I am a practitioner of magic, chiefly of the sort best suited for combat. Fire is my sword, and acid my lance, though I'm not a complete stranger to more conventional weapons either. I am also well-acquainted with the intricacies of magic, the understanding of which might be useful for a voyage such as this. I don't claim to be a scholar, but I do know quite a bit about the arcane arts. You have no need to worry about whether I am fearless. I have fought and killed my share in the past. I will give you no reason to doubt my mettle. The dangers and troubles to be found on the Astral Sea aren't something I'm afraid of... I'm looking forward to them." She opens her mouth in a grin that bears slightly pointed teeth. "I am always on the lookout for something new, new horizons I haven't crossed. New places I haven't been. In the past decade and a half, I've traveled most of this world and seen many things. They now bore me. I am now constantly having to be on the lookout for new things. The sights, wonders, and even the terrors of the Astral Sea are what have my interest now, which will not soon be slaked. I no longer drink or otherwise indulge in intoxicants, because they've caused me to miss other opportunities in the past and otherwise dull the senses. However, as far as being a connoisseur, I found that settling for something lesser is never as fulfilling as what you really want." As the conversation turns to more serious matters, her face hardens and her orange eyes narrow. "As for the question of orders, I will obey them as long as can I see the purpose behind them. Generally though, so long as you don't order me to do anything vile or suicidal, then you will have my obedience. I don't look to start any trouble that's not already coming my way. However, I will make it clear that if you do take me on, I will be as loyal to you as you are to me. For as long as we sail together, I will take the risks needed to protect the ship and the crew. I won't claim just now to be willing to lay down my life for you, but I'll certainly put it on the line and do my best to ensure that I keep it." As he hears what Gain says about her name he chuckles before saying, in perfect diatonic:Spoiler Hide "The white-hot fire of the Bronze Dragon's Lightning shall engulf all other flames." "I have dabbled in the dragon's tongue." After fulfilling the conversation he smiles." My dear I promise new things and more aboard my vessel. Thank you." After all the recruits have met with the captain and his comrades he asks Mar'UK to bring out yet another keg of ale for the group to share, while he and his closest crew retreat to the balcony to discuss the applicants. Thaddeus:Spoiler Hide PM incoming. All:Spoiler Hide God wouldn't you know it that I finished writing this post at exactly 1:01 am Pacific time, just in time to need to wait 30 minutes for the data backup! Well...at least I've learned not to try submitting those posts, lest they be lost as tribute to the great creature that devours lost posts. Instead, I waited an extra 15 minutes, forgetting to hit the submit button!! Ok, post time. Corralled sips desultorily at the ale, using the drinking as a cover for examining the other recruits. Allies or competition; it's not yet sure what she'd view them as. It takes only a minute before she begins tapping her feet and pacing uncomfortably. Thaddeus:Spoiler Hide "Right as always my friend, the more, the safer then. But no time for rest as of now (it is dawn after all), now time for the tour of the vessel!" All: The crowd hushes in time to hear the words"Tour of the Vessel"drift over the crowd. When Captain Hollis notices the calm he strides with it stepping up to the rail."That's right good ladies and gents. Having discussed it with my partners we have agreed to take all of you on board. And the day is young! So we've plenty of time to introduce you to the finest maiden yet to sail the Astral Sea. Onward and upward my friends!" And he takes off up the stairs at quite a pace, Mar'UK close on his heels. Sighing, the little gnome grabs something on one of the front pockets of her coat and extends it up. It becomes a thin brass ring which stays propped in front of her face. When she speaks into it her voice is projected out over the crowd, despite sounding like an incredibly quiet, almost raspy tone." He's quite serious. Everyone upstairs for a tour of the vessel. Also allow me to apologize on his behalf. Captain Hollis is a bit drunk on finally getting the voyage of his dreams." She collapses the device and then takes off after her taller comrades with short, quick steps. A few of the now hired sailors begin taking strides up the staircase. Corralled spurs herself out of her nervous energy, although when she starts moving, it is with measured steps and no particular excitability, as if trying to belie the impatience she has already demonstrated. Jump climbs aboard, stealing a snack from his bag to munch on during the tour. It's been a while since he's sailed... Arjuna quietly sets the remainder of his ale down and follows the crowd aboard. As they walk he offers a friendly smile to Gain, saying in what she would hear as accented but fairly clear Diatonic"Greetings friend. Nice to see a friendly face aboard. From what world do you hail?" As he hears what Gain says about her name he chuckles before saying, in perfect diatonic: Spoiler Hide "The white-hot fire of the Bronze Dragon's Lightning shall engulf all other flames." "I have dabbled in the dragon's tongue." After fulfilling the conversation he smiles. "My dear I promise new things and more aboard my vessel. Thank you." She holds up her red scaled hands to the level of her bronze colored face and replies calmly in the same language without missing a step:Spoiler Hide "Glad you picked up the language, it's dead useful when it comes to any number of things. As for the name: it's a rather long and involved story. Suffice to say, spell scales such as my clan are...less than fractious when it comes to some matters that keep people apart. Perhaps sometime I might tell you, but now is neither the time nor place." She is delighted that the captain seems amenable to her, and that she is one great step closer to her visions of adventures out on the Astral Sea. Hearing his comment, she smiles and ruffles her tucked-in wings toward the dragon born (a motion looking much like the shrug of shoulders) by way of a salute between those of similar form. Rather than continuing in the same language, she replies in Common. While his Diatonic was accented by his natural language, she had the opposite problem: her Common bore obvious traces of Diatonic." Greetings to you, as well. I'd prefer not to stick with that language just now, if you don't mind. Nothing wrong with it, but if I get my head into speaking it, I'll forget that not everyone does. What world? I hail from this one, though I've joined this crew so that I can spend some time seeing others. And yourself?" As she talks, she begins falling in with the rest of the newly-hired crew members for the tour of the ship. The stairs wind around the outside of the tower, creaking slightly from the weight of so many traversing them at once. They hold fast, and you quickly rise past two more floors, both covered in supplies for the ship. Then finally you reach the docking floor, where you can finally see the ship. She is a long galleon of three masts and three pairs of wings stretching out from her lower reaches. The Maidenhead is a solid oak sculpture of a beautiful woman, one hand holding up her flowing gown and the other out stretched and reaching for the distance. Two docking bridges extend from the port (left) side of the vessel attaching cleanly to a deck you are approaching. As the captain and his confidants walk onto the ship and the newly appointed crew follows, he begins speaking in a loud and clear voice.“Welcome friends to your new home, Nous Horizon. Quickest and most important lesson is one of direction. Port is left, Starboard is right, Aft is backwards, and ahead should be obvious. Less obvious are Skyward, which is up, and Toward, which is down, and I cannot stress that enough. Out on the astral sea there is no real up or down, direction is based on whichever way the vessel points, so best be good with directions.” Though his words echo cleanly around the large space for the sky dock he waits for the ship’s deck to be filled with the crew before continuing, having taken position on the upper deck near the steering housing along with his confidants.“Today my crew, take a look around the ship, acquaint yourselves to its pathways and layout-“But don’t get too friendly with any of the machinery!” the small woman’s voice quickly breaks through.”Indeed, my dear. This day is one to gain familiarity, both between the crew and the ship. Our launch date is four days from now, also at dawn. In the following three days, you will learn or relearn everything you know about sailing on the astral sea, and on the fourth day, we leave this world behind us, to seek our fortunes far away. To the ship!”“To the SHIP!” the first mate roars out, inciting a similar reaction from several crew members. Spoiler Hide After a bit of role-play (feel free to react with some NPCs, I’m not too caring on their attitudes or personalities yet) I’ll post the lessons, and then we’ll get this vessel under way! Arjuna nods to Gain." Too true; common is not my native tongue either, but I find that even those that understand our tongue find my pronunciation and vocabulary somewhat off-putting. I hail from a world known as Io ram, which I have sadly lost. It is my hope that I find it on this journey. What brings you aboard the Nous Horizon?" Arjuna says all this without breaking a sweat as he surveys the ship they have arrived at. Jump takes a swig of water to wash down some bread at the back of his throat. While he admires the vessel, for surely it's among the most splendid he's seen of its size, the thought of unexplored lands holds him by the very core of his being, calls to who he is, from his ancestry to his waking mind." I don't think I can wait,"he murmurs. Turning to the two conversing together, he asks, "Think you can teach me that?" Arjuna turns to Jump and extends a hand, smiling (or at least, grinning toothily and trying not to appear too menacing)." I'm eager to be off as well, although it never hurts to receive additional training in the ways of the seas. And I'd be happy to try to teach you the tongue of my people. It's incredibly useful and spoken by many races great or small. She may be more help to you, however, as my dialect isn't the Diatonic language that most sailors speak" Gain turns her head slightly at the request, then nods briskly." Perhaps, at some time, I might, though it'll take quite a while to even work on the basics. I can't say I've ever taught a language before, though I have learned several. It might make for an interesting challenge. Keep in mind that there are certain, difficulties in pronunciation. It would be most troublesome." "I'm a quick learner," he says in Elvish, and then in Dwarves, with a smile,"I've got a knack for these things - I'll pick it up as we go along, just keep talking and I'll keep learning." "My, I should say so!"chuckles Arjuna." I'm afraid to even I didn't recognize that last tongue. I'll be happy to do what I can to teach you as well." Rather bemused, Gain responds with a toothy grin. She begins in Even,"I'm quite glad to hear that you're a speedy learner." Without missing a beat, she then transitions to Dwarves,"Still, I must hope your determination to learn will last beyond infatuation." And after a moment of hesitation, she finishes in Gnome, "Very well, I will do what I can to teach you the tongue. Be ready to practice." She continues to smile as she dips a quick bow in Jump's direction. Laughing, he waves farewell as he jaunts off to study another section of the ship." Just keep talking, I'll pick it up." My grandmother died this morning (Sunday, June 19, 2011). I'm going halfway across the country to her funeral, and will be largely unable to post for the next week. Sorry for the inconvenience. If this game is still alive, DMPC me as a Gypsies King should the need arise. I'm so sorry to hear that Christa. My condolences, have a safe trip. I'm still up for this game if our dm is still around, although I'm fine holding a week. We've held almost a month; what's a few more days?

New Horizons (IC)|rating:4.0

Academy Arcanum - OOC

The Mighty IOC! Please feel free to chat it up in this thread. To avoid congestion, I ask that in-game chatter stay in-game, or plotting stays in Private Messages. And Bookmarked! Hello everyone :) Yo! A-Yo! To people (have arrived~! About a week late, it feels, but I finally got here no, thanks to University trying to stomp on all of my hopes and dreams. Hello everyone! Please feel free to take a glance at Aubrey Stanford and maybe consider giving me a hit-up in the future for interactions. *grins* I am always willing to plot and talk. Or just make a fool of myself. I can do that too. ;-) How is everyone? He looks awesome, Faustus I am totally open to plotting and links with either of my boys. Leo is going to be pretty new I think, but Jackson has been around for a bit. Totally open to ideas, so feel free to poke me with a pm. Okay, so I have decided that the beginning of the school year (when new students arrive) will be on Halloween. So the first official IC date will be October 31st, 2016. As of right now I do not wish to begin IC interactions in present world time until the Head of Wizard Studies position and Headmaster position have been filled.However, I am up to opening IC interactions in a "History" thread, meaning students who aren't new and teachers will be free to interact on dates before October 31st. I am still undecided on this matter. If you are for or against getting a "History" thread up and running shortly, please speak your peace kindly as you see fit. Hey guys and gals, nice to see this thing starting to roll. I'm applying for the headmaster's position, and currently working on his character sheet. The personality is all set, but currently looking for a good fit in terms of a face claim. Now, Shattered has generously permitted me to post here and ask for your inputs. Here are the options:Colby Keller-(Roshan-(Armitage-("researching" (if you google Keller, be warned- NSFW material coming your way). I approve of them all, though I must say I get tingly in the bits for Richard. *slides a vote to Armitage because reasons* Just from a headmaster type perspective I think Dick is the way to go. Quote from: Faustus on 03-11-2016, 20:12:23*slides a vote to Armitage because reasons*GIIIIRRRRRRLLLLLLLLL. I know your reasons!same reason I said the same thing Quote from: Orange Marmalade on 03-11-2016, 20:15:51Just from a headmaster type perspective I think Dick is the way to go.*thumbs up*Richard Armitage is my vote as well, but Roshan'says. Yeah, I was mostly leaning towards him as well. Richard it is, then. Thanks! Preston Grange (#msg12755117) is open and available for connections, my lovelies! -grins.- I'm so excited to be playing with you guys. Sorry I have been quiet, it's been a ruff couple of days. But I love the characters that are being posted and worked on. My muses keep going, I want to play with him....and him...and him...and OH him LOL. I can't wait to get into some scenes with you all. Connections and plotting is totally available with either of my boys as well. Quote from: Bibliophile on 04-11-2016, 17:26:08Preston Grange (#msg12755117) is open and available for connections, my lovelies! -grins.- I'm so excited to be playing with you guys. He looks tasty!Also, I plan on writing up a student this weekend to join those ranks as well. All of these characters look incredible, and I'm really excited to dive into a group RP with all of you (and create some mischief)! Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong or anything like that -- I'm still a Sol noob let when it comes to role-playing. I'm excited to dive into something too. Gigging! -snickers at Raven.- Quote from: Bibliophile on 05-11-2016, 06:54:55-snickers at Raven.-*waggles eyebrows* Quote from: Raven on 05-11-2016, 07:11:47*waggles eyebrows**waggles stuff* Quote from: Orange Marmalade on 05-11-2016, 07:22:27*waggles stuff*What stuff might that be? ^-^ Quote from: Raven on 05-11-2016, 07:30:45What stuff might that be? ^-^ I think he meant "staff". Quote from: Revolution on 05-11-2016, 06:22:00All of these characters look incredible, and I'm really excited to dive into a group RP with all of you (and create some mischief)! Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong or anything like that -- I'm still a Sol noob let when it comes to role-playing. Hugs~ I am sure you will do great! This seems like a great group, so don't worry about being a newbie. We don't bite...ah...ok we might, but only when you really want us to :P he-he JK Quote from: Curvy Kitten on 05-11-2016, 14:47:24 Hugs~ I am sure you will do great! This seems like a great group, so don't worry about being a newbie. We don't bite...ah...ok we might, but only when you really want us to :P he-he JK*thumbs up* ;)I'm not too worried. Like you said, all of you seem to be a friendly bunch~ Just an update:A character sheet has been turned in for the Headmaster of the school. If you wish to apply to play him - which means you must not have a faculty character currently accepted - then you must show interest in playing the Headmaster of the school before Thursday, November 14th or the writer who has applied to be the Headmaster will officially play the part. How is everyone doing this beautiful Election Day? I'm glad I voted early. -chuckles.- You? Quote from: Bibliophile on 08-11-2016, 16:05:49I'm glad I voted early. -chuckles.- You? This! Quote from: Bibliophile on 08-11-2016, 16:05:49I'm glad I voted early. -chuckles.- You? Same. Not a US citizen, but I heard that the human orange is losing. Quote from: Roe non 08-11-2016, 17:07:33Not a US citizen, but I heard that the human orange is losing. Not a Christian, but I pray to God he is :P Working on a Med-Control Elementals -- going off a sort of modern druid motif. Had a setting question: Do natural spirits exist? I'm referring to more the ephemeral kind -- like an elemental or a wisp versus a more humanoid/tangible example like dryads, nymphs, and satyrs. On that discussion, though unrelated to my character: do other supernatural types exist in the human world? I unfortunately have to wait until after work to vote. However, I am so damned stoked to do so. Locke: I will read and reply to your post in a little bit. Currently, escaping work by hiding in the bathroom. Quote from: Locke pick on 08-11-2016, 17:25:36Working on a Med-Control Elementals -- going off a sort of modern druid motif. Had a setting question: Do natural spirits exist? I'm referring to more the ephemeral kind -- like an elemental or a wisp versus a more humanoid/tangible example like dryads, nymphs, and satyrs. On that discussion, though unrelated to my character: do other supernatural types exist in the human world? Both of these are very good question. To answer the first: yes, I would presume so since Necromancers wield spiritual energy. These Elementals will only be able to be interacted with by elementals. For the second: I am not sure, so we could always put that to a vote. See if those who are also writing would like having more than one kind of supernatural being in the universe, though ultimately they would come from the mage's realm and choose to go to the human realm if they choose to do so. I guess I'd say 'Sure' -- just to keep options open, but I'd rather them be rare. I don't really want them flooding the Academy, personally. Well, no. The Academy is for Mages and Mages alone. It would be considered and intrusion punishable by death for other supernatural beings to set foot on Academy grounds without permission. I VOTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AND IT FEELS SOOOOOOO GODHOOD! Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 08-11-2016, 21:21:57I VOTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AND IT FEELS SOOOOOOO GODHOOD! I really hope Cthulhu wins it this year! Congrats, Symphony, and on behalf of America, I apologize thatthisof all elections was your first.-chuckles.- I would also be interested to see other supernatural beings, like vampires, wraiths and were-beasts. However, I feel like they should only be used by the ST for plot-type purposes, not actual playable characters. Everyone knows that the minute you start offering those type of things, that's all anyone makes. -giggles.-But, itwouldbe interesting to see how Preston would respond to a vampire, or how an Organist would deal with something like a demon. Demons are a part of the universe. Necromancers can commune with them, even make deals with them. This election has been pretty ugly, but it's okay. I'm still honored to have voted. Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 08-11-2016, 21:21:57I VOTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AND IT FEELS SOOOOOOO GODHOOD! This election will also be my first time voting! I just haven't done it yet until I get out of work. Hooray: Cal Sullivan (#msg12764753) exists! I'm down for any links people want to make, if any! Locke, I love that you made a good ol' boy! I love the idea of a modern druid as a backwoods country boy. -grins.- Quote from: Locke pick on 08-11-2016, 22:29:43Hooray: Cal Sullivan (#msg12764753) exists! I'm down for any links people want to make, if any! I want to teach him and do terrible things to him at the same time. To all of our American friends, my deepest sympathy :/ I cannot speak for all, however I will show the utmost perseverance through this unfortunate matter. I will not allow a circumstance such as this one to stop me in my tracks. It just goes to show where the United States is at in terms of mindset. It is good to be shown such clarity at times like these. I've changed my characters face claim, just FYI to those who're going to set up connections with him. @Biblio: I appreciate it! @Ryven: I like the change! Not that I had an issue with the other one. Quote from: Locke pick on 09-11-2016, 16:25:34@Ryven: I like the change! Not that I had an issue with the other one. I only did it because the new one has more pictures for diversity of image. Also, I am loving your character concept. Along those lines and this is more for Shattered, where do the magical lines between Wizardry and Elementalism end. What sort of things can wizards do that Elementals cannot? My personal view on it without input is that wizards can manipulate things such as time, space, and physics. I don't see elementals using magic of that sort, but I can see elementals manipulating the natural world and the elements (earth, fire, water, air). I do see overlap between the two though. For example, a wizard could cast a fireball spell, but beyond that, they cannot manipulate the flames. Elementals could create fire and allow it to do their bidding much like fire benders from the avatar series. So, I guess what my question would be is, do you see elementals tapping into powers that can skate the edge of wizardry. Would an elementals be able to use teleportation if it were requiring a mechanism such as using a fire to move from one place to another or perhaps using a river to travel quickly (walking into the water and appearing several miles down or up stream). Thoughts? Though the lines are thin between the two, there are still lines dividing them. An elementals using the elements to travel at a faster rate wouldn't be considered "teleportation", more fast travel. And wizards cannot tap into the power of the elements, only wield the powers of time, space, and arcane energy. Hello everybody! I'm a bit new to group RP's on illiquid so you'll have to forgive me a bit. My character is now up on the accepted list, so anyone interested in interacting with lovely weird little Finn, don't hesitate to contact me. Alrighty, people, Headmaster Baxter(#msg12776806) is approved and posted. If you want to discuss working relationships or anything to do with my character and yours, PM me! -squeals.- YAY! I'm so happy we have a headmaster! He's happy to have you too, Bibs :P *delighted!*This does remind me that I have a professor I am supposed to finish up, EEP -snickers at Rouen.- I doubt he'll feel that way when he has to deal with Preston organizing a party with the intent of introducing the other boys to the wonders of peyote. Quote from: Roe non 14-11-2016, 23:38:11Alrighty, people, Headmaster Baxter (#msg12776806) is approved and posted. If you want to discuss working relationships or anything to do with my character and yours, PM me! He and Eldridge have a lot in common. They should be friends. *nods* Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 00:09:25-snickers at Rouen.- I doubt he'll feel that way when he has to deal with Preston organizing a party with the intent of introducing the other boys to the wonders of peyote. Hmm, not entirely sure how he would react, actually. On the one hand, drugs create an unwelcome distraction and potential damage to one's intellectual capabilities, on the other hand-he would welcome most practices that may lead to broaden one's thought process, as some hallucination 'trips' might offer. It's a tough one. Luckily, I don't expect the teachers would run to him over every disciplinary incident. Quote from: Raven on 15-11-2016, 00:42:07He and Eldridge have a lot in common. They should be friends. *nods*They do have some common interests and attributes, don't they? Their views might differ, and sometimes even contrast, which would make for interesting dynamics. Tempest wants in on the peyote. No hallucination orgies without the fun teacher, academy policy. -grins at Shattered.- I'll keep that in mind! Preston would totally invite him. So this is set during the start of a mage war or war on magic, right? Does the school have a defense force or way of maintaining its security? Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 00:09:25-snickers at Rouen.- I doubt he'll feel that way when he has to deal with Preston organizing a party with the intent of introducing the other boys to the wonders of peyote. Aspen wants in on that as well! I have a feeling Preston and Aspen will get along presently well. -grins.- Awesome. Quote from: Raven on 15-11-2016, 01:10:57So this is set during the start of a mage war or war on magic, right? Does the school have a defense force or way of maintaining its security? There are protective tunes and barriers in place to keep enemies out, however if those are breached all high-level students and faculty are expected to form an army to protect the medium and low-level students. It isn't entirely uncommon for medium-level students to be promoted to high-level in times of crisis. Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 15-11-2016, 10:55:54There are protective tunes and barriers in place to keep enemies out, however if those are breached all high-level students and faculty are expected to form an army to protect the medium and low-level students. It isn't entirely uncommon for medium-level students to be promoted to high-level in times of crisis. Alright. I was assuming something like this would happen, but wanted to make sure. Quote from: Bibliophile on 15-11-2016, 00:09:25-snickers at Rouen.- I doubt he'll feel that way when he has to deal with Preston organizing a party with the intent of introducing the other boys to the wonders of peyote. Cal would also love to get on the peyote-boat. Even as that boat turns into a tree, and then a snake, and then melts into a representation of his control issues before forcing itself into his nostrils. Drug riddled parties aside, will we be holding actual classes? With lectures and all? Is the headmaster allowed to hold a class too? Of course there are actually going to be classes! And possible magical sparring. If you would like for the headmaster to hold a class, please send me the premise of such class in a pm, and we can work it out. ;) Lectures are boring. I want practical application. Quote from: Raven on 16-11-2016, 03:57:46 Lectures are boring. I want practical application. Of course, you do. I wouldn't expect any less. Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 16-11-2016, 01:53:38Of course there are actually going to be classes! And possible magical sparring. If you would like for the headmaster to hold a class, please send me the premise of such class in a pm, and we can work it out. ;)So I'm currently looking for field/subject ideas that would be suitable for Headmaster Baxter to teach. It could be either theory, practice, or a little bit of both. A subject that'll be beyond the basic stuff that's already on the syllabubs, sort of unique/Advanced subject that would pique the students' interest. Would love to hear suggestions for classes you might like to have. So Raven and I have been talking about 'pairing' Eldritch and Cal -- but after reading the blurb about it, I'm not sure if that's actually a thing. So a pairing is typically a High Control and a Low Control -- what happens when the Low Control gets to Medium Control? Is the pairing continued, or is it broken off? In the official capacity, I guess. Quote from: Locke pick on 16-11-2016, 18:54:07So Raven and I have been talking about 'pairing' Eldritch and Cal -- but after reading the blurb about it, I'm not sure if that's actually a thing. So a pairing is typically a High Control and a Low Control -- what happens when the Low Control gets to Medium Control? Is the pairing continued, or is it broken off? In the official capacity, I guess. From reading it, this only happens with low control/unstable mages. Then, once it is created, it is never brokenQuoteMore often than not when this link is created, it will never be severed. So it seems to make sense that if Cal came in all unstable and trying to learn years ago that he could have been paired to Eldritch, and that pairing would last, well, forever :)At least that's my take on it... SS I'm sure will clarify. I'm also curious about pairings. Can pairings happen between people with different specialities? Like a wizard and a necromancer? Would the pairing affect their powers in any way? Like the wizard half suddenly gaining an affinity to blood magic? (Sorry if this is already stated somewhere!) A pairing can happen voluntarily, if they so wish for it to happen. However, it will just need to be approved by the Headmaster. A pairing can happen between two Mages who are of different archetypes. It's more unusual, but still okay. However, the pairing will not merge powers. All those wish to be paired should take a number and wait outside Headmaster Baxter's office. Prepare yourselves, tests might be in order. Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 17-11-2016, 00:15:28A pairing can happen voluntarily, if they so wish for it to happen. However, it will just need to be approved by the Headmaster. A pairing can happen between two Mages who are of different archetypes. It's more unusual, but still okay. However, the pairing will not merge powers. And those that happen involuntarily? Quote from: Raven on 17-11-2016, 01:33:26And those that happen involuntarily? I envisioned those as more ceremonial... And still need Headmaster okay... Quote from: Raven on 17-11-2016, 01:33:26And those that happen involuntarily? I think this might answer your question. QuoteIf the Academies council begins to wonder if a Mage will ever be able to control their power, they will investigate the mage in question. If the council deems the Mage unfit to wield magic on their own accord, they will bind the Mage’s power to another student - one whose control level is vastly superior - or a staff member. When a Mage’s powers are bound to another’s, it creates a link between the two of them, empowering the both of them on a magnetic, magical, and physical level. This kind of relationship is called a “Pair”. The more stable mage of the two is considered the “Organist”, while the lesser of the two is considered the “Apprentice”. Shattered, do we have an ETA on when we're going to start? There's no rush and this certainly isn't a poke or anything, I'm just curious! Haha! So glad you asked since I had planned to inform y'all about it. I am hoping to have IC threads up and live either this weekend, or during Thanksgiving break. Quote from: Roe non 17-11-2016, 01:41:51I think this might answer your question. That doesn't entirely answer the question. SS made it sound like pairings can occur just by happenstance in nature as well as being planned. That description also only describes mages being paired with other students. Are professors/teachers/masters of magical specialties less likely to be paired? Yay! -does a little dance.- I'm excited to play Preston. I admit that I'm not really sure if I understand! I'm not trying to scrutinize this or anything! Furthermore, I'm not quite I understand the motivation, duration, the process, or the benefits! Quote from: Locke pick on 17-11-2016, 02:38:17I admit that I'm not really sure if I understand! I'm not trying to scrutinize this or anything! I'm not quite I understand the motivation, duration, the process, or the benefits! That's precisely why I'm asking. There isn't a clear reasoning behind why other than the mage who is being paired up just can't control their powers. Quote from: Raven on 17-11-2016, 01:55:27That doesn't entirely answer the question. SS made it sound like pairings can occur just by happenstance in nature as well as being planned. That description also only describes mages being paired with other students. Are professors/teachers/masters of magical specialties less likely to be paired? Sorry, a bit slow on the uptake here, where did he mention that it can be a naturally occurring phenomenon? I know I'm not Lymph here, so don't take my word as any form of law, but how I have been reading the situation on Pairing (and what I discovered while re-reading the Recruitment thread -- I can link to quotes if that would help!) Motivation Low-Level and magically unstable individuals need a good grounding source to help them get their abilities under control. I assume this could be likened to... Hm, let's take X-Men as an example since many people have seen/read. Jean Grey had heavy latent abilities, but she couldn't really control them. She needed a stable and clear tutor to help her achieve her potential (Charles Xavier). I assume it's kinda the same thing for these guys. A haywire-in-the-powers-department Elementals might have strong abilities inherently, but without someone to guide and teach they're going to cause a blizzard when they meant to make an ice cube. So I guess a big motivator here is stabilization, security, and safety for themselves and others. On the other hand, it is also mentioned that when bound together, the two Mages are empowered. This would imply that their magic is also bumped up, so a High-Level could get an extra boost in the magic department from doing this. Given the mention in the Character Development categories, the Necromancer type also NEEDS a bond to keep their abilities stabilized and will draw from their Apprentice to work their magic better. Duration:This is definitely stated in the development: it's enema unless the bond is severed, which doesn't happen very often. I mean, there are probably circumstances that could lead to requesting for a bond to be broken, but two people that would need that probably didn't make a Pair to begin with. It seems like a mutual-wavelengths-and-ideologies type of deal. Process:Unlisted, but Lymph did mention a ceremonial-type of thing overseen by the Headmaster. I'm sure this will be detailed. :Benefits:See: Motivation Again, I'm totally not speaking for Lymph here, so he can correct me if I have misconstrued any of this, but I think this is what is being gotten at? Quote from: Roe non 17-11-2016, 03:13:06Sorry, a bit slow on the uptake here, where did he mention that it can be a naturally occurring phenomenon? Symph had said (emphasis mine): "A pairingcanhappen voluntarily, ..." This suggests that it also can happen involuntarily. Yes, but that might mean that a mage can beforcedinto a pairing against their will. Like, if their magic isveryunstable and, thus, dangerous to themselves and/or others, so they are made to pair with an older mage in order to protect themselves and those around them. I imagine that sort of thing is very rare. Yep, seems like the word voluntarily is there to make the distinction between a pairing initiated willingly by the pair and one forced on them by the council. What is this council, by the way? Is this referring to some school council consisting of the department heads and the headmaster, a school board or some political entity in the order? Damn, y'all were active while I was resting. I see a lot of questions, which I am going to try desperately to answer today however I have ten hours of work then class right after, so any and all answers will have to wait till around 8pm est. Okay, so here are some answers:1. In the blurb itdidsay that teachers and staff members can be paired with students. I just stated so after I talked about piton between two students, and I did not go in depth about it. If a student and a teacher wish to be paired voluntarily, all they need is Headmaster (and GM) approval. For involuntary pairing, Headmaster, GM, and Council approval is required.2. The council is a force of school board staffed with the school's headmaster, the schools three archetype master professors, and various other NPC's to balance out the ruling. Essentially the council is the jury and judge of the school and what goes on inside. They also make rulings on expulsion, though this is a rare case. They would much rather pair an unruly mage than take away their power.3. An Apprentice can grow in control-level on their own if their Organist permits them to continue studying magic. If the Organist and the Apprentice are two different archetypes, the Organist has free rein to make the Apprentice switch archetypes to match his archetype.4. In the face of an involuntary pairing, the Headmaster, all archetype master professors, the potential Organist, and potential Apprentice are required to be present during the pairing ritual. If you do not wish to actually write out your part in the ritual, that is fine. It is not required you participate with words, however for the three masters and the Headmaster, they must be there. Any other questions that need answering that over missed? Is required to be paired up in the RP? All this talk about it worries me, because I have not had anyone that seemed interested in any plotting. So neither of my boys are paired up. Does that mean I am SOL on RP partners? No, it is not required at all, just an option Ok, I was worried the for a second he. I didn't miss the IC threads did I?lol Quote from: Curvy Kitten on 17-11-2016, 14:00:36Is required to be paired up in the RP? All this talk about it worries me, because I have not had anyone that seemed interested in any plotting. So neither of my boys are paired up. Does that mean I am SOL on RP partners? I would be willing to pair my guy with Jackson, but he already has a high control level. I am the type who would rather wait and allow a pairing to emerge organically in game, because there's no telling if my guy will have that sort of connection with someone until they're played together, and pairing is such a big step. But, I feel like this game is going to have plenty of opportunity for interaction and engagement outside of pairings, so it's not a big deal to me. I look at pairing as a kind of marriage, which is sort of the 'end step' to a group game, not the starting off point, typically. Agreed, Billion. Same! So basically, if any of the low control level boys screws up, any council member can initiate a vote to force a pairing on them? Does the player of said character get a say in this? I agree as well, hence why I asked that pairing not happen from the get-go of the game. It's an intense tie of powers, emotions, and lust. Not to mention a pair cannot be broken once formed unless either the Apprentice or the Organist dies. There are no known living Mages who can sever a pair without the cost of their own life. Keep that in mind when thinking about pairing. Quote from: Roe non 17-11-2016, 17:14:22So basically, if any of the low control level boys screws up, any council member can initiate a vote to force a pairing on them? Does the player of said character get a say in this? The character has all the say. A pair will not be forced unless the player of said character is game for it. The subject of Baxter's exclusive class has been decided! So... On an unrelated subject, any King killer Chronicles readers here? :P Quote from: Roe non 17-11-2016, 19:14:12So... On an unrelated subject, any King killer Chronicles readers here? PI tried, but my brain exploded from all the adjectives. Eldridge will be teaching a class called Magic Practicum. Basically it will be practical application of magic and will be geared towards working as a team in times of crisis. Scratch that! I mixed it with The Dark Tower series. Yup. I read the first two books. Both pretty damned amazing. Quote from: Pocket Watch on 17-11-2016, 21:47:09Scratch that! I mixed it with The Dark Tower series. Yup. I read the first two books. Both pretty damned amazing. I know, right? Talk about sexy writers, that Roth fuss fella can really give me a literate's boner :DSO yeah, Naming is going to be Baxter's course. I'll try not to make him into an Elodie wannabe, and think of original ways to convey the lectures, but that's what we're going to have *nods*Raven, your Magic Practicum idea sounds fantastic! I'm enjoying all of these ideas! Thank you for adding your spark into this, you guys. I really appreciate it. Show of hands as to who wants Tempest to teach a ritualistic magic class. It'll be... off the chain. Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 17-11-2016, 23:38:38I'm enjoying all of these ideas! Thank you for adding your spark into this, you guys. I really appreciate it. Show of hands as to who wants Tempest to teach a ritualistic magic class. It'll be... off the chain. I've always loved ritualistic magic! Kinda makes me wish I had a student character, though I think Baxter alone is already a handful. Patrick Roth fuss plays D&D with the Penny Arcade guys, Scott Kurtz and a special guest, Wil Wheaton a few times, every Pax Prime. There are videos on YouTube under the title Acquisitions Incorporated. You know...if anyone is interested. Patrick is pretty damn awesome...hell, they all are. And, there's a podcast of their ongoing game away from PAX. Anyhow, I like the idea of ritualistic and practical magic classes. I feel like Preston's style of necromancy, which is more life and energy focused, will be interesting to incorporate into the more traditional Necromancer classes. I think this was mentioned in the intro information, but just wanted to clarify: are low control students going to be mixed into classes with middle/high control students? Furthermore, I assume so since this is a group RP, but wanted to know ya'Los thoughts on it. My character might be a little... volatile, so I'm also wondering what's going to happen if any of the students are isolated. Will they be able to meet with professors individually for extra lessons? The students of different control levels have different classes other than the "practical" classes that everyone takes together. Students who need extra attention may get that attention if the teacher see's fit. Awesome! Thanks for the clarification, I'm really hyped to get started. :) As for the Ritual class, I imagine it heavily focusing on solo, and paired rituals, ranging from innocent everyday ritualistic magic, to the kind that requires some form of sacrifice. I.e. Goats, a small amount of human blood, burning of beloved possessions etc. No human sacrifices. That's frowned upon. But the blood and sex orgies are not. Well, to be absolutely honest, I'm still not 100% certain that I want to go with the Naming class. It's a great concept, but it's not a perfect shoo-in for this setting. Might be a nice mechanic for SS to manage, deciding when someone gets a temporary knowledge of a certain name, though.*scratches head*Probably shouldn't pick at it here, though, lol. Also, yes, no human sacrifice on school grounds, our janitors have enough on their hands as it is. Blood orgies are acceptable on weekends, and with (in)appropriate faculty supervision. Tempest is perfect supervision. He's the blood orgy chaperone, don't CIA know? Also: for those who have or are planning Necromancer students, Tempest has something extra wonderful for you. OOO...-perks at Tempest.-Also? Preston is very in for blood orgies. Certain mage types and vampires negate my usual distaste for blood play. With those types, it becomes sexy. *Is starting to wonder how he got stuck playing the responsible adult* -sticks out tongue.- No takes-backsies! -scampers off.- Never. I think I'm going to like Baxter, as long as writing him wouldn't be too exhausting. Quote from: Roe non 18-11-2016, 03:18:49*Is starting to wonder how he got stuck playing the responsible adult*You took headmaster. You keep headmaster. Headmaster...master of the head! -is punchy.- Quote from: Bibliophile on 18-11-2016, 03:45:47Headmaster...master of the head! -is punchy.-I see what you did there. I'm really excited to jump into it and see where this all goes. Seeing all the talk of rambunctious blood orgies almost makes me regret not playing a straight-up necromancer. On the subject of pairings, rather than actual pairings I think I'd like to know a little more about the rooming scheme. Are the students housed by archetype or do they just get assigned a room when they first enter and stay there unless something comes up? Are there different types of dorm rooms? I know at my uni how much you're willing to pay changes how much space you have to share with others, but I got the impression that at the academy all the dorms were of the two to a room type. Edit:currently the low control students are Leblanc, Aspen and Finn. If a threesome breaks out it would be a powder keg of passion and unbalanced magic haha. Quote from: Crawl on 18-11-2016, 03:57:06Edit:currently the low control students are Leblanc, Aspen and Finn. If a threesome breaks out it would be a powder keg of passion and unbalanced magic haha.*wink* Hello destruction. Quote from: Roe non 18-11-2016, 03:18:49*Is starting to wonder how he got stuck playing the responsible adult* I think Aubrey falls into that category too. I mean, he's a student, but... Also -- is there anything we are specifically needing in terms of professor figures? I have one on reserve, and if we are looking for something specific I can try to gear in that direction. Quote from: Faustus on 18-11-2016, 06:57:33I think Aubrey falls into that category too. I mean, he's a student, but... Also -- is there anything we are specifically needing in terms of professor figures? I have one on reserve, and if we are looking for something specific I can try to gear in that direction. I think anyone who isn't one of the heads of a specialization. Furthermore, I only think we have the headmaster and the three heads of Nero/wizard/element studies thus far. MC is a student counselor, so he's not really teaching a subject but more there for guidance. I will discuss housing situations shortly. Okay, so here's how the rooms go. Low-level Mages share a room with one other mage. They live in "commons" that are connected to four other two-man rooms. Each room has their own bathroom that the two must share. Medium-level Mages do not share a room however live in commons with four other rooms. The medium-level Mages share a bathroom with one other mage. High-level Mages do not share a room, or a bathroom, however are still in four room commons. All staff member have fully functional apartments with a large master bedroom, a kitchen, and exquisite living area that they are allowed to decorate to their delight. The headmaster should of course have the most grandiose living quarters. So, he is obligated to hold staff Thanksgiving and Christmas parties. ;) So for Medium Students, I see: Jude, Cal, and Preston. So looks like they'd be in the quad together -- with an open room if any others join! Haha! Thinking of Jude sharing a bathroom with someone makes me giggle. So thoughts on various locations of interest in or nearby to the academy? My suggestions:- Dungeon-Labyrinth (stone, hedge, or otherwise. Enchanted, of course)- Forest'm thinking of using some of these for practical instruction. I enjoy all of those. I'd probably put the labyrinth and the forest in the same thread. The dungeon sounds kinky. I think it would be interesting for the enchanted labyrinth to change what it's formed out of on a time clock. Go from stone to hedge, to something entirely different. One made of fire would be pretty dope. Not that kind of dungeon. :) Eldridge has a different kind hidden away. Quote from: Raven on 18-11-2016, 16:46:44Not that kind of dungeon. :) Eldridge has a different kind hidden away. Good to know. ;) I know any outdoor/natural locations will be of interest to Cal. Forests, Lakes/Rivers, etc. There will be a school grounds thread, so anything outside the four walls of the school shall be written there. I hate to be the first one to bring Harry Potter into this but in honor of fantastic beasts coming to theaters it might be fun to have a professor whose main classes are about magical creatures. I would love it if he's like a magical crocodile Dundee, all grizzled with a ton of experience. He could teach like a practical potions, or rituals class aside from lecture. I imagine if someone decides to use this idea they'd have to pm SS a lot to confirm world stuff first. I'm not sure If I want to make a professor but if someone makes him you can bet that Finn will frequently 'liberate' the specimens. Just a thought. Sorry if there are more typos, I'm on my phone right now. If someone wishes to do a class like that we can discuss what kind of magical creatures exist in this world Shattered, which type do you see a mage that's focused on divination and the like being? Divination could be used by any three of the archetypes, however if I were too narrow it down it would be a tie between Nero and Wizard. -Nod nod.- I'd probably go Wizard, just to change things up a bit. I like the idea of making a professor who focuses on the mental aspects of magic, like divination and telepathy. I think that would be a mighty fine idea. Billion, Aubrey would adore someone who focuses on telepathy, given his use of it! (do you guys think of him as your new Ar's Mantis professor? What's an as mantis? It's fancy-ass Latin for Mental Arts. Basically, he would focus on things like divination, telepathy, telekinesis, mind-control and every other magical power that stems entirely from the mind. He would also teach the students how to quiet their minds and have better focus. Vessels please! Shemar Moore is a prime cut of man! -fans self-Quote from: Bibliophile on 18-11-2016, 21:11:23He would also teach the students how to quiet their minds and have better focus. Seconding that yes please! Aspen will certainly benefit from working on focusing his thoughts. My new professor is approved and posted, darlings. He's open for connections. Awesome!! Eldridge would like a connection with him. :) -grins at Raven.- The two of them seem like they'd get along well, since they are both kind of closed-off. Do you think Eldridge would engage in less-than-professional relations with another professor who clearly isn't looking for anything beyond a physical relationship? Quote from: Bibliophile on 19-11-2016, 19:50:23-grins at Raven.- The two of them seem like they'd get along well, since they are both kind of closed-off. Do you think Eldridge would engage in less-than-professional relations with another professor who clearly isn't looking for anything beyond a physical relationship? Yes. Definitely. Double post! I'm working on the first challenge for the Magic Practicum class, and with SS's agreement (feel free to chime in SS if you think it should be otherwise), it will be a mandatory class for medium and higher students, optional for low control students. Shooting you a PM, Billion~It's so hard to decide who to make connections with - everyone made such awesome characters. I need to get on finally making connections as well... and in turn, Aubrey currently has only one potential connection of any sort, so don't hesitate in approaching if I don't get to you first. ’D I love everyone's characters and would love to establish anything -- friendships, rivalries, future frisky friends, mentors, people he admires... James offers counseling and training for students and teachers alike. He can help students to better control their emotions, and teach them how to pull themselves back under control when they lose it. He also offers private sessions wherein he helps them strengthen their emotional and mental fortitude via engaging in an attack on one or the other and forcing the students, or teachers, to resist him for as long as they can. Furthermore, he doesn't do this sort of thing in class, because it's very taxing, involved and can bring up some personal things that people might not want to share with their classmates. And, of course, he offers more traditional forms of counseling and mentoring. If anyone wants to have sessions in any of these, or all, just let me know. So, planning on getting the first IC threads up this week between the holiday, holiday decorations, and playing Pokémon. Super excited to get this up and running. -Sees and explodes from excitement.- Messes! I'm so excited! You two are adorable. What about me :(YES, THREADS Btw, rocked out at a Stevie Nicks concert last night, and I am on cloud 9. Just wanted to share the good vibes with all of you gorgeous souls. So, is the signup for the different "special" classes going to happen in-game, or should we be doing that IOC in advance? If you would like to have an IOC sign up, you could mass message those in the game to see who is interested. It's up to you how you would like to do it Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 23-11-2016, 23:48:52So, planning on getting the first IC threads up this week between the holiday, holiday decorations, and playing Pokémon. Super excited to get this up and running. FLAIL and HAPPY DANCES~ FOOT! My muse is eager to get into....ahh...things and stuff :Quote from: Shattered Symphony on 24-11-2016, 14:01:22Everyone is adorable. Btw, rocked out at a Stevie Nicks concert last night, and I am on cloud 9. Just wanted to share the good vibes with all of you gorgeous souls. Lt;3I'm totally jealous! I bet it was amazing! Alright y'all! Three threads are now open to post in! Have fun and write away! Classrooms (Quarters (Grounds (*excited flailing* Teepee. I am also thinking about opening up an optional third character slot for y'all, and also opening up other positions in the academy like nurses, cooks, etc. Have not made a decision about this yet. That sounds interesting. I'd love to make a magical cook. Quote from: Crawl on 26-11-2016, 23:35:00That sounds interesting. I'd love to make a magical cook. I would love to see that. Furthermore, I'm thinking about creating an Elementals Medic, just not sure yet. At what point during the school year are we starting? Did that ever get established? We are starting on October 31st, which is when the new crop of students is brought in. Hmm, I wonder when the appropriate time for the advanced magic practicum lesson would be. Eldridge might have this first one be optional since it's the first day or two, but given the political and social climate involving magic, he might highly suggest that all moderate and higher control students attend. The choice is up to you, my friend. Well, obviously, but I was trying to make it fit with the timeline rather than just have it be all "Fuck it! Let's blow shit up and almost die in the process right when you walk in the door! Woooooooooooooo!" Quote from: Raven on 27-11-2016, 03:51:46Well, obviously, but I was trying to make it fit with the timeline rather than just have it be all "Fuck it! Let's blow shit up and almost die in the process right when you walk in the door! Woooooooooooooo!"haha maybe Eldridge is just the 'fun' teacher. Quote from: Crawl on 27-11-2016, 03:56:03haha maybe Eldridge is just the 'fun' teacher. I'd like to think he is, but I'm biased. :) I've decided to post tonight in the outdoors section if no one has any objections. But what is the weather like at the school? I live in the south of America where we are cursed with eternal summer so.....would it be more fall like or winter like?sorry if that's a stupid question. I did a thing. Hopefully it is not way over the top. haha, oh dang that looks fun, Finn isn't really prepared for that kind of thing, but maybe I'll throw him in there once another student has entered. Guess I'll hold off on posting, so I can decide whether to through Finn into mortal peril. The weather is like midwestern America. Four seasons, so its fall in game now. Hey, guys, here's a little info about Headmaster Baxter's exclusive advanced class. Your character joins the class via application, you apply for your character IOC (either here or by PMs). All characters may apply for a spot in the class, regardless of control level, seniority, specialization and position (yes, faculty members and castle staff are welcome to apply, they will be treated as equal students during class hours). The list of the students that got in will be posted after I've gotten enough interested parties. You may opt for more than one character to join, keep in mind that you might get them both in. So here is the class subject as I'm recreating for this game. It's based on the art of Naming from The King killer Chronicles, as mentioned before. Naming- A powerful and extremely rare craft, so mysterious that its secrets are only known to the few named themselves, and even they can't articulately explain its nature. Still, the names are fabled to be the most talented and members of the Arcane. Stories of their magic defy the conventional laws of the Arcane and challenge the knowledge of the academically educated mage. Names are told to hold dominion over all matter, animate and inanimate alike, and thus their magic cannot be attributed to a single specialization (wizardry, elemental, necromancy), but to all of them combined. Every element, every creature, every force has a secret name, a name that ties directly to its essence and hidden force. Learning an object's secret name gives you power over it, a power that has no need of spells, regents or incantations. It's not a name you can actually learn, you can't memorize it and even after using it- you cannot retain it. That said, the art is very rare, extremely difficult to master and very commonly destructive both to the name and their surroundings. It is wild magic, pure and simple, and for that reason Edward will be selective about the students he will allow into his class. So what exactly is involved in applying? Quote from: Raven on 27-11-2016, 17:28:08So what exactly is involved in applying? Just telling me that you want to have your character in the class, and Baxter will post a list of accepted students, no need to write the application IC. So, as far as this naming magic is concerned, I'm worried that it's all powerful nature may get out of hand. As you describe it, anyone able to use it could run rampant with power because they could essentially as you've described "have power over" anyone. What are the checks and balances for a power like this? Quote from: Raven on 27-11-2016, 18:35:53So, as far as this naming magic is concerned, I'm worried that it's all powerful nature may get out of hand. As you describe it, anyone able to use it could run rampant with power because they could essentially as you've described "have power over" anyone. What are the checks and balances for a power like this? That it's extremely hard for someone to actually pull off, plus the GM decides when a person "learns" a name and when they forget it. Silly me forgot to put an image code in the headers. I will do that today after work. Here's an idea. Are you interested in some start-of-the-year event? Something formal and festive, sort of like the sorting ceremony in Hogwarts, only no sorting, just an opening speech, announcements and a feast. Also, maybe we could use a thread for castle halls that aren't classrooms? (Great hall, library, dining room, council hall etc.?) Quote from: Roe non 28-11-2016, 14:52:45Here's an idea. Are you interested in some start-of-the-year event? Something formal and festive, sort of like the sorting ceremony in Hogwarts, only no sorting, just an opening speech, announcements and a feast. Also, maybe we could use a thread for castle halls that aren't classrooms? (Great hall, library, dining room, council hall etc.?) I think an opening event for the year would be interesting. The dining hall is a part of the Living Quarters thread, but I could make a Misc. Area's thread for the castle I plan to post today after I get back, and probably after I nap. I was thinking of having James kick off his first class of the year. His class is all levels, and they're all in then same room at the same time, because it's beneficial for lower level mages to be paired off against higher level and vice versa. Plus, James believes very strongly in pairing and likes to have the different levels mingle as much as possible. I'll toss him into an open scene this afternoon and anyone who'd like to join can. The first class will be really informal and more about getting to know one another and establishing connections and trust than anything else. As per usual, my best posting time is the weekends, so that's probably when you're going to get my first post. I'll start with the opening ceremony, attendance is obligatory for all :P Likewise for me. I'm useless for the next couple of days, at least. Here is the misc. Areas thread. A note: the current period of play is from Thursday, October 31st to Wednesday, November 6th. Hi all, just letting you know that I'm a little under the weather, caught a cold, which is why I'm in my bed, doing the bare minimum instead of on my computer, working on my post. Current status: Drowning in research papers. Suffering. Hey y'all, just wanted to check in with you guys and let you know some things. As of recently I've been pretty bogged down with responsibilities in life. Between work, school, other interests, and potential medical procedures, it has been difficult for me to find the drive to throw myself into the position of being a GM for this game and getting it up and running as I was so pumped up to do months ago. I can't imagine myself putting myself in the position as a leader at this moment in time, though I do still plan on staying on Illiquid and continue exercising my creative side with writing. What does this mean for the Academy? Well, it pretty much means that it may never get off the ground unless I'm stricken with a lot of free time. I apologize for the time that you feel may have been wasted here, however I do hope you all understand where I am coming from. This - in part - truly helped me realize that I am not ready for the responsibility of being a GM, and in a way, do not wish to have the responsibility of being one. So, I apologize from the bottom of my heart, however I truly hope that we can all see each other in the present and future in this lovely website. Sincerely, Symphony It's alright. Tbh I think everyone has been pretty busy hence the lack of activity. I won't hold any grudges. No worries! It's a busy time of year and running a group thread is definitely a lot of responsibility. It's definitely better to recognize your limits and take a step back than to overwork yourself and not get any enjoyment out of it. I still look forward to working with you guys in the future! It's absolutely understandable, man, no hard feelings whatsoever. Also, if my tardiness had any part in this, I apologize, been a couple of pretty hectic weeks for me. I'd definitely love to see you in any future projects I create or take part in, as for the rest of you (even the overly caramelized ones). Believe me I understand being busy. Between work, and life my plate has been overflowing. This is the first Saturday I have had off in months. Not counting when I was in a wreck, but healing doesn't count lol. No worries here, I hope to write with you all soon though. Best of luck in any other projects you have. And since it's that time of year, have a happy holiday!!!hugs~curvy

Academy Arcanum - OOC|rating:2.0

The earth was young [IC]

There is a two-masted, 30 ft boat at the docks, called the "Expiring Frog". One hobbit is working on it, and another is standing next to it with a sign saying, "EMBASSY". A hobbit that is slightly taller than most approaches. His silver hair comes down in numerous small braids that resemble shining twine. Obviously a warrior, he wears a suit of scale armor, with a sword at his hip and a tower shield with the sun of Below inscribed upon his back." Hail! I am the Paladin Alaric! I was told by my superior officer that there was an ambassador upon this ship that I was chosen to guard! Has he arrived yet?"he approaches the dock as he speaks, striding easily and calmly towards the boat. The halfling, with short red hair and sideburns, looks up with a dull glare." I've waited here since dawn, but you're the first. And chances are I'll be waiting here for another six hours before the rest get here. And I get paid twelve silver a week to stand here waiting for my arms to fall off. And I'll get cooked to a crisp if the sun comes out, and I get a nasty cold if it doesn't. Say, would you mind being halfway decent and holding the sign for a few minutes while I eat some breakfast?" "Of course! It's no trouble at all!"he reaches out to take the sign. Spoiler Hide he will wait 1 hour, and if the hobbit doesn't come back, he will rest the sign against a dock post to go looking for him. The hobbit goes into the boat, takes out some bread and cheese. He sits down on the edge of the boat with his feet in the water to eat. "If you want," he says, "you can have some too when I'm done." When he's done, he takes the sign back and starts twirling it in the air. Spoiler Hide Perform: Sign twirling (1d20)[4] "No, thank you! I had a small breakfast, and I should be able to last until lunch!" He looked appreciatively at the sign and doesn't look to have the even the slightest notion of smiling when he drops it. He then approaches the boarding ramp, to go and speak to the captain of this vessel. There is only one hobbit on deck; he's mending a net. He is short and hatless. "Hello!" Alaric cries." Might you be the captain?" Tom, having spent his Monday traveling from his farmstead, and his Monday night drinking with strangers, and his Monday morning the same, arrived at the dock shielding his eyes against the sun and still a little groggy. Pointing at the sign, he chuckles and grunts." Heh, spelled it wrong." He shuffles over to the sign hobbit and runs his hand through his wavy brown hair."' Parrently I've been vacated to work for this here Embassy. Don't remember applyin', but then again I don't remember a lot of things." He notices the name of the boat." Yeesh. Grand name for a grand ambassador, I'm sure." Tom takes a seat on whatever crate or barrel he can find nearby and cradles his head in his hands, groaning intermittently. Originally Posted by Dragon "Hello!" Alaric cries. "Might you be the captain?" The hobbit looks up from the net." That I am. Hello there. Any complaints about your lodging?" The hobbit holding the sign looks sadly at Tom." You don't look too well. Suppose what you'll be like after you're seasick too, he. Well, I hope you're not too sick to hold the sign while I have a bite of breakfast, are you?" He looks at the sign and squints." And did I really misspell it? Not again." "I have no complaints, for I have not seen them yet! I would be pleased if you would show me them, though, and then I shall wait on the pier for the ambassador."he smiles jovially at the man. Spoiler Hide when he has seen his room, he will drop his backpack, bedroll, and waterski on the bed, then returns to the pier and sits down to wait for the ambassador. Originally Posted by Truffle hound The hobbit holding the sign looks sadly at Tom. "You don't look too well. Suppose what you'll be like after you're seasick too, he. Well, I hope you're not too sick to hold the sign while I have a bite of breakfast, are you?" He looks at the sign and squints. "And did I really misspell it? Not again." "Sure, I'll hold it, if you bring me back an apple? Fruit's a cure-all for alcohol, I hear." He pulls out the letter and shows it to the red-haired hobbit." Yea, see? Right here, Ambassador, not Ambassador. It'll be fine, though. Gets the point across well enough." Tom puts the letter away and accepts the sign. The captain frowns." Well, we don't exactly have quarters. You can probably clear out a space below deck, if you don't mind the smell of fish. But not to worry, it should only take two or three hours, with a good wind. We'll be there by night. If your pal gets here by then." The red-haired hobbit gratefully runs back into the boat, breakfasts on bread and cheese, and brings out a firm, though slightly shriveled, apple. "Ah! Very well then!"he then heads back towards the docks to wait. When he notices Tom Spoiler Hide "Hail traveler! Are you to be traveling upon this boat as well?" A tallish Halfling in blue canvas trousers and a light blue shirt, longboard at his side, approaches the boat with a grin on his face. This looks to be a fine vessel, and it reminds me of a story. The Halfling pulls a pipe out of a pouch and lights some tobacco, sitting down on a crate and beginning, not speaking to anyone in particular. The Kestrel was sailing through rough seas, the captain standing on deck, yelling orders to his crew as they maneuvered away from the monster following them. The only noise they could hear above the captain and the wind, was the roar of the great serpent that was trying to make a meal of the ship. The captain knew he would have to do something, so he made a decision, he brought the ship around, ramming the prow of the boat into the serpent's side. Caught by surprise, the serpent didn't know what happened, as blood spurted forth from the new hole in its side, the serpent let out one more cry as it sank into the ocean. Needless to say, when the ship made it back to port, the captain was thanked by the crew and there families with a big celebratory dinner. Spoiler Hide Perform (Storytelling) (1d20+6)[10] EDIT: Completely normal story. Darn "Don't give up your day job." The sign halfling says. Shorter than the rest of them, a very pale halfling joins the growing group." Morning all. Are we nearly ready to cast off?" A figure padded through the streets, headed in a circuitous route to the docks, almost seeming more interested in trying to act inconspicuous than in what the route actually was. Thus, he was delayed somewhat. Regardless of some successes in actually sneaking past people he failed on the inconspicuous front, too, as this was a city; the hobbits here wore finer, and better fitting, and less mud-stained things than the coarse, baggy shirt and trousers covering the traveler. That was before there was any mention of the obvious green hooded cloak, or the obvious bulge of a backpack underneath the cloak, or the red hair on display for all to see, not even with a hood up. Truth was, Red wasn't really trying. Besides, it would take much more than casual looks to see the belt of knives hidden by the oversized shirt, or the leathers under the baggy clothing. Soon enough, to the docks he'd gone, and to the only obvious sign he went soon after." Em... bus... EE... Is that where an am-bass-a-door goes?" It was hard enough remembering the short words sometimes; for Red, saying the big ones took real care. Besides, the girls at home said it was cute. Noticing the growing group, he moved closer to the ramp; he'd hold out until the question was answered, but obviously that was where the group of Schiele's ambassadors were meant to go. The halfling with the sign looks over the two halflings, and then back at the sign." Not sure what an embassy is. They just told me to spell it like this. But I thought ambassadors go to other countries. Why do you need a fancy word for that?" After musing for a few minutes, he says,"Five of you here, right? I think we need one more. Which of you is the ambassador?" Tom accepts the apple graciously, and eats it in large, slowly chewed bites." Thanks. Here's your sign"He nods at the armored halfling." Aye. The name's Tom Willow bow, but some call me Swig fist. I'm a notorious drunk, but I can apparently fight well enough to guard an ambassador. How about you?" The conversation is cut short by the arrival of the storyteller. Listening intently, Tom claps at the end." That's a nice tale! Well, it's a confidence builder to know that sea monsters can be beaten!" Listening to all the new arrival's talking, still nursing his skull, he pipes up,"Wasn't the ambassador named Hello or somethin'?" His gaze drifts to the pale one." You look like an ambassador. Is it you?" he listens attentively to the narrative, and smiles broadly at the end." It truly is delightful to have a tale-teller on any travel, regard less of length. However, I was not informed of anybody else accompanying me. I suppose we should introduce ourselves. My name is Alaric." "I'm no ambassador, the storyteller is probably more silver tongued than I, and certainly more knowledgeable. Perhaps it is the one we are waiting for. The name is Ling by the way." Me, oh I'm no ambassador. I was merely asked to accompany the ambassador as I know quite a few stories about the land we are headed to. The name is Marks SilvershaperAs Marks begins to talk of the Ambassador, he looks wistfully for a moment, almost starts to tell another story, then stops, remembering the sign Halfling's earlier comment. Running into view, James raises his hand and say'shall!. Reaching the deck, James proceeds to say. Sorry I'm late All having arrived, the ship sets sail due east. The March sun is setting by the time the ship drops anchor, some 200 feet from shore. The captain looks apologetically at you lot." Sorry, but there aren't any docks here, and I won't take my boat a foot closer to that cursed shore... Third-longest boat on the island, and I'm not about to waste it. The passage might have been easier during the day, I'll admit. But you'd better hurry fore you can't see anything at all." Alaric seeks the captain." Captain, Why have we stopped? I did not see a dingy on board, yet you have anchored us a fair distance from shore! Is a small boat going to pick us up, or am I just blind?" The captain corrects;"A safe distance from shore. You might find it convenient to have my boat stuck on a reef, but I don't. Tell me if you see any safe landing places." "Hmm...let's see..." Spoiler Hide spot: (1d20-2)[16] search: (1d20-1)[13] You can't tell how deep the water is. The waves are small, maybe affairs of six inches. The beach is a long stretch of white sand. After three hundred feet of beach, there is a thin strip of shrubbery in front of a forest. The boat has ropes, nets, and what appears to be a waterski full of air on a rope. Alaric turns around and asks the captain "Have you got something heavy?" Spoiler Hide take rope from the pile you mentioned, and if the captain hasn't got anything heavy, attach one to a net. Alaric will then lower it down into the water, estimating how much line has been let out, until he feels the net hit bottom. Use rope check: (1d20+3)[16] intelligence check, then dexterity check if wanted, to feel when the net hits bottom. (1d20-1)[18] (1d20+3)[20] The captain offers you his sounding line. The water shows up as seven feet deep on the shoreward side of the boat, 7'4" on the offshore side. Tom doesn't enjoy the trip very much, spending a third of the time puking over the railing." Shoulda known they'd vacate me off the island, too." He watches the paladin measure the water depth. Seven feet! That's more than twice his own height!" So, Cap'n... You're not expecting us to swim the rest of the way?" As if to emphasize that this option did not sit well with him, Tom ran back over to the edge and vomited again. "Well, I suppose you could... don't know what else you have planned. Don't tell me you lot don't know how. If you have stuff you need to keep dry, I've got a waterproof bag you can put it in for the time. "But you could swim... or some of you could swim in and drag back a log that the rest can float in on, if you want." The captain pulls out a pole." But while I wait, I'm going fishing." "That sounds like a good idea. I should be able to pull one, though I may need some help. Who will come ashore with me?" Spoiler Hide swim check: (1d20-2)[13] strength check to push the log into the water: (1d20+2)[8] he will try to find a log that at least 3 hobbits can hold onto. The hobbits will have to take 2 trips, but it has a much higher chance of floating. If no logs are available, he'll have to chop down a tree with his sword(). Attack roll: (1d20+4)[18] damage roll: (1d6+2)[3] he will leave his backpack, waterski, bedroll, and belt pouch to be put into the waterproof bag. "Well, as bodyguard to the ambassador... who I'm really not sure who that is yet. I suppose it is my duty to guard his body from the water. I'll swim ashore, too." Tom says as he strips down to minimum decency, leaving his clothes, sledge, flail, backpack and all on the deck of the ship. He carefully lowers himself down the rope and splashes into the water. Spoiler Hide Swim check: (1d20+3)[23] Strength check to help Alaric: (1d20+3)[6] He can't really help knock down any trees, except making strength checks to try to push one over I will accompany you. Though I am not as strong as maybe another in the group might be, I should still be able to hallmarks will say, removing all of his equipment except a bandolier of daggers around his torso and his pants and shirt. He packs the rest of his equipment into his backpack. He will then follow the paladin. Spoiler Hide Here's hoping I don't die Swim (1d20-1)[13] The three of you make it safely to the shore and into the forest. There are logs. But the few logs and branches you are able to move are too thin to give much buoyancy. After some time Tom and Alaric hear a high melodic sound, like that of a stringed instrument. It seems to come from the south. Red seems to handle the trip fine, apart from being busy staring into space while half the group try to swim for it." If you were going to dump us out here, why didn't you give us a dinghy?" he complains, while looking for some route that doesn't have obvious reef foam showing. Spoiler Hide Spot check (1d20+6)[14] Ling grumbles with the rest of the now abandoned crew before hopping into the water and trying to swim to shore. Spoiler Hide (d20-1)[17] "That music is probably our welcome party. Hopefully a feast awaits us." Tom breaks a hefty branch off of a log." What was that? Blast that it'd show up when I'm almost necked." He begins backing towards the shoreline, motioning for the others to follow him. He stays alert, trying to detect the source of the sound. Eyes forward, he mutters to his companions,"One of you try to get the attention of the boats." Spoiler Hide Spot check: (1d20-1)[12] "Now, thisis the reason we were told never to take our armor off at the Academy!" Alaric whispers excitedly, straining his eyes to look for the music. "I don't have anything on me to signal the ship with, I left my whistle onboard. Do either of you have something that would create light?" Spoiler Hide spot check: (1d20-2)[7] search check: (1d20-1)[0] Originally Posted by Omegonthesane Red seems to handle the trip fine, apart from being busy staring into space while half the group try to swim for it. "If you were going to dump us out here, why didn't you give us a dinghy?" he complains, while looking for some route that doesn't have obvious reef foam showing. Spoiler Hide Spot check [roll0] The boat is not anchored near any spots with reef foam; there are a handful right by the beach in the shallows, but that's all. The captain glares at Red, and icily says, "If you were going to go adventuring, why didn't you learn how to swim? Complaining is not going to make things better." As Ling is getting close to shore, the others see a figure, about three feet tall, walking through the trees in their general direction, about 80 feet away. Tom and Alaric:Spoiler Hide It appears to be playing a violin of sorts. Wait, what are you guys talking about. I don't hear any music. Now come on, we need to get our equipment and people over earmarks will say as he gathers some logs that should at least support the equipment bag left on the boat. "Look! That might be a hobbit, it's about the right size. We should wait to approach it until the others arrive, however. Don't want to face a force of evil undermanned." Spoiler Hide another spot and search check to determine the creature: (1d20-2)[7] [roll]1d20-1[roll] listen check to see if he knows the music (1d20)[12] and knowledge: religion, then knowledge:history checks if they help at all: (1d20+1)[9] (1d20-1)[19] "'Cause there wasn't a swimmin' teacher at home was there? You know boats, this shouldn't have been new to you, you call yourself a sailor?" Looking down at the water, Red finally dumps the cloak, and dives in, since everyone else has. Spoiler Hide Swimming (1d20)[10] "All this talk of evils is a bit extreme. It probably is just our guide. They do know we are coming right." "We were taught in the Academy to trust nothing you can't look in the eye. Seeing as I can't even tell if it's a hobbit or not, currently, I should stay alert. I would advise you to do the same." Tom calls out to the figure." Oi! Cut out that racket, please. I'm nursin' a hangover over here!" He turns his head to his companions, keeping his body facing the potential threat." Think I should ask him to hail friend or foe? Aye, that'd be a good idea, wouldn't it." He holds the branch in the pit of his arm and cups his hands over his mouth, to project the sound better." Be you friend or foe?" Still unsure what the others are babbling about, Marks ties a rope around his waist and swims to the ship with a log for flotation to retrieve the gear bag. Spoiler Hide Hopefully, I don't drown (1d20-1)[18] "Well, at least we know for sure that it knows we're here..." Alaric seems excited about these happenings, but also a bit anxious. He obviously wants to go and find out who-or what-the creature is, but he holds himself steady due to his training. Alaric doesn't recognize the music, and he can't see anything more. Those who swim do so without drowning, though not without effort. The figure runs up, with a grin on his face. He does turn out to be a halfling, dressed in good, but travel worn clothing. He has unkempt blondish hair, and a fiddle under his arm." At last, the right companions!" He tucks the fiddle back under his chin and plays a short piece; he plays it quite beautifully and stirringly. When he finishes, he looks around at you all and says,"Well, you can't guess how happy I am to finally meet you!" Seriously, why am I the one doing the swimming while the strong ones pretend to hear musicMarkas thinks to himself as he swims for the boat "Happy enough to offer us some shelter and food? Its getting dark and my belly is getting loud enough to attract the animals." James gets up groggily from his sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he then looks around and say'she where did everyone go? "Hello! Who Might you be, and have you been expecting us?" Alaric instantly relaxes as he sees it's a halfling and breaks out in a warm smile." We would indeed like a fire to warm ourselves by, at the very least. We have 4 other companions, and 1 of them will be bringing our belongings here shortly enough." The hobbit laughs." Shelter? Food? I haven't seen a blessed bit of shelter for a week. Food I have, though it's running low; don't think it would fill the lot of you. But if you get a fire going, I'd be more than happy to share what I've got." He opens his knapsack and tosses it onto the ground." I didn't expect you; you learn not to expect things in these parts. The unexpected tends to happen. I've just been yearning for some hobbit to talk to. Gnomes aren't the same, you know, and today I've just been badgered by random animals who want to learn how to play the violin." He sits down on a log." What on earth are you doing in this neck of the woods, wetter than water itself?" "Well, friend, you are welcome to our fire anyway. We are wet because we had to swim ashore, as our boat that ferried us here neglected to bring a rowboat of any kind. Our friend has gone back to the boat, to advise our friends to swim ashore and grab our things. We came here as an...escort. Gnomes you say? We were told about them in our lessons...are they really green, and do they actually worship badgers?" Alaric stands up straighter, wanting to hear more about these foreign creatures. "Well, there are gnomes and there are gnomes. The ones you usually see... if you manage to see them... are green and short, with large ears. Can't say they're beautiful. But they can disappear into the forest like a tree, and leave fewer tracks than a rock. They don't worship badgers, but I have seen them ride them. "Then the other gnomes, they aren't green, they're quite tall, and they live underground. They disappear into the forest like a rock and are as quiet as a falling tree. They're more talkative. I have seen one bow down in front of a badger hole mumbling prayers, I think. Queer chaps." Tom relaxes, dropping the branch." These gnomes sound like odd fellows. I don't think I'd want to meet one. Do you get a boat? It'd be much better than havin' all our group swim across." "Fascinating! I wonder how they tame the beasts, though..." Alaric gets a ponderous look upon his face. "Nope, no boat."the hobbit says, pulling an onion out of the knapsack." But I'm not sure how they tame the badgers... animals here are queer... funny things... a wolf, a fox, and a rabbit all wanted to learn how to play the violin today... Ah, here we go."he adds, pulling out a handful of nuts, a wedge of cheese, and two overripe apples. Alaric politely says no thank you,"I have rations in my pack, and you need it more." "Low food, no shelter, what kind of mad place have we come too. I'm sure my stomach is going to hate me for it. Well does anyone know why we are here?" The hobbit replies,"Well, you've got me on that one. What are you doing here?" Suddenly he stops, and turns around, looking to the southeast, where he had originally come from. Red:Spoiler Hide Red hears a noise from the southeast. Should he look or already be looking, he sees a wolf running at full speed towards the stranger. He cannot act before the wolf attacks, but he can act in the surprise round before initiative begins. A wolf, charging at full speed from that direction, bites the hobbit's arm and throws him to the ground. Ling steps back in surprise and summons his energies to defend the strange hobbit. Spoiler Hide Initiative:(d20+3)[21] Summon swarm of bats on the wolf when it's my turn. Shaping the bats to not affect the rest of the team. The bats do (d6)[3] damage plus wounding 1hp per round. Also, a fort save DC 11 or wolf is nauseated. Seeing the wolf incoming, Red's first instinct is to draw two of the daggers from his belt; before he has time to throw them, the wolf's become occupied with the stranger. Red's second instinct is to move behind the wolf. Spoiler Hide Initiative: (1d20+3)[15] On his turn, if still alive, Red moves behind the wolf - such that it's between him and the stranger, for flanking purposes - and throws the two daggers he's drawn. Attack roll 1: (1d20+3)[9] Base Damage: (1d3)[3]; Sneak Attack Damage: (1d6)[2] Attack roll 2: (1d20+3)[20] Base Damage: (1d3)[2]; Sneak Attack Damage: (1d6)[6] Alaric, quick as lightning, draws his blade and attacks the wolf. Spoiler Hide since nobody but red is here yet, he doesn't have his shield. Take this into account for AC. attack roll: (1d20+4)[12] damage roll: (1d6+2)[3] if CRT: Spoiler Hide CRT confirmation: (1d20+4)[5] CRT damage: (2d6+4)[8] Tom, naked and unarmed, sees only one proper solution to the situation. He rushes towards the wolf and gives it a powerful uppercut, hoping to at least surprise it enough to make it drop the poor hobbit in its jaws. Spoiler Hide Initiative: (1d20+1)[12] Attack roll: (1d20+5)[21] Damage roll: (1d2+3)[5] If critical threat Spoiler Hide Confirm: (1d20+5)[6] Damage: (2d2+6)[10] First Red draws his weapons as he moves behind the wolf, to throw. One dagger hits the wolf. Spoiler Hide The stranger was prone, and thus wouldn't let you flank, but more importantly you can only flank with melee attacks. So no sneak attack damage this time. The stranger gets up, evading the wolf's bite, and flees to the other side of the fire. Alaric moves up, drawing his long sword, and swings at the wolf. He comes close, but slashes thin air. Ling concentrates his energies, and a swarm of bats collects around the wolf. Edit: Tom simply hits the wolf hard in the face. Initiative, in case you haven't figured it out:Spoiler Hide Wolf, Red, Stranger, Alaric, Ling, Tom The wolf snaps back at Tom's fist, but doesn't get it. A fox runs past Red, curving to avoid the fray. With a hard face and blank expression, Alaric slashes in a powerful blow. Spoiler Hide power attacking at 1. (1d20+3)[22] (1d6+3)[7] if CRT: Spoiler Hide (1d20+4)[23] (2d6+4)[11] ((D'oh.)) Red moves into position again, picking up the thrown daggers on the way, but somehow fails to act otherwise.((Largely because I need Bad 1 for weapon-drawing to be part of a move action, rather than a move action in its own right)) Ling dismisses the bats with a wave of his hand a conjures spiders instead. The pests outline forms out of purple and then fills in as they come into being, covering the wolf and biting him everywhere. Spoiler Hide spiders do (d6)[4] + the 1hp the wolf looses from wounding this round fort save DC 11 against loosing strength (d3)[1] from the poison and fort save DC 11 against being nauseated. Ling readies a free action to dismiss the spiders should the wolf fall Realizing punching the beast would bring his throat and face close to the beast, Tom decides to lean back and give a nice kick, hoping to hear the crunch of a broken bone. Spoiler Hide Attack: (1d20+5)[15] Damage:(1d2+3)[4] If critical threat: Spoiler Hide Confirmation:(1d20+5)[6] Damage(2d2+6)[10] Alaric thrusts his blade deep into the beast's side. The stranger shrieks something garbled about a fox and bunnies, and runs off. Spoiler Hide Those who go after Alaric can either keep the initiative going for a little bit, or break out of combat mode. I assume they don't go on with the courses of action just mentioned. Edit: The wolf's dead, or appears to be so. If it's dead:Spoiler Hide "WAIT! IT'S PERFECTLY FINE!" exasperated, Alaric starts rooting through the bags for equipment, dons it, and charges after the hobbit. If still alive:Spoiler Hide "DIE, BEAST!" Alaric swings his sword again, hoping to finish the creature off. Spoiler Hide (1d20+4)[18] (1d6+2)[8] if CRT: Spoiler Hide (1d20+4)[5] (2d6+4)[11] Spoiler Hide you might want to wait for me to say I go after him before you ask if they want to follow me "We should make sure, it could just be dying." Red pads over and, unless there's any resistance, cuts the wolf's throat. Spoiler Hide Out of his combat action, Red still picks up his thrown daggers. If there is resistance, presumably I'm about to be highly surprised... Tom looks to where the strange halfling ran off to, and shivers." This is going to get a hell of a lot stranger, innit? I'm going to help the others get back, and get the rest of our gear. You guys hold the fort."he says before wading out into the water and swimming back to the boat. Spoiler Hide Swim: (1d20+3)[5] and I guess for the way back, (1d20+3)[11]. I'll help whoever needs helping/swim with the log, so you can add penalties for that if needed. Spoiler Hide Alright... if other people wanted to go, they had 36 hours to do it in. And Dragon, the equipment bags aren't there yet. Red cuts the wolf's throat without any problems. Alaric runs off after the hobbit. Tom makes little headway against the short waves, and is met by the return party when it comes. After a minute or two, Alaric comes back to the party in the woods. The stranger follows him, walking and whistling as if nothing had happened. "We had an encounter with what seemed to be a hare and a fox made of shadow. The hare is slain, but the fox escaped. Would any of you know anything about shadowy creatures such as these?" Spoiler Hide when the bag gets here, he takes his equipment. If anybody wants more detail, you can have it. Ling thinks back to the stuffy office his uncle once had and the tombs it once contained Spoiler Hide knowledge arcane check (d20+7)[17] knowledge whatever else (d20+3)[14] "Shadowy foxes and hares? I'm starting to think rather poorly of this whole expedition." Tom says as he throws his clothes and armor back on. He looks around at the gathered hobbits." Everyone here? Where's the Ambassador?", thinking back to the docks and order of arrival, he turns to James,"You're the Ambassador, right? Last one who showed up, must be you! Where are we supposed to be headin', sir?" Raising his hands, James say'SI don't know he said to wait for further instructions when we arrived. "Fellows, I don't know why, but I believe we have been tricked. My orders specified that the ambassador was to meet me at the docks. No warning was given about your traveling as well. Nobody has stepped up and claimed to be the ambassador from those among us. No clues have been given to where the ambassador may be. I believe that once our things are in order, we should camp here for one night, then try and find the nearest settlement so that we may purchase a ferry ride back. If we have gotten no word by then, we must assume that this adventure was a false one." Suddenly, Alaric spins around to face the stranger."say, I don't believe we ever got your name. May I ask what it is, and if you are the ambassador we were sent for?" Yes I am the ambassador and our mission as far as I know is to deliver this letter to Queen Fate Morganataking out a sealed envelope from his bag. Immediately adapting to this situation, Alaric wheels about to face James."and yet you just said you were not the ambassador. Would you mind informing us why this trickery has been going on? And who is this Queen Morgan, and where is she?' I said I was the ambassador. I thought you already knew I was. "You never said anything of the kind! All I heard out of you was 'Sorry I'm late'!"" I may have overreacted, but you never informed us of who you were!" James bow's as he says apologies for not informing everyone. Alaric pauses, then plants his sword in the ground and kneels." Junior Paladin Alaric, reporting for duty, ambassador." Scratching his head, James say'son't please this feel's strange Standing up and sheathing his sword Alaric stands up and says"Very well"with a small smile. Stowing away the letter, James say'SSO where are the further instructions?looking perplexed. Slowly spinning around again, Alaric asks the stranger"Were you sent here to await somebody, or to inform an ambassador? If not, could you show us the way to the nearest town tomorrow? I, personally would like to clean my armor. And get some good sleep." "And I thought I was the strange one here, refusing lessons to rabbits and whatnot." He takes a bite from one of his old apples." Well, I only just found out what you lot are doing here, but I'm afraid I can't help you much. Wasn't sent to meet you or anything. But let's see... you want to go to a town... and then to the Queen's court? The nearest town I know of was a week away. I went by West-Northeast-Northwest, following stream and meadow. But if you go directly South-east-east, skirting the bog when you get to it, you could get there in two days, I suppose. If you really care about getting there. But the court... I think she moves it from season to season... never been there... if I had, I'd never have come back... leastways not like this... catkin season almost over... course she could just have winter and summer courts... but I wouldn't be surprised if she moves it every spring thaw and strawberry season... strawberries aren't quite ripe yet, pity... should just be a few days... I passed a whole hill of them a few days ago... So what are you doing here again?" Why do you say you would never have come back from the court? "Eh? Sounds like a nice place to be, don't you think? If I spent years on the risky journey just to have a chance to get in, I'd want to stay. Comfortable living all day long, safe, good food... Though I've heard you become like one of them if you stay there long enough." "And I believe we should go the short way. This may be an important message, and should be treated as such." Alaric's eyes get an excited glint. Tom shakes his head, standing up and stamping his foot down." No. Noon-no-no. No. We ain't heading through no bog in this crazy shadow-foxing wolf-attacking land. Bogs are always the strangest and eeriest places. I say we take the extra time and go along the stream." "Maybe we should ask the 'local' which way we should take. Is the bog safe enough to travel?" "Local? First time I've been called that. Well, I wouldn't recommend going through the bog... smells funny... not like the rest of the land... usually ruled by some bog lord... dangerous places... but if you just skirt the edges you should be fine. The stream isn't exactly safe either. Flows away from the bog, you see. Plants weird around there... animals too... accursed things want to play my fiddle... won't stop talking... and I wouldn't drink it if I were you. But the country around here is all strange in some way really. Sometimes the scariest parts are the most normal ones. Mostly because the bandits only stay in the normal areas." "Hmm...it sounds as if skirting the bog is actually safer than the river, and I can summon water if we need any. We don't want to have to deal with banditry, so going neither way is a tenuous idea at best... are there any ideas? I do still feel as though camping for the night might be wise." "A fresh start in the morning would be nice, maybe sleep in a little. At least in the light we will be able to see what we want to avoid." "Each, the bog's going to stink... I'm not camping in there, won't hurt to start camp now." Having swum with all his kit, Red began deploying a tent. James say'this man speaks words of wisdom pointing at Red and then goes off to look for firewood. Spoiler Hide Do I need to roll anything? "I shall attempt to start a fire. Do any of you have a pot or pan of some sort? We may be able to make a stew of some sort...does anybody have a string and hook? There may be fish in that river that would make a fine supper. A better question, does anybody know how to distinguish mushrooms? Otherwise, we may have to stew up some trail rations, and trust me when I say that they are not the most appetizing meal." Spoiler Hide survival check for the fire: (1d20)[10] and I would say a search check for wood. A few hours later, James returns with an armful of firewood, and he say'where shall I put this?. Alaric looks thoughtful for a moment, then says"a good 10 feet from the fire circle", pointing to the circle of stones laid out on the ground in a thick line,"And see if the others have anything to cook with and eat with, otherwise we'll be having rations. Also, ask if anybody can cook." Alaric fishes out his flint and steel from his belt pouch and starts to light a fire once the wood is placed. As Marks climbs out of the water, he speaks some words and waves his hand as it lights in a silvery flame that gives of no heat, and very little light. He moves the flame over his clothing, drying and cleaning his clothes to look more presentable. He then straps his equipment back on from the bag and watches the interactions with this stranger unfold. Spoiler Hide Marks cast Prestidigitation The stranger finishes his apple and some bread, then makes himself a bed of dry leaves under a bush. Having placed the firewood, James places his backpack on the ground with his chain shirt on top and his sheathed sword. He then proceeds to flop on the ground next to his gear with his hands behind his head and stare at the clouds. Alaric bends down, gathers some tinder, and tries to light the fire. Spoiler Hide survival check: (1d20+2)[21] Marks will go off looking for some plants he recognizes to be edible, even though it is not his strongest point. Spoiler Hide Survival Check (1d20)[18] Marks will only collect it if he is sure it is edible EDIT:Well, that turned out pretty well considering. I figure Marks knows some plants from his grandfather and things he has learned while travelling Ling tries his luck at finding some food as well. Spoiler Hide survival: (d20+1)[13] Stuffing his face with whatever he finds, he settles down for the night." We should probably place a watch. I don't need to waste my night replenishing spells, so I can help there." Chuckling at everyone running around to set up camp and gather food, Tom sits down at the fire and pulls out one of his rations." I'd help,"he says as he takes a bite of the crusty, but nourishing, brick,"but it doesn't exactly fall under the duty of guarding bodies to dig up roots or light fires." "And I can't exactly do the watch thing. I exhausted myself swimming back and forth, and brawling with wolves while naked. Could hardly,"he yawns,"keep my eyes open as it is. Finishing his meal, he takes a swig from his flask, and using his backpack as a pillow, rolls over and goes to sleep. "I will take first watch." Alaric states, pulling out one of his own rations and his waterski. Spoiler Hide listen/spot checks for watch spot:(1d20-2)[15] listen:(1d20)[3] spot:(1d20-2)[5] listen:(1d20)[9] spot:(1d20-2)[8] listen:(1d20)[1] spot:(1d20-2)[15] listen:(1d20)[19] spot:(1d20-2)[9] listen:(1d20)[15] spot:(1d20-2)[10] listen:(1d20)[14] spot:(1d20-2)[17] listen:(1d20)[16] spot:(1d20-2)[13] listen:(1d20)[16] spot:(1d20-2)[15] listen:(1d20)[5] spot:(1d20-2)[14] listen:(1d20)[20] His eyes slowly closing, James say'Alaric wake me up when your watch ends I will take second watch. Ling settles down for the night." Wake me when you need me." A cloud cover starts coming in after midnight, and James sees the stranger pickup his bag and leave just before dawn. The wolf carcass is starting to smell. Flies are collecting, and a vulture is in a high branch overhead. Tom wakes up waving the air away from his nose." Didn't anybody take care of that? This is one of the more rancid smells I've woken up to!" He quickly readies himself for the day, splashing some water on his face, taking a swig of his flask, and donning his armor, and marches upwind of the carcass." I'll be guarding your lordship from over here, if you don't mind!"he shouts back to the group. "Well, it seems that we might as well skirt the swamp, pertaining our conversation with the stranger, so we might as well set off!" Alaric seems to practically shoot out of bed and gather his things. Getting up, James put sun his chain shirt and takes his sword. He says So skirting the swamp it is. Where is the swamp anyway?looking around. "Who knows where anything is in this weird place." Ling gets up and stretches before packing up and getting ready to leave." Where is that other guy we met, he'll probably know." "It seems he left in the night." Alaric calls, settling his gear into place." The stranger said the bog was to the south-south-east. Does anybody have a compass? I would prefer to have a definite direction to head in." Remind me not to go swimming anytime bookmarks will say, moving stiffly as he dons his armor and equipment. Pulling out a piece of hardtack from his pack, he takes a bite and takes a swig of water, chewing thoughtfully. Once swallowed, he asks with a bit of sarcasms, who's leading our little expedition through this wonderful new place? "I vote the ambassador leads us. I feel it's an appropriately leader title. Bodyguards are never leaders, I don't think." "As good as anyone to lead." Ling mock bows to the ambassador. Why thank you. Turning around he then say'does anyone know which way is south-east east? "Well the sun rises that way. We just point towards and go a little to the right." Well that's clever Onwards! James shouts as e marches in the mentioned direction. Ling trails behind the ambassador and his inevitably too eager bodyguard Alaric instantly starts striding, keeping an easy pace. A few large beetles of some sorts emerge from the bushes and begin feasting on the wolf as you leave. A drizzle picks up. The terrain changes little as you march on; the land continually slopes upward almost imperceptibly, the trees grow slightly larger, the moss slightly thicker. Only the occasional creek breaks the monotony of the forest, and the trees seem to only begrudgingly let the streams go past. At about three o'clock, you come to a treeless hollow, about two hundred feet across. It is green and grassy, sprinkled with clover patches. In the center stands an old gray stone gazebo, about twenty feet across. Well, this seems odd. Why would there be a shelter here? Markas will ask quizzically, as he moves to study the building, trying to glean what he can from it. Spoiler Hide Bardic Knowledge (1d20+1)[6] "It's just a gazebo. Let's have a rest before we press on. Hell we could spend the night here, better than the beach." Hmm, good idea "I agree. The gazebo is a usable shelter, and as it is stone, able to build a fire in. Camping for the night here seems a good idea." Alaric strides off towards the gazebo. James say'SI'll get the wood as usual and strides of into the forest to do so.

The earth was young [IC]|rating:3.0

Kingmaker _ The gaining of the charters

As you arrive in the city of the sword lords you look back on the journey that has taken you to these lands. It was a long one, filled with many challenges. But the promise of being able to protect those who could not protect themselves and the personal request from your master made it clear. You were ready to spread the word of the Dawn flower. As you look up into the sky as you pass into the great gates that represent the capital of the kingdom of the sword lords you see the beauty of all the races coming together and creating a world of their own were all could prosper. In the streets children played and all seemed happy. It was as if this place had not a drop of evil inside it. And many claimed it as well. As you make your way to the meeting place deep on the other side of the city that was marked in the letter your master gave you see shopkeepers selling the wares of the day. Fine dwarves smiths called out the prices of their weapons as they held them up for all to see. And the smell of fresh eggs and bacon coming from stalls on your left fill your nose. Could there not be a more peaceful place? Soon enough you seem to find yourself before the great keep of the sword lords and upon going to the door and presenting your papers you are led into a waiting room. Please wait here Sir Alaric Novak, I shall inform our lords that you have come to take on their quest. And with that a small man with a scar above his right eye and dark brown hair runs off. "Thank you kind sir," Alaric said to the man as he left. He took a seat, setting his bag next him. He was dressed for the journey, wearing his scale mail and tabard with the Ever light's symbol emblazoned upon it. Furthermore, he reached into his bag and pulled out his well-loved copy of Sartre's teachings. Furthermore, he began to read, slowly, as he waited. After what seems like an hour the man who had brought you to the waiting room comes out and bows to you. The sword lords will see you now Sir Alaric. He says before gesturing for you to follow him. As you are led by the small man into the meeting room of the seven sword lords your eyes are assaulted by many sites. Before you at the opposite end of the room stands 7 thrones each unique in their own way holding a man just as unique. Behind them stands a tapestry depicting an ancient battle of what seems to between man and Orc's. To your left you see 5 armed guards each holding a large great sword in one hand with a heavy steel shield in another. In between them and yourself are tables filled with documents, probably the weekly reports of the city guard and other things of importance. To your left stand another 5 men identical to those opposite them, but these all seem to be elves, unlike the humans who make up the opposite side. All of them are big burly men for there race and in the center of them all stands a woman holding a fine crafted scimitar that looks so sharp that it could cut straight threw a dragons scale. In the center of the room between yourself and the lords sits a lone chair at a large oaken table and the man who has brought you in indicates for you to take a seat. My lords presenting Sir Alaric Novak, defender of the weak and follower of the Dawn flower and all that she teaches. He says before bowing and leaving the room. Closing the large double doors behind him. As the doors are shut the man in the center of the others looks up from his throne. A large man, close to seven feet tall though not well muscled. Perhaps from age, but it seems this one has great intelligence surrounding him. So Sir Alaric you have come to receive a charter from us. Could you tell us why though that you think you are worthy of such a gift from us? What makes you different from anyone else that on this very day could step through those very same doors you did and not do exactly the same or better? He says looking at you with deep piercing blue eyes that seem to look almost through you, into the man you were born and what you could be in the future. Alaric bows deeply before the esteemed gentlemen before him. He gives them a wide genuine smile as before he answers them, recalling his long planned response to this expected question. "I am honored to be called before such an esteemed body. As to how I might be an asset to the expedition I have many assets that might help. I am trained well in the art of persuasion to prevent as much unneeded violence as possible. As a devout follower of the Ever light I am dedicated to eradicate unrepentant Evil where ever it is and have the martial skills to destroy it. I have spent many years traveling through forests with Master Cadmus, my mentor, and picked up some basic forestry skills. I am able to keep the enemies at bay while other less melee inclined members of the party are taking offensive actions at a distance. Furthermore, I personally hope to spread the word of the Dawn flower and there by bring peace and prosperity to the these troubled lands." As Alaric speaks all those assembled pay close attention to his words. Though no emotions can be gleamed from them one would assume that they could be analyzing what you have said. After a few moments the sword lords turn back to what appears to be there leader, as he is the only one who has spoken thus far and says. And what would happen if you did succeed in taming the Stolen lands? What then would you do? Would you be content with just going back to your simple life, or would you stay to defend the people who have come to call the place home even though there are others there that could do the job? After all you have said that you are persuasive and will eradicate unrepentant evil, but what is it that you would consider unrepentant evil? After all theft is looked at as evil in some lands, while in others it is a minor crime. Anyone can say they wish for forgiveness. Would you let a murder go free then as long as they say they wish to repent for there past deeds? The sword lord asks wondering how you will answer this. One by one each of you heroes in your own rights have come to seek an audience with the great sword lords. They have sent out word that they are looking for those brave enough to try and tame the stolen lands. To make them safe once more, and this is what has brought all of you here today to this waiting room where you are all slowly getting called into one at a time. As Each of you are summoned into this grand throne room the sword lords ask you a series of questions to test you. With luck, you will be accepted and given a contract to stop the bandits and make the stolen lands safe, without it, you will have a long way back to your homes. This is your tale and your future. What shall you do with this gift destiny has offered you is up to you and as you hear your name called you pass threw the large oaken doors which seal shut behind you and without further ado the sword lords begin their questions. Not many, but each one has a key piece to the puzzle hidden inside. So [insert name here] what is it that separates you from all those outside that very door who are asking for this same exact chance to explore and bring peace to the stolen lands? The man in the center throne asks you before moving onto the next question once you have answered. And what is it that you bring to the table for this quest? Is there any special talents that you have that others do not? Something that would set you above the others? Is the next question to come forth from his lips. Once the next question has done a noble looking man who seems to radiate wisdom stands up and looks to you. If we were to give you these lands to rule with our blessing what in turn would you do with them?he asks you and awaits your answer. And what dare I ask would you consider unrepentant evil? He asks sitting down in his chair. Lastly an elderly man grabbed in simple clothes stands up and looking to you asks What is the most important thing to do as a ruler? And what do you find to be the most important quality in a ruler? Once these questions have been answered you are dismissed from the room to join the others until all have been inside. What separates me from other applicants, you ask? Put succinctly, I am not as soft as they are. The process of forging Order from Chaos is not a task that can be completed by kindness alone. No, it often requires force. To succeed, your agents will need someone willing to perform unpleasant duties for the good of the colony. I am willing to do whatever is necessary to spread Order. What Talents do I bring? I bring the powers of an inquisitor of a Power of Law. I can fight and call upon magics granted to me by my Lord. Furthermore, I also have some knowledge of matters generally religious and magical. And some training in the art of negotiation. What would I do with any lands given to me? First, I'd pacify them. Then I'd establish a colony to keep them pacified. Once that was accomplished, I would begin putting any resources I found to use to enrich the lives of my law-abiding subjects, and to enable trade with other legitimate regimes in the region. What do I consider unrepentant evil? I believe that unrepentant evil is exactly what the words say it is: evil that is committed and never repented for. I'd argue that a better question might be 'What is irredeemable evil?' And to that, I'd answer: Evil that is committed without a greater purpose and that serves only to destroy and sow chaos in society. What is the most important quality in a ruler? The ability to maintain order, of course! However, this is not simply a matter of being strict or of merciless enforcement of the Law. No, one must make reasonable laws, and must follow them himself. If not, then his subjects will resent his laws and rebel against him. Rebellions only serve to sow chaos, and as such things that lead to rebellions should be avoided. That said, if a rebellion occurs despite all reasonable measures taken to avoid it, the insurrection must be quashed and its instigators brought to justice.(Also, I claim Teal as my posting color!) Alaric took a few minutes to think on the questions presented before him. After arranging his thoughts and feelings, he said, "If the people needed my protection I would gladly give it. For that is my calling, what the Dawn flower asks those with power to protect those without it. A task I am eager to fulfill." Alric pauses, and his face grows a bit more serious and grips the holy text in his hand a little tighter. "As to the question of how to deal with those who commit evil acts, I take to the Ever light's teachings. If the perpetrator claims to repent their actions and wants to redeem themselves they are to have a set of challenges to prove their change of heart based. The challenges would be based on the type of crime. For crime like petty theft, some sort community service might be in order. For more serious crimes like murder, the challenge must be equally serious. Perhaps years of service to the wronged family. Or they may be forced to bear the Mark of Justice, so to make any lingering impulses of evil will be unpleasant. And if they fail their challenges or shown to be unrepentant they are given a quick clean death. However, this is all secondary to the protection of the innocent. Sometimes evil cannot be given the chance when they are about to take a life."(I'm calling Dark Orange then) What separates me from all those outside? I've been blessed by the celestial creatures themselves my lord... there is a task that must be done, this task bestows upon me, yet to be revealed... must be of great relevance. As a defendant from angels themselves and raised by the Walter family, it's my duty to bring it to a successful ending. When I heard your summoning, I realized that this must be it, the path that I've being looking for. You ask me... What separates me from them, that my lord, It's something I can not answer as for I haven't met any of those individuals, but I can surely tell you, that my actions are guided by my moral compass which, although good, may not always be in perfect agreement with the rest of society, as I do what it needs to be done. What talents can I offer? I've been granted a gift, to be able to reach into the divinity of Deena, channel her divine energy and use it as I see fit, also I've inherited some of my ascendants abilities, that I assure you, none of the others may be able to offer. Besides, my family has a great history as mighty warriors, and i my self can stand by that legacy, as good as Any other member of the Walter family, even better that any of them on the back of a horse. If I were to be honored with the right to rule this lands... I would spread and promote my philosophy throughout the land, freedom and independence are as important as life and happiness, freedom it's the only mean a creature has to active true satisfaction and happiness, each individual is capable of achieving self realization and prosperity through himself, herself, or itself. It's the only way to ensure a successful kingdom, no creature responds well to the limitation of its freedom, but as nature has shown me, neither to the punishment. The evildoer, the ones who willingly disrupts the freedom of another creature, must be punished. As not the entire world follows my train of thought, the main focus of my ruling would be 1- military force 2- economy development 3- agriculture. What is its unrepentant evil? There is no such thing... There is evil, and we shall avenge the acts of the evildoers, and enemies of freedom. The most important quality of a ruler... The capacity of decision making, even without knowing what the outcome would be... There would be endless leaders or rulers that would tell you my kind lord, that they would die for each and every single one of their submits, but not every one would tell you this lord... And it's my hope, that you won't misunderstand the meaning. As for I would never betray any on my people. But for the greater good, I would sacrifice any of my submits, if there is no other way. Would they be able to tell you that? Now that's my question to you sir. Would they be able to sacrifice a friend, if it is what it takes? If there is no other way?...as an I said at the end of my first answer... As I do what it needs to be done. (Dark orchid it's mine then) Theodoric entered the chamber with an easy march, his back straight and his eyes forward on the Lori sword lords. Over his shoulder was a long pole of wood topped with an axe like blade. He was dressed mostly in blues, tough durable fabric looking a little worn, a bit of mail visible under a tabard a bit of mail gave off an occasional clink. There was something maybe a bit stiff to his movements, or maybe it was the simple lack of wasted movement. Coming to a halt in front of the circle Theodoric rested the butt of his bardic on the ground, gauntleted hands on top to show he had no intention to actually wield the blade. Not that he thought for a moment he had a chance should that be his intent anyway. He could almost feel the laughter of the bastards in Stet ova should that would follow his death should he be fool enough to try to 'prove' himself like that. He had to wonder if such a thought occurred to the circle before him, these were deadly dangerous times after all. If a ruling house could be removed, why not some swords in a city to the south? Or more likely they simply didn't know who he was. Which was okay, sometimes Theodoric didn't know that either. Still these men would not care to hear his moping so he kept his face a stone as he faced the circle, meeting the gaze of each speaker with his own blue stare. He didn't, precisely, want to intimidate them but the task they were commissioning was not one for weakness. Nor was it one for stupidity, and so Theodoric paused to consider his answers before speaking." To what separates me from the others seeking this charter, well I could not say without knowing them all in turn. I have some skill at arms, I have matched trained soldiers with my weapon, and I find few can match my reach. Yet I am no legendary warrior or such a question would not be necessary. Though men at arms oft have a reputation for shall we say being not known for their intellect, wit, or grace. I think that terribly unfair a generalization, I have never been in love with knowledge, but I have always been studious when I had the chance. You shall have to judge my social graces for yourself." That was one down, Theodoric looked next to the wise man. Given their likely purpose behind such a question they may not like his next answer,"I have no desire for such a lofty gift. However,"now the tricky part,"I am not sure such a thing is in your power to grant. A leader must lead on their own merits, or they'd not last long. Any leader worth following though would show gratitude for to those that aided them. I have no such ambitions though, should such a thing be thrust upon me, I'd simply follow as my heart dictates to rule fairly and justly, but restraining from stiff dogma." Hopefully he'd not blown his chances, but was glad to have spoken the truth. The rest were easier." Ultimate evil now... well the worst I have experienced personally would be abandonment and refusal of responsibility. A parent that leaves their child, or a ruler that does not protect the land they claim theirs. Put all my statements together and you have what would be an ideal ruler in my eyes." With that he waited a few moments more in silence, there was one final detail they may not know but should. "A final point my lords. My name is Theodoric Main, I took my mother's name. However, my father was Dylan Surtout, of the Surtout's. Bastards are common enough, but it seems to me one that did well would irk them on the off chance they were aware of it." Glynn Greenberg (speaks in sienna)Glynn listens and nods at the man's questions,"Loyalty, my Lord. Some may simply claim strength of arm or strength of mind, but their words are wind where mine are iron." He rests a scared hand on the head of his axe." This charters a great privilege, and once my name is signed I will live or die by the words upon it." At the next question Glynn smiles slyly, the scar on the left side of his mouth stretching open." I am talented in both the blade in the arcane, which when blended makes a devastating brew. I am naturally curious, and my curious will drive me to explore these stolen lands. Furthermore, I am tough, I've been beaten down since my birth, but here I stand taller than ever. Furthermore, I can stand and receive anything the wilds will throw at me." Glynn nods again slowly thinking as the third question is being asked,"Why... If I was grated such a great task... I would rule... justly. Yes, I would rule justly. The land would need to be made safe for settlement. And once it is safe I will organize a militia to see that it stays safe. For the safety and well-being of his citizens should be the greatest concern of a Lord. And crime will have to be dealt with fairly and efficiently." The speak of evil makes Glynn frown and rub his clean-shaven chin thoughtfully." This is a dark, and complicated topic, my Lord. Unrepeated evil is..." He pauses to think, then nods."... is the criminal that is unrepentant. A killer that kills for greed and malice shall be judged harshly by the blade or noose, but a killer of passion that repents shall be indentured to serve as a thrall. A thief that does not repent and continues his deeds mocks his Lord and his fellow citizens. He shall lose a hand. But one that repents will serve for a time, perhaps with the militia, and will learn honor from it."" Constancy. And strength." He forms a fist if his right hand and holds it near his heart." Those, my Lord, are the most important qualities of a ruler. Inconstancy breeds resentment among the folk. Each man and woman must be judged on the same standards, no matter who they are. Favoritism makes a ruler weak in the eyes of his people. And he must not balk at his duty. No matter his mood or disposition a ruler must be just and see to the execution of his rulings, no matter what they are." Illness bows deeply and then pauses thoughtfully and looks those assembled in the eyes. His calm demeanor speaking volumes. So Illness Gaussian what is it that separates you from all those outside that very door who are asking for this same exact chance to explore and bring peace to the stolen lands? Of course that is the question, isn't it my good Sirs. In whom do you place your trust? This is no small task you ask and no small opportunity that you offer and as such is an important choice. I will say the group that embarks on this task must combine a number of elements. They must have the skills to deal will all eventuality and no single person will have all those skills. The team must also have most important of all a solid leader. As a member of this team I would bring a number of skills, but all revolve around people which is of course your greatest challenge and asset. I am good with people. I am good at understanding them, reach out to them and if necessary ensuring they realize that rash and violent thinking is likely not to be in their long term interest. Furthermore, I am also good and bringing disparate people into alignment and that is the key for this whole venture. To bring the various peoples together and form a whole. My other people skill is one I am very good at but will try to use sparingly: combat. I am an excellent fighter, trained in part by my father a solider. Now key to any team is a leader and the leader here will need to be one that can deal with all the various challenges and keep the group and this fledgling land together. The leader must be abler to relate to everyone and must not be perceived to have strong alignments to any one group or the other groups will dislike it. He must be willing to make hard choices that some are unwilling to make or find distasteful. Few people understand the flexibility a leader must have, especially in forging a new kingdom. He must be able to relate to everyone from farmers to the nobility and I bring that to the table. I am born a distant member of the Trotsky family, and yet I was born and raised as a far more humble member of society. In either case I would be happy to lend my services as the leader, an assistant to the leader or a member of this group. I would love the privilege and honor of returning civilization to these lands and the safety and benefits it brings. The man in the center throne asks you before moving onto the next question once you have answered. And what is it that you bring to the table for this quest? Is there any special talents that you have that others do not? Something that would set you above the others? Is the next question to come forth from his lips. I bring the knowledge that there is no single path or skill that will allow one to bring peace to a land and unify a people. I bring a neutral point of view welded with my skill with people and arms. Furthermore, I bring my for-mentioned connection to the rich and the poor and my families' reputation for peace and my training as a soldier. Furthermore, I bring the breadth of experience and knowledge as well as the skills of diplomacy, in all its myriad forms. Furthermore, I know how to motivate people in many ways without need of resorting to violence. If there is no option but violence I know many ways there was well. Once the next question has done a noble looking man who seems to radiate wisdom stands up and looks to you. If we were to give you these lands to rule with our blessing what in turn would you do with them? He asks you and awaits your answer. If you gave me that honor I would do my very best to unify the peoples in that land into a nation that would stand up strong and true for all who dwell there and be an ally to all good nations. I would seek that all prosper and not just the few who rule. I know what it is like to be poor and while I realize that can not be done away with, I know their plight and will help as I can. And what dare I ask would you consider unrepentant evil? He asks sitting down in his chair. Unrepentant Evil? Elliness pauses and thinks for a moment. I have never thought of that before. It would be that we can not ally with us by diplomacy or manipulation. If we can win their hearts and mind then they a better asset a life than dead. Certainly there are those that can not be won over who will fight against us no matter what. Only when all other options have been exhausted would I consider them that. I have found people are quick to judge and that creates more conflict than anything else. Lastly an elderly man grabbed in simple clothes stands up and looking to you asks What is the most important thing to do as a ruler? And what do you find to be the most important quality in a ruler? The most important thing to do as a ruler is to set an example that all can strive for, as my families' motto to be "high above" in the sense of an ideal not in status. With that Illness rises and bows. Thank you for the invitation, the chance to speak and hopefully the honor to serve both you and the peoples of that land. Gabriel walks solemnly to the courtroom and bows to the nobles present." Sword Lords! I am but a simple man. As such, I believe I have learned through my short years that a direct approach to a problem is usually the best course. Virtue tempers my blade and my heart. And it is Virtue, I believe, tempered with Compassion and hopefully, without the need of steel that will bring peace to these lands. Such is my compromise, Lords." As to the second question, Gabriel addresses the noble." What I bring is what you, fine sir. My blade. Then, ether is what cannot be seen. The immutable omniscient sight of my god, the Arch paladin. To pierce the veil of shadow. To smite those who consciously stray off the path. To ward off wickedness. These are my tools by choice and chance." As to the question regarding what Gabriel would do with the lands were they given to him." I said it before. I am simple man. Furthermore, I was once given a patch of farmland to till. It was my own, by legal right. I believed I could grow the best crops in the region. I failed. And I failed because I believed foolishly that I could accomplish it on my own. No, sir. If I were given a land to lord over, I would not do so alone. I would have those with the experience and the tools from which to learn. No one is born all knowing." As to the last question. Gabriel addresses all in the room." Temperance, Wisdom, Compassion. Temperance to not fall under the daily quarrels a kingdom carries. Wisdom to know when to sway your hand or stay it. Compassion to know when to redeem those who believe they can." Gabriel bows to all present." It has been a tremendous honor, Sword Lords. I thank you for the opportunity to be here." Spoiler Hide After much consideration and points being pointed out I have come to a conclusion as we promised on who shall be joining the game. For all of you who did not make it is shall be explained all in the post. Well it will mostly be explained in the post. After what seems like hours sitting in the waiting room after the last of you have spoken to the seven great sword lords you notice that the doors are once more opening. From the doors out steps the small man with the scar over his eye once more, The swords lords have come to a decision now, if you all will follow me. He says kindly bowing to all of you before asking each of you to follow him into the throne room. As each of you enter the throne room he begins stating your names to all that are inside. Roderick Carey my lords. He says as the huntsman enters. Glynn Greenberg. Is the next name to be called out to enter the throne room. Gabriel Walter. As this name is called much summering is heard. Dolphin Clangbeardis the next to be called and seems to be the shortest one there in his inquisitor attire. Ellipsis Gaussian. Says the man and the elves turn and salute him as he steps in. And lastly Theodoric Main your graces. The man says as the last of you step in. Then as he is about to shut the door he notices the late arrival and turns back to the lords. I am sorry my lords I have forgotten one of the guests, introducing Gabriel. He says as the proud male steps into the hall. Once all are assembled and seated The sword lord who has addressed you since the beginning stands up from his thrown in the center and loos to all of you. First I must thank each of you for coming here. We have heard each of your tales, and I must say I am surprised at how many have come to tame the Stolen lands. But as most things we only have so many charters to hand out, and as such we had to ask each of you a certain amount of questions to determine who we decided to give them to. He says looking over to the others. Some of you were easy to pick while others made it very difficult and could have gone either way. And so without wasting anymore time let us go on with the proceedings. Lord Loss shall you take it from here?he asks looking to the man in the very last seat in the on his right-hand side. Why thank you, Michael. Lord loss says bowing to him before turning to each of you. Now as Lord Michael has stated some of you were easier than others to shall we say herd away from the others. And with that in mind I would like to begin. He says as he gets up. Sir Alaric, we had expected much more from a paladin recommended by your master, but as you can see here all have boasted feats of strength, unlike you however they have also stated they had more to give to the group I am sorry to say you are not accepted. He says turning to the next person. Gabriel Walter I think a fellow Animal may want to take it from here. Lord Loss says turning to a figure who has up till now been cloaked in a golden hood. As she removes the hood she stands up, and it is clear to see that she is born from a celestial parent. Gabriel Walter where should I begin... Willing to sacrifice your people for others, and saying that our noble parents do the same. I am beginning to wounder if you are not a tie fling and smite you down here. Though your skills that you presented would have been most handy I can not sanction in good faith a mad man the ability to freely sacrifice people to keep himself safe. A true leader would do anything for his people and place himself in harms way for his or her people. Not send their men to be slaughtered. Because of this you have been denied. Please leave these halls. She says covering her face back up with her golden hood, though it still can not hide her glowing blue eyes. When the others two have left the room the sword lords look at those remaining. As they look on the elderly man steps up in his simple clothing and begins to speak. Each of you who remain have been chosen for the skills you have brought to the table as well as for how well you have answered our questions. Before we send you off and hand you these charters would you like to ask of us anything? Ellieniss bows. Thank you my lords for this honor and opportunity. I really do not have specific questions so much as a request for clarity in terms of requirements, support and organization. But I am sure that will be forthcoming. Glynn BrenbergGlynn smiles and stands taller, proud to receive such an honor. At the cue of Alienist he bows as well." You have my word, my lords. These stolen lands will be settled in your honor and for all the people of Breton." Dolphin Clang beard Thank you, my Lords.*bows*As for questions, I'd like to know as much as possible about any opposition we're likely to face. Though, as with Ellipsis' queries, I imagine that information will be forthcoming. Gabriel bows." I am ever grateful, Sword Lords. I will make sure I can stand up to the corruption that taints the Stolen Lands. Furthermore, I am also thankful for having three champions at my side." Gabriel bows to Dolphin, Ellipsis, and Glynn." A pleasure and an honor. I am ready whenever you are." Theophoric assumed the same pose he had earlier and met the Sword lord approval with a slow bow of the head but remained silent for the moment. Others had asked the obvious questions and any others escaped him for the moment. He found himself wondering about the final criteria for each applicant. The Sword lords had spoken nobly and with high principle, but then so did the Surtout's when it suited them. It was a cynical observation, but he couldn't escape it either. Well no matter if their reasons were less noble then their words what matter of it to him, he could just as cynically accept for his own ends. Though he wasn't entirely sure what those were. He wondered more than a little if these Lori knew entirely what they were doing, an arrow loosed could not be called back to the bow after all. He gave his companions a look, most seemed to looked to be at least modestly equipped and carried themselves like they knew what they were doing, but only time could truly tell he supposed. As four of the five companions begin to ask about what they should e facing in the stolen lands and what is it they are likely to encounter the sword lords look back and forth between each other, as if having a mental conversation before once again turning to the heroes. Most of what you need to know is on the charters, as to specifics we are not entirely sure ourselves. If we had been we would not be sending in adventures like yourselves to find out and giving each of you such a grand opportunity to make names for yourselves. As for assistance we can safely say that you will have two allies in the stolen lands. Oleg Leverton and his wife Svetlana have made a place for themselves out there and have been sending requests for our aid. Were each of you come in. We are also getting a small patrol ready, but they will not be ready as soon as the five of you. The man in the center says to you all as he takes out five charters and begins walking down to the table that is in the center of the room. As he walks down from the thrones you can see that underneath his cloak that is as blue as the night sky is a sword that though not as large as a fighter sword, is not short enough to be considered a short sword. Along with this odd sword though he seems to be wearing no visible armor unlike all the others except the old man in simple clothes, yet as he walks he shows no fear of being harmed. As if no mortal could harm him, and his piercing blue eyes only add to the sense as they seem to see past the exterior of anything they set there eyes onto into the person below. Spoiler Hide Knowledge Nobility and royalty DC10 or Appraise check DC10 tells you that the sword he carries is a scholars blade. Once he gets to the table he hands each of you a scroll case that bears the royal seal of not only the sword lords but also of Lord Moleskin Surtout, the current Regent of the dragon scale throne. Inside the scroll case you see a piece of parchment that reads,"Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been charged by the Sword lords of Rostov, acting upon the greater good and authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of theDragonscale Throne, has granted the right of exploration and travel within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. Exploration should be limited to an area no further than thirty-six miles east and west and sixty miles south of Oleg’s Trading Post. The carrier of this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. So witnessed on this24th day of Alistair, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restored authority granted by Lord Moleskin Surtout, current Regent of the Dragon scale Throne." Once he sees that each of you have read the scroll held inside he begins walking back to his throne where he then turns and sits down allowing Lord Loss to speak to each of you. Each of you have a horse awaiting you inside the royal stables to aid you in your adventures. If you already have a noble steed that is perfectly alright. Each of these horse though not trained in combat are good enough to carry riders and there gear. Now is there anything else before you all leave for the stolen lands? Oleg's trading post is waiting after all. Lord Loss says to you from his vantage point at the thrones. EllienissEllieniss Bows. Thank you my lord. There is nothing else other than whatever maps you may have of the greenbelt. Other than that I am ready to depart. Ellieniss turns to look at the others. My friends? Gabriel reads the scroll and nods in agreement. Then, he bows to the loss assembled." And so it shall be done, Sword Lords." Gabriel then turns to look at his company. A well-prepared lot. Hopefully, they would be able to teach him a thing or two along the way. Even more so, there would be little to no opposition while exploring the lands yonder." Gentlemen. I am ready when you are." Glynn BrenbergGlynn's scar twitches forming a small lopsided smile"Yes, friends." He says to Illness. It was a word he was not use to, but perhaps it will grow on him." I, for one, am ready to see this wild." Doctrine thank you, Lords.*bows*Indeed, let's be off. Theophoric slung his blade up onto his shoulders, a clear sign he was ready to leave. He indeed already had his own steed and glad of it for Merry was trained for combat though Theo was only a middling rider and preferred to be on his fee, but another horse would be useful." My lords I indeed have another horse, might I prevail upon you through your servants as we are departing to see the spare loaded with a pack saddle and as much food and water as it can bear and keep up a quick pace?" He asked. Though he supposed the group could handle that themselves if it came down to it, it would be coin spared this way. As Each one of you say that you are ready to depart the sword lords look down with pride on their faces. It seems we have chosen wisely. He says to the others before turning back to the group. Sir Theo was it not?he asks looking at you, Our resources on this matter are very limited, and the spare horse could be used to help send reinforcements sooner so no we can not allow you to take it. I am truly sorry. Now please hurry, it is a long journey to Oleg's and time is always of the essence. The man says dismissing all of you from the throne room. As you leave the throne room of the sword lords you are led down to the stables were 6 strong looking horses await for you, unlike a Clydesdale though these horse are made for speed and their build shows it. So you must be the heroes the sword lords have chosen then now. Well as you see we have 6 beauties here. Raised each one of me by myself. With all this urgency thou, ain't had time to train them in even the simplest forms of combat. They should serve you well though. The man then looks to you Theo and seeing your horse looks to you and pulling out an apple says May I kind sir, ain't seen many of her bred before. Ward you buy her?he asks allowing the others to choose there steeds for themselves. Spoiler Hide You are allowed to choose the color and gender of your horses. Once each of you are done the stable keeper looks to all of you. Good luck out there, many have gone in and not any have come out thus far. The sword lords are sending in 3 other groups from what I hear to go and explore other parts of the stolen lands and reclaim them. Well best be off now aye. He says farewell to each of his horses that you have chosen to be your own. EllienissEllieniss bows and leaves the chamber on his way to the stables. He selects a calm Blue Roan mare. A beautiful horse, I shall treat her well. Glynn Glynn grimaces at the sight of the horses." Right, horses"he mutters under his breath. He chooses a dapple gray mare and clumsily pulls himself into the saddle. He looks at the stable master,"Three other groups? Ha! We'll have the whole land settled before they ever chance along our borders!" The confidence of this statement is slightly ruined by Glynn left foot struggling to find its stirrup. EllienessEllieniss climbs into his saddle with no more ease than Glynn and beams a smile at him. You are not the only one ill experienced with horses my friend, but I am sure we will learn. Theo"As you will my lords,"Theodoric said to the Sword lords with a final bow of acknowledgement. He didn't particularly care for their reasoning, how could an entire city not spare a horse? Showed how important this truly was to them for all their rhetoric. Well it wasn't as if they had to do anything, let them be miserly if it suited them. As they group moved to the stables Theodoric relaxed visibly. He did not care for lords of any stripe. Well he supposed the Sword lords had been better than most he'd had the unfortunate chance to view in New Steven. Not interact with, that would have been beneath most of them. Few even noticed servants like lowly blacksmith apprentices that made their lives work. Well that was neither here nor there speaking truly. Arriving in the stables Theodoric went immediately to see to Merry. The russet mare had a white patch on her chest, but it was her demeanor that marked her out. A touch of tension and aggression read in her pose. Of course Merry was a trained warhorse not merely a riding steed. And he was very lucky to have her." Merry here is from New Steven, just as I am my Goodman. I was able to snap her up from a friend that raises horses." Theodric said to the stable master. He did not add Merry had come from the Castellano of the city's own stables. Fairly bought from his own stable master but intended for some soldier or lordling who doubtless would have renamed the steed. But only sold because it was not that far between forge and stable and Theodoric had needed to get out of the capital rather quickly. The comment on other groups drew no comment from Theo. He wondered again though just what the leaders of Rostov were up to. Making his mount ready and stowing his gear Theodoric turned to his own companions. Well he didn't think much of his own riding, but clearly he had leg up on at least some of this party." Hmm, it looks like it would be better to see trouble coming. A fight is no place to be on a horse if both you and your mount aren't ready for it. Best to avoid trouble entirely if possible, do any of you feel you can make a reasonable scout. I can ride and look after myself but am no true woodsman." EllienissEllieniss nods. I agree we should be wary, and a scout would be ideal, but it is not where my talents lay or the least not while mounted. If not we just stick together and keep ours eyes open. Glynn To Ellipsis Glynn says with a grin,"We will all be expert horseman within the week, I am sure." He finally fits his foot into the stirrup"Right. Here we go." At the mention of New Steven Glynn looks over to Theo and says," Ah, a fellow New Slovenian? I hail from there as well. Leaving the beautiful ports left me with a heavy heart. I hope the stolen lands can match the beauty of a brisk morning on the shores of Lake Real." As you tell the story of how you came to own Merry the stable master seems most impressed. I understand that New Steven is supposed to have some of the finest horses they say. Well besides those here that is. If I had been given a few more weeks they would have been battle ready they would have. But with the rush I had to make sure they were able to carry riders as they all are fairly young. He says to Theodoric before looking to Ellipsis and Glynn. It's an easy enough thing to learn, riding is. Just make sure to hold on tight, they were born from some of the fastest horses in the land they be, and it may be very easy to fall off when they take into a full run. He says helping anyone who needs help into their saddles. Now that you have had enough time to see the man and study him you can see that he is high up there in age, at least in his forties, his once brown hair turning gray. Even though he is old though you can see the years of working in the stable have kept him in slightly above average health and strength. Most importantly you notice that the stables all seem to have a fresh bale of hay in them and the smell one would expect from a normal stable seems to not even exist here. Spoiler Hide DC15 spot checks please EllienessSpoiler Hide Perception (1d20+3)[21] Glynn Spoiler Hide Perception- (1d20+2)[9] Theo Spoiler Hide Perception: (1d20+0)[11] Gabriel walks by the horses, studying each." I had one back home, in the farm. Mathilda was her name. We used her to haul the wagon with goods once the tilling was done. Sadly, I was never that good a rider..." Gabriel walks up to a black one with a white spot on the left side of her face." Do you mind if I take this one? Mathilda II, shall be your name..."Gabriel looks at the stable keep." Unless she already has a name?" Spoiler Hide Spot (1d20+1)[15] @Alan And smiley Spoiler Hide From the corner of your eyes you seem to notice pales of water moving on their own to refill the horses supply as well as a small boy sitting in the opposite corner as if in deep concentration. As Gabriel walks up to the black horse with a white spot on the left side of her face the stable master turns to you. Aye she has a name, but she is no longer my horse now is she. Matilda is much more original any ways. He says to you watching Matilda go to you. Please take good care of her. Her parents were very dear to me, and I would hate to see anything happen to any of my horses, but especially her. She was bred from some of the finest stallions I had the privilege of catching. He says going over and patting her for the last time. EllienessEllieness smiles at the boy and turns to the stable master. Interesting stable boy you have. Not a lot like him. Gabriel pats Mathilda on her mane and looks at the stable keep." She will be looked after, sir. You have my word." After seeing the boy sitting in apparent concentration and the pails of water helping themselves, Gabriel walks up to the stable keep." Excuse me, sir. Is he your son? And why are those pails moving on their own accord?" DolgrinPerception Check:Spoiler Hide (1d20+7)[26] Looking over the fine horses presented to him, Dolphin chose a large, strong brown mare. I shall name you Mandate. May I see bringers of disorder better from the vantage you afford me. He then, very clumsily mounts up, hindered by his breastplate. If you lads want to purchase some extra supplies before we head out, I have about ten gold crowns I can contribute to a general fund.(Also, what gear and supplies do the horses come with? A saddle, bit, and bridle at the least, right? What about saddlebags and some fodder or at least treats?) EllienessI have a weeks worth of rations for myself. Clearly we need to be self-sustaining in the long run. I have some gold as well. @ChillingsworthSpoiler Hide You see the same as the others. As for what the horse come with ridding saddle, Saddlebags for your equipment, and enough food for a two-day travel for the horses only, unless of course you enjoy horse food, but we are not at the food part yet. Anything needed for the horse that is simple and easy will be provided look at it that way. If you wanted to say a better saddle though you would have to buy one. As Ellipses, Gabriel, and Dolphin notice the stable hand the stable master turns to look at him as notice is brought to him. Ah yes, William, he is studying under a kind wizard who allows him to come home on the weekends to help out his old man. Lucky for me, he has learned a few things that make life a little easier. Still enjoy doing most of it by hand though. After all that magic stuff can not do as good of a job as a persons hands. It has no intelligence of its own, and thus it can not learn unless the person using it has done the job all his life. I let him use some of his tricks like the one you see him doing now as the well is quite a ways away is all. The stable master says. Well do any off you need anything else? If not best be off. After all I only can give you enough food for the horses for the next two days, should be enough to get you all to Oleg's though. He says going and grabbing a few large bags of oats and throwing them into the saddlebags. Tell Oleg when you arrive that he still owes old Jasper for the bet he lost. He will know what you are talking about. The man says laughing to himself not caring to fill you in on the joke. Theo Thank you for the feed good stablemasterTheodric said to the man seeing it stowed. Theo missed the boy the others spoke of. He heard them speak well enough but was busy getting into the saddle and passed it by as unimportant for the moment. The other comments were more pertinent." I myself have little more than a handful of coins to my name at the moment and supplies for myself to a point, I support the suggestion of pooling gold to buy supplies. One can never carry enough rations at the least." He said to that idea, though if it came down to it, he could survive on his own, he didn't know that any of the others could do the same. It looked as though none knew how to ride well enough either. Which made him the only scout they could put out. They should discuss each other's skills at the soonest opportunity, there must be reasons for their selection. Glynn When Jasper mentions the due money from Oleg Glynn smirks and thinks guess I'm still a debt collector. At the mention of the William Glynn strains his neck trying to get a lisps of the boy,"Ah, very much like me as a child. Those are good lessons to teach him Jasper. The body must not be forgotten for the sake of the mind." He taps his own temple,"They must be trained together"He rides to over to join the group to discuss funds,"I have 15 pieces to add to our little treasury. I walked from New Steven to here, so I traveled light and I hear there aren't any inns in the Stolen Lands. Perhaps we could use some comforts. Tents? Bedrolls? I'm sure our new friends can handle a few extra pounds." Dolphin*nods agreement to Theo's thanks*Indeed good sir, the feed will be of great help. I agree with you, Theo that extra food is always good to have on hand. We needn't concern ourselves with water, though. I can provide that in abundance... though we might want to consider containers. Indeed, Glynn. To be precise, I have 9 gold crowns, 19 silver sovereigns, and 19 copper pence to contribute to our cause. Spoiler Hide Saying as no one else has said anything I am moving this along. As you all leave the stables, bidding the stable master a good day and thanking him for the feed and horses you begin walking towards the market district. Your last stop before the open roads to the stolen lands to the south. As each of you rides your horses down the crowded streets of the city of the sword lords people part and let you pass on your way. As you ride you pass by armor smiths as well as blacksmiths at their trade, working on anvils. And though most of them are human, you do see a few dwarves who seem to be taking a lot more pride in their work. Past these booths are simple stores that sell everyday goods and in the background you can hear vendors calling out their wares for passing customers. Finest ale in all the land, straight from the dwarves lands. One calls out, while another Step right up and buy your self a game to keep that mind working, don't be shy. After all we are all intelligent creatures now. At another both sits a gnome who seems to be tinkering with some bits of metal, above the shop it reads "Milos gun shop" and a picture of what looks like a large barrel with fire coming out of it is shown. Other places of interest are a small alchemist shop directly in the center of the marketplace. EllienessEllieness sits tall in his saddle smiling as they ride through town, making some effort to look less comfortable that he is in the saddle. Spoiler Hide Riding [roll] 1d20+3[/roll] Bluff [roll] 1d20+4 [/roll] He looks for a place to buy some more rations as they ride through town. Spoiler Hide If he sees a vendor selling rations he will buy 40 days worth Glynn BrenbergGlynn smiles amiably as the group rides through the city. As Illness shops around for rations Glynn turns his attention towards the man speaking of a game. He rides over to his booth and says,"A game for the mind?"looking down from his horse curiously." What game is this?" Dolphin (Has no further business in town, ready to leave when everyone else is. Or if we encounter something that catches my eye before we leave, of course.) Theorizing through the city Theodoric positioned himself at the head of the little column giving the wares of the city a casual glance. The smithies caught his eye, if this didn't work out, and he could make it back to Rostov perhaps he'd avail them of his own abilities. For the moment though he knew he had all the gear he could afford for now. He could afford some other things though. Keeping an eye on the party with regularity Theodoric noticed Illness making a purchase and offered him a handful of coin. He had meant what he said about believing in never being well supplied and sharing the burden. Spoiler Hide @Smileybastard: 5 or 10 gold your choice. As Gabriel gets on his horse, he looks at the Stable Keep." I will do my best to return and pay for these oats, kind sir. And I will make sure Sir Jasper is aware of your message." As Gabriel rides with Mathilda down the street, he does his best to keep up with the rest. Surely they have ridden a horse before. Gabriel had. Once. It was also the first time he flew without wings or magic of any nature. He only hopes Mathilda was not ready to give him a flying lesson. Gabriel rides close to his comrades and bows to them before looking at the ground, remembering then to keep his eyes forward, lest the horse went out of control." I must apologize in advance. My coin was spent in what you can clearly see. I don't want to be a hassle, of course. Dolphin, you mentioned you can make water? I will try and hunt something along the way. Again, I am sorry for not having enough financial resources." As Gabriel rides along, he notices the various shops. I could always use hardier armor... oh, well. In time. Who knows. DolgrinIndeed, I can make as much water as we'll ever need, at least for our own consumption and hygiene, as could anyone who can cast that particular orison. Glad to hear one of us can hunt, though. Rations are well and good, but men need meat to do real work and stay clear of mind. EllienessWhen Theodoric offers him money he smiles. It's okay my friend, we will have need of other things and then, I am sure you will step up. @EllienessAs you are passing by a few shops you notice a place that is selling survival gear as well as trail rations. Breaking of from the group you head over to the shop and kindly ask the man to get you 40 days of trail rations pulling out the coin. Awful lot of rations, you're buying. Hope they are worth it. He says handing you over what you have asked for while he pockets the 20 gold crowns you have paid him with.@ Glynn BrenbergAs you hear a man calling out about games of the mind you look around to see where the voice is coming from. In a very colorful booth stands a middle-aged man calling out his wares as two people are sitting down at a table playing with a board that has some oddly shaped pieces on it. Well why this game would be chess of course. Have you not heard of it? Tests your mind it does, as well as that of the person you are playing against. Object of the game is to get your opponents king. Now I'm sure you are thinking that sounds easy and like a more boring version of wizards chess but let me tell you it is a very different game entirely. He says to you as the two men go about playing a game at the table.@ Gabriela you thank the stable master he Wales his hand as if it were no problem. Sword lords be paying me no need for you to as well. He says to you before you leave as well. Theo"Well I'll not insist, but remind me to buy you a drink some time,"Theodoric says with a laugh stowing his coin. That dealt with he was ready to set out for real this time. EllienessEllieness smiles in reply. A deal. Glynn Glynn raises his eyebrows and interest." I may not have time for a game today. I am on my way south, and I don't think my companions would appreciate the delay just so I could have a little fun." He glances around his shoulders,"Though, I think I can at least indulge myself as a spectator..." He looks over at the two gentlemen setting up their game.IOC:Spoiler Hide Glynn will remain by the chess table until the others come and drag him away from the game. @GlynnAs you inform the shopkeeper that you are heading south and will not have time to play he tasks. And here I thought I would have a challenger for my bet. You do know about my bet right?he asks seeing the interest in your eyes and working with it. You see I have a simple wager with all my customers, beat me in a game, and you get the set for free. I could sell you one for full price though if you enjoy the game. Just get back to me. He says walking away for you to watch the match. Glynn Glynn smiles his lopsided smile and dismounts his nameless horse." You, sir, know how to make a man interested." He says brushing himself off, still smiling." Show me to the table and explain your terms, and be quick about it, before my companions become weary of waiting for me." @GlynnAs you dismount the man smiles as he turns around hearing you coming. You are to kind sir, I merely know how to get through to those of intelligence that enjoy a match of wits. He says returning your smile with one of his own. Now right this way, and I promise this should not take long, a mere 10 rounds and the person with the most points wins. He then explains the rules along the way to the table before sitting down. As you are the guest you may make the first move. Make it count. He says kindly. Gabriel rides with Mathilda down the street, looking up at the sky. Archpaladin, guide our resolve through the lawless and wicked southern path. Please steel my resolve and clear my mind during this journey. He looks at Dolphin." Thank you, Dolphin. I once knew a cleric of Below who had such spells. Orisons, yes! That's what he referred to them as. In that case, water should not be a problem. Hopefully, game will be plentiful on our way there." Gabriel then addresses all those riding." Gentlemen, unless we have other business here, shall we move on? The Southern lands could sure use our help. Where is Glynn?" I... believe he's stuck in a wager for a chess set. It might be useful for us to have some entertainment on hand, I suppose. Gabriel listens to Dolphin and nods. This would be a long trek, no doubt. And if bandits and who else knew were prowling the road, it would make this a perilous journey." You are right, Dolphin. I see your point, and perhaps we could carve one of those chess sets on our way there. I haven't played that game, but would love to learn. And I believe we'll have the time to do." EllienessIt seems if we can't handle a few bandits we have no chance in taming this land. @GlynnSpoiler Hide As everyone finishes up their individual shopping and are all ready to leave you begin to wounder were Glynn ran off to when Dolphin informs them that last he saw Glynn he was playing a game of chess for a friendly wager. And with now were else to go until your friend is done you all chose to go see the game. Spoiler Hide You can all look in the spoiler above, it shall be the chess game between myself and Glynn *Dolphin looks appreciatively at the set's craftsmanship.*IOC:Spoiler Hide That's a web based battle mat? That would be handy for other games I'm in. Could you provide a link to the base site (I assume the link is for a specific map, so offering it to other dms wouldn't help.) Gabriel dismounts and stands at a fair distance. He has heard these games require much concentration and would not want Glynn to lose this match. Dolphin does likewise.(would have thought we'd have to dismount to get close enough to watch properly. *shrug*) Glynn"Well then let the carnage begin." Glynn says lightly reaching for a pawn. He moves it forward with confidence. Spoiler Hide @Glyn As you make the first move of the game you watch as the games master almost smiles as he does a move almost identical to your own. Spoiler Hide Glynn Glynn rubs his chin thinking the moves his king side knight forward. As your opponent watch you move your piece he also moves his horse, though to behind his pawn instead of out in the open. Spoiler Hide That was turn 2, 8 more to go. Glynn Glynn frowns and advances another pawn forward across the board. After 3 turns it seems the two of you have finally come to a different view on moves. Only 6 more turns left, and not a single piece gone yet, are you sure you are going to win this?he asks with a smile. Spoiler Hide Glynn Glynn raises an eyebrow, but does not look up at his opponent. Instead, he slides his rook forward. As before he mirrors the move he had just done, all his focus now on the bored. Spoiler Hide Round 5 Glynn Glynn's rook continues its movement across the board. Spoiler Hide Once again a pawn is seen moving Spoiler Hide 4 turns left Running short on time my friend. Be careful now. The man says to you as he finishes his move. Glynn Glynn thoughtfully taps his lips, before attacking with his pawn. Spoiler Hide I'm not sure how to remove tokens Spoiler Hide Don't worry I know how to do that. As you make the first offensive move you watch as your move gets countered with little ease, as if he had been expecting the move since the beginning. Spoiler Hide 3 turns left Score Glynn 1 Merchant 1 Glynn Glynn nods and says with a crooked smile"The board has been blessed with blood. Now the game truly begins." He advances a pawn. In response to your pawn the merchant moves his Queen forward onto the battlefield. Spoiler Hide 2 turns left Glynn Glynn frowns and grunts at the enemy Queen's movement, then aggressively moves his pawn forward. Having foreseen your course of action the game salesmen smiles as he brings his queen across the board and takes another one of your pawns. I do believe that is 2 for me dear boy. And with so few rounds left. He says with a smile. Spoiler Hide 1 turn left 2 game store 1 you Glynn Glynn clenches his fist. It was a stupid move. And there was no way to recover in one move." You have me, sir." He says with a sigh, moving his knight. As the games man on the opposite side of the table takes your pawn he looks to you a friendly smile on his face. You put up a good fight, but I fear you lost. 2 gold crowns and the set is yours. He says to you kindly bowing. Glynn Glynn smiles and stands,"Every failure is a lesson. I will need to temper my aggression in the future." He glances awhile from the board and is surprised to see his companions watching." Ah. I see you are already to go. Is Illness around? I would like to make a withdrawal from our grand Treasury." EllienessReluctantly Illness flips the man two gold coins. As the game master sees the two coins come flying towards him from the air he bows before catching them behind his back. A pleasure doing business with all of you kind sirs. He says turning around and picking up the chess set Glynn and himself had been playing on. Underneath you can see is lined with velvet and has indents that he seems to be putting all the pieces into. Once all pieces are put away he folds it in half and claps it close with a golden clasps. Good thing you bought the cheaper version sirs, as the more expensive one may not have been able to make a long journey. Until next time. He says as he hands the now box looking, chess set to the group before heading back up to his booth going once more to calling out his wares. After having spent enough time inside the city you all find yourselves ready for the open road and begin your journey to Oleg's, leaving the comforts of the city behind you for that of the wilderness. Glynn"I will treasure it, sir." Glynn says, carefully packing the chess set into his pack. He mounts his horse and waves his goodbye. Along the road Glynn rides smiling, obviously excited about the journey." I wonder who this Oleg man is." He says thoughtfully to the group." I wonder what brought him to live and work on the edge of Breton." Could be an adventurous spirit, or a man that likes his privacy, I'd guess. 1 Day later After watching the chess match between Glynn and the gamekeeper you all had made haste trying to make it to Oleg's in record time. So far there has been no trouble, but you have also been on a well traveled road of the kings. Soon you would be entering the edges of the stolen lands, and what awaited you there in the deep forest only those within knew of. You all awake the next morning just before sunrise, you still have at least a two days travel to Oleg's, and that is without running into any trouble. The world of men is far behind you now as you journey threw the countryside, and the sun is shining as if the gods were blessing your quest. Ample amounts of animals can be seen scurrying around from time to time, most would make a good meal to if only caught. On seeing the animals, Dolphin licks his lips. Hey, Gabriel, care to do some hunting when we make camp? Glynn Glynn smiles his lopsided smile as he saddles his mare, which he had named The King's Gambit the night before. He had already begun to grown fond of the muscular beast despite himself. He pulls himself into his saddle and looks to Dolphin,"Hunting? A warm meal would be preferable to those rations." Theo"Unless any of you can hunt on the ride we can't afford the time,"Theodoric declared solemnly,"We made good time, despite diversions, but there's still a long way to go. That's why you carry supplies even in good country. And a good meal and ale at Oleg's will taste better than any game roasted on a stick." Upon rising Theo had seen to the all the horses feed and water before seeing to his own breakfast. As he spoke he busied himself securing any loose gear about camp, distributing all the gear not carried on the party's persons evenly among the horses while getting them saddled for the day. He still could not believe the people the sword lords has selected had stopped for a chess match, and had not been shy in his opinions yesterday. He'd never had the best control of his temper, but had barely kept it in reign. Certainly he'd not support any further delays on the journey. EllienessTheo is correct. We need to keep up our pace and get to the task at hand. Now if game presents itself then we will take the opportunity. Ellieness hefts his bow. Gabriel smiles as he looks at the sun above. Certainly, the gods had blessed this journey to Oleg's, so far. Hopefully, his blade would not have to stain this lovely land should someone decide to get troublesome along the road. That's when Dolphin suggests a quick hunt. Mounted, no less. Gabriel turns to his companion and smiles coyly." Oh...ahh. Sure! I guess I could, yes. Thing is, well... I have no bow, for now. I can try and sneak behind one, if you help me." Doctrine can try. I'm not able to fight from horseback, though. But, Theo and Illness are right. Unless some game presents itself, we don't have the time. Glynn Glynn's smile dies a bit at Theo's attitude. He straightens himself in his saddle and looks out along the road. While Theo's mood may have hampered Glynn's cheer, but nothing could dampen his ardor for the wilderness that stretchered out before him. Glynn had never seen so much empty space before in his life. As you all agree to make haste to Oleg's trading post and Theo helps distribute the weight among the steeds they had each received you can see off in the distance the beginnings of the forest. Though a good days travel away you should be able to get there before nightfall, but there is also the chance of catching a nice good meal as well. And though not everyone has agreed, it seems the party is split on whether they should just eat rations or catch some food. Now what to do? EllienessEllieness takes the lead and moves the group along at a good pace. Let's ride hard and get to Oleg's today if possible. We have lots of rations, and we have just begun. Delaying to hunt is not something we need to do already. Theron the ride Theodoric kept moving about the group in a loose circle putting his modest skill at riding to use. While on the move he kept watch on the countryside and their course checking for any unusual signs though not letting it slow the groups progress. He offered no commentary on Illness statement but agreed completely with the sentiment. Spoiler Hide While we're riding some Perception and Survival checks to note anything unusual going on. (Signs of monsters, other travelers, that barbarian bandit tribe waiting to attack us, etc...) Perception: (1d20)[18] Survival: (1d20+3)[6] As you continued to ride, voting on whether it would be boar for dinner tonight or trail rations. Now on most days boars would be hunted, and time would not be of the essence, but as you are on a mission the majority has chosen the less comfortable one in hopes that when they arrive at Oleg's a nice warm meal shall be waiting for them. With these thoughts you watch as the boar disappears into the underbrush. As nightfall begins to descend you come to the beginning of the forest. Your last obstacle to Oleg's. You have all decided that making it to Oleg's early is the most important thing, but to ride through the night for any given amount of time? Spoiler Hide Theo as your eyes scan your surroundings you notice that though this is an old road the closer and closer you get to the stolen lands the less populated it seems to become. Even the tracks from old travelers seem to begin to wither away as you come to the forest. Smoke can be seen coming from the top of the tress, though exactly were the fire is would be hard to say from this distance. I do not relish the idea of navigating these woods at night, particularly since some of our party cannot see in the dark. I suggest we make camp. Glynn"I agree with Dolphin." Glynn says nodding in agreement." Shall we light a fire? I have some fire making materials, but I have to admit I have very little experience when it comes to using it." EllienessEllieness nods in agreement.Let's make camp and a fire. Glynn Glynn dismounts and pulls leads the King's Gambit to the side of the road. He moves into the underbrush picking up sticks as he goes." Right, so you start with smaller sticks first and move on to large ones." When his arms are full of dead fall he dumps it by the side of the road. He pulls a piece of flint and a steel striker from his pack and begins working at lighting his pile of wood. As you all pitch around camp setting up a nice large fire to keep you warm at night you can see up in the sky that it is only 2 more days until the full moon. Odd really none of you really know anything about each other, yet you all are now banded together to stop bandits, perhaps a little chat with each other before the all call in for the night. The next morning as you awaken you look up to the sky, dawn is fast approaching and all around you the woods are quite, as if something big would be happening today, but what? Gabriel watches Glynn begin a fire. He is somewhat ashamed he was unable to prove his worth hunting some boar. Or at least fowl. Taking a ration out of his pack, he takes a seat by the fire and takes a bite of the dried meat." So, what stories do we have to share? I can start! I once had to deal with rats in a basement. Not too big, mind you. But they sure had a mean bite." Glynn Glynn sits by the fire thoughtfully staring up at the sky. He smiles at Gabriel comment. Glynn scratches at his face altering scar and says,"Yes, rats can be dangerous if you're not careful. Did you develop your all martial skills by fighting rats?"

Kingmaker _ The gaining of the charters|rating:3.0

Rise of Avacyn (IC)

Our Tale begins in Hangar, currently only the second human settlement to fall under the protection of Avalon. Hangar is a small town, with no more than one of everything; one tavern, one blacksmith, one general store, etc. The town is surrounded by a wooden palisade to keep out the worst of the horrors. It is nighttime now, and silvery moonlight falls on a celebration at the local tavern. Heron's Feather, the local tavern, teems with residents there to drink in your honor, and you are all, of course, invited; all of you attend, in fact, though naturally some of you retire much earlier than the others. You recall what Archbishop Ally's said to you last." You have done well to root out these cultists in our midst. Come, your heroics are known all over town now, and I hear there's a celebration at The Heron's Feather! Come back and talk to me tomorrow after some rest, and I'll give you your next mission." Some of you spend the night celebrating, the more robust and hearty of you that is. The rest spend it praying, or have gone to bed early. Now it is the next day. Recall too, that you and your companions devised a meeting place before some of you started drinking. It was the Town Hall. You were to meet your companions there at noon, before proceeding to the church to discuss your next mission with the archbishop. It is nearly an hour before noon now, plenty of time to do some errands, or just laze about. Redman was out of shape. Those skirmishes with the cultists, they really wore him out. It has been far too long since he was fighting on a regular basis. He had gotten soft... and slow. He needed to get back into the skill he once wielded, if he wanted to survive... and carry out Avalon's will. He only briefly stepped over to the celebration, just to say he was there. Furthermore, he ate just enough to silence his growling stomach, then headed over to the guard's training area. Furthermore, he stayed up late practicing his fighting techniques, ignoring the rest of the guards as they returned from celebration. Furthermore, he continued, his training lit by lanterns. When his arms could swing no more, he finally rested. He was up with the sun, and back out in the yard after a very brief breakfast. He stopped with just enough time to make it to the town hall before noon. Norm attended the celebration and stayed as long as the lights were on, but staying slightly separated from the alcohol. As he retired, he took a minute to watch the moon slowly traverse the sky. Back in his room, he lit up the room before laying down to sleep. Nearly an hour later, he awoke to dark room. He illuminated it and fell asleep again. And again. Finally, it happened that he awoke to predawn light seeping through the room. He stepped outside and walked to the church. He would spend the next several hours meditating and waiting for the others. As usualLanderwoke up late on the floor with his back against the side of the bed. He had spent the night drifting through the celebration, until finally temptation grew to strong, and he picked the pocket of a celebrant which he guiltily put back. Taking some last night's food wrapped in a cloth out of a pocket, he nibbles a bit, then out of another pocket, he brings out a small mouse, which he lets loose on the floor for a bit, and then feeds some bread and cheese. Well Mr. Squeakers, let's see what Avalon brings us today. He then places the mouse back into his pocket, and goes to the meeting site. Trent is ever vigilant as always. He knows letting his guard down for even for a minute could spell disaster. So after the return to town he takes a short rest and uses his ritual speak with animals and turns into a cat and speaks to them of the happening coming and goings. He repeats this in several forms resting casting and talking until late. When he wakes up he performs a few duties as a vet and then medic duty and heads to the meeting spot. Game had avoided the celebrations the previous night. In a tavern packed wall-to-wall with people, there was too much of chance of a person brushing up against him and feeling leathery skin or a claw, and then Game's carefully honed magical disguise would come crashing down around him. In the privacy of his room in the inn, he carefully applied his magical disguise and a defensive ward, and then left the room to meet up with his companions. Spoiler: IOC Hide Casting Disguise Self to make Game look like a normal human. We can safely assume he's going to keep this up pretty much permanently. Casting False Life for (1d4+4)[6] temporary hit points. After meeting at Town Hall, the group proceeds towards to church, after brief discussion and greetings. The church of Hangar is small compared to the church of threaten, but then everything is small compared to the Great Cathedral. As you approach the church, you see a pair of fathers standing guard at their usual posts. Once they spot you, they greet you, then begin to escort you through the nearly-empty church towards the back, where Archbishop Ally's awaits. In the back of the church, you are escorted to a room where the Archbishop waits. The room is about the size of a dining room in a normal-sized house, and sports a long rough table with eight chairs of a similar style. Upon the table is a map, which looks to be nearly new. Sunlight shines through a window near the head of the square table. The archbishop is looking over the map as you come in. The archbishop is a short woman, who has eschewed the usual ceremonial vestments for a practical pair of pants, a strapped on chest plate over simple tunic, and a sword belted to her hip. You know that she was once a Cathay-Captain, and you don't recall ever seeing her in less militaristic garb. Allys looks up at your entrance and nods in greeting, her short, gray hair barely stirring at the gesture. The nod would seem terse to anyone who didn't know the archbishop, but you know that's just her way. "Greetings," she says, nodding towards the chairs around the table before taking her own seat at the head. Your escorts salute the archbishop, before departing. Spoiler Hide Redman, you've probably sparred with her Game, you know she doesn't trust you, but she's very short on good fighters Redman returns her nod, a little slower and lower to show respect, followed with a short gesture of slamming his hand onto his heart, which the rest of you assume is a special Cathay salute." Your Grace." Remman makes a quick glacé back at his companions, then steps around to seat that would be directly to the Archbishop's right and sits down. As the rest of the party takes a seat, she indicates the map on the table. "Your next mission is ready. Norm, Redman, you are to proceed to the town of Hangul and bring the light of Avalon to the populace. Trent, Lander, and Game, will accompany you, should they choose to accept the contract." Ally's points at a town on the map marked, "Hangul," down the river from Threaten and on the coast." Havengul is currently under control of a 'Saab-Lord,' or, a stitcher who uses an army of the undead to keep the populace in line and defend his territory. Naturally this Saab-Lord must be killed in order to remove him from power. Once you do that, you will send word to us, and we will begin construction of a church in Hangul." Allys continues, "Of course, first you will need to get there," she pauses, indicating the river. "There are several caravans leaving Hangar for Hangul in the next few days, two by land, and one by river. You can travel with one of these caravans as guards, or you can go it alone. I don't recommend going alone for obvious reasons," she concludes, and waits for the party's decision. "I will leave at once, Archbishop. With the consent of my partner in this deed, I would take to the river and be gone by sundown." Noram says at length, looking to Emmen briefly. Game frowned. He wasn't much of a swimmer and tended to avoid large bodies of water as a result. His newfound affinity for fire had only increased his aversion to water. Unfortunately, he had no valid objection to raise, and it was likely the fastest way to Hangul. The fathers were always in such a hurry..." Very good, sir," he said from his seat in the corner. "Now if you'll forgive the presumption, I'd say that we'd be better off not walking into Hangul waving Avalon's banner, as it were. 'Cause if this Saab-Lord hears that he's about to get smote by the judgment of Avalon, he's likely to try all kinds of nasty tricks. But if we're just five ordinary caravan guards coming into the city, then maybe we can get the lay of the land and work out a plan for taking care of this guy before he even knows we're coming for him. "My thoughts exactly, Game," replies the archbishop, keeping her dislike hidden behind an officer's calm facade. "It would be best if you stayed incognito until you determine the best angle of attack. Just make sure you make your allegiance apparent after the deed." Norm frowns." With respect, Archbishop, deceit may not be the best path if we are trying to show these people Avalon's light. Would it not be better to be open about our intentions from the beginning?" Lander Won't Avalon's light be shown be the building of the church? "What church will that be if the town sees us as untrustworthy? The great cathedral in Threaten would be a mote in our collective eye if nobody had faith enough to build it. Our best plan for the long term is to be upfront with the townsfolk and defeat the heretics regardless. Gold knight will stand with us." Lander Heretics? I thought the only human to fight was a fell necromancer. The horrors of the night already take to many human lives, I have no desire to spill the blood of those who may yet be saved. "Nor am I saying that we should kill those who do not wrong us, but it would be folly to stay our hands if we are at risk. I speak from personal experience when I say that the unenlightened -"Here Norm pauses, glancing quickly at the three mercenaries -"are hesitant to welcome what they can't understand. If you are more inclined to the bardic chain of logic, consider; what good villain comes without an evil support network?" Turning back to the archbishop, Norm inclines his head." My lady. What do you say? Would you have me venture in deceit and darkness?" Her eyes hidden thoughtfully. "That's a good point, while it would be smarter to go incognito, it would make more of an impression if you challenged him outright. I'll leave it up to you, Redman." She says, turning to the aged Cathay. "I trust you to lead this group well." "We have no need of deceit and lies. We are bringing the light and glory of Avalon to these people; they should see that men of the faith do not turn away from the darkness. We will face the shadows head on, now and whenever it rises again. Let this "Slab-lord" see us approach and tremble. He shall fall, as we are protected by Avalon's will." Norm turns and nods gratefully at the other Cathay." You echo my thoughts, Redman. However, our righteousness will only protect us so much. I would regard it as a great failing if our minor mission here required the personal attention of an angel. We are protected by Lady Avalon's will, yes, but we should try not to fall back on Her Grace. For the same reason that the townspeople might reject us as skulkers and tricksters, they may not see us for our might if we only succeed through divine intervention." Are you all mad!? Trent has been pacing this whole time. Charge in as fools and die for nothing at all. Why do you suppose basically every predator is in hiding before the attack? Why do you suppose they attack the herd at its weakest? So they have the greatest chance of success. We will not succeed if we run in there without first observing what is transpiring. This Saab-Lord is surrounded by the walking dead. That means he has an army that will never stop. Can you say the same? Once we start this fight it won't end until he is dead. What do we know of him? Do we know what protections he has? Do we honestly know anything at all? These people are oppressed which means they are tired of their current rulership which means they are allies. They will appreciate us removing the taint from their region. I, for one, do not believe we have to build a church there they will be allies nonetheless. Look at the group we have here now. Me a druid of the twilight. 2 warriors of Avalon and 2 unaffiliated if this group can come together so can many other factions. It doesn't have to be under one banner. Norm sneers." Tell me, Druid: What stake do you have in this enterprise? If you would rather decline your contract and work alone, that is within your power. You claim that we have no information on our foes while presuming all the same that they will welcome freedom. I have precious few allies, and most of them have wings. You speak of our chances, but our success is already certain. "What's more, if these people are allies as you suggest, then they will be glad to provide us with information if we come as liberators, but less likely to lend help if we appear as mercenaries. Especially because we will be called upon to hide our banners in disguise, which handicaps our combative potential. My spear is far and away my best weapon, but if I use it while under the guise of a mercenary, the 'jig' is up." Redman turns to Norm,"While I doubt we will require the aid of one of Avalon's numbers, I believe you are wrong in that regard. The sight of a glorious angel swooping down from the skies to smite the evil that plagues them? What better way to raise the spirits and instill devotion in the townsfolk? They will feel safer than ever, with the knowledge that the angels are willing to protect such as them!" He then turns to Trent,"Wild animals and the foul creatures of this place attack from the shadows at the weakest because they do not have the glory of Avalon behind them. We will destroy his army as he sends it, and we will liberate the people as we push our way through. What will people think of us, hiding in the shadows to protect ourselves while they continue to suffer? We are here FOR them! To SAVE them! To bring them the LIGHT of Avalon! What light hides in the dark? Plus, if they are as tired of this as you say they are, then once they see the light, then will join in the fight!" I have precious few allies, and most of them have wings. You speak of our chances, but our success is already certain. Redman nods in agreement. Archbishop Ally's purses her lips thoughtfully. "What if you sent in the mercenaries to gather some intel, while the two fathers wait behind, and then when they return you go in with banners raised?" that sits better with me however let me clarify we shall go as liberators as y'all suggest however I propose not showing our banners till an opportune time. Let me remind you that we are but 5. Let me remind you norm that my circle has been here far longer than yours, so what do I have at stake? My ancestral homeland that's what. My circle has extended its hand to your order any gains you make so to do my circle, so my stakes are yours as well. Let me also remind you that I hold no contract I'm am here for my circle and of my own good conscience for I have grown fond of you all. I also am still against building a church till those we save decide its time. After all if we impose such things are we any better than the corruption we fight? Let us be kind and reach an agreement that does not jeopardize everything "As you say, Archbishop." Noram bows slightly to his superior. Noram turns to Trent, his face growing dark." Do not presume to lecture me, wood sling. Your order may be older, but keep in mind; Avalon saved more of us in her first hour after appearing than your circle has saved in the past century. The wilds may once have been your home, but even the angels may not be merciful enough to save you, were you to traverse the Buchenwald now. Founding a church in Hangul is not a job that we foist on the residents and hope that they are devout enough or grateful enough to do Her Grace justice, but a job that we take upon ourselves in order to better the lives and futures of the Havengulites. If you see it as a chore that you would rather the townsfolk do, then I'm sure you can find something to occupy your time while the devout do our duty." His lecture finished, Norm gathers himself and stands, only to pause and look to Ally's." Archbishop, is there a reproduction of this map that I might take along? I've never been to Hangul before." If it weren't for my circle there would be nothing you could save now, and you presume to think that the only lives worth saving is that of what you call sentient. Has my circle wronged you Norm? Do you truly believe your order contributions are grater than anyone else's? Does your order teach sin for I believe pride to be one of them isn't it? I do not know your orders ways as well as I probably should and for that I am sorry I will learn, but I feel as though you have much to learn as well. As it seems that no amount of persuasion will keep this church from being erected in a fashion I disagree with I will nonetheless guard protect and go on with the duties of my circle. We are not enemies. My apologies for any rudeness you have suffered by my hands. "Peace!" the Archbishop declares. "I appreciate your devoutness Norm, but bear in mind that Trent is here as a representative of our allies against the horrors of the night. I would have you treat him as the ambassador he is." Ally's pauses and turns to the druid. "I understand your views here, but you should know that the building of a church is not a slave collar, but the wings that will set them free! These people are oppressed by the power of this Saab-lord, and before that it was probably demons, or who knows what else. We bring them the power of the church so that they can use Her symbol to keep back the darkness. Ours is one of the few powers in this land that doesn't come at the price of monsters, next to the power of your circle of course, Trent," She concludes. Norm gathers himself, looking shaken." I'm sorry, Archbishop. I should not have gone so far. Trent, would you forgive me? I lost my head. I haven't slept very well in the past weeks. "Archbishop, would you be so kind as to lend us a map? I'm unfamiliar with this region." Redman quietly watches the argument. Once it ends, and the room is filled with awkward silence, Redman begins." You say it is unwise to rush headfirst into danger to help these people. Fine. You believe we should investigate by sneaking around. While I whole-heartily disagree with this idea, Norm and I cannot take the evil on our own. We clearly need the aid of our...allies"He nods respectfully to Trent." However, I cannot stand idly by while these folk suffer under evil's shadow. I cannot wait, while our mercenary...friends...do their investigation. I would prefer to join with them. To help the people in at least small ways, before we reveal our true light and crush this false lord." Thank you bishop. Yes I can forgive as I am needing forgiveness as well, and I hope you'll give it. I've not slept so well either, there have been many duties that I've been attending. We serve a worthy cause regardless of methods. I, too, wish to help where I can before be complete our task. I now understand the purpose of the church which I was mistaken before. Please be certain that I have the best intentions at heart I wished no ill or offense. "Certainly," Ally's nods. "As far as the map goes, the river caravan leaves in a few days, so a crude reproduction could be managed by then." She indicates the river on the map. "You will be traveling with a company that sends regular caravans down the river. Though there is something you should know before you begin your travels. This particular company has been suffering... losses as of late. Two of their river boats have disappeared without a trace. The owner has begged the protection of the church on his latest river boat, so you will be offering that protection as a way of paying your travel expenses. The trip should take three days via river." "At what point are we...obscuring our purpose? Do we claim to be simple mercenaries even to this caravan? Or do we protect them in Avalon's name, but cover her symbol as we approach the town?" Remman grimaces as he says it." One of the caravans may let it spill that we are there if they know our true intentions, accidentally or not." "It would seem to me that the merchants would see it as rather conspicuous if we were to respond to their petition in the guise of common mercenaries and request neither return passage nor payment. But again we come to the debate of hiding our intentions." "You don't really need to conceal anything," replies Ally's. "The riverboat is actually going to Elgar, a village nearby that retains neutrality, and is about a half-days march from Hangul. All you need to do is protect the riverboat until it gets to Elgar. In-fact, your presence may just provide all the protection the boat needs. Once you arrive in Elgar, you can stay at the village tavern, while the druid and the two mercenaries go and explore the town of Hangul. Or if you don't want to do any reconnaissance, the five of you can just go forward and attack the front gates. That path will be more difficult, though." Redman stands up." Good, we have a plan. We will protect this boat and defeat whatever evil plagues the river. We will...make further plans once we reach Elgar." He respectfully bows towards the archbishop." I will be ready when the boat is prepared to head out. Was there anything else?" I will begin communing with nature to see what trials we will face. Scouting the area. With that he leaves. Trent ritual casts speak with animal and casts animal friendship. He does that till he runs out of spell slots. He sends them 11 hours down river. That's the first day before we leave. Trent wants to know of dangers and anything that might be unusual down the river. "That's all, be prepared to leave in three days. May Avalon keep you." She gives the Cathay salute and dismisses the rest. Spoiler Hide will get back to you on what the animals find "I believe that this plan can work," Game commented as they left the office. "When we reach Elgar, the fathers can spread the good word of Avalon or even perform a service for the people while the rest of us scout ahead. If anyone asks why you've joined the caravan, you can say you're going to preach in Elgar, and you won't be lying." The group begins to leave the briefing room near the back of the church while the druid, already in the process of leaving, is walking down the central aisle. As Trent's hand touches the door handle, the ground shakes, like it was startled. A deafening crash is heard somewhere outside the church, followed closely by the sound of splintering wood. A moment later, the church bells begin to ring in alarm, a kind of redundant warning to the people of Hangar, signaling their danger. Lander Let's go! Dashes to the crashing noises. Norm pauses for a moment in shock, then darts back to check on the Archbishop. After confirming that she is fine, he runs towards the ladders, planning to get a view of the town from the top of the bell tower. Redman's instincts take over as soon as he hears the crash. By the time of the splintering sound, both his Warhammer and morning star are in his hands. By the time the bell starts ringing, he's at the door of the church. He was moving so fast, you'd never know he had a bum leg. He pauses briefly at the door, closes his eyes for a split second, and when he opens them again, his weapons are glowing with a faint light. Furthermore, he bursts through the church door, weapons at the ready. Trent silently chastises himself for not setting up a lookout. He readies his shield not wishing to be caught unaware again. He heads outside as before only this time ready for danger. Ooc: if this leads to combat I believe my animal friendship spells should still be active from last night (4 of them is possible). Maybe some are nearby and willing to provide distractions or other forms of support? Game is struck dumb with surprise for several seconds, but eventually recovers his senses and races to follow Lander and Norm. Lander, Trent, Redman, and Game rush outside. They see a smoking crater where The Heron's Feather once was, a boulder rests in the center of the hole, glowing a dull orange with heat. The air reeks of sulfur. A growing group of fathers are pushing at the front gate, trying to close and bar it while something on the other side pushes with unholy strength, somehow the equal of the growing group of fathers. The gate holds as more fathers rush towards the gates. As Norm rushes towards the archbishop, Ally's herself emerges, sword at the ready, and pushes past him towards the threat. Norm climbs the ladder up the bell tower to get a better look at the town. He sees all that the rest of the group sees, but even more, beyond the walls, he sees an open Hellman, a jagged hole in the ground that leaks devils. An abundance of imps, or smaller devils, litter the battlefield, and their cackles carry on the wind. A larger, brutish looking devil pushes at the gates. The group pauses at the scene, towns-people rush past them into the church, the most heavily fortified building in the town. Some of the more courageous of the townspeople rush to fight the unseen foe. A squirrel rushes up to Trent, chattering to him about the infernal horde beyond the gates. Ally's rushes past, pushing at the gates with her fathers. Suddenly a group of cackling devils flies over the gates, as if flung. A devilish voice booms across the town."WHERE IS THE ONE CALLED GAME?!" TrentSpoiler Hide I'll allow it, add +1 to your attacks "By the Light of Avalon..." Noram stands and stares at the hordes. A moment later, a spear is in his hand, and he drops to ground level, not bothering with the stairs. He stumbles, then charges for the demons that just flew in, prayers and maledictions flowing from the same breath. Spoiler: IOC Hide Doing a couple of things here; first, I'm summoning my pact weapon, which is a silvered spear. Second, I'm casting False Life on myself, and using the roof and temporary HP to deal with fall damage. (1d20+0)[6] is the Acrobatics result. Finally, I'm casting Armor of Agatha on myself as I move towards the demons. This takes about 20 seconds to do, in total. I have one spell left before the next short rest, but most of my spells are support anyway, and I conveniently have nobody to buff except myself. Lastly (actually this time), here's the initiative: (1d20+0)[2] Game stared in open mouthed horror at the sound of his name. He hadn't seen this many demons since the attack on the Nero-alchemist's estate. He'd barely survived that night, but this time his situation looked far more dire. Gritting his teeth, he girded himself for the most desperate fight of his life. But first, these demons would have to be dealt with. Spoiler: IOC Hide Initiative: (1d20)[15] Redman's eyes go wide at the sheer number of demons." Avacyn protect...no. Avalon grant me strength!"his voice rapidly increasing in volume. As he finishes his statement, he thrusts both his weapons into the air, and their glow brightens and shifts to a vaguely red tint. He then rushes (as fast as he can on his leg) towards the arriving devils. Spoiler: IOC Hide Lemmas is casting divine favor, so all weapon attacks deal an extra 1d4. Initiative (1d20-2)[6] Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14. Fires arrows at the devils until one gets in melee range Spoiler: Rolls Hide Initiative:(d20+2)[19] Longbow Attack:(d20+7)[21] Damage:(d8+3)[10] Trent says Thank you friend now please go find somewhere safe He tosses an acorn for the squirrel. Trent grabs his totem a raven scull gripped by a ravens talon and prepares to cast a spell. Init:(1d20+4)[18] Norm rushes up to the party, just in time to see eight devils land in front of the party. The Archbishop and her men are holding the gate against the rest of the onslaught, as she shouts to you all, "Keep those devils off our backs! We only need to hold out until the angels arrive!" As she speaks, she yanks her pendant to Avalon from around her neck with one hand, breaking the cord, and holds it up. A lance of pure white light leaps into the sky from the pendant, a signal for aid.Meanwhile, the cackling devils begin to advance on the party. One of them gestures at Game and gibbers something in its unholy language. Spoiler Hide Ok, so Initiative is rolled, some of you rolled attacks, which is good, but I'm going to deal with attacks in the next post so that all the attacks will be together, everyone who hasn't done an attack roll you may do so now Those who speak Infernal know that the devil said, "There he is!" Those who speak Abyssal, please change your sheet so it says Infernal as they are the same thing in this setting, and also note that you understand the devil. Redman readies his weapon, and prepares to charge in, when the creature points at Game and speaks. Redman racks his brain, thinking back on his lessons in devil speak. After a second of thinking, and combined with the devil's pointing motion, it clicks. He moves to get in between the devils and Game and calls out,"Stay back, Hell spawn! You will get no further!" Redman prepares to strike once they get closer. Spoiler: Attacks Hide Movement: Get between devils and Game Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[18], Damage: (1d8+4)[12] Piercing + (1d4)[2] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[10], Damage: (1d8+4)[5] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[1] Radiant "Avalon protect us..." Noram mutters, shifting nervously as the demons approach. When the demon points and speaks, he reacts." Die Screaming, Fiends!" Noram shouts and gestures with a glowing left hand at the vocalizer. Spoiler: IOC Hide Cast Sacred Flame on the one that was talking. (1d8+3)[4] radiant damage, DEX save (DC 13) for half Game lashed out with all he had at the nearest devil. Spoiler: IOC Hide Bonus Action: Cast Hex on the closest devil to Game. +1d6 damage to all attacks, and he has disadvantage on strength checks. Action: Cast Eldritch Blast against the Hexed devil Attack: (1d20+6)[8] Damage: (1d10)[3]+(1d6)[4] spirits of earth hinder these devils Trent raises his totem as if asking the ground to rise roots begin shooting up out of the ground grasping for the demons. Trent is attempting to not get any allies in the spell grab as many devils around the gate as he can. DC 14 or be restrained 20ft cube near the gate is difficult terrain. Ooc: when I begin using thorn whip can I choose not to pull them 10ft? Does the +1 apply to saves? If so then the DC is 15 The first devil attacks the Cathay in front, Redman. Redman attempts to block as the devil claws at him, but it was a feint as the devil flips around and stabs into Redman with its tail, dealing 4 damage and causing him to make a poison saving throw (Constitution)The second devil attacks Redman, double-teaming the Cathay. Redman bats it away with his shield, fending it off. Lander fires an arrow at one of the devils attacking Redman, hitting it spectacularly and causing it to burst into a puff of smoke. A devil leaps at Norm, but trips on its own tail and face plants into the dirt for 2 damage.Meanwhile, Trent casts Entangle, causing vines to grow up out of the ground rapidly around the six devils who have not attacked. Four of them are restrained and yell angrily in a shrill and infernal tongue. The other two break free and advance on the druid angrily, using the same double-team tactics. Gamet hexes one of the advancing devils, before casting eldritch blast on it. The devil leaps nimbly aside and continues to advance on the druid. That devil is however too distracted by the blast of force to attack properly. The second one attacks with rakish claws but is batted away by Trent's swung totem. Remman attacks the second devil with his weapon, and though it got the first strike it was also the last! The demon that stung Redman is smashed to an infernal gore. Redman attempts to do the same to a devil attacking Trent, but it dances nimbly aside, dodging both his swung mace and Game's blast. Noram invokes the sacred, sending holy fire at one of the trapped devils. It is burned for 4 damage. Spoiler Hide I'm planning to use this format for now, where I put a space between each turn. Also, please list the name of the spell you always use, that way I can look it up. Redman, roll a con check, you might be poisoned. Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14.keeps firing arrows at the devils until one gets in melee range Spoiler: Rolls Hide Longbow Attack:(d20+7)[14] Damage:(d8+3)[6] Redman attempts to ignore the pain of the stabbing would and brings both his weapons around again. Spoiler: IOC Hide Con Save: (1d20+2)[13] Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[14], Damage: (1d8+4)[8] Piercing + (1d4)[3] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[7], Damage: (1d8+4)[8] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[1] Radiant Seeing his foe collapse for no apparent reason, Norm charges forward, spear already stabbing downwards. Spoiler Hide Attacking the (presumably prone) devil that face-planted with my spear, which is both silvered and magical.(1d20+3)[4](Advantage: (1d20+3)[19]) dealing (1d8+1)[7] piercing damage. Game steps between Trent and the two advancing devils, trying to draw their attacks to himself, and then blasted the hexed devil once more. Spoiler: IOC Hide Game: Temp HP: 6 HP: 23/23 AC: 19 Spell Slots: 1/2 Movement: Try to impose myself between Trent and the devils Action: Cast Eldritch Blast against the Hexed devil Attack: (1d20+6)[16] Damage: (1d10)[2]+(1d6)[3] Trent tosses the raven totem in the sky and says spirit of the raven pierce the enemies of the twilight circle the raven totem morphs into a true raven and pecks one of the devils close to him. Attack roll(1d20+7)[16] Damage(1d6)[4]piercing damage This should not cause disadvantage since it's a melee spell attack technically. It should bypass resistances to nonmagical piercing damage since it's a magical attack. If it hits Trent says reap the soul(1d10)[3]extra necrotic damage The devils struggle against the vines, but to no avail, as the druid's magic is strong. Lander lands a hit on one of the entangled devils, dealing 3 damage, after resistance. Trent lands a hit on one of the devils attacking him and deals 7 damage to it, finishing it. Gamet attacks the one next to it, and manages to blast it for 5 damage That imp leaps at Trent and stabs the druid with its tail. (Trent, roll a con check)Redman finishes off that imp with his mace, after shrugging off the effects of the devil's poison. Lastly, Norm brings his weapon to bear on the stumbling devil, and kills it. There are now four devils left, all entangled. Spoiler Hide Thinking about using a grid next time you guys fight multiple something's, hard to keep track of them all Lander Keep them captive or send them to Hell? "They won't be held forever, and letting them go would be treasonous. If you have any objections, you don't have to participate." That said, Norm walks up to a devil and swiftly stabs it in the heart. Spoiler Hide (1d20+3)[23](adv:(1d20+3)[4]) for (1d8+1)[2] DMG Visibly shy of getting closer to the hell spawn, with a shudder Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14 follows the lead and unsheathe his great sword to dispatch the fell creatures Spoiler Hide Attack:(d20+4)[8] Damage:(2d6+2)[11] Game turned his Hex upon one of the restrained devils before blasting once more. Spoiler: IOC Hide Bonus action: Move Hex to one of the restrained devils Action: Eldritch Blast it Attacks (adv): (1d20+6)[21] (1d20+6)[24] Damage: (1d10)[5]+(1d6)[4] (1d20+3)[19]concentration DC 10 if failed entangle ends(1d20+3)[16]vs poison Trent saypurifyas the raven kills the demon it grabs a portion of its black spirit turning it white and delivers it to Redman bathing him in a twilight healing him 2hp. (This is a twilight druid ability when I kill an opponent that isn't undead when I add necrotic damage)Trent points to the demon next to him and saysimpaleas the raven dives at the imp.(1d20+7)[11]to hit(1d6)[2]piercing damage thornwhip.no there shall not be prisoners. We cannot suffer these crimes against nature to live "Avalon will not abide by letting them live, they shall all be destroyed!" Remman steps forward to smash any remaining trapped devils. Spoiler: IOC Hide Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[15], Damage: (1d8+4)[8] Piercing + (1d4)[4] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[26], Damage: (1d8+4)[6] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[3] Radiant Spoiler Hide Hey so, I forgot a few things, A.) You all have advantage while they're entangled B.) Redman, you took an extra 5 damage, I misread it, you take half the poison damage on a successful save. C.) Trent, you take 8 damage, 3 from the tail, 5 from the poison. Due to advantage, I'm going to roll again for those of you who didn't roll twice and take the higher The first devil attempts to break free and fails. Lander cleaves that devil for 11 damage, finishing it. Trent also finishes off one of the other devils with 3 damage. Gamet hexes and blasts another devil, it takes 9 damage. That devil then succeeds at breaking free and leaps at Game! Clawing at him twice, but failing to pierce his armor. Remman finishes off the last two devils with a mighty blow from each of his hammers. Suddenly, an incorporeal shadow moves through the walls. It corporates in front of the party, and attacks Redman. Norm spots it and has time to hit it with his sword for 2 damage. The shadow, having taken form attacks Redman with its claws. Redman deftly deflects it with one of his hammers with a cry of surprise. Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14with great sword in hand dashes over to strike at the shadow that's attacking Penman Spoiler Hide Attack:(d20+4)[17] Damage:(2d6+2)[6] [/QUOTE] After taking a brief moment to compose himself after being startled by the shadow, he does what he does best. Spoiler: IOC Hide Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[18], Damage: (1d8+4)[7] Piercing + (1d4)[3] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[9], Damage: (1d8+4)[10] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[3] Radiant "Fathers, watch out!" Game shouted. "They're sending shadow demons through the walls! Seal them out if you can!" Turning back to the shadow who had already come through with wall, he hexed and blasted it. Spoiler: IOC Hide Bonus Action: Move hex to the shadow Action: Cast Eldritch Blast on it Attack: (1d20+6)[13] Damage: (1d10)[10]+(1d6)[4] With a hearty yell, Norm darts after the shadow, spearheld forward. Finding it in a compact form, Norm stabs at it viciously. Spoiler Hide (1d20+3)[22] (adv: (1d20+3)[13]) (1d8+1)[4] (CRT: (1d8)[5] Trent saydestoyand points at the shadow as the raven streaks toward it.(1d20+7)[12]attack roll(1d6)[2]piercing damage Trent ceases concentration on entangle since its doing more harm than good now. Trent says wonder how many more are hiding? Lander heroically dashes towards the shadow demon and slashes right through it. Though the blow seems to offer less resistance than a solid body, it does offer some resistance and seems to hurt the demon. Trent's raven streaks towards the demon, razor sharp beak brought to bear. The shadow creature parts, and the raven flies through it. Gamet hexes the demon with a glow of eldritch light from his hand before blasting it. Like a gust of wind through smoke it seems to dissipate the demon. The plume of smoke moves closer to Game before reforming right in front of him and striking with its claws. Game backpedals slightly as the claws rake his chain mail ineffectually. Remman charges forward to protect Game and swings with his glowing morning star. At the weapon's touch the demon steams slightly, and you all hear a telepathic scream of pain from the creature. Redman quickly swings his other hammer which the demon dodges warily. Lastly Norm brings his spear to bear and slashes through the demon, encountering about the same resistance as if he had swung his weapon through water. "Burn, you lightless abomination!" Noram stops, takes note of the demon's nature again, and thrusts with his spear -- this time using it to direct a spell. A fire glowing orb emerges at the end of the point, fully illuminating the area in which the demon stands. Spoiler Hide I'll try to put the light on the demon itself, (1d20+3)[18] to touch it, but failing that the Light will be about a meter off the ground, hovering in space. Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14again with great sword in hand dashes over to strike at the shadow Spoiler: rolls Hide Attack:(d20+4)[11] Damage:(2d6+2)[13] Game swore. He'd allowed the shadow to close upon him, and now it would be difficult to perform his magic. Drawing his quarterstaff, he began dealing with the shadow the old-fashioned way... Spoiler: IOC Hide Object Interaction: Draw quarterstaff in a single hand Action: Attack the shadow Attack: (1d20+4)[7] Damage: (1d6+2)[3]+(1d6)[3] Encouraged by his successful strike, Redman launches a secondary flurry at the shadow. Spoiler: ATT Hide Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[12], Damage: (1d8+4)[6] Piercing + (1d4)[4] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[23], Damage: (1d8+4)[7] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[2] Radiant Seeing games difficulty Trent decides to use his spells full potential. Trent say bring it hearth raven swoops around to the other side of the demon pushing it towards Trent 10ft.(1d20+7)[19]attack(1d6)[4]piercing damage Lander slashes through the shadow again, this time meeting no resistance as his sword goes through it harmlessly. Trent's raven attacks the shadow while it's distracted by Lander's swing. It manages to damage the shadow but it is unable to push it. Gamet swears aloud and draws his quarterstaff, swinging at the demon but feeling no resistance. The demon laughs in their minds, a menacing sound, and attacks Game. The claws seem to ignore his chain mail this time, and slash him for 12 damage.Meanwhile, Redman attacks once more. His glowing weapons strike at the demon, the first one barely dodged, the second one dealing significant damage. In places, the demon now appears much less dark. Finally, Norm manages to place his light in the demon itself. The demon, once dark as thickest smoke, now appears the color of a shadow cast by a noon sun. It immediately turns its eyes to Norm. With an exultant cheer, Norm places himself directly in front of the shadow." I am protected." He says, gathering his weapon to his torso. Spoiler Hide I cast Blade Ward on myself. Resistance to physical damage until my next turn. Norm: HP: 34/24 AC: 13 Active Spells: Armor of Agatha, Light strike Trent points to the demon again the raven attempts to grab the demon again in order to drag it closer(1d20+7)[11]attack roll(1d6)[2]piercing damage. Ooc: Think I'm going to save healing word for if someone falls or I get low on Hp. Hope we bring him down soon game seems to be taking a beating. Hope my pull works this time. Game shouts in pain as the shadow's claws rakes his skin, but he stands his ground and takes another wild swing in response. Spoiler: IOC Hide Game: HP: 17/23 AC: 19 Spell Slots: 1/2 Action: Attack with quarterstaff Attack: (1d20+4)[12] Damage: (1d6+2)[4]+(1d6)[4] Eyeing an exit Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14again tries to strike at the shadow Spoiler: rolls Hide Attack:(d20+4)[19] Damage:(2d6+2)[12] "By Avalon's will, you shall be smote fiend!!" Remman channels even more of Avalon's light into his weapons before sweeping them into the shadow. Spoiler: IOC Hide Divine Smite: If he hits, expends a level 1 spell slot to deal an extra 2d8 radiant damage, or 3d8 if it is undead or a fiend. Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[24], Damage: (1d8+4)[8] Piercing + (1d4)[3] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[13], Damage: (1d8+4)[8] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[2] Radiant Divine Smite: (2d8)[14] + ((1d8)[3] if undead or fiend) Lander strikes at the shadow demon with his sword, hitting successfully. Trent sends his raven to attack. The raven misses, swooping by closely. Gamet swings his staff at the shadow demon, it goes through the demon with little effect. The demon swings its claws at Norm, it seems disoriented by the light, but manages to land a hit nonetheless, for 8 damage. However, due to resistance Norm only takes 4 damage. With a shout of rage, Redman cleaves the demon with glowing maces. He finishes it off with that blow.(300 exp per player)The party is panting from the exertion, when suddenly the fathers at the gate are scattered as the gate is forced open. A large muscular devil, red skinned with great big horns has forced open the gates, fathers are on the surrounding ground including Ally's. As the devil closes on the party, it spots Game and heads towards him. Ally's regains her footing and moves to attack the devil. A palpable heat comes off the creature as it nears. "Game, I am impressed. Whatever you've done to anger this many fiends, I applaud you." Noram says, turning to face the new threat. Keeping his spear in the defensive position, he begins to charge forward. Spoiler Hide Casting Blade Ward on myself again, and moving 30 feet towards the demon. I'm guessing that 30 feet isn't enough to get all the way there. A frightened Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14 fires an arrow at the big devil Spoiler: rolls Hide Attack:(d20+7)[23] Damage:(d8+3)[9] Trent is fairly disappointed with the spells he has prepared today. He expected travel and prepared as such. He didn't expect the situation they are in now. Furthermore, he supposes that is what can trips are for though it's not proving the most effective. Trent sighs and thinks to himself "will this battle ever end"Game I hope you explain if we live through this. Destroy. Trent drops his hand sharply the raven dives at the demon.(1d20+7)[11]attack roll.(1d6)[2]piercing damage. Game froze in place as the demon charged. His first instinct was to flee and blast from a safe distance, but he could feel the eyes of the fathers upon him, and he suspected that doing anything that looked cowardly would not help his position. The fathers were all for useless gestures of bravery, after all. Shield raised protectively, Game met the demon's charge with one of his own. "Begone! You will feel the bite of my curse as I banish you back to the foul pit that spawned you!" Spoiler: IOC Hide Movement: Move directly in front of the demon Bonus Action: Move Hex to the demon Action: Attack with one-handed quarterstaff Attack: (1d20+4)[11] Damage: (1d6+2)[4]+(1d6)[1] After finishing the shadow with a Semite, Redman gives himself a moment to catch his breath. This is more fighting than he's done in years. He is still panting when the gate crashes open, revealing the giant devil. "Angel's grace! No peace to be had. Alright fiend, let's send you back to meet your friends." Redman attempts to get in between the devil and Game once again, bringing both his glowing weapons up in preparation, and bringing them down on the devil when it gets close enough. Spoiler: IOC Hide Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[12], Damage: (1d8+4)[11] Piercing + (1d4)[4] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[14], Damage: (1d8+4)[11] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[2] Radiant Lander fires an arrow at the devil in a panic, though his panic does not affect his aim, and he manages to hit it dead on! Trent's Raven meanwhile attacks the devil taking a similar path as the arrow. The Raven flies too high and misses. The devil closes in on the party and Game manages to swing at it with his staff. The devil blocks with one huge arm, and grins menacingly. Allys approaches the devil from behind, with a shouted prayer she leaps at it with sword aglow and slashes the devil mightily. The devil turns and claws at Ally's mightily, she parries one claw with her sword, blocks another with her shield, but the devil manages to bite her with his third attack. She cries out in pain. Remman lunges at the devil and attacks with both maces, it seems ineffective against the devil's thick hide. Noram casts blade ward on himself and charges towards the devil. His face quickly darkening from concentration to anger, Norm growls to the demon:"You will regret that, demon. I swear it." Touching his collar and quickly praying, Norm's eyes flare towards the demon. Spoiler Hide Entering a Rage. Not a class feature, just mad. Also, using the Thief of Five Fates ability to cast Bane, targeting the big baddie and three other demons I can see, if I can see any. This is my last spell slot for the time being, so... HP: 24/24 AC: 13 Spells Active: Armor of Agatha (6), Bane. "Hey!" Game roared. "I'm the one you came here for! Why don't you try and fight me instead? Unless you don't think you have waited it takes to beat me? If that's the case, then you'd better flee. Spoiler: IOC Hide Casting "Command" on the demon, using the command word "flee". He must succeed on a DC14 WIS saving throw, or else spend his next turn moving away from me as quickly as possible. If he moves, he should trigger an attack of opportunity from anybody adjacent to him, including me: AOO Attack Roll: (1d20+4)[5] Damage: (1d6+2)[7]+(1d6)[5] May the twilight find you Bishop uses the last 2 die from class feature to heal the bishop as a bonus action(2d6)[12]she gains 10ft to movement speed for 1 minute and 2 temp Hppullthe raven attempts to grab the demon and bring him 10ft closer to me(1d20+7)[8]attack roll(1d6)[3]piercing damage "Your Grace!" Remman calls out to Ally's. He starts to move towards her to come to her aid, but sees the druid healing her instead. He bares his teeth, then makes his plan. Furthermore, he steps around the devil to get on the opposite side from Ally's,"Avalon's might surrounds you, fiend! By her light be purged!" He brings his weapons down once again on the devil while it's focused on Ally's. Spoiler: IOC Hide Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[21], Damage: (1d8+4)[10] Piercing + (1d4)[2] Radiant Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[26], Damage: (1d8+4)[9] Bludgeoning + (1d4)[4] Radiant A still frightened Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14 fires an arrow at the big devil Spoiler: rolls Hide Attack:(d20+7)[24] Damage:(d8+3)[11] Sneak Attack:(d6)[3] Lander fires an arrow at the devil, it hits to great effect! Trent sends his raven on the attack but is unable to get a good grasp on the demon. Gamet says one word, "Flee." It resonates with an otherworldly echo and the devil complies, fleeing from the party. Game attempts to swing at the devil given the opportunity but is unable to hit. Allys staggers back up and swings at the demon with her sword, but is unable to hit. Remman raises his morning stars to the sky, and shouts an entreaty to Avalon. It seems, that Avalon has heard him, his maces glow a painfully bright gold, and he smites the devil as it turns to flee with one blow, swinging both hammers at him in unison. Noram prepares a spell, but Redman has already finished the devil. Devils begin to pour through the breach in the gate, as a few more of the big ones Redman had just smote move in behind them. Fathers stand up warily and prepare to fight for their lives, when suddenly the angels arrive. Over the course of the battle several other buildings had caught fire, their smoke obscuring the sky, but divine wings beat back the smoke, bringing back the sunlight in both a literal and symbolic sense as they routed the devilish horde. As this is going on, a group of soot-streaked Fathers lead by Ally's approach Game. "What did you do?" demands Ally's of Game.Spoiler Hide So, normally you guys would have gotten attack of opportunity due to the devil fleeing and such, but Redman did such a ridiculous amount of damage (33 holy crap) that it didn't really matter anyway. "What did I do? I survived. The demons seem to be offended by my very existence." Angrily Game stowed away his staff. "You're angry with me, but I'm not the cause of this destruction. This was the work of the demons, and I was just fighting side-by-side with you to stop them. We have a common enemy, archbishop. I know that you've never liked me. You've always feared that I was secretly consorting with demons and would betray you some day." Game laughed bitterly. "Well, you can put that fear to rest. Even if I wanted to betray you that would just get me killed." "Come with us," says the archbishop. "We have some questions for you." Fathers begin to move forward cautiously. "Will you come quietly?" return the raven returns perching upon Trent's hand. He pets it briefly making some noise at it and the raven back before it reverts to Trent's totem, and he returns it to its place. Bishop please. I have to agree with game there on this matter he helped repel an attack. Yes they knew his name however strange they were here to kill him which means he was not an ally of theirs but an enemy. I'm sure we've all made enemies in this war. He just became more well known to them. Is this how we are to treat the people who are subjugated by these demons? As criminals? With suspicion? I know if I had a friend always suspicious of me that I would not remain friends for long. Norm hesitates a moment, watching the angels sweep the demons back, before turning to the bishop, spear standing at his side as a staff." Archbishop, I urge you to reconsider the timing. While this... incident certainly bears investigation, Game twill be necessary in the mission we are leaving on today. If you decide that this is the more pertinent issue, I will support you, but I would ask that you instead submit him to our custody, that we may evaluate his apparent transgression once Hangul is free." The fathers hesitate, looking to Ally's for direction. Ally's says "Whatever you did bring the demons here, and caused untold destruction." She pauses, "But you are right, Game is clearly an enemy of devils, and fought ably against them." She turns to Game. The fathers by her side retreat. "I will want the whole story when you return, however. For now, you may all rest up for your mission." She turns away and begins directing residents and soldiers in the cleanup effort. Game took a deep breath as the fathers left them. "Well, that went better than expected. Thank you for standing by me, friends," he said warmly. "I won't forget this." "Nor will I. Will you explain it to us? Or will you wait and tell it to the Archbishop alone on our return?" Noram turns to walk back into the church, planning to spend the days before the boat leaves alternating between meditation and sleep. Trent turns to where he has last seen the squirrel grabs out an acorn, hitters and offers it to the squirrel in open hand offering it in thanks again for the aid nope hand, so maybe the squirrel will climb aboard. He turns to game tour reception here seems a tad less welcoming, doesn't it? I'll not ask you your business, but I will offer some company if you'll have it. I'm going down to scout our route a bit if you'd like to tag along. I have some food we could share. He turns to leave Redman doesn't say anything during the conversation, but eyes Game with mistrust. He would stand with the archbishop even if it meant turning on his new compatriots. He relaxes his guard just a little when Ally's accepts the explanation. Furthermore, he'd still keep an eye on Game during the next mission though, for the archbishop's sake. If she sensed something off... Thoroughly exhausted during the fight, Redman turns to head back to his quarters for some well deserved rest. Lander I don't understand this at all. If there's one thing to believe about Devils, it's that they lie and spread discord. Originally Posted by zylodrizzt Trent turns to where he has last seen the squirrel grabs out an acorn, hitters and offers it to the squirrel in open hand offering it in thanks again for the aid nope hand, so maybe the squirrel will climb aboard. He turns to game tour reception here seems a tad less welcoming, doesn't it? I'll not ask you your business, but I will offer some company if you'll have it. I'm going down to scout our route a bit if you'd like to tag along. I have some food we could share. He turns to leave Game shakes his head. "Under the circumstances, it would probably be best if I not leave the city without a Cathay along with me. I'm going to return to my room at the inn and pack up for our journey tomorrow." Spoiler: IOC Hide Also, I'm going to use my Second Wind feature to heal (1d10+1)[4] HP This is probably true though I feel that this is part of the mission in which you should be allowed to participate after all you will be watched but suit yourself. How bout you lander? Ooc: the goal is what I discussed with you Monica. Originally Posted by zylodrizzt How bout you lander? Lander Yes, let's go. After several days, Lander and Trent have determined there is a human disturbance in the woods about two days along the coming journey. The animals could not be more specific, just that there is a large group of humans there. In Hangar, the Inn is in the process of being rebuilt. The Innkeeper's family has taken over the business, due to the fact that the innkeeper died in the assault. Anyone seeking shelter has been granted it in the church, though it is slightly crowded. It is now the day that the riverboat is scheduled to leave. Since then, you have each been paid 50 gold by the church for your part in fighting back the devils. The boat leaves in two hours, what do you do? Norm goes to see Ally's once more before leaving, asking for advice and blessings, and apologizing for opposing her about Game. With his business finished, he proceeds to the docks to meet those he would be protecting. Game re-applies his magical disguise and warding spell, puts on his armor and then heads down to the docks to wait for his companions. Spoiler: IOC Hide As always, casting Disguise Self to make myself look like a normal human. Also casting False Life for (1d4+4)[8] temp HP Trent prepares his spells to more combat focused. He goes and lets the captain of the ship know of the potential trouble and waits to let everyone else know. Norm walks into the back of the church to talk to Ally's. He finds Ally's sitting at the table in a chair facing the door, looking intently at a report. Norm pauses in the doorway, unsure if he should disturb her. "People died in the attack, you know." Ally's says tiredly. Norm realizes he hadn't been as quiet as he thought. "I know it's unfair to blame Game for this, but seeing people die under my protection..." she trails off. "You did everything you could, archbishop," Norm states." Noram, I don't know what to make of Game. He wields unholy fire, usually a crime by itself, and yet he uses them to save people. How did he get this power?" Ally's continues. "Should I have granted him a pardon? I don't know, I may come to regret that. Keep an eye on him, I'm not saying he's evil, just that I don't know what he is. He may well save my life one day." Noram salutes the Archbishop, "Your Grace." He departs the church to catch up with his companions. Spoiler Hide Hey norm, I hope you don't mind me talking for you, let me know if you think it should have gone way different. Spoiler: IOC Hide Originally Posted by zylodrizzt Think we're just waiting for you to get to the ship now Originally Posted by 2D8HP OK, I thought Lander was already on a boat with Trent. Lander pulls out a mouse, and with a tear, says I don't think I can keep you safe for you little guy finds a street urchin child, gives them 10 GP and tells the child: This is Mr. Squeakers, take good care of him OK? And goes to join the rest of the party. It takes Redman quite a while to get out of bed. Every joint ached, and he had a massive swollen budge where that imp stabbed him. He groaned loudly while sitting up. He was too old to be an effective fighter for long. But Avalon needed his assistance, and he would oblige. He slowly made his way to the church mess for a meal. Halfway through he realized - sh*t! - today is the day they head out. He grabs as much food as he can hold in his hands and shuffles off towards the docks. Lander walks through the small town on his way to the river-docks when he hears something from a house he is passing. "Psst." A cloaked figure lurks in the open doorway, beckoning to Lander. The house itself is charred from the devil attack, part of its top half burned away. The figure enters the house, leaving the door open, a clear invitation. Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14with his hand on the hilt of his great sword, approaches the figure Yes? What do you want? The figure is already seated at a table inside the house. "Come in, I have an offer for you." The figure says cryptically. The room is dark, with no light besides the sunlight coming in through the open door. Originally Posted by TheManicMonocle The figure is.... Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+2, Perception:14 Sorry stranger, but these days I fear darkness. If you want to talk please come out in the sun. The figure laughs. It sounds raspy, like the sound of a snake on cobblestones. He pulls out a golden coin and flips it into the air. As the coin begins to fall, the door swings closed, seemingly of its own accord. Lander hurries back to tell the party of the strange encounter The group proceeds to the docks, arriving at approximately the same time. Lander however, arrives last, and tells the party about his strange encounter. As a group, they head to the only ship in the docks. The river docks are small, with only enough space to fit 3 ships. A lone fisherman stands at the docks, fishing. The boat itself is a flurry of activity and shouted commands as it prepares to begin its journey." Ah good, you're here." A stout man steps onto the dock from the riverboat. "I'm the captain of this vessel, teethe Feathered Horn, I suppose you're the guards the church has sent?" He says, glancing at the various symbols of Avalon that decorate the party. "We are indeed, captain..." Noram pauses to allow the man to fill in his name. Regardless of the response, he continues." We've been detailed to protect you from here until you arrive at Elgar, where we leave you. "How many crew do you have? We are willing to help onboard if you need it." Noram steps over to the vessel to inspect it. That is awfully strange lander, should this be reported before we set sail? Is there time? If need be I will send a messenger back to report the incident. Addressing the party hello captain I am Trent, druid of the twilight circle. Lander and I have taken it upon ourselves to scout to the best of our ability with the help of animals. We have discovered about two days down our path there is a large group of humans. They may be trouble. I will attempt to find more information as we go along. Let me know if there is anymore I can do. Addressing everyone. ". Captain.?"" Elrick," says the captain, holding out a hand to shake. Norm proceeds to offer help with sailing, and tell Erick about their mission." That's very kind of you," says Erick. "But I'd hate to distract you from your guard duties." Noram proceeds onto the ship, followed by Trent who stops to tell the captain about his scouting results. The captain nods warily, and thanks him. The group proceeds onto the ship followed by the captain, and the ship begins its journey down the river. Watch Schedule Spoiler Hide Ok so, how do you guys want to set up the guard? The only restriction is that at least one person must be on watch at all times, but it can be more. Just remember you have to sleep too, discuss it in the IOC As you head down the river, you all notice a lack of Redman walking about the deck. Redman remains sitting down in the most central part of the ship that is accessible, eyes tightly shut. It had been so long since he had last been on a boat that he forgot...he gets seasick. The first day of watches passes without incident. At the end of Lander's last watch of the day, he walks into the crew quarters to his assigned bed. After laying down, he feels a metallic object under his pillow. It is a strange golden coin, with no symbols except the skull of an unrecognizable creature imprinted on one side. Originally Posted by TheManicMonocle ..... he feels a metallic object under his pillow. It is a strange golden coin, with no symbols except the skull of an unrecognizable creature imprinted on one side. Lander Strange. There was a time I'd have paid any price for this! (Brings the coin to the nearest learned individual, a Cathay or a Druid) Just now I found this under my pillow. What do you make of it? "Let me see that," says Norm, warily examining the coin. "I know that symbol, it is the symbol of a Bargain, a demon wishes to make a deal with you! Throw it in the river immediately!" It is day two, near the morning, Trent and Norm are on watch. It is slightly foggy as the boat comes down the river. Down the river a way, Trent spots a shape in the fog, and Norm sees it soon after. A smaller boat is blocking your way. "Captain Erick! A boat lies ahead in our path!" Noram calls to the tiller." We stand to hit it if nothing is done!" Commands are shouted across the riverboat, and close to the offending vessel the anchor is dropped. You can see that the smaller boat is crowded with five zombies, armed with oars, and a lone pale figure. In contrast to the torn rags of the zombies, the pale figure is dressed lavishly, with an aristocratic bearing. "Greetings." He shouts across the water, grinning contemptuously. Norm's face darkens at the sight of the gaunt figure." You are not fit to greet anybody, necromancer. Let us pass, and we will postpone your destruction; we have more pressing matters at hand." Noram motions for Trent to go fetch the others, not taking his eyes off the boat. Open seeing the Necromancer and his "wares"Landershuders, reaches into his pocket, takes out the skull faced coin.... Did you lose this?! And throws the coin at the Necromancer. As you wish Trent quickly gathers the others. Trent gets out his shield and totem expecting a fight readying to burn it down if the boat approaches before being given the go ahead. Specifically aiming for the pale one. You are lucky that my friends here are offering you an out. Had I been calling the shots your boat would already be aflame? The figure catches the coin and eyes it idly before flicking it back. "I don't want your gold, fool." He says, misunderstanding. "I have a counteroffer for you. Give me a tribute that I can drain of blood, and you can all pass unharmed." He grins, revealing his fangs. Norm reaches for his collar, scowl darkening even more." I wouldn't give you a sparrow to drain, parasite. This is your final warning; let us pass or be destroyed." [Roll initiative and first attacks] Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+3, Perception:14[B]Initiative:(d20+3)[19]Longbow Attack:(d20+7)[27]Arrow to Vampire Damage:(d8+3)[4] (1d20+3)[18]initiative Ken says as he draws in the air with his totem which ignites into the form of a small bear it streaks off running as a bear straight at the fanged pale man spirit of flame cleanse this boat of enemies of the natural order 14 or take(1d8)[4]fire damage Game is awakened by Trent and immediately finds himself in a quandary. They are under attack, and he has no time to get into his armor. Groaning, he spends a few seconds taking up his shield and applying a hasty disguise before charging onto the deck in time to see his companions begin to attack a man in a small boat. He has no idea what's going on, but positions himself away from the attacker and blasts him from range. Spoiler: IOC Hide Game - HP: 24/24 AC: 12 Spell Slots: 2/2 Initiative: (1d20)[8] Action: Eldritch Blast on the Vampire Attack: (1d20+6)[12] Damage: (1d10)[2] Awoken by the commotion on deck, Redman grabs his weapons, and runs up onto the deck. He crouches down behind the railing closest to the other boat, and prepares to smash anything that tries to make it over. Spoiler: IOC Hide Initiative: (1d20-2)[13] ... Yeah... Remman doesn't have any ranged attack. Lander fires the first arrow in answer. It strikes the vampire, and he turns to the zombies and issues a command. "Forward!" he shouts, and the zombies with oars begin to row forward towards the riverboat. A fiery bear streaks at the vampire from the druid and strikes home. Remman holds his action, preparing for boarders. Gamet fires his eldritch blast at the approaching undead, it goes wild. The vampire proudly stands at the head of the boat, disdainful of any attack. Noram holds his action, preparing for boarders. Spoiler Hide Norm, Redman, roll attacks to deal with the zombies, those attacks will trigger upon boarding. Also roll for round two of attacks. Norm's holy fire springs out, searing the leading zombie. It's quickly followed by another blast, quickly followed by Norm as he runs into the breach, pulling his spear out of the air. Spoiler Hide (1d8+3)[10] radiant damage (DEX save DC 13 negates). (1d8+3)[11] radiant damage (DEX save DC 13 negates). Islander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+3, Perception:14can, he takes an arrow, ties a rag to the end of it, pours a little lantern oil on the rag, lights it on fire, and shoots the flaming arrow at the Vampire! Longbow Attack:(d20+7)[10] IOC: since he stood still it seems unless u rule otherwise the flaming bear is still in the space with vamp so roll another DC 14 save (I think) or take(1d8)[3]fire damage. This is because I continued concentration. Trent again tosses up his totem as it transforms into a raven once again. Trent points to a zombie rower. Spirit of the raven rip an oarsman from the boat(1d6)[3]piercing damage (assuming their in range) otherwise roll for a bonfire and describe it as another creature made of fire that launches itself and disappears on contact. (Since I don't want to concentrate on it) He had panicked, Game realized. Not only had his first attack been hasty and well wide of the mark, he'd forgotten to curse the man ahead of time. Well, he could fix that mistake... Spoiler: IOC Hide Bonus action: Cast Hex on the Vampire. +1d6 damage on a hit, and he has disadvantage on DEX checks. Action: Cast EB on Vampire Attack: (1d20+6)[23] Damage: (1d10)[8] + (1d6)[4] Redman strikes out at the boarding zombies, trying to aim for the legs to slow their advance. Spoiler: IOC Hide Prepared Attack: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[7], Damage: (1d8+4)[6] Piercing Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[14], Damage: (1d8+4)[9] Bludgeoning Second Round: Morningstar MH: (1d20+6)[14], Damage: (1d8+4)[7] Piercing Bonus: Warhammer OH: (1d20+6)[11], Damage: (1d8+4)[11] Bludgeoning A cry rings across the deck, "Ramming speed!" the anchor is hoisted up, and the riverboat begins to bear down on the rowboat. Sailors begin to put oars out on the riverboat to increase speed. The vampire's eyes widen in disbelief, he jumps up and clings to the side of the riverboat before the two boats collide. The rowboat capsizes, oar-wielding zombies go under. The vampire crawls up the side of the riverboat like a spider and leaps over the rail, landing in front of Norm. His bestial nature breaking through his elegant composure as he snarls at Norm. The riverboat continues down the river. Noram attacks with holy fire, the vampire deftly dodges. Remman runs forward and attacks with his maces and misses the vampire. Lander shoots a flaming arrow at the vampire, it misses and goes over the side into the water. Trent attacks the vampire with his raven, dealing 3 damage. Remman attacks with both maces again, the vampire dodges with a mocking smile. Gamet blasts the vampire while it's dodging Redman's maces and scores a hit, dealing 12 damage. The vampire attacks Norm, clawing at him. Norm ducks once but takes the other for 8 damage. Noram retaliates with holy fire, the vampire dodges once more. The riverboat wildly speeds down the river, Erick at the helm keeping it straight. Zombies who had grabbed on during the crash begin to climb aboard, three out of five of the zombies managed to grab on, the rest sinking down past the riverboat. Sailors armed with axes and other crude weapons try to hold the zombies at bay. "Get off this ship, or I'll blast you back to the pit that spawned you!" Game growls, blasting the vampire once more. Spoiler: IOC Hide Note: I forgot to mention that the additional damage dealt by Hex is necrotic, in case that matters for resistances Action: EB on Vampire Attack: (1d20+6)[25] Damage: (1d10)[9] force +(1d6)[1] necrotic Originally Posted by TheManicMonocle. The vampire attacks Norm, clawing at him. Norm ducks once but takes the other for 8 damage. Norm retaliates with holy fire, the vampire dodges once more. . Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+3, Perception:14 Shoots an arrow at the Vampire that's within 5 feet of Norm! Longbow Attack:(d20+7)[15] Damage:(d8+3)[10] Sneak Attack:(d6)[4] spirit of fire turn this abomination to ash the raven splits in two one of flame the other of flesh. The flame raven dives at the vampire. DC 14 reflex save or(1d8)[7]fire damage. I will continue concentrating, so the flaming raven will keep up the attack as long as the vamp stays put in which case I cease concentration. The spell is bonfire. Scowl deepening with each passing moment, Norm thrusts with his spear. Spoiler Hide (1d20+3)[21] (adv: (1d20+3)[13]) (1d8+1)[7] (CRT: (1d8)[2]) "By Avalon's fire be cleansed, fiend!" Remman raises his weapons to the sky, where a flash of light streaks though the air, and his weapons burst into flame. He brings his now flaming weapons down upon the vampire. Spoiler: IOC Hide Redman is using his bonus action to cast Searing Smite, his next hit will deal an additional 1d6 fire damage, and then the target takes 1d6 fire each round until the target succeeds a DC 14 Con save (one save per round) MH Morningstar (1d20+6)[16], Damage (1d8+4)[9] Piercing OH Warhammer (1d20+6)[12], Damage (1d8+4)[7] Bludgeoning First hit deals extra 1d6 fire and ignites the target. Lander fires at the vampire with bow and arrow, it strikes, catching the vampire off guard. Trent sends forth a flaming bear which makes a small fire, the vampire pushes past Norm to get out of the fire. Remman turns towards the vampire and yells a prayer, swinging at the vampire, his mace aflame. His first mace hits the vampire, the second misses. Gamet attacks the vampire with eldritch blast, which hits! The vampire swings both claws at Norm, one misses, the other hits for 5 damage. Noram thrusts at the parasite with his spear in retaliation, and scores a hit. Lander AC:15, HP:29, INT:+3, Perception:14 Shoots another arrow at the Vampire that's within 5 feet of Norm! Longbow Attack:(d20+7)[16] Damage:(d8+3)[4] Sneak Attack:(d6)[4] Norm (HP 11/24, AC 13), looking battered, pauses the assault for prayer." Angels, armor me..." Spoiler Hide I cast Armor of Agatha, gaining 10 temporary hit points. Every time I'm hit while these hit points are there, whoever hit me takes 10 cold damage. Game winces in sympathy at the beating that Norm has taken. There was little that he could do for the man, though, besides continue to blast away at the invader. Spoiler: IOC Hide Action: EB the Vampire Attack: (1d20+6)[17] Damage: (1d10)[2] force + (1d6)[1] necrotic hug bonfire as an action. The fire bear runs after the vampire DC 14 reflex or take(1d8)[6]. Noram I hope the spirit of healing will suffice to answer your prayers though this may only help a little rabbit made of light runs toward Norm healing him for(1d6)[1]also gains 5ft to movement rate for 1 minute. I'm using 1d6 of my dream druid feature as a bonus action. Ooc: since the vampire moved doesn't someone or multiple people get opportunity attacks? Also, I am concentrating unless he moves "Now to extinguish the flames!" Remman brings his weapons down in a flurry on the flaming vampire. Spoiler: IOC Hide MH: (1d20+6)[20], Damage (1d8+4)[5] OH: (1d20+6)[18], Damage (1d8+4)[8] Lander fires another arrow at the vampire and hits! The vampire try to get away from the flaming bear and fails. Remman smacks down the vampire with his own flaming maces. Gamet uses eldritch blast on the vampire and strikes it successfully! The vampire succumbs to the flames of the druids spell. The riverboat slows in speed, the sailors have dispatched the zombies. You hear the anchor splash down.[Gain 360 exp each, do you wish to loot?] As the vampire fades away, Norm rises from his defensive stance. He moves quickly and surely to the vampire's corpse and, without discussion, slowly pushes it through the monster's heart. Only when it comes out the other side does Norm begin to burn the corpse into ash within armor. Spoiler Hide by my count that brings us to 2240 exp. The heart bit was just fluff, but I'm burning it with Sacred Flame. I'm glad no one was afflicted with the curse. If you'll let me norm I'd like to treat your wounds when you are finished. Since this monster is dead perhaps some of his gear will come in useful? Trent dismisses the flame bear and raven. You find a pouch with 136 gold pieces and a healing potion on the body. As the party turns towards the rest of the sailors, they see Erick striding down the deck smiling. He stops in front of you. "We're here!" He says, as the boat stops. The town is nowhere in sight, you seem to recall that the journey should have taken at least one more day. There is a forest on the riverbanks, the boat has stopped by a clearing. "I would sooner die than willingly use anything tainted by such a creature. That said, it's yours if you want it." We're ... here, Gamet repeats flatly. Gentlemen, if you don't mind I think I'll go get my armor on while you get to the bottom of exactly where "here" is. "You're not going to be needing any of that," says Captain Erick darkly, as two sailors move to block Game's path. The captain had made the mistake of taking the time to talk. Game wouldn't be able to get into his armor, but at least he could finally get his defensive ward up and hex the captain for his trouble. "I see," Game says darkly after his spells were cast. "Captain, I'm not sure that you understand what you're dealing with here. The fathers over there? They are the paragons of tolerance and mercy in our little expedition." Game pointedly looks over at the pile of ash that was all that the fathers had left of the vampire, then walks up to the captain and dismisses his disguise. "So, if you and your men don't want to be consumed by literal hellfire here-and-now, I'd suggest that you forget whatever treachery you had planned and get this ship to its destination." Spoiler: IOC Hide Casting False Life for (1d4+4)[6] temp HP Using a bonus action to move Hex to the captain. He has disadvantage on DEX checks (which would include initiative) Dismissing Disguise Self and revealing my Tie fling form to try and intimidate the captain and crew. (1d20+6)[15] "What are you...?" he backs away fearfully, the gathered sailors are wide-eyed. "Please, you have to understand!" His grim demeanor breaks as he pleads, dropping a knife he had been concealing in his hand. "They have the crew from our other ship! The only way to rescue them was to bring a sacrifice!" He says it fervently, but quietly, as if he's afraid that the quiet trees on the riverbank will hear him. "Don't kill me!" To norm as I patch him UPI already know nothing will change your mind being so devout however the objects found on the unread could still be quite useful. The nature wastes not a single drop so why should we. As we are being confronted by the captain. Oh I see why you weren't worried of my news now. Like the flytrap and fly what we thought was an easy meal turned into a trap. After seeing the true form of Rieslings this what you have been hiding from us? You have chosen well to hide your form, but I do not think the fathers you just spoke of are as merciful as you say. You've proven a staunch ally and could have turned at any point. Furthermore, you've chosen symbiosis over Parisian. To the captain after he panicked. Why don't you tell us more so we can possibly help so we can be on our way since I doubt you'll try to take us further at this point till your friends are safe. As things progress, Norm's scowl, already dark from combat, becomes even darker and darker until it seems that it would be lighter if the sun went out. As he reaches to his collar in a familiar motion, he asserts"Captain, this is a grave thing you have done. You will have to yield details very soon. But first; Game, is this why you were called out by those abominations? Explain yourself. Now." "What am I?" Game repeats. His shape grows blurry, then he appears as one of the zombies who had just attacked, then as Lander, before resuming his human guise. "Just a mage, captain. That was a mere parlor trick. I hoped to scare reason back into you and chose to appear as the most horrifying creature I could imagine. Now, tell us more of your troubles. Who is it that has captured your crew, and what did they tell you to do?" At Norm's interjection, he sighs. "Nor ram, I do not believe that we the time for my story now. Judging by Captain Erick's actions, they may be watching us even now. Once we have dealt with this threat and returned to the ship, I promise to tell you all that I know. Spoiler: IOC Hide Deception to convince the captain and crew that was a mere illusion. Don't need to set any tongues wagging the Church of Avalon is allied with some fiend. (1d20+4)[15] "A group of cultists who live in the forest took them," explains Erick. "A group of them should be here in the next few hours. Maybe you can set a trap for them?" While ready to turn on the traitorous captain, Redman's full attention was turned to the companion who suddenly turned into a demon. Even after Game's explanation and show of power, Redman just narrowed his eyes at him. He turns back to the captain,"Why didn't you tell us about this earlier? You have the will of Avalon at your side, some mere cultists should not frighten you. We shall wait for them, and rid the world of their evil." After the Vampire, Zombies, and Game's transformations, Lander tries to change into some clean linen. "We were afraid," says Erick ashamedly. "The cultists should be here in." he trails off, glancing at the sun. "Probably an hour, we're early." "Nor ram, Redman, I've worked with the two of you long enough to know that you're going to insist on intervening against these cultists, so I won't waste time arguing otherwise. Our best chance would be to set an ambush. I can use my magic to disguise my armor as normal clothing, and put an illusion of ropes around my hands. If they think that I'm the sacrifice that they're expecting, we can draw them in and wipe them out before they have a chance to harm their hostages. I concur. Though I don't think it's a matter about helping the downtrodden. I believe its more about necessity. I doubt our captain will move this ship and I don't know if we can pilot it ourselves. Now I believe they may have told these cultists our numbers. If this is correct then we might need all of us or seemingly us in chains. Game has the right idea so now we must come up with more. I propose I befriend a creature to stand in for me and I bet as river runners that the captain and his crew has nets or cages, so a creature could stand in for me. We could get some of the crew to stand in for others of us unless there are other ideas while we hide close by. I will be an actual animal ready to pounce. "I have one concern with the fake prisoner plan. If we are sure to be in a fight, I cannot set aside my weapons or armor, and they'll likely see through the ruse if we're "tied" up fully armed. I think it is best if only the...illusionist...plays the roll. The rest of us, or at least I, can stay hidden until ready to strike." "The captain said that they expected a sacrifice. I understood that to mean that they would only expect a single prisoner. If that is the case, so long as point your weapons towards me, it will appear that you are merely looking to prevent my escape. I hadn't considered us being the captors. Not a bad idea. I was more considering some of these sailors posing as us as prisoners in case they knew our numbers.

Rise of Avacyn (IC)|rating:3.0

Shoulder to cry on (Twincest w_ Nttightrose)

Was driving home from classes, the sun was beginning to set as he merged onto the freeway. The seventeen-year-old college freshman was listening to his favorite rock band, his radio blaring slightly as he sang to the music very off-key. He strummed on the steering wheel gently as he drove home. The brunette wondered if his sister would be there, most likely not she'd be with that creep of a boyfriend she had." Hate that jerk," he mumbled as he thought about it and the song came to an end. He merged off the freeway onto the streets, he was almost home now, and he was making his way to the small little house they lived in with their parents, though both where rather busy so they were hardly ever home save for days off and such. He parked the car, seeing the car he secretly wanted to crash into. "Has a fucking stupid car too," he mumbled looking at the sports car that served no purpose then to be an extension for the guys' ego. He made his way up to the front door to open it, he thought he heard voices inside. Christ agave a whimper as she listened to what the boyfriend was saying. "Why?" she asked her clothes were still disheveled after their last round, and now he was demanding that they break up. "Because your too plain" he stated as he pushed her away as she was gripping onto his shirt. "Please Jack don't. . . Don't do this" she said tears starting to well up. He pushed her back and hard as she fell to the ground she gave a cry. "God I'll never take a virgin to my bed again" he swore as he started out. Christa just laid there tears streaming down her face as her first love was leaving her. She couldn't believe he would just use her like that. She hadn't heard her brother's car or even the door opening. As Jack exited the living room where they had just finished he gave Keith a smirk before leaving. Keith had to fight the urge to punch that stupid smug face as it passed by, but he however had heard everything and walked into the living room where he saw his twin sister crying. Of course not identical, but he was about three minutes older than she was. "Christa... Chrissy what's wrong?" he asked, simply playing like he had not heard nor seen anything himself. "Chrissy...what happened?" he said using the nickname he had called her by since they were little. He knew something was wrong, something bad had happened he was certain of it. Though she didn't have any bruises or cuts, he guessed it must have been something more than just a fist fight or something. He helped her sit up onto the couch, sitting next to her as she cried, she was a mess, and by the way her cloths where he guessed it had something to do with sex. Christa whimpered as she heard her brother calling out to her. She looked up her eyes red with tears as she felt him helping her up. She just couldn't believe it was over. Furthermore, she had waited so long hoping to give her Innocence to someone who would cherish it only as she heard what Jack had said she felt horrible. Furthermore, she had picked wrong as her brother pulled her onto the couch. "He. . . Just took it" she whimpered out. While she said she would let him have it the moment she said that he had taken her. He hadn't even waited for them to be up in her room. "Then left me" she whimpered out. She felt so sore her body used legs shaken by the events it wasn't even pleasurable memory for her any longer. He knew what she meant without saying it, he always hated the guy, he was so fake and so rehearsed that he knew the guy was a player from the start. He had even said to her his feeling, but she still liked him so he had done his best to support it. Now he did not have the heart to point out his past assumptions. "It'll be alright sis..." he told her, hugging her gently as she cried some more. He secretly wanted to follow the guy and cut his fucking dick off, but that wouldn't solve anything, he just hoped she had used protection because he was sure that scum had a disease or something. "I'm here for you Chrissy," he said gently to her patting her on the back gently in a comforting sort of way. As she felt him patting her back she whimpered shaking her head. "Why did he?" she asked him she had asked Jack that, but he had only pushed her away. "Did I do it wrong?" she asked thinking she hadn't been good at sex so that was why. "I could try again" she said as she was suddenly trying to get up to go offer herself again hoping he would take her back. Her mind truly thinking this was all her fault due to him not giving her a reason. Keith however would not let her. "He is a scumbag sis!" he told her trying to keep her from going to that assholes side once more. "Jack was just using you, he...he just wanted to be your first...like a trophy," he said to her, it was harsh, but true. "He didn't love you Chrissy....he just wanted to use you, but now he is done," he said hoping it would get through to her. He wanted to shake her until she got some sense back into her brain, but that would do no good. "What can I do to prove to you IIT wasn't your fault?" he asked her, he wanted his sister to be sane once again, not that he believed she was to be with such trash like Jack. The moment she heard what he was saying to her, it was like all the horrible things about Jack just appeared for the first time. She cried out her hands gripping her brother's shirt as her knees gave way. It felt like her heart was bursting into so many pieces she wasn't sure if she would ever get it together again. "Make it stop" she whimpered out. "Please make the pain stop" she whimpered out between her cries. He wanted to, he so badly wanted to make all her pain go away, but he didn't know how. He hated Jack, more than anything, but that wasn't the problem, he should have stopped it before it started, but he had not wanted to upset her, he wished he had now. "How sis?" he asked her, helping her stand. "How can I?" he asked again "Tell me what I can do, and I will do it," he told her. "I want you to be happy sis, to forget about him and be happy again." Christa truly wishes she knew the answer to that question as well. She wanted the pain gone only she wasn't sure how. Her body was still hurting, and her heart was slowly just leaving her. "I don't know" she whimpered out to her brother as she held onto him for dear life. Her head was hurting and her body in the condition it was in if she didn't calm down soon she would knock herself out. He hugged her close holding onto her so she didn't lose her footing once again. He wanted her to be better, to undo what that bastard had done. Furthermore, he tried to calm her down gently, "Let's go get you cleaned off sis..." he told her gently, hoping it would relax her a little bit, he wasn't sure what to do he just wanted her to be better though, and he'd do anything to do so. "Do you want me to help you upstairs?" he asked her though he knew he probably should regardless, he didn't want to leave her alone in this state, not in such a vulnerable and broken state. Christa nodded her head to her brother. "The hot tub" she said as she felt sudden dirtiness. Only she could feel his arms around her, she let her heart slow down as her mind seemed to override the pain as she listened to her brother's voice. Soon she wasn't feeling anything just the leftover tremors of just what happened. Tears though still seemed to stream down her face without any control over them. She couldn't understand why Jack would do that to her. She had hoped only for the best, and he had just wanted sex. "What so great about sex?' she suddenly asked as for her Jack had only made it painful she hadn't enjoyed not a single moment of it. Keith helped her get to the hot tub like she wanted, he wondered if she was simply going to jump in cloths and all. He felt her calm down a little, and it lessened his desire to hurt a certain someone, but only a little. He was careful as he helped her walk to the tub. "I...wouldn't know sis," he said to her as she asked about sex. "I broke up with Sarah three months ago remember?" he recalled to her, of course at that age a kid was worried more about cooties rather than sex or anything like that. Between the two he however had not gone all the way, not to say he had no sort of fun when he was with a girl, just never full on sex. Christa walked against him her mind searching so much for answers. Still she couldn't find anything that would lead her anywhere. "I can't think of why this happened? I mean why me?" she asked him as they got to the tub she started to pulled off her shirt her bra still on and shorts with her thong. "Join me please" she looked to her brother. She was scared to be alone truly her head was crying for her brother to stay with her. "Please I’m scared" she said tears threatening again to overflow. She wanted to be stronger but at this moment the hot tub chocolate and her favorite things were the only thing she wanted. "You've never done it?" she asked as she got into the water letting it get hot around her body not caring about her under clothes. "Alright," he said taking off his shirt, kicking his shoes and socks off and leaving nothing but his boxers on. He was fit, very slim, but fit nonetheless. He sat into the water, the first few seconds rather unpleasant until his body adjusted to the heat. Furthermore, he couldn't answer her first question though, he guessed it was just bad fate, or perhaps it was so something better might happen. 'Well...no... I haven't ever gone all the way...but done things..." he said, feeling a bit self-conscious that he hadn't gotten to home base. Christa was sorta happy her brother had only played around if only she had taken it slower. "Was it at least fun for you?" she asked him as she moved to lay against her brother. She was feeling so alone unless she was in contact with him. It was strange for her, but she just couldn't seem to care if he was her brother or not. At the moment he was giving her heart and body comfort her mind couldn't. "I mean there has to be something good about it right?" she asked as she laid her head down on his chest her hand playing around his bellybutton. While Christa was a dancer it showed all her muscles were strong and taunt while she had an amazing body with all the right curves with her breast and ass. Never too much but just enough that had you wanting to reach out and touch them. He laughed a little as she played with his bellybutton. "Yeah it was fun," he said not elaborating too much on it, though she seemed to want him to as she said nothing else until he continued. "I mean, well I've done things I guess that would make a girl feel good, foreplay and stuff but nothing beyond just messing around," he said truthfully. His sister was very cute, he couldn't blame any guy from wanting to be with her, but he could hate any guy who would want to just use her. Deep down the sort of wished that they weren't related at times, both knew each other so well, they lived together, and they got along better than the best of friends, though there were a few times it wasn't so great of course. His hand gently brushed against her thigh in the water, though it wasn't an intentional movement. As she heard him laugh she seemed to lighten up though as she thought about it, she wondered more. "Just what kind of foreplay?" she asked him as she looked up. Her body was still very much calling for someone while she had been used it was like her body knew that another would give her what it had truly asked for. "I mean. . . I know its wrong and all but could. . You show me? He wasn't nice in that area at all" she stated as she just wanted to feel it even if he only did it once she didn't care. "Please I won't tell anyone" she said as she was now grateful that their parents never came home and that the hot tub was inside. No one would even see what they were doing. "Please I just want to really feel something" she said to him. Keith was very hesitant about this, on one hand he had said he would do anything to make her feel better, but he never once thought this would be the thing to do it, or at least to start. "Um...well..." he said wanting to come up with a good reason not to, but in truth nothing came to mind. He looked at her, her skin glistening from the water gently she was beautiful, if not simply dead sexy. "A.alright...but you have to trust me okay?" he said to her. "A few things might seem a bit strange, but it usually feels good...or so I'm told," he said, of course he was going off of what past girlfriends had said. "You need to sort of...sit in my lap..." Christa looked up to him as he thought it over. In truth, she was prepared for him to shoot her down. Only as he told her that he would go along with it, she blushed nodding her head. "With my life" she said back to him as she truly did trust him that much and after this the moment he said something about a boy she was dating she would take another look. As it seems he was right about this one though as he told her that he needed to have her on his lap she nodded her head and moved. "Facing you or the wall?" she asked him as she wasn't too sure. As she waited for an answer she leaned back and got her hair completely wet her tone stomach showing as she did that. Only as she came to hear the answer she did as she was told. "Okay what now?" she asked as she wanted to know so much about this. "Need to be facing away from me...back against my chest," he said, this was something he used to do before, of course not the best thing it was something that usually helped receive a bit of tension before he would go down on a girl. "Just relax okay," he told her gently as he began to slip her shorts down her thigh and her thong was easily just moved aside. Under the water her slit was exposed, though of course he could not see. The warm water rushed into her as he softly began to rub just around her raw Libya his fingers tracing them gently. "How is it sis?' he asked her, careful to go nice and slow, to let the warmth of the water and gentleness of his fingers make her feel better. As she felt him pull down everything getting it out of the way she felt nerves coming up a little and fear only as she felt his fingers spreading her outer lips she felt something strange she wasn't sure what to call it as she leaned her head back spreading her legs a little more. "Strange" she said at first as it was so weird this new feeling she was getting only it kept increasing while most feelings would just level out only the more he did it the hotter she felt, and she knew it wasn't from the waters. He softly rubbed hero utter lips, careful not to go too far to fast. "Okay...but it doesn't hurt right?" he asked her. He used his free hand y\to unhook her bra, it was something he'd gotten very good at doing, and managed with one hand. Her firm breasts bounced out of there confinement, softly he gripped one of the massive mounds and began to gently knead it in his hand while he rubbed her pussy. "Tell me when you feel...like a warmth in your stomach sis." Christa felt her mind starting to haze over as she closed her eyes. IN truth, it didn't hurt at all while there were a few spots that had her wincing at first as he was going slow with her, it didn't hurt as much. She hadn't been paying attention when she felt her bra suddenly off. She gasped her back arching into his hands as it seemed she was sensitive to her breast. Soon she was felt just what he described. "That's it" she moaned out as he kept kneading her breast it felt incredible to her truly it was amazing it felt so much different that what jack had done. He had just grabbed and pulled at the nipples while this felt amazing. He tugged her hardening nipple softly, feeling her pussy quivering a little against his finger. "Okay...now this might be a little uncomfortable...so tell me if it's too much." He softly spread her nether lips open under the water, his fingertip rubbed against the sensitive flesh before he began to slowly push his index finger inside. He was slow, he knew she was in a bit of pain, but that didn't stop him in his tracks. Furthermore, he twisted her nipple a bit in between his thumb and index finger, he began to squeeze and grope the firm flesh rougher. Christa nodded her head as she felt him actually go to her nipples now feeling him pinch down on them and twist them had her moaning out again. Only as she felt her attention drawn downward she was shocked at the feeling of him inside her. Just the thought of him inside her even if just a finger seemed to have her shuddering in pleasure. "Brother yes" she moaned out as her hips suddenly jerked against his finger. She hadn't meant for that to happen, yet it was still going against her will. He smiled gently as he moved the digit in and out of her, slowly at first but then at a nice steady pace. As her hips bucked he could not help but find this very arousing hims;f, and as she rubbed into him a little, his cock began to slowly swell to attention. "Your really tight sis," he said to her as she clamped down on his finger, he guessed Jack must be a bit small, or not very good at this if she still seemed so nice inside. He continued to play with her pussy and her breasts making her moan and yelp with pleasure, he was very careful to give her nice little clit a lot of attention, something he guessed she would never have felt before. As he seemed to keep going her hands went to grip something and ended up right at his hips as she shifted around under his touch. She couldn't believe how good it felt her mind completely gone, and the pain seemed like it was gone. Only as she looked back to him feeling even more pleasure her body started to act on its own as she moved her lips over his as she kissed him with everything she had within her. Her hips still moving and now started to grind back against him as well as she gave into the pleasure. He was quiet surprised, and pleased, by her sudden reaction. He felt her soft lips against his, though rather than pulling away he only returned it, kissing her deeply, softly his tongue prodded her lips for entry before he began to twirl and entwine his around hers in a very intimate kiss. "Chrissy....mmm...how is it?" he asked, unable to stop himself from moaning a little as she began to grind into him, her short slipped off all the way, floating to the top of the water, but neither seemed to care very much. He continued to tease her pussy giving her more and more to moan about. He was almost at full mast, his length rubbing against her tight backside gently as she rubbed him even more, it felt so good, and truthfully he had never felt anything like it himself. Christa really was enjoying this more and more as he kissed her it was amazing her body seemed to come to life for him as she moaned against his. Only as she heard his moan she felt this was amazing to her. "So good" she moaned out to him as he asked. She just wanted to keep going no matter what he was so good to her as she rubbed back against him wanting to hear his moans again it was good to her, it was truly loving this pleasure. Keith couldn't hold them back, gently panting along with her as she moaned. "NNN...Aarush...." his breath came out in small huffs of pleasure, his member stiffening until he was nearly fully erect against her, his boxers constraining the swelling appendage from full form. "Christa....gonna...try something new," he told her, of course it was new to her not him. He repositioned her, her body almost all the way out of the water. He no longer was worried of going too be far, as she seemed willing to let him do as much as he wanted. Her ass was out of the water, her back still towards him but her hands on the rim of the tub. He could see her pink lips below, they still looked as perfect as he could imagine. Before she had a chance to ask, he began to softly kiss her inner thighs before licking at her damp entrance. Christa looked back to her brother as she truly wasn't sure what to think as she heard what he said. Blushing she nodded her head to him letting him move her body was easy as she was a little nervous with the new position only as he placed a hand on her ass as the water just slowly rolled down her legs she felt his kisses and licks to her entrance as she moaned out. "Oh god" she moaned as her hands gripped the tub more she couldn't believe he was actually doing that it was truly something to her. His first time doing this he had been a bit self-conscious about it, but he had gotten rather good at it. The trick for him. Was he would try to trace the alphabets with his tongue as he lapped at her pussy? "Feel good Chrissy?" he asked, slowly he began to stroke himself though as he ate her out, he just couldn't help it he was getting far too turned on by this it seemed. Feeling his tongue against her slit felt so amazing to her. "Oh so good" she moaned out to him as she just didn't know what to think it was just so overwhelming. It was really something as she felt so good her knees were even starting to tremble as she looked back to her brother. She could see his cock it was so much bigger and thicker than what Jack had as she blushed at him stroking it. Still she seemed to get even hotter at watching him. He spread her pussy open a bit, letting the tip of his tongue lick the inner labia. He softly nipped her inner thighs from time to time as well. Furthermore, he loved the sound of her voice filled with pleasure, he slipped a finger gently back in, his thumb caressing her lit rolling the little nub of flesh around slowly while his tongue slipped in deeper as well. "I....NNN..." he grunted he was beginning to throb inn his own hand. Feeling him spread her she groaned at the feeling. "Oh god Keith" she moaned her head thrown back as he pushed a finger in. Her body was so turned on she wasn't sure how much longer she was going to last. "It's so good. . ." she moaned out as she felt that heat in her stomach start to curl into knots. It was truly something to her as she moaned out louder wanting more from such an amazing feeling, yet she kept trying to keep the knots from bursting as she rocked her hips against his thumb. He felt his sis begging to grip his finger much harder. "Mmm.let it out sis," he told her seeing she was trying to hold on, to help her his finger began to pump in and out much faster a wet sort of swishing coming from her as not just water began to drip din her thighs. "Your close sis...MMH...can tell," he said to her gently as she pushed her hips back into his finger, she was a natural at this despite only just doing it. Christa heard him edging her on as she moaned out her head dropping as he moved inside her faster. She looked down her body moving faster now as she suddenly just couldn't hold it anymore. "Oh god Brother!!!" she screamed out as he brought her to her first climax. Her juices spraying his hands and dripping down her thighs as she panted while she came down she was so hot. "So good" she moaned as she was still so tight on his finger. She actually found her body still very much turned on as she looked to him her eyes showing just that lust there and the need for him. "Don't stop" she whimpered out as she actually wanted to keep going. Keith was amazed at her orgasm, she canes so much so hard that, and it felt like her inner muscles would have squeezed Hus finger clear off. He however let her ride it out uptick she canes down from her high, her muscles still spasming around his digit. "Um..." he said as she asked him to keep going. "Should we get out of the tub RUSTA sis?" the admen her, he was feeling a bit needful as well. Christa was panting as she heard what he asked she nodded her head. While she was very much nude now looking back at her brother's rising cock she found this need to touch it. As she moved slowly to get out her hand finally got the courage to touch her brother's chest. "Can. . . I touch you?" she asked as she found herself wanting to do for him what he had just done for her. She was sure there was a way she could get him off in some similar way. They both got out of the tub, not taking the time to dry off very much before he felt her hand on his chest. "Sure..." he said softly, he however thought it best they move to a more comfortable location. "Couch, yours or my room?" he asked her gently, though he was eager to be anywhere with her. Looking to him at the thought of where they should go she blushed. "Your room its closer" she said to him with a slight blush she really couldn't believe how it was for her, it was perfect. She turned and took his hand in her own starting towards his room. In truth, she was so eager to keep going her body telling her more things were to come making her feel even better that what just happened. They were on the bed in no time, he didn't mind his bed getting a bit damp. He kissed her eagerly, this time though much deeper, almost hungrily. He felt her hips slowly teaching her body up before once more grasping her breasts, though this time he squeezed them both roughly. Furthermore, he could feel the hardened nipples in his palms, it was so sexy, so hot, he couldn't remember time he had this much excitement with a girl. "Sis...your perfect," he said wisely as he breathed slowly and deep. As they reached the bed feeling them lay down on it her on top of him at the moment her hands moving across his chest and stomach she gasped as she felt the passion in the kiss it was truly amazing to her, she wanted so much from this as she kept kissing against him even as she pulled away she kept her lips on his neck as she panted from how hot she was feeling. "Your so good brother" she moaned out feeling his hands on her breast had her really wanting more as her hand came down to grasp his member softly she was truly amazed at the feeling of how hard he was as she slowly moved her hand up and down his shaft. He moaned as she grasped his member, her hand was gentle and warm causing a nice shock of pleasure to run up his spine. He felt the electrifying satisfaction it gave him, and he was amazed at how good it was. The idea that this was wrong vanished sometime ago, Noe he simply wanted more, needed it. "Mammal....oh god sis!" he grunted as she began to stroke him, his blower back arched a little bit, his breath coming out in huffs. Hearing those moans had her moving down his body with soft kisses as she let her body take over. While in truth she didn't have a clue what she was doing, but she had read things like this in her romance books. She figured she could easily do it only she would need to be taught how to do it the way he liked. Giving a blush she looked up to him as she was hovering just over his member now her mouth kissing just above him as she grew a little nervous before she finally got the courage and started to lick at his cock head. He felt her moving slowly down his body, he was curious not aware if she knew what she was doing or simply trying something out. He felt her warm breath on the tip, making him grunt softly as he felt more of that wonderful pleasure spike in his mind. Once he felt her tongue though he felt he would have jumped had he not been on his back "Oh...just like that," he told her, then instructing her to move from the tip down to the base and back up before sucking gently on the tip. Christa had felt him jump up as she first licked him. She had expected that seeing as she hadn't told him what she was doing. Even as she kept it up she could feel him shifting under her as she heard the instructions she gave a smile doing just what he was doing as she moved her tongue all the way down even licking a little at his balls before she came back up to take him fully into her mouth. He tasted so good to her the salt and tangy of her brother's cock just got her wet from the fact she was actually doing this. She started to move her head up and down his cock as she waited to hear even more from him. She was doing so well, each suggestion he gave she followed and even though this was her first time she seemed to be far better than just pure luck. The tip of his cock began to drip, a clear fluid, his precut, coming out onto her tongue as shallowly suck him. "NNN.your tongue...underside," he told her trying to put words together despite his mind going numb. "Suck...little harder," he told her, not faster but to really use her mouth to almost tug on his dick with her mouth. Hearing what he said she couldn't believe how it felt only as she suddenly started to do just that only her hand came to play with his balls a little as she began to suck harder her tongue seemed to move to stroke in him side her mouth while she was still bombing her head. Even as she started to feel his precut she started harder she wanted him to cum, and she wanted to take it all. Keith felt her hand playing with his sac, something she seemed to do well on her own without any instruction. He felt her mouth suck him harder, like she was trying to draw the pre out of him like a straw, her head bobbed up and down, her mouth making soft, sloppy wet slurps sometimes when her lips would momentarily break the seal. "Oh., mmmnnh.’s., shut...so good!" he panted, he felt his sack tighten against him suddenly. "Oh...damn.!" he grunted before his cock swelled and stiffened, the muscles clenching and unclenching as he came in her mouth. His cock pumped several tines each time releasing a hefty spurt into her wanting mouth. Christa felt him cumming into her mouth. She moved her head all the way down taking all of it as she swallowed around his cock as she sucked him dry she seemed to also clean him up. IN truth, she was loving the taste as she came back up her face was flushed, and she was panting as she was so hot her eyes looking to her brother as she just couldn't believe she felt so good after doing such a thing. He watched her swallow it all, that was something noble of his past girlfriends had done for sure, none even felt remotely as good as she made it. "Hugh...UUU...wow..." he muttered breathing slow and deep. He could still see the look in her eyes, what's more is he had not gone entirely limp just yet either, he was a little flaccid but not fully limp. Blushing Christa looked up to him. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked him as she wiped her chin a little as she was sweating a little. While she was grateful for everything her hand went back to stroking him. "I can do it different this time if you want" she said as she was still very much hot for this, but she wasn't sure if she should keep going. "If you want I'll just go to bed" she said as she suddenly grew fearful of rejection. He smiled "No.it was good....best ever," he said seeing how nervous she was about messing up. "I feel very good Chrissy," he said smiling. He wanted more, but he had a strange feeling it would go a lot further. "Be my first," he said to her suddenly. He still had not Goblin all the way, and he wanted to with her. His twin sister was perfect, she was gentle, and only thought of making him feel good, not self gratification. Christa was a little more than shocked at what he asked her. Her blush was still there as she suddenly gave a soft smile. "Yes, yes I'll be your first" she said to him as she just couldn't believe the way it was for her. It was amazing he wanted her even with what had happened to her just a few hours ago. She really couldn't believe her brother was just so amazing to her so sweet and gentle she would love to be with him. He smiled softly, he knew what this was wrong, but he didn't care. He was nervous though, after all he didn't want to hurt her after what had happened to her. "Um...so how should we...do you want to...on top?" he asked her, he also wondered about protection. He did not want to get his sister pregnant that was for sure. Christa shook her head. "No you be on top" she said to him as she really couldn't believe how lucky she was going to be truly her brother didn't know how much this really meant to her for he would be saving her from some pain that she just couldn't take away without another's help. He nodded gently, he had wanted her to take the lace, just so he did not hurt her by going to hard or too much. "I think... I'd better get a rubber though," he said, he was still very worried about getting her pregnant and even if their parents weren't home much he did not want to have to explain this to them. Looking back to him, she nodded her head. She knew he wanted to make sure things didn't get out of hand though somehow she wished he didn't have to wear a rubber. As she thought on that she knew now she wanted to get those shots. She didn't care if it meant no condoms without baby scares she was ready for it. It was fortunate here dad had given him "the talk" earlier in his teen years, his old man had even given him a strand of condoms just to be sure he was at least wearing one if he ever went the full nine years. He found it ironic it was his sister he was using them for. He reached his nightstand and pulled one out of the drawer. It was a bit strange to put on, and it felt a bit weird as he wore it, but he knew it was the safer thing to do. "Okay...ready," he said waiting to see how she would get comfortable. As he got ready she turned around and sat down in the spot she was going to lay back in. Only she truly wanted her brother to lay over her. So that they were face to face when this happened. It wasn't something she wanted to just happen, and they forget it ever did. NO this was something she wanted to cherish as long as she could remember. He smiled as he got onto the bed. He may not have known what to do, but he had seen movies and a few things on the internet to get the idea, not to mention simply raw instinct was taking over. Furthermore, he got gently on top of her, kissing her as she leaned back softly onto the bed. Once she was laying down he continued to kiss her and tease her breasts bit before slowly moving his hands down to grasp her hips. He lined himself up with her, giving her one last look before he did it in case she had any second thoughts about it. Feeling him start to rise over her, she gave a soft smile truly this was what she wanted someone kind and who would treat he with such love and devotion that she knew her own twin would as she felt the kiss she gave herself over to him one hundred percent her legs opening for him as he lined himself up with her entrance. The moment he looked to her, she gave a soft smile as her hands came to stroke his face before she nodded her head. He smiled back, slowly looking down, afraid he would miss his first time before he began to edge his hips forward towards her. His tip went in slowly, spreading her open as he began to push in little by little. He could feel how warm and wet she was, it was a strange but very pleasurable feeling. "Ninth....is...it okay?" he asked her, thinking she was very tight. He kept going until he was nearly all the way in, he could feel the tip touching something deep inside, but he wasn't sure what. Feeling he eases into her, she truly couldn't believe how it felt it was much more than what she had felt when she had been with her ex. Truly she was grateful for a second chance to be with someone actually that cared. Only as she felt him stop at something. She could feel this pressure down there, but she didn't care at the moment she just wanted to enjoy this with him. He knew he was not all the way in just yet, but when he tried to push forward it proved to be a bit difficult, so he slowly began to move back out. It was a strange feeling, warm, wet, and tight, like nothing he'd remembered. He pulled out a little more than halfway before pushing back in, then repeating the process over and over until he began to build a smooth and steady rhythm. He began to feel it getting easier to, and his breathing grew heavier. "Mammoth...HHH...Hanna....." he breathed, holding her slender hips as he moved his length in and out, the feeling of her muscles, clenching and unclenching as he moved was amazing. "It...it feels good sis....ooh.YYY...so good," he grunted finally. Christa gave a moan as he slipped back out a little only to push in. Even at this pace the feeling of him within her was amazing. He just was so big that she could feel each move he made inch by inch. Her walls were already quivering around his cock as she was so hot and wet for him. "Amazing" she moaned out as her hands gripped his shoulders more her hips starting to move with his as she felt this urge for more she couldn't explain it. As it hadn't felt like that before with Jack. Keith began to feel her hips roll a little as he began to move a bit more, his own hips beginning to buck gently into her. Her breasts would pop gently each time he thrust back in, and his breathing only quickened as he huffed a little louder. He would shut his eyes at times, feeling the electric sensation of pleasure course through his entire body as she would clench onto him from time to time. He moved closer, kissing her lips as he thrust even harder. The only thought in his mind, besides the deep love for his sibling, was the fact he was wearing a condemn, and how this would have only been better without it. He however soon let the thought slip away, his hands holding onto her as he began to pump harder into her tight pussy. His tongue dipped passed her lips, kissing her almost hungrily as his bucked harder and faster. Moaning into him, she couldn't believe the way it felt as they started to move faster with one another. It was amazing her body on fire as he just brought it to new highest of pleasure she wasn't sure where it would level off and in truth she hoped it never did and never stopped. Feeling his cock going harder into her as his lips pressed against her own before his tongue moved into her mouth she moaned. It was just amazing to her, she wanted so much more. He couldn't believe the feeling, his hips moving faster. He felt himself starting to feel strange though, like he needed to use the restroom, the sensation was a familiar one though. Furthermore, he broke the kiss, his hands moving to knead her breasts. "It's...amazing...your.pussy...so tight sis," he grunted, thrusting in harder and harder. His cock began to hit the end of her deaths, slowly however opening her up inside, letting him slip in deeper and deeper as he thrust into her cervical barrier. Truly it was an amazing feeling as she felt him thrusting into her. "Oh god harder" she moaned out as she kept movement up with him. She could feel him pushing even deeper into her, she just wanted more as she felt that same knot building again as she held it back until she was sure she couldn't any longer. She wanted to make sure her brother would let off as well. Furthermore, she couldn't let him go without when he was taking her in such an amazing way. Keith slammed into her cervix, his thick tip pushing against the tight barrier. He began to thrust even harder, roughly taking his sisters tight wet pussy. He was moving like an animal, huffing and breathing loudly as he began to batter at her womb. Suddenly he pushed forward, hitting himself balls deep, forcing a few inches into her womb, his cock going deeper then she had ever had anything, fingers, or her ex. Moaning out she just couldn't believe how amazing it felt. He was so deep never before had she thought anything could go so deep only as he fully entered her in such a way she was cumming harder than before as he slammed into her womb in such a way. It was so amazing to her, she loved the feeling of it. Keith felt himself pumping in and out, the tight ring of her cervix gripping just passed his tip so much. He gritted his teeth as her muscles tightened on him, he couldn't hold back the pressure he had felt building up inside of him. He released his strain at that very moment. The condemn expanded inside of her a bit as it filled with his hefty load. He was careful not to accidentally pull to quickly and have it slip off. Feeling him cum even through the condom it was hot to her as she moaned out loving this feeling. Truly she wished he hadn't worn one. Only as he was pulling out was she panting her face red and her body weak from such a thing. It never occurred to her that this was something they could do again if they wanted too. In truth, she didn't want him to stop, yet she felt this darkness pulling at her body. She knew she must have pushed herself. Her body had always been so weak too much stress or work, and she always ended up sick or weak. He laid beside her after disposing of the condemn he was breathing heavily. "Are you okay sis?" he asked her, knowing full; well she had low stamina and such, that was one difference between them. He kissed her softly, trying to calm her a little. "That was amazing," he told her softly, smiling gently. Oh, how he wished he could do this again, he wondered if this could become a regular thing, or at least not the only time they do this. Christa looked to him as she panted. "I just. . . Feel tired" she said to him as her eyes closed, yet she still clung to him with what strength she had left. "Please don't leave me" she said as she fell asleep while she was still very aroused she just couldn't go another round at the very moment. Keith gently kissed her forehead "I won't sis," he said letting her fall asleep. He stayed next to her, soon falling asleep as well. He slept nicely, having a rather pleasant dream, though he wouldn't remember it when he woke up, he never really did. It would be late at night before he woke up, and realize he was a little hungry. As she felt him moving she groaned and opened her eyes. She looked around only as she saw her brother awake she blushed a little. She was still curled against him nude as she heard his stomach growl she gave a laugh and sat up. "I'll make dinner" she said as she started out towards her room to get a nightgown on before starting dinner He smiled as she woke up, about to ask how she slept before his stomach interrupted him. He blushed a little, it sounded really loud, and he wished he had a volume control on the damn thing. "Thanks," he said sitting up as she left the room. He got dressed not that walking around naked wasn't fun, he never did, he just felt more comfortable in some cloths, and the house was a bit chilled.

Shoulder to cry on (Twincest w_ Nttightrose)|rating:2.0

Bigs and Littles ((Open to all! Everyone welcome!))

((No, this has nothing to do with the organization. I just thought it'd be a fun title!)) Bigs and Little's is a bar. But not just any bar: It caters to people of all sizes! Macros, micros and normal-sized people are all welcome, as well as any humans, ferries, scales, feathered and authors! Do what ever you want to in this bar. So, yeah. No limits on anything. I am throwing out my prudishness and saying yes to anything you'd like to do. SME? Sure. Hard more? Gross, but have fun. CV? There are private rooms if you want that. Also, no limit on characters either! Make as many as you want. If you can keep track of them all, have 7! My attempt at describing the bar: It's a huge room, with a high roof and the floor actually sinks to below the regular level to accommodate the macros. They have a bar that is roughly their size. On the right side is a platform with tables, booths and the 'normal' bar. The platform is elevated to prevent 'normal' injuries and makes it easier for the normal and Marcos to talk. Running around all the walls is the micro walk way. There are several on each wall, allowing the micros to get about without getting stepped on. They are served their drinks at the normal bar. 3 Hope that prevents some area confusion!((Basically, I kind of wanted a free for all RP, since it seems a lot of threads are dying. Be respectful of others wishes, don't be rude, and have fun! Post your character in the first post!)) Name: Lineage: 20 Species: Female HumanMicroAslinn BioName: Chris Age: 22 Species: Male Human Normal, with the ability to shrink motherships BioChris Image Asian entered the bar through the door designated for micros, being about 4 inches tall. She glanced up nervously, hoping that he was here. She was sick of being shrunken randomly and left to fend for herself. In the back of the bar, Chris nursed a Guinness. He glanced up from his table in the 'normal section' and scanned the crowd. He smirked at the design of the bar. From the outside, it seemed normal, but once you got inside, it was pretty Trippe. The roof was super high and the floor was rather deep, allowing guests of the macro persuasion to stand comfortably. There were little walkways running around the edges of the walls and tables, letting micros get around easily. Then there were tables for people of normal size at about hip height for the macros, allowing every one to mingle easily. Name. Fort Sex. Male Species. Author gray wolf Height. 6.2 foot "to the ears normal size"Sexuality. Straight Fur type. Fine Gray fur Eyes. Electric blue Special. Size change at will, but painful. ((You don't need to wait for me to say yes! X3 Go ahead and post!)) Fort walks in the normal door, and looks around at the inside of the massive building. He decides that the bar would be a good place start, so he heads towards the bar at a leisurely pace looking around. Chris glances at the author wolf, noticing how he was heading towards the bar. His eyes darted to the empty chair next to him and back up to the wolf. He hoped that the wolf wasn't going to sit next to him, or at least wouldn't talk to him. He took a sip of his beer, wishing his favorite snack was nearby.((Sorry, Chris is a loner. Feel free to harass him! D))Asian walked along the wall walkways, flinching every time a larger person got near the walkway. She looked around, trying to find that Asian bastard, where ever he was hiding. She spotted him in the corner and scowled. Furthermore, she made her way down the walkway, but for a micro, it was a long distance. Fort saw the bar ahead and one empty chair, he got to it and adjust his tail before he sat down. Fort orders a White Fawn from one of the bartenders. It is an imported mix drink that he wanted to try, some of his wolf buddy said it was perfect. Name: Crystal Age: 22 Species: Squirrel Gender: Female Height: 5 inches Weight: 3 ounces Name: Image: 18 Species: Squirrel Gender: Female Height: 221 feet Weight: 381 tons Crystal was in a good mood as she entered the bar on her friend Jimmy's shoulder. "I think you'll like this place." she says to her friend cheerfully." Me too. It's nice that it caters to us macros as well." Jimmy replies to her micro friend cheerfully. She then spots Fort. "Hi there. Is this your first time here too?" she asks him cheerfully as she sits down on a seat reserved for macros before setting Crystal down on the counter. Chris frowns as Fort sat down next to him. He turned slightly, trying to make himself unnoticeable. He frowned even more as a macro sat at the macro portion of the bar near him. Aslinn sighed and continued walking. She considered jumping on a normal person, but that would be rude. Name: Minerva: 21 Species: white lioness surrender: Female Height: 6 inches (from front paws to head) 8 inches (from front end to back end of lower body)Weight: 1 pound can change her own size at will though strangely her own basic weight doesn't changeminerva would walk in through the micros entrance looking around she had on a basic t short to cover her breasts and also a backpack on her back as she blinked noticing the giants.... and mega giantess (to her that's what they are lol) and rubs the back of her head "ok.... well I'm used to being tiny in comparison I guess...." she walked along the micro walkway towards the bar Fort waits for his drink, and notices that a male human next to him is uncomfortable with him being there. Fort is a normally a keep to himself type wolf, but sometimes when he found the right human to pick on..." Hey buddy how are you doing over there? Let me buy you drink, because you need to loosen up" Fort says to the Asian loud enough to be heard by others nearby customers that turned to look. Fort smiles as he gets his drink, and motions the bartender to get the human a Guinness. Wolf 1. Human 0. He thinks to him self. Wolf Fort wrote:Fort waits for his drink, and notices that a male human next to him is uncomfortable with him being there. Fort is a normally a keep to himself type wolf, but sometimes when he found the right human to pick on... "Hey buddy how are you doing over there? Let me buy you drink, because you need to loosen up" Fort says to the Asian loud enough to be heard by others nearby customers that turned to look. Fort smiles as he gets his drink, and motions the bartender to get the human a Guinness. Wolf 1. Human 0. He thinks to him self.[[Uh..... Hi. I'm sort-of new to Era's portal.]][ええと.....こんにちは。私は、ソートのE課のポータルに新たなんです。]] ((Why did you quote Wolf Fort, Game?)) Chris scowled at the wolf. But he didn't protest. He didn't say anything at all, except a muttered "Thanks." at the free alcohol. He didn't have anything against the wolf, he just didn't want to be social. Furthermore, he turned back to his current beer, wondering if Asian would find him here. Furthermore, he was dying for a squirmy snack. Aslinn spots Chris and giggles to herself as an author wolf tried to talk to him. She peered farther down the walkway, noticing Chris was closest to the micro-way. She looked at the space between the Asian and the wolf, wondering if she could run fast enough to make contact with the wolf. Loki wrote:((Why did you quote Wolf Fort, Game?)) Chris scowled at the wolf. But he didn't protest. He didn't say anything at all, except a muttered "Thanks." at the free alcohol. He didn't have anything against the wolf, he just didn't want to be social. Furthermore, he turned back to his current beer, wondering if Asian would find him here. Furthermore, he was dying for a squirmy snack. Asian spots Chris and giggles to herself as an author wolf tried to talk to him. She peered farther down the walkway, noticing Chris was closest to the micro-way. She looked at the space between the Asian and the wolf, wondering if she could run fast enough to make contact with the wolf.((Sorry. That was purely accidental.))# Loki wrote:((Why did you quote Wolf Fort, Game?)) Chris scowled at the wolf. But he didn't protest. He didn't say anything at all, except a muttered "Thanks." at the free alcohol. He didn't have anything against the wolf, he just didn't want to be social. Furthermore, he turned back to his current beer, wondering if Asian would find him here. Furthermore, he was dying for a squirmy snack. Asian spots Chris and giggles to herself as an author wolf tried to talk to him. She peered farther down the walkway, noticing Chris was closest to the micro-way. She looked at the space between the Asian and the wolf, wondering if she could run fast enough to make contact with the wolf.((Sorry. That was purely accidental.))# (there is a checkbox that says quote the last message uncheck that and you won't quote the last message)Minerva blinked noticing Asian as she waved and tried to get aliens attention running over in the micro walkway to where Asian was Asian stopped and turned around. Someone had waved at her. She spotted a white lioness tour heading her way and waved back." Er, hello." she said sheepishly, "Do I know you?" She rubbed at her neck, hoping that she hadn't forgotten who Minerva was. Minerva skids to a stop before she crashes into Asian (which made her fall down in the process cause of her four legs) "sorry... no you don't.... but we are both micros.... so I wondered if we could be friends maybe? And I have a rope and hook in my backpack.... that is... if you want to use it to climb up to the bar with me..." she rubs the back of her head as she gets back on her feet Asian giggled at her clumsiness. She held out a hand so she could shake the lioness' hand." Sure, I'm Asian!" she said, then pointed down the walkway, "And we don't need to climb, we can just walk!.... Though climbing might be more fun...." Minerva shook aliens hand "my name is Minerva.... and sorry but my first time here.... I keep the rope just in case.... even though I can change my size or others size..... the rope is handy when I want to stay small" Asian giggled again and pulled Minerva's hand so that they'd start walking." Don't worry. This place caters to all sizes, so they have things for us micros. I'm not normally this small." she said as they walked, "Though...see that brooding Asian boy? I need to get around him without being seen, so your rope might come in handy!" She laughed to herself. "So what brings you here?" she asked curiously. Minerva followed listening to her calmly "I see... well this is my normal size.... umm so does this place allow for more?.... I like having a round belly on occasion... and also being in somebodies belly to from time to time" Asian shrugged. She thought for a moment, remembering her experiences here." I honestly don't know if its 'allowed'," she said, air quoting allowed, "But they don't stop it. That's kind of the reason I want to sneak around that Asian boy. I know he'll try to nom me if he sees me." She continued walking along the pathway, her eyes scanning the crowd now. She was curious if voting was allowed or not.((Of course it is! XD)) Fort eyes smiles, and he takes a sip of his White Fawn mix drink. Fort makes a face as he tasted nothing but alcohol first, but then slowly it faded away, and it had a nice vanilla after-taste. He glances over to the human, and tries to think of a new way to annoy him. Minerva licks her chops silently before pulling Asian into a hug "you know I might have an idea for a way you can get past him.... without being noticed" (Room for one more?) Name. Reiko Sex. Female Species. Human Height. 5 foot 4 inches. Was shrunken and has also been a giant. Vodka can shrink her and Tequila makes her grow. Other drinks have no effect. (So have fun with that.) Sexuality. Pansexual Eyes. Brown Special. Is permanently pregnant (nine months with triplets), but possesses a second womb so she can still birth. She loves more, birth and sex and wears a tight, latex bodysuit. Reiko waddled into the bar, stroking her belly. She approached the bar and ordered a beer. Name: he doesn't have a name, but people call him raging dragon for his quick to anger personality and his dragon tattoos:male Height:5 foot 9 but can shrink if he wants to Species:Human Eyes:Hazel Special: can reform, can do almost any more (except for UP)Sexuality:Straight Personality: Kind and a smart Alec but say the wrong thing and that will get him angry. Will stick up for a friend will even get in a fight for a friend. Raging Dragon sat next to the author wolf and ordered a beer when he noticed two micros running across the bar. He picked them up and put them on the bar right in front of him and ordered them a drink "Drink up it's a bar after all on me don't worry have as much as you want" Raging Dragon said happily ((XD Alps, you might want to recheck your stats.... It says Reiko is a male!)) Aslinn gave a sheepish, nervous grin." Er... Maybe..... I just wanted to get by the wolf right next to the Asian." she said, "Not trying to get far..." "Oh well I can help with that just tell me exactly where you want to go besides next to the Asian" Raging dragon said "Btw what's your name they call me raging dragon." (Fixed.) Reiko sat on her bar stool, her latex suit hugged her pregnant form in all the right places and showed off her cleavage as she drank her frothy beer, smiling seductively. She bumped the person next to her, making it seem accidental. "Umm you just bumped me ah I don't care it's a bar want a drink?" (Rock lee Asian and Minerva are on the floor)Minerva licks Asian "well if you want.... I could put you in my womb... where you'd be nice and safe.... until I let you out" Reiko finished her beer. "Sure, but make it something light." She said, patting her swollen belly. Her babies weren't affected by alcohol and would never be born anyway, but vodka and tequila tended to change her size... (sorry I meant he picked them up and put them on the bar in front of him) "you know what I'm just going to have a drink." Raging Dragon said Reiko frowned a little. "Hey, you shouldn't offer a girl a drink and then not pay for it." She said. "Especially not a pregnant girl." She pouted. ((Actually, Min and Asian are on a wall walk way. The micros are kept off the ground and not near the bar at the moment. X3 Though the walkway connects to the bar.)) "Don't worry I'll pay for it." Raging Dragon said as he thought something about his GF that looked like Reiko (ok then so raging dragon can't grab us) Reiko smiled. "Thanks." She said. "Now what should I drink next?" She asked. "I'm Reiko by the way." She said, giving him an eyeful of her milk swollen cleavage. (just forget it ok) ((Nope. Asian was on her way to the bar when Minerva met up with her. They're still a little bit away from the bar itself. I wish I could draw a blueprint.... Hmmm.... X3 Should the "normal" bar be on the Macro's bar? A bar on a bar on a bar???)) Aslinn paled a little at that comment. She had never done that. She shrugged and let out a little sigh of defeat." You can eat me. I don't mind. That's actually the reason I'm trying to sneak around Chris, the Asian. I guess I would be able to get past him in someone else's tummy!" she said with a cheerful grin, "And don't worry 'bout anything in your tummy. I've learned that I can't be digested.... Don't know why, but it's a nice ability to have." Her grin twisted a little at the last comment. Reiko patted her belly, tapping the empty glass on the bar impatiently. "Have as much as you want ANOTHER BEER OVER HERE" Raging Dragon said Reiko smiled and began drinking the beer. "So do you have a name?" She asked, taking another sip. "Not really but people call me raging dragon since I'm quick to anger and I have a tattoo of a dragon" He said as he flexed his tattoo on his arm Reiko smiled. "That's interesting." She said, stroking her sexy, delicious looking belly. By now, she was feeling a little riskier. "Why don't you order me something wilder than this beer?" She said. "You choose." Raging Dragon started to look at the menu but didn't see anything so he had an idea why not mix two drinks together like beer and wine so he did and gave it to her "this is a thing my family has done for years I think it's good why don't you try it?" Reiko drank it and let out a petite burp. "I don't like it." She said. "I don't think you're supposed to mix wine with anything." She added, a hand on her belly. "Ah true just something my grandfather mixed one day. Btw you got a BF cause your way to good looking to not have one" Reiko sighed. "I'm bi, and I usually only do girls. The last guy I was with ended up in my womb and became one of my babies." She said, rubbing her big belly. "But I guess I'm single." "Man that's to bad I know how you feel my GF was recently killed she looked a lot like you to she was eaten by an author bear" "Yeah, things are always trying to eat me too. I bet a plump sexy Asian like me looks tasty to a red. I know that all the pengös I eat are delicious..." She said. To be fair, she looked absolutely scrumptious. "Are you a more?" She asked. "I mean, do I look tasty?" She asked, a look in her eyes showing that more was one of her favorite things in life. "Yeah actually you do now that you mention it. I have done more well I've been eaten but I reform somehow." ((Because I want to, I'm going to make a third character. 3 A macro one. And just to remind everyone, there is no limit on characters. There really is no limits on anything!ANARCHY!!!!)) Name: Nick Age: 22 in human years Species: Male Giant Marco, about 75 feet tall Appearance: Nick is a giant. He has red hair that is kind of spiked. He has blue eyes and glasses. His ears are pointed. He wears jeans, sneakers, a red t shirt with a black jacket over it. Personality: Nick is really nice. Like super sweet. He isn't aggressive, so usually if he wants to eat you, he'll ask your permission first. If you say no, then he won't. He likes ska music, reading and video games. 3 And drinking. Nick entered through the macro door, smiling to himself as he made a beeline for the nearest empty spot at the bar, between an author squirrel girl and the 'normal' platform. He took the seat and glanced around, just checking out the crowd. "Hey Big guy want a drink on me?" Raging Dragon asked Reiko smiled, her juicy ruby red lips curving seductively. "You know, since you can reform... maybe you would like to feed my babies?" She said, grabbing his hand sweetly. "Then maybe you can eat me if you promise to let me out before I digest." She said. "Sure why not" Raging Dragon said smiling Nick glanced down at the normal bar beside him. He saw the pregnant Asian lady and the male next to her." You mean me?" he asked, slightly confused as to why the dude was talking to the giant when the Asian lady was clearly flirting with him, "Sure?" Reiko smiled. "Great. Buy that big guy a drink and then let me eat you." She said, rubbing her pregnant stomach through her latex suit. "Order as much as ya want they always put it on my tab. By the way what's your name? They call me raging dragon I can get angered quickly and I have a dragon tattoo" "Nick." he said with a smile, "And thanks. Before you get...ahem.busy...want to do an Irish Car bomb with me? The bartenders are experts at making everything proportional." He grinned, his face flushing a tiny bit at admitting he was a regular. "Ah... sure why not I mean it can't hurt then I'll be on the way btw after I leave just tell them to put it on my tab nick" "Don't you know, they let you eat people here. More is alright." She said, smiling. "Maybe we should involve that giant." She said, looking up at the man with her seductive eyes. ((Sorry, Alps! We posted at the same time))Nick grinned again and ordered a macro and a normal drink for the two of them." Have you ever done one?" he asked, "I'll explain if you haven't." He turned to the lady, blushing again. "Er...what do you mean?" "Yh sure why not plus my reforming thing I can make people reform to so if someone get digested no prob" Reiko smiled. She began quickly drinking the car bomb before it could curdle. "I mean that Dragon here and I here were going to eat each other, and we wondered if you'd like to eat us too. Just no digestion!" She teased. "Except me because I can just reform want to nick?" Dragon said as he drank his car bomb to Nick smiled as Reiko chugged the drink, admiring her skills. He turned to his own, dropped the shot in and downed it smoothly. He shrugged and set the glass down." Um, if you want. And, well, I don't have to digest... I am a magical being, after all." he said, curious if they were serious. "Ah true so now who's going to eat who's first" Dragon said looking up at nick who seemed like we were kidding "don't worry nick we are not kidding" Reiko smiled. "Great. Now get on the table and put your head in my mouth." Reiko said, opening her ruby red lips wide. Nick grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head." Well, only if you want to. I don't want to make you do something you aren't sure about." he said, trying to be considerate, "But, yeah, I don't digest living beings. Just isn't my thing." "Ok why not" Dragon said putting his head in her mouth feeling himself go down her throat Nick watched, fascinated. He had never seen same sized homage. Since he was a giant, he was always involved with micros. Starting to feel the warmness of the stomach he pushed himself further until he was in the last things to come in were his feet "man there's a lot more room in here than I thought" Reiko moaned as she devoured Dragon, gripping her belly as it swelled out. She unzipped her suit, letting her belly expanded but also letting her milk filled DD's slip out. Finally, she had devoured Dragon. "How is it in there?" She asked, loving Nick's attention. ((Nick's player is going to bed now, since she has to wake up in about 5 hours. So feel free to have some 'fun' before you two have him nom you. 3 Night!)) "It feels pretty good in here actually. How does it look out there?" Reiko patted her belly. "Big." She said, giggling.(I'm going to bed too. Night!) "Well that's what I was hoping for"(same) Nick's eyes widened a little as Reiko's belly expanded even more, and she didn't pop." How are you so stretchy?" he asked, extremely curious now. Loki wrote:Asian paled a little at that comment. She had never done that. She shrugged and let out a little sigh of defeat. "You can eat me. I don't mind. That's actually the reason I'm trying to sneak around Chris, the Asian. I guess I would be able to get past him in someone else's tummy!" she said with a cheerful grin, "And don't worry 'bout anything in your tummy. I've learned that I can't be digested.... Don't know why, but it's a nice ability to have." Her grin twisted a little at the last comment.Minerva smiled "oh really? Id like that.... her let's get you out of your clothes..... I'd feel terrible if I left you without clothes to wear when you came out.... and I can reform myself or others that I eat so even if you could be digested you'd be ok" Reiko burped a little. "It's an old more trick." She said, shrugging and standing. She waddled closer to Nick. "Want to rub it?" She asked. Fort turns around on the bar stool. And looks over the crowd to see if there is anyone interesting to talk to. Reiko had her back turned to Fort, but her huge, tasty belly could easily be seen. Dragon was getting comfy with all listening to all the people talking there he decides to just lay back and lay in the fertile position when he noticed the digestive juices starting to come in "it's started see ya when I reform oh and by the way I forgot if I mentioned it but before I digest I can also reform either to." Reiko held her digestive juices. "No wait! You feel so good in there! Don't go yet!!" She begged. "Don't worry you see my family were engineers, and they made this little force field around people so if they got eaten they could live longer if I remember correctly mine still has about 5 in a half hours. I trust you enough why don't you and nick head to my apartment? The keys ADN my wallet should be on the stool beside you." "Well I was wanting to stay at the bar for a while..." She said, getting a little horny... "ok I'm not stopping you I'm just in your big lovely belly" Dragon said as he rubbed the inside of the belly Reiko gave her belly a pat and looked to see if anyone was looking at her. "I think I'll just sleep for a little bit see ya when I reform. oh, crap I just remembered something I forgot to bring an extra set of clothes damn" Raging dragon says while facepalming Reiko giggled. "As long as they think you're my slave, they might not care if you're naked." She said. "Eh true mine it's tiring in here see ya when I reform" he said yawning as he fell asleep Asian blushed and pulled off her outer layers. She stood awkwardly in her underwear, looking down." Eer.......leaving the rest on...." she murdered, blushing still. She waited for Minerva to act. Chris grinned as the wolf turned away from him. Finally! He'd be left alone! Nick reached out gently and poked Reiko's bulging belly, not too hard though. He smiled as he did it, wondering what the Asian wanted him to do. Raging dragon felt the poke, but he didn't care. Then he saw his legs start to dissolve. "Huh not as hot as I thought oh well see ya later" Minerva leaned down and licked aliens breasts... or at least the parts without the bra covering them with her sandpaper like cat tongue "MMM you are tasty...... how about I remove your undies as I'm swallowing you so that they will still be dry and whole once you come out?.... I promise when I let you out it will be somewhere very private..... and i won't even look" Reiko moaned. "Oh, Nick. That feels great. Lick me." She said. Asian squeaked at Minerva's lick. She rubbed her arms and crossed her feet." Um....sure....." she muttered, blushing even more. Nick's eyes widened behind his glasses. He placed his hand flat on the platform and waited for her to climb on. Minerva blinked and nuzzled aliens cheek "why are you so embarked?" Reiko climbed into Nick's hand, smiling. "I don't normally get naked like this!" she said, squirming a little. She rubbed her arms again. Nick lifted the Asian up carefully. He moved her in front of his face and gave a sheepish grin. "Are you sure?" he asked. Minerva blinked and sighed "ok ill let you keep your undies on..... but even if my acids won't digest you your clothes aren't as immune to it...." Name: John Species: male-Crow anima Age 18size 4 inches((okay if I join?)) It was Johns birthday and he could finally drink. He flew over to a nearby bar called big and little. Happily he flew to the counter ordered a shot of scotch (appropriately scaled to his size of course) and started to have a drink. Dragon who was in Reiko's belly at the moment heard the sound of wings flapping"hey you're a crow right?" dragon said trying to creep the guy out ((Go ahead!))" That's ok." she said, "I'll have my shirt and pants at least." (Loki you need to reply to palatine)Minerva nods and licks aliens cheek "so you know you do taste very good...." she then opened her mouth wide letting Asian look into her sharp teeth filled mouth her warm moist breath blowing on Asian... it was quickly obvious just form the smell outside what she swallowed whole fish was her favorite meal ((Which one?)) Aslinn wrinkled her nose a little." Fishy." she said. She smiled at the warmth though. ((I blinked and suddenly there are 8 pages. Fort will wait for an opening. )Fort raises a brow at all the action going on around him, he orders another White Fawn from a bartender. ((X3 You could try to get Chris drunk...)) Chris glanced over at the wolf and slid a twenty out before the wolf could pay the bartender. He didn't say anything, he kept drinking his Guinness. Dragon starts to feel the digestive juice's start to take effect. "See ya when I reform" dragon said patting the inside of Reiko's belly ((I guess we have to wait for palatine and tiara.)) (Oh apparently so) (I'm waiting for Loki to do something to Reiko.) ((I guess no one saw my edit. T~T I'll repost it. It was just a line.)) Nick lifted the Asian up carefully. He moved her in front of his face and gave a sheepish grin. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. Reiko nodded. "Yes, I'd love nothing more than for you to eat me and my captive." She said, hugging her pregnant belly. Nick smiled again and lifted his hand to his mouth. He opened up and tilted his hand gently, allowing her to slide in easily. He left his mouth open for a second just in case she wanted out. Reiko fingered herself as she went in. Nick gently closed his jaws and started licking her, tasting her flavor. He smirked to himself as he noted that her roundness made him think of a jawbreaker. Dragon felt the movement outside "sounds like Reiko is getting eaten good thing I had this with me."he said as he dropped a pill into Reiko's stomach and apparently she noticed because he heard a slight belch (I want Dragon to stay in for a little while. At least until Reiko is digested. 3) (I know that's the pill it means that just in case he dropped the pill in her witch makes her reform as well. Brb) (oh cool.) (back so now even if dragon is digested she will reform no matter what) "hey Reiko I really haven't started to digest yet so far my clothes are off. How about you cough me up then we fuck then once we're done you eat me again ok?" he asks "Not yet. You have to wait if you really want it. Go ahead and jerk off if you want." Reiko said. "Nah I'd rather not just yet but believe me I will. And one last thing I gave you a pill that even while I'm digested and "dead" you can reform you see I have to be alive to reform others so there you go" he said as he started to jerk off ((I thought you didn't want Reiko to be digested!! : P Nick isn't one for that... Though I'll do it if you want it.)) (it's just plan b) "so what are we going to do here there's nothing To do anyway" dragon said Reiko giggled. "Wait for me to digest and reform. Then we can both stuff each other with bar food." She said. "True. I meant that I wish that we could do something rather than just talking you know? But then again we could get to know each other better. Want to just ask random personal questions if so you can start." dragon says Loki wrote:Asian wrinkled her nose a little. "Fishy." she said. She smiled at the warmth though.Minerva smiled and pushed aliens head into her mouth and started licking and noticeably purring "MMM" Reiko sighed. "No, I don't really want to." She said, laying back on a huge, half digested sandwich. "Meh ok." he said as he started to relax "you know what Reiko you can eat me whenever you want it's comfy in here" dragon said patting her belly ((Hmm. Guess Nick swallowed already.)) He patted his tummy and smiled. "You know.... I do know magic..." he said, "You don't have to get digested..." He cocked his head slightly as if to tilt an ear towards his stomach to listen better and waited for the response. Aslinn giggled as the purring started to vibrate her body. The tongue was rough and scratchy against her face, but not unpleasant." Glad I tasted good at least." she said in a teasing manner. "Hey Nick you know that you can digest us, but we will come back right I have this ability that if I'm digested I'll come back and I can make others do the same as Reiko so don't worry about us ok?" he told nick chuckled at the super muffled voice of Dragon." Well, I actually normally don't digest my prey. It just kind of goes against who I am." he said, rubbing his stomach, "But if you two really want it, I won't put the protective enchantments on you." Minerva swallowed forcing aliens head into her tight but experienced throat she purred more slowly working ASINs shoulders into her mouth and swallowing again now starting to get a tiny be faster... she would normally take her time and enjoy her prey.... but Asian didn't seem keen on letting her play with aliens breasts or crotch so Minerva decided to honor her preference" I don't care right now and Reiko's asleep so I guess go ahead, and it will take hours anyway so don't worry about us, we'll be fine to believe me" he tells nick in a nice voice Asian blinked in the hot dark throat. It was a fairly new experience for her, to be swallowed by someone roughly the same size as her. She chuckled and squirmed a little, wondering if Minerva enjoyed wriggly prey. Nick shrugged to himself and leaned against the bar. His eyes scanned the crowd as he waited for any contradictions or complaints. He made a face as he thought of digesting Reiko. But that's what they wanted. His mind started to wander as he waited. Dragon almost reading his thoughts. "Don't worry nick we'll be ok." "Reiko actually wanted to do this remember plus from now you'll have a piece of us with you everywhere you go after we get digested I'll be digested into fat for Reiko the'll digest her and all her fat and mine will go to your big guy." Minerva purred more as Asian wiggled, and she swallowed again working aliens breasts into her throat and licking aliens belly Reiko was fingering her perfect pussy as she slept and digested. Hearing moans outside he guessed she was pleasuring him self when he felt a tingling feeling in his feet "looks like it's time see ya when I reform." he said as he slept in her stomach digesting (btw I forgot to mention dragon will reform so will Reiko as soon as they touch the air) Nick made a face as he felt them start to go. He shrugged again, then took a drink of his beer. They wouldn't mind anymore! He wondered what it was like inside a stomach as he waited for them to return. Aslinn giggled and squirmed as Minerva licked her stomach. She was ticklish! Her legs flailed a little bit as she started laughing harder. Dragon's last thing he said to nick was "don't worry have some more beers nick see you later" Nick grinned and waited patiently. Minerva swallowed pushing aliens stomach into her throat aliens head entering a stomach but this one the only sign it was a stomach was the smell ((sorry I was away I'm back now))I continue sipping my drink doubting any of the "big" girls will notice me at this height. Heck it was hard enough to get to bartenders attention to pour me this drink. Dragon fell asleep and digested not even feeling any pain ((X3 I forgot you even joined, Adept! I had to go back and re-read everything to find your post! Can you do me a favor and write in the third person? I think it makes the RP flow easier....)) Aslinn wrinkled her nose again as the Fisher smell of Minerva's tummy hit her. She wriggled more, hoping to help the lioness get her down. She took in a small breath and said "It's kind of small!!" Minerva couldn't speak with her mouth full as she slurped down aliens legs forcing Asian fully into it "mmm that's just my first upper half stomach... you'll soon move to my lower body..." is what she finally said when she could finally speak Asian's eyes widened as she curled up." You have two stomachs??" she asked, impressed, "Oh, it makes sense....." Minerva sighs as soon the other opening to her first stomach opened and her body starts pushing Asian through it "though there is one bad part.... I can't cough up people in my second stomach... I either digest and reform them.... or well let them out the back door... though I can at least magically clean that before I let you out" Asian's eyes widened again, but not because she was impressed. She wriggled as she was pushed into the second stomach." Aw!" she cried, "I wish you would have said that beforehand!" She pushed on the stomach wall, vaguely wondering if her hand showed up on the outside. Minerva rubbed the bulk as Asian started getting pushed through another throat even deeper now Asian could become aware of two heartbeats in Minerva body "ill make sure to clean it out before you come out I promise" Asian sighed, wriggled, then cocked her head. She listened for a second, noticing that the usual heart beat sounded twice as fast..." Hey, are you ok?" she asked, "Your heart is beating like crazy!" Minerva blinked "ye aim fine... my body has two hearts because it would be far too much work for one heart to pump blood through my entire body" "Oh dang! That's actually really cool!" she said, finally entering the second stomach all the way. She curled up a little, enjoying the warmth and the movements. (Moving too fast. Dropping.) ((Aw. T~T)) Minerva marred her second stomach was big enough for Asian to almost lay completely straight and in fact she only rounded Minerva underbelly a bit as she started walking "MMM you were very tasty.... and it was hard to not lick your sex to try and taste some of your juices" she soon reaches the part of the walkway to allow access onto the bar and went down to the bar Asian blushed and hugged herself in embarrassment." Er, well...thanks for not doing that." she said rather shyly. She swayed slightly as the lioness walked towards the bar.((EFFORT! Are you still here? 3)) ((I got the flue and is really sick. It will be better to sit this one out right now. Sorry)) (hope you feel better) ((me too. So I guess this one is dead/on pause for now... Everyone seems unable to respond.)) Minerva got onto the bar and blinked looking at Chris and smiling as she walked over bowing her upper half a bit "hello sir" john continues to drink as he notices one of the little say hello sir and bowing a little to a big. Chris glanced down, noticing the lioness tour. He took a gulp of his beer and looked again." Hello..." he said, gruffly. She sat her back end down smiling up at Chris "umm have you been here before?" Chris shrugged." A few times." he muttered, wondering if he could eat the Taurus. He made a mental face at the thought of it though, not wanting to deal with her claws or anything. She tilts her head seeing the look he was giving her "something on your mind sir?" Chris grunted, apparently in a bad mood, though he was almost always in a bad mood." Why do you ask?" he said, taking another sip of his Guinness. "Mmmm you just look like you do sir" one of her front paws rubs her lower belly and thereby rubs aslinn giggled as she was rubbed, squirming a little. Chris frowned, and started to really look at the lioness. He noticed that her tour stomach was full and squirming. A faint giggle drifted out and confirmed his suspicions. He shrugged it off." Not really. Just hungry." he said. Minerva blinked and rubbed the back of her neck "I see.... well personally I'd rather just talk for now.... though honestly there are times i don't mind being a snack I'm looking for someone to talk to more right now...." "Well, girlie," he said, using his term for any female for any species, "I'm not the talkative type. Unless I'm drunk." He grinned and raised his glass to toast future drunkenness, then downed the rest. As if he shared a telepathic link, the bartender came over and switched out the empty glass for a full one. Minerva blinked and just watched asking for a glass of milk as she laid her lower half down but even though Asian was now beneath her full weight the stomach while it was now holding Asian in place it felt like a sleeping bag Asian panicked for a second as she was squished, but calmed down as soon as she realized she was fine. She curled up a little, enjoying the warmth. Chris eyed her milk with a scornful stare. "Milk at a bar?" he asked, taking a gulp of his dark beer. Minerva took a gulp of it "I'm a feline.... besides they don't serve catnip and my body doesn't handle alcohol to well"not to mention i don't know how it would affect aslinnshe thought to herself Chris chuckled over his glass. "So is milk like your alcohol?" he asked. "Well it doesn't give me the same effects alcohol would on you though catnip kinda does...." she blushes rubbing the back of her neck "though I drink milk in place of alcohol yes" Chris grinned and said "Hm. I kind of want to see that..." He took another drink, then pantomimed going through this pockets. "But I don't have any catnip on me at the moment!" he said. Minerva sweat dropped "and for that I'm thankful"(Hamm nobody else is posting....) ((I know... T~T Wolf Fort was sick, Emperor dropped out, Parishes just stopped responding, as well as rock lee. If you don't want to continue, that's ok.)) ((It is a long holiday to don't forget. I am back to almost normal, but now wondering whether to jump back in or not.))

Bigs and Littles ((Open to all! Everyone welcome!))|rating:3.0

The New Farmhand (Yen + FavoredFox)

Nathan was used to living the good life. He'd gone to college and gotten a degree, but he had mostly been interested in the parties and the women. Truth be told, the business degree he'd gotten would mostly be useful when it came time for him to take over his family's farm. But for now that day looked to be a long time off so he had all the time in the world to move between jobs wherever he wanted. The most recent prospect was a farm in a predominantly furry community, one whose help-wanted ad had sounded more like it belonged on a dating site. Still, he fit the handsome young farmhand description to the letter. Nathan was just about six foot two, fit as could be, and at 23 years old still had his boyish good looks going for him. He wasn't as broad as a lot of farm hands but what he lacked in raw power he more than made up for in stamina. From the second he walked onto her farm he stood out, not just for being human, but because of the bright blond hair and nearly emerald green eyes he was sporting. As for his clothing, that was a bit more understated, a slightly faded t-shirt and jeans. Of course, the jeans turned out to be a bit more of a sight, having a bulge that was probably a bit more noticeable than he'd intended. Nathan walked up to the farmhouse with his usual boyish grin, noting that there were a lot of cute furry girls around the farm. A furry probably would have had some idea what they were getting into. After all, a good breeding male was valuable in the furry community. Between the cum and their show value a farm could make a lot of money. Depending on the farm this could be a lot of fun, but some connoisseurs wanted their cum aged, and some shows weren't intended to be much fun at all for the males. Nathan knew how rare it was for a human to be as hung as him, but he had no idea how valuable that made him in a community full of devious furry women who made their living on those sorts of shows. Beautiful mares turned to watch the human boy walk into their farm. Hunger filled the eyes with a few, the rest of the six looked intrigued. A sweat musk filled the air across the farm lands, the mares were starting to go into heat, but the most desirable stallions had already been booked for the mating season, leaving Isabelle with only one choice. She needed a replacement, and what a delight it had been when Nathan called so quickly. A tall, curvy woman with a tiny waist left the humble farm house to greet her new 'employee.' "Howdy you all!" She called. The black feline hopped up to wave with more enthusiasm than was necessary. The loose fitting overalls hung low on her hips and did little to nothing to cover her bouncy breasts, giving the human a very good view of silky smooth side boob. "Y'all must be Nathan, am I glad to see you." The southern twang was heavy in her voice, and yet it was sweet and compassionate. This seemed to be a very sweet girl. "My mares are going to start goin' crazy soon if they don't get a big dick soon." The feline looked him over and her eyes focused on the bulge unashamedly. "Ya look pretty big for a human, still a little small for my gals though." She shrugged and smiled oh so kindly. "But don't worry, there's a solution to that." Nathan smiled at the mares as they turned to look at him. "Mornin'" He said as he gave a little wave. His accent didn't come out as much as it used to but now and then it worked its way out. One wife of the breeze and he could tell that they were in heat. He certainly didn't have anything against a gorgeous mare, despite the fact that he was human, and he was definitely looking forward to meeting them a bit later on. He knew it was probably a good idea to introduce himself to the farm's owner before he started chatting with the employees. She seemed to be waiting for him, and he gave her a wave and responded in kind. "Howdy ma'am." It didn't take long for his eyes to drift downward. Normally Nathan would have tried to be a bit more respectful but considering the loose fit of the overalls and the fact that she definitely didn't appear to be wearing a bra he couldn't help but look. "Yup, you got it. I'm going to guess you must be Isabelle." He said as she stepped up to him. He offered her his hand, but she ended up looking down between his legs instead. What came out of her mouth next caused his jaw to drop. She could see his bulge swell instantly in response to that suggestion. "Wait, when you put up that help ad, were you looking for someone to breed your mares?" He asked, wanting to make sure they were on the same page. The idea of breeding each one of those gorgeous girls himself was just too good to be true. Most farms he could think of would have used a stallion, but something told him Isabelle wasn't exactly most farmers. If she wanted a human to breed her mares she'd definitely picked an eager volunteer. "Oh my stars, where are my manners?" She reached out to take the offered hand with strongly gripping paw. Her fur was rough and dirty from the days work. "Isabelle Blue at yer service. Welcome to Blue B's Ranch," she offered, taking her paw back and placing it on her hip. She took a step back to get a better look at the man. He was tall, a little lanky compared to the usual but that could turn out in her favor. Stunning yellow eyes locked onto the already growing bulge and she resisted a purr. This boy would be perfect. "My usual stallion is working someplace else this year, it was short notice, so I had to put an ad in the local pages. Never would've expected a human to answer though." She turned her eyes back up." I'll need another pair a hand around the farm too. My gals are the hardest workin' ponies I know, but when they're in heat season? Hooked! Their hands are too busy on each other to be much help." She joked with a laugh. "If y'all think you can handle that we can start the interview." Nathan had lived around these parts long enough to know that he ought to expect a firm handshake out of anyone who spent their days on a farm and Isabelle didn't disappoint. "Nathan Wright. Pleased to meet you." He said. He tried to reign his arousal in as best he could when she started eyeing the bulge in his pants again. At the rate they were going he was going to need to start the job right away or else he was going to have to go take care of that himself." Well, your ad was at least a little bit subtle. I imagine maybe you ought to have planned ahead a bit. Mares start going into heat I don't imagine many stallions are going to pick up on 'subtle' in the help wanted column." He said before giving a little laugh. "Not that you can write 'farm hand with benefits' in as a job description." He added. When she mentioned that the girls had been tending to each other's needs he couldn't help but glance back over their way, biting his lip as a whole slew of thoughts popped into his head about that. He quickly forced himself to look back to Isabelle (which wasn't exactly hard considering how easy she was on the eyes). "You're certainly in luck there, ma'am. I was raised on a little farm not thirty minutes from here, so I'm no stranger to hard work. Far as I'm concerned helping out your lovely ladies in their time of need is just a bonus." Nathan said with a warm smile. He knew he probably lacked a bit in the size department compared to what they were used to, but Nathan had quite the libido and stamina that would have surprised any mare. He also wasn't the sort to get intimidated by a work horse mare just because she was a bit bigger than him. "Wonderful!" Isabelle clapped her hands with delight before turning away. "Come along this way then. I know yer a human and all but, I have to inspect any stallion about ta breed with my gals. Oh! y'all might need to be able to take a bit a rough treatment. My size mare, Dolly, she's a Clydesdale; bigger a stronger than any male I've ever seen." Though she'd never have a stallion complain, Dolly had fantastic muscle control and had a great joy in showing it off. Izabelle lead the man to the barn not too far away. It was well taken care of, a fresh coat of paint and not a single board out of place. "If you pass inspection, I've got something of a uniform for ya before I introduce ya to the girls." Inside was a bit dusty and the back wall was lined with hay bails. Two normal horses were resting in their stalls, absently chewing their curd. She brought him over to the left to a large open stall. Inside were the various tools used to care for her animals, brushes and hoof picks, reigns and saddles, and an area set off with simple leather restraints used to hold uncooperative stallions. A common contraption in most ranches." Would y'all mind stripping off yer britches for me?" He fell in step behind her as she explained that an inspection was needed. Of course, that just caused his libido to flare up that much more. The mention of her prized mare being a Clydesdale had him grinning a bit. "I can take a bit of a pummeling if it comes down to it." He said confidently. At 6'2" Nathan was taller than the vast majority of human women, so furry mares were certainly an interesting change of pace in that regard. Even Isabelle was rather tall for a feline. He let her lead him into the barn and glanced around before his eyes focused back on her. He stepped into the stall that she'd wandered into and looked back to her as she got right down to business. "With pleasure. They're gettin' a bit tight" He said, sighing as he undid the button on his jeans and his boxers immediately bulged outward. He reached down and tugged his boots off followed by tugging off his jeans. Based on the bulge in his boxers he had to be around ten inches long and Nathan still had some growing to do. He did look a little sheepish about already getting hard. "I'm a bit excited to start the job." He admitted. "You want to inspect a bit further?" He asked, placing his hand on the edge of his boxers, ready to tug them down and let Izabella examine everything. She giggled. The southern accent was clear in it, and yet it was strangely melodious. "Don't worry darlin'. Even the best behaved stallion will pop a stiff with the air as musky as it is." She motioned him to remove the boxers as well while she continued. "Ya know, I'd usually have an untrained stud like you hitched up fer this part. Ah, don't have to worry about you, now, do I? Once ya strip y'all gotta put your hands behind your back an' don't move 'em no matter what. If ya do, I'll have to bind ya up." Once the boxers were pulled down and the heavy cock sprung free, Isabelle turned her attention to it. She placed a hand on her cheek and smiled. "My oh my, you are a big feller, ain't ya?" She took a step forward and reached out with a furry paw. "Still a bit small for my mares, but I think you'll do just fine." The feline crouched down to get a better look at the prize. With a gentle touch she moved the cock from side to side, inspecting it thoroughly for anything unsavory. "How often do ya masturbate?" she questioned, fingers curling around the base to hold it up straight. Isabelle used her other hand to cup his ball sack, weighing it in her palm, giving it a light squeeze. "Ah can't let ya do any a that here. You have to keep your stamina all for my gals, think y'all can handle that?" With a stronger grip the feline stroked her hand upwards until she held onto just the head and began to twist her wrist over it slowly. He gave a little sigh when it was clear that she understood what the problem was. It didn't help that Isabelle herself was pretty cute and part of him wondered how far she was going to take this examination. He hadn't been the least bit nervous about being examined but when she mentioned binding him he bit his lip nervously and stuck his hands behind his back, gently gripping his wrist with the other hand to help ensure he didn't accidentally do anything that'd get him in trouble. "Nope. I'll behave myself. No need to tie me down." He assured her. Nathan was obviously plenty adventurous when it came to women, but bondage was something he wasn't quite sure he wanted to try, particularly not when a furry he'd just met was the one who'd be running that show. Nathan smiled when she mentioned his size and took hold of his shaft. "I 'spoke so. I'm definitely big for a human." He said, trying not to get defensive when she pointed out that he wasn't packing what a stallion probably would have been. When she crouched to get a better look his cock gave an excited twitch. He found himself holding his breath as she inspected his manhood. Fortunately Nathan was in great shape so she wouldn't find anything wrong with him. As she continued her examination and teased his balls Nathan stiffened to full hardness, clocking in at just under thirteen throbbing inches. "I usually masturbate about twice a day, maybe a little more. It tends to get pretty messy if I don't." He admitted, judging by the weight of his nuts they were definitely rather full at the moment. "Completely understand. Frankly, I don't really see why I'd want to jerk off when you've got a stable of cute girls who need to get off more than I do." He said with a little grin before she tightened her grip and earned herself a short groan. Nathan could be a bit vocal. "Ya know, you may be too small for the mares," and she seemed to get some joy out of reminding him of his inadequacies. "But ya might just be the perfect size for LI'l ol' me." The feline leaned in and rubbed her furry check against the shaft while looking up at Nathan, her eyes gleaming with unspoken promises. As Isabelle continued to paw at his nuts she found herself giddy at the thought of them so much heavier. A purr began to rise in her throat as she started to stroke his cock. She gripped with just the right amount of pressure and rubbed her thumb over just the right places around the head and over the slit. "Ah'm a bit of a professional when it comes ta cock milkin'. Ah,'ve still gotta examine you some but, I must confess the atmosphere has gotten to me too. So let's move on to yer performance test, Ah'm too excited to wait." Izabelle gave his balls a nice squeeze. "Remember ta keep yer hands behind yer back. We're going to have a grand ol' time you and me." The stroking started slow, but gradually picked up speed until she was jacking off his cock in a way that was damn satisfying. Nathan grumbled a bit when she reminded him that he might be a bit smaller than the mares were used to dealing with. Fortunately it didn't bother him too much since Nathan knew he was hung for a human and rather doubted that a mare in heat would be singing that same tune if offered a chance for some release. When she leaned in and rubbed against his shaft he couldn't help but give her a little grin. "I was thinking about that but wasn't quite sure that was in the job description. Think you and I could have a might bit of fun together." When she started to purr he found that grin growing and let out a little groan as she began to stroke him a bit harder. She was perfect at teasing just the right spots. Precut began to bead at the tip of Nathan's dick already, though he didn't seem to be getting all that close yet. From the look of things this could get a bit messy. "Can't imagine why I'd want to move my hands and piss you off. You're way better at this than I would be." He said, letting out a little moan as she squeezed his nuts and began to speed up her movements. Nathan gently rocked his hips back against her, thrusting forward against her hand while she stroked him, something she'd never declared to be off limits. The whole while he kept his hands exactly where they were supposed to be, rather shy about the idea of being restrained and less than enamored with the idea of pausing their fun long enough for her to hitch him up. "Think of it as a perk," she purred, eyes locked on the leaking cock head. Her tail swished from side to side as she worked out more and more. She used it as lube to wet the fur on her palm and make each stroke that much better. She matched her hand to his thrusts. "Oh y'all flatter me. Ah, do my best, and my best is pretty darn good." She giggled and leaned her head in again, the stroking abruptly stopped, her fingers squeezing just under the glands. Holding the shaft still she sniffed at the tip, her cute little black nose twitching. "A good scent," she murmured, thinking of how much better it would smell and taste once properly aged. A bright pink tongue flicked out and dragged slowly over the slit. It was rough and wet, and she'd been told on many occasions that the sensation her tongue gave was incomparable. But she pulled away from the human, releasing his cock and letting it bob in the air. Looking up at Nathan she smiled warmly while her fingers popped the snaps on her overall. "Then y'all should be able to show a bit of restraint. Yeah? No touchin' with yer hands." The fabric fell away and her round, perky breasts were free. She cupped them both in her hands, black fur on black fur and dark gray nipples hardening to pebbles. "Ah suppose y'all want to thrust between my breasts? Ah,'m sure my fur will be nice and soft for ya, an' it looks like it'll fit right between 'em." Sure enough, Nathan's cock leaked enough to get her hand nice and slick, letting her stroke a bit quicker and making it easier for him to thrust into her grip and fuck her hand. His eyes fluttered shut as he enjoyed the feeling, only to snap back open when the sensation stopped and a squeeze kept him from moving. He glanced down at her with an unintentional pout on his face as she leaned in and sniffed his cock. Nathan knew his cock had a bit of a scent to it, but he did have to wonder what it smelled like to sensitive furry noses. He groaned a bit as her tongue ran over his cock head, his toes curling against the hay on the floor as he had his first experience with a feline tongue. He could have definitely gotten used to that. On the other hand, it didn't seem like he'd get to just yet as she again pulled back. He bit his lip to try to keep the look of annoyance from being quite so obvious, but he didn't argue with her." Yeah, I can manage that." He agreed as she started to take her overalls off. He found a bit of a smile returning as she cupped her breasts and looked back up at him. "Frankly, I think those would feel fantastic if you were human. Fur's just an added bonus." He said, very eager to figure out what a titty fuck from a feline felt like since he'd never had one before. "I have permission to try those out yet?" He asked, knowing he needed to get the go ahead before he pressed his dick between her gorgeous breasts and got to work. "It's not somethin' I do for any ol' stallion you know," she cooed and lifted herself up onto her knees. The long length was rested on top of a soft pair of chest pillows, the fur silky and smooth and oh so warm. "But if y'all can ask me real nice like Ah'll squeeze 'em tight around this throbbin' pole." Shifting a little closer Isabelle slid out her tongue once more to lap over the slit once. "Might be a long shot but if y'all can convince me I could give yer cock a nice tongue bath." Nathan was getting to like the idea of himself as a breeding stallion. "Glad you decided to take a more hands-on approach with me." He told Isabelle. He sighed happily as his shaft pressed against her breasts. Furthermore, he was about to ask her to start when she leaned in and licked his cock, preempting his request with a little groan of pleasure. "Would you titty fuck my cock please, Miss Isabelle? And if you lick it too I'd be happy to return the favor after you're done." He said with a little grin, rather excited about the possibility of eating out his new boss as well. "Now ain't you a good boy," she said with a smile, lifting further on her knees until she was able to wrapped her large breast around the thick human cock. "Y'all are getting my fur all messed," she chided playfully, rubbing herself down slowly, then lifting ups even slower. Her tongue press to the underside of his cock, dragging it up along with her boobs. Now, she didn't know a lot about the human cock, but her friends around the barn were able to give her an idea. Isabelle stopped with her tongue pressed against the sensitive frenulum and lapped her rough tongue over it repeatedly while she looked up at her new stallion to watch his reaction. "Course I'm well-behaved." He said with a little chuckle. "I really want this job." He added in. Between being a stud for several gorgeous mares and having Izabella sample his seed from time to time as well this absolutely sounded like a dream job. "If that wasn't what you were goin' for you're sure going to be sore at me in a bit." He responded when she chided him for getting her fur messy. The human gave a little groan as she started to stroke his cock with her tits. She wasn't the first girl to titty fuck it; considering his size that was usually easier than a blowjob alone for most women, but he'd never had a chance to find out what this felt like with soft feline fur rubbing his cock before. He definitely could get used to this. When her tongue joined back in she earned herself a moan from the perspective stallion, along with a little squirt of pre. She knew just where to guide her tongue, and he was learning to like the roughness of it. He was definitely rather vocal as her assault on his frenulum had him moaning happily once more. All the while he was careful to keep his hands to himself, behind his back where they belonged. Nathan didn't want to do anything to fuck up working on this ranch. A few more licks, and she pulled her head back a bit. "How's about we start with yer first test," she stated with a delightful beam, "Ya see, Ah've got a pretty little show mare who's a mite delicate." Isabelle squeezed her breasts tighter around the shaft. "Star thrusting real slow like. A h need ta test yer restraint just a bit." Nathan pouted a bit when she told him that there was going to be a test involved, but he got the idea when she mentioned her show mare. "Yes ma'am. Be happy to. So long as we get to work up to handling the working mares." He said with a smile that suggested he was joking. He did as he was told and thrust between her breasts, keeping himself moving at a nice slow pace. After a moment he sped up just a bit, considering that even a show mare would want something a little bit quicker once they got started. "Oh, Ah'm not strong enough to mimic Miss. Dolly," she answered, squeezing her breasts a little tighter. "Slow down a bit stud, Winter likes it real slow like." Smiling, she leaned in every time the head went near her muzzle to give it a rough lick or a sucking kiss. "Ah now it seems like it's too slow, but trust this little ol' kitty cat when I tell ya it's mighty worth it. Gal nearly broke my arm last time I tried to give 'er a little fun. Then vagina walls of hers are tighter than a snake on prey." She giggled that sweet southern bell laugh. "Ah'll help ya out a bit." Opening her maw wide she took the head of the slow thrusting cock into her mouth, letting him slowly thrust in and out. He groaned as Isabelle's breasts squeezed tighter around his shaft, deciding that was ample compensation for having to slow down again. He did as he was told though, obviously much to eager for this job to have considered disobeying. "Certainly wouldn't have minded seeing that." He commented when she mentioned trying to service the mare herself. When her mouth opened Nathan adjusted the position of his hips a little bit. He wasn't speeding up. If anything he slowed down a little bit, but what he did do was to make sure that his cock got as deep into her waiting mouth as it could before sliding back between her amble breasts. He kept up the pace that he'd been instructed to set, biting his lip a little bit to keep from getting too vocal. Judging is the pre that was freely flowing from his cock he was probably also focusing on not cumming too soon. Nathan was plenty smart enough to know that a stallion wasn't much good if he came somewhere other than where his boss ordered him too. The pretty kitty was happy to lick up and swallow the dripping precut with every inward thrust. She let this continue for quite a while, bobbing her head to let the head pop in and out of her throat. Only when she felt the precut was coming in dangerous amount did she pull away, her breasts released as she stood, letting the cock slip free as well. Gravity dropped her overalls to the floor of the barn. Her fur was damp in various places from the sweat of her work day, but it still looked soft to the touch and oh so plush. Without the baggy clothes her figure was open for his eyes to see. She was curved in all the right places, her hips the perfect size to grip. As the simple white panties were pushed down her sharply legs, a dark gray patch of fur was revealed, it covered the swell of her mound. The fur was soaked with her own juices and a heady musk joined Nathan's." Hmmm," Isabelle hummed, thoughtful as she looked over her 'stallion.' "Aha!" She held out her hand and plopped a fist in her palm. "Ah've got it, another test for ya. Prob'LY my very favorite." She turned towards the desk and moved a few things out of the way before pulling herself up to sit on it. Dark legs parted, and an excited purr rumbled in her chest. "Y'all gotta show me yer tongue's good fer more 'en talkin'." She reached between her legs and parted her furry lips to expose the dark skin of her soaking pussy. "If y'all doreallywell, Ah might just let ya get that big dick ah yours a little wet." Nathan grit his teeth as she bobbed her head. The sensation of his cock repeatedly sliding into her throat made him want to blow his wad right then and there, but he knew he couldn't risk losing this job, not after what he'd seen so far. When she pulled away he gave a little sigh, partially due to disappointment that he wouldn't get to cum, partially due to relief that he wasn't in as much danger of cumming accidentally if she gave him a chance to cool down a bit. Not that eh could cool down all that much when her overalls dropped away. He'd gotten a good sense of her figure even with the baggy overalls on so he knew the show was going to be good. He could see just how drenched her panties were and gave her a little grin, actually pretty sure he could guess what came next. What took him by surprise, however, was the scent of her sex, mingling with his own. He sniffed the air lightly, not used to anything other than human women. Her scent was definitely different than he expected but certainly a welcome surprise. He wondered how the mare's scent would differ from hers. He wasn't at all surprised when she started to move towards the desk and dutifully followed her. "I can see where this is going..." He said before the word 'tongue' left her mouth and confirmed that he was right. Before she even promised him a reward he was already on his knees, resting his hands on the soft fur of her thighs as he leaned in and ran his tongue over her lips, getting a taste for her juices. He was glad he did. She tasted fantastic, and the scent actually caused him to let out a little groan. Nathan clearly liked eating pussy so it came as little surprise that his tongue soon plunged into her, probing its way deep and lapping up her honey. The reward she'd offered him for this was just icing on the cake. "Oh! Oh my," the feline gasped, her head rolling back. She reached up and grasped the top of her hat to keep it from toppling off of her head. "Well ain't you an eager beaver!" She praised with a joyful call that faded into a deep, rumbling purr. Isabelle shifted her butt on the desk and her tail gave a curious twitch. She'd never had a human down there before; not as rough as a cat, nor as wet as a dogs or as large as a stallion's, but it was smooth and slick, and it was petting her in all the right places. Regaining some of her composure, the feline lifted a leg to rest her spur-less boot on his shoulder. "Y'all arerealgood at that," she praised, bracing herself against the desk with one hand, the other still holding her hat in place. "Ye haw, bronco!" Isabelle rolled her hips, using her leverage to thrust against the driving tongue and force it harder against her body. Riding his face with eager abandon. He was nothing if not eager. Admittedly, Izabella had gotten him really worked up already and the promise of a chance to get his dick wet was enough for him to try his absolute best to please. He let her boot rest against his shoulder without complaint and reached up a hand to cup one of her furry ass cheeks, giving her a quick squeeze as he pushed forward a little bit. His bright green eyes glanced up at hers, taking in every detail of the beautiful feline. The words 'ye haw' were a nice touch, particularly in that they let him know he needed to brace himself. Sure enough his prospective employer began to ride his face, and hard. He pushed forward against her thrusts, lapping hungrily at her pussy. With her riding him like this there was no way he could catch his breath and he just had to hope that he could bring her to orgasm before that became an issue. Furry fingers tangled in the man's hair, claws griping at his scalp in a way that was both painful and pleasurable. Much like a feral cat's kneading. She rolled her hips and squished the tip of his nose against her clit. It seemed Izabella had no qualms about using this farm boy just like she would a stallion. Her mares would do the same, after all; and if Nathan couldn't take the rough treatment from her, he'd never survive her girls. "Oh yes! Meow!!" Black fur fluffed out, her already puffy tail looking comically large now; however, she didn't seem to care in the least. The kitty's head tossed back and hew maw opened wide as her walls contracted, her clit tingled, and her whole body tensed in blissful relief that left Nathan's face soaked in her juices. "My stars," she mewled. "You are My-Tee fine with that tongue a years. Ah, gotta give you a reward after that." A tooth grin was sent down at the man as she released his head and spread her legs wide. "Ah'll let ya stick it in for a little bit. Don't go and do something silly like cummin', now." Nathan weathered her affections surprisingly well after tensing for just a moment when he first felt her claws extended. He lapped hungrily at her pussy and nuzzled his nose against her clit. By now he doubted there was much question that he was getting this job, but he still had to make the ending count. The hardest part was not laughing when she meowed. It was at once adorable and sexy, and it made him work that much harder for the chance to hear it again. When she'd finished with his mouth he pulled back a bit and caught his breath, licking his lips clean and gently whipping some of her juices from his nose using his thumb. "Glad you like. Something tells me your girls are going to enjoy it too." He said with a chuckle as he stood up. His cock was still absolutely throbbing. When she told him that he could fuck her for a bit so long as he didn't cum he bit his lip. He really did want to blow his load soon, but there was no way he was going to turn down this offer. "You're the boss." he said as he stepped up to her desk, resting her hands on her thighs and pressing his cock head against her sex. Without any fanfare he pushed his hips forward and penetrated her. "Shit, you feel even better than you taste." He mused with a little laugh before thrusting forward, sliding more of his cock into her with a groan. The rumbling purr continued, and he got that meow he'd been looking for. Nathan thrust his dick in to the hilt and Izabella released that sweet noise. "Ah cud say they same 'bout you," she groaned; her already heavy accent getting thicker in the growing musk filling the barn. "Ah can feel yer dick kissin' my womb~." And yet the man had already bottomed out. It was perfect. She was used to testing out big stallions that she couldn't ever fully take, but Nathan fit inside her so perfectly she couldn't help but feel like it was made just for her! "Keep it goin' stud. Y'all fill me so perfect ah'm, seein' stars. Make me cum with that throbbin' tool a years without spurting, and this job is years." Nathan gritted his teeth as he thrust forward, his fat balls slapping against her furry rump as he picked up the pace. It hardly seemed like a fair deal given that she'd already gotten to cum once, and he hadn't, but he knew he couldn't screw this up. Of course, he absolutely couldn't start thinking about the job either. If he focused on the way she was already calling him 'stud' or the thought of pouring his seed into the wombs of each of those gorgeous mares he'd seen on the way in he was definitely going to cum. He tried to make his mind go as blank as possible and focused on some nondescript point on the barn's wall as he picked up speed, obviously straining not to cum at any moment. The feline humped along with the thrusts, squeezing her legs around his waist, so tightly there was simply no way he'd be able to pull out completely. "Don't y'all get lazy now," she huffed while arching her back. She took his hand and brought it to her black furred breasts. They were still slick with Nathan's precut. "Yer tongue is down right amazin'. Yer hands gotta be at least half as good. Brute force fuckin' alone ain't gonna work 'round here." Izabella rested a hand back on the desk to keep herself up, but allowed her to lean back and expose her lithe body to the man. Deep purrs rumbled her words as she panted them out while gazing into her 'stallion's' eyes. "Ya'll'er rubbin' my walls so good, and the tip a yer dick keeps kissin' my womb. Those heavy balls ah years would spurt out so much spunk you'd fill me to they brim." The feline's inner walls clamped and relaxed around the thrusting tool with practiced strength. "Hold it all back stud. Ah, know it'd feelrealgood, but keep yer balls full. Save it all up fer my girls." Despite her orders the black cat's pussy was sucking him in and squeezing just right in every attempt to milk his cock. When her legs tightened around him, he groaned, knowing full well that this meant he couldn't even pull out if he didn't manage to hold on. At least he might have been able to make a case for himself if he came on her rather than in her. As his hands were placed on her breasts he gave them a squeeze, having to dial back the strength in his hands rather than hanging on for dear life, which was pretty much his first instinct at this point. He began to rub her breasts in his palms, his thumbs immediately seeking out her nipples, trying like hell to push her over the edge before he hit his limit. He bit his lip so hard he was amazed it didn't bleed, fully able to tell that she was trying her best to make him cum. Furthermore, he tried to glance at a point just over her shoulder rather than fully look her in the eyes, though he found himself actually whimpering a bit when she kept reminding him how good it would feel to cum inside her and how he was pressed right against her womb and ready to do just that. Furthermore, he doubted that breeding Isabelle was in the job description for this stallion, but he did have to wonder if she'd taken more precautions than the breeding mares or if a mistake here would mean a litter of kittens too in addition to not getting the job. The feline's purr vibrated beneath warm palms. Her fur fluffed out between his fingers and her nipples hardened into tight pebbles. Each flick of his thumb pulled a meal from her parted maw; however, she couldn't have him looking off into space. "Don't lose focus now," she purred between the moans that were becoming more frequent. Isabelle wrapped her tail around the human, tickling the back of his neck and trying to tug him closer. "If y'all can't look me in the eye Ah might just get offended." It was said with a smile and lost breath. Lean, strong arms jumped out and wrapped tightly around Nathan's neck to yank the man down to the table with her. "Ah bet yer ball's'er 'bout ta burst. All that spunk swirlin' round in there; Oh~ Yes, right there!" The new angle had his dick shoving up against her G-spot so perfectly she saw stars! Her rough tongue hung from her mouth for several seconds as she fought off the coming wave of her own orgasm. "Can ya feel it right up at the tip? Just 'bout to spill out? Don't let it. Not a drop, not a single... Don't... Cum!" Isabelle tossed her head back with a happy mewling cry, shoving Nathan's face between her breasts and covering his cheeks in his own precut. Strong limbs squeezed Nathan against her so tight he had no chance of escaping the contracting, throbbing walls of her orgasming pussy. The muscles gripped and rolled, massaging the desperate cock with eager abandon that was more than just 'skilled;' milking him as her body convulsed in beautiful orgasm. His eyes locked with hers, and he whimpered as she told him to look at her. As the gorgeous feline went on about how close he was it really did feel like his balls would burst if he didn't blow his wad soon. He clung to her as she pulled him down, hands resting on her soft, furry ass cheeks and probably squeezing a bit more roughly than she would have liked. He didn't mind a bit that his face was promptly shoved between her breasts and buried it deeper, letting her smear his pre all over him. Her perfect tits helped to quiet the whimpering moans that he was letting out as his hips bucked erratically to try to get her off. When the powerful feline squeezed him he realized that there was no way for him to pull back and let out a muffled cry of pleasure as her pussy throbbed around him. With no way to pull back he couldn't pull out, though he tried. Nor could he withdraw his face from between her breasts to warn her. He flooded her pussy in an instant. He wasn't even moaning anymore as the force of his climax left him breathless. Spurt after spurt of hot cum filled her, showing no sign of letting up. He'd have definitely done a wonderful job as a breeding stallion. Nathan wasn't sure how anyone could have been expected to do better. It had taken every ounce of willpower he had to make it this far. Going from a blowjob to a titty fuck and then finally experiencing Isabelle's fantastic pussy was just too much. A deep purr vibrated the woman clinging to the human between her breasts and buried inside her to the hilt. The shear amount of cum pouring into her was almost enough to give her a second orgasm, if only out of anticipation. It wouldn't take more than a single edging session for him to be left with painful blue balls; and now she had the perfect reason to make him keep them. So, she slowed her purr and steeled her expression to hide her absolute delight with disappointment. "And y'all were so close too," she said with a sigh while releasing him from her vice-like grip. "A real breedin' stud can fuck through three or four gals before he shoots his load, but..." Izabelle hummed thoughtfully, pushing herself back on the desk. "Since y'all haven't had any trainin' Ah guess Ah can't be too harsh." Nathan was guided back and out of her. The gush of semen that followed his shaft gave her an idea that brightened her face. "Alright. Ah,'ll think about givin' you the job anyway, while you clean up your mess." With a predatory gleam in her eyes, she spread her legs and her pussy lips. "Ah hope y'all like cream pie, cause yer gonna lap up every last drop a years." Nathan could feel her tighten around him as she reached a second orgasm, which squeezed a few more shots of thick gooey cum from his cock. He sighed as she released him, his hands sliding from her body down onto the desk to steady himself. He definitely wouldn't have any trouble breeding the mares with loads like that, and he had to admit, it was a rare climax that left his balls feeling truly empty. Furthermore, he tried not to look pleased with himself, but a little smile set in any way. When she told him that he should be able to get through several women without cumming he spoke back up. "Isn't cumming inside kinda the point of a breeding stud?" He asked. Anything else and he was just sort of a sex toy, though he didn't realize that the real fun to be had at this ranch would be very much at his own expense. He sighed as she allowed him to slip out of her and stood up. He always had super messy climaxes, which ought to be a helpful trait in becoming a breeding stud. At this point though, not getting the job didn't seem like the worst thing in the world. He'd still gotten to enjoy the interview. Izabella's next suggestion caused that smile to drop away and one of Nathan's eyebrows to raise. The predatory look in her eyes sent a shiver down his spine. He'd already seen how strong the kitty was. "I was sorta thinking maybe one of your girls might enjoy cleaning you up a bit. I mean, I understand you've been helping when they go into heat..." He suggested, eager to push that job onto someone else even if it cost him the position. Admittedly, if he'd had time to think about it, he probably wouldn't have suggested she bring in more authors, which could have just as easily formed an audience, or more muscle to help ensure the human's compliance.

The New Farmhand (Yen + FavoredFox)|rating:2.0

Expected Reunion_Unexpected Union (CLOSED for Celtic Godess)

Expected Reunion/Unexpected Union Will Schmidt hadn’t been back to his hometown of Janesville, OH since his junior year in college. That was four years ago. Although he grew up in Janesville and his mother was a native of the town, his dad had always wanted to return to the Milwaukee area, his birthplace. Will’s parents moved early in his junior year at Carnegie-Mellon. With no relatives in Janesville Will had no strong reason to return. He went back twice later in the school year, staying with friends, but had not returned since. Now, after four years, Will was getting nostalgic for the "old days", particularly when he was a part of The Trio. The Trio consisted of Will and his two close friends, Kurt Batman and Ryan Connors, so-named because they sang, respectively, baritone, base and tenor in the Janesville High School Choir. More importantly, The Trio spent most of their junior and senior years in one another's company, on dates, at sporting events, hanging out in one of their families' basement rec rooms. Kurt had settled in Janesville, married to Susan, his college sweetheart from Akron, along with their 2-year-old daughter. Ryan lived the furthest, in Nashville, where he was trying to make a break as a Country and Western singer, but was actually waiting tables. Will had stayed on in Pittsburgh after college and had a good entry-level job in an engineering firm. Will convinced his two friends to have a reunion of sorts in Janesville. He had decided to take a whole week of summer vacation to allow him to visit lots of places that he hadn't been back to for so long. Ryan could only commit to taking off Friday and leaving Sunday afternoon. Will and Ryan were rooming together Friday and Saturday nights at the Eco-mode; Will would be staying on through the following Saturday. Kurt agreed to meet them at The Barn, one of the favorite sports bars for Janesville's younger crowd. Not fancy, but a good place for beer, pizza, and hanging out. The two roommates arrived first and claimed a table to wait for their friend. At 6',3" it wasn't hard to spot Kurt entering the bar, but, surprisingly, he was not alone. Kurt was accompanied not by his wife, but by his big sister Kate, who was two years senior to The Trio. Kate had gone on to law school and was working in a law firm in Chicago. Will wasn't sure what the dress code was for off-duty lawyers, but he didn't think it was the very short shorts, and low-cut top that Kate now sported. He had never thought of his friend's older sister in any way other than platonic. Now, he realized suddenly that she was not only very attractive, but hot to boot. Kurt and Kate seated themselves across from the other two Trio members, Kurt across from Ryan, Kate across from Will. The conversation quickly turned to The Trio reminiscing about their younger days, leaving Kate feeling a bit superfluous. She did manage to inject that her parents had pressured her to spend 10 days house-sitting and caring for their dog, Charlie, while her parents took a Mediterranean cruise; it was Day 3, and she was already bored silly. Will enthusiastically engaged in the reunion that he, himself, had engineered. However, although he tried to concentrate on his conversation with Kurt and Ryan, his attention returned frequently to Kate. As they sat drinking their beers, on a couple of occasions Kate's and his legs brushed each other under the table. He didn't notice Kate reacting, but she didn't move further away either. When he wasn't looking directly at Kurt or Ryan, Will's gaze frequently took in the view of Kate's low-cut top that showcased her firm, beautiful breasts. Once he thought that she caught him gazing at her body and responded with a small smile, but perhaps that was just his imagination. In any event, Will found himself becoming slowly and steadily aroused by Kate's presence, with his mind filling with erotic thoughts that he had never applied to her before. She and he were going to be in town for a week. The thought crossed Will's mind that this could be an interesting week in ways that he hadn't imagined when he hatched the idea of the Trio Reunion. Kate sat listening to her brother's friends reminisce about their days in high school. Being 2 years older than they were, she had missed out on a lot of their antics the last two years of high school. Back then, Kate had been the quiet, studious type. She was what you would call a wallflower. She had been too smart for a lot of the girls in her class and as for the boys, well, she had been just plain. It wasn't until she went away to college that she had really blossomed. She had let her strawberry blonde hair grow out till it was well past her shoulders, allowing the natural loose curl in it to show through. She had joined a gym and had developed a very firm and supple body, one that she was proud of and showed off during her off work hours. To look at the way she was dressed tonight, you would never believe she was a lawyer at a very lucrative law firm. As they sat and drank, she couldn't help but notice that Will's leg seemed to brush against hers every so often. She actually enjoyed it and decided that she would flirt back just a little bit. What harm was there in that. Every once in a while, she would brush hers against him or when he was talking to her, she would place her hand on his forearm, giving him her undivided attention. As the night began to wind down, a thought came to her." Hey, our parents are out of town for a while. Why don't y'all come over tomorrow night and we can have a cookout? Kyle can bring the wife and kid, and you two can provide the booze. I'll take care of everything else. What do you say?" Will was in heaven, drinking with the Trio at The Barn; it was part of what he had imagined for their reunion, but the unexpected addition of Kate in her hot outfit was the icing on the cake. At first, he assumed that the occasional brushes of his and Kate's legs were completely accidental. Then, as Kate repeatedly placed her hand on his forearm, Will began to suspect that Kate was intentionally coming on to him. Unexpected, shit yes! Hey, our parents are out of town for a while. Why don't y'all come over tomorrow night and we can have a cookout? Kyle can bring the wife and kid, and you two can provide the booze. I'll take care of everything else. What do you say? Will's mind nearly exploded at Kate's suggestion. So, too, almost did his cock. Still, he didn't want to seem too eager to telegraph in any way that he was getting the hots for his friend's older sister. Will was saved by Ryan's enthusiastic, "Hey, great idea. I haven't hung out at your parent's house in years", and Kurt's quick second of the idea, "Going to Mom and Dad's for dinner and bringing Susan and Emily as well will certainly keep me out of hot water with Susan. I'm in!" His friends' immediate assent allowed Will to hide his eagerness with a mild, "Gosh, Kate, what a nice offer. I join my friends in accepting your invitation." Will considered a clandestine wink at Kate, but thought better of it. Instead, as he spoke, he made sure that their legs once again brushed up against one another.-----------------------Saturday was everything that Will had hoped for when he first suggested the idea of a reunion. The Trio ate a big breakfast at the diner they frequented during their summers home from college, walked around the property of the still-abandoned house where they smoked weed as high schoolers, and talked endlessly about the "old days". Although they stopped to buy a case of beer and a bottle of Jim Beam for the dinner party, the Trio still spent the last half of the afternoon in an old neighborhood bar where they had managed, while in college, to convince the owner that they were 21. As a result by dinner time, all three men already had quite a buzz on. Kurt went home to pick up his wife and daughter; Will drove Ryan and himself to the Batman home. Will had been engrossed all day in the Trio's joyous reunion, but his thoughts frequently returned to Kate's long, strawberry blonde hair, the vision of her well-toned, bare legs protruding from her skin-tight shorts, and their low-keyed, but frequent physical contact at last night's drinking session. Although his mind was filled with nostalgia as he and Ryan drove up the Batman house where they had spent so many days of their youth, Will's mind was filled with exciting questions. What would Kate be wearing? Did she think of this dinner idea just to cure her boredom, or was she subtly creating a situation where they could continue to flirt? "Well," Will thought to himself, "it's her house for now, her rules. I'll just have to wait and be surprised." Kate had spent the day getting the house ready for her little impromptu party. It wasn't that the house was a mess, it was just that she seemed to always leave her things lying around. She got up early and began picking things up, and started marinating the steaks she had decided to fix for dinner. With 3 guys there, at least on of them should know how to grill a steak. Once she was satisfied with the inside of the house, she went out back to make sure that the grill was ready to go and that the pool area was clean and straight. Who knew, the guys might enjoy a swim, she knew there was no way her niece would not end up in the pool. She was a regular fish out of water. Off and on all day, her mind kept wandering to Will and they way she had flirted with him the night before. She recalled the way his shoulders filled out his shirt and the way his biceps strained at the sleeves. She kept wondering if his chest and abs were just as toned as the rest of him. The few times he had gotten up to use the restroom at the bar, she couldn't help but noticed how wellie filled out his jeans. She knew she shouldn't, but she wanted him. She wanted to see him naked and hungry for her. She had always been attracted to Will, and she felt that if she didn't act on it soon, she might lose the opportunity. Of course, she had no idea if he was even interested in her. After showering, she but on her two piece bikini and a pair of shorts. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, letting it hang between her shoulders and down her back. She applied a little makeup and went to finish her dinner preparations. Furthermore, she had the music turned up as she began to sing, while fixing salads and sides to go with the steaks. Will didn't have to wait long for at least some of the answers to his questions about how Kate would present herself. Arriving with Ryan only a couple of minutes ahead of Kurt and his family, Will had only gone a few steps from the car before Kate appeared on the front porch to greet her guests, singing happily with a bowl of salad fixings in her hands. Will actually sucked in his breath at the sight of Kate in her bikini top and tight, short shorts. Had he had any doubts earlier about his own motivation, those doubts were now gone completely. He wanted Kate as strongly as he had ever wanted a woman - not now, obviously, but soon. Will knew that he needed a plan to at least be close to Kate, to take the vision of her in at a closer distance, to flirt and see what her reaction would be. An idea came to him nearly instantly, capitalizing on what he knew about his Trio friends. After greeting Kurt's wife, Susan, with some genuinely warm chat and a chaste hug, and saying a few words to their daughter, Emily, Will suggested to Kurt that he begin the grilling of the steaks. After all, Will argued, this was Kurt's parents' house; presumably Kurt was the most knowledgeable about their gas-fired grill. He then suggested to Ryan that, given that his recent waiter job included preparing drinks, Ryan would be the best candidate for setting up the impromptu bar. Both men accepted their friend's direction. With what he hoped was a straight face, Will told the other Trio members, "You guys are great. I'll go in and help Kate with the salad and whatever else she may be making." Will entered the Batman home and traversed the well-worn path that he and his friends had so often made to the kitchen. Kate was working on the salad prep with her back toward him, giving Will a view of her mostly naked, well-toned back, teasingly cute ponytail, and great ass. Kate turned when she heard him enter, rounding out the rest of the picture just as well. Will couldn't help himself. His eyes traveled up and down Kate's body at least twice. He realized, with some embarrassment, that his checking her out had taken long enough that she surely must have noticed, particularly since his eyes focused frequently on her bikini top that snugly outlined her firm, beautiful breasts. He might have been imagining this, but Will thought that as they stood there facing each other he could see Kate's nipples swelling under her bikini top. After Will's prolonged checkout of Kate's body, Will and Kate stood facing each other, their gazes locked for several seconds. As he felt his face flushing and the crotch of his jeans becoming painfully tight, Will managed a broad smile and said, "Hi, Kate. What would you like me to do?" A small smile spread across Kate's face as she noticed Will checking her out. Although she was only a couple of years older than him, it was nice to have someone notice her. She had always been the wallflower, blending into her surrounds and not causing any attention to herself. "Hi, Kate. What would you like me to do?" That was such a loaded question. What she wanted was for him to walk over to her, grab her and kiss her senseless. She wanted him to strip her naked and have his way with her." Umm, I guess for now if you could get the vegetables out of the fridge for me. I am going to make some kebabs to grill to go with the steaks and salad." She said, trying to control the rapid beating of her heart. She couldn't believe how nervous she was around him. This was. She had known him for years, but things seemed to be changing between them. She watched as he bent over to grab things from the refrigerator, giving her a great view of his ass. Kate decided to take a chance. Walking up close to him, she leaned in, grabbing the salad dressing she had made, causing her breasts to graze his back and arm. Slowly, she stood back up and began mixing the dressing into the salad bowl." So, how long are you going to be in town Will?" she asked, trying to ease some of the tension in the small room. Not for nothing, Will had the mind of the engineer that he was. Engineers act on facts and data, not on speculation - or so Will told himself. From the moment that he began to fantasize about Kate and as his hunger for her grew, a thought gnawed at the back of his mind. HewantedKate to want him, and, therefore, hewantedto believe that she did. Wanting doesn't make it so. Sure their legs brushed each other in the bar last night, but hat could be innocent and overblown in Will's mind. Yes, Kate had suggested dinner at her house - but this was an invitation not just to him, but including her brother's family for Christ's sake. Yes, last night and tonight, Kate was dressed in very sexy outfits, but as far as Will knew, this is how she usually dressed in the summer when not at work; this might have nothing to do with him. Will had intentionally asked his question:Hi, Kate. What would you like me to do? In a way that could be double entendre, but her response was simply very practical - no return quip or flirt. So, as Will bent over and reached into the refrigerator to get the vegetables, his engineer mind was beginning to remind him to not let his heart, or his cock, rule his head. No sooner had Will begun to cool his jets he felt - no almost sensed - Kate standing very close to him. Completely unnecessarily, without giving Will the opportunity to stand up and step back from the fridge, there was Kate grabbing the salad dressing in such a way that her taught bikini top grazed Will's back and arm. And, she was retreating slowly, obviously in no big hurry to remove her luscious breasts from his body. Will's doubts evaporated in a flash. "Two can play this game", Will decided instantly. As he straightened up, holding the vegetables in his right hand, Will let his left arm dangle at his side so that as he stood his hand lightly grazed Kate's bare leg and slid from her calf up to her mid-thigh. Will turned to face Kate as she asked her question:So, how long are you going to be in town Will?. Laying the vegetables on the counter and keeping his eyes on Kate, Will answered, "I'm here until next Sunday, seven more full days. Sort of like you, I guess, here with not much else to do." With a growing grin Will moved toward the door to the pool and grilling area where the rest of the people were congregated. Halfway out the door to the patio Will stopped, turned to face Kate mixing her salad, and said, "Thanks for the party. I'd say things are headed in the right direction, wouldn't you?" Kate wasn't sure how to respond. She was hoping things were going in a good direction, but she wasn't positive Finishing what she was doing in the kitchen, Kate grabbed her salad and headed out to the backyard. She noticed the boys had all gathered around the grill, while her sister-in-law and niece had jumped in the pool. Setting the salad down on the table, she decided to join the other ladies for a swim. Walking over to one of the lounge chairs, she took off her shorts and laid them on the chair by the towels she had laid out. She took the holder out of her hair, letting it fall down her back as she walked over to the diving board and proceeded to dive in. Will exited the house feeling more than a bit smug after he had teased Kate by brushing his hand over her bare leg and made his parting quip that had clear double meaning. He joined the other two Trio members at the grill. Kurt, the grill master, had his back to the pool, while Will and Ryan facing him had a good view of the pool area. Will tried not to notice that his friend's wife, while not a knockout, looked pretty damn good in her tight-fitting one-piece swimsuit. He thought he caught a look or two from Ryan as well. As the three men chatted while sipping the beers that Will and Ryan had provided, Will caught a movement in the corner of his eye. He turned just in time to see Kate doff her shorts. The sight of Kate's beautiful ass barely covered by her bikini caused Will to nearly choke on his beer. As Kate dove into the pool, he was transfixed by the image of the woman that he now was obsessed with having. He managed to stop staring long enough to notice that Ryan, too, was focused entirely on the pool. Kurt, seeing his friends' longing gazes, laughed, "OK, guys, I know that Susan and Kate are good lookers. No apologies necessary. If you both weren't my best friends, I'd be worried that one of you would be going after my hot older sister." By the time Kurt had finished his grilling, the girls were ready to get out of the pool. Anticipating this, Will and Ryan had fetched all the other food from the kitchen. The girls didn't bother to change out of their swimsuits given the hot summer weather. Everyone converged on the Batman's outdoor picnic table. Will was careful to subtly maneuver so that he was sitting directly across from Kate. A few minutes after the meal began he slowly positioned himself such that his left leg was thrust in between Kate's legs, so that their legs - both bare from the knee down - were now interleaved. As he positioned his legs, he caught Kate's attention and flashed her a knowing grin. "OK," thought Will, "I've made my move, the next one is up to you." Kate could feel every hair on Will's legs as the continually grazed each other under the table. Every once in a while, she could feel slight pressure against her legs as if Will was trying to spread them just a little farther apart. She knew she wasn't imaging things, Will was flirting. And he was flirting with her! As the evening wore on, the drinks began to flow just a little more. Susan and Emily had left shortly after dinner, leaving just the Trio and Kate. Conversation was flowing just as freely as the drinks. Kate felt so comfortable around this group, just as she always had. She didn't want to intrude on her brother's time with his friends, so she began cleaning up as the three continued to talk. She made sure that every chance she got, she would either touch Will or lean over him to grab something, making sure her barely covered breasts grazed his back. As she stood in the kitchen, cleaning dishes, she heard someone walk in through the sliding door. Turing her head slightly, she saw Will standing there just staring at her, two beers in his hands." Did you need something?" she asked, sure he understood the double meaning.... When Will positioned his legs next to Kate's he had thought to himself, "I've made my move, the next one is up to you." It didn't take more than a few minutes to see that Kate was keeping right up with him every step of the way. Every time she moved, she made sure that her legs grazed his. And, when she started to clean up - oh, man, she touched him so often and let her breasts graze him so blatantly that Will could hardly stand it. He was sure that if they were alone, he would have jumped her bones right there. Fuck, the risk would be worth it. But, he couldn't do any such thing, and Will knew it. And, he knew full well that Kate knew it too. In fact, once Susan and Emily left with the family car Will had no choice but to agree to take Kurt home when he and Ryan returned for the night to the Eco-mode. Still, he was determined to have at least a minute or two alone with Kate to push the envelope just a little further. Kate's cleaning up gave him a plan. Before the other two Trio members could follow him, Will grabbed two half-empty beer bottles, declared that the least he could do was to help a bit with Kate's clean-up, and bolted for the kitchen only moments behind Kate. Seeing Kate in profile in her skimpy bikini nearly caused Will to drop the damn bottles on the floor. To boot, the crotch of his shorts was so tight from his rapidly expanding hard-on that he was actually having some trouble walking. Will wasn't sure if he hoped that Kate didn't notice or that he hoped that she did. Will crossed the room in three steps, aiming to place himself as close as possible to her excruciatingly appealing body. Did you need something?" Fuck," thought Will, "this woman's gotcahonesat least as big as mine. She's teasing the shit of me and loving every second." Will stood tightly next to Kate, their bodies touching from feet to shoulders. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Ryan and Kurt moving lazily toward the kitchen. He and Kate didn't have much time. Placing his hand on the small of Kate's back just above the top of her bikini, Will faced Kate and spoke quietly, but forcefully. "The Trio reunion ends tomorrow with breakfast at our old, favorite diner, after which you and I will be on our own in good, old Janesville. What I need is for you to agree to have dinner with me tomorrow night, either I take you out to a nice restaurant, or I cook for you here, your choice. During dinner, we can discuss further what each of us needs." With that provocative ending and just before Ryan and Kurt reached the kitchen door, Will leaned in and gave Kate a short, warm kiss firmly on her lips. "WOW!" she thought as his lips met hers. The kiss was soft, warm and all to inviting. She wanted to just melt into him. She wanted the kiss to never end. But, just as quickly as his lips were on hers, they were gone. She heard the others walk in as Will moved away from her. She was speechless as she stared into his eyes. Public, they need to go to a public place, or she was likely to attack him the minute he walked into the house." Fine, Tomorrow it is, you pick the place and tell me a time." she said quickly as the others made their way into the kitchen. As they said their goodbyes, Kate gave her brother a hug and watched as they got ready to leave the house. Fine, Tomorrow it is, you pick the place and tell me a time. With his back still to the kitchen door, Will silently mouthed, "Call you tomorrow at noon", then turned to meet his friends who, by now, were feeling the effects of the evening's beers. As Will drove Kurt to drop him off at his home, the Trio joked, laughed, and reveled in the last evening of their reunion. They had one more planned event, Sunday breakfast back at their old favorite diner. Returning with Ryan to their motel room, Will and Ryan quickly prepared for bed. The night's beers got to Ryan first; he was fast asleep snoring by the time Will had finished up in the bathroom. Will briefly considered calling Kate, but tempting as it was, there was too great a risk that Ryan would awake and hear him. What would Kurt say about a late night call from his best friend to his sister? Still, Will couldn't get images of Kate out of his mind. He lay awake for nearly an hour, as his friend snored the night away. Breakfast at the diner was everything the Trio had hoped for, more nostalgia, bad jokes, and unhealthy, but great, food. All knew that once breakfast was over, Ryan needed to be leaving quickly for Nashville and Kurt needed to get back home to re-establish his claims to being a "family man". For Ryan and Kurt the breakfast passed much too quickly; for Will, though he greatly enjoyed the companionship, every minute longer was one more delay in him planning his date with Kate and calling to make his formal invitation. But, for all, the ending time came, they hugged each other goodbye promising to do this again soon, and went there separate ways. Back at the Econ-Lodge, Will pulled out his laptop to search for a restaurant for their dinner date. He wanted to impress Kate with his choice of both setting and menu. After all, she was a young lawyer working in Chicago; presumably she was used to fining dining or trendy restaurants. One click on Google, and Will's heart sank. He had almost forgotten that he was in Janesville after all, where tripadvsor.com ranked Donald's Donuts as the best the town had to offer. He even considered a possible road trip to Columbus, a city with some really great restaurants, but the better ones were closed Sunday. Furthermore, he finally found at least one place in Janesville that was open Sunday and barely met his criteria. Calling Kate was easy; waiting for her to answer was nerve wracking, but answer she did. As they exchanged just a few words of greeting, Will realized how nervous and excited he was. He felt a little bead of sweat running down his cheek. He was once again pained by the tightness of his jeans as his cock swelled more every time Kate spoke. Through it all, he did manage to tell Kate that he wanted to take her to Tlaquepaque, arguably the best of Janesville's Spanish restaurants and a venue that offered something quieter than a bar. Kate agreed, suggesting that he pick her up at 7:30. By the appointed hour, Will had showered and changed into the best clothes that he had brought with him. Even at that, the best he could do was a short-sleeve, button up shirt and a pair of khaki pants. "Lookin' pretty good, though," he thought or, more correctly, he hoped. Will couldn't help but wonder how Kate would dress. So far, he had seen her only in short shorts and a bikini. As he approached the Batman house from a distance, he could make out Kate's figure on the front porch before he could see much detail. "Hmm," Will wondered, "why is she waiting outside for me?" Then, it struck him: she couldn't risk being inside alone with him, a realization that only stoked both his resolve and his arousal. "OK," Will said to the Kate in his head, "I'll be returning you home later tonight after at least a couple of drinks. Let's see if your attitude is the same under those circumstances." Will grinned as he drove closer; this was going to be a lot of fun. Kate looked in her closet after hanging up the phone. She pampered herself the rest of the day, wondering what tonight would hold. All the flirting they had been doing was crazy, she knew she never would have had a chance years ago being so shy, but now she was going to take that jump with her old crush. She picked out a tiny black thong and lacy push-up bra that made her breasts stand out even more. Slipping on her underwear she could imagine him taking them down slowly, the thought gave her chills of excitement. She completed her outfit with a short black tight dress which clung so tight she was glad she wasn't showing any panty lines. She added some sexy heels and an elegant pearl necklace laughing to herself that her brother and his friends would probably all make a joke about the necklace. She waited outside for him, the car was coming. Furthermore, she knew she couldn't trust herself to let him in the house too early. “Holy Shit”, Will thought as he exited his car in Kate’s parents’ driveway. Over the last couple of days he had seen Kate looking really hot in her short shorts and bikini, but he didn’t realize until now that she was beautiful to boot. He wasn’t sure if his lust for her was greater when she was scantily clad or dressed as if they were going out for a night on the town in her upscale Chicago neighborhood. And, it was clear that she had put a good deal of thought into her outfit. This, Will thought, was a “come-fuck-me” look if there ever was one; the sexy heels said it all. Will had no intention of physically forcing Kate back into the Batman family home, although he wasn’t sure that she would mind if he did. It wasn’t just that Kate was his best friend’s sister, either. Will just wasn’t into using force. He loved lusty sex, but it was so much better when it was clear that they both wanted the same thing. But, he wasn’t going to let Kate off the hook easily either. After all, she had matched each one of his flirtatious moves with one of her own, each response bigger than his. Will took the porch steps two at a time and planted himself squarely in front of Kate. Running his hand up the back of her black dress, he cupped her neck in his hand and pulled them into a kiss. Unlike the brief kiss in the kitchen, though, this time he didn’t hold back. Will kissed her hard on the mouth, thrusting his tongue against her lips, daring her to respond in kind. Breaking their kiss, Will took Kate by the hand, lead her to his car, and, very gentlemanly like, opened the car door for her to get in. Will quickly took the driver’s seat. Neither of them had yet spoken a word, but the strong connection between them was clear. Slowly placing his hand on Kate’s bare thigh that protruded from her tight, sexy black dress, Will caught Kate’s gaze, smiled, and said quietly, “Hello, Kate. Ready for whatever our dinner date may bring?” Kate wasn't sure if she should just let him in the house and have her way with him after that greeting. She was glad that Will appreciated the way she looked. She also couldn't believe that he was so direct after years of knowing him and a few days of shameful flirting. When she stepped in the car it was silent at first, then when he placed a hand on her thigh, she could feel the electricity race through her body and jolt her sexual being. She felt like a primal animal in heat, she wanted Will badly, but she would play it cool for their date." Sure Will... I am ready for ANYTHING you want to do tonight." I reply as sultry as possible Sure Will... Furthermore, I am ready for ANYTHING you want to do tonight." Damn", thought Will, "this woman is the master of double entendre. She's either deliberately teasing the shit out of me, or she's as hot for me as I am for her." He presumed he'd find out which by the end of the evening. It was only about a 10-minute drive to the restaurant. Will and Kate pretended to have a conversation about how the Trio Reunion had gone, how good it was to see old friends, etc., but both knew that that was not the subject that was really on their minds. But a subject other than bedding Kate drifted through Will's mind as they drove. What did he want out of this? A one-night, or a couple of nights, stand with his best friend's hot older sister? Or something more, like the beginning of a dating relationship? Shit, they lived 450 miles apart, and who knows what other obstacles there might be to any relationship. If Kate had been some woman whom he happened to meet this week in Janesville and who had come on strong to him, he'd have no reservations about a hook-up, then see what happened. But this was Kurt's sister, for Christ's sake! Suppose he pushed too hard and she was only teasing. Or, they had sex and she had strong morning-after remorse? Then, it came to Will, causing a grin to spread across his face. They were both adults. They had certainly been mutually flirting heavily. He'd just ask her straight out. "Wow," Will thought, "this is going to be one interesting dinner conversation!" Kate enjoyed having dinner with Will. He was a real gentleman. She still couldn't get the past few days out of her head though, and was glad everyone was out of town so they could be alone. This was all just chit-chat though, she just couldn't wait to have him take her back to her house. She tried her best not to look antsy or nervous, but try to stay in control and sexy like her dress made her feel. She wondered how this would be brought up. Will was committed to his plan to just ask Kate straightforwardly what she wanted, but he didn't want to drop a bomb that might backfire and make for one fucking awful dinner. So, he played along with Kate's dinner chit-chat, ordering them both two more drinks during dinner, but waiting until they had ordered dessert to pop the question. Throughout their dinner Kate and Will frequently locked their gaze and held it for some time, even when talking about seemingly trivial subjects. Will thought that, although she seemed to be holding it together rather well, Susan seemed to be a bit nervous. He hoped that her nervousness was excitement and anticipation, not dread. As the waiter left after taking their dessert order, Will reached across the table, laid his hand on Kate's, and begin to speak, blushing some as he did so. "So, Kate, here we are on a 'date'. You and I, old friends, you my best friend's older sister. But, let's be honest, since you and Ryan came into The Barn on Friday, you and I have been hitting on each other left and right. Or, at least that's what I think has been going on.". Will stopped, and took the last sip of the beer that remained in his glass. He had never been this direct with a woman before. "So, we're both adults and will likely see each other now and then in the coming years, so I don't want there to be any confusion or mistakes." The lump in Will's throat was growing enough that his voice began to quiver some. Damn, he had no more beer. "Kate, I want to have sex with you. I don't know if this would be a one-night hook-up, or a couple of nights' hookups while we're both still in Janesville, or what. You live in Chicago and I in Pittsburgh, so I don't know if we're likely to start dating, or even if we want to do that. But, right now, I just want you." By the time he got the last words out, Will could feel the sweat running down his neck. In fact, even though the restaurant was air-conditioned, he was convinced that the back of his shirt was soaked through. But, he knew he was in so deep that he had to finish his statement. Unconsciously squeezing Kate's hand harder, he continued. "So, Kate. What doyouwant? To just make out a little? A hookup tonight? Or, another date first? Or nothing? Just tell me, please. I want us both to get it right." Kate was thankful Will came out so straightforward. She was hoping that the flirting and everything wasn't just in her head even though she was certain it wasn't. It was good validation. She sipped that last of her drink. "Will... I'm glad you noticed the same flirting that I did. To be honest sometimes you can never tell what the other person is thinking." She paused. "I've wanted to have sex with you for years. I know we live far apart, and I don't want the pressure of a relationship yet. We're two adults, so I say let's go back to the house, let's please each other and see where things take us." I've wanted to have sex with you for years. In mentally rehearsing his planned speech to Kate, Will had imagined any number of different responses from her, but he had never expected this. In truth, until just two days ago he had never given a thought to Kate as a romantic partner. Her confession took him so off guard that he nearly couldn't catch the next part of her message about not wanting the pressure of a relationship....let's go back to the house, let's please each other and see where things take us. Kate's words banished Will's momentary mental diversion, silenced any lingering nervousness that he had about his direct approach, and allowed Will's lust for Kate to reappear full-blown and reinvigorated. His grip on Kate's hand closed even tighter, this time consciously. Kate had no more than finished her statement when the server appeared with their desserts. When the server asked if they would like any coffee or after-dinner drink, Will and Kate replied in unison "No, thank you!" so sharply, that she thought that she had somehow offended them with her question. Furthermore, the guy was practically yelling at her to bring the check. Exiting the restaurant hand-in-hand as quickly as they could pay and leave, the couple scurried to Will's car. Opening the passenger door for Kate, Will pulled them into a brief, but passionate kiss, before getting into the driver's seat and dashing out of the parking lot. Will drove as quickly as he safely could without tempting getting a speeding ticket, his mind filled with erotic images of Kate and the crotch of his pants filled with his fully erect hard on. He knew the Batman house like the back of his hand, having spent so much of his youth there with Kurt and Ryan. He fantasized about where they might have sex. Upstairs in Kate's room? Maybe, but the Batman had a wide and comfortable sofa in their living room, and the living room floor was deeply carpeted. Lots of possibilities. Arriving back at Kate's parents' house, the two practically leaped out of the car, joining hands again as Kate lead them through the front door in the hall. Single-minded though he was, her action reminded Will that Janesville was still a place, unlike Pittsburgh or Chicago, where people left their doors unlocked when they went out. Realizing that, Will gave the door a flick with his foot closing it behind them, and leaving him and Kate, at last, alone in her home. As the door closed and Kate turned to face him, Will dropped her hand and stepped back a few steps. Holding her gaze and seeing Kate's somewhat puzzled look when he dropped her hand, a smile spread across Will's face as he spoke, "This is your house, Kate. In deference to that fact, my friend and soon-to-be lover, the first move is yours to make." Kate smirked devilishly at Will. She took a few steps towards him and leaned in to kiss him slowly in a sultry manner. She let her tongue linger a little longer in his mouth. Furthermore, she stepped back and grabbed his hand. Will was familiar with the house, but he wasn't expecting her to lead him to the master bedroom." I've been staying in here..." she said as she opened the door. Inside was a huge bed, lush carpet, an attached restroom with jacuzzi. There were fresh flowers in the vase. Kate led Will inside. She leaned in to kiss him once more. As she did, she put his hand on her firm butt. Giving him the OK to grab and fondle her. Since first seeing Kate in her short shorts and low cut blouse in the Barn bar on Friday, he had nearly forgotten that this woman with the previously unnoticed hot body was still the person who had graduated near the top of both her high school and college classes. She was not a horny, college sophomore looking to get laid after a drunken evening. This was a 28-year-old woman with a high-powered career in a lucrative law firm in the big city. And, she was showing that sophistication at the moment. Given the invitation to make the first move, Kate hadn't simply jumped Will's bones in the front hall or thrown them down on the couch, she had, instead, kissed Will in a slow, sultry way, and calmly lead them to the master bedroom suite. The presence of the fresh flowers suggested that her moves were not altogether unplanned. As hot as Will now was, he needed to remember to treat Kate like the adult woman, confident in her own sexuality, that she was. Some subtlety was in order. Even though she had placed his hand on her firm ass, their sexual encounter shouldn't be just rolling and groping like a couple of teenagers. Will returned Kate's second kiss with a lingering kiss of his own, allowing their tongues to play with each other for a few moments, but without the sense of urgency that would characterize lovers who were unsure of themselves. He took the opportunity that Kate had afforded him, squeezing her ass hard and pulling her crotch firmly to his, pressed against the bulge in his pants formed by his obviously fully erect cock. Will slid his hands down to the bottom of her short, black dress, grabbing the hem and slowly pulling her dress over her head as they momentarily broke their kiss. The sight and feel of her tiny, black thong and lacy push-up bra nearly drove Will crazy, but he stuck to his insight for them to savor the moments and let their anticipation crescendo to the point that impulse was the only emotion left. Mirroring Kate's move, he took her hands from around his back and guided them to his waist, inviting her to undress him as well, leaning in to plant another lingering kiss on Kate's warm, inviting lips. The loss of Kate's dress gave her goosebumps as her sudden bare body was exposed save for her bra and thong. She could see Will appreciating the view, and she was glad he took time to notice how meticulous she had been preparing herself this evening. When he guided her in for another kiss and placed her hands on his waist she took the hint. Her hands delicately guided to his pants and she pulled his shirt untucked. Then, breaking the kiss for a moment, she wistfully started to unbutton his shirt making it all the way down. As she did, Will kept staring at her body, when the shirt was undone, she leaned in and kissed him as she eased it off his shoulders. Her hands traced down his body as she made her way to his pants and began to unbuckle them. Will was beginning to understand that the anticipation was nearly as exciting and erotic as the actual sex, itself, would likely be. He couldn't take his eyes off of Kate's nearly naked body and her suggestive lingerie. When Kate ran her hands down his body, making their way to his belt buckle, Will could feel his breathing beginning to change its pattern to shorter and more frequent breaths. Though he couldn't know for sure how Kate was going to play it, it was obvious that any way that she unbuckled his belt and unfastened his pants would result in her hands at least brushing the large bulge in his cotton briefs. That thought, alone, caused shivers to run up and down his spine. As soon as Kate's hand touched his belt, Will used his longer arms to reach around Kate's back to where her bra strap was fastened. Deftly, he loosened the hooks so that when Kate eventually dropped her arms, her black, lacy bra would slide down her arms and onto the floor, exposing her magnificently firm, sculpted breasts to his waiting hands. Kate took her time unbuckling his belt. She liked the fact that Will took initiative to unhook her bra for her and was pleased that he didn't get caught up with it either. As the belt became unbuckled, she slowly unfastened his pants and let them shimmy down his hips while she kept kissing them. She could see the bulge coming from his underwear. She smiled at him and dropped her shoulders letting her bra slide down her arms exposing her naked breasts. Now that she upped the ante, she stepped forward for another kiss letting her nipples touch his skin. As Kate slowly unbuckled his belt and unfastened his pants, a thought rushed through Will's mind that he had never had before. Through watching movies and, to a lesser extent, through his own experience Will knew that sex could be hard and fast, or slow and easy, or could start out slow and ramp up the speed, but it had never occurred to him before that the tempo could shift back and forth. Somehow, he now realized that there was a possibility that he had overlooked. As Kate stepped forward for another kiss letting her now-erect nipples touch his bare skin, Will slid his left hand around her upper back and with a hard push clamped their near-naked bodies tight to one another. At the same time he slammed his mouth onto hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth seeking fiercely for hers in return. Will managed to squeeze his right hand in between their torsos and fondle Kate's left breast roughly, his fingers massaging her hard nipple. Breaking his passionate kiss Will moved his lips to Kate's left ear and through short breaths whispered, "That was an appetizer", before releasing his grip on her body, making it possible for them to revert to their more deliberately paced lovemaking, assuming, of course, that that's what Kate still wanted to do. Kate took a step closer to him and smiled. Putting her hands on his pants that were unbuckled now, she hooked her thumbs to the waist band and let them shimmy off Will falling to the floor, leaving him like her with just underwear on... the back of her hand lightly grazed his bulge sending sparks throughout his body. The feel of her hand on his cock through his cotton material sent his bulge uncontrollably surging to come free." Let's talk about the main course then." Kate said Let's talk about the main course then. Will had thought that they could shift back and forth in speed. Now he wasn't so sure. Kate's hand grazing the bulge in his underwear hit him like a lightning bolt." Ok," Will said, holding Kate's body just inches from his. "Here's what I propose for our menu. In a half our or so, let's take all the time we need to explore each other's bodies. No rush, deliberate, sensuous love-making." He stopped, pulling back enough so that he could make full eye contact with Kate. As he had anticipated, Kate now wore a confused and somewhat pained look on her face. Grinning mischievously, Will continued, "Oh, and for right now, let's fuck each other's brains out until we both scream in ecstasy. Kate grinned with pleasure at Will's statement. She cupped his bulge through his underwear sending more sensations to his crotch. She could feel his hardness straining against the tight fabric. After lightly cupping and playing with his bulge, she wordlessly pulled the waistband down and let his manhood spring to life... When Kate cupped his bulge Will nearly screamed right there. "Shit", Will thought rapidly, "if I'm not careful, I'll cum before she gets my undies off." The antidote to that problem, Will knew, was to get Kate in a similar state as quickly as possible so that they could fuck and cum together. As soon as Kate touched his bulge, Will resumed his hard, passionate kissing with Kate. By the time she had her fingers on the waistband of his briefs, Will had his fingers on the straps of her thong. It took no time for him to slide the straps over her firm hips and ass, causing her thong to fall directly to her feet. Within seconds, they had both kicked of their underwear and were standing face-to-face, completely naked, with Will's hard, erect cock pressed firmly against Kate's lower abdomen, and Kate's rock-hard nipples cutting into Will's chest. In a sudden move, Will grabbed Kate's ass hard with both hands, pulling up hard, allowing Kate to straddle him with the long, great legs that he had been admiring for three days. In three steps he moved them to the edge of her big bed and toppled them over onto the waiting sheets. He knew what he wanted his next move on Kate to be, but the red-hot memory of Kate playing with the bulge in his briefs drove him temporarily in a slightly different tack. With what breath he could muster, Will gasped, "Touch me, Kate! And, I'll surely return the favor." Kate used her fingertips to lightly touch the cock head. Sending electric shocks of pleasure UPI his spine to his brain. Her fingers glided over onto his shaft which she lightly caressed until she could reach her hand over it almost closing her hand over the width. As soon as Kate started to move her hand, Will knew that she was complying with his request. He took no time in making good on his offer. As Kate's fingers began to touch, then envelope, his cock, Will found Kate's hard, wet clit with his fingers, stroking and rolling her clit between his fingers as he felt her hips push up against his hand. Will and Kate found a mutual rhythm quickly. Their gasps and moans, increasing with intensity, filled the Batman bedroom with the sounds of passionate lovemaking. Gathering what breath he had left to speak, Will gasped, "Kate....just tell me when you're ready to fuck...and...your house...lady's choice...your choice of position." Kate smiled at Will's words, her hand guided around his manhood, she gripped it a little tighter and started to jack him off in a pumping motion. She wanted him really hard when he entered her. She wanted to feel the veins popping out along the shaft and his unit filling her up."lay back" she said. Kate's hands pumping his cock was almost more than Will could bear. He had to clench his teeth between gasps of breath in order to keep from cumming. From the time that he and Kate had left the restaurant, and especially after entering her house, Will's cock had been fully erect, even when still wrapped up in his undies. Now with nothing to restrain it and with Kate's grip tightening as she pumped, his cock became rock hard, the head engorged and red, the shaft stiff with its veins seemingly ready to pop. Lay backfill suspected what Kate had in mind, and he was nearly crazy with the thought. He rolled over, looking up at Kate's beautiful body, now made even hotter by her obvious arousal. "OK", Will gasped as a smile creased his lips, "bring it on!" Kate smiled at Will's rock hard member pointed straight in the air." This is going to feel perfect." she said aloud. She straddled him and without another word began to ease her wet honeypot over his fat cock head. It hungrily clamped over him as she slowly slid down the shaft. Letting his cock invade every crevice of her tight womanhood that had been neglected since she came to town. She let out a sigh as she slowly shimmied down to the base This is going to feel perfect. If he hadn't had to continue to concentrate so hard on not cumming prematurely, Will would have laughed out loud. Talk about stating the obvious! And, of course, Kate was right. When Kate shimmied her tight womanhood down the shaft of Will's cock, a shiver vibrated through his body, nearly causing him to spasm. He knew that he couldn't last through much more; he hoped the same was true for Kate. Will had remained still as Kate positioned herself and began her shimmy, in order to allow her to get her positioning just right. When she got to the bottom of her descent Will had no option but to wait for her to start her upstroke before moving much himself. He drew his knees-up, planting his heels on the bed so that he could have leverage to buck back in response to Kate's moves. Laying his hands quickly on Kate's hips so that she couldn't immediately start an upstroke, Will managed to reply to Kate's comment, "It feels great already, Kate. When your ready start to move. Here's my promise: I'll fuck you as hard as you fuck me." That said, Will released his grip on Kate's hips and slid his hands firmly up her bare midriff, letting them land roughly on her swollen breasts. Kate loved that promise. She started to move on Will's cock. Slowly grinding down on him, she loved the way it inched into every crevice of her womanhood. She was hoping he enjoyed her tight love pocket. She put her head back when his hands went to her breasts... loving it. Will kept his promise. Kate had not slammed down on his cock; she was doing a slow grind, squeezing his engorged cock with her tight, wet pussy. Will responded in kind, moving his hips from side to side causing the head of his cock to slide around the walls of Kate's pussy in every direction. When Kate threw her head back as Will fondled her breasts with his hands, he could see instantly how much she was enjoying it. She wasn't alone; Will, himself, was in ecstasy. Although his promise was to match Kate's moves, it didn't preclude him from giving suggestions verbally or physically. Through his clenched teeth, Will panted, "Oh, yes, Kate! Yes.! And, anytime you want to speed up is fine with me!" Will punctuated his statement by thrusting his hips up just enough to bump his pelvis sharply into Kate's waiting crotch. The sharp bump put her into overdrive. "Oh fuck will!" she shouted. Speeding up her gyrations loving the fill of his cock inside her. "Fuck me good Will." Kate panted. Will didn't need any more encouragement; Kate had made her desires loud and clear. With his feet planted solidly on the very firm mattress of the Batman master bedroom, Will bucked up against Kate hard enough to lift her ass completely off of the bed. It took the two of them no time at all to find a perfect rhythm, Kate rising up and down on Will's cock as quickly as she could, Will slamming up to meet every one of her downstrokes. The bed, though sturdily constructed, began to creak and grown under their gyrations, but those sounds were drowned out by the increasing load moans from both of the lovers. Will's jaws were clenched so hard to keep from cumming, that his teeth hurt. Gasping through his clenched teeth, Will yelled out, "Kate! Kate! Say when, say when. I am ready!" Kate was so turned on, she was brimming with the focus of an oncoming orgasm." Will." she moaned, "I want you to come inside me."" I'm... so ... close" I'm... so ... close Will marshaled all of his strength and made one, huge lunge off the bed, driving his bulging cock deep into Kate's pussy, and exploding with more force than he could ever remember. A moan escaped his throat so loudly that the Batman's neighbor's dog began to bark. Spasm after spasm racked Adam's body, each spasm spurting hot cum into Kate's waiting love pocket. Spent, he collapsed on the bed, gasping for air, as a sense of pure ecstasy flooded his masculine body. Wills orgasm was all Kate needed to push her over the edge. She felt the beginning warmth emanate from her groin and spread over her like a slow fire as she began to come. She could feel Will discharging his load inside her. Spurt after spurt, feeling his cock throb inside and leaving streams of thick hot come in her. She loved it." Ohhh yes." she said. When the rocking motion stopped... she was also spent. Interlude When Kate finished her orgasm, Will reached up and pulled her down on top of him, their long bodies completely aligned. Neither of them spoke; they were both trying to gather their breaths after their shared physical exertion. After a few moments, Will gently rolled them over to lay side-by-side, slowly stroking Kate's back with his hands. Will remembered his earlier "menu" description that offered long, deliberate, sensuous love-making, preceding by quick, mind-rattling fucking as the first course. The first course wasn't as much of a "quickie" as Will had anticipated; that was fine with him. But, had their exuberant sex sated Kate's appetites? Kissing Kate softly on her cheeks and nose, Will spoke softly, "That was a wonderful first course, Kate, thank you. Did that fill you up, or are you still interested in a multi-course dinner? Kate looked down at Will's deposit still running down her legs... "Will that was amazing... I think we both pretty much decided this is not just a one time meeting hmm?" I think we both pretty much decided this is not just a one time meeting hmm? Kate's reply was music to Will's ears. What he wanted, and apparently so did Kate, was a reprise of some sort after he recharged. He had been so successful with "straight forward" that he decided to keep on that track." Good to hear it, Kate. We're on the same wavelength." Will took Kate's hand and rolled over on his back, needing a few minutes rest. He laughed as he spoke, "I need a some time to recharge, after which, I plan to resume fucking your brains out." Stopping to laugh some more and to quickly kiss Kate on her cheek, Will added, "unless, of course, you resume first." Before Kate could respond, Will continued, "So, while we're resting up, tell me this, Kate. From the time you came in to The Barn with Kurt until, say, when I picked you up at your parents' house earlier this evening, when did you first know that you wanted to have sex with me?

Expected Reunion_Unexpected Union (CLOSED for Celtic Godess)|rating:4.0

Trafficked (playfullchick76 & Paladincarvin)

Sitting in the back of the black minivan from JFK airport, Abigail Sinclair held back tears as she missed home, she missed home and her family so much. Until recently, she had been a free woman, a citizen of Australia. She was in the final year of a finance course at Take, and had flown to Sydney for a short break, a chance to leave behind a familiar routine. She had been seen by someone, who had called someone else, and her abduction had been arranged. She had been taken from her own hotel suite, and smuggled out of Sydney via a yacht, just like Tony Model when he fled drugs charges in Melbourne. The journey from Sydney to San Diego had taken quite a while, but she had no idea, as she had been kept drugged for most of it, not enough to damage her, but just enough to keep her weak, and unable to get help at any ports that they stopped at. She couldn't have told anyone what month it was when they docked at San Diego, just one more yacht among many, and she was told what was happening to her. She had been kidnapped, would be flown to New York, from there, she would do as she was told, and obey her new owners. The months that had passed meant that no one that would look for her knew where she was, and if she tried to get help, or attention in any way during the flight to JFK, a call would be placed to someone in Sydney, and her parents would be killed. After the drugs had been flushed from her system, she had showered, changed into a snug white minidress, thigh high stockings, heels, and been allowed to style her hair and apply a light coat of make up before she had been driven to the airport. Her hair had been dyed a blue color, and been trimmed at some point during her journey, to aid in altering her appearance. The inner turmoil that she had felt was incredible. Around so many people, yet, she couldn't tell them that she had been kidnapped, trafficked, she didn't dare, not when the two men with her had cell phones. She sat still during the five-hour flight from San Diego to JFK, and showed her new passport when she went through customs. It showed a different name, one that she may or may not be given from now on. Walking calmly through the airport, with both men ready to grab her if she tried anything, she got into the back of the minivan that had been waiting for her, and here she was, on her way to her unwilling new life in America. What would they want her to do, strip, dance, prostitute herself in her new home, what, she yearned to know. She had seen movies where this happened, like the movie Human Trafficking, or the series Matroska, but this was real, a nightmare that she would never wake up from, and now, she was very far from home. Lance liked what he saw in Abigail. She wasn't ugly, but she had no reason to believe that. He didn't know why, but he suspected it was years of some sort of abuse. Probably cruel girls at school. He didn't care though, he just liked that she didn't know what she had become because of it. Single, a failure in the romance department... he suspected she was a virgin, but not by choice. She was socially incompetent... she dressed how she liked, dyed her hair wild colors... but didn't know how to find the guys that liked that. And certainly didn't realize how easy it was to get men interested in spite of shortcoming. Most importantly, she said the magic words. "I would do anything to have a boyfriend'. Her posts online were supposed to be anonymous. She hid her face as she fished for compliments from the trolls and the basement dwellers online. But it wasn't difficult for him to figure out where she lived. She let her name slip through in a pic, and he found her on Facebook. Figuring out her vacation schedule was easy from there. Lance ran a successful business that seemed entirely legal. He made porn. "Give me a boyfriend!", a series of supposedly ordinary girls who can't get dates call up delivery people who they then pull into their house and let them have their way with them. It wasn't that successful in sales, but he stayed afloat easy enough. His male 'performers' actually paid to be in the show. As it turns out, there wasn't any law against that. His performers were selected through extensive screening and in fact could not get involved until Lance had extensive blackmail on them. The girls were all like Abigail... far from home, kidnapped and unknown to the viewer was that they had no choice in being a porn star. The black van drove out of NYC and on to the Jersey Turnpike. Later it drove off of that, onto roads surrounded by trees. It was shocking how fast the city disappeared. The traffic got lighter and lighter, and each road was smaller and less traveled. Eventually they turned off a two lane road to a gravel one that only was the width of the van. The trees were very tall, surrounding them as they went up a hill. A few driveways connected to this simple lane, but the houses were hard to see. Circling around a large hill a large, three-story house seemed to be the destination. From the outside it seemed like a normal, though expensive, residence.(an hour of searching, this was the best I found. I'm quitting the search. This will do, I hope.) In the red gravel driveway, near the garage stood Lance. A handsome enough guy, it seemed. He had short black hair, glasses and was clean cut. He couldn't be older than 30, but had to be at least 25. Furthermore, he wasn't ripped, and even 'toned' would be a stretch, but he wasn't a skeleton or fat, either. Furthermore, he wore jeans and a polo with the company logo 'Mighty Lance Studios' embroidered on it. Furthermore, he opened the door personally. "Abigail? Care to come with me?" He leads the way up some stairs to the floor above the garage... likely the main floor it would seem. He didn't watch her like a hawk... he trusted that she'd do what she needed to. Besides... a GPS tracker was in the panties she wore. Unless she planned to get naked, she'd never make it far. Seated in the van, between her two escorts, she sat still and watched as she was driven from the crowded airport. It felt like weeks, or even months since she had been kidnapped, but why America, was it because they wanted native English speakers, or they knew that no one would be looking for her here. She had always been unlucky in love because she didn't pretend to be someone that she wasn't. She didn't dress in the best clothes, look down on anyone, smoke or do drugs, and for that, she just wasn't one of the popular crowd in school. She was generally liked, but, no one saw her as girlfriend material, so, she went through high school without a date, or even to the end of year dance, probably because she had dyed her hair a fire red color. No one truly understood her, or saw what a gem she was, not even after school as she wasn't willing to become someone that she wasn't. No one had told her a thing, or even on the long van trip from the airport, through the city, and out of the city. Traffic thinned out, and no matter how she tried to figure out exactly where she was, every tree lined road looked alike. Soon enough, they were far from the city and out in the sticks. She still had no idea why they wanted her, but, it wasn't for her organs. If it was for that, they wouldn't have flown her to JFK. No, they wanted her for prostitution, or something like that, and out here, escape would be difficult without a good pair of running shoes. Her heels, or bare feet wouldst get her very far, she rationalized, and sat still during the journey here. Looking out the windscreen at the huge three-story houses that came into sight, their destination so it seemed, she hoped that her answers would be forthcoming, and soon. Once the van had stopped, the man closest to the door slid it open and got out to let her out. Nervously getting out, she teetered a bit in her heels and rubbed her bare, slender arms nervously. Gazing back at the man waiting for her, she didn't recognize the logo on the shirt, or the man. She had never seen him before, but he seemed to know her." Who are you, and why am I here, no ones told me anything, just tell me why you had me kidnapped," she asked him as she glanced around. No, she wouldn't get far, not now, so.she walked after him, walking up the stairs to the first floor of the three-story house. Why was she here, was here where she would strip for him, or prostitute herself for him.("Abigail, I'm here because I am a man that grants wishes. You weren't picked at random." He opened the large front door and inside it seemed... normal enough. But then the cameras were all over the place said otherwise. The entire first floor was a set of sorts. Normal seeming rooms... a family room with a couch, a kitchen with a breakfast nook, a living room with fine furniture. There were more rooms she was sure, but she couldn't see them." You'd do anything for a boyfriend. That's what you said. Not once or twice, at least forty-six times in the last eighteen months. You also mentioned how you'd do anything to be held... anything to be wanted... anything to feel sexy. I plan to give you all of that." He leads her up some stairs and into a what would seem to have been a bedroom. Inside however was a small but clean, well stocked doctor's office. It was quite an all-in-one... prepped for normal needs, but also gynecology and minor surgery. The room was empty when they entered. "I have clients who enjoy showing a girl like yourself, desperate and lonely, the things they only dream of. I just happen to record it all, and sell it to the right people... of course, sometimes the right man comes along and pays for more than giving a lesson, but wants the girl for himself. That's the nature of the game. The game you begged for." She could hardly believe what her eyes and ears were telling her. She had assumed that she hadn't been taken at random, as there were easier ways to get girls than to kidnap one and transport her halfway around the world to the final location. Tilting her chin up, she noticed the many cameras in here, then the rooms. The first floor looked like the set of a sitcom almost, and while there were probably more, she couldn't see them yet." Wait, I.look.this isn't want I meant. I wanted to feel sexy, to be held and wanted, that's true, but not like this. You.you've kidnapped me, this is like an episode of Matroska, but with Western girls," she said, still partly in shock as he leads her up to the second floor. Expecting to be lead into a bedroom, she froze at the open doorway, then slowly walked into a well stocked doctor's office, but, this one wasn't just for examinations. This one was for surgery as well, but surgery for what, what." I don't.you.oh gods, you want me to be your.star. You said girls, plural, you have others here, others that you've taken like this," she said, regretting her choice of words to him so many times. She had just wanted someone to see her for the jewel that she was, not lead someone to kidnap her and transport her like he had." So what is this, some.upgraded series of girls gone wild series," she added as she understood. Guys would come here, seeking a fantasy, and she would make it happen for them, or they would want to make her fantasies real. But.why show her this room, unless he planned to alter her appearance. "So.what are you going to do to me in here," she asked him, prevented from escape by the remoteness of this house, and his guards downstairs. What else would he do, and would she ever see home again, she thought as her alert eyes took in everything, not missing a thing as he explained things. "Right here?" A man said as he entered. He was dressed in a clean lab coat. He seemed almost out of a romance novel. "Just a check-up, first." He puts on some fresh rubber gloves and helped her on to the bench and sit. Things started simple... having her cough, checking her ears and reactions. "This is Dr. Love. No kidding, that is his real name. Crazy, huh? He's a full staff member... all he does is take care of the medical needs of the girls. This means he doesn't need to split his duties, and he doesn't have to worry about loosing his license... again." The doctor laughed as he measured her blood pressure. "Lance, don't scare the girl. I only lost my license because of what I did with that patient. I'm fully competent."" Lance, she looks in good health, other than a bit higher BMI... blah blah, but I know what you think when I tell you about that." Lance just gave a weak laugh. "Alright miss.... wait, what is her name now?" "Oh yes, I forgot. We can't have you going by your real name. You seem like a Caitlin. There are strict penalties for going by your old name, so get used to it Kate." Lance then stepped back with a nod to the doctor. "Alright miss Caitlin. You'll need to undress for the rest of the examination. Feet into the stirrups like your normal Gino exam." The two men looked at her... both almost clinical. Neither seemed to give a look of lust, but the pressure of the expectation to act on command was certainly there. Spinning around as she heard a new voice, she held her breath as a man, a doctor, she assumed, walked in and looked her over. He looked like a doctor from a mills and boon romance novel, and looked out of place in a place like this. She had assumed that any doctors here would be from outside the US, working strictly for the money, as they couldn't get legal work anywhere else, but this one, he looked right out of a soap opera as well to her. She didn't know what else to think, but submitted to him and let him help her up onto the bench. As she was no stranger to checkups, she coughed when he told her to, sat still as he checked her ears, then her reactions, including the rubber hammer to her knee. "Dr Love, seriously", she softly said, not believing that at all until he admitted it, with Lance explaining what Dr Love did here and talking freely, as if he was sure that she couldn't possibly escape to tell anyone else." Lose it, what did you lose it for, no, you'd better not tell me", she softly said to him, hoping that it wasn't for doing anything wrong with a scalpel, or misreading a dosage on a bottle of something. Taking quick breaths as the Doctor reported that she was in good health, perfect health actually, she lifted her chin up to tell him her name, but went silent as he renamed her Caitlin, or Kate, just like that, as if she had no say in the matter at all. She didn't want to forget about her name, but, he sounded serious about punishing her for going by her old name, and resigned herself to being called Kate or Caitlin for as long as she was here. Looking nervously at both men, she trusted Dr Love more, and submitted to him. Slipping her feet out of her heels, she unzipped the back of her snug minidress to slip out of it as well, along with her panties. Easing herself back, she put her feet into the stirrups, as if she was undergoing a Gino exam. She was only doing this to gain their trust, bide her time, she told herself, but.they expected her to obey them, especially Lance. Trying to calm herself, she lay back and close her eyes, expecting to feel his latex covered fingers or instruments against her folds at any second. Lance leaned against a counter, just out of sight... not without her craning her neck uncomfortably, at least." Why don't you call me Mike, if it makes you more comfortable." He took off his gloves, tossing them to the trash. "I feel certain at this point that you are clean. No reason for these gloves if we want to get more... familiar with each other." His smile was perfect... it was disarming. "That is why I lost my license. I liked to get... familiar with my patients. They liked it, but a nurse caught me with a patient. Well, two did... the first I convinced to get involved... the second wasn't so interested. But I've never made a real mistake, and I've never taken advantage of anyone." His hand moved to her cheek, caressing to her chin. His eyes were bright and seemed kind. "After all, it was mutual that we wanted the things we did." His thumb rested on her soft lower lip, pulling it down just slightly. He smiled beforehand moved down. He first gave her breasts an examination. His hands were actually warm, and while his actions were thorough, they were certainly sensual. He leaned back up and looked at her. "I need to check things... I have two options. I can use cold tools to pry you open... or I can use a more enjoyable method to help dilate your vaginal walls." Few had ever heard someone say something so clinical sound so seductive and delightfully filthy. Of course, Lance had... this wasn't the first check-up Dr. Love had performed for him. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, and opened her eyes as he spoke professionally to her, as if this was a normal examination, and that she was here by choice. His smile relaxed her, and told her that she could trust him. Listening carefully as he told her why he had lost his license, she knew that she could trust him with her. He just liked to caress and become affectionate with his patients, unprofessional behavior, and illegal out there, but here, Lance had probably hired him just for that reason, and that he was a good doctor. Relaxing even more as he pulled her lower lip down with his thumb, then moved his hands lower down to her breasts to examine them, for his own reasons, and to check for any lumps. Closing her eyes again as his hands felt warm, and good against her breasts, she moaned from how good he was making her feel, Indeed, he would never hurt her." I would.umm.could you.use the more.enjoyable method, please.could you," she asked him as he spoke words that were seductive and filthy at the same time. Lance had to be watching her, enjoying the show, and to keep her from running off. Not that she could during her examination, as his hands had caressed and examined enough women to know how to get her to relax and open up for him. "Thank you, you're.very kind', she added and let him do what he most wanted to do. "You will find that I'm not the only careful lover you will be exposed to. Lance is quite selective about who he allows in this little club of his." His hands slid over the curves of her form, down to her hips. He turned to a cabinet and squirted out some liquid from a pump. A casual observation would have figured the bottle to have been hand sanitizer, but as it got on his hands the smell of lavender and rose could be detected. It would seem to be a kind of oil. He walked back over to her and tipped his hand, the oil spilling forth on her most private of flesh, dripping through the hairs there, some slipping to the crevices between her hips and legs... some tickling her intimately. "You see, we aren't rapists... just rich individuals that want to have something a bit more... pure." He returned between her legs, his slick warm hands going up and down her legs, spreading the delightful oils over her skin. Constantly he was teasing to go just a bit further. It seemed so slow that each time seemed like an accident. "Women that can only really appreciate us for what we can do... how we can please. Women untainted by a lifetime of using sex to further their needs... a lifetime where sex has been a chore. A woman like yourself... wanting sex, to be touched, to be loved. Not for money, not to seal a marriage, not to have children..." He smiled at her, not needing to look to do what he was doing. The horror stories that she had visualized seemed to fade from her mind the more he talked calmly to her, to put her at ease. Likely he knew that calm girls who had nothing to fear would be better here, but she was still their prisoner. Laying back with her feet still in the stirrups, she watched him squirt some liquid onto his hands and thought that it was some kind of lubricant. The scent of lavender and rose, her favorite scents coming from his hands surprised her, then she remembered that she had been asked casually for her favorite flowers or scents, and she had told him that they were lavender and rose. This one had both scents, and put her at ease as well. Trembling and resting her hands as the scented oil landed on her sensitive folds, her most private part of her body, she only just held back a whimper as she liquid ran down between her thighs, even tickling her, to her surprise. Looking up at him curiously, she couldn't stop the next whimper that left her lips as he began to glide his hands along her thighs, rubbing the scented oil over her skin and into her pores as he calmly talked to her, telling her that this was a very high standard place, where only certain wealthy people could come to have their fantasies made real with the most sensual, glamorous, available women, who needed to be touched, loved, and made to feel special after years of not feeling any of those. Despite her best attempts, she failed to stop her body from responding to his skilled hands, and moaned as his touch relaxed her, arousing her and making her folds glisten and engorge. The same happened to her clit, and her nipples as the scents of lavender and rose filled the surrounding air, as well as covering her body. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't hate or fear the doctor as he completely put her at ease. "You've never been touched like this before. It's not just because it is rare that anyone who comes here has..." His hands take hold of her legs and finally begin to rub her outer labia. "You are so sensitive to the touch. You haven't been corrupted by the fumbling of a prepubescent boy... desiring to touch you just enough so you'd agree to have sex." He smiled as he continued, the warm oil sliding through her hair and working into her skin. "I am in charge of all the oils and lubricants used here as well. I make sure there is something nice for everyone. I actually concoct them myself. Furthermore, I went to a school where they taught the use of mortar and pestle. Furthermore, I grind the oils of the flowers out myself and add them to the oils and lubricants... only the best for my girls." His separated the folds with ease now, his thumb coming up to her engorged clitoris, rubbing it gently in a slow circle. "Now... I am going to need Lance's help for this. I am sure you are... not to happy with him, but you must know he hired me on purpose. He is not as good with words as I am... but we view the treatment of women exactly the same." Lance finally stepped back into view. "Mike... you make me sound like some gentlehearted ogre. He is right, Kate. I am not as cruel as I'm sure you are thinking. And I am a magnificent lover. But I hired Dr. Love because he was available and capable. I was fortunate that he was also so good with women." Lance took her right cheek in his left hand, turning her to face him." Tell you what, Caitlin." Dr. Love interjected. "If you are very good... I will kiss you. Any way.... anywhere... that you like." His words dripped with honey and his gaze aimed to pierce her heart... or at least her desires. She had begun to wonder if she would ever find a man to love her for who she was, who knew her needs, and cared enough to bring dreams to reality. But.few men came close, and a lot had been crude, crude enough to put her off. But she still wanted a boyfriend badly, someone to play her body like a precious instrument, who was gentle with her, caring, and saw inside her to see the real her. Dr Love was such a man, even without a medical license, he was gentle with her, didn't press her too much, and.those scents, they put her at ease and told her to trust him. Despite the full knowledge that both men would help to keep her captive here, Dr Love wasn't hurting her, and.neither would Lance. He would still keep her here, forcing her to work for him, being a men fantasy girl and making him a fortune. Why couldn't she have met him before, someone like him, she wondered, hating how fate could give a man such skills, and have him as one of her captors. As long as Dr Love was gliding his fingers along her moist folds, especially her engorged clit, she gasped and shook, moaning out her needs and lusts to both men. Closing her eyes, she focused on his voice, trying to focus on escape, but.she couldn't, not with that finger rubbing her clit." What.whatever you.need to.do.do it", she softly said, whimpering and shaking at the soft skilled touch, and opened her eyes to look up at Lance as he turned her head to face him. Her lips parted, and words that seemed alien to her came out, coming out unbidden. "I'll be good, I promise. I'll do anything you ask of me", she heard those words come from her lips as he saw into her, and seemed to know her desires, that no other man had ever seen, or been patient enough to see. As she shook, her breasts heaved up and down, and her glistening folds felt damper, responding and increasing her forbidden arousal. "I know you will be... I can tell you are a very good girl." Dr. Love was gentle in his speech... the same words could have been demeaning if said differently... or even commanding. His tone was reassuring... if anything, it would seem to put pressure on her to live up to his expectations. "While we do this next part, why don't you tell me where you want to be kissed." There was something so natural about his question... like it was a casual chit-chat your average doctor would ask to calm you down. Lance took off his shirt, which of cause the doctor to look up at him. "Lance, that's not very hygienic." "Oh? Says the doctor not wearing gloves." He was... normal. Lance was a normal looking guy. A bit hairy, but not gross. He wasn't athletic... he had a tiny bit of 'paunch', but he wasn't fat. Outside the situation it would seem like the type of guy she might find and fall in love with. Or at least people would expect her to. Lance squeezed out some oil for himself. Dr. Love continued to play with her clit, along with more intense labia play. Lance, now oiled, started to fondle her breasts. He was gentle in a way, like the doctor, but at the same time there was no guise of medicine. He was appreciating her breasts, her nipples... circling her areolae before tracing slick lines down her sides. His back was facing Caitlin as his hands slipped down her hips, through her hair and in between her legs. "Kate... has anyone ever told you that your pussy is wonderful? Well... no, of course they haven't. No one has seen it but maybe a doctor or two." Lance looked back, the dimple of his smile showing as he gazed at Caitlin. He was so confident and natural... it all seemed like what a boyfriend would do... playfully complementing her." We do have work to do, Lance." "Right." With that Lance now opened her wide. While he wasn't doing anything fancy, his fingers never stayed still. Not only did it feel good but his fingers never 'stuck' to her skin. Dr. Love got to work: first he shined a light in. "Let's see... Hymen is almost entirely intact. She's certainly never had sex... The new men you hired are clearly higher in standards." This was said to Lance, it seemed. "You are reacting wonderfully." His fingers probed... but his touch was more than medical. "No cysts, no diseases... no problems." He then moved to a tiny fridge and pulled out a foil packet. He opened it and retrieved a vinyl ring. "Now... I'm sure you aren't interested in having babies, and I'm not in this job to abort children. This is the ring, it will regulate your period and keep you from having babies. You won't feel it. If it falls out, put it back in... though I'm always here to help it back in, if you like." As slick and excited as she was, it went in without trouble. "Well... that part is all taken care of." She had had more than one exam like this, but.she wasn't doing this of her own free will, not at first. Now though, she didn't want to move. His calm words and tone kept her from moving, and put her at ease, also coaxing her into wanting to comply with what he wanted. Her breathing increased the more he caressed her engorged clit and labia, in a sweet, special way that sent shivers of arousal through her." Ohh. I.to be.kissed, I.my.my clit.and nape of my neck. Please, at those places. I feel so,well.only happened once, but.it felt so good," she said, admitting where she was most sensitive to kisses. Her voice became more breathy as Dr Love coaxed out more juices, with the lavender and rose scent filling the room to mingle with her own musky aroma, a scent that she would never forget, never." Gods. I.gods.ohh.how can.how", she tried to say, to ask him how he could make her feel so.special, as if he understood her. His hands felt just as good caressing her warm breasts, circling around her sensitive nipples and along her sides as well. "My.pussy.its.is that beautiful, you mean it", she softly cried, as he was the first man to ever say how beautiful and wonderful her pussy was, like he was her first boyfriend, true boyfriend. She felt willing with him, as he said all the right things to put her at ease, and get her to open up for him. Arching her back and only just holding back a moan deep in her throat as her moist folds were parted to show her inner pink walls, she kept her thighs parted, while Dr Love examined her pussy. She closed her eyes as he began his examination, talking as if he was giving her a regular exam, and not giving her one so that she could join the other girls here. She was sure that she didn't have any diseases, after all, she had never had sex before. Furthermore, she was also afraid, afraid that sex would hurt, and afraid that someone she didn't know would break her hymen, someone who had paid for her time, turning it not something.that wasn't special." Thank you, you have a very good, relaxing bedside manner," she replied with a grin, trusting him and even liking him. As he was the main doctor here, the girls had to trust him with everything, she realized. Keeping her eyes on the vinyl ring, she knew what that was, then looked away as it was their way of birth control, to keep any of the girls here from getting pregnant. She wanted to be a mother when she was ready, but certainly not here. "Thank you, I know you'll be gentle," she replied and gasped, feeling a special warmth flood her body as he eased the ring deep into her moist, slick pussy. What was happening to her, come on Kate, snap out of it, she thought, but.she couldn't. She couldn't escape without a plan, which she needed, and she couldn't deny that the doctors fingers relaxed her and made her feel good. "Ooh,I'm.thank you for.putting that in," she replied as she lay there. "Mike, I think at the same time would be a good reward. After all, she is being very good." Lance grinned playfully." How do I know? Experience. I've pleased hundreds of women. If there is one thing I know, it is that every one is unique in what they want. And once you know that, you can please any woman." The statement seemed brilliant and paradoxical all at once. "Though, I've only begun to master your desires." Lance turned to look in her eyes when she asked about her pussy. "Oh yes. It's quite lovely. Your hair is nice. I am always so disappointed when a girl comes here with it shaven. But more to the point... this..." he rubbed along a 'meaty' part of her lips, knowing it to likely be the part she was most self-conscience about, "This is unique to you, and is beautiful." It was a very 'supportive boyfriend' line... and if she suspected she said such things to all the girls, she would be right. But... it was never a lie." With the basics done, it is time for your reward." Dr. Love looked at her as he knelt down. He wasted no time in getting to work. This was finally the moment where he wasn't acting as a doctor. He was being the experienced lover he was. He had no shyness about her body. His tongue went to work on her lips, followed by suckles on her aroused clit. He followed by slipping his tongue carefully and deeply insider. He varied the pressures he used suck on her, and went from technique to the next. Each time doing something just long enough that she didn't get overstimulated. He knew patterns... and he had learned many of her peculiar 'hot spots' during the examination. Meanwhile, Lance was leaning over her. "You know... I've been wanting to kiss you ever since I saw your picture months ago. I'm happy I can do so now." He started at her lips... he didn't bother with tongue yet... he just controlled her with his small motions... the feeling... the pulls. The just slight bit of suction. He did this till when he left her lips she couldn't help but follow. Which is when he moved to her neck. Leaning in he played a bit... searching out the spot on her neck that would drive her wild. It didn't take long. He exploited it with brushing his lips, licks... then a slow, solid suction. He stopped right at the peak of her excitement... knowing that the good doctor wasn't about to stop. "It's okay... you deserve it. Don't hold back." Snap out of it, snap out of it, she mentally cried, even thinking of herself as Kate now. Unable to stop her sensitive body from responding to the doctors skilled touch, she lay back, silent as they talked freely in front of her. Looking from face to face as they talked, her mound glistened, and her breasts rose and fell from her earlier arousal. This was wrong, forbidden, forbidden, she thought, but couldn't will herself to move. Could he really know how to please every woman, she wondered? Was he that gifted, paying to have them kidnapped, then turning them into willing girls by giving them the pleasures that they had been denied for so long. My god, it's true, she thought, realizing that it was. She did suspect he said this to all the girls, but, it was a line that would have worked on almost any girl, and she had never had a lover before, or anyone who had made her feel this good. Alternating her focus on Lance, then Mike, she tensed up a bit as he lowered himself down to her glistening, sensitive pussy, and glided his tongue along her outer lips. Arching her back and moaning as that felt amazing, her bodies muscles all tensed up, then relaxed again as another moan and cry came from her lips. Turning her head to the left, then the right, she could only moan and cry out as his tongue sent waves of warmth through her hips, waves that she never wanted to stop. Parting her lips and crying out, she gazed up at Lance's face, looking down at her and lowering down to softly kiss her lips. Dimly registering his words as he told her how much he had wanted her since seeing her picture, her lips parted and returned his kisses. This is what she had been missing in her life, someone who saw what she wanted, was willing to give her a chance, and knew how to bring her to a climax like no other. Returning his kisses, she whimpered and lifted her chin up as he pulled back, an inch, then another inch, as if he was luring her out, to follow those lips that knew so much about her. Moaning and shaking against the Doctor's skilled tongue and lips, she lifted her head up, only to have his lips move to her neck, kissing along it until she let out a special gasp, one that told him he had hit the right spot." Ahh.gods, how,ahhh.gods.I've.ohh.mmm", she managed to say as the doctors lips and tongue didn't stop. Indeed, he only increased his speed, sending waves of pleasure through her body. Losing all track of time, she bucked against the chair and let out a scream as she climaxed. With both men kissing and licking her most sensitive spots, she screamed out her climax and lust. As she climaxed, her juices flowed out, with Mike's tongue collecting it and kissing her clit, which made her orgasm all the more intense. As she lay there, trembling and shaking all over, she couldn't think of anything but her climax, her first true climax. The doctor continued just slightly after her orgasm, but knew not to overdo it. As she thrashed against her stirrups, her body convulsing and her pussy glistening with a river of sensual oils and her own juices, he sat back and watched. Another accomplishment for him. It never mattered how many girls he managed to reach that level because of him, it was always something new. Of course, he knew that Lance was the mastermind, and had no desire to steal his thunder. After all, Dr. Love got exactly what he wanted; to see and hear the screams, moans and throws of passion. He would relieve his pleasure quietly as drips of the mixed liquids fell from the table to the floor. Lance... Lance wasn't done. His hand cupped her cheek as he leaned in and kissed her lips again. There was no holding back, but he knew she wouldn't be able to resist either. But he wanted her to see that this was his work. In truth, it arguably was. He knew when and how to use Mike. Mike never minded being used, of course... he got what he wanted. Lance slid both his arms around her, embracing and nuzzling into her neck. But he wanted the feel of her embrace as well. Gazing up weakly at Lance's face as he cupped her cheek to guide her into another passionate kiss, she couldn't stop her body from wanting this. She had never before found a man who just understood her like Lance did. Deep down, she knew that he was just doing what he had to do to get her to give in, to let him do what he wanted to do to her, alter her just enough, then put her to work here. At the same time, her body craved and needed a men skilled touch." This.this.is.ISS.ahh", she gasped and continued to kiss Lance, with Mike watching her juices, mixed with the oils, dripping onto the floor from her glistening, engorged pussy lips and clit. Unable to stop herself, her slender arms wrapped around him as he nuzzled into her neck, sending a warmth through her body and sating her in ways that she had never thought possible before. Keeping her arms around him, she held onto him, with her body telling her to give in, to let him kiss and caress her. She still had questions, so many questions, some that he could answer, and some that she would find out on her own, but for now, she was lost in the warmth from her orgasm. He let her orgasm run its course. He was there through it all. Kissing, nuzzling, teasing. It was her submission to this sensation that got him so excited. Once it had all run its course he leaned up. His look didn't change-he wasn't 'done' with her. In fact, a genuine bit of regret was there, not wanting to go. But, there were things to be done. Dr. Love, having came and quietly cleaned it up out of sight finally stood up at Lance's beckon. "I'm afraid there is some... surgery that must be done, dear." Love looked perfectly at ease, as if he hadn't just pleasured himself between her legs. "It is all very simple. Laser removal of a few moles and distinguishing features... and creation of a few new ones. To earn my keep, I've had to learn hair dying too. Specifically eyebrows and other not normally dyed areas. My technique will last three months, actually... it works on the root. We'll be making it seem like you are naturally a brunette." Dr. Love still had a good bedside manor. "We'll put you under for the whole process." Lance helped by getting the gas mask and putting it over her face. It didn't take love for it to take effect. When she woke up, she was in a dark room. It had a window, which let in a small amount of starlight. She was in a reasonable sized room. Not much could be seen... the bed she laid in was at least a Queen in size... but there was something there with her. A woman... a bit larger than Kate, but not by much. She was snoring softly... Kate had been redressed in some very comfy, pajama pants and an equally comfy, though revealing, camisole.... though it seemed no underwear was present. The girl was in the same, though her camisole had some image on it... looked video game related. She should be fighting this more, but the power of her orgasm distracted her so much that she couldn't focus enough on escape, or resistance, not when they had helped her to a screaming orgasm like that. Returning his kisses, she whimpered and trembled as he pulled back to look down at her again." Surgery, but.I'm.my moles.features", she managed to say, but couldn't move from the stirrups. She had been a blonde most of her life, and had never dyed her hair brunette before. No one looking for her would expect her to be a brunette, and even fewer could connect her with some girl on the internet, probably putting her down as one of many. She parted her lips to ask him questions, but closed her lips when he told her that he would put her under for the entire process. She didn't want to lose her moles or birthmarks, but before she could part her lips to plead with them not to, the gas mask was over her face. Breathing in the gas, she shook her head, fearing that the next time she saw herself in a mirror, a stranger would be looking back at her, but still passed out with both men watching her closely, to prevent her from getting up or from falling and hurting herself. Waking up, she opened her eyes and for a minute, had no idea where she was, then it came back to her. The kidnapping, flight here, the two men, the orgasms, then the gas mask. Sitting up on the queen size bed, she turned to gaze down at the woman laying next to her. She was Kate now, as far as anyone here was concerned, and the only name that she would be called. Resigned to that for now at least, she glided her fingers over the comfortable, low cut camisole and comfortable flannel material pajama pants. She didn't feel any underwear on underneath the pants, making her fear that she would never wear panties again, or was that just to encourage the two of them to.go for it. "Umm.hello," she said softly to the girl, and gently shook her, unsure if she had been freshly kidnapped like her, or had been here for a while, and had been chosen to sleep with her. Running her fingers through her hair, she caught sight of Green hairs around her fingers, and knew that she had green hair again for the first time in two years. The girl slowly woke. She came to with a smile. "Oh, are you the new girl? Yay!" The girl's arms wrapped around Kate in a warm hug. Her body was soft... and her breasts were... rather large... though clearly natural. "I've been waiting for a new roommate for so long..." She smiled. "My last one got married, and I've been so lonely. Oh, but the man was such a doll. It's a shame he's not coming back either..." it was hard to tell, but it seemed the girl was blushing. She certainly wasn't giving much moment for Kate to talk. "He would give us girls back massages... and he was a psychologist! He would always put us all at ease... and I'm such a sucker for glasses. I mean, when a guy pulls that off! But I'm getting ahead of myself. My name is Wren. And... don't worry, if you don't like girls... well, I won't do anything bad to you. I'm a good girl like that. I just have wanted a nighttime friend." She then seemed to realize she had quite a hold on Kate and then backed off a bit. "I get a bit excited at times... I'm very sorry." She took a deep breath and then started again. "So what's your name? I mean... the name you have now. I mean, they can't hear us in here... but there is are a few cameras." She pointed to a couple places... they were well hidden, and frankly she could be lying from what could be seen in the dark. "But no mics." She then took this air about her that was clearly an imitation of Lance... even with as little Kate had seen of him, it would be clear. "Ahem... 'You girls need to feel safe in your rooms. I like to look, but you girls should be friends, and not be scared to discuss your feelings and worries.' He-he, pretty good, huh?" The last thing she had been expecting was for the girl to wake up and throw her arms around her. Kate froze as the girl hugged her tightly, pressing her DD cups at least against her own breasts, something that hadn't happened to her before, nor would she have thought ever would."roommate, that's why I'm here," she said, and that was all she got out before Wren started to talk again. She talked nonstop, not giving Kate a chance to speak, and holding onto Kate the whole time. She could only listen as Wren went on about the man who had.married. Wren's last roommate. They got married, would a.client, want to marry her, she wondered, but wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, as Lance would make sure that she couldn't turn him in or reclaim her life if she was married off."It's ok. Wren. This is all very new to me, I'm still adjusting to what Lance and Mike has.planned for me. I'm Kate, that's the name he gave me," she told Wren, and turned her head to where the cameras were. So, Lance wasn't opposed to watching them, admiring their bodies, especially when his girls were affectionate with each other. "Cameras, but no mics, so he watches us, enjoying the show, but he doesn't listen in. Are you sure of that," she asked her, but couldn't hold back a laugh as Wren imitated Lance's voice perfectly." Yes, that's a pretty good imitation of his voice. "I haunt been with another girl.in that way, but. A bed companion would be good", she softly said, as she needed someone, and Wren was as good as anyone, as she was in the same position as Kate was here. "I guess I'm just scared. He.you know what he did to me, he probably did the same to you to get you here. What is it like here, truly," she asked Wren as she gazed back at her, her own breasts heaving underneath her low cut camisole, and the pajama pants tight on her hips and long legs. Wren had known she was bi before she was kidnapped... of course, like everyone Lance captured, they hadn't been touched by anyone, male or female, before he got to her. She had to fight not to look over her new roommate... but a friend was better than a lover... especially when lovers were so readily available." This is a nice place, it really is. Everyone makes you feel wanted and beautiful all day long. There is some force, at first... since we all were kinda reluctant at first... but once they teach you how great it is here, and how nice you are treated... well, you can just say no... and if the guys mistreat us, Lance punishes them. I don't know how, but I've never heard of a guy mistreating one of us more than once." She sighed endearingly. Lance wasn't a fake white knight, like the ones that were her only source of approval through the internet, back before she was taken. Lance made sure they were well protected, always. "I've never known him to lie, which is why I know there aren't mics in the room." She sighed longingly, "I wish Lance would marry me... but he said that he is never going to marry. It wouldn't be fair, he loves us all, he says. I suppose if I met a guy like Lance before he came along, I wouldn't be here."" But I guess you want some more concrete stuff about life here at the house. Um... well, our days start at 9, usually. Us, the seven... well, eight again with you... girls going about our chores. Nothing crazy... we can wear what we like from our closets. I like wearing the maid outfit... Lance loves that. Mostly it's a bit of cleaning, making breakfast for everyone... whatever you are good at. This isn't an army base, so it's not like the house has to be spotless. When we are done with that, we can do what we like till noon. If Lance, Mike, Nate or Keith wants some 'attention' from us, they let us know. They are the best... and after being with them, you can have the whole day off, if you like, no questions asked. Noon we make lunch... there may be a few other chores... but not often. We learn who is coming by that day and who is requesting who. We record our scene and anyone who has a scene is excused for the day. The guys that come in are usually pretty good, but they aren't as gentle as Lance and his boys. The girls left are responsible for cooking dinner and any remaining chores. Then we are free to do as we like again. And there are tons of stuff we can do! There are video games, and crafts, and books and stuff. There is even internet... it's monitored and restricted... but we can keep up on news and if we find things we like, we can ask Lance to get them for us. He usually will, but he likes play the game of 'earning' it... he-he... like he needs to pay me to do anything with him. But that's how I got this shirt. Umm... I do know, ah... Meredith I think it was... yes, it was... didn't want to one time, and he still got that book she wanted for her. I've been getting into making scarfs and selling them on Etsy! I don't really need the money, but it's so much fun." Wren was certainly bubbly.... and certainly excitable. As she talked her large, soft breasts shook. Wren truly was.unique, like no other girl she had met before. She had been here for a while, Kate could tell, but, she was used to being here, and even liked it here. Kate still missed the outside world, missed her family and the freedom that she was used to. Looking Wren over again, she felt safe as Wren spoke, telling her about what it was like here. This wasn't like how it happened in Eastern Europe, to other trafficked girls, no, they were treated well here, safe, with.clients.who didn't dare hurt them, treated them like the precious Jews that they were, and.lance was almost.like a man she could have married, if he hadn't had her kidnapped and flown here." No, I don't suppose that he would marry, why, when he's having so much fun here, with this.business", she softly said, and asked to hear more about what life here was like, what happened during the day, and when they were needed for.work. She had never worn a maids outfit, but.she thought it likely that Wren would talk her into wearing one, to turn them into surrogate sisters as much as possible."There's.more freedom than I thought. I'm glad that there aren't any mic's. I do want to be able to talk to you, without anyone else being able to hear. Furthermore, I'm glad you're here," she added. This was almost like a Sorority house, only there was no leaving it. Likely she would be a hit, being the new girl here, but if she wanted to survive, she would have to adapt until she was rescued, if that ever happened. She felt her folds warm up at the memories of how good Lance and Mike had made her feel, a sight that Wren didn't miss, as she smiled a knowing smile back at her. The internet was a surprise, but would likely have no chat software or email, no way to send out a message that way. There was no earning money, but she could get things by doing.favors, for Lance, something that her body told her she could live with." You make and sell scarves, that's.great," she said as Wren completely put her at ease here. She was friendly, excitable, bubbly, like a best friend should be. "Thank you, Wren, I'm glad you're here. I don't know if I would be without you," she added as she pulled Wren into a hug. Emotional as she was processing a lot, she held her tightly, then places gentle kisses against her cheek as something told her to do. As it felt right, she looked into Wrens eyes as they kissed, something that she never would have done before, but, she needed Wren. The more she kissed, the more passionate her kisses became, with her fingers caressing Wrens back, over her came top. Wren was quickly swept into the passion that was shown her. She happily let her lips be invaded, her body touched, held. She kissed back, moaning from the surprise of it as much as the wonderful feeling of the embrace. Wren was a giver when she was with a girl. Most of the girls, no matter how happy they might end up being with the situation they were in, were fairly independent. But the sex with the men was clear: the men were dominant, albeit loving and adoring dominance. None of the men were weak, or hoping to find a girl to take control. Most of the girls found this frustrating... sure, they could say no, or suggest things, but that wasn't the same as real control. Wren though never minded. She never wanted to have that control... She was happy to give that control, though. Furthermore, she loved to be the one that her friends could come and work their frustrations through. Since she was brought to the house, she has been lover to every girl that would take her, every time bubbly, excited, and utterly submissive." I uh.... I bet you want to try some things. You can do anything you like with me, Hun... just don't hurt me too much. I can help if you need it. I'll make you feel real good if you want." Her smile was far from perfect, yet it was genuine and sweet. In many ways she was saying what she'd say to one of her male lovers... and that would be clear to Kate. But it was equally clear that Wren had no motivation other than to make her new friend happy and welcome. She played with a loose bit of hair, blushing just slightly. She had never said so explicitly to anyone, or thought it in her head so clearly, but what she hoped to convey was 'I am yours to use... let me help you understand... let me help you cope...' The more she said to Wren, the more she found that she needed her. Wren was like a loving big sister, lover, and confidant in one, Kate realized as she offered herself to Kate. This was really happening, she was one of the porn stars here on this site. "If I.wore a maid outfit to help clean, would that get me.anything, do you think", she softly whispered to Wren and relaxed at her smile. That warm smile was practiced, but, she was being honest, she truly would submit to anything that Kate wanted to try." I want.need.your help to understand this place, to endure whatever I'm put through here," she whispered, and traced her fingers through her green locks, something that made her stand out, and altered her look enough so that no one online would connect her with a kidnapped girl from Sydney. Kissing Wrens soft lips again, she rubbed her breasts against Wrens, tensing up as her nipples rubbed against hers to warm her up.very nicely." Make me.help me to relax Wren.to.climax, please, would you," she whispered to Wren, as the sensual, submissive girl was the first true friend that she had made here. Tugging gently at her camisole, Kate placed soft kisses around her nipples, smiling at the sounds of pleasure that came from Wren's lips, then slipped her own camisole up with Wrens slender hands helping her. Laying back on the bed, she arched her back, offering her full breasts to Wren while her hand slipped under her pajama pants to tease her moist pussy. Without any panties, her pussy glistened up easily and quickly as she lay there, moaning and smiling as Wren did her best to pleasure her, as she had pleasured so many women before. Gods, her lips and tongue knew exactly what to do, she quickly thought between kisses, and moans of pure pleasure as her body was played like a musical instrument by Wren. "I think... I think you'd be so cute." She giggled a bit, whispering back. There was no doubt that cute to her also meant sexy. "You would be well liked. Things are good for those that are liked. This is a place where everything you do is recognised and appreciated... rewarded." She then began to look serious... at least as serious as someone can look with a smile. "I will help you with everything. I will be everything you need." Wren was a lover... not just physically... but she treated everyone like a girlfriend or boyfriend if they let her. As Wren's small brown nipples were teased by Kate's her toes curled. "I know what will help you be at ease, Hun." She knew what she was doing and wasn't nervous... but she was excited, breathing hard, her now bare chest rising and falling hard. Wren was an expert indeed. But it wasn't like Lance or Mike. She placed Kate's hand on the back of her head so she could direct her as she kissed the new girls nipples... and further everywhere. "Don't be afraid to show me where you want it." She knew she didn't have the experience to know where that was... Wren actually moved much like an Ouija board, making it seem like Kate was in control, but Wren was deciding most of what happened. She kissed everywhere, not just her breasts, but all over her chest, her belly, her sides, her hips, her legs... especially her inner thighs. She waited till Kate would pull her to the pussy though. Furthermore, she could smell though... besides being excited, a smell Wren loved, she smelled of the doctor's oils. It was a different scent than Wren's; magnolia, rum and peach, but she loved what Kate had. Every girl smelled different, thanks to Dr. Love, something that helped her remember all the girls she'd loved. Wren of course was dripping wet herself... her hand could barely leave her folds as she enjoyed the new intimacy. But she was going to tease herself to her new friend came. Then they would orgasm together. She had never been this intimate with a woman before, and wouldn't have if not for the fact that she had been trafficked here, teased, brought to a climax, then had her body subtly altered, and her hair dyed green. Wrens soft lips awoke something inside her, helping her to relax and take in what she was being told. Instead of being punished, or trained hard, she had Wren to help her, to coax out her sensual side, the side that kept this operation profitable, and growing in popularity. Of course, she didn't know all of this, but.she would soon enough. Parting her lips and moaning in lust as Wren kissed her sensitive, hard nipples, she tensed up and closed her eyes as her lips kissed at every sensitive spot on her body. Kate's hands guided her, but. Wren just seemed to know where to go, where to kiss, lick, caress, everything, and it was driving Kate wilder with lust and need. Grinding back against Wren's hips and thighs, she tugged at her pajama pants, sliding them down to show off her own moist folds, moist for a women sensitive touch, she dimly knew. Arching her back and moaning deep in her throat as she felt more and more need, her fingers gently held onto Wren's locks and guided her down to her glistening, aroused pussy. Her nostrils did pick up a new scent in the air, different from hers, and smiled up at Wren as it was another sweet scent, just like her own was, something unique and special to her." Mmm. Wren.please.please, help me to.to orgasm, and.help me to.to bring you to a climax as well, please Wren", she pleaded with her to. Wren was her special lover, her close friend, confidant, everything, and she was the most sensual woman that Kate had ever met. Wren laughed a little, "Honey, your pillow talk is so awkward." Her laugh was sweet and fun. "I love it though." Wren's bright eyes looked up for a moment, meeting Kate's. "And don't worry... I'm on the edge... I need your moans... please don't be quiet..." She blushed just ever so slightly, "You will give my such a wonderful climax if you do... so don't hold back." Saying that, she moved her lips back to her partner's mounds, and started with kissing... as well as rubbing. Wren had an almost cat-like habit of rubbing her cheeks on her partners. But then the licks started. They were long, slow and with a good amount of pressure. She didn't get her hands involved at first... she enjoyed toying with her 'mice'. Sometimes she giggled a bit... this was always so much fun to her. But then, without warning, the teasing suddenly stopped, and it all was much more intense. Wren's desire just overcame her and dug her face in deep so that she could really stick her tongue in, as well as really working her clit. It wasn't long before her hands were helping, spreading the folds wide... but as quickly one hand disappeared... "Oh... please.... cum..." She could hardly take it... but she would wait for her new friend to cum first. She knew this was going to be a wonderful orgasm, without a doubt. Only another woman truly understood a women body, and Wren knew enough of her body already to play her like the instrument that was her body. Smiling and whimpering as their eyes locked, Kate loved what she saw reflected in Wren's, and let out soft moans from her lips as Wren softly kissed and glided her fingertips against her sensitive, moist folds. Letting out her moans as anyone watching couldn't hear anything, she felt a warm feeling go through her, sweet and reassuring as Wren giggled as well, a cute sound that let her into Kate's heart." Ohhh.MMM.MMM.wren. Wren, yes,mmm, there, there", she gasped and moaned out, then let out a loud gasp and squeal as Wrens pink tongue was slid deep into her moist womanhood, so deep that her tongue nearly found her g-spot immediately. Curling her toes and keeping one hand on the back of Wrens head, while the other one was gripping the bedsheets, she let out moan after moan, and squeals of sweet pleasure as she loved Wren's gifted pink tongue, that was bringing her closer and closer to her orgasm." Oohh, I'm.ahhh.mmm.close, close," she repeated, and let out a scream as she suddenly bucked her hips from the intense orgasm that flooded her body and every nerve ending in her body. Wren practically squealed with delight when felt and herd her new friend reach her climax. It was a mere moment before she joined her. She was very loud; a trait she learned the men loved, but she found that it felt good to moan and scream. She shook as she continued to play with herself, her mounds of flesh shaking in waves... her round ass, her large breasts... Yet she didn't stop. She kept playing with herself, being so turned on... she wanted more orgasms. "K. Kate... help... if you... know..." She turned over on her back as her fingers worked away. Her thick thighs spread wide without reservation. "Please...?" In spite of her aroused state, it wasn't some kind of begging or desperate plea, nor a passive-aggressive command. She was actually asking politely. Crying and whimpering in pure pleasure as she climaxed for her sweet lover, she couldn't stop moaning and screaming, and she didn't want to. Letting it all out, she trembled and gripped the bedsheets, curling her toes as that climax, gods, it was one of the best and most intense that she had ever had, the best, she thought, and smiled as the warmth flooded her body, and didn't dissipate too quickly, no, she bit her lip and quivered as she wanted more, but Wren was just like her, she wanted her to climax as well." Mmm,Wren, I would.MMM. I will.for.for you", she softly cried, and turned around, tracing her fingers along Wren's sides, cupping and caressing her breasts, especially her sensitive, hard nipples. Making her way to her lovers sweet, moist, engorged pussy lips, she softly kissed them and glided her tongue along them, getting her worked up even as she politely asked for more. Taking in her sweet scent, she kissed and suckled on her clit, gently fingering her and slipping a finger, then a second inside her moist, warm, tight pussy. Slowly slipping them back and forth against her moist inner walls, she smiled at the moans and pleas, and focused on making Wren as happy as she was. "NNN.... AAH... y...yeses...." As she was probed and licked and touched and loved, Wren wiggled and shook, loving every second of the attention given to her. Her right hand petted and caressed Kate's hair while her dominate hand reached down and started touching her clit. She was starting to shake and convulse again... it wouldn't take long for her to reach her second, "Yes... yes... AA... aah... NNN... was... I s...SQL... Aachen. AAAHHH!" Before she could warn her, Kate was sprayed in the process of the intense orgasm. Wren's joints locked as her whole body shook... before cooling down. She was left feeling entirely spent and barely able to move. Eager and desperate to bring Wren, her friend and lover here, to the second orgasm that she craved and wanted so badly, she suckled and fingered her as she shook against her, nearly convulsing from the warm shocks that were going through her petite, sensual body. Suckling and tugging on her sweet, engorged folds while curling her fingers and stroking her g-spot, she was rewarded by her juices flowing and squirting from the force of it. Holding onto Wren's smooth thighs, she suckled hard and fast to make her orgasm that much more intense and special, then ran a tongue over her lips and smiled up at Wren's face even though she was spent and trembling from her powerful orgasm. Crawling along her side to lay down next to her, she lifted one leg and rested her thigh over Wren's, with her thigh so close to her warm, tingling pussy. "Mmm, I think you liked that Wren. Just let me know when you're ready for more," she whispered into her ear and gently massaged her closest breast. Even if they had been watched, which was unlikely, she wouldn't have minded, as Wren was everything she needed in a friend and lover. She was still panting as Kate crawled up her body. When asked if she liked it, she giggled playfully. "Honey... I loved it. Are you sure you haven't been at this for a while?" She laughed a bit more as she sighed in contentment. The bigger girl curled her new friend close in a loving snuggle. Which followed by a long, slow yawn. "Maybe tomorrow... that was really wonderful." She licked her face... something between an almost animal sign of friendship, and as recognition of appreciating that she was... well, hosed. "We need to sleep though. This isn't all fun and games here. It is mostly fun and games, but there are chores, you know." She gave her a long, sweet kiss. "Maybe you'll get your first client. Maybe the 'good doctor' will want to get to know you better..." She smiled and closed her eyes. 'Mmm, I've been at it with you, long enough to know that its.special, and very arousing," she whispered into Wren's ear as she settled down with her, resting and letting Wren recover after her hard climax. She had always known that only another woman truly understood a women body, and Wren had proved that, with Kate showing how fast she could learn and adapt to her new life here. Wrapping her smooth arms around Wren, she held her close and sighed as her new lovers tongue glided against her cheek and nose. She wasn't scared or put off, far from it, she was aroused by it, surprising her. "I know that we won't be doing this all the time. There are chores, with us as maids, I'm ready for that, and for our.clients, I know. Do they ask for two women at a time, threesomes", she softly asked her after their sweet, passionate kiss, one that left her warm and trembling." I'm ready for a client, or to clean with you in a maids outfit," she whispered, kissing along her jawline and earlobe. Wanting to give her new lover sweet dreams, she nibbled on Wren's ear and teased her closest nipple, smiling as Wren shook and whimpered with her eyes closed. The next day came and no one was called for any 'special tasks'. Chores were normal, and for the most part Lance seemed squirreled away with his staff. In fact, while he and the staff were spotted throughout the day, only Mike joined them for the meals. A very tall (and lanky) blonde named Heather was the only one who saw him much... considering her disappointment, it seemed it was only so that she could deliver his meals. Kate soon learned that this wasn't too abnormal when there was something good on the overnight video, and they were producing new content. Tricia, a black girl from South Africa, seemed to think it was her they were working on, mentioning quite openly that she had an intense session with large vibe overnight. Wren knew that it had to have been her and Kate they were working. She subtly let her know that was the case, but didn't let anyone else know. After all, Wren knew Kate was already getting a lot of attention. She met all the other six girls, and learned who were roommates. Tricia seemed to be the most... confident. She seemed to have taken to the attention very well. Her roommate was Beth, who was from Egypt. She was quite the opposite, and was very meek and quiet. Still, Beth smiled every time Kate looked her way. There was Heather, who was very awkward. She was over six feet tall, and wore her blonde hair quite short. It seemed she was from Utah in the States. Her roommate was Meredith, from Wales. Meredith was clearly very book smart, and had her nose in one any moment she wasn't working on chores. She was somewhat talkative if she was reading non-fiction, but when she was reading one of her fantasy novels, especially a romance fantasy novel, she couldn't be bothered with conversation. Sarah seemed to be the only girl who still had her natural hair. Actually, it seemed from what could be told that she hadn't been 'modified' at all. She seemed happy, though, if not a bit bossy. Something about her made her seem like a 'den leader'. If any of the hierarchy of the place extended to the girls themselves, it seemed she was in charge. And last was Sarah's roommate Gwen, from Alaska. She seemed the most on edge. She seemed upset about something, or a few things. But it wasn't clear if that was just her personality, or if she wasn't adjusting to her new life that well. Depending on who they were, their reaction was shy, talkative and even flirtatious (to the point of being a bit groped at one point). It wasn't till the next day that there was something 'to do'. Pretty early in the day, Lance requested her to meet him in his office. In there he was playing Borderlands 2 on a PlayStation 3. "Come in, sit with me. How have you been enjoying your time here? Make any friends?" If Wren was right, there was no doubt that he knew about one 'friendship'. Waking up the next morning, cuddled up with her roommate and lover, she smiled as she recognised the scent right away, Wren's. Still caressing her warm breast, she smiled and rose from the bed. Showering first, she changed into the maid outfit that was hanging up for her, complete with fishnets and black pumps, and got to work on the chores that they were assigned to do. In between chores, she got to know the other girls working here. If they were to do any films, it was either Wren or Tricia that she would film it with. Tricia was confident enough, as opposed to Beth, who was quieter, more shy. Determined to get to know them all, she made sure that she talked to every one of them. Sarah was the only one with her own hair, and stared at Kate's dyed green locks, which made her stand out. Sarah was more like the leader here, looking over the girls, especially Gwen, who was on edge. Kate wasn't sure what she could do for her, but did her best, holding her hand and talking to her. She would need all the friends she could get here, and wanted to help her. The next day, she was in her maids dress, doing her chores when she was asked to come to Lance's office. Nervous, she walked through to his office and knocked gently. Entering, she was surprised to see him playing a PlayStation game, Borderlands 2,if she was right. Walking up to him, her heels clicking as she sat down, she smoothed her skirts down and answered him." I have. I've made friends with Wren, and I think Sarah as well," she replied, as he had to know what herself and Wren had been doing every night in bed. He paused the game, smiling up at her. "Well... seemed I was right putting you with Wren. I saw it was quite a good idea. You'll have a fan following within 24 hours, I am sure." He then unpaused. "I enjoy the maid outfit, but today you get to learn some things. Learn to be a girlfriend. I think you'll find it fun. I need you to change into something from closet one." Indeed, there were a set of four closets, at the end was a curtain that hung from the ceiling... for changing privately, it seemed. "You can look in the other closets, but you must use closet one." Closet one was filled with normal clothes. It was sectioned and tagged by girl. She had her own section in it, as well as the others. In fact, her section had many outfits that resembled ones she'd worn back at home. The cuts were a bit more generous, but nothing outlandish. There was also eight small baskets full of bras and panties. There were sets of all sorts, though all were more cute than 'sexy'. No g-strings or thongs, no see through, no holes. All the closets were like this, it just got more extreme each time. Closet two was... sexy items. Long dresses with long slits for the leg, plunging neck lines, shirts that wouldn't cover a mid-drift and short shorts. The baskets in closet two held much more daring items of lingerie. Closet three was pure costumes, with her section containing costumes of three characters she had once said she wished she could be. There was a variety for the other girls... Wren had a Sailor Jupiter outfit, as well as Bayonet ta. Tricia had Storm and Wonder Woman. Beth had simple items... seemed to be a teacher and a nurse. Heather has a beautiful kimono and a Star Trek uniform. Meredith has a Belle costume as well as a something from Lord of the Rings. Sarah's collection was... well, large. It had at least half a dozen costumes. Gwen had a costume that seemed to be Top from Avatar the Last Air bender, as well as Power Girl. Gwen's costumes, like Kate's, still were in a plastic bag of sorts. Lastly was a closet filled with very sexy clothes. Undergarments that had holes in them, or where seen through, and rarely covered much. The actual clothes were little better. Some of the clothes seemed designed for bondage play with big D-Rings sewn in." Change into something comfortable and sit with me, alright?" "A fan following, I hope so to, I want to be the best girl that I can be here," she replied, already aware of the various closets. She had closets one and two set up, with the baskets, all prepped for her, with everything in her size. She had chosen the maid outfit because he would like it, and he had. But if he wanted her to wear something normal, like a girlfriend would wear for her boyfriend, then she would do that for him, and get her own fan following." Of course, I just thought that.okay, I'll be right back," she said softly and left the room. Walking through to her room, she took off her maid outfit and hung it up, and looked through closet one. Choosing a pair of white cotton bra and panties, a pair of white Capri pants and a snug blue tee, she changed into them, as they were what a girlfriend would wear when she was out, regular, but not too sexy at the same time. The maid costume was just one of a few sexy outfits she had, the other two was a sexy nurse and schoolgirl ones, to start off with, she assumed. She could add to that once she told them her fav shows. Returning to his office, she sat down with him, crossing her long legs as she sat on the edge of his desk.

Trafficked (playfullchick76 & Paladincarvin)|rating:2.0

Bright Shining Star [ Elandra _ Izu ]

The warmth of the morning sun felt amazing as it peaked above the horizon and made its way into the sky. From his comfortable chair, Jason could see his lover’s leg sprawled on the bed, the sheets wrapped around his firm buttocks as he snoozed. They had been up most of the night, talking, eating and fucking. One more night together and then they would need to return to their masculine worlds. He hated keeping the secret, but then both of them had careers to maintain. Jason returned to his laptop, he was writing the next installment of his military trilogy, Kill Target. This time, his sniper mercenary was on the hunt for the leader of Boko Haram, kill him and return the girls to their parents. At the moment his sniper was stalking through the jungles, knife in one hand, a gun in the other. His partner strode beside him, unlit cigar dangling from his lips, strings of bullets wrapped around his shoulders and down his tattooed chest. Jason Moon paused, he thought he heard his lover stir, watched as the man ten years his younger shifted in the bed. He had grabbed what had been Jason’s pillow and pulled it beneath his head. It was adorable. Saving, Jason placed the laptop on the small desk and stood. He was wearing a pair of boxer shorts with his lover’s baseball team imprinted on them. He stretched his lanky, fit body and approached the bed. Unconsciously he pushed his rimless glasses back onto the bridge of his nose, obscuring his pale blue eyes. They had snuck away from their lives, a getaway weekend under assumed names so they could be together. Jason knelt beside the bed and kissed the man on his forehead. ”Good morning, sleepyhead,” he whispered. It was comfortable. That bed was certainly comfortable. And Jason's pillow. But there was no Jason. Or at least so did his wandering hand concluded when it felt the empty half of the bed where Jason had been supposed to be. But Nathan didn't open his eyes just yet. He was tired. The season had started, and his days were filled with almost non-stop workouts and games. Today was actually the first day in maybe a month that he had managed to sleep in, or at least sleep late. Who would have thought that being in the Majors would be so exhausting? But he was the newest pitcher of the New York Mets, and he had to prove himself to his team, managers and fans, so he was working harder than ever. He shifted a little and made a small protesting noise when his lover kissed his forehead and greeted him softly. He didn't open his eyes just yet. Furthermore, he only moved one arm to wrap around Jason, his hand on the back of his neck, pulling him in bed with him. "Morning," he murmured sleepily, his lips pressed against the older man's shoulder. Finally, he managed to open one sleepy gray eye, glancing at Jason and then closing it again. "You said you won't be working this weekend," he whispered, almost whining. Their weekends together were a rarity, almost as rare as the few nights they spent together from time to time in the city. It had always been like this, but ever since he had made it to the Majors Nathan had felt like it wasn't enough. Maybe it was the stress, or just the craziness of his new life, but he was missing Jason worse and worse with every next separation. And seriously, if he had to be honest, he hated his damn sniper mercenary who kept stealing him away from him. And he did feel oddly pathetic for being jealous of a piece of imagination and literature. His arms tightened around Jason, and he hid his face in the other shoulder, tensing up as he whispered. "I missed you..." Jason rolled onto the bed, sliding downwards so they could see into each other’s eyes. He took a moment to kiss Nathan on those pouting lips as he wrapped his arms around the smaller man. ”Are you jealous of Dirk Hammer?” he whispered, speaking of his sniper. The name was over the top, but then that is what his readers were looking for, machismo.” There is no reason to be, he is completely hetero, not to mention a figment of my imagination, I love you Nathan, not him.” He kissed Nathan again, this time, more chastely as he rolled onto his side and up on his elbow. Running his fingers down the man’s pitching arm, Jason asked, ” What would you like to do today? I know you have to get back to training tomorrow and I have a deadline to meet.” Nathan leaned into the kiss, sighing softly when Jason pulled away, teasing him about being jealous of Dirk. "I'm not," he protested, his gray eyes looking into Jason's, unable to hide the truth. How wouldn't he be? That guy was the reason why Jason was often away or busy. They were lucky to be together once every few weeks while Dirk had Jason to himself for weeks. Still he settled a little when the older man kissed him again and told him that he loved him. He turned his head a little to look at his toned pitching arm - his left, as Jason caressed it. "MH... I wouldn't mind staying in bed with you all day and night long," he looked at Jason with bright grin. He was still quite young, so he wasn't particularly worried about overworking himself or completely exhausting himself, but truth was that he was close to his limits. He rolled on his side, letting one toned leg wrap over Jason, shifting closer so that his naked form was pressed against the man's thigh. Furthermore, he laughed, it was throaty and filled with mirth as the younger man lied about his jealousy and then followed it up with his wish to stay in bed. The truth was, Jason was worn out, being with a younger man did that to you, being with an athletic young man made it that much worse. Still, there was something about Nathan...his thoughts trailed off.” If that is what you want, my love, that is what you will get, an old man in bed,” he whispered, sliding his fingers down the man’s leg. Nathan had slept naked, they both had, even now he could feel the heat stirring between them. ”What would you like to do in bed?” he teased, rubbing along Nathan’s inner thigh with the back of his fingers.” Do you want breakfast first? I can order a bottle of champagne, we can have mimosas?” He knew Nathan was too young to drink, but that never stopped Jason from providing it every once in a while. "Don't laugh," Nathan scolded him, pouting for a moment before relaxing by Jason's side. He sighed and smiled slowly as his lover's fingers traveled up his inner thigh. "An old man in bed - just as I love it," he whispered, leaning in to kiss Jason's lips as the other teased him about what they could do in bed. Oh, he was sure there were quite a few things they could do, but at the same time he did know that Jason's stamina wasn't where his own was. Even though right now he was quite tired. And if he had to be honest - he was damn sore after all their activities from the previous night." Hm? Breakfast?" He repeated, pulling back a little as he thought about it, finally nodding and smiling. "Sure, I'm hungry. And mimosas sounds like fun," he grinned, leaning in to kiss Jason again, rolling on top of him. "Order coffee too," he pecked his lips and then rolled off him at the other side of the bed. "I'm going to wash up," he winked at his lover as he got out of bed. There were quite a few hickeys and other marks all over his lean fit body, still fresh from the previous night. He went to the bathroom and quickly did his morning ritual, including washing his face, a quick shave, and brushing his teeth. He returned after fifteen minutes, crawling back in bed and sprawling over it. "Do you want to go to the spa later?" He asked, turning to look at Jason. "A massage, some time in the sauna..." With heated passion, Jason returned the kisses. He ached for more, to touch and take his lover over and over again. As he thought about, he realized he just ached. Laughing at himself, he landed his feet upon the ground and padded over to the phone. He ordered. It was a lot of food, coffee, orange juice, strawberries and then there was the bacon Nathan loved so much. Sighing, he slipped on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. He was physically fit, not ripped like his lover, but he did run five to ten miles every other day and did weights. He kept his image up because it was what was expected as the author of an international assassin. Nathan was still in the bathroom when he heard the knock on the door. ”Room Service.” Jason walked to the door and opened it. On the other side, was a thirty-something Hispanic male, who glanced up as Jason pushed the door wide. ”Oh my god, your Jason Moon, I’ve read all your books. They are amazing.” The star struck man was stunned, Jason smiled. ”I am indeed. Nice to meet you,” he read the name tag, ”Jorge.”” I am sorry sir, I am just a big fan.” The man wheeled the cart in and set up the meal on the table. It was a banquet, and could easily feed an army or one baseball player. ”I won’t disturb you and your lady friend,” Jorge said as he backed out. Jason smiled, he signed the receipt and then handed the man a twenty dollar bill. He also handed him signed hotel postcard. “To Jorge, I hope you enjoy the next one. -Jason”” Thank you, Sir.” the man said and left. Jason exhaled the breath he did not realize he was holding and then called out, ” You can come out now. So long for their anonymous retreat... "I guess massages and saunas and such are out of the picture," Nathan said quietly, glancing at the closed door. They were in goddamn middle of nowhere. No one had been supposed to know who they were. And Jason had been recognized by the stupid room service guy. He couldn't help but make an unhappy face as he leaned against the headboard, glaring at the food as if it had been guilty for ruining their plans. It wasn't like his face wasn't well know, especially after he sighed the huge contract with Nike and became the face of their new campaign. But it was still in production, so in reality only Mets fans knew his face. For now. In a few weeks it was going to get even harder to meet with Jason outside their apartments. And even their apartments might not be all that safe, considering that paparazzi really had no sense of privacy. He wasn't even sure why he was getting so upset. He himself wasn't ready to get out of the closet. But he hated that they had to hide... He looked away and sighed, grabbing the blankets and pulling them over himself, quickly hiding under them. "Guess we can just sleep," he said quietly, the disappointment evident in his voice, his mood completely ruined. Jason watched as doom and gloom slipped into his lover’s mood and took over the room. The happy-go-lucky twenty-something was gone. Ah youth, so filled with angst. He remembered those days and was glad they were over. He stripped his shirt and stalked over to the bed. Furthermore, he was not going to have this precious time with Nathan ruined, not by a fan and certainly not by Nathan. He grabbed and pulled the blanket, sheets and everything from the bed. Leaving the baseball player nude and huddled against the headboard. The author’s heart skipped a beat, his cock throbbed. The man was gorgeous. ”Mummy, delicious,” he purred as crawled up the bed towards Nathan. He grabbed the means feet and pulled him towards the foot of the bed, spreading his legs and leaving Jason between them. Smiling upward, Jason languidly licked the man’s softened cock, rolling one of his testicles into his mouth and softly sucking on it. He allowed it to escape from his lips. ”There are better things to do than sleep, my love.” "Head!" Nathan protested when the blankets were pulled away from him, leaving his dark tresses a complete mess. He glared at Jason, but a moment later the glare was replaced by a gasp and a blush as he was pulled down, and his lover suddenly was between his legs. "Fuck..." He breathed out as he felt the older man's tongue over his cock, his heart quickening against his chest. Another moan escaped his throat as his testicle was sucked, his body shaking with pleasure as he started growing hard. He looked down at Jason, gasping quietly for air. It wasn't fair... The way Jason could affect him wasn't fair. And it wasn't like he could resist his lover when he did these things to him. He hadn't been a virgin when he had met Jason, but he had never been with anyone who made him feel like this. It wasn't just the sex, there was this connection between them that made it all simply mind-blowing. He guessed this was what love was..." I just wanted to spend time with you, away from everyone... What if that guys call the paparazzi?" He asked breathlessly, reaching down to stroke Jason's hair. He sat up a bit to pull the man up and kiss his lips. Sometimes he really hated that they were famous... or in the closet... Nathan was not his first, he was not a player, but he had had several dalliances when he was younger. That he had not been discovered was somewhat of a miracle. Sure there were the rumors of his college years, but he had been able to convince the world that it was young exploration. At the last premiere of the movie based on his novel, he had had the leading lady on his arm, they had been close. Nathan had been jealous, the squabble they had had could have been legendary. The makeup sex had been so. He released the man’s growing member and slid his way upwards when he was urged, resting his head on the man’s shoulder, one leg wrapped around the man. Being famous never bothered Jason, he found it inconvenient at times, but also a challenged, one that he had successfully navigated to get what he wanted. ”Life's not fair, young man. Is it really so bad that we will have the whole day alone together? I am sure we can find a masseuse to come to the room. If you are worried, we can massage each other and enjoy the luxuries of the room together.” He kissed Nathan again, not wanting to be without the man’s lips, his tongue sliding between them and exploring the other’s mouth. He pulled back, his breath labored, a smile playing across his lips. ”Jorge won’t report me being here. I got the sense he wanted me all to himself.” He saw the look in Nathan’s eyes. ”I know, another man wanting me, whatever shall we do.” Nathan's body arched up to seek contact with Jason's as they kissed, his muscles strong as he moved. Yeah, he guessed that they could spend the entire day in bed, together, he didn't really mind it. He actually loved the thought. But he couldn't help the fear that slipped into his heart of being revealed. Or of not being able just to go out hand in hand, enjoy dinner together, or a walk. He loved the sex, seriously, he was absolutely addicted to Jason, but there were just times when he needed something more. And then his lover had to joke about that guy having wanted him for himself. If anything could kill his mood it was his jealousy. He just glared at Jason as he dropped on the mattress, certainly not happy about it. He couldn't help it... Furthermore, he was terrified of Jason finding someone else, someone with whom it wouldn't be as complicated. Or just someone better, maturer. This was his first real relationship, the first time that he was actually so in love with the other man that he could see himself getting old with him, but... at the same time he was terrified that it wasn't really the same for Jason." That's not funny," he finally said, turning his head away to refuse any kisses that Jason might try to steal away from him. Sometimes he wondered if it brought some sort of satisfaction to Jason to make him jealous, to tease him about it. He pushed his lover off himself, actually using his strength to get him off, and he slid out of the bed, grabbing his briefs from where they had landed the previous night. He went to the tray with food and took a piece of bacon, chewing angrily at it, his back at Jason. Again with the angst. He did love Nathan, even the pouty temperamental one he was dealing with now. There were just times that Jason forgot the man was not the main character in a novel to be manipulated, pulled into different directions to see what would happen. Thrown off the baseball player, he landed with his funny bone knocking against the nightstand. He stifled the swear word that wanted desperately to escape and stared at the young man’s back. It rippled with anger. Jason’s cock throbbed, begged for release from the confines of his jeans.” Nathan, please come here. I am sorry to poke at your jealousy.” He stood and padded to the younger man, standing two feet behind him, waiting for him to turn back around. ”Please Nathan, I don’t want anyone but you, don’t you realize I am mad about you. Sometimes I worry you will find someone younger, more like you, but I am happy for the times we have. Please, let’s not fight now, when we only have a short time together.” "No, you're not sorry," Nathan almost shouted, throwing the piece of bacon that he was holding. It hit one of the glasses with orange juice and made it fall over. He turned, furious, his eyes burning with tears. "You keep on poking my jealousy, and I don't know what you're wanting to see," he breathed out, palms curled into fists by his side. "Me finding someone? Who says it - you're the one with a new fake lover every other week!" He looked away, shaking his head. With Jason's latest book turned into a movie the rumors about him and the lead actress had been all over the magazines." Do you want me to do the same to show you how it feels?" He asked angrily, tears threatening his eyes. He wasn't the playing around type of guy. There were hardly anything about him in the magazines or on the internet other than his game scores. In all honesty, he was a boring athlete who seemed too obsessed with the game to actually go out and have a wild night. Partially which was why Nike had chosen him to be their new face - he was really an exemplary young athlete." I don't want to fight... but I miss you so much, and I see you so rarely... and you find it freaking amusing to poke my jealousy and joke about it," he cried, cursing quietly as the tears starting down his face and he lifted a hand to wipe them. Great! Now he was crying! Alysa, the young actress’s name, had been on his arm for the premiere, and they had been caught on camera kissing. He had hated it these appearances, but it was expected of him. Before he had met Nathan, he had been known as a playboy, he was not one, but it was an image that had been built for the author of Kill Target. He watched as Nathan continued his tantrum, the glass spilling its contents upon the tray and ground. He chose not to make light of the situation, though he was thankful it was not the champagne that had spilled. Furthermore, he was done with the negativity between them, though. He closed the gap between him and the baseball player, wrapped his arms around him and held him, not allowing him to escape. They had wrestled before, they were closely matched, Jason had more height and skill, Nathan pure strength. ”Alysa means nothing to me, Nathan, we’ve only kissed in public. She asked me to be her escort so she did not have to deal with overzealous fanboys, be they actors or true fans. She trusts me to be the gentleman, and I’ve not proven her wrong.” He lifted Nathan’s chin and kissed each of the tears away as they spilled. He walked the man backwards and pinned him to the wall and kissed his lips. ”Do you want me to prove my love?” he whispered, sliding his hand along the flat of his stomach and breaching his shorts just barely, keeping his fingers against the waistband. Nathan did try to push him off again, but this time Jason was holding him more tightly and soon enough he found himself pinned against the wall. He kept glaring at his lover through tears as he was told that Alysa had been nothing. Yeah, maybe, but they had kissed in public. They had been out there together, while he was always closed in a room away from everyone's eyes... And he hated it." Agh... stop..." he protested, squirming a bit as he felt the other's fingers moving to the waistband of his briefs. "I don't want to have sex! I'm tired, I told you... I'm just so tired... Furthermore, I wanted to be with you and relax... but I didn't mean sex non-stop," he looked at Jason with burning face, tears clouding his eyes. He had been killing himself with training, his body was all sore, and the previous night hadn't helped much either. He had just wanted a quiet weekend somewhere with Jason to relax and rest... He whimpered out quietly, his head dropping until his forehead was resting on Jason's shoulder. "I just hate it that when I need you I can't have you... and instead you're somewhere out there with someone else..." The second he was told to stop, Jason removed his fingers. Unlike his athletic lover, he did not overexert himself when they were not together. He understood the need for rest, sort of. His cock protested, but he just told it to shush.” I am willing to go public if you are, you know that right? The only reason I don’t is that I don’t think people need to know everything about me. And my publicist would kill me, but I would do it for you.” Jason lifted Nathan’s chin again and gazed into those beautiful eyes. ”I would do anything for you, Nathan. I love you.” He stepped back allowing the other the space he might need. ”Sit down, I will prepare breakfast for you. We can sit on the porch, eat, sunbathe and if you want I can read to you. We can just relax.” Nathan looked at him with teary eyes when Jason told him that they could go public if he wanted to. That kind of knocked the air out of his lungs and he felt the room spinning. He couldn't... He wanted to... but he couldn't. It was going to kill his career. No matter what people were saying about homosexual acceptance, this wasn't so in the world of pro sport. Fans were going to tear him apart, his teammates were going to drive him out of the team... He slowly shook his head at the offer to go out at the porch. He couldn't - right now his mind was spiraling down to scenarios about paparazzi finding out that Jason was here, coming for him, finding out about them. Furthermore, he moved a trembling hand to rub his eyes, shaking his head again. "I want to stay in bed... pull the curtains, please," he murmured as he moved to the bed and crawled back in it. It hadn't been happening in the beginning of their relationship, but the past few months Nathan's anxiety was peaking up when it came to being found out. He had already got some medications for his nerves, explaining to the doctor that it was just newbies nerves about being on the team, but it wasn't only that. Jason granted Nathan’s wish. He closed the curtains and turned back towards his lover, sitting on the bed, afraid the world was going to turn against him. Jason cared less about being found out. He would lose readership, lots of it considering his macho story, but there were women who loved Dirk, and he was sure they would not mind if Jason was fucking men. Heck, they might enjoy it. He picked up a pair of flutes and poured the remaining orange juice in each of them, leaving them half full. He turned his attention to the cork, popping it and watching it fly across the room. Furthermore, he poured the bubbly into each of the glasses. Next, he made two plates, one filled with six pieces of bacon, some eggs, and a few pancakes. The second with fruit, two pieces of bacon and some eggs. He presented Nathan with his meal and grabbed his own and walked over. He grabbed a table and set it next to the bed so he could eat and watch Nathan. He hated the drugs, but he was not going to deny Nathan the need for medication. ”This rest of the day is yours to dictate. You tell me what you want and we will do it. Just promise me that I get to experience that lovely body one more time before we separate.” He made a gesture with his finger entering and exiting his ringed index finger and thumb in case he was not being clear with his words.” Now let’s toast. To us.” Nathan reached out to his bag that was laying on the ground near the bed. It took his fingers a few moments to find what he was looking for, but eventually he pulled out his pillbox. He didn't look at Jason as he took his pills - they were nothing serious really, mainly some herbal stuff that helped him with his nerves, but at the same time they were pills that he was taking due to stress... And he knew that Jason was aware of that fact, as well as that a huge part of Nathan's stress was related to their relationship." Thanks," he muttered as he accepted the mimosa, toasting the other's glass before he took a sip and downed his pills. He did shoot a glare at his lover when he made the fucking motion with his fingers. There was no need for that really... But he said nothing only took a piece of bacon and nibbled on it as he kept sipping on the drink. "If I can dictate the day... I want to stay in bed with you, and have you hold me," he looked at his lover. He was just craving to be close to him, to be with him, to be held by him. Separation often got them quite horny, and they often spent every awake moment fucking like rabbits, but he was feeling as if because of all the fucking their emotional bond was just disappearing. He did wonder if Jason was maybe with him only because he liked fucking him... He didn't eat much, but remained sitting up, looking at Jason. "When are we going to meet next? We have a week of at home games next week, and then we'll be two weeks on the road - Pittsburgh and Atlanta," he looked down at the glass. There was no question, Jason did enjoy fucking Nathan and would love nothing more than to spend every waking moment rutting like pigs in bed until both of them fell into an exhaustive sleep. The boy was intoxicating and Jason was addicted to him. He glanced across the table and watched as he took a pill from his precious box. He kept his features neutral, hiding his disgust from his lover. They had yelled, screamed, cried and had thoughtful conversations about stress release, in the end, they had agreed to disagree.” I will be more than happy to hold you all day, Nathan. We can just talk and cuddle,” he agreed to the terms. Unlike his lover, Jason was hungry, and he ate breakfast, clearing his plate before he answered any further questions. Satisfied, he moved the table aside and climbed into bed, jeans still hugging his hips.” I can route my book tour to Atlanta, do you think you can get away at the end of the series?” He would have to arrange it with his assistant, he called her his nag, Julie. She was amazing, a taskmistress and yet everything he needed to be done was done perfectly. She also knew about Nathan, she was the only one that knew their secret, she had helped facilitate several of their meetups. He let go of a quiet sigh. Three weeks. This mean that they were going to be able to meet in three weeks. He tried to hide the disappointment away from his face, but his eyes did get a bit round and sad. "Yeah, I should be able to get out at the end of the series," he murmured, putting his glass away and turning to crawl closer to his lover. "Do you think Julie will be able to arrange the re-route?" He asked as he moved against Jason's chest, his cheek resting on his shoulder. No one around Nathan knew about him and Jason. There was his manager, but outside of work environment they never really bothered with each other's businesses. As long as Nathan was doing well on the field, was on time for whatever photo shoots he got booked for, and kept his public appearance all perfect, there was really no need for him and Jeremy to meet. A few of his teammates had noticed that from time to time he would just disappear after a game instead of to go partying with them, but none really bothered to ask what was going on. And if his family found out... Well, they were going to disown him - that much he was sure, and he couldn't expect any less from his religious Irish father who was a policeman, and his priest brother... He was alone with his secrets. Nathan wore his disappointment on his face, it was plain to see. Jason said not a word about it. He, too, wanted to see Nathan earlier, but they were both professionals, lived their own lives. He took what he could get when he could get it. Wrapping an arm around Nathan, he kissed the top of his head and smiled. ”I am Julie can figure something out. She is good at her job. If you want, I can have her make your arrangements as well.” Jason did not have a family. He was a child of foster care, growing up in the system until the age of sixteen when he ran away for good. It was public knowledge. Gritty childhood, filled with drugs, petty theft and juvenile hall. He straightened up after meeting a teacher in Julie that found him and realized his potential. The man, David, was young and afterward Jason had moved in with him, they became lovers as he taught Jason to write. All of Jason’s books were dedicated to David, the man who had saved him. David had passed away almost tens years ago. Cancer. Nathan sighed and leaned into Jason's arms when the other kissed his head. He closed his eyes for a moment and then shook his head slowly. "No... it might not be a good idea to get her involved with me," he looked up at Jason, smiling a bit. People might notice that his schedule was being arranged by an outsider, and questions might arise. He wanted to avoid this for as long as possible." Have her arrange your stay, and you can text me the details," he leaned in placing a small kiss on his lover's lips. "I will manage to get out of our hotel, it's kind of easier to do it in the Majors - no roommates like in Triple A," he laughed quietly, taking in a deep breath and sighing. Sneaking around had been so hot in the beginning of their relationship, but now it was just stressful, especially with the media getting all hyped about him since he made his debut in the Majors. He sat up a little and then crawled over Jason, his fingers passing through hair. He was feeling restless. Their fight, thinking about the future, having to face the separation. He had a game in a couple of days, and he was quite sure his pitching was going to end up affected by his emotions. "Do you think you'll be able to see the last game in Atlanta? I'll be starting it," he knew that it was silly, but he always performed great when he knew that Jason was in the stands. Maybe he was trying to impress him, he wasn't sure. Jason returned the kissed, ever so lightly not wanting to cause the man to have another anxiety attack. Jason loved sex, and he missed it when Nathan was not around. They had tried phone sex once, it had been a disaster, and so he had stuck to masturbating, usually with the baseball game on, though he had not mentioned this to his ball player. Nathan climbed, and Jason grabbed him, steadying him on top of the author. “Stay, please.” He enjoyed the pressure of Nathan on his abdomen and pelvis. It was comforting. ”I will have her make the arrangements and I will send them to you,” he said, absently rubbing his fingers along Nathan’s outer thigh.” Of course, I will go to the game. I will find some seats behind home plate so you can see me every time you pitch,” he said. He reached and pulled the man down to his chest. ”Now do me a favor,” he breathed against the other lips, ”and kiss me.” Jason did not wait for a response, but instead kissed his lover passionately, sliding a hand behind his neck and holding him close. Nathan had no intentions of moving away, but he smiled when the other asked him to stay on top of him. It soothed down his restlessness a little bit, and he found himself relaxing, especially under Jason's tender touch. He had never really been one for touches or cuddles, but he had changed dramatically since they got together. He couldn't imagine living without being touched or held by his lover." No, not behind home plate," he shook his head, leaning in to kiss Jason's lips lightly. "To the left of home plate, so that when I'm trying to concentrate and calm down I'll be able to look at you," he had only a few brief seconds on the mound during which time he could afford to look up, and this was when he was gathering himself up before the pitch. And soon he was being kissed by the other, a smile on his lips as he leaned into it. He shifted a little so that he was settled straight on top of the other's groin, and he was able to kiss him deeper, hungrier, his elbows resting on the sides of Jason's head. He moaned quietly, breaking the kiss to gasp for air, his cheeks now burning with desire. "I love you," he whispered, emotion breaking a bit his voice. He really hoped that Jason believed him. He knew that he was hard to deal with at times, especially when the moods hit him, but he loved Jason more than anything in this world. More than baseball even. ”To the left of home plate then, anything for you,” he replied, moaning when Nathan moved downward and landed on his groin. Jason was hard and horny, having Jason on top of him was not helping matters. Despite being an author, Jason was not a man of words when it came to relationships. He just was not talkative and did not enjoy small talk. It caused no end of troubles when it came to promoting his thrillers and he was continuously chastised by his publicist to show off his ability to use words. To this end, he never said words he did not mean. Nathan could count the number of times Jason has told him he has loved him on his fingers.At this moment, cuddling and kissing, Jason could not resist. ”I love you too, Jason. I wish we were able to spend more time together and that our lives did not prevent us from being open about who we are to each other.” He had pulled back from Nathan’s lips so he could stare into the man’s eyes as he spoke, fingers touching Nathan’s cheeks as he spoke. And then the moment of seriousness was gone, ”Now are you going to take care of me or make me suffer longer with your ass so close to my cock?” Nathan's breath simply got caught in his throat when Jason told him he loved him. For a moment he felt as if it was only the two of them in the entire world, nothing else existed, nothing else mattered. And he felt his heart hurting as he thought about their secret relationship. It was no longer a fling, it wasn't an affair, it was a real relationship where he craved and needed Jason more than air, food or baseball. But the thought of being out... it made him shudder lightly, a bit of guilt passing through his eyes as he cuddled Jason's fingers, trying to breathe. But the other man broke the spell before Nathan had got the chance to completely go back down the depression path, his question making the younger man burst into a soft fit of giggles. "Mm," Nathan leaned in kissing Jason slowly as his firm round ass rubbed over his cock. "Make you suffer?" He suggested, giggling, finally having completely kicked his mood swing away." Why?" He almost sang as one hand gently stroked down Jason's chest, his fingers pausing and tenderly caressing just above the rim of underwear. "Doesn't your cock like my ass so close to it?" He asked, his fingers pushing past the elastic and slowly easing around his lover's erection. "I'd say it likes it..." he murmured, lips brushing over Jason's, stroking the hard cock, loving the silken sensation beneath his fingers. Jason writhed under Nathan's touched, he loved when the other made him wait, usually. This was not one of those times. He was desperate, it had been more than twelve hours and Nathan had been coy all morning. ”Oh my cock loves having your ass near it, that is the problem,” he purred, arching his back as he felt Nathan’s hand slip under the band of his boxers. He felt Nathan’s hand grasp him and stroke and that was it, he needed to be inside.” Okay, you asked for this,” he seized the younger man’s hand and pulled it from his pants. He reached up and pulled Nathan’s shorts down, smiling wickedly up at him.” Okay pretty young thing, let’s see those moves,” he teased, slipping his boxers down and urging Nathan to come down on him. Nathan smirked and leaned in to kiss his lover, his strong fingers stroking the other's hard cock. "Hey," he whined when his wrist was caught and his hand was pulled away, obviously not liking that the cock was no longer in his grasp. But the dissatisfaction quickly disappeared as the older man swiftly removed his shorts, soon followed by his own boxers. He grinned as he found himself pressing naked against Jason, his own cock having hardened a little, just by their kisses and small touches." Tss... do you think I'm so easy?" He asked in teasing tone when his lover told him to show him his moves. But he straddled him again, letting Jason's hard cock slide between the hard cheeks of his ass, moaning quietly as he bent over to kiss him." I want you to fuck me raw... fuck me until I scream... fuck me so that I'll feel you for days," he breathed out against Jason's lips. It wasn't really smart to get himself sore, but he really needed it right now. Jason kissed those delicate lips, moaned as he felt his cock rubbing against those hard cheeks. He always loved Nathan’s ass, hard muscle from all that exercise. He heard those words and smiled wickedly.” Are you sure? I don’t want to ruin any chance you have of throwing strikes from the mound,” he said, not waiting for an answer. He grabbed Nathan and flipped him so he was on the bottom. He kneeled between Nathan’s legs and grabbed his lithe waste. He was not gentle when he forced his way inside, pushing balls deep immediately. Using the leverage of being above him, he pounded him, reveling in the man writhing beneath him. He loved the feeling of being enveloped by those strong muscles. ”Oh man, you feel so good.” Nathan's low laugh was muffled by a yelp as he was flipped, suddenly pinned against the bed. Jason had still not fucked him hard enough to get him throwing strikes. "Hm... let's see if you can perform that well," he made a soft sound as he was pulled closer and his lover positioned himself between his legs." Ah, fuck..." He cried out, arching his back a little, as his lover started pushing inside him with no preparation other than what they had done the previous night. His insides burned, and he knew that he would be feeling that sweet burning sensation for days. It wasn't long before his moans filled the room, letting himself to the pleasure. Jason was feeling him up so good that his own cock bounced with each thrust, precut dripping from its tip, making a mess on his perfectly defined abs. "Jase!" He cried out in ecstasy as his lover started hitting that sweet spot inside him. Jason grunted and moaned, but did not relent. He was lost in the motion. Pushing completely inside before pulling almost completely out; plunging back inside. His eyes glazed over, and he found himself focusing on one small bead dripping from the tip of Nathan’s cock. He watched as he slid down that marvelously engorged member and fell upon those ripped abs. Each time he made sure to hit that sweet spot, he wanted to see Nathan come before him, but was so close to much teasing. So he cheated. He adjusted so that his stomach brushed against that bouncing cock, smiling mischievously as she saw the moment Nathan could not hold it any longer. Jason cried out and spilled his seed, pushing completely inside and loving how it felt as he slowly began to shrink inside. He collapsed on top, exhausted but satiated.” Amazing,” he mumbled. Nathan was close to his own edge as his lover made sure to hit him hard and deep with every thrust. And when Jason lowered himself so that he could rub against his cock, the younger male wrapped his arms around him, moaning against his lips. He came, his muscles contracting, milking around Jason's cock just as the other started coming inside him. And it was over. His heart was beating quickly against his chest as his lover dropped on top of him. His legs wrapped around him, keeping him inside, not caring that he would get even sorer. He loved the sensation of Jason's hot cum inside him, plugged there by his lover's cock. He fought for air, finding his favorite spot in the crook of Jason's neck and pressing a kiss there." I... love. You..." He breathed out, still trying to get control over his breathing or his heart. He was in the best form of his life, but Jason was capable to make him pant and shake as if he had run a marathon. Jason smiled when he heard those words, turning to face Nathan, kissing the tip of his nose. ”I love you too,” he whispered against the man’s flesh. His own breath ragged, his heart beat beginning to slow. He wrapped his arms around Nathan and held him close. Though it was clear that Jason would not be ready in an hour, let alone ten minutes, Jason still whispered, ”Ready to go again in a few minutes?” His words were spoken sleepily, and he had his goofy smile plastered against his lips. He was drained literally and figuratively. A tender smile spread over Nathan's lips when his lover told him that he loved him back. They exchanged those words so rarely that sometimes he feared that his feelings were actually unanswered. Jason was famous, older, more experienced, and while Nathan was now quite famous himself, he often felt like he lacked a lot, like he was not enough for his lover. He shifted a little until he was facing Jason, wrapping his arms around him, face in his shoulder, taking in the scent of Jason's skin, the smell of sex, it was all enough to get him semi-hard again. But he was young, his hormones were still wild, he was not going to push. He smiled, placing a kiss on the older man's neck when asked him if he would be ready to go again in a few minutes. "No... I'd need some rest... but I want to fuck me as many times as we can... I want to feel you while we're apart," he murmured, one leg pushing between Jason's legs, wanting to be glued to his lover." I'm sorry," he whispered after a while, just needing to apologize for his earlier freak out. He tightened his arms around Jason and swallowed hard. Jason pulled him closer, wrapping his well-muscled arms around Nathan and holding him closely, kissing him softly on the forehead, smiling. He rested his cheek on Nathan’s hair and cuddled, enjoying the man’s warmth.” Sex all day long, I am not sure if I can manage it, being old and all.” They both knew this to be a lie, despite his age, Jason was able to get it up often and if he wasn’t capable, he had no problems with fellatio or receiving. ”Your wish is my command. I don’t want you too sore, though, you do need to perform on the field.” Idly, he ran his fingers up and down the man’s back, rubbing those thick, corded muscles as he felt himself harden at the press of Nathan’s leg against his crotch. Jason rolled out from under Nathan and climbed onto his butt, his cock pressed against the cheeks. He smiled, ” Relax, baby, he whispered. He leaned down and began to massage Nathan in earnest; working each of those tense muscles slowly and thoroughly. Nathan made a soft grunting noise when his lover told him that he didn't want him to be sore on the field. He actually didn't care. Didn't care if he was going to be hurting or uncomfortable. He just wanted to have some sort of reminder of Jason on himself. He knew that just a day or two later he wouldn't feel much of it, if any, but at least during the first day, which was always the hardest, he was going to feel Jason's mark on him. He smiled when he suddenly found himself under his lover, pulling a couple of fluffy pillows to stuff them under his chin and chest to be a bit more comfortable. Furthermore, he could feel Jason's cock nicely pressed just against the crack of his firm cheeks. And he did get a moment to enjoy the thought of it there when Jason fingers dug into his back." Fuck," he cursed, tensing and relaxing under his lover, bucking up against him. He hadn't really realized that he was so tensed. His muscles were aching almost all the time recently, but considering that he was working out almost to his breaking point it wasn't a big surprise. He let go of a small hiss as he relaxed, taking in a few deep breaths, letting go of a quiet whimper, his skin reddening under the other's touch. Jason slowed his kneading not wanting to do any permanent damage to his lover. His intent was to relax him, allow him to enjoy the moment and to give himself some time to harden once again. If only he had some oil, seeing Nathan’s muscles slick beneath him would be exciting and fun, he thought as he worked along the lower back.” You know I could leave a bite mark on your back if you wanted something to remind you of me in the next few days. Every time your shirt rubbed against it, you could think of me giving it to you,” he said. He pressed his chest against his lover’s back, leaning over and kissing Nathan’s ear, his cock twitching between the man’s thighs. He nipped Nathan’s ear, ”Do you want to go out to dinner or something?” He knew it was risky for the two of them to be seen together, but he was sure they could pass it off as friends and not lovers. Or if they did it right, perhaps they could pass it off as running into each other. Nathan sighed and relaxed under Jason as his lover eased his massage and moved to work on his lower back. He smiled as the other leaned in, talking about leaving a bite mark on his back. "Mm, I'd love that..." He whispered, turning his head a little to glance at Jason through his sweeping eyelashes. "But I'd have to explain where I've found a chick with a mouth big enough to leave a mark like that," he chuckled, blushing a little. It wouldn't be the first time his teammates to joke about the marks he had on his body. But he didn't mind. He minded having to think of fake women that he had supposedly hooked up with... A small sound, close to a moan, escaped his throat when his ear was kissed, and he felt Jason's cock rub between his thighs. His own balls tightened a little, and he felt his cock waking up once again. He smiled and nuzzled his head towards Jason's lips as he nipped again on his ear, certainly loving that spot. "Dinner?" He repeated, slowly turning around to face Jason." Maybe... but... do you want instead to go to the lake? Have a picnic or something... tan a little bit, swim if it's not too cold," he felt his cheeks heating up. The lake was just outside the small town, he had seen it on his way here. The forest was all the way to the shore, but there were a few spots that could be used for a secluded picnic. Jason held himself over Nathan with his arms, hands flat on the sheets, feet on either side of the man’s calves. He was strong, his arms did not tremble with exertion as he stared down at his lover and listen to his counter-proposal. It was sound and made Jason smile. ”Picnic by the lake it is. I saw the hotel rents bicycles, we can take a few and ride down to the shore, find some secluded cove. Eat, skinny-dip, whatever.” He smiled selfishly, there was no doubt what he was thinking of doing at the lake. He pushed off the bed and reached for the phone on the nightstand, but not beforeaccidentallystroking Nathan’s cock lightly with his fingers. Furthermore, he sat down and dial the front desk.” Yes, this is room 412, is it possible to get a picnic dinner put together?” He paused. ”Uh huh. Sounds great. Yeah, let’s do that.” He was about to put the phone down when he remembered. ”Oh, I almost forgot, could we rent a pair of bicycles? Off-road. Okay, that would be great.” He hung up.” Looks like we have about an hour before the dinner will be ready, and the bikes will be chained near the back door, they will provide the keys with the picnic basic that will arrive at our door. So lover boy what would you like to do for an hour?” Nathan smiled brightly up at Jason as the other seemed to accept his suggestion. He grinned, nodding at the plan of eating, skinny-dipping and whatever. He was looking forward especially to the whatever, and he grinned at the thought of making love with Jason under the warm sun. Oh, or getting fucked in the water or whatever... He bit on his bottom lip in anticipation while Jason was on the phone, grinning happily as his lover finished talking with the front desk. He crawled up and moved to sit in Jason's lap. "Sounds good," he murmured, leaning in to kiss his lips lightly, that grin still on his face." Lover boy," he murmured and then chuckled. "Oh, I'd be so using it as my hero's name. Lover Boy comes to the rescue! Or just Lover Boy comes," he chuckled, shifting a little to straddle over Jason's lap, his arms loosely wrapped around his neck. He kissed Jason's lips lightly and pulled back again. "We can..." He leaned in and kissed Jason's chest, then up it towards his neck, nipping it lightly.

Bright Shining Star [ Elandra _ Izu ]|rating:4.0

And Then Along Came Jack closed for maleexecutive

IOC: Jessie, 5' 5", 115 lbs, long blond hair, crystal blue eyes, well-built, 25 years old.IC: Jessie was down on her luck; she had lost her job and her apartment and was living on the streets when a businessman had met her in a local dinner drinking a cup of coffee. That was all she could afford. She had the type of body that attracted men but did not like the thought of sex because of a near rape. The businessman approached her and bought her breakfast and asked if she would like to make one hundred dollars. She looked at him and asked who she had to kill. He laughed and bent forward and whispered in her ear. "A Blow Job, what’s that"He laughed and told her, she looked at him and thought for a bit weighing her options. "And you won’t touch me right". The businessman was surprised and told her he would not touch her. They went off to a motel. After the deed was done, the businessman gave her the money and told her she was a natural and that he had plenty of associates who could use her services as their wife’s didn't like to do that. She looked at him, "And there would be no sex right" He grinned and agreed to send her only men who wanted her specialty. She agreed to those terms and so started her new career. She was doing well as she made over $2,000 a month and was able to get a nice apartment in a nice area of town and did not have to worry about giving someone sex. Furthermore, she was content. Then one day Jack came into her life. He was partners with Keith, the man who had directed her to her present position. Jack operated the West Coast branch of the business and when he came into town Keith told him of Jessie and set up a meeting between them. The last thing Keith told Jack was remembered No Sex. Jessie sat on her couch waiting for Jack, Keith’s partner. She was dressed in sweats, which were her business clothing. The clothing did not disguise her fine figure as she thought it did, but it was comfortable for what she had to do. The doorbell rang, and she got up from the couch and walked to the door and opened it wide. She looked at the handsome well-built man with no expression on her face. “Your name, please”. 'Jack'... He replied.' Wow, you don't waste anytime getting down to business do you.' He said while assessing these girls assets. Jack scanned Jessie's selectively hidden body underneath these bulky articles. 'Mummy' he thought. 'Such a good-looking little girl.' 'She can't hide it from me.' he though as he silently continued to scan her body, watching it move from behind as she guides him over to the couch. Jessie point towards the couch like 'Sit right there.' was being said with just a finger point... Jack knew with the small frame, big tits and great blonde hair, this one was going to stay busy with non-stop clients. But there was something else, something... Jack just couldn't put his finger on it as sat down on the couch, with Jessie sitting across from him. Jessie looked at the man that she knew was Keith's partner, but he seems to be a cut above his partner. He was younger for one thing, and she knew she would have to make sure he knew the rules before they went a step further. She kept her face expressionless as she thought of how to be sure he didn't turn out to be one of the dangerous ones that expected more once they received her specialty. She looked him in the eyes as she recited her rules to him. "Keith should have told you that I do one thing and only one thing. I do it dressed as you see me and there will be no touching. You will Pay and leave, any future appointments will go through Keith, I don't expect to see you unless he calls and tells me you will need my services. Is that understood?" Strangely his piercing eyes made her uncomfortable as did his hard muscular body. He was all that she feared rolled up in one impressive male. She hoped she would be able to contain his obvious sexuality with her coldness, but a bit of a doubt filled her and a strange attraction aroused her which she quickly squashed. "So if you will remove your pants and take down your underwear, I will complete my service. 'First Jessie...'' Keith is MY BUSINESS PARTNER, I am not just a 'client'....' If you want to talk about rules, I will be making them with Keith, not you.' Jack was impressed by her tough demeanor but could sense a vulnerability that she wanted no one to see.'.... 'Secondly' Jack retorted, 'Would you like to make more money, while just having to do what you already do...and only that?'' With that quizzical look on your face... I'm guessing the answer is yes.'' Jessie Hun.... Keith and I can help you with that.' 'It's in our best business interest to see you be as successful with your talents as possible.'' Now....let me see exactly what I have to work with here.' 'Show me what has set you up in this nice apartment... I promise I will not lay a finger on you.' Jack's words trailed off with a growing stir in the front of his well pressed trousers. Her intake of breath was audible in the room as she looked at Jack. She had never had a man talk with such authority and do it nicely beside. She knew she had to preform the act, and it was apparent he was not sitting down. Furthermore, she watched him slowly undo his belt his eyes watching her for reaction, she knew that and kept her face expressionless as he seductively unzipped his fly. He let his expensive pants just fall to the ground. Julia's eyes widened when she saw the size of his cock as his briefs pressed against it. It appeared he was still at half mass, and he was already quite large. She assessed his height as she found herself feeling a strange kind of excitement. Her hands were trembling as she turned to the chair in the guise of getting a cushion to reach his mound. But actually it was to calm herself and to stay her shaken hands. When she was ready she turned with that expressionless face that and calmed hands and walked over to him. She threw the cushion in front of him and knelt. She did not notice her own breathing had increased as she was concentrating on her business. Furthermore, she did not look up at him; she never did look into the men's eyes that she serviced. She stroked Jack's cock and was amazed how it seemed to expand fully in the matter of seconds. He was a potent man just as she had suspected, one to be leery of that was for sure. She wet her lips and opened her mouth to take in the head of his cock. She began to munch on it as one would a strawberry with her lips as her tongue moved over his head. Furthermore, she moved around the whole circumference of it and could hear his groan and a shift to his body. Furthermore, she looked up and saw he had thrown back his head. Furthermore, she knew he was ready now for her to go to the next stage of her specialty. Her own her was pumping with excitement which surprised her for normally this did not happen. She pressed her tongue to his little slit and tasted his pre-cum. Oh, yes he was ready, more than ready and so was she. She opened her mouth wider and moved along his shaft using the flat of her tongue to lick his cock as her mouth made a suction action and her hand stroke where she knew she would not be able to reach because of his hugeness. She began moving back wrapping her tongue around his circumference amazed at how huge he really was. Her movement and actions were seamless as she moved down and then up his cock and his groans became louder. Jessie removed her mouth from his cock abruptly but continued to stroke his cock as she dipped her head and drew in one of his balls. She sucked on it gently and moved her tongue around it alternately and felt his body shift again. He was planting himself firmly to the floor. She figured she was weakening him in some way. She released the first ball and drew the second one into her mouth and sucked a bit harder. Furthermore, she felt his hand go to her head for a second before he seemed to remember the rules. Furthermore, she worked on his ball for a while before releasing it, clasping both hardened balls in one hand and then returned to his shaft with more speed and more suction. His groans were loud now as she worked down and back up his cock with speed that was remarkable. There was only one thing to do, and she was taking a chance that he would lose control, but she felt he could handle it even standing. She managed to take the length of his cock into her mouth, his head was down her throat and she swallowed gentle. His groan was louder than before as she returned to stroking the base of his cock and licking and sucking his cock with speed and with pressure. She felt his cock throbbing and knew it would not be long now as she looked up to see what he was doing, she saw his piercing eyes filled with lust, and strangely her body trembled as he locked and held her eyes as she was doing her work. "Ahhhhhhhh!" Jack loudly moaned, pushing the air out of his lungs....as he looked down seeing his cock deep in Jessie's mouth with her hands squeezing his balls and stroking his shaft. He agonized secretly that he couldn't grab a fistful of hair on the back of her head and control the pace while fucking her sweet and glorious mouth. Jack stayed locked on her eyes, as she now didn't turn away, staring straight back at him. Jack continued to see the shaft of his cock go deeper and deeper into her mouth on each 'down' stroke of her fist and mouth. He could feel the building from within knowing that it was almost time... His breath and moaning, the sound of her lips/suction and the stroking of her hand was all that could be heard in that room. He felt his cock starting to swell....knowing he was going to come and come in buckets. He watched, looking down as the smooth muscles of his stomach, hips and defined thighs pumped forward violently toward her small but luscious mouth, keeping her locked in a trance with his eyes... Jack didn't want her to control the outcome of this 'meeting' and started to pull his cock away from Jessie, not wanting to come in her mouth. She would have none of it, as she put her free hand on one of the cheeks of his ass, feeling the muscles tense and release as she worked him into her mouth with the fist of her other hand gripping his thick shaft which was ready to explode. She gripped his muscular ass and pulled him deeper into her mouth feeling her throat open and accommodate his huge swollen head. Jessie held Jack tightly as his cock exploded, he had thought he would get away from her, but she knew from experience men were at their most vulnerable as their climaxes came, at least during this kind of specialty. Strangely she felt a burst of power as she swallowed the cum of this powerful man. She had no doubt he was powerful because of the way he had controlled her in her own home. She would make sure this was their last encounter. Furthermore, she made sure she did not lose a drop of his sperm; she stayed with him even as he collapsed on the couch. Furthermore, she licked him clean being careful not to press too hard on his cock's head as she knew that was very sensitive and could cause anger to erupt in some men. Furthermore, she watched as he huge cock shrank mostly out of curiosity. When it was fully drained and soft, she was amazed how big it was. His head rested on the back of the couch as he breathed heavily, his eyes closed. She had done her job well. She stood up gracefully, noticing that her hands were shaking as she picked up the cushion and placed it on the chair. Furthermore, she looked at him once more before she went into the bathroom to clean up. She relieved herself feeling a strange tingling sensation at her sex. Furthermore, she was wet and gooey between her legs. Furthermore, she did not understand this as she never got excited during these exchanges. As she cleaned her private area she vowed she would never service him again. Strangely his taste was much different from most men, not so harsh and bitter. She had read somewhere that a man's taste varies according to their diet. Jessie decided he must have a good diet and began to rinse her mouth and brush her teeth. She found she did not have to use the mouth wash as she washed her hands and returned to the living room. Jack was fully dressed when she came out of the bathroom. His eyes traveled her body for a moment and she frowned. It looked as if he could see under her clothing and she did not like that one bit. She moved to the over stuff chair across from him and sat down. She concentrated hard to get that expressionless look to her face. It was hard to do because his intense eyes tried to pick apart her defenses. She sat looking at him for a moment trying to figure out how to get him out of her house without sounding rude. She decided on a course of action and looked at her watch. "I will have to ask you to leave as I have another client". If she was lucky, Keith would not have told him that he had cleared her time just to take care of him. "There's much to talk about Jessie." Jack said smiling, as he looked and caught glimpses of her very small and sexy shape under the sweatier, noticing larger breasts than he first thought. "I know that Keith cleared your schedule for me this afternoon, but I still need to make another appointment so you'll have some free time on your hands to think about the possibilities." Jack threw his jacket over his arm and went to the door. Turning around he said, "Our next meeting you will find to be dramatically different." "Have a good rest of the day Jessie." "I know that I sure will." The door closed behind him. When he drove off in his car he called Keith. "Keith, next time with Jessie will be at my beach house, when I get back from my meeting in Miami." "Have your secretary make arrangements for her travel and back." "Good." "I'll talk to you in a few days." Hanging up as he sped off down the block in his black Mercedes. Jessie looked at Jack expressionlessly as he smiled, she wondered why. "There's much to talk about Jessie." His words broke her expressionless face as she frowned looking at him questioningly. I know that Keith cleared your schedule for me this afternoon, but I still need to make another appointment so you'll have some free time on your hands to think about the possibilities." She watched him grab his jacket and walk to the door then turn and deliver another bombshell. "Our next meeting you will find to be dramatically different." "Have a good rest of the day Jessie." "I know that I sure will." Her face crumpled as he quickly closed the door and left the building. She ran to the window and saw him get into his car and drive off. He had not even given her time to say she would not meet with him. The week was long as Keith sent her no clients, and she wondered why. When he called she was ready to ask him why, but he gave her no time to speak. Jessie, honey, we are all going to Jack's beach house. Now today is Wednesday, I want you to be up and ready to go shopping tomorrow around nine. Your clothing to say the least, Jessie is out of date. The shop I am sending you to has my instructions. Then you will go to my health club and be pampered the rest of the day and then the driver will bring you here to stay the night with the things I have ordered, and we leave bright and early on Friday. When he paused Jessie chimed in "I do not want to go to Jack's house, he did not even pay for my services". Keith started talking again. "That’s my fault Jessie, I was supposed to pay you and clean forgot. Jessie, let me be blunt, Jack is very important to me, he is my partner, he wants you at this party, if you don’t come, I will be force to cut you loose. No more safe clients, do you want to be picking up strangers on the street". Jessie was crushed that Keith would do this to her. She did not want to lose her home and the nice quiet life she had. "I don't know how to swim". Keith laughed, don't worry about it Jessie, see you tomorrow. The phone made a gentle click in her ear. She stood there for quite a while shocked at the turn of events. She realized that was why she had no clients so that Keith could show her how it would be without his help. Furthermore, she put the phone down and sat on the couch with her face in her hands. Her mind was spinning as she realized she would see Jack again. A little piece of her liked that idea. She went to bed and tossed and turned until exhaustion took her down. Jessie woke to a persistent knock at her door. She jumped up knowing she had overslept and hurried to the door, put the chain on and opened the door. "Jessie Albright" She nodded her head dumb founded by the sight of a uniformed driver. "I am here to drive you around Miss. I will be waiting in the car in front of your house" He tipped his hat and went down the hall as Jessie shut the door and hurried to get dressed. On went her sweats as she pulled back her hair into a ponytail and raced down the hall, down the stairs and out the door. In front of her house was a limo, she stopped dead in her tracks as the driver got out and held the door open for her. She hardly remembered the ride as her mind raced, and before she knew what was happening she was at an exclusive clothing store. The driver walked her into the store. "This is Jessie Albright, I believe you have your order". He turned and left as Jessie watched him. The saleslady if that was what she was taken her to a dressing room and helped her to disrobe. "My you have a wonderful figure" The obvious disapproval of her clothing was not spoken as she measured Jessie from head to foot. Then came the endless stream of dresses, shorts, slacks, blouses, jackets, sweaters and even tank tops. The saleslady made all the decisions as Jessie was too stunned to even think. She felt positively naked in every thing she tried on. Finally, the action stopped while the saleslady checked off all that was ordered. "Oh the bathing suit". She looked at Jessie and ordered several different styles all two piece while she fought with Jessie to take off her underwear and bra. Soon she was standing naked in front of the mirror as the woman helped her into an endless stream of bikinis that she swore she would never wear. Finally, she was let alone to dress. The sales lady completed the order with underwear, bras and lingerie, all sexy all sees through, all things she knew the young lady would oppose. She added a few garter belts and some shear nylons. As Jessie came out of the dressing room she saw four suitcases going out the door and the driver waiting for her. "I will take you to the health spa now, Miss Albright, they expect you. Jessie nodded her head and got into the car and the driver shut the door. She looked for the suitcases, but they weren't in the car. The next thing she knew she was at the health spa and a woman was undressing her and putting her in a whirlpool. Strangely the waters relaxed her almost to the point of sleep. After that there was massage, facial, pedicure, manicure, and a wash and comb out and finally a woman dressing her in one of her new outfits, a dark blue, light blue blouse and dark blue pumps. She hardly recognized herself as she looked into the mirror. The driver appeared beside her. "Very lovely Miss, shall we go to Mr. Roberts house now. She nodded as he helped her into the car and drove to an expensive suburb. As he stopped the car, she looked at the house that looked like a mansion. He walked with her to the door and ushered her in. Keith came out of a room smiling broadly as he grasped her hands and held her hands raising them so he could look at her. "Beautiful, I knew you were beautiful, I don't know why you hid yourself in those sweats. We will keep your suitcases in the trunk; my wife has a nightgown you can wear tonight". He took her to a dining room and introduced his wife who was very friendly, and they sat and ate, and she even chatted a bit. After dinner, she was shown to a room. She picked up a seductive gown and shook her head. It was the only thing to wear so she took it to the bathroom on the side of the bedroom and took off the suit and slipped into the gown. Looking into the mirror she blushed as she could see her body through the material. Turning off the light she went to bed and fell asleep immediately. Next morning a maid woke her up and insisted on helping her dress. On went the blue suit again. The morning was a blur as she ate and was ushered into the limo with Keith and his wife. It was a long ride but to Jessie it did not take long enough. As they arrived, Keith ushered her and his wife to a huge pool house and suggested she put on her suit which was in the dressing room. She shook her head no as she noticed everyone was looking at the pool. When she turned her head, Jack raised out of the water. He looked like a Greek god with his clothing off. His body was muscular and toned and Jessie could not help but run her eyes over his body. He wore a blue pair of trunks and the two just stared at each other for a while. Then he walked over to Jessie with a smile on his face. Her breathing increased as she bit her lower lip somehow feeling bare and exposed to his eyes. "Jessie, you look outstanding..." Jack said as he approached her. "It's about damn time we got you out of those sweat clothes." Jack looked toward Keith... "Keith? Great work." Jack turned back towards Jessie with his eyes exploring her. "You are actually a very shapely and attractive woman when you try to be. No?" Jessie seemed to get red and look down as Jack continued to survey her body. "Keith says that you don't swim." "That's ok, for now, but you are going to learn to do a lot of things you aren't very familiar with." "Now get changed into something a bit more comfortable and relax. There's food and drink- as much or as little as you would like." "Just make sure you relax and enjoy." "We'll spend some time together in a little while." Jack winking at her and leaning in and kissing her gently on the cheek. He then turned and jumped back in the pool with a number of other people. As he came up from the water he looked again at Jessie...locking onto her eyes like when they were together in her apartment. Jack smiled as he smoothed his hair back on his head.... Jessie could feel her heart speed up as Jack approached her. A smile appeared on her face. "Jessie, you look outstanding...". The smile froze on her face as he went on. "It's about damn time we got you out of those sweat clothes." When he turned to Keith she thought he would finally stop. "Keith? Great work." The smile dropped from her face and frown appeared. Those three words spoke volumes to her as she realized she was set up. She was taken off balance as his eyes flowed over her body. "Keith says that you don't swim." "That's ok, for now, but you are going to learn to do a lot of things you aren't very familiar with." So many emotions flowed through her as he told her outright she was going to do things she was not familiar with. She blushed and looked down. "Now get changed into something a bit more comfortable and relax. She looked up shocked that he was telling her what to do. That really stopped her from responding, her thoughts a jumble as he said something about food, relaxing and enjoying. "We'll spend some time together in a little while." That got her attention and as head snapped up, and she looked into his eyes he surprised her with a gentle kiss on her cheek. She sank down in her chair as he jumped into the water. She gazed at the spot where he had gone down and as he came up he locked onto her eyes once more and smiled. Strangely she smiled back before she realized what she was doing. She sat bewildered trying to figure out what she should do when Keith started talking to her. “Jessie baby, why don’t you put on your suit, we all want to go into the pool but won’t go without you. There is a shallow end you know”. She looked at Keith who had bought her all those things. “Alright Keith” But she didn’t move until Keith’s wife drew her out. “Come on Jessie, this pool house is hot, let’s cool off”. She followed Ginny to the changing area and found the two-piece bathing suit waiting for her. It looked like it would not cover anything. She took off her clothing slowly and put the bikini on. When she looked into the mirror she blushed. No she thought, I can’t possibly let anyone see me like this. Ginny called through the door, “Are you ready Jessie”. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her torso. When they got to Keith, Ginny gave him a meaningful look as Jessie struggled to keep the towel wrapped around her torso tightly.“Ok Jessie, the shallow end is over there, Ginny and I are going into the deep end. Jessie walked to the shallow end and sat down with the towel still around her on the wall of the pool. She watched Keith go swim over to Jack, but her attention was diverted by one of the men throwing a woman in the air. She screamed as she landed in the water and Jessie laughed. "Keith, did you take care of Jessie's fee?" Jack distracted by the woman screaming looked over at Jessie. "Jack, I didn't tell her that you took care of all the clothes, spa and personal care." Jack looked back at Keith. "Make sure her fee is in her account." "Because it wasn't to her that day, double it, but don't tell her it's from me." "Tell her that it's a 'tip' from a mystery client who was very pleased with her service." Keith was surprised by Jack's direction to him. Not because of the amount of money of Jessie's fee and what was spent on her special day, that kind of money was nothing to Jack, but because he sensed that Jack was starting to take a keen interest and actually care for Jessie. Jack turned his attention to Jessie...he walked over to her in the shallow end holding out his hand to her. Jessie looked away shaking her head. "Come on Jessie, you'll be fine." "I won't take us to the deep end." "I'll be here with you the entire time." "I won't let anything happen to you." Jessie shook her head again and Jack put his hands on her knees and top of her thighs as she sat on the edge of the pool. "Jessie, we will be spending more time together, you are going to have to start learning to trust me." "This is one of the best places to start." He slid his hands slowly up her thighs, and started to pull the towel off of her lower half. Jack was very focused on her face but didn't miss seeing her well-endowed chest in the top of her suit. "Her, breasts, stomach and legs are amazing. I need to get her closer to me." Jack said silently to himself as he stood in front of her as she reluctantly let him pull the towel from around her waist. He then slowly pulled her in the water. As she got in, and it came up to her waist, she gripped the side very tightly. "Relax Jessie and trust me. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He held out his hand with her taking it. "Let me take you away from the side." Jessie shook her head no. "Please Jessie, try and relax." "Do you think I would let anything happen to you?" Jack looking deeply into her eyes. Jessie slowly shook her head from side to side. "Good, come closer." Jack wrapped his arms around her pulling her back against his chest as they moved to the middle of the pool. Jessie was gripping tightly on his forearms that crossed her chest and waist. Jack loved the feel of her soft skin against his chest as he leaned back in the water. He heard her start to breath in a panicked way. "It's ok Jessie, I have you completely." As he said that, he immediately felt her relax her grip and her breathing slowed. "Jessie." His head next to hers as he pushed himself around the pool on his back with her in front of him. "Did you like shopping, the body treatments and spa?" Jessie still nervous, just nodded yes. "Good, sweetie." "I wanted it to be special for you." "That's why I had Keith set that entire day up for you." "Just consider it as a gift." "After seeing your grand entrance today, I knew it was more than worth it." .... Jessie couldn't believe she allowed Jack to talk her into the water. Of course the steady stares of the other people looking at her act like a child pushed her into it too. As she looked around her all she saw was blue water so that when Jack wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest, she went willingly. She gripped his forearms tightly and started to panic as he pulled her further into the water and laid back. "It's ok Jessie, I have you completely." Strongly she believes Jack and began to relax against his body. Finally realizing how close she was to his hard muscular body. She wondered what she was doing, no man had ever gotten this close to her before. She knew as they moved around the pool, there was no going back now. Furthermore, she didn't want him to leave her in the middle of the pool. When he started to talk she listened to him and realized she liked the warm water and even liked his protecting body even more. "Jessie, Did you like shopping, the body treatments and spa?" She nodded her head yes but wasn't sure how she felt about it. "Good, sweetie, I wanted it to be special for you. That's why I had Keith set that entire day up for you. Just consider it as a gift. After seeing your grand entrance today, I knew it was more than worth it." Jessie looked into Jack's eyes as what he just told her sank in. "You were responsible for all that? Why would you do such a thing? We aren't even friend, I just did you a service, that's all, I didn't expect a relationship, Jack. I think I should go home now." She forgot all about the water and pushed away from him and promptly slipped under the water. In a panic she felt Jack's arms wrap around her and haul her up against his body once more. It was obvious she was trapped, he wasn't going to let her go. She felt his hand gently push her hair away from her face as his parking eyes looked into hers once more. She sputtered a bit before she spoke. "What do you want from me, Jack"? Her voice was cold as she looked at him. "Jessie, I want you to learn to trust me." Jack said holding her close to him. "I want you to let me assist you in many things you haven't discovered yet." Jack continued. "That is why I set up the special day for you." "That was just the beginning." "I want you to know that you are on the verge of being able to enjoy and pamper yourself a little, but I had to get you out of those damn sweats and have you see what you looked like when you allow others around you to help bring your beauty out."" I know that currently you are comfortable doing what you do." "Keith sets up your clients, and you have a safe predictable world." "You're making a couple grand a month and it's miles from where you used to be when you were living on the streets, hungry and desperate."" Now that you've experienced just a little of life outside of client calling all day in the sterile confines of your apartment, rarely leaving it, you will find there are other opportunities for you with a better life and a better lifestyle." As Jack was telling her this, he found his thoughts conflicted with the business mind of success and the far away inner feelings of wanting Jessie...almost starting to care for her emotionally. Jack knew that this initially was all about business but as he's learned more about her through Keith and starting to really see her amazing beauty and features, along with the time he spent with her at her apartment and presently, there was something about her that he still couldn't put his finger on yet but found it to be very conflicting in his mind. He felt like he was becoming a protector, advisor and associate pimp all rolled into one. 'Might future lover be added to that list as well?' Jack wondered... He then snapped his thoughts back to disciplined attention -into advisor/business role and said; "Jump out of the pool and go change for this evening." "We have plenty of time to talk more about this later." Jessie, still looking at him coldly, turned and went to get out of the water. Jack magnetically drawn to her by the amazing curves and smooth skin of her body, feeling the stirring in his trunks, watched her intently as she moved to get out of the pool. As she walked toward her Keith, she turned to look at him. 'She has no idea how absolutely beautiful she is.' Jack thought as he watched her walking towards Keith. Jessie was still looking at Jack coldly when he started to talk. His body was pressed close to her, and she could feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Strangely the motion against her breasts excited her and made it hard to think with all the strange sensations going through her body. Jessie could not believe he thought she could ever trust him, he was male, and she never trusted a male in her life. As he explained that her special day was only the beginning, she tensed. She did not want to enjoy and pamper herself. She stopped for a moment and realized it was true she never looked for enjoyment in anything around her. Even her apartment did not give her that, maybe pride but not enjoyment, there had always been a feeling of loneliness. She was comfortable with what she had, not proud of what she had to do, but it was a safe and predictable world for her. How did he know so much about her with only one meeting? He even knew her history which was a bit upsetting. She would have to tell Keith to stop talking about her. Why would he want to know about her anyway?" Now that you've experienced just a little of life outside of client calling all day in the sterile confines of your apartment, rarely leaving it, you will find there are other opportunities for you with a better life and a better lifestyle." Jack’s words were scary to her, he wanted something from her more than just her specialty and she was not prepared to give herself to anyone. She frowned as she realized she had to get away from Jack, he wanted to shake up her world, make her feel something that she wasn’t prepared for. She breathed a sigh of relief at his next words. "Jump out of the pool and go change for this evening. We have plenty of time to talk more about this later. Jessie did exactly what he said happy to get away from him, yet she could feel an attraction for him which she did not like one little bit. She got out of the water and walked directly to Keith, but something made her turn and look at Jack, their eyes met and Jessie got that strange feeling once more. She turned and walked up to Keith. “We need to talk.” Keith pulled her over to the side. “What is it Jessie.” She dropped her eyes for a moment and then looked into Keith’s eyes. “I want to go home”. Her mouth dropped opened as Keith shook his head no. “I told you already Jessie that Jack is important to me. He is the senior partner here, not me. And right now he wants you, Jessie. “So you plan to just give me to him, what are you my pimp? He looked around to see if anyone had heard her excited voice but no one had even noticed. “That is exactly what you made me into, Jessie. I believe I have been very good to you, sending you safe men to service. Well Jack is a good man, and he is interested in you, and it is now time for you to do me a favor. She closed her mouth and looked at Keith coldly. “So you expect me to give him more than just my specialty. Well it isn’t going to happen. Jessie turned and walked away angrily toward the house. Strangely she did not even realize she was half dressed anymore. The thought of what was expected from her both terrified and excited her. When she entered the house, a butler came forward, and she asked where her room was. He brought her up the stairs into a lovely room with an adjoining bathroom. When she asked who was on the other side of the door, the butler told her. “That is Master Jack’s room”. She sat down abruptly as the butler left and put her hands to her face. Jack loved watching her walk toward her room, uninhibited, almost defiantly as she walked off the patio of the pool area into the house. Jack feeling the physical sexual drive inside him as he held her while they were talking in the pool. He couldn't put his finger on it with Jessie. There was definitely a strong sexual attraction to her, but it went beyond that. The physical attraction to her body and her pretty face and small features, her large breasts that excited him as she pressed them against him while they were in the pool. Jack was looking forward to seeing this 'caterpillar' turn into a 'butterfly'... Jack couldn't wait to see Jessie coming down for dinner. He wondered what clothes that were purchased on her trip would be on her. He anticipated the moment. The group thinned a bit, as some of the party goers weren't staying for dinner.' Good.' Jack thought. 'I look forward to more quality, quieter time with her tonight.' Jack jumped out of the pool and headed to his room to change. Jessie brought her hands down from her face and decided she could not sit here like a ninny and act like a child. She would just have to distance herself from Jack which wasn't going to be easy given the fact that she now knew she was attracted to him. The touch of his hard muscular body had an effect on her that she never thought was possible. She just didn't want to be his whore, and she was afraid that was what was going to happen if she did not stay aloof. At least there were other people here and hopefully Keith would want to leave early so she could get away from the temptation of Jack's hot body. Not only his flesh bothered her, it was the way he seemed to know her that rattled her. How can a man be so perceptive she wondered as she walked to the closet to chose one of the alluring garments that had been chosen for her. The least revealing and that was saying a lot was a little black dress that was a bit low cut with tee straps. All the clothing chosen fit her well, so there was no way she was going to hide her figure as she had in sweats. This man knew had to take down all her defenses and that scared her a lot. Decision made she walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, soon the room was filled with steam. There were no locks on the door, but she was confident if Jack saw the steam he would not enter. She had that much confidence in the gentlemen in him but forgot the very male part of him as she stepped into the shower and began to wash her hair. Her silhouetted was clearly outlined by the frosted glass doors. As Jack walked toward his room, he passed Jessie's door. He paused. He thought he could hear the faint sound of water running. Furthermore, he decided to knock. Furthermore, he knocked on her door wrapped in his towel. No answer. He opened the door, "Jessie?" He said with the door partway open. Furthermore, he could now hear the shower running. Furthermore, he let himself into her room. Furthermore, he felt aroused thinking about her glorious body wet and nude under the spray of the hot water. Furthermore, he walked into the room. As he looked around, he saw her suitcase. 'She brought those damn sweat clothes.' He said to himself, as he flipped open her suitcase. He then found her newly purchased clothes. Furthermore, he smiled to himself as he sorted through them with his fingers. Jack picked out a dress that had a very revealing neckline and plunged deep in the back as well. It was a dark blue dress. He pulled that out and laid it on the bed. He then went into another suitcase and found a package of stockings with a garter. Furthermore, he pulled that out and laid it on the dress. Furthermore, he then found a pair of matching silk underwear that he placed over it as well. Jack then walked over to the bathroom door and slowly opened it. As the steam poured out of the bathroom, he could see her gorgeous body silhouetted in the steamed glass of the shower. He stood there in the doorway and admired her form. He smiled to himself anticipating her attire. Furthermore, he watched as she raised her arm above her head and ran the other down over her large chest and side. Furthermore, he could feel his arousal as he continued to watch her. Furthermore, he then smiled and quietly closed the door. Jack made sure the dress and garments were laid out prominently on the bed. He exited the room, closing the door fairly loudly as he went back down by the pool for a cigar and drink before getting dressed for the evening. Jessie had finished washing and was just standing under the spray, her arm stretched out to the wall to let the water take away her tension when suddenly she heard a door slam. She quickly opened the shower door. "Hello, is anybody there". There was no answer, a frown touched her face as she shut the water off and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped her torso in a large towel and wrapped her head and hair in a smaller towel and ventured into her room. She looked around cautiously but did not see anyone. Furthermore, she shrugged and went back into the bathroom to finish drying herself and slip into the thin silk light blue robe. Furthermore, she did not like the way it clung to her body. Furthermore, she walked out of the bathroom fluffing her hair when she suddenly stopped and saw one of the new dresses laid out on the bed for her. Furthermore, she saw the plunging neckline and back, and knew she was not going to wear that. In fact, it had been one of the dresses she had said no too and still the woman had added it to the group. Well she wasn’t going to wear it that was for sure. She stomped over to the closet for the little black dress and found it gone. In fact all her clothing were gone both old and new. What was going on here? A knock to the door made her turn to it. "Come In". The butler walked in and announced the Master set her clothing out personally and that she was not to worry about a thing as he would be coordinating her clothing. Little alarm bells went off in Jessie's mind, she knew the butler would have no other information then what he just told her. She began to get dressed, putting on the lacy underwear, stockings and garter belt. She did not even look for a bra as there was no way she would be able to wear one with that dress. Every piece of clothing she put on made her angry. She stupidly thought she would get Jack for this. When she slipped on the heels she looked into the mirror and to her amazement she saw a very beautiful woman looking back at her. All her anger was knocked out of her for the moment as she brushed her hair and shook her head. Her hair fell softly into place. She tried to maneuver it to cover her cleavage but of course that did not work, but one conciliation was that her long hair fell down to her waist and hid most of her naked back. As she walked out of her door, the butler was there and led the way to the dining room. She looked around surprised as no one was there but Jack and herself. The butler led her to the side of Jack and held her chair as she sat down. When he left she turned to Jack. "Where is everyone, where is Keith, he is supposed to take me home?" "I sent them all home Jessie." Jack said as he walked over and took his seat at the table. "I wanted to have some uninterrupted time with you." "They are all going to come back tomorrow, as I have a boat trip planned for anyone that wants to go out." Jack unfolded the napkin and placed it in his lap as he gave her a slight smile while looking at her." "Jessie, you look absolutely stunning tonight in that dress." "Did you like what I selected?" .... Jessie got over her shock that Jack had sent everyone home just to be annoyed by his question of how she liked what she had on. "I prefer what I chose, but it seems you have to have everything your own way". She pressed her back against the back of the chair showing her annoyance by the look on her face and the small distance she now created between herself and Jack. Right on cue the butler came into the room with the first course, soup and put a plate in front of Jack and then Jessie. Assessing her distance from the table, the butler quickly pushed in her chair and there she was close to Jack once more. When the butler left she stared at Jack. "You really have your staff trained well, don't you? She grabbed the soup spoon and began to eat. She moved her legs to get comfortable and one of them inadvertently rubbed against Jack's leg. Furthermore, she was not prepared for the electricity that small gesture would cause. Furthermore, she tried to move her legs and found that her foot was captured by Jack's ankles. How he had done that so fast was beyond her. She was about to yell at him when the butler reappeared. "How is everything, Sir"? She clamped her mouth shut and endured the merriment in Jack's eyes. She could feel his leg moving against hers. Despite her anger she was having some very strong feelings running through her body. "How is everything sir?" the butler inquired. "Fine Martin." Martin setting his tray down. "I will be serving the master and his guest dinner now if they are ready?" "That would be excellent." Jack replied looking for a nod from Jessie. Martin served them dinner. Jack, releasing her leg from his grip. When they were done with the meal, Martin came back and inquired how their meal was." Everything was outstanding as usual Martin." Jack saying as he kept looking at Jessie. Martin then turned to Jack and said; "Thank you sir." "The hot tub is warmed and ready." "There is brandy and one of your favorite cigars out there as well." If there won't be anything else sir, I will be retiring for the evening." "Exceptional as always Martin." "You take care of me very well." "Good night." "Good evening to you sir." Martin replied. "And good evening to you as well Miss Jessie." Jack turned to Jessie with a smirk and said; "You know, contrary to what you see, it isn't about having everything my way." raising his eyebrows and glancing toward Martin. Jack then grew expressionless looking directly at her. "Jessie, If I left it up to you, you would probably be sitting down during dinner tonight in your sweatpants." "Now look at you?" "You're gorgeous." "You are sexy as hell in that dress." "Doesn't it make you feel even a little bit sexy and beautiful?" "You are worth it." "You are worth all this." "It's time at some point that you start believing that about yourself." Suddenly some music started to play overhead and Jack stood up and reached out his hand." Jessie reluctantly took his hand and stood. Jack moved in, putting his hand out as she put her small hand and fingers in his large palm. Jack put his other hand on her bare lower back pulling her against him. His thigh moving between her legs as he gently but firmly pulled her around the room. His hand pressing against the bare skin of her back as he moved his fingertips inside her dress. He moved his face next to hers as he pressed his body against hers. His cock was starting to grow as her hips pushed against him. "Jessie, you are a very striking young woman." "It's ok to accept that." "It doesn't mean that every man is going to be out to fool you or trick you." "Jessie" Jack moving to look in her eyes. "Jessie, look at me." Jessie turning her head to face him. "Jessie.... I want you tonight." "I've been wanting you since the day we met." Jack saying softly but strongly as he stared into her eyes... Jessie was still shaken with the contact of Jack’s leg against hers as the Martin and Jack had their banter. She had never felt such sensations before as his muscular leg flexed against hers time after time. She was oblivious to their conversation and did not know a response was needed from her as she wondered what it meant to feel those things. Suddenly she was drawn out of her deep thought by Martin’s imposing voice. “Yes and good evening to you to Martin, the food was excellent”. The two men looked at each other as Jessie dropped her eyes. Jessie raised her eyes as she heard Jack say her name. She saw a smirk on his face and wondered what that was all about. "You know, contrary to what you see, it isn't about having everything my way." His face became expressionless as he looked into her eyes. "Jessie, If I left it up to you, you would probably be sitting down during dinner tonight in your sweatpants. Now look at you? You're gorgeous. You are sexy as hell in that dress. Doesn't it make you feel even a little bit sexy and beautiful? You are worth it. You are worth all this. It's time at some point that you start believing that about yourself." Jessie blushed feeling strangely hot as music began to fill the room. She watched Jack stand up and hold out his hand to her. After a few seconds she slowly held out her hand and felt his warm, strong hand hold hers in a gentle but strong grip. As she stood up Jack wrapped his body around her and her breathing increased as his body pressed against her, enfolding her completely in his heat. The long hair that covered her back was no protection from his other hand which pressed against her lower back holding her securely to the whole front of her body. His thigh moved between her legs leading her in the dance that strangely excited her with the firmness against her mound. A small gasp was audible as his fingers moved inside her dress to move against her bare flesh bringing more excitement to her. She rested her head on his shoulder savoring his touch. Jessie absentmindedly rubbed her face against Jacks as his body pressed boldly against hers. She found pleasure in their closeness and went with it as they danced as she pressed against him with her hips. She was in her own little comfort zone when Jack spoke to her again. "Jessie, you are a very striking young woman. It's ok to accept that. It doesn't mean that every man is going to be out to fool you or trick you." She had her eyes closed nodding her head in agreement, but basically she was just enjoying the moment when Jack spoke a little firmly. “Jessie, Jessie, look at me.” Jessie frowned a bit and turned her head to look into his eyes. "Jessie.... I want you tonight. I've been wanting you since the day we met." Jessie’s pleasure looking face turned cold as she spoke. “I have never done that, and I will not do it now, I told you from the beginning that I only do one thing, and that is that.” She tried to pull out of his arms, but he held her fast to his body. She just stared at him coldly. She was not prepared for what Jack did next; his head dipped as he lowered his face and took her into a passionate kiss. Jessie panicked and began to pound his back as the kiss deepened then suddenly stopped and put her arms around him and kissed him passionately. Jack felt her mouth melt on his and her lips relax as her pounding fists on his back turned to soft palms and then gripping fingers.... Jessie's hungry mouth stuck firmly over Jack's as they kissed passionately. Jack's hand finding the inside of the back of her dress. His other hand slowly sliding down her thigh and raising the hem of her dress slowly upward. Jack driving his tongue into her mouth as they kiss and breath with abandonment. Jack continues to work his hand slowly up under her dress till he finds the top of her stocking where her garter connects. Jack pulls his head back. "Jessie we were supposed to go out and relax in the hot tub." "Would that make you more comfortable?" "Because Jessie, I want to carry you up those stairs to my bedroom and make passionate love to you all night right now." All of Jessie’s suppressed passions were released as she kissed Jack. His hands on her body felt natural and right in the state that she was in. His strong secure fingers roamed around her body inside the back of her dress, caressing and exciting her. She felt his other hand sliding down and raising the hem of her dress upward. His tongue drove into her mouth making her fill with abandonment as she pressed her fingers into his back and her body deeper into his. Just as his hand reached the top of her stocking and her anticipation was at its peak, Jack pulled his lips away and spoke breaking the spell that surrounded Jessie. "Jessie we were supposed to go out and relax in the hot tub." "Would that make you more comfortable?" "Because Jessie, I want to carry you up those stairs to my bedroom and make passionate love to you all night right now." As his words crashed down her walls of passions, Jessie realized what she had been willing to do. Her confusion was complete as she weighed her options. She did not want to go to bed with him but wanted the warm touch of his hands on her body. Her mind was in a spin just thinking of what he offered her. To leave him now to the security of her room was unthinkable as her body cried out for his hands. She licked her lips before she answered him with a shaky voice. “I would like to try the hot tub”. As he pulled away from her body she had a feeling of loss which confused her. As he held out his hand to her, she placed her hand into his and let him lead her out to the hot tub Jack led her out to the hot tub. He turned to her and put his hand on her lower back and rubbed the smooth skin on the small of her back. This time he pulled her to him stronger. His hand moved under her dress as they kissed again deeply. His hand moved around just under her breast. He loved the feel of her smooth skin and the firmness of her large breast as he moved his hand. Jessie moaned in his mouth as he did this. His other hand reaching up the inside of her thigh under her dress. His chest pushing into her larger breasts making them push up and out toward him. His hand continued up her thigh and the skin started to get warmer as he closed in on her silk covered pussy. As they reached the hot tub, Jessie was a bundle of nerves and anticipation. When he turned to her, she looked into his eyes. His hand moved to her lower back and caressed the small of her back. A soft murmur of pleasure slipped out of her lips as he pulled her into his arms. Jessie could feel his other hand under her breast and she moaned. His chest pushed upward pressing her breast up and out of her dress as his hand reached for her zipper and took it down. Jessie could feel Jacks hand slowly move the dress off of her shoulders, but his other hand moved at that moment between her legs and covered her panty clad sex. She groaned as his hand started to massage everything that lay between her legs. She felt wetness in her panties. Her dress dropped to the floor as his hand began to squeeze the fullness of her breast, his thumb strumming over her nipple. Jessie’s passions were released as she kissed Jack passionately. His clothing was scratchy on her almost naked body. Her arms wrapped around Jacks neck as she kissed him wildly, pressing her body hard against his. Jack’s mouth never left Jessie’s, but his hands moved away as he undid his belt and let his slacks fall to the ground. He moved his briefs down his till they too slipped to the floor and pressed his hardened cock between Jessie’s legs and rubbed it against her panties. She groaned in pleasure as the sensations to her clit were overpowering. Jack unbuttoned his shirt and took it off, kicking off his shoes he was ready to unwrap the last of his prize. His hands reached into the band of her silken panties and pushed down until they dropped to the floor. He undid the garter belt and let it fall as the nylons slipped down her legs; his hand went between her legs once more. He slowly kneeled down and rolled each stocking off her gorgeous legs. Furthermore, he could hear her breathing as she stepped out of each. Furthermore, he pulled off his own socks as he led her into the water... They both stepped in and slowly sank under the water as Jack moved in next to her. Her hardened nipples against his chest as he kissed her lips- and while consuming her mouth, slowly moved down her chin as she leaned her head back. Jack continuing down the front of her throat with his mouth and tongue. She leaned back against the side of the hot tub as his lips and tongue trailed down the front of her throat and chest into the valley of her large breasts. His lips kissing them and his tongue making wet trails around each nipple as her breath started to come in quicker sharp gasps. He reached under the water and pushed her legs gently apart, onto each one of his thighs. Her now straddling his hips and waist. Jessie's head was fully back now and her arms out on each side of her on the edge of the tub. He then smothered one of her nipples with his mouth...sucking hard on her small but very hard nipple. He moved over to the other one, using his hands to squeeze her large globes together. Jessie let out a gasp as Jack did this, her hips sliding forward as she felt the swollen hard head of his thick cock against the inside of her thighs. As he drew one nipple into his mouth, gently biting it between his teeth and slowly stretching it away from her chest. Feeling the amazing sensation through her, Jessie let out a louder moan with her head completely back on the deck that surrounded the tub. The tip of Jack's raging cock now brushing lightly against the lips of her swollen sex. Jessie breathing loudly and rapidly. Jack moved down from her nipples slowly, kissing the top of her flat stomach under her breasts as he moved his hands underneath her, starting to raise her hips up out of the water. Jack kept going lower, over and past her belly button as Jessie's head went back and forth on top of the deck as she moaned. His licks and soft kisses slowing as he came to the top of her very neatly trimmed pubic hair. Both of his hands now under her ass as he pushed her hips up on top of the water exposing her vulnerability to his eager mouth. Jessie's hips starting to thrust slowly but rhythmically up and down inches from Jack's mouth. Jack moved his mouth slowly over her trimmed hair down to the swollen lips of her sex. Jack lightly touching his lips to hers. Jessie letting out a gasp and deep quiet moan. His tongue slowly moving forward parting her lips ever so slightly tasting the glorious liquid that was starting to flow from her hot center. Jessie took one hand off of the tub and started running it over the top of Jack's shock of dark hair. As his tongue probed deeper into the folds of her hot flesh, her flat hand on his head suddenly made a fist and grabbed a clump of his hair pulling his face into her. Jack then opened his mouth and pushed his tongue between those swollen lips penetrating her deeper. Jessie now building inside her, she started jerking his head back and forth against her overheated mound. Jack then flattening his tongue and working directly but gently over her swollen clit. Jessie, frantically breathing while Jack watched from below as her large breasts rose up and down with her swollen nipples at a rapid pace. Both of Jessie's legs now wrapped over the shoulders and down the back of Jack with her heels digging in as he drove his face and tongue over her soaking center. Jessie's back starting to arch as Jack's mouth completely consumed her. Her head on the deck, her back completely arched and both of her hands gripping Jack's head by his hair, driving him deep into her soaking wetness. Jessie could feel the start of a deep, hard orgasm coming on. Her hips bucking against his face as she could feel his strong hands holding her ass completely out of the water. Jessie like a building storm, started to come hard in waves as Jack continued to keep his mouth over her. Jessie felt him suck on her and felt him swallowing every drop of liquid that poured from her gushing center. Jessie knew she was yelling out but could only hear the sound faintly with a ringing in her ears as her head ground back and forth on the edge of the deck. Her eyes screwed shut and her mouth wide open moaning and gasping for air as Jack continued to completely own her with his mouth. She saw stars as she came down slowly from such an amazing orgasm. Jack keeping his mouth on her but being much gentler with her swollen clit between his lips as every small movement was sensitive for her. Jack moved his mouth off of her heated swollen center slowly, as he kissed back up her stomach to her swollen sensitive nipples kissing them and then up to her neck as he pulled her against him and held her. Jessie now sitting across Jack's lap with her head against his neck and the top of his chest, still breathing hard and trying to recover her strength." Jessie honey, that was amazing." "Just lay here against me." "I want to feel your beautiful body against mine." Jessie’s mind struggled for control with the needs of her body during the few seconds it took for Jack to take off her stocking and his socks. As they stepped into the hot tub, she quickly submerged herself trying to keep her distance from Jack. In the blink of an eye Jack was near her taking her into a kiss the broke down the start of the wall her mind was building. She felt his hard muscular chest against her breasts as his strong arms pulled her tightly against him. She gave into his all consuming kiss, her arms rising and going around his neck so naturally. Her body now was in control, her mind took a back seat as his lips traveled down her chin to her throat. His lips parted and his mouth and tongue tasted her causing shock waves of pleasure to shoot through her. She leaned her head back against the hot tub giving him free access as he moved further down to her breasts. Little sounds of pleasure slipped out of her lips. A small groan erupted from her mouth as his tongue moved so close to her nipple that she shivered in anticipation. Jessie could feel Jack spreading her legs and lifting them so that they rested on his hips and waist. Her head lolled on the ceramic tiles of the outside of the hot tub, her arms resting on the edge of the tub. She gasped has his mouth took a nipple into his mouth and sucked it hard, her breathing quickened, and she groaned from the intense pleasure. His mouth left the one breast and a sound of protest left her lips to be replaced by another groan as his mouth latched onto the other nipple. Jessie gasped as he squeezed her breasts together and moved from each nipple back and forth till she lost all her coherent thought and was filled with unbound passion. Her mind registered his hard huge cock rubbing against her sex, but the sensation just added to her passion as he moved from breast to breast. She groaned loudly as he gently bit her nipple and stretched the other one away from her chest, rolling it so that her pleasure tripled in a matter of seconds. Electricity seemed to run through her as it hit her mind and subdued it even more. His mouth started moving down her body ever so slowly, passed her stomach to her belly button, kissing and licking his was down. She felt her upper torso move out of the water and slide on the tiles as Jack lifted her hips up out of the water. Her head was moving from side to side as she was consumed with a strange kind of need. She gasped as she felt his gentle lips touch her most sensitive area. Her hips moved to a new kind of tempo seeming to have a will of its own enticing him to take the treasure between her legs. As his breath struck her most intimate area, she groaned. As his mouth covered her sex words slipped out from her lips barely perceptible as his mouth cover her sex. “Yes, Yes”. His tongue moved into her slowly driving her wild as her fluids flowed. Her hand moved toward him, so her fingers could run through his hair. John’s tongue bore deeper into her tunnel and Jessie’s back arched pressing her sex harder against his face. Her hand grasped a clump of his hair into her tight small fisted hand. Her groan filled the surrounding area. It seemed to echo as one groan followed the other over and over again. Her body stayed arched as he works on her delving deeper and deeper moving faster and fast as her hips pumped into his face. Jessie felt a tightening of her belly. Beads of perspiration dotted her body. She began to pant, her breasts moving seductively, and suddenly her first climax ripped through her. She felt John sucking out her nectar not leaving her pulsating pussy as he pressed up and down her slit. After she screamed she began yelling but had no clue what she was saying. She tried to close her legs, but John held them open proving he owned her in a sublimate way. As she came down from the thrashing heights she felt his mouth still on her but in a gentle manner. She opened her eyes to see him release her mound as her back touched the floor, he moved back up kissing her body as he came. His mouth moved over all the newly charted territory that he had already claimed. He pulled her against his body sitting her on his lap, holding her gently; her head was against his neck and her arm press against his chest, her hand holding onto his shoulder as she wound down from her very first intimate act with Jack. Her breathing was still labored, and her strength was just beginning to come back as she clung to Jack as a child would to a trusted parent. As she came back to herself she kissed his neck and relaxed in his arms and then relaxed until he spoke. "Jessie honey, that was amazing." "Just lay here against me." "I want to feel your beautiful body against mine." Jessie stiffened in his arms, her eyes opened wide as her mind registered what she had just done. Fear of what he would expect now ran through her. His arms were still relaxed about her when she sprang from his arms and hopped out of the hot tub. She ran for the door, striking naked into the next room and up the stairs to the room that she had been assigned to. She slammed the door and locked it and ran to the bathroom and locked that door too. Returning to the bedroom she ran to the closet for something to wear as if clothing could ever be armor against Jack. Her face fell as she remembered he had all her clothing removed. Jessie paced back and forth wringing her hands knowing she was trapped now. He would want the ultimate from her now and she did not want to do that. Her mind was confused as she reviewed what had just happened. It wasn’t like rape, it had been wonderful, but that was an act she had done on many men. She had never thought of it as intimate, but now she knew better. It was as intimate as the sex act itself. The more she thought, the more she realized why Keith had said she used him as a pimp. God, she wanted to die, all the conceptions of what she had done just crumbled into pieces. She had to find something to do that would not have anything to do with sex and still pay the kind of money she needed for her home. She knew that such a thing did not exist and the terror of being homeless assaulted her, but she knew that was what was going to happen. So stirred up was she that she did not hear the key in her door as she paced and wrung her hand. Then she heard Jack’s gentle voice. “Jessie” She turned toward him, fear clearly on her face as she backed away from him. “Stay away from me Jack”. But she knew he wouldn’t and all the pent-up tears of her youth fell in fat teardrops down her face. She sank to her knees and cried hard with her hands over her eyes. Her last wall had evaporated before her eyes. Jack watched as she sank to her knees. Her shoulders heaving as she sobbed almost silently on the floor only dressed in a robe...the only article of clothing he left in the room. He stood in the doorway and watched her for a moment. Jessie covering her face with her hands as she continued to quietly sob. Jack moved over near her. He leaned down and put his arms around her shoulders and leaned his head against the top of hers. He felt her body stiffen as he made contact with her." Jessie honey," Jack starting softly. "I am not going to hurt you." As Jacks arms went around her, Jessie stiffen but yet she felt a strange sense of comfort in his arms. His head nestled on her own as he spoke. "Jessie honey, I am not going to hurt you." As Jessie raised her tear streaked face to look at Jack she bit her lip. "I never have, you know, I never did it, you know, had sex with a man. I was almost raped when I was young and well when you found me doing what I was doing, that was the extent of my knowledge of such things". Jack pulled her off the floor and held her as if she was a child in his arms while sitting on the bed. "I never thought of my specialty as sex until just now when you, you know, made me feel so good. Then I knew what I was doing with all those men. I figured because they didn't touch me and I felt nothing that it was nothing, but you taught me it was something very intimate". Her tears fell again, I have to find something else to do and give up my apartment". She wasn't going to say she thought she would be on the street again. "I like you Jack, but I cannot have sex with you". "Jessie, why can't you have sex with me?" "Because you have to give up your apartment or because you vowed never to have it because you don't 'trust' men?"" I care very deeply for you." "I want to show you how beautiful it is when two people truly enjoy each other intimately."" I would never force you to do anything, but I can't figure out why toucan'have sex with me?"" You aren't a little girl anymore." "You have control over what you do." "You don't have that when you're a child." "Don't blame yourself for something you couldn't possibly control." "Jessie, you are a beautiful woman, insideand out." "I'm trying to make you realize that." "Jessie darling, I want you to trust me." "I won't do anything to hurt you...physically or emotionally." Jack looking directly into her eyes, holding both her forearms as he spoke. Jack held her forearms as they looked directly in each other’s eyes. As he spoke she bit her lip, it was true she did not trust men. His words were reassuring but how much of what he said was just to make her have sex. When he told her she had control now as she was a woman and had control over what she did. All his words made sense but still she feared the act itself, was he right was she punishing herself for not being in control all those years ago. He had taken away most of her walls except on overpowering one. “I am scared Jack, I know it will hurt, I am not ready for that. I wasn’t ready for any of this. There has to be other women that you can get your pleasure from.” He could sense her need for him and pulled her into his arms for a deep kiss. When he was done she felt a lot calmer but still didn’t know what to do. As they parted from the kiss, Jack looked at her again. "Jessie, I don't want other women, I want you." "I've wanted you from the day I walked into your apartment." "I don't feel like I need to 'help' you. I just want to hold you close and make love to you."" I don't know what the future will bring for us Jessie." "I do know however, that you are a beautiful young woman, and I am not desiring love making with you because I feel sorry for you, it's because of the overpowering attraction I have of a very beautiful woman who makes me very excited to be around her."" Jessie you are that woman."" I know you are afraid of the pain of our union." "I will be gentle with you and put you at ease with my touch." With that, Jack leaned in and gave her another big kiss as he reached underneath her and scooped her up in his arms. Jack was carrying her to her bed as he continued to passionately kiss her. Jessie could feel herself warming to Jack, something that she never did with any man. As he spoke of his attraction to her, she realized that she had felt that way from the beginning also. That is why she had held him in place and drank of him the first time in her home. Of course, she never expected him to truly want her in the way he wanted her now. She trembled with the thought of penetration from his huge cock. Was she truly ready for such a thing? To give herself totally to a man was unbelievable. But hadn’t she already, he had made love to her intimately and she, if she was honest with herself had loved it but still that nagging fear of union held her back. Jack’s eyes held hers as he spoke of how much he wanted her, and she found herself warming to the idea. By what he did at the hot tub she knew he knew his way around a woman’s body. Could he be patient enough with her to hold back until he got her to that wild uncontrolled state before taking her and yes hurting her? She realized she was about to find out as his lips took hers in a most passionate kiss that actually curled her toes. She was surrendering herself to his safe keeping as he held the kiss and lifted her into his arms. Her own arms went around him as he took them to her huge bed and laid her down. Slipping off his carelessly put on robe; he gently opened hers as he moved his large body onto the bed with her. His lips covered hers once more as his hands moved down her body cupping her breasts, squeezing the fullness of them as his thumbs strummed both nipples making her catch her breath as his tongue slipped into her mouth. All her fears seemed to slip away as Jack began his tender ministries of her body. She opened her eyes just once to see him watching her probably looking for signs of how she would react to this very first willing act of intimacy. His eyes held hers wanting her to be aware of what he was doing at all time. Jack loved the feel of her swollen breasts...they were bigger than he expected as he squeezed her nipples, and he heard her moan softly in his mouth as he kissed her. His tongue pushing into her mouth as his thighs slid between her legs. Jack moved his hands off of her nipples and down her smooth stomach as his hand slowly moved to the soft mound of warming skin between her legs. He looked up from his kiss and into Jessie's eyes as his fingers slowly traced the swollen lips of her sex. Jessie started to move her head back and forth as if to say no as Jack put his lips slowly and tenderly back on hers. She kissed him deep as the tips of his fingers moved past the outer lips of her heated pussy. She started to moan again as his fingers slowly moved in slightly and up and down as her hips started to thrust towards his fingers while they continued to kiss...more passionately now. As he did this her center was soaking wet and gushing over his fingers. He kissed Jessie harder as she gasped for breaths between kisses. Jack reached between his legs and moved the tip of his thick, swollen cock against her heated mound. Jack gripped the shaft and worked the head up and down her, slightly parting her dripping pussy lips. Jessie now arching her back as she moaned louder, kissing Jack harder." Jessie, I'm going to push myself inside of you." "There will be resistance at first, and brief pain, but the feeling after that, will be amazing." Jessie now looking up at him with her eyes wide open as she found herself shaking her head slowly in a yes nod. Jack started to push his cock in spreading her lips around his thick cock head. Jessie loved the feeling and was scared all in the same expression." Ok, Jessie" "Are you ready baby?" Jessie slowly nodded her head and started to grit her teeth. Jack pushed forward slower feeling the head of his cock pressing hard against her womanhood. Jack slowly gripped her hips with both hands and pushed forward hard, breaking through her virgin barrier. Jack cradled Jessie in his arms for a kiss that took her breath away. As his warm lips left hers she opened her eyes again looking at him with wonder. She groaned as his warm hands moved to her breasts, caressing them. Her excitement was rising quickly as his fingers squeezed her nipples and his mouth covered hers. Her moan was swallowed up in his mouth as he kissed her. She felt the soft intrusion of his tongue pushing into her mouth as his thighs pressed between her legs. She felt the soft caresses of his hands as they moved down over her stomach. Furthermore, she shivered from his touch as she felt his hand over her mounds and traced her sex. Furthermore, she stiffened a bit and moved her head from side to side tensing, fear building. Jack stamped out the flame of fear with a deep kiss that Jessie lost herself in. Her legs opened up to him as he pressed his fingers softly into her pussy. Her groans of pleasure filled Jack with confidence as he moved his fingers against her clit. Natural sexuality that Jack was awakening drove Jessie to move her hips towards the source of her pleasure as their kiss built passionately. Jessie felt a fast rush of fluids move out of her. His fingers pressed deeper into her, and she could feel their wetness and knew it was from her. Their kiss became deeper as Jack pressed harder against her heated pussy. Her breathing was labored as she felt his huge cock’s head moving up and down against her clit. She found she wanted more of the hard yet soft stiffness that was between his legs. A need she had never felt before drove her to thrust her hips against the object of her desires. She felt its wetness against a new area that yielded to his probing. She arched her back pressing toward his cock. Jessie moaned loudly and kissed Jack hard encouraging him to take her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against him. A new feeling of abandonment drove her on. She heard his voice through a fog of passion. "Jessie, I'm going to push myself inside of you." "There will be resistance at first, and brief pain, but the feeling after that, will be amazing." Jessie looked deep into his eyes, a touch of fear was in her eyes, but her passion was high as she nodded her head, consciously agree to the destruction of her hymen. As Jessie felt her body opening to the harness of his cock, she was both aroused and scared, but she did not stop him. She opened her legs wider accepting what they were about to do." Ok, Jessie" "Are you ready baby?" Jessie had a moment of indecision before she nodded her head. She felt Jack push forward ever slowly. Exciting sensations filled her very being, and she tightened her arms around his neck and closed her eyes enjoying his cock sliding slowly into her. When he stopped her eyes sprang open, wondering why. She felt his hands tighten on her hips, and her face showed confusion. The firm hold was confusing to her until he thrust forward and pain struck her. She opened her mouth to scream and beat on his back as he seemed to ram his cock all the way to the hilt and then he stopped. “You have to get out of there, there is something wrong, it hurt more than you said it would.” His answer was to cover her mouth with his and stay firmly deep within her while her body adjusted to his girth. She relaxed as his hands moved to her breasts squeezing them and strumming his thumbs over her nipple. Soon she was in heat against and was actually pressing her self against his hard muscular body.

And Then Along Came Jack closed for maleexecutive|rating:2.0

OOC and Casting- Marvel

I had an idea for an RP about the marvel universe. You could be anyone you want, we will need both good and bad guys. They can be dead or alive or made up it don't matter I was just curious if anyone would be interested. If so I will be Spider-Man. I'm interested, love the comic threads as everyone knows. Great so who do you want to be? And since you have some experience at the comic threads could you help out with a start point? I'm not sure who to use yet. Well you should think of some kind of plot, what kind of event would occur that would draw heroes, living and dead, to take action? After that I would say think of a few plot twists, something to surprise everyone by later down the road. Ok I understand...I have a good idea and a couple of twists. But we need more people, and I need to see what characters to put where and things, before we start. Give it at least a week, plus remember the board is slow right now so don't get discouraged. My two cents. A marvel thread would be a nice change of pace from some of the stuff here. I remember playing the old Marvel RPG that came out over a decade ago. I'll be happy to play, and if I do, I'll use one of my old guys I made up for the game. A starting point for a group of superheroes is very hard to make up, they can't meet up with each other in a bar fight like two-thirds of the fantasy threads start off with. My suggestion would be that if it's a few heroes, you should make them members of a pre-made group. Basically what I'm saying is that we should be members of a team already, rather than be separate, unless you want somewhat disorganized mayhem. Of course, there could be some major threat to the city which forces the mayor to ask all superheroes to come to city hall and try to stop this menace whatever it is, as a team, that to is an option. Anyway, those are my thoughts on this. Welcome, you have some good ideas and I just may steal one or two of them lol. Go ahead and post your character, and we can start in a few days as soon as we get some more people. We do need a couple of bad guys though so if you know of anyone who might like this kind of RP please tell them about it and see if they would like to join up! Blade's a marvel character, isn't he? I'll take Blade, badass motherfucker, with a heart of gold. Half vampire gold.hee. Yep he is marvel. So far we have Spider-Man (me) and Blade. Hey, I'd like to join in. My first choice would be Wolverine, so I'll take him, but if no-one wants to go a bad guy I would also be happy to go Magneto. Thanks warrior, glad to have you with us. Yes we might need you to be a bad guy, but we can wait and see. Some bad guys that could be filled are1. Doc Doom2. Kang3. Kronor any other big bad mammajamma loops: Dark could you be Magneto? He will play a part in the story I am working on... Guess I should talk about my guy... My guy, this so-called hero, isn't that good at heroin. He's perfect at marketing himself and is publicly well known. He's a bit of a buffoon though, and a good bit of comic relief. Name: DeathbaneOccupation: Owner of a small chain of gun shops known as "Guns, Liquor and Ammo, Your One-Stop Shop." Race: Robot Secret Identity: None, known to all. Special Powers:Body Armor: Not terribly strong can stop small stuff (knives etc.) can even stop low caliber bullets, but nothing big. Projectile Gun: Big cannon that he carries around attached to his arm, can blow open most doors and or walls, he can shoot not to kill with it FHE has too. Claws: (seems to me in the old Marvel RPG, EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE had to have claws, even me, he.) Nowhere near like Wolverines, can open letters and flesh on occasion, he usually prefers to slug people though. Interesting things about him:Owns a small garage full (8 of them) of Yugo's with Death bane painted on the side in red paint with flames painted coming from the wheel wells. Has two machine guns mounted on it to the sides of the hood, can be fired from within the car. Does NOT mind the fact that everyone knows him, and he's always good for a sound bite during a tussle with a bad guy. I like this guy he seems good for comic relief. So the list now stands atSpidermanBladeDeathbaneand Movie/Magneto? Could you use a girl? I was thinking of an evil enchantress....guys against girl....... Yes the evil enchantress will fit perfectly into my story. Thanks Tick can you go ahead and put your character info if your still doing it? I'll post before tonight, still deciding who to use. What is the plot? Ok Plot time... Doctor Doom has forwarded in time getting a history book. This book tells of 6 Hero who rule the galaxy in peace. Doom with the help of and enchantress. Try to figure out who the 6 are and kill the parents before the children can be born, giving doom a better chance at total domination. Uatu, the watcher has called on earths heroes and has told them of Dooms plan. Batu also has a book that tells of the 6 and gives it to Reed Richards to try and figure out who the parents of the 6 are and how to stop doom. That is the plot, if you have any ideas for it go ahead and offer them I think we will start in a couple of days if everyone is ready. Still deciding, if I'm holding you up, start I'll think of something. No you're not holding it up Tick. I will put up the actual RP thread on Thursday. I need a list of everyone who is in and what character they are using, thanks. Sure, I'm fine with going Magneto. Great, thanks, he will fit in big to the story. Um, Hamm how about the Punisher? Punisher works just fine. And thanks for playing (in my game show voice!) Gee, all these men and then little ole me. Aren't I a little at a disadvantage? Well if you look at it that way, the way I see it is I'm at an advantage. It would seem that way Haynes, but you are MORE than enough for us right? Guess I will have to be....so, put your dukes up boys..... Get ready to cry. Haynes what is your characters name and powers? The IC thread will be started tomorrow. If anyone else wants to join go right ahead, but do it in here first then we can work you into the thread, Thanks The IC thread is up...if a character is not being played by someone like Richards just write them into your addition. My character. Janet Malone Daughter of Adrian Malone. She is a redhead with attitude. (who isn't) and She can fly, telekinetic, uh, (can you tell I am pulling this out my ass) force field, fast heal, and invisibility What else do you need to know? Cranes I was wondering if you would work with Doom? Being the bad girl you are and all I can do that. Thank you, Hey sorry if I make anyone sick with my post NO it was fine...kind of shows that you have had everything taken away (hint) Hey thegenogoths, The link from the story thread don't work ... sorry it was my first try at a link One Who Can Never Feel One who controls the magnetic is Magneto then one who can never feel would be me ... Rogue If it wasn't & the one that controls magnetic is Polaris then I would be total wrong about that, but I'll still play Rogue. With the approval of thegenogoths ... Of course perhaps a small roleHiThis is my first post, in this form of role-play. But if it is ok I would like to join in. So perhaps I could ask for a small role to start in your story maybe someone easily disposed of, if things go badly. And if my writing is up to par then a staring role may open up. Thanks Are my clues that damn easy to see through! lol No problem Rogue is in. now you just have to figure out that its magneto IC. Great to have you join. I read the clues carefully & the 1st person that came to mind was Rogue on that one ...TY thegenogothswill post something later today Welcome...if you know of anyone else who would like to join have them reply in here. Thanks Marvel Marvel characters hum. Can I be Quest star or maybe Youngster? If you need more villeins I could be Cruel. You got like someone with a pet T. rex. Can you figure what these guys are from and yes it is Marvel? Don't worry I won't be those carters. It would be way hard to bring them in. Arose sorry bout the lake I got to far behind. Anyhow, if she wants more girls I have a superhero. I need to change a few things, but she'll do. Made her in gurus supers I need to tone her down a bit. Name: College: 16hair: long, blond eyes: brown race: human / Phoenix clan powers: transform into fire, immune to poison, high level for balance, flight, fireball throwing, blind fighting, blocking bullets with a sword. Bio: She is the third main Carter in a story line I made. The first hero was Lee the original Phoenix died trying to stop a huge gun on the moon. Next was Nick he was Human he was given Lees powers. He became the second Phoenix. Lastly was his daughter Cells, this Carter. The Phoenix powers are greatly changed by now. First being pasted to a human then to his child. Nick took her gain of the Phoenix extremely serious. She grew up on a small isolated island. Were her father did nothing but train her. As a result she has no since of humor. She has low empathy, she is very curious, honest all most always, and Lecherous citing on any cute guy she isn't fighting. Um he has less superpowers than her father but is a much better fighter. She carries a broadsword with a thrusting tip. Like wise, she is trained in unarmed combat. Um, ya, sorry I tried to shorten it down. If you've tried GURUS you know they have way too much detail. Anyhow can anyone tell me what comic or cartoon Quest star is from?? That is ok. You are in....just go ahead and RP and ill try to fit you in the story. Um come against did you read my Carter cells. She is a made by me but there's a lot of plot on her. Yea that is fine I can add her, go ahead and RP Shanxi'll drop resurrection though that's a big ability. And well I think it doesn't belong in this game. Cat....just to let you know I am putting you in as a parent...which one you will just have to wait and see! The clues & answers so far ...1. Avatar = Franklin Richard (son of Reed & Sue)2. The child of a God and a Witch = Thor + ???3. One who controls the magnetic and one who can never feel = Magneto + Rogue4. A jaywalking night creature and a person of light = (I know who) + ???5. A king and his thief queen = ??? + ???6. A warrior who has lost everything and a warrior who has nothing to start with = Punisher + ???Hamm ... got any more ideas guys?? MMM I think Scarlet Witch for 2 or maybe Enchantress. Maybe Kazan is the king and Shanna is the wife? Would be cool but probably not. ????????being of light or which one? Damn the easy rides are already solved. Oh, thanks for letting me in. I figure I don't know much about existing Mabel carters. Kept disorders I probably got you beat there, but they don't make that anymore. Yes being of light.... I was going to use dagger, but your character fits in their better. Yalow I know who I should role-play towards. I'll have to be subtle though Room for one more? You got my interest with this one, I don't get a lot of time to post usually, but I would like a part-time supporting role if you can work one in, sort of like a reoccurring guest star? You know someone who pops in from time to time to help out then disappears for a while? I was thinking of Iceman, or Mr. Sinister. Let me know what you think. Thanks. Spaz. Ahhh wait is the thief wife Storm? Spazmodious that's cool you could be Iceman, in like a little role if you want just go ahead and RP. Tick: Yep black panther has had a thing for storm for years in his book, so I just figured I'd let it happen Man Storm gets around..... Don't remember the Panther stuff, but she's been attached to Forge, I think Cable, That new kid on Extreme, and Now she's making out with some alien guy in the middle of space. Sure sounds like it lol Spider-Man better get his but in gear if he is going to find all these people. LOL ... Hmm ... I wonder if the Professor would tell Rogue & Storm? What is happening?? Rat Lets think about this. The professor telling you would be simple, logical, and direct. If you watch TV or read books you'll notice that they never do anything that's any one of the three. I'n conclusion I say it would be more fun if the Carter new what was happening for once. Oh well, we'll have to wait and see if he goes with or against the trend. Yes spider is getting his ass in gear, thank you! Lol You may want to wait a bit before getting Punisher, he's defiantly going to put up a fight. Ok that's not a problem Uh, Did Janet go with Doom or did he leave her there? I thought that she would go with him, but its up to you hint (go with him) lol I don't know about the other characters, but I would imagine Punisher and maybe Blade wouldn't give into Spider-Man so easy. Good day PM. I have been trying to post something here from last night. I fell asleep. DW~Rogue will be headed in yer general direction soon. Argh. Damn, go out of town for a wedding and have your laptop decide to give up it's soul and your way the fuck behind. Sorry about that gang, I'll try to work myself in... Damn that sucks DL. But I don't think ya missed anything here. It's been kinda slow this weekend. Corrections ... Cats~ cats said: IOC: Doesn't matter but Blade is thirty something. Cells is 16, Blade must like young women. Or there is the possibly Cells got him real drunk. Click to expand... I think there is a board rule ... that yer character has to be 18 ... Can anyone verify that for me? I don't know if it is the same with Corps, but I know in SRPs you have to be 18+. Dark Warrior said: IOC: I'm sorry, I'm not a full bottle on anything super-hero... who would be working for Magneto in this sort of time frame? I know some of his more classic followers, like Saber tooth, Mystique, Toad, ppl like that, but if anyone knows who I'd have on my side at this point in time, could they let me know? Click to expand... DW~here are two places you can check out for henchmen/women ... Mavel Bios A to Mutates Mutants (the site was down so I couldn't give you the link to the character bios page.) Saber tooth and Mystique was actually just in the movie. The last time Magneto had a crew, it was a few of his acolytes with him, not anyone worth mentioning, but he also had Polaris. Currently, it's tough to say because he's presumed dead in the attack on Kenosha. If you want to go classic, after his kids left him he had the Toad, Blob, and Avalanche I believe. Though I think in this particular thread the acolytes will be a lot cooler. About the age thing...she is 16 now. Doom went into the future and found that her and blade has a kid. So she wouldn't be 16 when she and blade hooked up. In the ORP age is a fine line. First, if you want to be younger than 18, you have the right to do so, since most of these things don't deal specifically with sex. However, if you choose to be younger than 18, you give up the right to have any sexual activities in the thread. This may be ORP, but from time to time character's have been known to get it on. Nothing wrong with that, so long at the thread isn't all about sex. Like here, since we have so many potential couples running around, a sex scene or two would fit in easily. I have a question actually, once everyone gets together, what's the plan then? Do we go after Doom, and all fight a bunch of henchmen, or is it going to be more like Terminator 2? We all run away from people who are sent out to kill us? I hadn't thought that far ahead yet. Lol What does everyone else think? We could do a giant battle, or the T2 Idea where doom tries to pick them off one at a time. It's up to whatever everyone else thinks. I'll post what doom does next after everyone writes what they think. T2 or not to T2I'm actually pretty intrigued by the idea of a T2 twist to things, where people who are in the those time periods and places have to band together to survive.... But that's my preference... That's one vote for T2, about T2 idea I would probably have doom and Jessie be the ones that come after everyone.tally____T2-2Big Battle-0____________I'll edit it after people vote. Dark lord, I don't think Punisher would leave his name with a local gun store owner. Lol. I could see possibly the guy who makes all his stuff for him (microchip right?) maybe having an order form with his name on it at some warehouse, but Castle wouldn't just walk into a gun store. He's considered by a lot of people as a criminal himself! Tick...what's your vote on how the story should go? One big battle or a T2 idea with Doom coming to kill everyone? Um...Hamm I think a big battle in inevitable but could we pull it off with so many people writing at once? Don't think so. T2 is good but Doom himself wouldn't do it, he probably sends one of those doom bots or something. I like the T2 but not with Doom himself. I added your vote PM. If that wins then it probably will be doom bots going after everyone and if everyone beats them then it would lead to a big battle. Wait I have a good idea, I'll pm you. Pm Depends, as I said, my guy sells to everyone, no questions asked, cash and carry, that's all that counts, but yeah, I'll reset it, so I'll call the warehouse microchip has me deliver stuff to, and ask them to contact you. How's that work? Hey tick I just PM you back about you idea. Let's have Death bane be Punishers arms man just so we can work him in the story if that's ok with you? You've been busy Bout that age thing. I had no idea. It probably doesn't matter but 16 is the age of consent in Nevada. Or at least I heard that, I should probably check some time. Apparently I hit a ruff topic by mistake. Next off I vote T2. Though we could have villeins from the future come, after doom any way. Surely if the children put that many criminals out of a job they must have quite a few people who want them removed from the time stream. I think that T2 is going to be it. As for future villeins, Doom is the only one who has gone into the future and knows this. But it does leave the door open if Doom is defeated for others to try. My apologies man I didn't mean to make it like I was coming down on you, I just thought it was funny. Kind of like looking him up in the yellow pages. I have a plot idea I'll Pm you in a few. Cats~no problem, I was just wondering cos I have seen people post on a thread for corrections of character ages. I just wanted to be sure on that for an ORP post. I didn't want yer character to be edited or what ever the monitors do. At the same time I learned something in the process. Which is a good thing. I am cool with what the majority wants to do for the thread story. I am not too familiar with the way Doom operates. So, since the Terminator plot structure is a consensus, what exactly happens now? Is Doom going to sort of wait for all of us to get together before sending out whatever to take the parents down or is he just going to go for it, like he's been doing. Oh, and do each of us get our own Terminator robot thingy, or is it just going to be a bunch of assassins after the lot of us. I think the group thing is nice, but more individual fighting/running, just one, two or three people might lead to some more independent and creative writing. At least in the beginning anyway. Pooh: Someone or something will come after you. I can't get too specific yet, sorry. Just RP like normal, and let's say after you get back to your base something might happen. Arc: About Doom. Doom will do anything and everything to become a ruler of the universe. This is the same guy who fought the devil for his mothers soul and won and on that date every year goes back to hell just to rub it in, so he is a nut, a genius, but a nut. Pooh I'm having a problem, I can't delete my posts. Haven't changed an information or anything lately. I bring it up here because I wanted to PM lengths something and accidentally posted it but can't delete it now. Waiting to hear back from Dark Lord before I post more. Hey tick, I read it and I think that your right, so, we are going to ignore the post that the one person did as Iron Man. If he is reading this, sorry but the first like in the RP thread says if you want to join go to the IOC. I didn't know anyone could delete their posts, before I became Moderator, I never could. Could you do it before? Hey, if you want, I can delete the Iron Man posts, as well as the two Ooc's. Lol, it's a moderator thing. That would help a lot, not to get people confused. Thanks pooh. Never tried to delete a post before. Please delete mine if you could, it's up to gen if he wants the others gone. Iron Candid I miss that or something. I don't remember reading any Iron Man on there. Cats~Ignore the Iron Man post if you saw it. If you didn't ... don't worry about it. Someone drop the gun & just posted there rather than here 1st. Note: was speed typing at the time of this post. Didn't read before posting ... I hate when that happens Honestly, I don't think you can delete a post. You can edit it so that it says nothing, but I doubt if you can delete it. If you find a way, please tell me though. Otherwise, just send me a PM, I will do it. All of these Moderator Superpowers and absolutely nothing to do with them. thanks Rat thanks for your reply. Are you making an example of Iron Man or did you choose to use him as the hostage for another reason? Sorry but that would be giving away some of the plot! You're right. Just tried to delete this post but couldn't guess you do need to be an administrator. I did death what it said original. Hey Goth, I notice that from time to time you speak for other characters. Is this a normal thing, or just temporary to move the plot, or something else? I don't know about anyone else, but it's a pet peeve of mine when others do that for me. Just curious, not trying to direct you or anything. ditto What pooh said. Do hasn't left or anything right. I did it just to move the plot a bit, sorry. I will only do that with characters not used. No need to apologize. I was just wondering, heck, if I was making a thread and wanted to move along, I would talk for other characters too. I just didn't want to see a post in a week or so with Blade having a bunch of different conversations with everyone. Lol I'm still here... Just got a bit confused when lengths posted speech from Magneto. I was waiting to see Rogue's response. Gee ... I was doing the same ... DW cos Gene post made me think for very a second ... Gen you have to be careful with that even if you are the thread starter or people will shy away from your threads. Perhaps if you need to advance the storyline in a certain way, PM the author first man. Like I said before I am sorry. I should have PM everyone who I used and didn't. But don't worry I won't do it again. Gene~NP ... wasn't upset or anything ... ok Hello everyone got room for one more? I would prefer to play either Nightcrawler or Colossus. Which would you rather I play thegenogoths, It does not matter to me. CheweyBy the way, I also used to play the old Marvel Role Playing game, so that make two of us in the known universe. It's cool with me, you can be whoever you want if you can work them into the story, I guess. What does everyone else think? Which character should Cheney be? Can I Join in Can U goes what character I Want to play Dark Talon said: Can I Join in Can U goes what character I Want to play Click to expand... Gee, I just can't imagine which one ??? Chewey Ugh......mummy. Dunno I think either could fit into the story. It way is interesting to have the Ultimate X-men version of Colossus. Thegenogoths said: Like I said before I am sorry. I should have PM everyone who I used and didn't. But don't worry I won't do it again. Click to expand... No sweat man, we all made the same mistake before. I vote for the blue elf!!!heh, heh Pm Tick said: Ugh......mummy. Dunno I think either could fit into the story. It way is interesting to have the Ultimate X-men version of Colossus. Click to expand... Sorry, Pm, but I am not familiar with him in the Ultimate X-Men, I stopped collecting back around issue 220 lol. What changes were made? Any info would be cool. Chewey Arc the Rat said: I vote for the blue elf!!! heh, heh Click to expand... So it looks like its Colossus : 1 vote if Ultimate Nightcrawler: 1 vote Honestly it does not make a difference to me either way, so you guys and gals decide. Chewey Ultimate is an updated version of the X-men's early days. The first few issues circled around younger versions of Jean Grey, Cyclops, Colossus, Iceman, and Wolverine. Colossus was a former hitman who would use his powers like Kevlar but was forced to leave his business after people discover he was a mutant. Iceman is kind of like the Jr. member. Wolverine (much younger) was originally working for Magneto and was supposed to kill Xavier but changed his mind. Cyclops defected to the brotherhood briefly. Since the first 3 issues a younger version of Storm and Gambit have popped up. And a very cool Weapon X storyline which introduced us to Nightcrawler and Rogue. I'm really not doing it justice babbling incoherently like this but I recommend checking it out as well as the Newer X-men titles, which for the first time in maybe 5 years is good again. If you want I'll tell you more, but I don't want to bore you. Oh, check out the marvel website, they have most of the Ultimate comics online so you could even read them right there. Um guy with the Captain America in the corner You are playing as Turret from Dino Riders right and then Chewy I vote for abstaining. Abstaining? I sent the guy wanting to be capped a PM telling him that after chewy we are not taking new people. Chewy, I think that ultimate colossus, would work with the punisher, you could have him go after him or work with him It's up to you and tick. Abstainnot voting. It sounds cool to me. Up to Chewie Then I choose Colossus. I am going to go to the Marvel Website then and check it out. I would imagine it iswww.Marvel.com?? Furthermore, I don't mind working with Pm at all, just pm me your ideas big guy. Furthermore, I am flexible. Chewey Chewy ~here are other sites to check out ... This one has a perfect bio pages ... Mutatis Mutandisor if that is down check this one out ... It's not as good as MM ... Unoff Marvel Bathe official marvel page is kind of incomplete on bio info ... The marvel sight is lacking as far as a bio goes, but you can read the complete issues right there. I'll pm you as I think of ideas but for now I would say just try to get into the story. Gen, how did the pm go? Nothing about Ultimate characters on that first site. Didn't check the second yet. Tick, if it's the one I think you mean then I guess it went ok I haven't got anything back. That one or did you mean another? That one. Thanks for the info on the Extreme Colossus, Pm, it will prove to be valuable. I have sent out a few pms to get the scene set so that Colossus can enter without throwing off the thread. Chewey NP Cheney, I just picked up the new issue, seems Peter has left the X-men. At least for now. The scariest thing about going onto the Marvel website was that it made me want to start collecting again. Wonder what my other half will say about that. Maybe if I say It's for the kids Hamm maybe that would work. Chewey I think it's because the material has gotten so good, it's not just the x-men that have been rocking lately. Captain America, Ultimate Spider-Man, Hulk, Punisher, Marvel Knights, Electra, all excellent titles as of late. I was really into them back in the mid 80s pretty much was collecting all of them for a while. Wish I still had them all. I had a friend of mine that was very talented, and after he left the store, he was selling them for a quarter, so I had a ton. I even liked Power Pack for those of you that can remember them lol. Chewey Ok, Colossus has arrived, and I hope he has not thrown off anyone's ideas on this thread. He is ready for action now. Chewey I remember Power Pack. Like I've said, Marvel has been doing a good job since Nevada took over. You should see Cable, they've taken a mediocre book and made it into an awesome title. I've heard they are changing Deadpool to Agent X and Cable to Solder X so they don't have to pay Lei field residues anymore. I never liked the way Lei field drew the X-men. Come on now Cyclops is muscular but not buff as Wolverine is. He was drawing the younger gals like they were full bodies women like Storm & Jean. Sneeze ... Yeah, though later on when he returned to Cable for one issue was pretty good. He was much younger than I suppose, I don't think he's even drawing anything now though. My thoughts If every one keeps going on like this I might get into comics and that would be a nightmare I have enough debt as is. Of coarse being the same person I normal yam, dose anyone remember Dino Riders. They used to have a cartoon and all sorts of toys. High quality to not like the crap kids play with today. I used to play with the figures and watch the cartoon when I was young. Was there something prior to the cartoon? I never saw it on TV I had two episodes on video. Good memory Ya they sold to home videos. I also have a bunch on tape. My understanding is Marvel revised the comic book series the same time the show started. One hell of a fast moving campaign If I recall correctly, they weren't around too long. Dark lord, paging Dark lord. I am waiting for him to post before I do again. Come on Dark lord, let's get this party started.lol. Chewey Sorry Sorry you guys, I just started a new job and I won't have the time to post like I thought I would. I am going to have to pull out, if someone would like to take over Iceman, that's cool (pardon the pun) or I can post one last time to give him some reason for leaving the storyline. PM me and let me know. See you around. Spaz. Well, I could not wait any longer, sorry Dark lord, could not wait for you to post. Now I will have to improvise, but that is half the fun at times. Chewey Sorry Chew... Chew, Sorry about that, but I had to go out of town on business, and that's never an easy proposition. But I'll play along as best I can. Also, if you could, play my guy if I don't post in a day, do what you need, he's supposed to be somewhat a bit of comic belief.-DL IOC: Too Late to Join? Is it too late to join? If Not, I want to be Gambit. But, if he's taken, I'll be Iceman or Pro. Hey Gene, I know it was a while ago, but you said something might happen if Blade finally was alone in the warehouse.(pointing at the thread)Make some magic. Gen-worked out a way with Arc to bring her back into the storyline and introduce Deadpool into it at the same time. Re: Sorry Chew... Dark lord said: Chew, Sorry about that, but I had to go out of town on business, and that's never an easy proposition. But I'll play along as best I can. Also, if you could, play my guy if I don't post in a day, do what you need, he's supposed to be somewhat a bit of comic belief. -DL Click to expand... No worries Dark Lord, I was able to figure out another way to keep him going. As far as playing the character, no problem. I seem to have a gift with comic relief *rolls eyes* Effort, its usually when I am trying to be serious. Tick: However you want to bring Arc back in is cool with me. I like the Deadpool post, the mere with a mouth was always one of my faves. I talked to her, she should be posting soon, hopefully. Ok, now that we got the Punisher out safely, at least for him, not his victims; how are we going to get them all in line with the overall theme of the thread? Any ideas? Chewey ...nope.... Pm Tick said: ...nope.... Click to expand... Well Pm, that was an overly verbose post. LOL. I have been racking both of my brain cells to figure out how to get them included. Hopefully Lengths will hop on here and give us some thoughts. Chewey Cheney, still not sure how to get us in the action seeing as how colossus hasn't met the others yet. Lengths any ideas? I am still stumped too as far as how to get us involved in the main plot. Is Spider-Man in Las Vegas looking for one of the people in the riddle??? Maybe Punisher and Colossus get arrested for torching the building and Reed Richards bails them out ? We need to do this soon, so we can get more involvedChewey Well, and this is just off the top of my head, but there could be spreading rumors of Dr. Doom putting hundreds of millions of dollars on the heads of the superheros that are on the list. That way, certain factions, Mafia, Chinese gangbangers, just about anybody can start in on tracking down the chosen parents. This way, your character will get bombarded with assassination attempts (well, more than usual for some of you). Then, it's simply a matter of keeping one of the people who tried to kill you alive to find out what's going on, then you're part of the plot. Good idea, pooh live, I will have to figure out how to incorporate that into a post. Appreciate it. Chewey Ok, got it. When colossus calls into his boss, his boss tries to take him out since he had heard of the reward offered for the Punisher and he can't believe that colossus had helped to keep him alive. That should work, then since I have Dark banes numbers, I can get in touch with him and the Punisher when he finds out about the Bounty on his head I would have made it a little bloodier, but that's me. It's sound enough, and doesn't break any logical rules. Sounds like fun. Hey, Gene, how are things? People still in this, or what? I am here ... Arc the Rat said: I am here ... Click to expand... Gee Arc, I would have thought that you would have been here more often, or are you sated now that you have trounced SD's post totals ?*runs for cover*Cheney I'm still around I am still here. Hey Pm, should I go back and edit that post where on my post you drove off with Death bane, or is it cool to just leave it since you fixed it on your post? Chewey Ah, you could just leave it. Ok, cool. I was not sure of the ethics of leaving that old post, I have not been here that long. Chewey usually you would have to edit it but don't worry about it now. Has anyone talked to lengths? I pmed him but have not heard back yet. I think he is M.I.A. If he is, I have dibs on Spider-Man. I'm just putting that out there right now (hee). I'm not sure though, he dropped out of a couple other threads. Perhaps he left permanently. Let's give him a few more days. He's defiantly posting somewhere. On a side note I'll be away from Thursday to Monday, so I'm pretty much keeping my characters away from the others for now. Actually Pooh, is there a standard amount of time before we can consider someone official gone? I double-checked his profile, and he's been gone since the 6th. I'll be away from Thursday to Monday, so I'm not writing anything else for Punisher until then. If Arc doesn't post before tomorrow I'm just going to have Deadpool stow away somewhere until Monday. There has never been an official time for some people to move on. It usually depends. One of the problems here is that he didn't say he was leaving, he just up and left. I'd say, give him a few more days, Pm Tick, possibly email him, tell him that we'll move on without him if he doesn't get in here. And then, well, we'll just have to pick it up and see what kind of plot we can save. I dropped him an email. Maybe we should give him till Monday. If he doesn't respond, he and I discussed a few plot elements that I will share with whoever takes over. I was wondering what had happened to him. Who wants to take over if he does not come back? Pooh? I would, but I have little experience in all this. Would rather just post for the hell of it. Chewey Not going away after all, I'm sick. Will post something later for punisher. WWW ... poor PM ... I hope I didn't give you my cold ... Hope you feel better ... Thanks Arc, I'm just pissed because I'm never sick and this weekend I was going to a huge party and now I can't. Hey are you going to do something with Rouge soon? If not Deadpool is going to have to sneak onto a freighter or something. Hah, Hah ... I was just going to write up something w/ Rogue ... I just needed to ask you a question ... Does she even know is his real name ?? yeah, I think it's common knowledge. I figured she could stop him from wasting them all or something. Bye See the actual site I explain every thing there. Sorry to see you go Cats ... If you want me to DM, I won't mind. I could whip up a couple of plot twists and run you through a nice gauntlet of adventure or two. I don't think I could follow exactly what the original plot was going to be. And with a lot of people leaving (sorry to see you go Cats) I think this will need a bit of a change. If no one else steps forward though, I wouldn't mind taking it on. Hee he, I still have dibs on Spider though. I don't particular think the original storyline with Doom and the offspring of the heroes is viable anymore, but there are a couple of twists in place that I'd like to share with you Pooh. Sorry to see cats leave too. But I agree, the old plot won't work with the characters that we have active now. Cool, let's get this thread started again. All right then, I said Monday, didn't I? If I didn't, I thought it in my head. I suppose I'm the official DM now, and being such I make my first proclamation that I am now Spider-Man. Since Blade hasn't really been a part of much, and since if I take him up, I'll have to be posting with myself, I'll drop his character for now. Once things get rolling though, don't be surprised to see him. I'm going to have to read through everything, including this IOC, so give me until Wednesday before I start making any big motions. Also, I need to know who is still in this, and with what character. I'll be honest, when I was Blade I didn't keep up much with the other plot lines, which I will now remedy. I just want to know both writers and characters, who's still in this. Also, if you have any plot twists, or anything so far as where you might like to take your character(s) PM me, or just write it down. I'm not promising to bend my back for every single request, but I'll do my best to see that this is fun and eventful for everyone. And, last, but not least... wish me luck. GOOD LUCK hahahaCheweyBut seriously, it is good to see that we can get this wagon train movie. Pooh, I'm still in with Punisher and Deadpool. I'll pm you a twist I had discussed with Lengths. Pooh~I will still play Rogue & I guess, I will follow Deadpool around ... Is there going to be a change in the plot too??? I plan on sticking with Colossus and hope that he can be brought into the fold if Death bane ever makes it back. Lol. Chewey I think he's done man, don't know though I could be wrong. Pm Tick said: I think he's done man, don't know though I could be wrong. Click to expand... I was wondering, I have not seen him post in a while. Is this normal, Dark lord, Lengths, Duffy all stop posting without saying anything to anyone. Is this part of the ebb and flow of authors on the thread? Chewey more or less, though Duffy's been here awhile, little surprised. Still kicking... Hey guys, I'm still here, but I've been busy now that my work at my current job is winding down it takes some time to get everything settled up. Also, I was waiting to see if you guys had been able to gene, since I haven't been able. So, let me know if you plan to keep this thing moving in some way. All right, since so little of the actual parents are still around, the old plot of having Doom go and kill them before they make children is scratched. I'm trading it in for a newer model, so to speak. Here's the new plot. Doom did go to the future, and has seen that there was a huge war, nearly every supervision grouped up, and tried to take over the universe (lame, I know, but bear with me) this made all the superhero's join forces, and try and stop them. It was a bloody battle, many people died, but in the end, the heroes were victorious. With the few surviving hero's, they vowed this would never happen again, so they all teamed up to make a Super Force team for the future. The hero's still alive? Punisher, Deadpool, Spider-Man, Blade, Rogue, Colossus, and (anyone else that wants to join?) Doom realizes that if he kills the hero's now, in the present, he can go to the ultimate war, and make the supervisions become victorious, and thus rules the entire universe. Now he's brought back with him, some super-new high-tech gear, including ultimate weaponry, cyborg/robots, and even a couple of new villeins (very powerful).~HAH~ What do you think of that? It's still open to some changes, if you feel any are necessary, but that's the basic structure of it. I'll start off easy, sending a few drones and old lackey's after you first, but the good stuff will come soon enough. I got your twist Pm, and can easily fit it in. If anyone else has some twists or something they'd like to see, just ask, I'll do my best to put it in. Works for me, that plot sounds good. Boy are we in trouble if this collection of Hero, is the best of the best. Lol. Chewey Ok Pooh live, how much tougher are these robots. It is going to be tough for some of the other characters if they are all as strong as Colossus is, he was able to lift 75 tons with some difficulty. I plan on pretty much ripping the pieces apart and stomping on them, hopefully, it will not be able to reassemble like Nimrod did. Chewey Sorry... Hey guys, sorry, but I'm going to have to drop out of this thread here due to a couple of things, the biggest being that I have shoulder surgery coming up soon, so I'll be one armed for a while, and it's a with to type one-handed, let me tell you. Sorry to hear that Dark Lord, hope everything works out ok with the surgery. Chewey Ok, where did everyone go? Hope it's just the Memorial Day weekend. Chewey No, what you did was fine Cheney. Honestly, I didn't think your character would have much problem with them, it was the others where I wanted to have fun with, but everyone seems to have disappeared. I can't start phase 2 until phase one is complete. Sorry to hear you go DL, get healed up. That's the important part. Hey guys, I can only DM so much, without hardly any response. You all said you were still in this thing...PROVE IT!!!! Ok, whew, I thought I screwed up with the way that I destroyed it. Brute strength does have its advantages. Lol. CheweyAnd I am still in, dammit. Well since I was playing Colossus from a gangster angle I would imagine he has not met Prof X, or even been a Man yet. So, I am going a roundabout way to find out what is going on. Chewey Ok, guys and gals, Am I the only one still interested in this thread? Am I just playing with myself? Thought I got that all out of the way in Junior High. Chewey .... I think this thread is a goner pal......... Since I was a kid, lo those many years ago, I loved comics. But, to be truthful, the only one I still read, even at my advanced age, is Legion. I know, it is from DC, not Marvel, but I would love to see someone start up a game that I could get involved in as Spark, Shrinking Violet, Shadow Lass, or Saturn Girl. Any chance of THAT happening? Pm Tick said: .... I think this thread is a goner pal......... Click to expand... Yup, I would have to agree. Damn, that's two of the threads that I am on that have died. Is it me???? Maybe if I used more deodorant......or at least used it...... Chewey

OOC and Casting- Marvel|rating:2.0

Captive (Doomsday and Sussurus)

Alien woke to darkness, and the sound of a bell. A thrill ran through her, and she was wide awake. She threw off her sheets, strode across the room, and began donning her armor. She didn't waste time changing clothes, just strapped the shaped and embossed leather over the loose silk pants and shirt she'd slept in. Her sword went on last, the elegant swept-hilt rapier than her mother had bequeathed to her. Elegant and deadly. How long had it been since she'd worn it in earnest? Too long. Enna shook her head at the thought. We're under attack. Death will surely come to some of us, before dawn's light. She whispered a few words, and felt a curious shift in her eyes, though not an unexpected one. Had anyone looked closely, they would have seen that they were now were slit-pupiled, like a cat's. Death may well come to me, despite all my skill. And yet she couldn't help but think, as she drew her blade and strode out into the night, that she had rarely felt so alive. Come to me, my enemy. Come and let us dance in the darkness, and discover who the victor shall be. The attack had only been planned hours in advance, as the unit of exhausted Irish warriors were given a report of the village the scouts had discovered. Their orders were to subjugate all even settlements and strip them of any supplies that could be used to replenish the even forces, and to make hell of the elves under their control. They would salt the grasslands until they were barren, stomp out and burn any unharvested crops, and kill any who opposed them. The Irish forces wanted to put fear into the hearts of the elves, who already regarded orcs as monsters; They expected to find the gates of the great even cities to be abandoned, their guardians having turned tail in fear of the Irish invasion pressing upon their lands. Along with his aching hamstrings and burning lungs from a long forced march through even territory, Sunlight (one of the dozens of Irish invaders, felt his stomach boiling with anxiety. He was not an old orc, and had never seen an elf before, besides the crude dummies erected in effigy of the elves, used as practice for Irish archers or swordsmen. The stories of the elves were usually conflicting, though they all shared the same theme: The fair people of the east were cunning, cold and heartless, and would die before they saw the orcs prosper. The overwhelming Irish hatred of the elves had worked to unite the innumerable clans of orcs under one giant, yellow banner, one that was now surging through even lands on multiple fronts. Sunlight hated the elves, as all orcs did, but he also feared them, and their capabilities. No orc had ever wielded the powers of magic since the ancient times, when the unforgotten shamans shaped the earth and made the Irish people. Yet elves, in defiance of the gods and the shamans of old, were sorcerers and witches with an untold capability of destruction. For the sake of the Irish people, they had to be tamed. It was a chilly night, mere hours before dawn, when the orcs swept into the village, quiet and unaware of their new guests. Despite their caution, an alarm was quickly raised, followed by screams as the elves witnessed the hulking orcs begin to beat down doors, slaying whatever horses they saw; Without their mounts, the elves couldn't flee from the city, and warn their kindred. The longer the Irish invasion was a secret, the more advantageous it was to the generals in the main front. As the invaders began to drag elves into the streets, hauling many of them to the central square of the village, a resistance was mounted. Elves wielding spears, swords, axes, bows, shields came out of their homes, causing the orcs to roar with bloodlust as the engagements began. Sundigir, both eager and weary of facing an elf in combat, soon found a foe, though he nearly missed her approach as he was too busy gawping at elves, creatures he had never seen before. They looked... Frail, nonthreatening, though he knew that might have been the case, given how quiet and small this particular village was. Then he saw her; Dressed from head to toe in thick-looking leather armor, a skinny sword in her hand. It looked... Harmless, though the way she held it seemed to indicate that she could do some very real damage with the blade. Sunlight snorted loudly, steeling his nerves with a resolve to slay his opponent, and clapped his blade against his wooden shield twice, eliciting loud banging noises before he charged at her. He did not have the advantage of armor; Sunlight was nothing more than a grunt among the ranks, though he was noticeable among the other orcs for being nearly a head taller than the rest. He possessed superior strength to his kin as well, as this elf would soon find herself cleaved in half, if his will was done. "Die, weakling!" He screamed as he engaged the woman in combat, his sword and shield dancing in a practiced rhythm. Orcs. The shock of that, as she saw one of the brutes slaughtering a horse across the square, shook Alien as the initial bell-rung warning had not. She'd expected humans, as she had fought -- five decades ago? Six? -- no matter. Humanscould be worthy opponents, for all that they bred like rabbits and died like mayflies. But analogies aside, they were people. Orcs were little better than animals. The village was an isolated one, and insular. Word of the Irish invasion had not yet reached them. Alien thought of the orcs as being incapable of organization or strategy... and yet... They're killing the horses. Why are they killing the horses? Why do they care if some of us escape? Then she heard a scream nearby, and saw an elf fall, and another two rush in to avenge him. She felt a cold fury wash over her. These brutes think they can best us? I do not think they can dance, but they can certainly die. She looked about for a suitable target for her anger... and found him, in the form of a massive orc a short distance away, seemingly distracted. She stalked towards him, not bothering to conceal her approach. He saw her finally, and made a show of clapping sword against shield, as if tofrightenher. She sneered with contempt. He charged, and she sidestepped -- and then she found that hecoulddance, after a fashion. She was the faster of the two, but he had reach on her, and a fearsome strength behind his blows. It should have been terrifying, but Alien found it exhilarating. Utterly different from fighting one of her own kind. She didn't dare let him land a blow on her, but if she was quick enough --there. Anna lunged, aiming a thrust at his sword-arm. The pair of fighters, both a stark contrast of the other, fought amid a whirlwind of chaos. There was one building that had been set afire, flames licking at the wooden walls and ceiling, the screams of orc and elf alike echoing from inside the pyre. Some elves were surrendering, throwing themselves in front of their families and pleading for mercy... Some of the orcs showed the mercy, staying their blade, but yet others gave none, lopping off the heads of elves as they begged. Their orders were not to kill all the elves, though that was certainly open to interpretation, as they had not been specifically told to spare them, either. The elf that was Sunlight's foe was impossibly swift on her feet, moving faster than any orc had ever moved. His nerves turned into a sickness of fear; He would die on her sword tonight, if he could not hit her first. She could turn his sword, much longer and heftier than her thin rapier, though she also felt his unbridled strength behind every blow he threw. He saw the blade bend every time their steel clapped together, and a desperate, if not insane idea came to the orc's mind. He lifted his arm, intending to cleave her thin blade in half, but once again she was too quick, and in the blink of an eye, Sunlight felt muscles severed in his sword arm as her small blade cut into his elbow, causing the warrior to roar with fury. Incensed by the sight of his own blood, he attacked. His grip weakened by some unknown damage done to his arm, Sunlight charged at the elf, violently swinging his blade in desperation, missing her every time. But he possessed more strength, more fury than before, his attacks came faster and faster, forcing all of her attention upon to him. The orc continued to advance, and mere feet behind the backpedaling elf lay a dead horse... Unless she looked backwards, or somehow sensed the presence of the obstruction, she would lose her footing, and he would be upon her in an instant. Alien may have been part of the village's militia, but truly, she was no soldier. She had spent what must have been cumulative decades in practice... on the smooth floors of the village's dance-hall, or in fair weather, on the carefully levelled cobblestones of the square. Of course, if she had thought about it, it would have occurred to her that in the chaos of battle, there were likely to be unexpected obstacles, which she should look out for... but the orc had her quite thoroughly distracted, for all that she was managing to dodge his every blow. And yes, necessarily, she was mostly managing to evade him by retreating backwards -- until those quick dancing steps were suddenly impeded, and she tumbled backwards, only narrowly managing to twist and catch herself with one arm, to save her skull from being split on the cobblestones. Sprawled across the horse's bulk, much of her weight on her sword-arm, she was as good as disarmed... which meant she was as good as dead. Ennalien stared up at her opponent in shock... and, for the first time, fear. The elf continued to dance backwards, deftly evading his blows. His heart was pounding in his chest, afraid that she would catch him at his game, and sidestep at the last moment. He could feel blood and sweat slicking the grip of his sword, the leather handle threatening to fly out of his grasp as he swung wildly at her, hoping to make a score in her leather, but ultimately steering her towards the fallen horse. A look of surprise overcame the elf, and she sprawled over backwards, not entirely falling on her bottom, but landing awkwardly on her hand, pinning her rapier to the ground. He pounced upon her, intending to slash her throat, but there was a clatter of steel against the cobblestones of the road, and he felt the sword fall out of his weakened grasp. He eschewed the shield from his other hand, but there was no time to retrieve the blade, and besides that, the sword was not nearly as strong or deft in that hand. No, his only hope lied in his fists. Sundigir fell onto his opponent, making the two of them topple over the horse. His sudden weight upon her, as well as the awkward position of her wrist on the ground, holding her up, forced her to release the blade, which now laid several feet away from the elf as he grabbed her by her leather armor and spun her over onto her back. The orc's good hand held onto the collar of her armor, but he could not form a fist with his wounded hand, nor could he open it for an open palmed slap. Still, though, he was straddling her chest, pressing all his weight down upon her. She was defeated, unless she could somehow wriggle out of his grasp. The fight raged on about them, though it was winding to an inevitable close, as there were simply too many orcs for the under-handed even defenders to deal with. Some threw down their arms, others were slain where they stood, in defiance until the end. Breathing heavily, winded by his duel with the female elf, he growled, "Submit, and I'll spare you." It was the truth; Though he hated her, and her people, the orc felt there was no honor or skill in slaughtering the defeated. Some of his comrades did not have the same reservations, though, as dozens of innocent elves had already died through the night. To Alien's astonishment, the triumphant orc dropped his sword and then his shield. Did he think her so decisively defeated? Well, he wasn't far wrong, but she still held her blade -- but as she attempted to lunge forward, to regain her footing, the orc fell onto her, and she lost her grip, and with it, her only hope of victory. Pinned beneath his weight, she was aware of her heart hammering in her chest, and her breath came too quickly, tiny gasps she couldn't seem to control. Was this how she was to die, in helpless terror? She tried to steady her breathing, trying to keep some small shred of dignity in her last moments. He still had no sword, how did he intend to kill her? She had no doubt that he had the strength to break her neck, but he only gripped her armor -- as if his weight alone was not enough to pin her." Submit, and I'll spare you." Ennalien stared at him. She'd had no attention to spare for the battle as a whole, fighting her own duel, so she was unsure as to the fate of the village... and yet she had an inkling, for this unarmed orc had her pinned, and no one came to her aid. She hesitated a moment longer, hoping... but no. Even the sounds of battle were beginning to lessen. They had lost. And she had a choice. Hers was a proud people; she knew that many would have chosen defiance, and death. But for all that she had seen a hundred summers and more, Alien was not ready to die." I yield," she said, her voice quiet but steady. The orc was pleased that she chose to submit, and he gave a toothy grin as she said the words. Sitting atop her, his adrenaline falling, he became aware of how... Strangely exotic she looked. The elf appeared nothing like the caricatures he had seen before, none of the fangs or claws that the elders had described to him. She was beautiful in a way, attractive, in a perverse manner unknown to him. In his leather breeches, Sunlight felt his manhood stir, making his grin widen even further, and his mind began to race with vile thoughts, but his reverie was broken a moment later, as a familiar voice shouted right above his head, "Gather the elves to the square!" It was a call to all orcs who had captured their prey and had spared them, as Sunlight had, as well as a direct message to the young orc himself, who for a moment, was content to sit on her." Don't try anything stupid," he warned, standing up and lifting her to her feet with his good hand with significant ease. He weighed as much as five of her, and could certainly lift more than his own weight in one hand; She was like a rag doll in his grip. His hand still on her collar, Sunlight pushed her forward, sending her colliding into one of her own people, and then he fell back to stand among his brothers, the same big grin on his face. Some chattered about how many they had killed; "Dozens," one boasted, though Sunlight doubted that claim. There were certainly dozens lying dead in the street, but no more. He saw half that many orcs dead as well, having fallen in glorious battle, as any orc might have wished. He felt that same nervous twisting in his stomach, realizing that he had almost been one of them. Furthermore, he looked back up at the elf he had captured again, his grin gone as he stared into her strange, cat-like eyes. Funny, none of the other elves had those eyes..." Who would speak for you?!" A ragged voice cried from among the Irish ranks, pushing his way past Sunlight and his comrades, coming to stand in front of the overgrowing mass of elves huddled around each other. Even still, more elves were being dragged out of their homes and taken to the city square. The orc in question looked as hearty and athletic as any of the others, though he bore a dozen scars for every one that Sunlight wore. One of his protruding fangs had been knocked out of his mouth long ago, and his grayish white hair, once thick and black as all orcs wore it, grew in patches, in between scars from previous fights. He had earned the title of battle chief, though he had never been a chief back when that title mattered. "Arthur, son of East, speaks for the proud sons of the Task prairie, but who would speak for you?" The orc's smug grin turned decidedly lewd as he looked her over. Alien glared at him with a look of utter contempt. Perhaps she should have been more afraid of him, but though her heart still pounded with adrenaline, her fear had turned to anger -- a futile, frustrated anger, for she had already conceded the fight." Gather all the elves to the square!" shouted another orc. Anna grimaced, unsurprised but still dismayed at this confirmation of their collective defeat." Don't try anything stupid," her captor warned, hauling her upright -- as if she would, as if she could-- and pushed her forward. She stumbled and collided with someone -- Torre, her age mate and friend, as dear to her as a sister. They steadied each other, and then embraced briefly. Anna saw despair in Torre's eyes, and wondered if she herself looked as stricken. She didn't feel it, but perhaps it simply hadn't caught up with her yet... the way an injury could feel like nothing at first, and only later bring pain. She looked around, taking stock of who was standing in the square, and who had fallen, steadying herself with the knowledge that Torre at least had survived. Furthermore, she had no doubt that she would be able to name each of the dead, and no doubt that she would grieve for them... but if Torre had died, she might have chosen to follow her." Who would speak for you?!" An hideous and battle-scarred orc, one-fanged, called out to the crowd of elves. "Arthur, son of East, speaks for the proud sons of the Task prairie, but who would speak for you?" There was murmuring among a group at the center -- the elves had naturally grouped themselves around their elders, and it was from those elders that the village council was drawn. After a moment a woman made her way through the ranks. Dressed in loose white sleeping-clothes similar to the gray silks that Anna wore beneath her armor, she somehow managed to look poised and dignified. Her white hair fell to her waist, trailing behind her as she strode forward, the crowd parting around her. Her face... it was like a lake in a storm, troubled on the surface, yet with a sense of stillness and depth, of a strange calm certainty that the storm would pass. She stood at the edge of the crowd, and faced Arthur. "I am Fallen, daughter of Libraries. I will speak for my people." The appointed leader of the elves approached, but Arthur, the battle chief, held his tongue for a moment, allowing an awkward silence to breed between them. Sunlight retreated momentarily to retrieve his sword and shield, sheathing one on his belt and slinging the other across his back. Sunlight also found the elvish rapier that his opponent had dropped, and held it in his hands, wondering whether to keep it, or to return it to his foe. The young orc flexed his non-responsive left hand, unable to make a fist still. There were no orc shamans, not for generations upon generations, but perhaps an elf would be able to heal him, though he was wary that they would try to trick him, and kill him instead. Sunlight rejoined the swollen rank of Irish spectators, who watched as Arthur finally spoke, after staring at the elf for a long, long time." Your people have been defeated, Fallen. Do you surrender your city and your property to this tribe?" If the elf agreed, then there would be a momentary peace. The orcs would strip the city of all useful supplies, reap the even crops and then destroy their farming lands. The village would be desolate after the orcs left, and would perhaps die, unable to continue to sustain itself, but there would be law. No orc could kill an elf if they surrendered, unless that elf had wrongly taken an orc life. And vice versa; Arthur was honorable, and if any of his men had broken the peace, he would kill them himself. However, if the elves did not agree to these terms of peace, he was content to simply slaughter them all, for the opposite of peace was war, and if the elves rejected peace then it was a declaration of war. Sundigir felt nervous, as the battle chief's question of unconditional surrender hung in the air. He hoped they would agree; Sunlight loved to fight, to kill... In battle. It wouldn't be a battle between two warriors if he was ordered to slaughter every elf he saw. His eyes found the elf he had fought, and he thought for a moment to return her rapier to her, if the even leader foolishly rejected the ultimatum. He examined the finely crafted tool in his hand, wondering why such excellent steel was made to be so flimsy... A fitting allusion to the elves, he imagined, looking back up at her again, grinning. She had been so skillful, but yet, she had been taken down by a dead horse. After introducing herself, Fallen stood speaking, facing the Irish chief... and if she found the resulting silence uncomfortable, there was nothing in her expression to show it. She stared back at him, head held high, waiting with the patience of someone who might well see a thousand winters pass, and was more than half-way to that tally. Enna waited with considerably less grace, glaring at her Irish opponent, Woodard take her blade as a trophy. She wished she'd at least had the opportunity to run him through, to add one more body to the Irish side of the scale, even if it had not changed the outcome of the battle." Your people have been defeated, Fallen. Do you surrender your city and your property to this tribe?" Faelwen let the silence stretch long -- precisely as long as Arthur had, in fact. But Anna knew the answer was already decided... and knew, for that matter, what it was. Out of everyone on the council, they had chosen Fallen, teacher of the young, to speak. For her patience, no doubt... but also because she would be most able to swallow her pride, and do what needed to be done, that their village might yet survive. And so, finally, she broke the silence: "We surrender." If the gathered villagers had been human, there would surely have been murmurs of dismay and denial, questions and protests. From the elves, there was silence... though a few closed their eyes, as if to shut out the sight of the victorious orcs. Anna was not among them. She continued to glare at the orc who had personally defeated her... if only by virtue of that damned horse. The orc did not enjoy the turnaround of the extended silence before the elf's reply; He chewed his lip angrily, his hand inching towards the hatchet strapped to his hip. The elf finally spoke though, his words bringing a grin to Arthur's scarred face, and a relieved expression to Sunlight's, who then tried to emulate his leader with his own, cocky grin. The younger orc found himself staring at his captive again, the skilled elf with the rapier, and she was glaring at him, her eyes glancing between his face, a furious expression in her cat-like orbs, and the sword that he held, outraged that he had claimed her blade as a prize. Maintaining his confident smirk, Sunlight began to bend the blade, his fingers cut against the sharp sides of the thin sword. It was strong steel, but so terribly slender; Sunlight's lips curled into a snarl as he was forced to put more strength into his effort, his large, muscular upper body straining with the effort, but finally, the elf's blade snapped loudly, a shard of metal flying off as her rapier fractured into three or more pieces; Sunlight tossed the scraps away but kept the larger half that was still attached to the handle, tying it to his belt. The Irish leader hadn't noticed the impressive feat of strength, his eyes still locked on the even woman who had just acquiesced to the Irish invaders. Arthur took a few steps towards Fallen, and grabbed her roughly by the arm. "Wise choice, woman," he growled in a low voice, staring down at her, standing two heads taller than her and twice as thick. He raised his voice, to speak to the even people, though his red eyes stayed fixed on Fallen's unflinching gaze. "The elves will surrender any surpluses of food to my men; You will keep nothing more than two weeks of food for yourselves. Any weapons, armor, carts, horses, any tools of war that can be used against us will be handed over, as well. Any withholding of these things will be punished by pain of death. Any defiance on your part... Can be punished in whatever way we please." Sundigir had fought with Arthur before, and when he was younger, had heard tales of the barbaric things Arthur was capable of. Scalping, slayings, whippings, other brutal methods of torture... Sunlight was sure that Arthur would not harm the elves for no reason, though his definition of 'defiance' could be something so minor and unthinkable as not stepping out of his way in a narrow corridor quickly enough. The war chief continued, "Your woman will be our collateral; Show good faith, and she will be returned safely the day we march. But she will feel my wrath whenever it is invoked by you people," Arthur promised, a seething look of hatred on his face as he looked down at Fallen before he gave her arm a good tug, nearly ripping it out of her shoulder socket, as he began to drag her towards the edge of the city. "Set up camp, boys!" He roared at his orcs, most of whom were already moving towards the edge of the city to retrieve the supplies they had dropped to enable them to strike faster against the elves. Tents, rations, sleeping rolls and more were erected in the impromptu Irish camp outside the city, but not all of Arthur's men followed; The orcs were a more disciplined outfit during a heated battle, but during the calm, there was much less structure or rule. Sundigir was one of those that lingered in the elvish village, his courage having waned as his allies flocked to start their supper fires. His eyes were still drawn to the even woman he had defeated; Before, he had considered them monsters, but now, he thought they were fascinating, if inferior to the orcs. They were exotic, alluring in a way; He was interested in learning more of them, curious to see if they really had inch-long fangs capable of draining cattle of all of their blood. Other orcs had their eyes set on women, too, though they had much darker intents. Some grabbed women and dragged them towards the direction of the camps, some took them kicking and screaming towards the closest even establishments. Sunlight approached his captive, but before he could reach her, another orc had grabbed her by the arm, recognizing her strange beauty, intent on taking her for his own. Sundigir was on the orc a moment later, one big, meaty fist connecting with his jaw, sending the oblivious orc sprawling to the ground, moaning in pain. "This one's mine," Sunlight declared, staring down the fallen orc until he crawled away and found his feet, red eyes burning with anger as he gave Sunlight one last glance before he retreated to the camp. He looked back at the cat-eyed elf, and stared at her for a moment, trying to think of something... Appropriate to say. Anna could only glare at him in silence as the orc bent her blade to the breaking-point, though her heart cried out in dismay. It was good steel, and for a moment she thought it would hold even against his astonishing strength, but finally it snapped. She flinched at the sound, and closed her eyes. The Irish leader was speaking, dictating terms. Tools of war, thought Anna numbly. Is this war, then? She opened her eyes to see the orc dragging Fallen away. Her teeth clenched at the sight, for Fallen had taught her too, when she was young. Then there was chaos, as orcs began to select captives of their own -- only from among the women, Anna realized, with growing dismay. Her hands clenched and unclenched, as she glanced at Torre, and then away. Then one of them grabbed her, and she fought the urge to scream -- until suddenly a more familiar orc was on him, smashing him to the ground. Anna took no small satisfaction in his moan of pain... until she heard "This one's mine." She turned her glare on him, with a flick of a glance to the broken sword hung from his belt. The sculptural beauty of the hilt looked utterly out of place, and only highlighted his brutish appearance. She waited for him to grab her in turn... but he only stared at her, for the moment. What did he see, looking at her? She was fair-haired, hair that would gleam gold in the sunlight. It was braided back but now in some disarray, strands escaping, one falling alongside her delicate nose, ignored for now. Her brows were a shade darker than her hair, and gracefully arched. Her frowning lips were a rosy shade of pink. She was tall for an even woman, but still far shorter than he. Slender, as her kind were, showing little of the muscle that her training had provided. Without her sword, the only thing to mark her as a fighter was her armor, tooled leather fitted close to her body, patterned with abstract swirls and curlicues that made it as much a work of art as it was protection. And of course there were the eyes, yellow-gold and cat-pupil led... Ennalien met his gaze, refusing to look away. Sunlight stared the elf down for a long moment, and felt a growing sense of admiration for her fearlessness. He was so much bigger than her, stronger; Her people had been defeated, shehad been defeated in fair combat, yet unlike the surrounding elves who seemed cowed as orcs plucked the women out of their ranks for their own devious intentions, she faced him with her chin up, daring him to drag her away as Arthur had done with his woman. At that moment, he thought of her as more orc than elf, and a grin blossomed on his cracked, green lips. He was either going to have a lot of fun with her in these next few days... Or he was going to be killed by her. The large orc took his elf by the wrist, not being the slightest bit gentle as he twisted it a bit, hoping to draw a wince of pain from her, anything but her defiant glare. "Take me to your home," he ordered the elf, leaning down, in close to her until his face was mere inches from her own. Sunlight took a whiff of her, her scent nothing he had ever experienced before; It took him back to their skirmish, when he had been sitting on her chest, demanding her to yield. She smelled pleasant, something like the wildflower gardens that grew spontaneously throughout the Task prairie, and she seemed as angry and vengeful as the bumblebees that buzzed between their petals, too. Sundigir was forced to look away from her as he heard a piercing shriek coming from his right; There was a horse wagon that had been dragged into the center of the courtyard, by one of the orcs or the elves Sunlight couldn't have known. One of the other orcs had pinned an elvish woman over the horse cart, and had begun to violently strip her out of her night dress, shreds of fine elvish fabric flying into the wind as the orc maniacally savaged her until she was left in tatters. An even man, appearing to be older than her, was restrained by one of the orcs, his eyes desperate and wild as a woman he loved was then penetrated by the lustful orc, one who was cruel enough to subject her family to watch, one that was impatient enough to not drag her to some private place. Sunlight made a deep, throaty groaning sound, perhaps envious of the other orc, or disgusted by the public raping. It would be hard for Alien to tell. "Lead," he growled, eyes still locked on the violent coupling taking place. Anna winced as the orc twisted her arm past its natural range of motion. She was proud, yes, but unaccustomed to dealing with pain. It was not something she had commonly experienced in the past... though that seemed likely to change." Take me to your home," said the orc, bringing his face in close to hers. She refused to pull away, staring at him with those unsettling eyes, contempt plain on her face. Then there was a shriek from her left, and she looked over to see what it was -- and immediately regretted it, her stomach clenching in disgust and fear. She looked away quickly, and happened to catch Torre's eyes again, filled now with a barely-controlled panic." Lead," growled her captor. Taking a deep breath, Anna took a step away and snagged Torre by the wrist. "She comes with us," she declared, as if she was in any position to dictate terms. She quickly led her old friend and her new enemy back to her home, a modest house by elvish standards, but perhaps not to her Irish captor. He would hardly even need to stoop to clear the lintel, as the elvish style was for a graceful height in doors and windows. Once inside, Anna pulled Torre to another door leading from the sitting-room that the front door had opened on. "Stay in here!" she said, in a low fierce tone, pushing her inside, and shut the door on her. The orc, presuming he took care to look, would have had a chance to see that the room was a small study, filled with many books, with no other exit." You don'ttouchier," she said, turning to glare up at the orc. "Or I promise you, I will make you regret sparing my life. You have broken my sword... but if you touch her, you will learn what I can dowithoutone." She stared at him with fierce yellow eyes... and then blinked, and they were blue, and round-pupiled. Her voice was quieter now. "But if you leave her be... then I will remain your prisoner, to do with as you please." There was just the faintest tremor in her voice, on those last few words. The orc was surprised as his captive took another elf by the forearm and dragged her along with them, insisting to Sunlight that she be allowed to come with him. Sunlight offered no objection, shrugging in acquiescence, even though it should have been him dictating the terms of the surrender, not her! He gave a quiet chuckle, wondering if the other orcs would accuse him of gluttony for claiming two women... But as he followed behind the two even women, he wondered if they had maligned plans for him. She had been difficult enough to fight on her own, with the aid of another, they could possibly overcome him in a fight, and that was if they chose to fight fairly; For all he knew, they would try to cut his throat in the middle of the night. Sunlight promised himself to be wary, no longer looking at the elves-whose names he did not know-with sexual intentions, but rather, as high-risk prisoners. After just a brief march through the quaint even town, Sunlight had been lead to one of many similar looking homes; He couldn't have distinguished it again if he had to find his way back so he tried to remember all the relevant markings around the house, recognize any landmarks that could bring him back. Not that he intended to stay here long, but if he had to find her again, he would know where to go. Sunlight craned his neck a bit as he followed her inside, the ceiling over his head mere inches from his crown, making the orc, so accustomed to living day and night under the stars, feel a bit uncomfortable. He did look into the room in which the fighting elf had pushed her friend, snapping an order at her before she slammed the door shut. Books, a wealth of knowledge; It was a symbol of all the treasures the elves horded over the orcs and did not share. A wealth of knowledge like that could help the orcs establish a proper dominion, but yet they still roamed the plains nomadically, like wild animals... No more, Sunlight knew. Soon, the orcs would be able to lay their own foundations, build their own walls, and live like the elves. That symbolic even exclusion also extended to the elf girl's friend, who was now arbitrarily out of his reach, locked away from the orcs for no reason. He felt entitled to her, too, and his nose wrinkled up angrily in a snarl, as if he was going to attack her again, but the elf then said something that calmed him down, something that clearly interested the young orc male. The elf had been angry and threatening as she hinted at what she might do to Sunlight if her friend was touched, but her voice waned, and was filled with sadness and shame as she then offered, in return, to serve him willingly if he complied with her demands. The eyes, so feral and feline became something so more natural for an elf; Brilliant and blue, just like the clear skies of the Task prairies, making Sunlight wonder if this was the real elf he was speaking to, and the cat-eyed incarnation of her was a vengeful warrior deity. He was unsure of how to proceed, other than to curl his thick lips into a grin. "You," he said, jabbing her in the sternum with a thick, pointed finger, "Do not tell me what to do. You must earn that right." Glancing around the room in which they now stood in, and found a rocking chair. He dragged it forward and plopped down in it, making the wood shriek in protest, but the chair had apparently been crafted well enough to hold his weight, exceptionally heavy compared to an elf who would normally sit there. "Feed me," he commanded. "If I am not satisfied... I will rape her first." The orc felt his stomach twist nervously as he said the words; He did not believe them, and was not inclined to claim a woman as violently as some of his kin were now doing, but he hoped that the elf believed his threat, his bravado. He did want the elf to fear him, not to hate him; Hate would lead to rebellion." And tell me your name," Sunlight added, looking up at her disdainful gaze and matching it. She seemed so incredibly brave, that Sunlight felt as if he needed to match her in that respect, or else he would be emasculated.

Captive (Doomsday and Sussurus)|rating:3.0

More than JUST friends {{ JayM1125 }}

Addison Jane Delarosastood there surrounded by the rest of her best friends family. She hadn't seen him since the night of his graduation party. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him, it was... well things just went awry. It had been five years now since she had touched his arm, laughed at one of his jokes or even just smiled up at him. She felt like she'd missed out. Her parents divorced and moved away right after graduation, she moved the day after his party and had to look for a summer job. He went off to basic training and only got to call him when he returned before shipping out and joining a company. Or whatever all of it was called, she really wasn't sure. It had been hard moving three states away when all she wanted was to be there. But after prom she was afraid of things wouldn't be the same again. Standing there with his family was not the time to relive THAT night. She smoothed a hand through her blonde curls, her fair skin was dolled up and she even wore address. The color made her blue eyes pop, pairing it with red heels, she felt rather patriotic. The sign she held in her shaky hands said "Welcome Home Jason" in big bubble letters and outlined in glitter. Her heart raced out of control behind her breasts as she waited. Each moment that passed felt like an eternity. It seemed almost a lifetime had passed between now and then. Cheers sounded around her, some of the men were already in the arms of their families. She bit her lip, she hadn't expected this myriad of emotions to filter in. Even now, just seeing his face coming toward them had tears spilling over her cheeks. Relief, joy, sadness, all of it hitting her. She knew he hadn't seen her yet, his eyes too focused on his parents. Their joy overflowed to those around them. She felt like an outsider, watching as he was pulled into a hug and engulfed. Addison watched him disappear and reappear as he ventured further into the group. With her heart threatening to break out of her chest, she dropped her sign a bit more to reveal her face. A wide smile crossed her lips as she caught his eye, "Welcome Home." It was barely a whisper, but she knew he could read her lips. An overwhelming urge to kiss him welled within, but she fought it back as she pressed forward. Opening her arms to him, she waited for a hug. LCL Jason Matthews sat on the Marine Corps airline that came to take him back to the United States along with a vast number of his comrades. The soon-to-be 23-year-old had been with the Marines since shortly after his graduation party when he shipped out for basic training and then soon after, being stationed in Iraq to help train their police force to serve and protect the citizens of their country. However, that post didn't last too long, he'd been called off to several combat missions, and even had several close calls, but thankfully, he was alive and well. The young man had seen more death and chaos than one person should have seen in their entire life. He couldn't see how some people wanted to make this their career. When he had the chance to return home, he gladly took it. Not to say he didn't take pride in serving his country, but, he had other reasons for wanting to be home. It had been 5 years since the night that would change him for the rest of his life. And that was the night that he actually felt love...true, unrelenting, unrequited love for the first time. And that was in the form of his best friend Addison. She had always been there for him, from having been his next door neighbor from the time they could walk to the times some girl had broken his heart and he needed someone to talk to. He always saw her as a friend and nothing more...until THAT night. The night of their senior prom. The memory played like a movie in his head constantly, and he could almost recall every detail about that night to the littlest of things. His girlfriend at the time had decided to move on to a different guy so he was left dateless, and that's when, he knew that Addison was without a date as well. So Jason asked if she'd go with him as a friend and she accepted. From the moment he saw her in that prom dress, something changed in him. Something that changed forever. That night at prom, he took a big risk in kissing her on the dance floor. And later, it leads to a hot, steamy tryst in a hotel room, the two of them cuddling and talking all night. It felt so right, so they made a promise to each other. That promise was if they weren't married at a certain point in their lives, then they'd get married to each other. Surely two friends who knew each other so well would work as a married couple, right? Well Jason wanted more than just a marriage promise, he wanted her love. He wanted her to have that look of need and want in her eyes when he walked into a room, or that big smile when he just came back to show him that he meant more to her than just being a friend. After a few long, grueling hours and a horrible in flight movie experience in the shape of Spider-Man 3 (which he wondered who in the hell pickedthatmovie to watch in the air?!?), the plane finally touched down, back in the United States of America. Jason got up from his seat dressed in his dress blues, getting his carry on bag, then soon after getting off the plane, his main luggage that he carried on his shoulder. He was then greeted by his mother, his father, and other members of his family. It almost felt as if they jumped him out of nowhere. Then, he noticed a sign being held by someone, and when the sign hit the ground...there she was. Five years later, and she was still the sight to see. A big smile drew across his face as he pulled Addison into a great big hug. It was such a surprise to see her again. "It's so good to see you again. Are you just visiting, or are you back in St. Louis for good?" Jason asked in the hug. It felt so wonderful to hold her in his arms once again. Addison remembered the promise, remembered the sex, the heat and the shock at how good it was when they were just friends. It came from loneliness and the secret crush she’d harbored for a long while. But they were JUST friends and had been so for too long. She had hoped that would push them out of the friend zone, but she hadn’t been brave enough to ask if it could mean something. The pact was something sweet between them and something she looked forward to. With intents of seeking him out when the time came, she stayed single and waiting. With this she hoped the waiting was over. Her arms looped around his waist, pressing her breasts into his chest. His hug was everything she remembered and then some. Tears spilled over her cheeks, he was home and safe and here. She stroked his back and pressed her face into his chest, briefly. Looking up at him, she smiled wider. “It’s good to see you too. I’m back…for good.” She wanted to kiss him, her eyes flitted to his lips but grew steady on his eyes. What if he had a girl and back then had only been pillow talking. It felt wonderful in his arms, and she wasn’t about to let go any time soon. “I’ve missed you so much. I’m sorry we lost touch.” She whispered, rising up on her toes she placed a soft kiss to his cheek. She wanted so desperately to have him react more than just this simple hug. Even with as much time that passed it still felt as though it was only yesterday when they were celebrating at graduation. The love she felt for him was the strongest emotion she had ever felt, even more than the sadness when he first shipped out. The moment that he felt Addison's body pressed up against him in a tight hug, he was instantly taken back to that fateful night. Every feeling, every sensation, every emotion that ran through his body that night ran through him once again. Even when he felt those soft lips against his cheek once again, it felt magical. "I'm sorry we lost touch too....that's the last thing I wanted to happen while I was gone." Just knowing that she missed him that much gave Jason some sort of hope. Hope that she still remembered that night, and most of all...their promise. The young man had intentionally stayed single while serving for a couple of different reasons. The first, and main, reason being that he wanted to save himself for her once he got back home, and he was going to do whatever it took to come back in once piece. Another reason being that no other woman could live up to her, not even in the slightest of ways. Everything about Addison was perfect in the eyes of Jason. So, why couldn't he close the deal? Break past being friends? It was fear. The fear of what if things didn't pan out. What would happen to their friendship had they decided to break up? The risk was just too great to take. Addison was Jason's oldest friend, and he never wanted to lose that friendship." I will say this much....this is the best surprise I've ever been surprised by." Jason chuckled to her as well as his family. His mother then spoke up, "That was the point, Addison wanted to surprise you. I'm sure she figured that you'd be happy to see her after being over in the Middle East for so long." Jason smiled and nodded, looking to Addison, seeing those big, bright, blue eyes looking into his. He had to literally fight himself to not kiss her, he wanted to so bad that it ached. But it was best that they remained friends. Sure, they had the promise, but that was for when they were both tired of searching for "the one." The truth was, Jason already found her, but he was too chicken-shit to do anything about it. The young man's dad then spoke up, "C'mon buddy, we've got a big party waiting for you at home. There's nothing better than coming home to food, fun, family, and good friends." His dad explained. Jason then looked back to Addison, "I'm assuming you're going to be there too right?" he asked the young woman. Even if she'd be at the party, Jason wanted some one-on-one time to catch up with his old friends. Maybe he'd ask her to go grab a drink with her sometime so that they could catch up. She smiled up at him, looking up into his darker blue eyes, his smile wide and friendly. She felt the inflection in his voice and new he meant what he said. It was also the last thing she wanted, but figured it was because of the single night they shared as lovers. Neither one of them talked about it, perhaps she should just let it go... water under the bridge. Addison wiped her eyes and cleared her tears as he spoke of her being the best surprise. A light blush tinted her cheeks. She adored his mother and father, asking her advice many times in the course of their friendship. It was a run in at the grocery store that had her here today. The idea wasn't her own, but she'd take it. His glance had a bit of weight to it, something behind his eyes that he was hiding, was he remembering that night or their pact? She knew him so well, it pained her to see him push whatever it was away. She didn't care about the elusive ONE, as far as she was concerned she'd had him in her grasp and wasn't bold enough to speak up. All she had left was a pact made when they were ending their night after an amazing moment in time. In his arms, naked and sweaty she felt so vulnerable. She remembered quivering as his knuckles drug along her spine, her smile up at him and the tender kisses that followed. Breathless words that she started, "I think if we decide we are done looking that we'd make a pretty good team, like, in the future... when we are older..." She said stupidly, afraid to suggest that now would be better. Hell, she knew his intentions to join the marines... a thought that scared the shit out of her. She couldn't handle the fact he might not return. His soft statement pulled her to the now, of course she would be there. She smiled up at him, her head canting slightly, "I wouldn't miss it for the world." She wanted more time with him, private time just the two of them. Alone. The drive to his house wouldn't be too long, she knew everyone would be there. Addison thought about asking him for lunch the next day, but her voice wouldn't work. It was sad the way he effected her like this. Jason grinned widely as she mentioned that she'd be there at his homecoming party. "Great to hear." The young man's mother then spoke as she was getting everyone ready to go, "Then, I guess we should get back to the house. Some of the family is already there decorating and setting up." His younger brother, Kurt, then spoke, "About time! I'm getting hungry." Their dad then looked at Kurt and shook his head at the young teenager, "I don't know why you didn't eat a snack before we left." Kurt then defended himself as his family started to walk on as Kurt whined, "Because I wasn't hungry...." Jason just rolled his eyes as he looked at Addison, laughing as they followed behind, "I guesssomethings never change after being gone so long."********************After Jason, his parents and little brother, and Addison got back to his house, his welcome home party began and it was quite an event. The young man was thrilled to see so much of his family after being away for so long. He shared stories of his time-serving, good and bad, as well as some of the close calls that allowed him to be there to that very day. It was as if there was a guardian angel watching over him for some divine reason that was beyond his comprehension. But no matter who he saw, nor what stories he told, the only thing that was really on Jason's mind was Addison. Boy, was he glad to see her now that he was back home. Despite having her as a friend on Facebook, his time on the internet was extremely scarce, but when he did look in on her page he was able to see what was going on with her. He'd learned that she moved out of town after her parents split up and began to seek a summer job. Over the last few years, he'd seen the statuses and photos she posted, and it only made him miss her even more. While he was away, he made it a decision in his mind that once his time-serving was up, somehow, someway, Jason was determined to find Addison again. But thank goodness he didn't have to look too hard. As the party ended and was winding down, various relatives were still around helping clean up and break down everything. Jason had tried to help, but was shooed away by his mom. She told him he didn't have to do anything since this was his party. So Jason decided to go find Addison and talk to her one on one for a few moments before her inevitable departure. Once he did find her, he spoke with a smile, "Man, am I full. I don't think I've eaten that much in a LONG time. I almost forgot how real food tasted. My family can certainly cook, huh?" The young man chuckled, smiling at her, "MRE's are only good for so long and there's only so much you can do to make them taste good." Then he was ready to change the subject, "But anyway, it's perfect to have you back Add. I've missed having my best friend to talk to when times got rough. And...well... I imagine you could have used a best friend, after....well...you know? I'm really sorry about the divorce. Honestly, I never saw it coming." Jason expressed sympathy as he and Addison finally had a couple of moments to themselves after the chaos that was his extended family had died down. He then took a moment to change focus from the negative to something positive, "By the way, I wanted to ask you something. Do you have anything going on at any point tomorrow? I was wondering if you and I could find some time to spend together. So we could catch up, just the two of us. No crazy family get-together involved." He lightly chuckled as he'd asked her to do something with him. Addison smiled up at him, her hand still curled against his chest from when he'd hugged her. She would have wrapped herself around him more often if she knew how he felt, but for now she was a bit scared. Her hands dropped to her side as she turned to face his mom. The group headed out together, Addison feeling so much a part of it all.--The house was packed, far more than she expected. It was here she felt slightly out of place. True, she knew almost everyone, but it was with Jason she felt she belonged and without him everything just felt out of sorts. She stood on the fringe of the various groups as he told stories and ate. From across the rooms or yard her eyes constantly found his, it made her heart skip a beat each time. The brief updates on Facebook and Twitter were never enough for her. A million times she clicked on his name and thought of messaging him, but she couldn't. There weren't words to say that could fill the void she felt in her life. She helped his aunt load the dishwasher, a sweet lady with his eyes. Then she was sent home, but she had to say bye... it was only proper. She looked but didn't find him, so she headed to the kitchen to say goodbye to his parents. She found him in the hall, relief swept through her. His words made her feel normal, yet still as if something were missing. She nodded her head at him, retuning his easy smile. She wanted to kiss him so badly she felt the need bubbling up in her belly, but she fought it. Standing in the hall she felt time standing still. Her hand reached out and grasped his, they both needed each other. Her smile of understanding reached her eyes and almost pulled forth a few tears. "I'm not going to lie, it was hard. I picked up the phone to call so many times..." She let her words trail off, certain he understood. Widening smile crossing her face she shook her head. "My schedule is free... how about." She paused to give some thought to it. "Lets grab lunch and take it to the park, find a free table in the shade and sit and talk and eat and talk." She smiled, though she really wanted to invite him over, cook dinner and seduce him. "I've missed you terribly too." Jason smiled as Addison had made the suggestion to go to the park to have lunch and catch up, "Sure, that sounds great. So I'll see you tomorrow then. Here, I'll walk you home." He smiled as he leads the young woman to his front door, then soon after, walking with her to her door step. "So I guess I'll come over around lunch, and we can decide who's driving any everything. Thanks again for the surprise, It'll be great getting to see you more now." He smiled, speaking genuinely, "That will be the best part of being home." The young man just wanted so bad to kiss her good night, but the most he could do was outstretch his arms and give her a hug good-night. "Good night, hope you sleep well." As the two said their goodbyes, Jason would then walk back to his house, looking to make sure she'd make it inside safe. He was always a bit protective of her since she was his best friend and everything. Anytime an ex-boyfriend would try to give her problems, Jason was front and center to get them to back off. Ahhh, memories. The young male then went back into his home, feeling exhausted from all the events from today.*******************************************It was only an hour later when everyone had left and Jason just got done taking a shower and brushing his teeth. He was more than ready for some quality, solid sleep for what feels like the first time in years. The barracks were only so comfortable. And only getting four to five hours of sleep a night, at best, could take a toll on one's body. Especially if it had been two to even four days since one even had any sleep. He felt relieved to get to sleep in his own bed again. With a big yawn, Jason laid down in his bed, settling into his pillow. As he was getting his mind focused on falling asleep, one memory started make itself present, yet again. It was a pleasant memory, one that he'd always enjoy falling asleep to, or even dreaming it. The memory was that of the greatest night of his life....his senior prom. As Jason fell asleep, the memory seemed to play more like a movie.......*******************************************There he was, staring into the mirror, in his tuxedo. It felt like a surreal moment in a way. Because his prom date had seemed to change at the last minute, or what felt like it anyway. The young man recalled that his original date, his now ex-girlfriend, had decided to break up with him in favor of being with the school's star quarterback. It broke his heart, but luckily, his best friend Addison had been dateless, so Jason made the suggestion that they went together. Thankfully, she accepted, and he felt excited that he wasn't going to miss one of the final moments in his high school career, his senior prom. He looked at the clock and saw that it was time to go pick up his date. So spraying on some cologne and grabbing her corsage, Jason left his bedroom and his mom seemed to snap a picture as he was walking down the hall, catching him off guard. "Woah! Mom, you must be careful with that thing or else I'm going to be blind before the night ends." His mother just laughed, "Ohhh you're overexaggerating, honey. Are you ready to go pick up Addison? I want to get plenty of pictures of the two of you." Jason nodded, "Yeah I am mom. Let's go. It's a bummer that dad had to go out of town for work, are you going to e-mail him the pictures?" His mother nodded, "Well of course, he'll want to see you all dressed up."He and his mother walked out of their house and made the short walk over to their neighbor's home. He then knocked on the door and Mrs. Delays answered the door, "Wow Jason! Don't you look handsome!" The young man smiled, "Thanks, is Addison ready?" Mrs. Delays answered his question, "She should be ready in a matter of moments." Jason and his mother walked into their home as Addison's mother shouted up the stairs, "Addison Jane, are you close to being ready? Your date is here...." Jason still felt a bit uneasy about the word date. He and Addison were just friends, best friends at that. However, he did always have a little crush on her, but he was always too scared to make a move, worried of what impact it could potentially leave on their long friendship. Jason was a bit nervous about the prom, not that he was going with his best friend, but because he wanted to show his best friend a good time....as friends, of course. Addison nodded her head at him, before walking at his side. She wanted to take his arm, to grasp his hand, anything to let him know she was here and not just at his side as a friend. She'd envisioned his homecoming so differently in her dreams. The walk was short, just down the road, and she didn't have the heart to tell him that her car was parked in front of his house. She wanted the time alone with him, anything that gave her more time was what she would always opt for. She was at her parents home, the house her mother still owned and lived in. Furthermore, she was visiting her aunt in Florida so she had the place to herself for now. Giving him a broad smile she turned to face him in the porch light. It was like a date, something they never even had. Addison sank into his arms, her body pressed tight to his as she wondered if he could feel her rapidly beating heart. Only a few more inches, and she could kiss him, but she didn't want to scare him. "Sleep well too... Good night..." She stated softly, watching him through the front door long after he was gone. She sank to the floor, one hand reaching up to flip the lock. It was harder to see him and not feel anything than she thought. It took her a good twenty minutes to pull herself together. She rose and made her way to her room, Snickers was close on her heels. The silly Labrador her mother bought to defend the house, though the dog was more likely to lick the burglar to death than attack. She showered and brushed her teeth and then washed her face and slipped into bed beneath the quilt her grandmother had made her. Her dreams were of the same night, how could they not be when that was the single greatest night of her life. When your best friend held your heart, it was only right they also get your virginity. Though Addison wasn't even sure he knew that part of it.***"Yeah mom... just a minute!" She called out. Date? The thought of Jason being her date made the butterflies swell in her already nervous stomach. Since the theme was old Hollywood, she wore inelegant red dress and accented it with black lace glove sand flapper style headdress. Her red heels clicked on the tops of the wood stairs as she descended, her blue eyes finding and holding his as she smiled. Both mothers wiped away tears, each secretly hoping their children would marry and not knowing about the crushes each harbored. "Look at you, so handsome in your tux." She said, running the tips of her fingers along his shoulders." Step to her side and put your hands on her hips," "The corsage!" "Oh I have to get your pictures." Both mothers sprung into action, blinding and shouting orders as all they could do was stare and smile at one another. One moment trapped in time, in photos and stored away in photo albums and the recesses of both minds. His mother then spoke, "We won't keep you both, go on and have fun tonight. We'll see you in the morning." Each mother would hug and kiss their child and hug their date and exchange goodbyes. Jason then held out his arm for her to take, leading her out to his car. Once there, like a gentleman, he opened her car door to help her into his car, which was a modernly restored1971 black Semi Cuba. Once he was in the driver's seat, he started up the car and drove off. "Thanks again for agreeing to be my date at the last minute. I still can't believe what Samantha did...but her loss right?" Jason smiled at Addison while having gotten stopped at an intersection. "So did you want to grab a bite before we went to the big event? Because I don't know about you, but I am starved." Jason would then drive onward waiting for her to make a decision. To some, this couldtechnicallybe counted as his and Addison's first date. Sure, they've been best friends for what seemed like forever, but Jason had to be honest with himself. There were several occasions that he just wanted to tell his best friend how he really felt about her. But was it really worth putting their friendship at risk. What if she only saw him as a friend or like the brother she never had? If he confessed his feelings, and she didn't feel the same way, then there would be an awkward rift between the two of them forever. "By the way Add, you look really nice tonight. You clean up really well." Jason smiled, chuckling a bit as he complimented her. Of course, he thought she always looked beautiful, what he wouldn't give to just tell her and give her a kiss right then and there. Maybe tonight would Bethe night....yeah, before he shipped out....he had to tell her. But then, what if something happened to him during deployment? Addison would be devastated. Maybe he should think this through. But sooner or later, he had to tell her. Weather it be tonight, or soon. He couldn't keep this held in for the rest of his life. The night progressed on pretty quickly. The couple grabbed themselves a bite to eat before heading off to the big dance. While they shared dinner, they both reminisced on their time in high school and their earlier years. The both of them had known each other for what felt like forever, and it still seemed a bit surreal that she was his prom date. He was going to remember this night for the rest of his life, because he got to share it with his absolute best friend in the entire world. Time passed, and they got done eating and went to the dance and met up with friends. Jason and Addison didn't dance with each other exclusively all the entire dance. Sure, they'd dance together in the spirit of being each other's date and having fun, but she danced with a guy friend or two, and he danced with a couple of girls he knew as friends or from a class or two. The night was winding down and Jason had been dancing with Addison to some popular songs, and then the DJ announced that this was going to be the final song of the night and the last chance to dance. Ironically it was a slow song,"Then" by Brad Paisley. Sure, the song was meant for couples in love, but it was still a sweet song to dance to. "One last dance?" Jason asked Addison, smiling. She smiled up at him, "Samantha didn't deserve you anyway..." Slipping her hand over his, she squeezed. Addison felt her heart racing in her chest as she spoke, her heart crying out. 'Me, me... I will take care of you, love you, adore you... me.' But her mouth only smiled. Her wide blue eyes watched him as he drove, slipping her hand into her own lap. She nodded, "Dinner sounds great, I'm hungry too." Addison wasn't sure what he wanted to eat, but anywhere was fine. He chose a nice quiet place. The food was good, but she barely paid it any mind. She'd sat across the table from him many times, usually splitting the bill. This time, however, was different. He paid the tab when they'd finished, she went to the restroom and touched up her makeup. Then they were off. Her arm through his they entered, posed for pictures and then mingled. The ballroom looked amazing, and all their friends looked so good dressed up. So many guys asked her to dance she just laughed, couples split themselves to dance with them, though her favorites were in his arms. One of her favorites was the first to be played, she eagerly pulled him to the floor and swayed in his arms on the crowded dance floor. Most times her eyes met his, she'd offer a sultry wink or a silly face, even getting so brave as to blow him a kiss every once in a while. All of which caused her to blush. The group commenced and rocked out to several popular songs. He'd pulled off his jacket, and she slipped out of her shoes and gloves along the way. But as the last song of the night came on, she found him. "Dance with me?" She laughed when his question hit her. "Of course." She wrapped her arms about him and laid her head on his shoulder to hear him sing the words. This song always made her think of them and a future that might never exist. Only in her head... it brought tears to her eyes. His silliness with the song didn't help, she wanted him NOT to sing her favorite part. Not here and not like this, she had to do something. "I can just see you..." He crooned into her ear, adding a twangy, overdone lilt. Her head lifted and snagged his lips in a soft kiss as Brad Paisley finished the line for him. It was soft, sweet, gentle and ELECTRIC. Addison reacted, pulling a bit closer to him, bare fingers slipping up into his hair. But she had to pull back before a teacher saw and kicked them off the dance floor. She pulled back and slid her head to his shoulder again. She could barely breathe, barely think straight. Why had she done that, why? Jason had to admit, he was stunned by the kiss, but he was far from pushing her away. No, instead, he gave into the kiss, holding her close as they shared the quick, yet passionate kiss. After the song was over, the crowd of students started to walk out of the hotel ballroom, all of them going on about how much fun they had or how the prom committee did a good job decorating. But there were Jason and Addison in the hall, standing side by side. "So...anyway, that was a lot of fun. I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. I managed to get a hotel room reserved her for whenever prom was over so that way I'd have a place to crash. Shall we go on up there? We can talk and hang out, maybe find a really lame movie on TV and make fun of it?" Jason smiled at the gorgeous blonde as he started walking. Something inside of him felt strange. It felt like he had butterflies in his stomach. His mind kept flashing back to the kiss. What made her kiss him? Sure, he always had a sort of crush on her, but he was always so afraid of making a move. He was afraid of what it could potentially do to their friendship. She was his oldest friend and if he lost her, he'd lose more than he could even bear. When they got up to the hotel room, he swiped the room key and when the door opened, it all of a suddenly hit him. He put the reservations in while he and Samantha were still together, and he had it all set up to be a romantic atmosphere. Candles, rose pedals, the whole nine yards. Even some sparkling fruit juice made to look like champagne with two wine glasses beside it. He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck, "It totally spaced my mind, I forgot to see if they wouldn't do the room like this. I made the reservations last month while Sam and I were still together, and I was going to be all sweet and romantic and everything. I remember now....the deposit I was required to put down to do this was non-refundable. But even so, I should have still called them. I'm sorry if this is a bit...awkward." Jason sounded a bit bummed, but he didn't make it apparent. It was supposed to be him and Samantha in here enjoying this, but she decided to do what she did. So now, it was him and Addison...his best friend, not girlfriend. "Well, I guess this stuff shouldn't go to waste...." Jason then saw the iPod radio, pulling his out of his pocket and setting it up. He then put on some soft, slow music, smiling at her, "One final dance before we relax? I had a great time dancing with you tonight." The song carried on, but her ear barely heard. Next thing she recalled was the song ending and them walking outside by side. He was quiet and said nothing about the kiss, and well that was about the same for her. But she felt silly, maybe he'd felt nothing in the kiss. Still, her lips tingled and her heart raced. "Yeah," She answered, too quickly, but on he went. She turned and smiled at him. "I have a bag with clothes in the car... I thought we'd do something afterward, like movies, bowling and pizza... I wasn't sure. Mom put it in the car for me..." She walked with him, maybe he'd go out and get it later... or something." It was a really nice prom, glad I could spend it with you..." She whispered just before the door to the room was swung open. Her heart sank, she felt like such a fool. Tears fell from her eyes as she turned her head away. This hurt, to see what he was like when dating him. The room was lovely, roses adorning ever available surface making it romantic and perfect... if only she were Samantha. Candles bathed the room in soft flickering light as she stepped in, her skin looked coppery and beautiful. She perched on the bed as he looked around, slipping her shoes off and putting her gloves over the back of a chair as he explained or attempted to." It's alright, you forgot... It's beautiful... S-she would have liked it." Her smile was soft and sad, tears clung to her eyelashes and she blinked them away as he looked around better. Chocolate covered strawberries sat on a tray in front of the sparkling juice. She looked up at him as he moved across the room to the radio. The mood was set, everything perfect, except she was sure he wanted another girl with him while she thought he was the right one for her. She stood as he approached, moving into his arms, "I had an even better time with you, thank you for asking me to be your date." She stared up into his eyes, her heart pounding rapidly. "I will never forget this night as long as I live." Addison wanted to kiss him again, but refrained. If he wanted another kiss he'd have to come get it. And this time she wasn't apt to stop so suddenly. Jason smiled as he once again, held her in his arms, "Neither will I. This was the greatest night of my life." That last statement couldn't ring more true. At that moment in time, all Jason wanted was to just let every inhibition go and just tell her how he felt. He loved her and couldn't stop himself from loving her, even when he'd be with other girls. Nobody could even compare to Addison. But he was still fearful of whatcouldhappen when he knew that odds were it wouldn'happen, because he would have fought to keep her if they were on the verge of a break-up if they were a couple. Maybe, just for one night if anything, maybe they could just see what it would be like being a couple. Jason held her extra close to him as his body moved with hers to the soft, romantic music. The truth of the matter was his heart was racing, wanting more and more to let everything go and just tell her. But, he knew in a little over a month he'd be leaving for basic training and then deployment. What if he never came back? No, Jason couldn't think like that. He had a reason to come back, and she was in his arms. Then, Jason finally decided to throw all caution to the wind. He tilted her head up towards him as he leaned in and softly pressed his lips against hers for another kiss. The first one was magical, this kiss, however, was electric. For him, it felt like the fourth of July as the sparks flew between them. He then deepened the kiss out of instinct and desire to feel more of her kiss. Tonight would be something that neither of them would soon forget. He would make sure of that. Maybe, just maybe, there was some sort of way to promise her that he'd be okay when his time with the Marine corps were over. Because he knew that if he made a promise to her of all people, he'have keep it. Jason always kept his promises with Addison, it didn't matter how big or small the promise was. In this case, it would be averaging promise. Her smiled widened as he spoke up, adding to her words. Addison felt him pull her closer to him, her breasts flush against his chest as he held her there, she didn't mind. Her mind raced with things, reasons they should and shouldn't be together. SHOULD: They were perfect together, no one else made her laugh or as happy as he did, and she couldn't imagine life without him. SHOULDN'T: He was going away, if something happened... well she didn't feel she could go on without him, and He was her BEST friend, she didn't want to lose him being selfish. It was about this time that she felt his fingers glide under her chin, blue eyes blinked and refocused on him instead of her thoughts. She gave him a soft smile, one that faltered as she watched him lean in. "Oh..." She murmured as he kissed her. Her soft lips pressed into his as she lifted on her toes and pulled his head down to her further. It was a kiss to make the other jealous, especially when he deepened it. Moaning into the kiss she gave in and opened her lips to him. Tongue darting up to meet his as they explored each other with gentleness and heat. Addison slid her hands down his chest and along his sides as she pressed more into him. She was more than interested in what he had to offer, she just needed to show him. Slipping her hands back up his chest, she removed his jacket slowly and let it drop behind him on the floor. Her fingers then became busy removing his cummerbund from about his middle. It came off with ease and her hands then moved up to make quick work of the bow-tie around his neck. Once these items were gone she pressed into him harder as her hands moved along the waist band of his pants. Slowly and easily she untucked the shirt. Her warm fingers grazed his smooth flesh lightly. She broke the kiss, but continued to gaze up into his eyes as her nimble fingers began working the buttons of his shirt loose. She said nothing, what else could she say to him when her eyes said it all. Want, need, and desire all spiraled around in her blue depths. It was hard to believe how quickly things seemed to progress. First they were having a simple dance, then a simple kiss, then that simple kiss turned into the both of them getting hot and heavy. As Addison worked to get his cummerbund and bow-tie off before his shirt, Jason would begin to reach behind her, trying to find how her dress came off. He'd eventually find a zipper, slowly dragging it down to loosen the dress' grip from her body. Her icy blue eyes pierced through him as she worked to get his shirt off while his hands ran along her smooth, bare back. Although there were no words spoken between the two of them, he knew what she wanted at this moment, and he wanted the same thing, despite his fear of this changing their friendship. Chills ran through Jason's body as he stared deeply into her eyes, leaning back in for another quick, passionate kiss. The young male repeated this a couple of times, wanting nothing more than to taste her kiss once again. Everything about this felt so right, so why in the hell was he so afraid? Jason didn't want to break Addison's heart if he never came back home from being in the military. There had to be a way to let her know that he'd return. He knew that no other girl could measure up to her, so maybe he could have a chance when he came back home for good. Jason was far from a virgin. Well not too far anyway. He'd only been with one other girl, that being his ex. She was his first sexual encounter since she was the longest girlfriend he'd ever had. Sure, he'd dated more girls, but it never went past kissing or anything like that. The more things would progress, Jason eventually peeled the dress from her body. Revealing her red lace panties and matching strapless bra. The sensations of her kisses, touching, and seeing her in her underwear started to make his manhood slowly stiffen in his pants. Their movements lead the both of them closer to the rose petal covered bed. His want for her was easily read just by the way he felt of each curve of her body as they'd share kisses and deep, wanting looks into each other eyes as they worked to get each other's clothes off. She felt his hands moving over her back, the zipper in his grasp and then slowly it was tugged downwards. Addison felt as if she couldn't breathe, the depth of desire in his eyes cut her to the core. He came in for another kiss, one she granted him with ease, her fingers slipping along his neck to hold him to her. The shirt fluttered to the ground as she helped him slip her out of her dress, it pooled around her feet as she smiled brightly and granted him another kiss as her fingers curled into his chest. Now clothed in only her matching red lace bra and panties, she felt exposed. His hands trailed along her body, caressing her back, hips and sides, never letting them stray too far as she slowly backed them toward the bed. She felt him pressing into her, growing hard. Addison felt bad, thinking it was taking him longer to get that way because she was his best friend. She wasn't deaf and had heard how Samantha bragged, it hurt, and she left the room as quickly as possible. Lifting his hands to her bra clad breasts she made quick work of removing it, hoping to distract him as she pushed him back on the bed. Standing between his feet in only her panties she kissed him again. She was so nervous her hands trembled as she fumbled with the tab on his pants and then pulled the zipper down swiftly. Her fingertips grazed his cock through his boxers, as she enjoyed the feel of his hands on her bare breasts. Moaning against his lips she pulled back, only to remove his pants from his legs. They both were equally dressed now. She slipped into bed jerking the covers, so the rose petals fluttered off the end before laying down. She lay there, waiting for him to join her as her pulse raced, and the butterflies grew to epic proportions within her tummy. As Addison's bra came off of her breasts, Jason's eyes became transfixed on them before being pushed back onto the bed, then enveloped with another kiss. While they were in the midst of their hot, sensual kiss his hands played with her round orbs, getting a good feel of them as she fumbled to get his pants off. His breath was getting heavier and quicker at the same time as they continued to strip each other out of their clothes, both of them consumed by the want and desire to pleasure the other. As he felt her hand touch his member for the first time, it seemed to jolt to life, as if electricity had surged to it. He was completely firm and erect, poking out of his boxer briefs. He watched as she got under the covers, also watching as the pedals cascade onto the floor. If he only knew how nervous she was, then she'd know how nervous he was as well. He was about to change their friendship forever. Jason was sure that sex would do just that to a friendship What would this mean for them as friends? The thought scared him, but Jason chose not to think about it, instead he kept focused on the task at hand. He then pulled off his own boxers, tossing them to the side before joining her under the covers. That would be where he slowly slid the red lace panties off of her body. This was it, the big moment. Jason positioned himself between Addison's legs, spreading her legs apart, just enough for him to push himself into her. He slowly slid his cock into her tight hole, little did he know that he was taking her virginity, because he took his ex's virginity, so this was something he was used to feeling. With a groan, feeling how tight she was around his cock, Jason leaned down and began to slowly kiss up and down her neck, letting his breath his her neck as he slowly slid in and out of her, stretching her womanhood to fit his manhood. Groans of pleasure seemed to escape from his mouth with such ease. Everything about this just seemed so...pure. So...natural. Why was Jason ever afraid of having sex with Addison? Something about their first sexual encounter just felt so right, and so wonderful. As time went on, Jason's thrusts became only slightly harder, not wanting to go to hard or fast. Samantha would complain at times he would go too fast or too hard, so he didn't want to make any mistakes with Addison. He wanted their first time together to be perfect. Add watched him stand slowly, his hands taking their sweet time to rise and pull his boxers off. Her eyes stayed locked on his, even though she was curious to see him. As he slid under the covers to join him she got her look, he was long, hard and perfect. Her lower lip quivered as he parted her legs, Their lips meeting as his hand traveled to her hips and removed the last garment standing between them. Her hips lifted, and the fabric slid down her legs. Furthermore, her fingers slid up along his jaws and held his face to hers. Disconnecting the kiss, she wished he would touch her a bit, to help ease her nerves or tell her it would be alright. But instead he opened her legs a bit more and slid between them. It seemed like only a moment, and he was tunneling into her, Addison bit her lip and fought back screaming or crying as he tore through her virginal barrier. Her nerves about it didn't help loosen her up. Only when she felt as though she was tearing apart did he lean up and kiss along her neck as his hips moved. The motion made it feel as though he was sawing her in half, but it was new, and it was HIM, so it was perfect. His delighted sounds allowed her mind to know he was enjoying this, so it was right. It wasn't that it hurt or felt bad, it just felt off to her. Silently she endured, whimpering softly as he kissed her neck, sending coils of pleasure along her spine. After his thrusts changed pace and went a bit harder did they begin to feel good, he may have had a complaint from Samantha, but to Addison the actions felt better. As she grew accustom to his movements she began to move her hips and meet his thrusts. Soft moans and other sounds of pleasure left her as he moved. "Faster Jason," She guided softly as her fingers stroked his back and her lips lifted to touch his. This was starting to feel perfect now. Jason did as she asked and sped his thrusts up a little bit, grunting and groaning as he plowed into her. He was a bundle of nerves, especially since his mind seemed to make him feel as if he forgot something, or something was missing from this. But Jason pushed those thoughts from his mind as he continued to pump in and out of her, enjoying their session nonetheless. Once their lips found each other once again, Jason moaned into the kiss as his tongue darted into her mouth to find hers. Every touch he felt from her was nothing short of magical, spine tingling, amazing. The way her fingers ran along his back, the way her lips felt against his, everything just felt as if this was meant to happen. He continued to buck himself into her, gradually going faster and harder, but also being careful as to not repeat past mistakes. He'd only speed up or go harder by her request. Addison meant everything to him. He then broke their kiss to kiss up and down her neck, lightly biting at times, breathing deep as he'd keep thrusting his cock into her. The young man then whispered into her ear in a moan, "You feel so good, Add..." while he continued to pump himself in and out of her. Once he found the perfect pleasurable rhythm, Jason continued to stay in that rhythm, breathing heavily, enjoying the feeling of having sex with his best friend. His mind still couldn't help but wonder how this would change their friendship no matter how much he pushed it out of his mind in just trying to focus on their wonderful experience. As his pace quickened, Addison could feel the pleasure move through her body in tightly coiled springs. All in the world was perfect as they made love on the bed that had been covered in roses. However, she couldn't help but wonder if he'd have been doing this same thing with Samantha if nothing between them had changed. She hated feeling like a replacement, it dampened the pleasure a bit. Damn her mind for putting these thoughts in there. Addi lifted her legs and circled his back, drawing him deeper as harder he thrust into her awaiting channel. Her tongue tasted him, swirling and teasing his until away he pulled. Arching her back she presented him with more surface to kiss. Each soft bite caused her breath to hitch. "You. Do too..." She whispered. Every experience, after this, would be measured to this one. Jason was perfection, when he found the rhythm that suited them both her hips lifted further, aiding in his thrusts. But something in her snapped. She wanted to be on top, to have control over the depth and speed of this moment, but she wasn't sure if she could ask if it would offend him or if it was even something girls even did. So instead of speaking up she merely allowed him his control and puttered on beneath him. Rolling her hips against his, she felt the pleasure build and gave into it. The springs that had coiled up within her body all snapped, draining the tension and drowning her in pleasure. Her mouth opened, and she cried out his name, "JASON!" Fluid leaked from her channel and her body seemed to quake and curl into itself. Whimpers and moans poured from her lips, it felt so good. Would anything feel like this again? Her hands brought his face to hers, her blue eyes burning into his, love and lust mingling in their depths. She wasn't sure if she should say anything. Instead, her hungry lips sought his for a moment of comfort, her eyes closing to savor this moment... forever. The young male felt the rush of juices coat his member as he continued to barrel through her wanting slit. Moans and groans continued to come out of his mouth as he kept going and going. Her warm release would be what would help him get closer to having his own release. It was so hot and felt so damn good that Jason knew he was going to explode soon. Once her lips found his yet again, his lips seemed to just melt into her in a loving kiss. He, too, closed his eyes, saving this memory in his mind forever, all while moaning into the kiss. Everything about this just felt so perfect, so right. Sex, or as he now looked at it, making love to his best friend of so many years never felt better, even when he did it with Samantha. There was just something so magical when he shared this moment with Addison, the way her icy blue eyes stared into his, the way her lips felt against his, the way her lithe, slender body felt underneath him. It was all so incredible. And before Jason knew it, from getting lost at the moment, there was a tensing sensation in his balls. His groans picked up in speed as he kept pumping and plowing into her. He broke the kiss for a moment to kiss up and down her neck, whispering into her ear, "Oh fuck Add, I'm cumming...." And as he finished that sentence, Jason's load shot out of his cock deep inside his best friend, filling her up with his thick seed. Jason's breath started to slow down as he too slowed down, then going back to meet her lips for another passionate kiss. He then laid next to her, with a smile, despite all the questions flooding his mind, "That was incredible..." Jason knew that he wanted this night to last forever, just wanting nothing more than to stay with her and only her. Everything at this moment just felt so right. But sadly, Jason knew his future and what the next few years meant for him. Serving his country felt so trivial, especially since he wouldn't be able to have next to no contact with Addison. Jason knew that he had to reassure her that this wouldn't be the end of them, well, their friendship at least." Hey Add....thanks for everything. You're the best friend anyone could have. I really wish I would have though things through before enlisting. I want to be honest about something with you. Furthermore, I never told anyone this, not even my ex, but.... I'm scared." Jason admitted to his oldest friend, "I'm scared that I won't come back to see the ones I care about, especially you. I mean....the stuff that's going on overseas is very scary. I don't know how I'm going to get through it. Especially without getting to talk to you regularly. You've been there for me through everything. You have no idea how much it means to me." And then the idea hit Jason like a ton of bricks, "Hey, I've got an idea. Or rather, a promise. If I make it back from my time in the Marines, or when I do, because I'm determined to keep this promise to you. Because I've never broken a promise to you and I don't plan on it ever happening. If you're willing, when I return, I promise to marry you. How does that sound with you?" Jason asked his best friend as he looked deeply into her eyes. Feeling him pick up speed she knew he was at his wits end. Harder he went, the sensations in her sensitive pussy causing her to moan into the air between them/ Arching her back she tilted her head back for him to kiss all over her pale neck. "Do it Jay..." she whispered, encouraging him to give her his load. Each thrust after that pushed his seed into her womb, she didn't think about birth control or a condom, only about how good he felt inside her. As they kissed after his release, she felt him slip from inside her. Whimpering her displeasure into the kiss. God, she felt so much love for him. No words would come as they lay side by side panting softly. Turning to look at him, she nodded her blonde head. A wide smile was caressing her lips as she spoke, "Yes it was." Addison wanted to pull his arms around her and curl into his chest, but he made no attempt to hold her. Instead, he spoke, she lay there panting gently and listened. Thanks, what the hell? She felt like he'd slapped her, shooting her out of the sky from her moment of maybes and possibilities. Addison felt as though he'd slapped her and felt the air go out of the room as he told her, he was scared. Her heart broke, was that what this was. A just in case I don't make it back fuck? She turned her head up to look at the ceiling, feeling like a fool for thinking this could have been something more. Tears fell straight down her cheeks, dripping back into her ears. Tousling her hair over her face she used it to hide them as he continued talking. Drying her eyes and pushing her hair out of her face she turned to look at him when he spoke his idea. She swallowed hard, marry him... biting her lower lip she turned on her side to face him. Wrapping the surrounding sheet trim figure. She inwardly questioned his motives, was it just because he wanted her friendship or did he feel something more? Licking her lips timidly she knew she wouldn't ask him that, instead she nodded her head and smiled, like an idiot. "That sounds great to me." A part of her hoped he'd love her -like THAT- and maybe this marriage thing would push it along." I'm going to miss you too," She said sitting up and moving off the bed, taking the sheet with her. "I need a shower, be right back..." She closed the door gently and sank to the cold tile floor, crying quietly. After a minute she flushed the toilet, as a cover-up, and started the shower. The door was unlocked, she didn't think anything of it. Stepping in she stared at the pale red fluid mingle with the water as it ran down her legs. She could only hope he didn't see the mess she'd left behind in the bed, she smiled in spite of it all. Now she was no longer a virgin and there was a hope of a future, even it seemed as only friends. Jason laid back a bit confused from what just happened. Addison just seemed to rush off and run away, not even wanting to be held. Or at least that's the way he took it. Despite knowing his best friend so well, when it came to their first time sexual experience, he felt more confused than ever. Maybe she wouldn't mind if he joined her in the shower, maybe that could be how he could hold her and let her know that for now, even if it's for a short time longer, he was here for her, and she could feel safe with him. Jason got up from the bed and saw that there was a bit of blood there, but that was expected, especially now he knew that he was her first. He then walked to the bathroom and heard the shower running, opening the door, he smiled, "Hey...room for one more?" Jason then closed the door behind him and made his way toward the shower, getting in behind her, wrapping his arms around her wet body, leaning his head on her shoulder, then whispering softly into Addison's ear, "I promise that I'll return to you...no matter what. I'm serious when I say that I want to marry you once I come back, and that's a promise I'll keep." Jason smiled as he kissed her neck a few times as the water ran over the both of them.********************************************At 10 o'clock., Twiztid's "Set It Off"came from Jason's iPhone to wake him up. His eyes fluttered open as he realized that it was all a dream again. A reliving of the past. He sat up in his bed and rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes, trying to wake up. He got up out of his bed stretching and yawning out. It felt good to sleep in for the first time in what felt like years. Well...it was year. Back when he was enlisted, his wake-up times ranged from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. bright and early. That of course was when he was able to sleep while he was on duty. He then looked through his clothes, finding some shorts and a Batman t-shirt to wear, keeping things casual and within his style, he wondered when Addison planned on meeting him for lunch. Before he got dressed, Jason went to take a shower and brush his teeth, freshening himself up so that he didn't stink around Addison. He then finally got dressed and sprayed on some cologne after putting on some deodorant. The more he thought about, he figured that it wouldn't hurt to call his best friend to see what she had in mind. Grabbing his phone, Jason found Addison's number and tapped it to call her. He sat on his bed and waited for her to answer the phone. Once she would, Jason asked, "Hey Add, when did you want to meet up and grab lunch?" With tears still on her face she lifted it to the water and let it wash away her sadness. Tomorrow was a new day, Jason also promised that he'd be coming back home. She wasn't sure if it was truly to marry her or just to live. She had hope it was for her. Blindly her hands sought out the shampoo as he opened the door to the bathroom. Turning her head as the curtain pushed against her legs she heard him. Grabbing the bar of soap she quickly washed away the blood and was rinsing when he entered the shower. Offering him a smile she uplifted and felt him sweep in against her. Sighing she settled against him. Her head moving to press to his. It just felt right, how could this be wrong? His soft words seemed sincere, but she was scared of them now more than ever. Turning in his arms she gazed up at his eyes, "I want you to come home for more than just me, for your parents and your brother. You have more to live for... then just me Jason." She lifted and kissed his cheek. "Now, wash my back?" They fell asleep in each other's arms, him curled around her protectively until a knock from the maid woke them both up.--"Momma..." She groaned and rolled over, her boxer shorts covered bum pushed out as she settled against the large body pillow." Mommy?" Another groan, this time stretching. A little finger touched her forehead, she let out a long loud -fake- snore. There was a giggle, Addison opened her blue eyes to find an identical set staring right into hers. "Piper... Piper?" She paused to tickle the child, "PIPE...PER!"" Stop... momma," The girl laughed out and slid into the bed as soon as Addison stopped tickling her." Ok," Addison scooted over to make some room. "Good morning, what would you like for breakfast?"" Grams got me some.""Oh, and did you... save some for me?" Add asked the four-year-old." Nope, Grams said it's almost noon so wake you up." Piper gave her a smile. "I'm going to go color. Bye"Noon. Her mouth nearly fell open. She grabbed her phone and headed to the bathroom, it was only 10:15. With a sigh she turned on the shower and began her morning routine. She had yet to ask her mother to watch Piper so she could go to the park with Jason. She wasn't sure what to do or even say to him, Piper was the best thing ever and well the truth needed to be set free. Just, not yet. Piper was her secret, her mom put up pictures of her on face book... but Addison did not. She wanted to tell him face to face. How would he have felt knowing they'd made a child, and he'd left them both behind? She couldn't do that to him or to her. She had to know he wanted to be in their life. Furthermore, she was in the middle of drying her hair when the phone rang." Hello?" When he spoke, her heart began to pound. This was always her reaction to him. "HI Jason. Well I need to settle some things with my mother, and then I can pick up stuff and meet you at the park about noon. How does that sound?" She hoped it sounded good and that her mother could watch Piper.

More than JUST friends {{ JayM1125 }}|rating:3.0

Super Human

It was beautiful. The light. All the pretty colors blending together, harmoniously. Blue and green mostly. The Aurora Borealis had covered the entire planet this night and it was a wonderful thing. Andrew wasn't normally in to this kind of stuff, but even he had to stop and admire it. It was distracting. Mystifying. Yet. Strange. He got an odd feeling from it. Not in the pit of his stomach or anything, but, his skin crawled, and he got goose bumps and his body felt slightly warmer until the lights faded away and the weird feeling left. It left but left an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion. He felt like he had just run a marathon. He wanted to lay down without any explanation to why he was so tired. Luckily, Andrew Nolan, The Contractor, was home from work. He ran his business out of his apartment. He had his tools, drywall and wood and such in a storage unit in the parking garage that was conveniently near his red Ford 150 pickup truck. Well not conveniently. He had to fight with the superintendent to get that damn spot. He didn't want to have to lug wood around a parking garage so he could go to someone's house to lug it around again. Right now, Andrew worked for a relative wealth couple up in a nice neighbor. The neighborhood didn't look like the rest of New York. Skyscrapers and slightly shorter buildings all jam packed near each other. It was spread out with houses. People had their own yards and picket fences. This couple, The Doherty's, they initially asked him to build them a deck. They were so impressed by it- he didn't understand why, he was just doing his job, that they hired him on to redo the flooring in their kitchen. Andrew didn't mind at all, especially since they had a hot ass daughter that he liked to flirt with. Claire. He had some very... Interesting thoughts about her. But he was too tired to think about that right now. Andrew was going to get up but sat back down from the pressure in his head that threatened to cause him to topple over. He was sitting on his couch in his living room. He was watching the light show through his glad doors that lead out to a small balcony. In the living room there was a light brown coffers table at his feet in from of the couch that he had made by hand. A few feet from the coffee table was a modest sized flat screen TV on a wooden entertainment stand that he had also built by hand. You could see his dining room off to the side that was relatively compact with a small table and two chair. Which he also made. If you went left from the dining room you'd enter his small kitchen. His bedroom and washroom were down a tiny hallway behind his to his left. He just didn't have the strength to reach it. Andrew laid down on the couch, putting his left hand behind his head to put more support than the couch and the couch pillow had to offer. He closed his eyes and drifted in to blackness relatively quickly. The blackness engulfing him, but only feeling like a matter of seconds. He opened his eyes slowly but kept them squinted from the light shining in through the large glass balcony doors. He groaned, sitting up and covering his face with one hand contemplating being awake. Furthermore, he turned on the TV, hoping the noise would help him awake from his stupor. Andrew felt sore. It wasn't like the soreness he'd feel from work in certain parts of his body. He felt sore everywhere and deep too. Like he had just had surgery and they removed his skin. He felt off. Thinking about it further he felt something strange. Something scratching at the back of his mind that made him feel different. Like when you think about breathing and then your breathing becomes funny. It felt like that. It was hard to explain. Furthermore, it was like the knowledge of this scratching in the back of his head was throwing him off of something. He focused on the TV rather than the scratching. The news was interesting. Apparently after the Aurora Borealis had disappeared there was many people who fainted or felt exhausted afterward. Like Andrew. It was weird. Because it wasn't everybody. Just some people. Maybe they had focused on it to hard like he did. That could explain this almost hang over he was living. But he couldn't help shake the feeling of something being different. Like he had an epiphany but couldn't realize what it was about yet. He felt powerful. Andrew sat and though about it for a while looking at his hands and then blankly staring at his table. With his concentration he realized something. He could feel the pressure, heat and buzzing of his TV and his lights. They stuck out almost. He watched at his TV puzzled for a moment. It almost seemed like it was glowing. Waves of colors coming out of it, asking him to touch it. He was entranced by it. It was beautiful like the Aurora. He stood up and looked up at the lights. They were giving off the buzzing fields of energy too. He reached up and touched one with his finger. Heat and another feeling he had never felt before rushed through him and the light winked out. He shot his hand back on surprise and let out a quick sharp breath of the same nature. He looked at his hand and then back to the light. The light was gone, but he could almost feel the light or the energy the light was giving off inside of him. It made him feel good. Stronger. Like he had drank an energy drink. The scratching his head subsided, and it was almost like a dam in his brain shattered releasing a flood of realization. He had powers. He didn't know how he knew, but he did. The small act of using them felt like he had been reminded he could do this all along. Even though he never could. He could explain it. He could just do it. Andrew scratched the back of his head. Did he go to a doctor or a scientist about this? No. They'd pole and prod him like an alien from those movies he's watched. It was just in people's nature to try and understand something like this. He would keep it secret for now until he could figure out what to do with it and if it became a problem or not. It didn't seem like a problem. From the thoughts that flooded his mind he could control it with a thought. As well as get rid of it if he took too much. Which was good because it did feel like almost like he had a new stomach. He had absorbed a small fraction of power, but it felt like something was sitting at the bottom of that 'stomach'. He wondered how much he could have before he had to get rid of it. Andrew walked in to his bathroom. It was all fine and dandy now that apparently he was a super human. The only one he knew of so far. He began to wonder if the other people who experienced what he did also could do what he could. He shook the thought of. Furthermore, he had a job to do. Powers or not. He had to finish that kitchen. The Doherty's were paying the bills after all. As far as he knew, he didn't gain the ability to create money out of thin air. Andrew looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes were slightly sunken in, blood shot, and he had dark circles under his brown eyes. He had a chiseled jaw which had a small amount of stubble on it. He had short brown hair which looked like a disaster. Furthermore, he needed a shower. Furthermore, he didn't shower the day before on account of passing out on his couch. Furthermore, he stripped his clothes, revealing a built and well maintained body. Furthermore, he didn't like to brag, but he hit the gym regularly. His work also helped out too. He stepped in to the shower and turned it on. The cold hit Andrew first. He was waiting for it so he could react to it and help wake him up but when the water hit him. Nothing. He could tell it was cold. But his body was reflecting away from it. He could feel it but not feel it. He felt him body almost. No. Not his body. The cold from the water Pulsated with vibrant waves of invisible tendrils almost like his TV did. He could feel it adding in to his 'stomach'. It wasn't much but it was there. He looked at the knob in the shower and turned it to blistering hot and waited. The wager got really hot, but again he could feel it and not feel it. He could see that there was more activity with the hot water. Faster. Brighter. He could feel it seeping in to his 'stomach' at a much quicker pace than the cold, but it still wasn't much. He felt like he could have a lot more before he was 'full'. After washing, Andrew got out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and dried himself off and walked to the mirror again. He rubbed the steam off of the mirror. His eyes looked less sunken and blood shot. The shower had helped in more than one way. He left the bathroom in favor of his bedroom. He was dilly-dallying so long in the shower that he was going to be late for work. Furthermore, he threw on a pair of blue loose fitting jeans and a white T-shirt. Furthermore, he grabbed his wallet and keys and sunglasses and left the apartment, locking it behind him. In the hall he could see the energy almost everywhere. It seemed so bright and distracting. He put his sunglasses on and covered the top with the palm of his hand as if he was walking in the bright sun. He walked to the elevator. Furthermore, he was on the fourth floor. And hit the button. Soon after the elevator dinged and opened. It was like getting hit by a bright floodlight. The small enclosed space glowed so much that it nearly blinded him. He shielded his eyes, raising his arms and contorting his body away with displeasure from the flood of energy. He made a noise indicating his distaste. Furthermore, he looked back, and the brightness began to dissipate and flood on to him. Just every so slightly but it felt good. Warming. It was calling to him. He stepped in to the elevator, hitting the button to the basement. He inhaled slowly, basking in the refreshing warmth of the energy in the closed space. What felt too short to Andrew now, the elevator came to a halt. He grumbled and stepped out in to the parking garage. Andrew walked over to his red truck. The spot where the battery was hummed and beckoned for Andrew to touch it. He didn't listen. He didn't want to short it out like his light and not get to work. Furthermore, he let out a small laugh remember that scene from Crank 2 where Jason Statham using the car batteries to keep his hard going with electricity. Furthermore, he contemplated trying that one day but advised against it for now. Furthermore, he walked to the storage unit behind the truck and unlocked it and the back of his truck. Furthermore, he began hauling tools and tiles in to the back of his truck. Furthermore, he noticed that even motion was making him feel better filling up his new 'stomach'. Furthermore, he thought about it. Furthermore, he needed to stop calling it that. But he realized speaking of his stomach. He hadn't eaten yet. But he wasn't hungry. The energy was satisfying him so far. He shrugged off the thought and closed the storage unit and the truck, unlocking the driver door and hopping in. He turned the truck's ignition and roared to life. Bright lights and waves of energy coming off of the engine. It was an incredible sight. Andrew pulled his truck out of the parking garage going through the automatic car doors and out on to the street. The street was blinding. Lights and the waves of energy were everywhere, coming off of everything. He squinted to try and be able to see and with focus, the lights all dimmed almost like he had one of those dimmer switches for lights his head. He sighed with relief and turned on the radio. Furthermore, he was going to listen to music but decided to listen to the news to see if anything strange had been reported. If anyone came out and had said they were experiencing what Andrew was experiencing. He came in on a reporter lady who was talking about how if anyone had experienced the faint spells from the night before to go visit Dr. Pope at the University of New York to get some tests done. He figured he gives it a shot after work. It sounded promising. Andrew headed to work like normal. Trying not to get distracted by the lights everywhere around him. [IMG]The gasping and loud whispers pulled Aubrey out of her work at the American Museum of Natural History. Her bright red hair was pulled back into a tight bun, with a few strands falling forward. She looked up from the vase she was brushing off to glance up at the skylight above her. The minute she saw the view she let out a slight gasp of her own to join the millions. The scientific wonder made the anthropologist inside her jump up in giddy, but she stayed seated where she was, marveling at the display of green and blue lights. The Aurora Borealis was a beautiful site and at first her scientific brain shut off as a more relaxed creative side just basked in the joy of the lights. Until the scientist in her decided is time to wonder what the fuck was going on. She stood up from the stool she was sitting on, but before she could go take a better look outside like she was planning too, the floor began to blur underneath her and she stumped. She fell backward, grabbing her stool to catch herself, which then fell over with her as she landed on her ass. Furthermore, she winced and grabbed her head. The world was spinning around her, and she felt weak and faint suddenly. Another intern rushed over to her to see if she was okay and Aubrey waved them off quickly with her hand grunting out ai'm fine. She grabbed the edge of the table she was near to try and pull herself up, but the world hadn't stopped spinning, and she fell again onto her side. She laid there on the ground for a minute, staring at the leg of the table before that same intern pushed her onto her back and kept yelling "Aubrey, Aubrey!" at her. They were really starting to get on her nerves but the lights showing through the skylight caught her attention, and before she could respond or tell them to get off her and stop shaking her like a mad woman, a darkness fell over her, and she closed her eyes slowly. She woke up on a couch a few minutes later. People were standing around her, seeming panic and confused, concern sketched into their faces. It seemed slightly shocking to Aubrey that they were concerned for her, but she quickly erased that from her mind as a reason for their concern looks. No one was ever concerned for her. When Aubrey stared up at the skylight again the beautiful lights were gone. A slight frown formed on her face before she shook it off and began to sat up. She still felt weak and groggy, like she just took a nap in the middle of the day. She hated naps." Oh! Aubrey doesn't sit up! The ambulance will be here soon!" The intern from earlier stumbled over and practically pushed Aubrey back down onto the couch. Aubrey huffed as she was forced down before giving the intern a glare." Get off me." The intern made a squeak at the stern tone and quickly pulled away." I-I'm sorry bu-but you really shouldn't be-""I'm fine." Aubrey interrupted her, sitting up and holding her head. The world wasn't spinning anymore, but the throbbing in her head was annoying. The intern wasn't helping with her protest. She sounded too much like a squeak toy. Even though Aubrey was an intern and peer herself she never cared for others around her, especially her peers. She felt they were more competitors racing forward to gain the same prize and Aubrey was too competitive to care or like anyone in the same field as her. Hell, she didn't even like her own professors. They were too self-centered and snobbish in their "I'm right" fucking ways." I'm fine." Aubrey grumbled out, giving the intern a dark glare with her light hazel eyes. The intern quickly shut up, before huffing with a scowl and walking away. Aubrey could hear her grumbling about something, but she didn't care. There were other coworkers that stared over at her, seeming concerned but when Aubrey gave them a blank stare back they quickly looked away. She stared at the floor as she sat up, tugging at the bun and letting her long hair flow out to relieve the pressure in her head. She had a strong headache and felt like she just woke up after a wild night, which was impossible. Aubrey never had a wild night. She scratched the back of her head before finally glancing up. She felt overheated and hot for some reason and quickly took off her lab coat. Furthermore, she was starting to sweat. Soon a few voices caught her attention and she looked up to find two paramedics heading her way, guided by the intern from earlier. A sigh escaped from Aubrey's lips as annoyance built up the pressure in her head. She grasped her head and closed her eyes tightly, wishing for the stubborn headache to fade away already." Ma'am. Can you hear me?" A paramedic immediate asked as he walked up to her, placing a big bag next to her feet. Aubrey grumbled and turned towards the paramedic with another blank stare. "Yes. I can hear you loud and clear." The paramedic froze for a minute before continuing on with his check-up. "Your named is Aubrey, yes?"" Of course my name is Aubrey. I know my fucking name." Aubrey continued her blank stare at him and the paramedic raised an eyebrow."Your friend SAI-""She's not my friend." Aubrey interrupted. The paramedic was shocked at first before giving her a blank stare back. He was probably used to people like her." What happened?" He asked very calmly." I have a hangover, haven't been drinking water much today, and fainted." Aubrey spoke very calmly, giving out a lie like it was no big deal but for some reason it just flowed from her mouth. She didn't even think for a minute, for some reason it just came out. She had a feeling she made a right choice, that she had to do it. Something was telling her that she had to give out this lie. The paramedic grinned slightly, shaking his head and Aubrey raised an eyebrow at him. He cleared his throat, and pulled out a sphygmomanometer, to measure her blood pressure. She frowned but held out her arm anyway as he wrapped it around her wrist. As the pressure built in her wrist she began to wonder why she did actually faint. Yes, the lights were spectacular, but Aubrey didn't faint from excitement. Her Stoic personality wouldn't let her do that. Even when she got her degree in anthropology and got accepted into the master's program she didn't get excited. It was just a job, a way to live and get money. It was easy, and her rational brain enjoyed the gritty work and hard thinking. Furthermore, it gave her brain some exercise. People moved around as the paramedic continued to check her, asking questions here and there, and she answered with emotionless responses that went along with her earlier lie. They were natural responses, Aubrey wasn't even thinking when she answered them. The flowed from her mouth without her evening realizing her thinking. Her thoughts were on another question: 'Why did she faint?' That and the fact that she felt something extremely different inside her. She felt... overly different. She had this urge to... She couldn't put a word on it yet. The closest that came to it was"shift". But that didn't make sense to her. How could she shift? What could she shift? What is shifting? Nothing made sense and she was starting to get annoyed. She hated not knowing. She became an anthropologist to know shit, and not knowing was not part of the plan." Okay. We're done here. Do you want a ride to the-." The paramedic began to ask if she wanted to go to the hospital, but Aubrey interrupted him." No."" Oh. Okay. Make sure you drink plenty of water and go home for the rest of the day, if you can." Aubrey just nodded at the guy, not even giving him a glance as she was deep in thought. The paramedic just stared at her for a moment, before sighing and picking up his stuff. Her boss was standing to the side, having watched the whole thing and nodded to the paramedic with a quick thanks before walking up to Aubrey." Go home. Rest up. And don't come back to work with a hang over again." Her boss spoke in front of her and Aubrey glanced up at him before nodding. She stood up, her legs shook for a minute before she finally gained some resemblance of balance and strength. She still felt weak and tired, but she shook it off as she grabbed her coat and items real quick before heading back home. Maybe she needed to take a nap. She hated naps. Andrew managed to make it to work with crashing his red truck. Despite being distracted by all the bright colors and waves that pretty well everything was giving off. Even though he had dimmed them with a thought, it was still there. He'd need to try and see if he could dim it further. If he even could. He wasn't sure of the extent that his new abilities could go. He just knew that he had them. Andrew backed his truck in to the driveway of the Doherty's suburban dream house. They always left the driveway open for him so he didn't have to lug around all that heavy equipment so far. He appreciated the thought. He knew he could do it, but he was like every other human being. Furthermore, he wanted an easier way. And that made it easier for him. He pulled down the stick in the truck and put it in to park and then killed the engine and watched as the waves of colors slowly dissipated from the engine and there was a light humming wave that looked similar to the heat lights that he saw in the shower. Andrew got out of his truck and hopped down about a foot. It was lifted off the ground a lot like most trucks of its kind. He landed with a light thud, watching as a different color and wave type came out from under his shoe. He looked down at his feet puzzled for a moment and then stomped his foot relatively hard. There it was again. He walked slowly, and could see it still it was just harder to notice. He shook it off and walked to the front door and rapped on it, watching similar waves from his stomp spark off of the door. Mr. Doherty answered the door. He was a tall man. Taller than Andrew who stood at six foot and one inch. He had salt and pepper hair and smooth, yet aged skin. He had noticeable crows feet at the edges of his eyes and he wore large horn rimmed glasses that suit him. Furthermore, he greeted Andrew with a smile, "Mr. Nolan, please come in." He said opening the door wider and holding an arm out. Andrew smiled and nodded walking past the man, "Thank you." He said pleasantly. He ignored all the bright and colorful waves that filled the room. Mr. Doherty lead Andrew to the garage like he always did and opened it and then hit one of those automatic garage door openers so that Andrew could see his truck. The garage was empty. It had enough for space for probably four or five cars, but they were temporarily parked on the street to make Andrew's life easier. They were very kind to him, and he greatly appreciated that. They had him over for dinner a couple of times just to shoot the shit." Thank you, Mr. Doherty." Andrew said and walked to the back of his truck and opened up the back and pulled his tool box out first and walked back in to the house and in to the kitchen. It was a huge kitchen. Like what you'd expect to see in a rich guys house. Two stoves, big ass fridge, a long counter that bent around the corner in to an L and an island that had the sink and even more counter space. Then just empty space where their dinning area would be if the floors weren't bare. Andrew put down his tool box and opened it, pulling out his measuring tape, a small notebook and a pencil. He bent the notebook in half and put it in his back pocket and put the pencil behind his ear. He pulled out a length of the measuring tape and got down on his knees and began measuring the distance between the island and the counters and the edges of the room, marking the measurements down in his notebook and fumbling the pencil in his mouth instead of behind his ear. After a few minutes of that, he got to work. He brought in his tiling equipment and tiles and began slapping them on to the floor. Cutting where he needed to. Shaving spots he needed to. He was very careful and thorough. This was a delicate job. He got so in to it, he barely noticed the colors of the waves that came off of certain objects or if he dropped something. Unlike the deck, he got the tile floor done in a day. He had ripped up the tile floor the day before and came back today to lay it out. He rubbed his forehead, wiping some sweat away but leaving some dirt there from the cut tiles. It was done. Finished. He would just tell them to let it air out for a day. He stood up, collecting his tools. Furthermore, he brought them back to his truck and grabbed any leftover tile and threw it in to the back as well. Furthermore, he slammed the trunk closed and headed back inside to tell Mr. Doherty that the tiling was done. Andrew found NR. Doherty already admiring the tile work. "You said to not put anything heavy on it for twenty-four hours?" He asked, "Yes, sir." Andrew confirmed, stepping beside the man. Andrew stretched keeping his hands on his hips while he did so. "Is there anything else Mr. Doherty. Any touch ups on the floor you want me to do?" Andrew asked. Mr. Doherty shook his head, "You've done a fine job, kid." He said nodding at the floor. He walked in to the kitchen and Andrew noticed he was wearing bunny slippers. Furthermore, he had to hold back a laugh. The man reached in to the huge fridge and grabbed two beers and walked back over handing one to Andrew. "Thank you." Andrew said taking the beer and twisting off the top and drinking it with Mr. Doherty. They stood in relative silence until they were both about half way done the beers." You know," Mr. Doherty began." Mmm?" Andrew said turning his attention from the beer on to Mr. Doherty." I've been thinking about adding a new addition on to the house." Mr. Doherty continued and placed a hand behind Andrew's shoulder leading him outside on to the deck he had built. They had a massive backyard with plenty of space between them and the next house. Like two houses of space. Two large houses of space. Mr. Doherty pointed to the left side of the house, about where their giant living room would be. "We've been thinking about adding a downstairs guest bedroom with a full bathroom. Is that something within your realm of talents?" He asked. Andrew laughed, almost nervously, "Yeah. I mean. I'd need a couple of guys to help dig it and do the piping. The rest I could probably do with only an extra guy or two." He said tracing his fingers around the area with his finger." How much would it cost me?"" How big do you want it?" Mr. Doherty walked over to the spot, looked at the wall and then stepped back about a master bedroom size away. "This big," he gestured the length, "and take up the wall." He said. Andrew looked for a moment, "Hmm." He said walking over standing next to Mr. Doherty."Oh, and a room at the top too. I don't want it to look awkward protruding out of my house." Mr. Doherty added. Andrew all but gasped, "HHH." He said trying to recalculate. "That's a big addition sir."" I know."" It'll be really expensive."" Are you trying to talk me out of it?" Mr. Doherty mused." No, of course not. It's just, uh-""How much?"" Like sixty-five thousand, sir."" Done." Mr. Doherty said pulling out a check book from his bathrobe and writing on it. He handed the check to Andrew, who took it slowly." Whoa. You don't need to give me so much." Andrew said looking from the check back at Mr. Doherty He had written his a check for ten grand." Well I need to pay you for the kitchen floor. The rest is a nice bonus to help you find your guys." Mr. Doherty explained." Well, uhh-" Andrew began." You're welcome." Mr. Doherty said with a laugh, leading Andrew back inside." When do you want me back to do this?" Andrew asked, "I could probably scrounge up a couple of guys in the next couple of days." He added." Call me in two weeks." Mr. Doherty said leading Andrew to his truck. "Find talented kids like yourself. People you know will do a good job." He said. Andrew stood next to his truck. "Of course, sir." Andrew said and Mr. Doherty nodded his goodbye and disappeared back in to his house. Andrew got into his car still processing how much money he had just made. Working for wealthy people was great. He didn't even know this man was so rich. He shook off the thought and roared his engine to life again. The colors dancing all over the place again. Right. He had that thing he could do now. Andrew looked at the clock. It was just after noon now. He went over what time he had fallen asleep at. Like five the day before. Jesus. That was weird. He never really thought about it until now. Maybe he'd go visit that doctor at the university after all. He had plenty of time to do it. He assumed the doctor would be there at least until three. So Andrew headed there. Well first he stopped off at the bank and picked up some food on the way. Andrew arrived at the school at probably half past one. He parked in the visitor parking and got out looking for any signs. It was a big school with separated buildings all over the place. He didn't know which one to go to. So he designated which one was the biggest in his mind and went to that one. He walked around inside the large school for a bit until he found what he thought was the office of the building. He walked in an asked a tired lady for directions to Dr. Pope. She told him where it was and why building and he left. Of course, it wasn't the building he chose. That'd be too easy. Andrew made his way there relatively quickly stepping inside. He followed the directions he was given and came across a relatively long line. "Damn." He mumbled to himself, getting into the line and looking at everyone. Most of them looked nervous. Like they had something. Something to keep secret like Andrew did. [IMG]The night cool air felt nice against her heated skin. She felt like she was burning up a fever. She pulled at the collar of her shirt, exhaling a harsh sigh as she waved the color of her shirt in front of her. Sweat made her shirt cling to her skin and scrunch up. Her pants were sticking to her legs and making her itch and warm up more. It wasn't even a hot night, there was a cool breath, yet she couldn't seem to cool down, and she only grew hotter until she felt like she was steaming. Wait... shewassteaming. Aubrey stopped for a minute and stared down at her hands. Steam raised from her hands. She lifted her hands higher to stare at them as they seem to just create more steam. She touched them together, poking her hands. It didn't feel hot, but she was burning up all together. Aubrey concentrated on her hands, narrowing her eyes at them. Until a sudden burst of flame exploded from her hand."WOAH!" Aubrey screeched, falling back again. She breathed heavily on the cool cement, her hands flat against it as more steam seemed to float up into the sky from them until it slowly dissipated. She sat up, glancing around the dark street. No one seemed to be around. She gulped slightly, and stared at her hands. The steam faded away, and she shivered, feeling the sudden cold wind against her heated skin. Aubrey sat there for a minute, breathing slowly to calm her racing heart when she heard a soft meow. Her hazel eyes darted towards an alleyway to find a cat purring up against the edge of a building. It's bright hazel eyes landed on her, giving her a loud meow and sweet eyes before turning back into the alley way and prancing off. Aubrey blinked, feeling a sudden urge to follow. She quickly got up onto her feet, leaving her purse and lab coat on the ground as she followed down the alleyway. It was dark, but the sudden darkness seemed comfortable. She continued walking, starting to feel a bit hot again. She wanted to shed. Shed her clothes off. Or shed... something off. Her body was all tingling and on alert like something was about to happen. She heard another meow in the alleyway and her head jerked towards the sound, her eyes now slit like a cat, and she began to claw at her shirt. The sudden need to be naked consumed her, and she tore off her clothes, groaning in slight pain as she tugged and teared. Fur began to grow along her skin. After a few minutes of more groans and bones cracking into places. Her clothes laid on the ground in a lump, until that lump started to move. A small meow came from that lump until a cat with short red fur and hazel eyes appeared, a scrap of clothing still hanging off it's head. The cat shook it off and meowed, scratching behind her ears before she blinked around. Aubrey looked down at the paws below her and meowed softly as a test. So, now she was a cat. Aubrey's cat eyes blinked as it sat in the middle of her torn clothing, wondering what the hell just happened. But then again, it felt kind of nice. Aubrey shook her fur, meowing quickly before she began to walk forward and then pounced up on top of a trash can. From there, she step back a few and pounced up onto a fire escape. She climbed up the fire escape until she appeared on a certain floor. She scratched at the window of the apartment she stopped at, tilting her head and contemplated for a minute. Furthermore, she scratched at the window again with a loud meow before she stood there, staring at the window with narrowed eyes. Her tail flicked behind her. Aubrey thought slowly. Even though she was a cat, she seemed to be able to think like herself. She thought back to the moment when she first transformed, and she concentrated on herself. She felt another urge to shift, and soon she stood in front of the window, butt naked, as a human. Furthermore, she sighed as she stood there, shivering slightly as she pulled up her apartment window and slid in. A few minutes later, she sat on her couch, sipping some warm tea and wrapped up in a blanket. With clothing on this time. The TV was running on the news, but she wasn't paying particular close attention. So, she could create fire from her palms and could transform into a cat. Or was it just a cat? She felt like she could do more. Not only just cats or other animals but people as well. She could shift into another person. Maybe only gain their physical traits and keep her personality and thoughts, but she could still look like another whether it could be a cat or a person. The fire thing she was still confused about, but at least she got a sense of what it was a bit. She shook her head and sipped at her tea, frowning at it when she realized it got cold." On another related news. Those who fainted or experience any other weird circumstances tonight to visit Dr. Pope at University of New York..." The woman continued on, and Aubrey stared at the TV. She glanced at the click below and saw it was way past midnight. She was worn out and tired from the long night and decided it was time to hit the hay. The last words from the news reporter echoed in her head as she fell into bed and went fast asleep. The next day, Aubrey stood in line in front of Dr. Pope's office. She had no idea why she was here. She remembered getting up in the morning in a crappy mood, feeling like shit, having another heat flash and sitting under a cold shower for an hour until she was puny and still miserable. Finally, after she accidentally burnt her own breakfastaftershe cooked it, she decided enough was enough, found her purse the other day and coat in the same area from last night (that was surprising), and ended up here in this spot. She glanced around, noticing a man walk up and stand right behind her. She eyed him for a second, noticing a slight dirt mark on his face and almost chuckled before looking forward as the line began to move. The line began to move, and he stepped forward, occupying the space the girl in front of him had been in before. His green eyes looking over the girl that had taken notice of him. She looked at him, and he was going to smile but then noticed that she was looking at something ON him. She looked back at the line and he touched his face. There was still dirt there. He grimaced about it. He didn't have a chance to shower yet. Andrew took note of his hands, shirt and pants which also had been covered in dirt and plaster. "This should make a good first impression." He said to the girl in front of him. He wasn't above talking to strangers in a line. Besides. For all he knew she had experienced the same thing as him and maybe even could do the same thing as him. He was sure he wasn't the only person ever who had been affected by the Aurora Borealis and give some strange energy power thing." I'm Andrew." He offered his name to the short red haired girl to try and ease any tension the girl may feel for some tall stranger talking to her. "I'd shake your hand or something but their covered in dirt." He said with half a smile. Looking over his hands. He was sure if he clapped them together, dirt and dust would fly everywhere. [IMG]"This should make a good first impression." Were spoken behind her. The words and the voice that accompanied it made goose bumps arise on her neck. At first, she had an inner freak out moment of who-the-fuck-was-this-talking-to-her before she mentally slapped herself, took a deep breath, and glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow." I'm Andrew." He gave her a half smile as he explained that he would give her a handshake, but he was covered in dirt. She gave him a quick once-over again." I can see that." She blurted out and then hesitated before deciding to be nice. "I'm Aubrey." She returned his smile with a small one, before glancing to the front as the line moved forward." So..." She hesitated again, unsure if she was supposed to continue their 'conversation' and if she was... what was she supposed to say? If he was here to see the same doctor as her, does that mean he experienced something similar. She glanced back at him, giving him another once over again but this time studying for anything that seemed out of place. Instead, she felt a swarm of information that didn't make sense and another slight itch to shift... into him. She shook it off and rubbed the back of her neck with a sigh.

Super Human|rating:4.0

Nursing his needs (adreamweaver & lovelygirl)

It had been a month since he fully recovered his health, and two weeks had already passed since his official retirement party. He had been asked to completely wash his hands off the stressful and restless life that he had lead for nearly three decades. Kumar, in his mid-fifties now, had been told by his doctor that it was time for him to take care of only his health and enjoy a more relaxed and laid back lifestyle. There was really no point in him trying to make more money, as he had more than he could possibly spend for the next 20 generations. He had been in the blind pursuit of wealth all these years, and had been depriving his body its basic requirements - food, sleep and sex. That had definitely taken its toll, and he had spent nearly two months in hospital slowly recovering. Dr Nolan's suggestions were very clear. He had told him that he needed professional help around the house, someone to take care of his needs 24x7. Someone who can ensure he gets the right nourishment every day, along with a health medium for relaxation, without having to resort prescription drugs. He had suggested that he hire a home nurse, who could help me with all those needs. He had posted advertisements in the local newspapers last week, and had nearly 15 applicants, all of whom he had interview in the last couple of days. To his surprise, he did not find anyone that fit his requirements. Of course the ad had been very vague about the person's responsibilities, and had only mentioned that this was a post of an in-home nurse for a rich local businessman. The person was to take care of medical and personal needs of the patient, and would be put on a payroll with all benefits, with free accommodation. But there were several other conditions and requirements that one had to satisfy in order to be even considered for the position. So, no one had even come close being someone that could be considered for the position. Kumar was quite disappointed about how this was all going, and was wondering if he would have to resort to other types of options, namely some sort of escort service. But to his surprise there had been a call that morning inquiring about the post, and this woman sounded quite keen on coming for an interview that very day. Kumar had asked her to come over that afternoon. What all was Kumar looking for? Why was this woman so keen on having the interview as soon as possible? Would she fit into Kumar's scheme of things? Only time had the answers to these questions. That time was already here, as Kumar saw car pull in through the main gate into his luxurious villa. He knew that it must be this nurse, as it was exactly the time that they had scheduled for the interview. (Spencer was ready to move on. She had worked as a nurse in the small local hospital in her town. While it was rewarding, helping the sick get well, it didn't pay enough. She needed something to help pay the bills. She was tired of her small apartment and w\really wanted to spread her wings. Furthermore, she was the best at what she did, but the pay raises were few and far between. Being the best, doesn't always mean you get the best. Time and time again, administration turned down pay increases even after stellar reviews by her superior. That's when she saw the add-in the paper for a private nurse. Room and board. This was a dream job, take care of some wealthy man that needed an in home nurse. Quickly dialing the number on the add, Maggie added that she could interview that very day. Luckily the man agreed, and she was overjoyed. Hanging up, she got her resume together, and the three glowing letters of recommendations, from her superior and two co-workers. She had them on hand if ever an opportunity came up like this. Dressing in a gray pencil skirt and crisp white shirt, she looked at the address she had written down, should be easy enough to find. She hopped in her car and drove off. She prayed this would work out. As she reached the house, her jaw dropped, holy hell. It was bigger than she had imagined, no wonder the guy needed help! It was like something out of a movie, it must have 100 rooms. Getting out of her car, she walked down the driveway to the front door. She held her breath and rang the doorbell. Smoothing out her hair, she waited, butterflies in her stomach. She hoped this was her ticket to freedom. Kumar had informed his butler that was expecting another applicant that afternoon. Kumar had watched Maggie pull into the premises from the balcony of his second floor bedroom. He was wearing a white robe, and was having a glass of juice. He informed Stuart - the Butler, about the visitor on the intercom as her car entered the premises. When Maggie knocked on the door, Stuart was on his way and to open the door. He slowly unlatched the door, and gently opened the door with a pleasant smile. "Good afternoon madam. You must be Ms Spencer?" Stuart asked her in the typical British accent that one would be associated with butlers. He was a typical butler, one that looked as if he was a direct decedent of Mr Jeeves Wooster. "Mr Kumar is in his study, awaiting your arrival madam. You can take the elevator to the right, to reach his quarters." He told her as he pointed to the elevator entrance. "I will bring you some refreshments in a moment." As Maggie had noted, the place was indeed a sight to behold. It was clear from the outside and the inside that the place had been built with lots of attention to detail and a lot of care.(sat himself down in his study which was the room right in front of the elevator on his floor. The second and third floors were his private quarters. He was seated on the couch, and had left the door half open. The inside was even more magnificent. She smiled as the butler let her in and could not believe she was actually interviewing for a job here. She did as she was told and took the elevator to the correct floor. As she stepped out, he would hear the click of her heels as she walked toward the study. She took a deep breath as she reached for the doorknob. Turning it, she entered this elegant room, definitely a men taste. There he was sitting on the couch before her." Mr. Kumar, Hi, I'm Maggie Spencer. I'm so glad you agreed to meet with me. She took a seat and held her papers in her hand. He looked a bit frail, but nothing out of the ordinary. He was a bit shorter than she pictured, but a job was a job. Kumar was browsing through a book as he waited for her to come up. As the elevator opened, he could hear her heels. Then he put the book aside, and looked towards the entrance to the room. And then, there she was. The moment he laid eyes on her, Kumar's search for his special nurse had received the boost in motivation it had required. Frankly, he had been growing increasingly tired and frustrated with the 10 or more applicants he had rejected so far. But Maggie was an outlier in his search so far, and an outlier in the right direction. His first requirements were the nurse's physique. As she walked in and introduced herself, Kumar's eyes scanned her figure top to bottom. She was quite tall, taller than him. She was quite curvy, and the dress that she wore accentuated her curves quite well. "It's my pleasure Ms Spencer. Please take a seat" He told her as he sat right across from her. He gave her a smile, the usual blank smile one gives to a stranger that one meets for the first time. He took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts. "Hmmmm. So, you told me about your experience and your education on the phone. I think those things match very well to the requirements of the job. But just to get things started, why don't you tell me about yourself. Please feel free to share any information, which I think I should or need to know if I am to hire you." Meanwhile, Stuart arrived with a large plate with some snacks, hot beverages and water. "Please, let me know if you will need anything else sir.". He informed Kumar and left them continue their discussion. Handing over her resume and recommendations, she smiled at her potential employer. "Ok, so about me. Well, I come from a pretty well-balanced home. My mother was a teacher, my dad a firefighter. Dad died when I was sixteen in a warehouse fire. I guess that's when I got the drive to help people. I decided to go into nursing, because I saw how hard they worked and how great the return was. To make someone feel better if only for a little while. So I went to school and worked hard to graduate near the top if my class. I've been working at Mercy General ever since." She smiled sweetly sitting there. Her legs were crossed at the ankles and her hands remained in her lap. She really wanted this job. Not because he was rich, well the money wouldn't hurt, but because she saw in his eyes he really needed someone to bring him back to full health. Kumar sat there quietly listening to her describe her background. While a part of his mind listened to what she was saying, the rest was focused on her body, and those thick strong looking legs with those perfectly waxed silky skin. She had one of those shapely legs with beautiful calves, which went well with the rest of her beautiful curves. He also spent some time inspecting her breasts, the breaks he'd probably get to see more of and know them very intimately. He eyes them slowly followed the curve of his neck and then looked at her lips. All this inspection was getting him very excited. He had been someone to never had time to think about all those things, but now that he had all the time in the world, and his only aim was to relax and get better." Would you like some coffee?" He told her as he poured himself a little cup of coffee. "I must say I am very impressed with you background, and your attitude towards your work. You are working in a reputable hospital, and your current position there is very good. Then why would you throw all that away for a position that you do not know that much about. You are just after the money are you?" He asked her straight knowing very well that he might sound a little rude. But he was always straight and spoke him mind. "Oh no, thank you, I don't drink coffee." Maggie had no idea he had checked her out from head to toe while she was speaking to him. He approved of her even if she wasn't like the skinny girls in the fashion magazines, not that she strived to look like that. No, she was happy with her body, even proud of it. She felt sexy no matter what others thought of her. When he questioned her motives, she felt it best to be honest. "It's true, I have a great job in a wonderful hospital. I have worked hard there for years now. Part of it is the money. I barely get raises there despite my glowing reviews. The main reason is that there is nowhere else to go in my position. No upward mobility. I've pretty much hit the ceiling there. So when your ad came up, I saw it as a great change in my career." She smiled sweetly at him. She hoped he saw her honesty as she answered him. Kumar sat back with his coffee and listened to her. As she started to explain her reason, he quite liked the fact that she was in a bind as far as money was concerned, and he had a lot of it that he could dispense at will. He now felt that he might have the upper hand in this scenario, and felt that the possibility of her rejecting this job because of its nature was not zero. But again, he could not be sure. She seemed like someone who was disciplined. She had said she does not drink coffee. *Are there really people who do not drink coffee?* He said to himself in his mind." Ahh, I had not realized that there might be monetary issues with you current job. But you do realize that you do not have growth in this job - no upward mobility. So, that way this no different. And, you might not get chance to learn and keep up-to-date with your professional and practice. You will not have other professional colleagues and friend around to socialize with, and you will need to serve just this one patient day-in and day-out. You will not have any holidays, and it will be extremely difficult for you to take days off even when there are emergencies that you need to attend to. And, you still do not know the full details of my condition and my specific requirements from the professional nurse that I seek." Kumar started with the disadvantages that she might face with this job that she as come to interview for. "Those are some serious drawbacks of you taking this job. I tell you these things because I am an honest person, and I am straight forward with my employees. But, let me know paint the other side of the picture." He adjusted himself on the couch as he's starting to feel a bit tired and uncomfortable, as he usually felt in the later part of the day. "Well, first, your economic worries will be non-existent from the day you sign the contract. Your accommodation, food and daily expenses are all provided for, so your salary every month becomes your savings. You will automatically be enrolled in the best insurance plans, be it medical, life, auto, and anything else you might like. You are being expected to travel with me on my holidays, but all your expenses will be covered. Furthermore, you might be able o have your own holidays and time, once you are able to hire assistants that can help cover for your absence. If your work is found satisfactory, then money could be allotted to hire up to two assistants for the job, as long as you can convince me and my primary physicians how they will be helpful." He was slowly letting her in on the details that were going to unfold with time about what this job was all about. Her laugh about her lack of liking quickly changed to a somber face when he told her every detail of what the job required. She felt the color drain from her cheeks when he told her that there wouldn't even be a chance for a day off. Actually it sounded like he was actually discouraging her from taking the position. She was looking for a change, a new challenge, but she also, k ew when an employer didn't see potential in her. They made it impossible for her to like a job, throwing out all the disadvantages as he was doing now. He could see it in her face that she was questioning if she was even qualified for this position. Maybe it was just in his nature to be stern, to push the world away. She folded her hands in her lap and just nodded at everything he said. Sure the money and insurance was a bonus, but at what cost to her? When he finished speaking she looked right at him. "Am I what you're looking for? You seem bent on discouraging me, telling me what all the bad things entail. If I'm not what you're looking for I understand. I'm sorry I wasted your time sir." She was a damn good nurse but if he wanted someone else, she'd just have to keep looking for a job that fit her. Kumar realized the slight change in her facial expression as he was explaining her things cons and pros of the position. It did worry him that maybe she might find the job too demanding, and decide not to take it. That would be terrible as she was perfect for him, and fit his fantasy very well. But he also knew that if she got discouraged by these issues, then maybe she will run away and switch states one she hears everything that the job requires her to do. So, he knew he could not put all his eggs in one basket just because she had the most perfect looking for body type that he was looking for. But he knew that he had to do some damage control and try his best to get her interested in the job." Well, I was only trying to make sure that I do not take you for a ride by telling you all the good things about the job now, and then let you slowly find out the bad things. In fact, the bad things I have mentioned need not be bad things at all depending on how one deals with them. But I do not want to hear an employee come and tell me in the future that they did not know these things would happen when they interviewed for the job." He adjusted himself on the couch once again, as he was feeling uncomfortable again. ". I am sorry, shall we take a walk to the balcony and talk there. I am not that comfortable sitting on this for a long time." Then before she could respond, he stood up, which forced her to get up. The stood and asked her to lead the way, trying to be a gentleman. But little did she know that he actually wanted to check out what he had been curious about this whole time they were conversing - her rear. Kumar had a particular liking to a woman's hips, her legs and her rear, and was very eager to see what Maggie's was shaped like. Then as she stood up and walked towards the door, he caught the first glimpse of her beautiful buttocks. It looked like the pencil skirt had done perfect justice. It had wrapped around her curves perfectly. He then followed her out of the study and pointed to her the way to the balcony. As she walked in front of his, he could not stop wondering how hot she looked in that outfit. Her buttocks were so round and big, and looked perfect on her beautiful curvy frame. There was a subtle and natural sway at the hips in her gait that made her butt cheeks ride up and down as she walked. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(was a man of taste, and someone that paid a lot of attention to details. If at all he had any doubts about hiring her, or at least offering her the job, those doubts had been lifted because of this short walk from the study to the balcony. Then as they reached to the backside of the house, she could for the first time see the mulch-layered swimming pools, and the view of the ocean. It was a beautiful sunny day. "Ahhh. Beautiful day, isn't it? I can never get enough of this view. He as he took a seat on one of the reclining chairs in the balcony." Then after a moment of contemplation, "Ms Spencer, I have not doubted in your professional capability, and think you are the perfect person for me and this job. I want you. I want you to consider this job and go through the next step of meeting my physician, who will give you the specific details of the job and my condition. You will be sent the details of the package that is in offer, later today by email, along with the details of my physician. What do you think?" This had been somewhat like an impulsive decision, a decision that was taken while he felt quite aroused by her. He was truly honest, and she respected him for that. Sure he's telling her how little freedom she would have been off-putting at first, but he didn't honey coat that she would be able to just flit about. This was serious, that was about his health. None of this was to be taken lightly. If she wanted this job, she was going to have to buckle down and do as he says. It may take a bit of time to adjust, but deep in her heart, she knew she was perfect for the position. He eased the blow with his words, and she knew if he offered her the job, she was going to take it. When he asked about the balcony she nodded and began to walk in the direction to which he pointed. Now she never thought of herself as sexy, she wasn't stuck thin like most girls, but most girls didn't have a sway to her walk like she did. Simply put, Maggie had a saunter that would men to their knees. Those hips moved like poetry in motion. That ass, bounced in just the right way. To her, it was all so innocent, to the male persuasion, not so much. She had no idea he was checking her out as they emerged onto the balcony. That balcony, damn what an amazing view! She did notice as they walked she was taller than him, at least by a few inches. And he just looked like a man that had truly been through the ringer, she really hoped she could help him and nurse him back to health. "This place is amazing. You have done well for yourself. Not everyone can be this lucky to have such a great view." He talked further about meeting his doctor to know his full condition. It was best if she knew his complete medical history to give him optimal treatment. She'd find out soon enough what he really needed from her." That will be fine, I'd like to accept the position. I feel that we could work well together. I fully intend to make sure I give you the best care I possibly can. Furthermore, I promise you won't regret your decision." Now she'd have to wait, go over the agreement with a fine toothed comb when it arrived. "I can see myself out if you wish." She'd have to make time to get her things packed up and get her apartment cleared out. She'd be starting a new chapter in her life and she was more than ready for it. Kumar had not expected her to decide immediately, and he knew that the real decision would come after she meets her physician and gets to hear from him what is expected of her. Her tone when she spoke about her current work had quite reflected her real life troubles with her finances. So, he knew that would probably play a big role in her current decision to accept of the offer. But will she still want the job after the meeting with the physician? He could not be so sure. "Well, I am very confident that you are perfect for me, but you will need to decide if I am the right employer for you. So, please take your time if you need to, and meet my physician first before you can be fully sure. I think it makes sense for you know fully about my medical and personal needs before, don't you think?" He told her, again sounding a little reserved when he had just told her that she would be perfect for the job. It might have sounded like a hesitation from his side, that was inhibiting from being to up-front to come out and give her response. He stood up to walk her to the lift. She again led him to the lift, giving him another view of her wonderful rear. He shook her hand as they reached the entrance to the lift, and thanked her for the interview. "I hope you will be able to meet Dr Burns soon, and finalize your decision. If there is any other information you need to finalize your decision, please do not hesitate to call me. Have a nice evening Ms Spencer." He bid her goodbye and went into his study to inform Stuart what needs to do. Stuart, being as efficient as he is, had called Dr Burns to inform about Ms Spencer, and requested him suitable times for Dr Burns to meet Ms Spencer. Fortunately he was available that same evening to meet her. Stuart made a list of appropriate times she could meet Dr Burn, attached a detailed document on the details of the salary, which was ridiculously high for the job. This was on top of all the benefits that were on offer. Maggie had been a bit hasty in her decision. She agreed to meet with the doctor, but she figured there would not be any real shock she hit came to finding out the entire medical history. "Yes of course, sorry for the hasty answer, I tend to just jump into things when I put my mind to it. I hope you won't hold that against me." She walked to the lift with him and smiled once more as the doors closed. He must have thought she was desperate, jumping on the job like that. It didn't seem to sway him though, which was good for her. Driving away, she couldn't help but look at the house once more in her rearview mirror. If everything worked out, this would be her new home. The drive didn't take long and when she entered her house she scanned her tablet for the email. Looked like the doctor would meet her that night at seven. She read the rest of the details and there was really not much difference in what they had talked about. When she saw the salary she nearly choked. Would she really make that much money?! She as actually rendered speechless for a time before she read the rest of the details. Everything seemed to be in order, and she got her dinner ready early in order to meet his doctor. Once she was done, Maggie hopped in her car once more, heading to the address he had given her. She parked and went into the office that matched the name of his doctor. Sitting down, she now waited to see just what was wrong with her potential employer. Dr Burns had just about done with list last patient for the day at around 6:30 PM, as he stepped out of his office and informed his secretary that he is just heading to the kitchen for a coffee. He told her that he was expecting a Maggie Spencer, and asked her inform him when she arrived. Just as he was done with his coffee, the phone in the kitchen rang, and it was his secretary telling him that Ms Spencer was there to meet him. He then quickly rinsed the cup, and walked towards the reception. He greeted Maggie with a big smile, "Hello Ms Spencer. It's a pleasure to meet you." He said, as he offered his hand for a shake. "Why don't we go into my office and discuss?" He asked her as he walked into this office. He closes the door after she entered, and asked her to take a seat. "So, I hear that you are a potential new employee of Kumar." He asked with an enthusiastic voice. "You met him today, right? So, I guess he has asked you to meet for all the details of what was expected of you." He then went through a couple of files that were on his table, before handing it over to her. "Well, here is his case file. It's an extreme case of someone depriving their body and mind the most basal requirements and in his case it was regular balanced diet, sleep and sex. I mean, you saw him, and you saw that he was in the best condition. That is exactly the reason why now he has taken full retirement and has made a promise to me to focus on important things that his body and mind need. That is where I thought he needed professional help." He gave her a moment to look at the files, so that she could get an idea." I am the one who suggested him to have a professional hand at home 24x7, and have asked him to follow some unconventional interventions to help him recover. I did not want him to explain those to you as they will sound ridiculous and even unprofessional. But I know what I am doing, and I am willing to put my reputation on the line for my oldest client." He paused for a moment, and seemed to contemplate and looked at her. "What Kumar needs is regular nursing, where milk is included in his diet, and when I say milk I mean human milk, milk that is breastfed at least twice a day." That really did sound ridiculous. But he sounded very confident and appeared to have no reservations about it. He then went on to quote some scientific sources for his prescription, and handed over her copies of the journal articles that had suggested such a treatment for an adult. "This had both physiological and psychological effects which can help improve his condition. Then, as he recovers, he must start a slow and gradual but regular course of uninhibited sex. I want him to bring out all the lust he has suppressed over the years and express and experience them. Of course, it would not be anything harmful to him or his nurse, but healthy, consensual sex expressing pure lust and nothing else. Those will be the primary duties of the nurse that he will employ. Now, whether that nurse will be you, will need to be decided by you. And, he is quite clear that he needs you. As far as I know him, you" are his ideal type. He had interviewed nearly 15 people before this, and not a single one was referred to me." He also did not bullshit and told her things just as they were. Surely, this must have all hit her like a tsunami, something that she had least expected. As she entered, she sat opposite of the doctor and bean to listen. She took the file and began to scan it as Dr. Burns began explaining Kumar's condition. Looking it over as he talked, it looked as though her potential employer had almost worked himself to death. A life of no enjoyment and constant stress as he worked to achieve higher goals than anyone should have. She was surprised he was even walking at this point. She looked up as he began to explain why Kumar needed 24x7 care. Seemed the doctor was very serious about making sure his patient had the highest level of care possible. Her eyes grew two sizes when he mentioned the breast milk, sure she couldn't provide that, they would need a wet nurse for that. That was until he handed over the journals, seriously? She was going to have to breastfeed him? She shook her head in disbelief, not sure if she was the best person for the job. The kicker came next when he told her she would have to provide sex at his ever call. So she wasn't really a nurse, she would be a high-priced call-girl for his needs. Maggie was not sure if she really wanted this now. She sat back in the chair and had to think for a moment. Sure maybe he had picked her for the best candidate, but could she really bring herself to have unbridled sex with her employer? Taking the time to think she reviewed in her mind what Kumar had already told her. No vacations, no breaks, no anything until he was well. That pretty much put any chance of ever having an outside relationship at zero. Maggie herself would eventually have needs, you couldn't go without sex forever, right? Ok she had a question of her own for that. "Doctor, tell me, what safeguards are in place for me? Will you be providing birth control for me? I'm quite sure we don't want any accidents, right? And how does this whole breast milk thing happen? I just want to make sure of everything before I agree to any of it." Dr Burns sat there looking at her as she appeared to be thinking over things. He did not know what all was discussed between her and Kumar, and if at all Kumar told her any details. He had asked him not to, so in all likeliness he did not. To his surprise, he saw that this woman did not just stand up and walk away, dismissing the whole thing as a perverted experiment staged by a rich old prick with the help of his physician. And to his surprise, this woman actually was open enough to take a look at the journal articles he had given her. He waited for her to go through them, and ask him any questions she might have. "Well, those are good questions you ask. I am glad that you are prepared to look at it the right way." He then pulled another set of sheets, which he hoped would answer all her questions. "I give this to you for your reference so that you can go home and carefully read it before you decide what you want. But to give you some quick answers. Yes, you will be on a proven and safe birth control, all of which will be covered on top of your salary. Your health expenses are fully taken care of. You will not need to worry about any of those things. You will see those in the contract that will be sent to you, if you want it to be sent. And about the breast milk also, you will be put on a hormone therapy that will take care of it, you should be lactating within a matter of days. But I must inform you that they will get slightly bigger than what they are now. Please take a look at the document I have provided, and that should answer most of the relevant questions." The team was very well-prepared, and it was clear that they have tried to cover every possible angle. This was something they had to do give the nature of the endeavor." Do you have any other medical questions for me?" He asked her to make sure he gave her all the necessary information. "You have my personal cell number there, and you are free to contact me at any time. But for any other questions, I was told that you need to contact Mr Kumar. He will tell you the next steps if you want to pursue this." His answers were straightforward and to the point. So she would be taken care of to the letter, no change for error or mistakes. Looking over the additional paperwork, she was still a bit concerned about the whole lactating thing. Ok sure, breast milk was the most beneficial, but to have I grown man at her breast morning, noon and night? That would take a lot of getting used to. Part of her couldn't even believe she was considering all this, but the benefits outweighed the cons. No one would believe she was actually going to consider taking this job with what in entailed. "I have one other question, in your estimation doctor, how long before he reaches full health and well-being? I mean with all these 'therapies' you are proposing, I'm sure this won't be a lifetime job will it?" She was trying to iron out the parameters of just how long she would have to take care of him. Eventually she's want her own life, somewhere down the line. "Well, that is a difficult question to answer." he said and became a little contemplative, trying to see if he could provide an answer to this question. "I think I had told Kumar that he should look to hire someone on a contract basis, contract that get renewed every year depending on his health condition. But I am not sure if that is what he wants. He did not like the idea of keeping an employee hanging by just a year's contract with them not being sure what will happen next year and if they should start looking for a new position and when etc. He wanted something at least for two years, so that the employee can feel a bit more relaxed. I am not sure what his contract says, but I would clarify this with him, But my suggestion is plan for at least two years. I hope that helps." He had tried his best to give her, once again, a detailed and straight forward answer. Kumar and himself had been very clear about how to deal with potential employees when they had decided to float the advertisement, and now it was just the matter of following what they had decided they would do." Is there anything else you wish you ask me? If there are no immediate medical questions, I would suggest that you take your time to think about this offer, and contact me anytime. For the next steps, and other things you must contact Kumar. This would be necessary before you start planning anything. I say this because, you will not have to worry about things like packing, moving etc. All that would be taken care of. He own a business that does too, so that would be just a phone call away for him. And also, we will need to start thinking about the hormone therapy before you can move in, in case you decide to take of the job." Maggie cocked her head to the side, two years? Ok, she could do two years, at least it wasn't a lifetime commitment. She pondered all the things both men had told her, and really rationalized if she could be all Kumar asked of her. "No, I think that's all doctor, thank you for taking the time to explain all of this to me. I'll be in contact with you about the therapy if I decide to move forward." She rose and shook his hand, then turned to leave. Carrying the paperwork with her, Maggie's mind was on overdrive. Could she really do this? Let her body be manipulated to produce milk to feed him? To have sex was one thing, that was just sex, but to have something that intimate between two total strangers? It just seemed odd, even as long as she was a nurse, she had never heard anything so outlandish. Still his doctor seemed to be intent on that being the only way Kumar could get better. As she got home, she practically stayed up all night reading everything, from the paperwork, to the offer in her email. She had a lot to deal with, trying to figure out in her head if she really was qualified for this. It was at about two in the morning that she made her decision. It was short term, the money and benefits were outstanding, she'd be taken care of completely those two years. Typing an email to Dr. Burns first, she told him she'd agree to the terms and would hear from him about when to start the therapy. She then emailed Kumar accepting the job. She sighed and then crawled into bed. It was done, she had a new job. Now she would give her notice to her job and get ready for her new life. The sun rose the next morning and Maggie got dressed for work. Some doubt crept into her mind, had she done the right thing? She just shook her head, yes, it was the right decision. Going to work, she gave her two weeks notice and everyone was sad to hear she was leaving, but congratulated her on her new job. Of course, she gave no details, only that she'd privately be taking care of a sick patient. They would think she was crazy if she had told them everything. She kept her mind off things by keeping busy. The day passed quickly, and once more she found herself driving home deep in thought. She was on autopilot and hadn't even realized she was home already. She went to check her email to see if she had any response to her acceptance of the job. Nothing. Maybe he wasn't what she was looking for after all. Dr Burns had called Kumar after Maggie had left and told about his interview with her. Dr Burns felt that this was more a 50/50 chance that she might take it. But he did mention to Kumar that if she takes it, she might be very, very good for Kumar and his recovery. Then to Kumar surprise, when he woke up the next day, there was an email from Maggie accepting the job. Kumar could not contain his excitement. Mainly because he had been quite aroused by her presence during their interview, and now he could not believe how it would be with her constant 24x7 presence in the house just for him. He finally could have a healthy outlet for all his suppressed lust, and it was with someone that provoked and kindled his sexual desires further. He did not reply to the email, and sat on it over the day just thinking about how great it was going to be. Furthermore, he had already informed Stuart to getting all the logistics taken care of. Then later that evening, Kumar had decided to give Maggie a call and talk to her about her decision, and her immediate plans. He was quite excited about just hearing her voice again, now that he knew that she was going to be for him. He picked up his phone, and dialed her number and eagerly waited for her to pick up her phone. Furthermore, he knew that she would be back home by then, and he would not be disturbing her at her work. She figured after checking her mail three times that she wasn't what they were looking for even though they had insisted that she was. She decided after two hours to just get ready for bed, that maybe she should not have given her notice at the hospital. Now regret was setting in, why did she have to be so hasty with things?her phone then rang, and she ran to get it. She noticed the number right away. "Hello, Maggie speaking," her voice light and cheery. Perhaps she had been accepted, and things would all work out now. "Hello Ms Spencer, this is Kumar. How are you? I am sorry for calling a little late, but I was in a meeting with Dr Burns, and just got back home. How was your day?" He had been thinking of inviting her for a drink, and may be discussed the details. Since it was Friday, he knew she would be off work the next day." Hmm, well, I am calling to see if you might be interested in having a drink at my place tonight, so that we could discuss the position, and things we will need to over the next 2–3 weeks. You can spend the night here, in case you are worried about driving after having some drinks. Your quarters are already ready. Would you be able to join me?" Of course the reason for all this was not just to discuss things. He wanted to see her again, and could not wait for 3 more weeks for her to move in. An invitation for drinks and a sleepover came over the phone. Sounded like her new boss was eager to know more about her. "My day was fine, thank you for asking. Yes, I can come over there for drinks. Just give me a bit of time to gather my things. I should be there within the hour." Hanging up, she went to her bedroom and took a bag from her closet. Placing in a tank top and shorts to sleep in, she also packed clothes for the next day. She packed the remaining items she would need then headed out. It didn't take her long to arrive, less than the hour she said. The house looked different in the dark, all lit up like a beacon on the hill. She took a deep breath and tang the bell. Tonight would be the start of a whole new life for her. As the bell rang, Stuart came to the door and opened it to invite Maggie inside. "Good evening Ms Spencer. How are you?" He asked her as she stepped in. "How was your day?" He asked her as he latched the front door from the inside. "Mr Kumar is awaiting your arrival pool side. I have arranged for the drink and snacks. Please feel free to let me know if you will require anything else. Your room is also ready, and you can retire any time you wish to. Arrangements have been also made for you to spend the weekend here, if you wish to." He informed her everything to make her feel at home, as they walked towards the elevator. "Wish you a good evening madam." He told her as she stepped into the elevator. Kumar was sitting next to the pool on a recliner chair, with some drink and snacks. It was a warm summer evening. He was wearing just a robe, like he usually did during the evenings. She smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Stuart as she entered the house. She was a bit surprised that they had arranged for her to stay the entire weekend. Guess it was lucky for her that she had brought enough clothing to remain there through the duration. As she stepped into the elevator, she gave the kind man a smile and a wave before the doors closed. She held tight to her bag and took a deep breath waiting for the doors to reopen once more. Once they did, she placed her bag just outside the doors and walked to the pool to see her new employer. "It's a nice night, she said as she saw him standing there. Noticing he was just in a robe, she shrugged it off. She was going to have to see him naked soon anyway since she'd be sleeping with him on a regular basis. She herself didn't have much experience, only having one boyfriend, and that didn't end well. Sitting opposite of him, she smiled, knowing now that he could ask her to get naked at a moments notice if he wanted to. She still had to finish her days out at the hospital, but perhaps he'd want a little preview of just what he would be getting with her. Kumar sat down next to her, and asked her what she would like to drink. As he made his drink he continued, "I am very sorry if you felt I was bothering you too much, inviting you for a drink at this time of the evening. I assumed you were off tomorrow, and that is why I thought it would be best to invite you over to discuss some things over. Its kind of urgent." As he finished her drink, he offered it to her. "I am very glad that you have accepted the position, and hope you fully understand the nature of the job and its demands. I really need professional help, and I think you are perfect for everything the job demands. I presume you will be able to join in 2–3 weeks, right?" He sat back in his reclining chair and a lay-down in a comfortable position. "You will receive all the help you need for moving in here, and you will not need to do any of the stuff. Just tell my people what needs to be moved, and it will be done. Stuart will coordinate all that. And, I would like to spend about a week in a spa up north, owned by my friend. She has offered to get to all prepared for the job, and she knows the details of what is required. She will also help with the hormone therapy, which will be coordinated with Dr Burns." He paused to look to make sure she was listening, which she was." The reason I am explaining all this at this late in the evening, is because I am traveling on some urgent issue for about three weeks, and will only be back after you have already moved in, probably. Feel free to contact Start or Dr Burns with anything and everything you need. All the expenses will be taken care of from the day you leave your current job, and you will be employed by me from the very next day. So, please do not worry about anything else. I just want you to focus on preparing yourself mentally and physically for the job. I hope that is what you also want?" 'Honestly it's no bother. I would have stayed at home reading or watching TV anyway. I don't have this big grand social life," she chuckled. Listening to him, yes she fully understood the job, odd as it was, she kind of felt like a high-priced call-girl and not really a nurse. Well, when you boil it down, that's really what she was. She would be a kept woman for at least two years, letting him sleep with her when he wanted and then drink from her as he needed to. "Yes, I will be here in two weeks. I've already given notice. I don't have much, clothing and some trinkets. Furthermore, I won't be needing the furniture, obviously. That can be left behind. I'm pretty much yours after that." She nodded about the spa and the therapy. She figured at that point, she's probably not have to invest in bras since she'd be full of milk, and he's having access to her 24/7." I already revived an E-mail from the doctor. I am to see him in two days to start the hormone therapy. He said it could take up to the two weeks to see any results anyway. So best to get started right away. I'm ok with all of this. I've thought it all over. Furthermore, I think we can work well together on this. Furthermore, I just want to make sure you're well again, Sir." She started to be a bit formal, he was her employer now, and it was proper to show him some respect. "I'll most likely be here the week before you return. So I'll be ready to go once you're back." She took a sip of her drink and just smiled, part of her still could not believe she was doing this. But, the pay was more than generous, and she most likely would not have to work after this for a very long time. Kumar was excited to hear very positive about the whole thing. He was already getting quite aroused by the whole thing, and how willing this beautiful sexy woman was to basically become a high-priced call-girl, in the name of being professional nurse. He was starting to feel a little sleepy, and he was leaving early in the morning. So, he decided to call it a night and retire. "I need to get up early tomorrow to catch my flight. I am afraid, I am going to have to leave to yourself, so that you can enjoy this beautiful evening. Feel free to use the pool if you wish to, and treat this as your own home." He got up and walked into the house towards his room. The next morning, he got ready by 8AM and was out for three weeks. Maggie sat for a while alone by the pool taking all this in. This was going to be where she'd live for the next couple of years of her life. This is where she'd take care of a gravely sick patient, and nurse him well in the most unconventional of ways. She did not know that the spa would also train her in how she should be, how to present herself to him. There were big changes ahead for Maggie, changes she never saw coming. When she woke up, he was already gone. Spending half the day with Stuart, she didn't feel right being there without him. She excused herself and packed back up, staying at home. The next two weeks were a blur, finishing up, her old job while she got the hormone therapy, made it a bit noticeable that things were going on. Her breasts had begun to grow and fill with milk. She had changed from regular bras to nursing bras. It felt uncomfortable at times, but she was slowly getting used to it. The next week was spent at the spa. Hormone therapy continued as she was then trained in the way to present herself to him. Nurse uniforms of varying kinds were given to her, pieces tore away easily so he could have immediate access to her if need be. She was also taught how to disconnect on an emotional level, making her know the sex was all work, there was no feeling-involved so she wouldn't "accidentally" fall for him. She would somewhat be in charge, making sure she gave him his "treatments" at the proper time, that he would not over step his bounds as well. Yet, they brought her submissive side out full force there. The spa was pleased with her progress and called Kumar to let him know. At the end of the week, they sent her back to his place dressed and ready to go. All her things had been moved in and now Maggie walked around in her new uniform, even Stuart giving her the eye once in a while. She was ready, her bosom full of milk for him to drink, her body trained and ready to serve him. There was no longer doubt in her eyes, but excitement. Maggie was eager to now nurse her new patient back to health, no matter what it took to make him happy. Kumar three weeks had been quite successful but very rough on his health. Before he decided to take voluntary retirement, he had made one deal with his colleagues, that is to let him close the European deal he had been working and coordinating for years. The three weeks was the time he needed to close the deal and set up a permanent bridge with his old company and their European rivals. All this meant, that even though he has stopped working his stocks would continue to sore, he will continue to keep his share of the business, and he would be paid handsome royalty every month for all his contributions. He was a very meticulous and calculating man, and he was finally done with all that he wanted to accomplish professionally - the European was the last and the best of his accomplishments. Although he was happy with his final achievement, his body did not necessarily agree. He had completely lost his appetite over the three weeks, and had become thinner and weaker by the day. Just days before he was about to leave he received good news from the spa, and he was happy about Maggie's progress. It was close to 9PM when Kumar's flight landed, and Stuart was there to pick him up. He had to wheel chaired out to the exit gate, and got into the Royce with some difficulty. "I am not feeling that well Stuart, I feel bad that I had to put my body through this again. But I am happy there is no more." It was clear from his voice that he was now feeling not so attached with work and did not really care much. This was the first time Stuart had heard him talk like that about work. He was someone who loved his work, and was an extreme workaholic, but that person was no more and a switch had been flipped in Kumar's mind. There was no work for him anymore and he was happy about this. Stuart briefed him about the progress over the last three weeks with Ms Maggie and this was all music to his ears. But Kumar could not focus too much as the chronic tiredness of the last three weeks took over, and he finally went to sleep in the back seat. When he was finally woken up, he could hardly open his eyes, and could only see blurred images of Stuart and a nurse helping him out of the car, and laying him down on his bed. The last words he heard before slipping out of consciousness was the sweet caring voice of the nursing, "You just rest Mr Kumar. You will be alright. Just rest." Stuart then shared the discussion they had heard on their way back from the airport with Maggie, and sounded excited about him finally being done with his work. As she helped him out of the car, he was much more frail than when he had left. She felt terrible, but knew it was time to step up and take care of him. She got him to his bed and tucked him In, rubbing his forehead. Maggie only hoped she'd be able to fully nurse him back to health. When he would wake, he might not recognize her, Maggie's breasts has nearly doubled in size from the milk she was now producing. Once Stuart briefed Maggie on the trip, she was glad he was home as well. She just hoped it wasn't too late and that all this work wasn't for nothing. She went to bed and set her alarm, needing to be at the ready when he woke. Tomorrow was the start of a new day, and she had to be ready. When the alarm went off, she showered and got herself properly dressed. She gently knocked on Kumar's door and waited for him to answer. Once he did, she would step in and give him his first "treatment." Kumar had slept for nearly 10 hours that night, and it was an uninterrupted sleep. He had hardly slept that well in the last three weeks. May be being back home, in his own bed, and the lack of any more responsibilities to anything other than himself was the reason for the good night's sleep. It was close to 8 AM by the time he woke up, but he decides to stay in bed for another hour or so waiting for someone to come and ask him to get up. Just as h was lying there in a half asleep state, the heard the door knock. He knew it must be Stuart. "Please come in. He said in a very feeble voice, expecting to see Stuart come in with something eat or drink. But Kumar in no mood to eat or drink. The feeling of loss of appetite was still there, and he really did not feel like eating or drinking anything. She stepped in with her new uniform once he said to enter. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(It barely contained her new, fuller breasts. "Good morning Sir, I am glad you are back from your trip." She smiled sweetly at him as she moved closer to his bed. She was full of milk for him and moved closer. "Are you feeling up to your treatments today Sir? Would you like me to wait until you have some food in you?" She was very attentive, helping up to a sitting position, being kind and gentle with him. She then sat in the chair next to the bed, waiting to see what he would be up to after his long trip home. Kumar had not really expected Maggie this early in the morning. It was Stuart who always came in first to his room, and help him get started with the day. But Kumar had nothing to complain, given the new Maggie, his nurse Maggie, that was in his room. "My goodness" he said in a feeble voice, and his surprise was very clear from his facial expression. He was without speech for a few seconds as she came in greeted him and help sit up straight. He had always seen Maggie in full clothes, and he could not believe that she had already fitting well into her job. The spa he knew definitely has had an effect, he said to himself. His eyes were fixed on her large supple and full breasts that looked very, very juicy, and her bra was trying beyond its best to conceal them as much as it could. And that thong she was wearing was definitely a few sizes smaller than what she needed. The strap was very tight around her wide waist, and had completely disappeared between the large round cheeks of her buttocks. "Good morning Ms Maggie. I am glad to be home as well." He still sounded quite week, but the long uninterrupted sleep was already big progress. "I am in the mood to eat anything, sorry. I am very tired and really don't feel like eating." He then adjusted himself again, and sat a bit more comfortable. "I think I will just brush my teeth and take a shower first, and then may be seen if I feel hungry. Can you ask Stuart to prepare a warm bath? That will probably be the best thing at this point." She was very sweet and cordial to him as he began to rise for the day. "Yes, of course, Sir, she smiled at him as he expressed he only wanted a shower and to brush his teeth at this point. He still had to recover from his trip, and she would not push him now. When he was ready to partake of her milk, she would be ready, but for now she just bowed her head and headed to Stuart to prepare a bath for her new boss. Even though she walked through the house nearly nude, Stuart was already used to her sexy form, and had a mutual admiration for the new nurse in the house. He even found himself adjusting his pants once or twice as she approached him. Stuart went up and began to draw the bath as Maggie followed close behind. She would make sure he could make it from the bed to the bath without incident. She held Kumar by the arm to escort him to the bath, Stuart nodding at her progress. "Sir, do not forget Miss Maggie is at your disposal now,"Stuart reminded him. "Remember doctor's orders," he added, signaling to her breasts. Even if he wasn't up to sex, he should begin to drink from her, to gain his strength back and start moving toward a healthier body. Kumar got up very carefully and was quite happy to have Ms Maggie's help. He put his arm around her waist, and felt her soft smooth skin for the first. She felt great. He then slowly walked to the bathroom, where Stuart was already there preparing things for him. He then held on the handrails, and stood himself straight, and waited for both of them to leave so he could go through his early morning routine and his ablution. "Yes, yes, I know Stuart. But I think given that this first real day on the job you must assist her in all the way possible. That is why I had asked for you prepare the bath. She must not feel she is being taken for a ride in her new job. She is still a nurse here for a professional duty and I prefer to have her do as little of the house duties related as possible." Stuart had been with Kumar for nearly 40 years, he took to freedom to tell speak his mind with Stuart. Then just as he was about to leave, Stuart's comment and his look at Maggie's breasts kind of annoyed Kumar and he kindly told Stuart, "Yes, I know Stuart. I am trying to slowly recover." "This was followed by a firm "Thank you." making sure Stuart knew how to behave in front of Maggie and him." You could you to your room Ms Maggie. It will be a while before I am done. I will ask Stuart to get me some breakfast later if I feel hungry after the bath." He said very kindly to Maggie ensuring he did not keep her there unnecessarily. Maggie stepped up to the bath after his exchange with Stuart. 'Sir, I do understand you are not feeling up to par to eat, but you did hire me for a purpose. While I do not want to get between you and Stuart, he is right. While you may not want food, you will need to drink, if only a little." Maggie pulled up a small stool next to the tub and lifted the small top she had on, exposing her full breasts to him, She held one in her hand and presented it to him, getting close to his lips. 'Drink a little Sir, it will make you feel better, I assure you." Her smile was still so sweet, but she had a job to do, and that was to nurse him back to health. It was time for both of them to step up and get to the business of getting him well. Kumar was a little frustrated with Stuart's comment and his exit from the bathroom was already making him feel better. This was normal between Kumar and Stuart, and having know each other for so many years they could speak their mind to the other. But Maggie's words were different. This was coming from his very sexy, almost naked nurse, who he was finding hard to not stare at. He listened to what she had to say very eagerly, giving her all the attention she needed. He shook his head in agreement. "Yes, Ms Maggie you are right about it. But my body as you can see is in a bad shape, and sometimes I feel like not troubling it more than I should. But you are correct." As he was saying this, she went ahead and pulled a stool, and he went and sat on it as she signalled him to. "I should however, not be stupid and give my body what it needs." And before he could continue with what he was saying, to his pleasant surprise, Maggie popped out her breasts and held one very gently in her hand and brought it close to his mouth, which was perfectly located." His eyes opened wide as he stared at her and then her full juicy breast with its large soft looking areola and the thick long pink nipple. He could believe his ears when she said, "Drink a little sir. It will make you feel better." My goodness, if Stuart had been there to witness this, he could have shot his pants. He was little reluctant and was not sure how to react at this point. He looked up at her, "SSS-ss-so, I. I just have a little drink... I mean suck on it to drink." This was an abnormal situation, and it was as abnormal as it could ever get. There was no way Kumar could have been blamed for his hesitancy and confusion. As all this was happening, he could not but wonder what was going through her mind. He could not believe how firm and strong she was to be able to do this. Then with his eyes fixed at hers he slowly moved forward, opened his mouth a little and latched on to her offer tit, and sucked on her nipple. The warm milk started rushing out of her nipple and filling his mouth. He felt he had heard a sigh escape her mouth as his mouth latched on to her tit, but he could not be sure as his attention was really on tit and how it felt on his mouth. He then took out his mouth and swallowed it. "Wow, that is really delicious" he said, as he swallowed and savored the taste. "Can I try it again?" he asked her making sure he could have some more of her milk. It was almost as roles had been reversed. Before his trip, he seemed so certain and confident about her role, assuring her that this was what he needed to survive. Now faced with that reality, he seemed so unsure of himself. Now she was the one in control, telling him that he needed to drink from her. That was what she was hired for, taken to the spa, given the hormone therapy for. Her sole purpose now was to nurse him back to health, and she was going to make sure she did that for him." Yes, just place your lips on me and begin to suck," she said with a warm smile. Once his lips touched her breast, she did indeed allow a sigh to escape, the sensation of him on her breast was very arousing. She was glad he was accepting of this new for of nourishment for him. 'Of course Sir, that is what I was hired for. You can drink from me until your belly is full." She drew out the other breast and would allow him to move back and forth between the two of them. Maggie was strong, but she had been coached and trained for this, knowing her milk would eventually save his life and make him stronger and healthier than he had ever been. Kumar looked at her eagerly waiting for her approval. He wet his lips with his tongue as she asked him to drink more, as much as he wanted. He then without any further delay gently latched on to her meet and started suckling on it. Furthermore, he had his eyes closed and the look on his was face made it clear that he was very focused on drinking from her tit. Sometimes he could break contact, swallow and savor the taste of the warm fresh milk, and latch on to her hard wet tit once again. He was at it for a couple of minutes before he had decided that that was enough for now. He looked up at her, "Thank you very much Ms Maggie, that was really very nice. I feel a little better already. I will now just get ready and may have some food a little later. Is that ok?" There was this sense of accomplishment when he had his fill of her. It felt so good to have him feed from her, to know her milk was going to make him strong and healthy once more. When he said he was all done, she nodded to him and covered herself. Rising from the stool she smiled at him. 'I'm glad that made you feel better. Just remember what I am here for. You should feel free to call upon me at any time. I am here for the sole purpose of making sure you get healthy and strong again. Doctor's orders." She left him to soak in his bath and let Stuart know he was to prepare a light breakfast for Kumar. She then went back in her room and sighed softly, running her fingers over the fabric that covered her breasts. Furthermore, she loved how it felt to have him suckle on her and could not wait to feel his mouth on her once more. Sure, it was all in the name of health and science, but Maggie could not help but feel a bit of self-satisfaction herself. Kumar watched Maggie leave the bathroom, and kept starring at her beautiful large rear as she walked away in those high heels. She really looked incredible. Kumar was definitely aroused, and he could feel it downstairs. He could not honestly remember the last time he had had a slight erection like that. He then slowly got up and go to his things one by one, and had a long relaxing bath. Furthermore, he got out of the bathroom nearly 45 minutes after Maggie had left. Furthermore, he was in his robe, as he walked in and called Stuart on the intercom to get him some food. Furthermore, he was not starving, but Ms Maggie had told her that he should, so he decided to get some food in him. Furthermore, he got changed into loose comfortable clothes and sat down with a book in his room waiting for Stuart. As Kumar sat down with the book, his mind was very wavered. His thoughts kept going back to what had just happened with Maggie, and he could but get aroused by the whole thing. She was really quite strict and so keen on getting him suck on her tits. But one thing that also really excited him, was the slight gasp or sigh she let out when he had first placed his mouth on her tit. He was not sure if it was a sigh of shock or sudden sensation or a sigh of pleasure. He really wanted it to the latter, and found the idea of seeing her in shear ecstasy very arousing. And he wanted to be the one giving her that pleasure. He decided that he would be more mindful of her reactions the next time they had the nursing session. By then Stuart was there with the breakfast. Kumar had a few bites, and went back to his book. But soon enough he dozed off on the couch with the book on his chest. She waited a few hours, giving him a chance to eat and relax a bit more before she headed back to his room. Her breasts were full once more. She made her way to his door and knocked softly again. 'Sir, are you in there? I'm back again. It's time for you to drink some more." She got a bit excited standing there, a dampness came to her thighs. Now she knew he wasn't strong enough for sex yet, but if she could entice him into a little petting, something simple, maybe she could get the ball rolling, and give him a bit more energy for the day ahead. Kumar had been really knocked out for a couple of hours after the breakfast. His deep sleep was finally broken by Maggie's sweet voice. He kind of snapped out of his deep sleep, as if waking up suddenly from a dream. He then looked around, and then replied as he wiped his eyes and face with his hands. "Please, come in. Take a seat..." He was breathing a little heavily, as he watched her walk in. "Oh my, what time is it? I was completely gone after the breakfast. I am still very sleepy and tired. Will it be alright if we postpone the nursing to a little later?" He asked as he slowly leaned back onto the couch to go back to sleep. But he knew that Maggie would not probably not listen and push for him to at least have a little bit and then go to sleep. As he lay down, "Will you be able to feed me while I lie down? I do not feel like sitting up." He closed his eyes and really want to slip back into the deep sleep that he had been in. "Sir, you know the doctor's orders. I am here to provide you with what you need to get stronger. Your health is very important to me. If you wish to lay there, I can kneel next to you, but you must drink sir." As he laid on the couch, she did indeed kneel right next to his head. Her tender hands, turned his head to face her, as her ample milk-filled breasts were there for the taking. A thought crossed her mind. While he was laying there drinking from her, she could perhaps give him a bit of 'attention'. She waited for his lips to wrap around her hard nipple as her hand trailed down his side, stopping at the waistband of his pants. Her petite hand then slipped under, finding his manhood, gently stroking it. Maggie hoped she wasn't out of line, but her sole purpose was to nurse him back to health. She'd do anything to get him stronger, even push the boundaries a little, hoping Kumar would not object.

Nursing his needs (adreamweaver & lovelygirl)|rating:4.0

Evergreen Goddess x Kimmi

Name: Erin O'Brien Age: 23 years old Occupation: Exotic Dancer Backstory: Erin had been deeply in love with her high school boyfriend. They had dated for three years. Senior year came around and suddenly things started to change. A snobby new girl named Allison had spread vicious rumors about her, causing her boyfriend to leave her for Allison. After that, things seemed to go downhill. She managed to graduate, but she lost her parents in a terrible car accident, leaving her no choice but to become a dancer to make ends meat. Since her boyfriend broke her heart, she decided to never date again. Little did she know things would happen that would change her mind... Name: Aiden Colin's Age: 25 years old Occupation: Mechanic Backstory: Aiden had been very happy during his high school years, and that was because he had his perfect girlfriend. Or so he had thought. It wasn't until his senior year that a girl named Allison began to tell people things about Erin which ended up reaching him. After hearing quite enough, he broke up with Erin and soon after got married to Allison. Things didn't get better though, it wasn't long before he found out that Allison cheated on him. Now the divorce papers are being worked on, and he doesn't think he'll want to marry anyone anymore. Erin let out a soft sigh as she prepared for her shift. She hated her job. She hated it so much. But with things being so hard right now, she had no choice. She changed into what was considered a hot little outfit and started to take orders from a few people who were at the bar and getting them drinks, cringing as one of them playfully slapped her in the butt. "I wish I could quit.... I wish I could quit....." She mumbled under her breath, serving out the drinks before heading backstage to get ready for her dance. "I really don't think this is a good idea you guys." Aiden said once again as his friends practically dragged him into the bar. "C'mon Aiden, you need a break from all the crap you're going through right now." replied his friend. His other friend nodded and grabbed a table for them, then ordered a couple of drinks for them. "I suppose a drink or two won't hurt.' Aiden muttered. His friends cheered for this and drank some of their drinks when they arrived. " So how's the divorce coming along?" asked one of his friends. "They're being worked on. It might take a while for it to be finalized though." he answered honestly. "Just be grateful you got no kid to care for right now." his friend pointed out which made Aiden laugh. "Oh no, I'd need a second job for that. No, thanks man." he stated and drank some more of his drink easily. Soon music started to play, and the MC spoke,"For our next dancer, often called the Beautiful Irish Rose, Erin!" At the moment her name was said, Erin glided out from behind the curtain, wearing a green corset with a very small skirt, but she was still covered. She went through her paces like usual, listening as all the men seemed to cheer and toss money at her. When Aiden heard her name, he almost spit out his drink in surprise. "Erin?!" he gasped and turned to look at her. Seeing her face, it was no mistake that she was his ex from high school. What was she doing here though? He didn't know that she worked here, this made the night even more awkward, and he wondered if she saw him. Turning his attention away from her, Aiden looked back at his friends who were too busy enjoying the show. "Would you guys stop staring at her? That's my old ex you know, have some sort of respect please." he explained and hoped that she didn't approach them because he wasn't sure what he'd do or say if she did. Erin had seen him and wanted to stop dead in her tracks, but she knew she couldn't. She forced herself to continue her dance before slipping offstage afterwords. She went to her boss and told her she had to leave for a while, but she would come back. After getting the permission, she changed into her normal clothes and hurried outside, wanting to hide in embarrassment. "Oh right, sorry man. Looks like she's leaving though. You might want to at least say hi." suggested one of his friends. The other friend nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Just because she's your ex, it doesn't mean you can't be friends. Who knows, maybe she misses you and actually wants you to talk to her." Commented the other. After a while of thinking Aiden decided to go after her and talk a bit. He left the bar and looked around, wondering where she could be. "Erin?" he called out. Erin had been leaning against a wall, covering her face, when she heard someone say her name. She looked up and was stunned to see Alien there. "I never wanted you to see me like this." She said with a sigh,"I had hoped I was better off whenever we would have seen each other again." She burst into tears,"Life been an absolute mess." She cried softly,"I don't know what else to do." Aiden listened but when she started to cry, he couldn't help but wrap his arms around her in a hug. "I'm sorry Erin. I wish I could do something to help." he said softly as he ran his fingers through her soft red hair. "Please don't cry. Things may be horrible right now, but they'll get better. Well, that's what I always like to say." Aiden commented and frowned. "Did you want to talk about it?" he asked since he knew that talking about things usually helped people. Still, he wasn't sure that Erin would want to talk to him about her life after he had broken up with her for no real reason. Erin hugged him back gently,"It's just such a mess..." she murmured,"Right after we broke up, Mom and Dad died in a drunk driving accident.... Everything they had gone to final expenses and funeral. I have their house and their other belongings but I can stand the thought of getting rid of them. Since I can't go to school, I have to work here. I want out so bad, but I'm not even close to having the money to go to college." She sighed,"Allison ruined my life... she told you terrible lies about me to make you break up with me for her...but before I could tell you, you refused to ever talk to me ever again." Hearing her story, Aiden felt terrible. He could on believe that he had fallen for Allison's stupid lies, he should have known better. "I am really sorry Erin. If I could go back in time and prevent this all from happening, I would do it in a heartbeat. Sadly I don't have time traveling powers, so I can't. All I can do is beat myself up for the mistakes I've made and try to be a better person, and try to help you in any way I can." he explained softly and wiped away her tears. "How much do you need to go to college?" Aiden asked curiously, maybe he could help her with that. Erin looked up at him,"I can't take money from you." She said gently,"It sounds like I was using you and I don't want to do that. Just talking to you again, possibly having you in my life, even if its Justus a friend, makes me happier then I had been in a long time." She shook her head,"Call me crazy, but... after all these years, I still really care about you." "Technically you're not taking it from me, I'm giving it to you." Aiden started and smiled as he listened to her speak. "Well that makes two of us. I've missed you so much, you have no idea." he whispered and chuckled. "If you don't like working here, why not look somewhere else?" he asked curiously. It was obvious to him that she didn't like this job, so why didn't she look anywhere else? "Nothing else is hiring right now.... I tried everything, even fast food." She rubbed her face,"Sometimes I'm scared to work here.... people have been shot in there...gangs go in sometimes...." she shook her head,"Enough about me. What about you? Why are you here of all places?" "Then you really shouldn't be working here Erin." he started but stopped when she asked about him. "Well, my friends brought me here. I didn't want to come here, but they practically dragged me here." Aiden replied and sighed softly. "They wanted me to take my mind off of the divorce I'm going through at the moment. So they thought a bar would do the trick." he explained easily. "I'm sorry about your divorce. I can tell she wasn't treating you well." She said,"I think I might go ahead and go home." She looked over at him,"Want to come over? Hang out for a bit?" "Yeah, she really wasn't. At least she'll be out of my life for good, so you should be happy for me." Aiden said and was surprised at the invite. "Oh...well sure. Let me just go tell the guys so that they don't freak out." he said and ran back into the bar where he approached his friends who again, were busy watching another girl dance. "Hey, I'm going to head out to Erin's place.she invited me over so don't worry about me, I'll be fine." he explained and ordered a drink to go. "Have fun man, don't do anything stupid." One of his friends said as Aiden grabbed his drink and left the bar. "Alright, let's go." he said to Erin. Erin smiled,"I hope you don't mind walking." She said, walking with him down the street,"My house is only a few blocks away. Same one I lived in while in school." She looked over at him,"I've missed you so much, just us making up and talking has me in a better mood." Aiden shook his head, "No, I don't mind walking. It's actually relaxing." he replied and smiled. "I'm glad that we made up too. You know you could call me whenever you want to talk to me. I won't mind. And if I'm at work when you call, then I'll be sure to call you back as soon as I can." Aiden explained happily. It really was nice to be talking to her again, he really did miss her. Taking a small sip of his drink, he decided to keep talking to her. "So, have you found anyone else since our break-up?" he asked. She shook her head, "No." she murmured, "I had a hope... Silly even...a hope that maybe one day we could give us another try." She admitted,"I know It's too soon and I don't mean right now. Maybe when things in your life calm down..." "I don't think that's a silly hope at all. I think that's a good hope to have really." Aiden commented and nodded. "I'd like to give us another chance really." he admitted. She was right though, it would have to wait until his divorce was finalized which wouldn't be for a long time really. Still, he would wait patiently and he was sure she would too. She smiled,"I just want to do one thing." She said. Furthermore, she leaned over and kissed his cheek gently,"When we get to my house, would you like something to eat or drink? I have to make dinner anyway and hate eating alone in front of others." Aiden blushed at the kiss and gently took her hand in his. "Alright I'll make a deal with you. I will join you for dinner if you let me help you out with whatever you need." he offered and smiled at her. He had forgotten how much fun she was, she was perfect, and he had to go and blow it when Allison showed up. But now he was hoping to start all over once the divorce was done with. She smiled, holding his hand gently,"Deal." She said as they soon reached her home, which was three blocks away,"Thank goodness this area is safer then the area I work in." She said, leading up the steps and heading inside,"I hope you don't mind frozen pizza, since it's fast and easy." "Sounds perfect to me!" he replied happily. Following her inside her house, he looked around. It looked exactly the same as it had when he had last visited Erin. There were a lot of good memories in this house, a lot of good times. "It's been a very long while since I was last here." Aiden commented softly. Erin nodded,"I know." She said softly,"It looks just the same. Some things of my parents I just can't part with. A lot of it is in storage for right now." She headed into the kitchen and opened the freezer,"What kind of pizza do you like?" She asked, wondering if it would be the same as it was as a teen. Furthermore, she pulled out a meat lover's pizza for herself. "Well you don't have to get rid of their stuff. I'm sure you can find room for them here in the house." Aiden said softly before tracing the scar over his eye. "I'm a pepperoni fan all the way." he replied and walked over to the kitchen where he looked around. "What exactly do you plan to do with all of their stuff?" Aiden asked curiously. "I don't know just yet." She admitted, putting the pizzas in before sitting down at her table,"Some of it I just can't give up... some things just mean too much to me." She rubbed her face,"I don't want to think about it right now." "I completely understand. I'm sorry for bringing it up." Aiden said softly and ran his fingers through her hair. He really didn't like seeing her so sad and wondered what he could do to cheer her up again. No matter what, Aiden was going to help her and be there for her...just like it used to be. Erin smiled and hugged him gently,"You don't know how much I missed you." She said softly,"How many times I almost called or sent a text message... But I felt it was best to leave it alone at the time. I didn't want to make you even more mad at me." She smiled and kissed his cheek gently. "You really should have called or texted me Erin. It's good to take risks. Besides, my marriage wasn't a good one so a call or text from you would have been lovely." Aiden said softly and kissed her forehead. "I've missed you so much too you know, and I still do. I beat myself up every day for letting you go. Especially since I promised you that I wouldn't." he said sadly and with a frown on his face. She smiled,"This time, if we decide to try again, we won't let anything or anyone break us up." She said,"Living without you has been a nightmare, and I'm just glad to have you back." She smiled again and leaned against him gently,"So what do you do for work?" She asked, curious about him,"What has happened for you after we had broken up?" "Of course we won't. I'm not going to make the same mistake." Aiden promised and held her close in his arms when she leaned closer. "Well I work as a mechanic which is actually very nice, I like it anyway." he started and sighed softly. "Allison and I then got married. It was alright until I found out she cheated on me. That's why I decided to get a divorce. I kicked her out of the house and am actually selling it." Aiden explained. Erin looked up,"Really? Where will you live now?" She asked,"And I had a feeling she cheated on you... She's the one that got around in high school. Slept with almost every guy there. Of course, I don't know that for sure, but that's what a lot of them had said anyway." Aiden nodded, "Yes really." he said and shrugged. "I don't know, but I'll find a place soon enough." he said and shook his head. "Almost every guy, huh? Well I would have believed it if I had heard it then. I believe it now too though. Rest assured she didn't sleep with me though, thankfully." Aiden muttered and shuddered at the thought. Erin smiled,"You could stay here with me." She said,"You know I have a spare room or two. It would give us a chance to reconnect a little bit more. I know it might be a bit fast but.... I hate being here alone." She admitted. "My, my Erin. Are you actually inviting your ex to move into your house with you?!" he asked and laughed softly. "Alright then, thanks very much Erin. I can move in right away or once the house actually sells, I don't mind." Aiden explained. He was surprised that she so easily offered him a room to stay in. Usually this was just a disaster waiting to happen, but he knew better than to do anything stupid. She smiled,"We can do so now if you like." She said, getting up,"Come with me so we can figure out which room you would like. When things get better, you could share with me if you decide you want to." Aiden nodded and stood up with her. "Alright then Erin. I really do appreciate what you're doing for me. Are you sure you're okay with this?" he asked. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable by living with her. The thought of ever sharing a room with her was a nice one, but that would have to wait until much later. She smiled and kissed his cheek, taking his hand,"Of course I don't mind. This means I get to spend more time with you, which is all I ever wanted in the first place." Aiden blushed again and smiled as he felt her hand take his. "Alright then, ready when you are." he said to her. He actually was looking forward to living with her again. Living alone was never really any fun. At least now he'd have someone to talk to. She smiled and kissed his cheek before leading him upstairs, showing him that she had the largest room, as it was her parents, and it came with its own master bathroom. There were two other nicely sized rooms, each with their own bathrooms. Aiden looked at the rooms and smiled, they were very nice rooms. "It doesn't matter which room I choose, I'm not picky." he said quietly. "I'll have to go get my things from my house and bring them over here." he said and ran a hand through his hair. "You just wait for me here, I'll go get my things and bring them here." Aiden suggested. She nodded,"Alright." She said,"After you come back, our pizzas should be done." She said, heading downstairs to check on them. Aiden nodded and left downstairs, then out the front door and headed to his house which wasn't too far, but it wasn't right next door either. So he walked in silence along the sidewalk until he eventually reached his house. Opening the front door, Aiden left up to his room and packed up his clothes and any other important things he needed. Once he had his things, he left the house and locked the door behind him then looked over at his bike. It was his mode of transportation. "I have to bring it with me..." Aiden said to himself and held his suitcase in one hand while pulling his bike back to Erin's house wit the other. When he walked in, Erin smiled,"Go ahead and put them in the room you would like to sleep in, and then come back down. The pizzas are ready." she said, starting to cut her pizza into pieces. Nodding, Aiden headed upstairs and walked into one of the available rooms where he set his suitcase down on the bed then left to wash his hands before heading back downstairs where the smell of pizza greeted him. Erin smiled and kissed his cheek, handing him a bit of pizza. Aiden thanked her for the pizza and took a seat at the table. It felt odd to live with his high school ex when he was technically still married. At least now he was living with someone he actually cared about, even if they were just friends at the moment. Aiden decided he would call after eating to see how the divorce process was going. Erin ate with him, chatting about little things like work and the weather. She smiled,"I'm just so happy to have you around again..." She said quietly. "I honestly didn't think you would be happy to see me. I was preparing myself in case you started yelling at me and even slapped me." Aiden admitted and chuckled before taking another bite of his pizza. It really surprised him to see how forgiving Erin was. She smiled,"I was hurt for a long time." She admitted,"But I was mad more at Allison than I was at you." "Well now we can both be mad at her together. Still, you should have been mad at me for doing what I did. For believing her lies, I should have known better than that." Aiden explained and managed to smile at her. "But I'm back, well kinda." he said and laughed softly. She leaned over and kissed his cheek,"I got over being mad at you a long time ago. I was always more hurt than anything." She said, smiling,"Anyway, after we eat, would you like help getting settled in?" "I truly apologize for hurting you. It wasn't my intention." Aiden started and gently reached over and took her hand in his. He nodded at her offer and offered her a smile. "Yeah, I'd like that." He answered with a nod of his head. Once he got settled in, he was going to make a phone call to see how things were going. She smiled, holding his hand gently and kissing his cheek,"I'll do whatever I can to help." She said\ Aiden smiled and finished up his pizza. "I really do appreciate all that you're doing Erin." he explained and brushed some hair away from her face. "I'll do all that I can to help as well." he added. She smiled and kissed him gently before starting to clean up the kitchen and then help him get settled in. Aiden was surprised by the kiss, and it reminded him of when they first started dating. Those were good times, but they weren't going out anymore, not until the divorce was finalized. Aiden started to put his things away and glanced over at Erin, she was just as beautiful as she was when they first started dating, but he promised his friends and himself that he wouldn't do anything stupid. She did what she could to help tidy up, clean out and put away. It took them an hour and a half,"I didn't realize how much I had kept in here." She said with a laugh. Aiden chuckled, "There's nothing wrong with that Erin." he said as he continued to put his things away. Soon they had finished getting things settled. She sat on the bed. Obviously worn out. Seeing her tired, Aiden sat beside her and gently pat her shoulder. "Why don't you go get yourself some rest?" he suggested softly. She smiled and kissed his cheek,"You should too. I know you must be worn out as well." She hugged him before getting up and headed into her room. "I will." Aiden said and hugged her back before watching her leave. When she was gone, Aiden got dressed for bed and grabbed his cellphone to make a call and find out how the divorce process was going. He had already signed the papers and so had Allison, they were just waiting for the trial which was going to take a very long time to happen. After the quick phone call, Aided turned his cellphone off and placed it on the side table before falling to sleep. Erin took a fast shower, dried her hair, changed into some shorts and a tank top, and crawled into bed. She couldn't believe how fast things had changed. But she was happy, happy for the first time in years. With a soft yawn, she curled up under her blankets and went to sleep. The following morning, Aiden got up and showered then dried off and got dressed for work. He still had some time before he had to go, so he decided to make some breakfast for both Erin and himself, it was the least he could do to repay her for letting him live with her. Erin came downstairs with a smile, still looking a bit sleepy,"Good morning." She said with a yawn,"How did you sleep?" "I slept very nicely, what about you?" Aiden asked and noticed the tired look on her face. "What's wrong, didn't get much sleep last night?" he asked and grabbed some plates and glasses for their breakfast. Making sure the breakfast was ready, he served it on both plates and poured some milk for them both before setting everything down on the table. She smiled,"No, I slept really well. I guess it just wasn't for long." She said, kissing his cheek and sitting down with him at the table,"I guess I'm still just in surprise at how wonderful things have been. I don't know how to take it I guess." "Take it one day at a time." Adrian suggested and sat at the table. The kisses were something he was getting used to, but it still was something that made him uncomfortable mentally. Technically he was still married after all, until he got the papers signed saying that he was officially divorced. She noticed he had seemed uncomfortable with her kisses so she quietly started to eat, making a note not to kiss on him for a while. She knew it was because his divorce wasn't ready yet, or at least she felt that's what it was, and didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, she wanted him to be happy there. Furthermore, she wanted him to be happy in general no matter what of course. Aiden ate his food quietly and noticed that Erin was being really quiet. He wondered if he upset her somehow, if he did, she would tell him right? He tried not to think of it though and continued to eat his breakfast quietly. When he had finished, he drank his milk then took his dishes to the sink and washed them, then washed his hands. "I'm off to work." Aiden said softly and left outside, got on his bike and rode off to work. She watched him go quietly. She was going to stop him to hug him goodbye, but didn't. Furthermore, she cleaned up her dishes and the kitchen, did some picking up in the living room, and then went to her room to lie down, pulling out her laptop so she could find sometime to busy herself with since the house was already clean. When Aiden arrived at work, his boss greeted him with a handshake. "Good morning Aiden, ready to work?" his boss asked him. Aiden nodded and yawned softly. "Good morning sir, and yes of course. How many do we have?" Aiden asked. "Quite a few so we have a lot of work to do." His boss replied as they both walked over to the cars waiting to be looked at. Aiden greeted his co-workers and then Walked over to a car to start working on it. As the hours went on, she went into the kitchen to start figuring out what to make for dinner that night. Lots of things sounded good to her, but she wasn't sure what to pick. She went off to the store, wanting to get a few things to make with dinner. As she shopped, she ran into Aiden's ex-wife. She did her best to avoid her, but heard the awful things that she was saying about Erin. She, however, stayed quiet because she didn't want to cause any drama, ignoring the other woman completely. As the day went by, Aiden worked on cars along with his coworkers. He wasn't much of a social guy at work, he preferred to get as much work done as possible before the day was over. He didn't even take breaks, not all days anyway. Looking at a car, he fixed what needed to be fixed and checked to see if anything else needed fixing. As far as he could tell, the car was back in working order. "You'll be going back home buddy." Aiden muttered tiredly as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Erin had decided to make meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, with some garlic cheese bread on the side. She started to put the meatloaf in the oven and then went to work on the potatoes, hoping this would be good to him. The day went by quickly as Aiden and his coworkers continued to work on the cars. Soon, the workday was over, and he was back on his bike, riding back to Erin's house. Erin was ladling the stew into bowls as he walked in,"Hello." She said with a smile, coming up to him with a bowl of stew. She had everything cleaned up and in its proper place. Furthermore, she held out the bowl to him,"Hungry? I made beef stew." Aiden was a mess when he arrived at Erin's house and was slightly embarrassed to have her see him like this. "Very, but I think it would be best I shower first don't you think?" He asked and smiled, the food smelled delicious. She smiled and nodded,"Right, I didn't think about that." She said,"Go ahead and do so. I'll have your bowl in the microwave to keep it warm." "I'll try to be quick." Aiden said. He didn't like the thought of Erin eating dinner by herself, he would have to come over earlier from work, or she would have to make dinner once he got back. "Excuse me." He said and quickly left back to his room, grabbed some clothes and left to shower. Since this wasn't his house, he couldn't really walk around shirtless. It felt nice to get rid of the sweat from his body and car grease from his hands. When he was finished with his shower, he stepped out and dried off before getting dressed then grabbed his dirty laundry and placed it in his room so that he could wash it later. Aiden sighed softly and ran a hand through his hair as he left back to the kitchen and grabbed his stew from the microwave. Erin had settled down at the kitchen table, her bowl of stew in front of her. She smiled,"I thought you would like to have dinner done when you came home." She said,"And since it was stew, I'm glad I had started it early enough, as sometimes it takes a while." She took a couple of bites and looked over at him again,"So how was your day?" She asked Aiden joined her at the table and looked at her. "Don't rush yourself Erin, you make dinner whenever you want. I don't mind waiting, it will give me a chance to wash up." He explained and started to eat quietly as he listened to her question. Swallowing, he shrugged. "It was tiring. Was fun fixing cars though." Aiden answered with a smile. "How was your day?" He asked her. She smiled,"It was... okay." She said, lying as she didn't want to tell him about seeing his ex at the grocery store or how the ex was calling her all sorts of terrible things while she was trying to ignore it and go on,"Just went to the store to get a few things, did a little cleaning, you know, that sort of thing." Aiden listened quietly and raised an eyebrow. "You hesitated a bit Erin. What aren't you telling me?" Aiden asked before taking another few bites of food. He knew Erin well enough to know when something was bothering her. "You can tell me anything Erin, what's bothering you?" He asked quietly and continued to enjoy his meal. Erin let out a soft sigh,"Well... when I was at the store, I saw your ex there." She said,"I had ignored her the entire time, but. I heard her talking about me. Telling others how I'm a whore and a slut, that she doesn't understand why your staying here with me instead of trying to get her back, saying that one day you'll come back to her and all sorts of terrible things. The people at the store didn't seem to believe her, but... It was still embarrassing." Aiden frowned at what he was hearing and finished up his food. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. I'll be sure to talk to her about this. She has no right saying those things about you." He said seriously and placed his dishes in the sink to wash them. "And don't try to stop me Erin. She thinks she can do whatever she wants, and thinks she can continue hurting me, but I'll make sure she knows that she no longer is part of my life and that she should leave you alone." He added. Erin sighed,"I don't think she's ever going to stop." She said,"She did this to me in school too... That's how she got you to dump me." She finished her stew and sighed again,"She's always going to think she's better than me." "Would it make you feel better if I told you that I think you're way better than her." Aiden said and picked up her dishes, then took them to the sink and started to wash them. "She probably won't stop, but every time she says something, I'll have a talk with her. If she wants to act like a child, then she" all be treated as one." He assured. "Talking to her wont stop this you know." She said, sighing,"I'm just going to ignore it. Besides, it's been proven I am not the slut and that she is." She smiled and hugged him gently, leaning against his back while he did the dishes. She didn't do it long, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. Aiden laughed softly and nodded at her words. "Well of course. We both know very well what she is. She only likes to talk so much crap to feel better about herself which is pretty sad if you think about it." He said and blushed when he felt her lean against his back. He was going to end up loosing it if she continued. Furthermore, he couldn't afford to mess up though, he was still married. "Sorry... I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." She said gently,"Just wanted to show you in a small way I love you." She gently rubbed his back and moved into the living room as to not make it awkward. "No it's okay." He started but she was already gone. "I love you too..." He whispered to himself and finished up washing the dishes then washed his hands. When he was done, Aiden pulled out his cellphone and debated on whether to call Allison. It was probably what she wanted, and he was going to give her what she wanted. Erin sat down on the couch and turned on the TV with a sigh. She knew rushing him into a relationship wasn't a good idea when he was still technically married, and she didn't want him to feel pressured that way. But she was having a hard time not showing him some kind of affection. Not that she wanted to be all over him all the time either. She just didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Without thinking about it anymore, Aiden dialed Allison's number and waited for her to answer. When she did, he let out a soft sigh before speaking. "Allison hey, it's me Aiden. Listen, I just wanted to tell you a few things so don't start speaking because I'll just hang up instead. I was told that you said some harsh things about Erin. Let's be honest, you and I both know that the real slut and whore is you, not Erin. I am sick and tired of having to deal with your crap okay? I'm not going to come back to you, the moment the divorce is finalized I'm going to go party and find someone else to take your place. Someone who will actually appreciate me!" Aiden started and rolled his eyes when she started to explain everything. "What did I say Allison? See? You never listen to me, goodbye Allison and leave both Erin and me alone." He said and hung up, not bothering to listen to whatever she was saying. Erin had heard him on the phone, talking to someone. She wasn't going to ask who. It wasn't her business anyway. As she curled up on the couch, an old movie the two of them always enjoyed together was starting to play,"Hey Aiden! Our old favorite movie is on! Want to come watch it with me?" "Favorite movie?" Aiden repeated and quickly joined her on the couch. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen a good movie, but that was probably a good thing. He missed doing this, it was always fun to do things like this with Erin. Aiden wondered if living with her was considered a bad thing. He personally didn't see anything wrong with this, as long as he behaved it was fine. Erin smiled, making room on the couch for him as she curled up once more on the other side. She laughed at the funny parts and sang long with the songs in the movie. She sighed, as this reminded her of things they always did together when they were dating. If they were dating, Aiden would have an arm around Erin right now. But they weren't dating. They were just roommates, nothing more. Once he was divorced finally, he thought it would be a good idea to take a break from dating. But if he knew his friends, they would have him going out all the time with them to try to hook him up with someone. Erin let out a sigh. She wanted to snuggle with him like she uses to, wanted to hug him and laugh at the movie together. But those days were gone, and she was unsure if they would ever come back. Soon the movie was over, and she let out a soft yawn,"I should probably get some sleep." She said, getting to her feet,"You can keep watching TV for a while if you want. Just please turn off everything before you go to bed." Aiden nodded and watched Erin stand to leave. "Y-yeah alright. Goodnight Erin, sleep well." he said to her and watched her leave before just sitting there on the couch alone. He turned the volume down a lot so that he wouldn't disturb Erin as she slept and flipped through the channels. Nothing caught his eye though, so he turned off everything as he was told and headed up to his room where he sat on his bed and let out a soft sigh. He was tempted to go over to Erin's room and kiss her goodnight, but he couldn't and that bothered him. He knew there was nothing he could do though and got dressed for bed and slipped under the blanket, slowly falling to sleep. -A few months went by-Erin finally got the nerve to quit her sucky job and used some of the money she had saved to enroll into collage finally. She was thankful to be out of that place and to be moving on with her life. She still hung out with Aiden whenever there was time when she wasn't at school, and he wasn't at work. Anything that reminded Aiden of his ex-wife was thrown out. It was the first step he took to start a new blank slate. He didn't hang out much with Erin since they were both busy, but when they had free time they usually hung out. He was currently underneath a car, working on it of course and not caring that grease covered his hands and stained his face and arms. That day was the last day of school until the next year, and Erin was thankful for that as it had started to get freezing, even for winter. She was excited for Christmas and had already gotten permission from Aiden to decorate the house. "Come out of there Aiden, lunch break!" one of Aiden's co-workers called out. Aiden was still busy working underneath a car but easily slid out when he was called. "It's alright guys, I don't have lunch anyway." he said as he sat down with them. "Why don't you ever bring your own lunch?" asked one. "I don't know. Never starving I guess." Aiden answered plainly with a shrug of his shoulders. "You need to start eating man. Or else you won't be able to work as good as you do." the co-worker pointed out. At that moment, Erin arrived, holding a brown paper bag,"Aiden?" She called, having been told she could go back since he was on break. She smiled seeing him,"Hey. I forgot to tell you about your lunch." She said, setting the bag on the table. With black marker, "Aiden's Lunch" was written on it,"I made it for you last night. I meant to tell you about it, but forgot." Aiden looked up and was surprised to see Erin standing there with a lunch bag for him. He felt like a child again whose mother just came to drop off his lunch. It was rather embarrassing but it was sweet nonetheless. "Erin what are you doing here?" he asked. He felt really self-conscious as he stood up and walked over to her. Here he was, all sweaty and dirty while Erin stood there looking flawless. "Thanks a lot of mother." he said teasingly as he took the lunch from her. Erin smiled,"I wanted to make sure you had lunch." She said,"You've worried me with only eating dinner and breakfast sometimes. Sorry to bother you while at work. See you later." She smiled and turned, heading out the door. She felt a little worried. Furthermore, she wondered if she had embarrassed him really bad. That wasn't her intention. She sighed and rubbed her face, waiting to hear what will happen when he gets home. "Thanks, this is really nice of you Erin." Aiden said and smiled at her. "Oh, no you're not bothering me at all. I'll see you after work." he said as she walked away. Sighing softly, he went to sit with his co-workers and began to eat his lunch. It was really nice of her to do this, he didn't even know that he worried her so much. Erin got home and started to make something for dinner, making sure to time it where it was finished shortly after he had returned home. After work, he got on his bike and rode home. He hadn't gotten a car yet because he was used to his bike. He rode back to Erin's house and placed his on the side of the house, before walking inside tiredly. Furthermore, he noticed Erin was busy making dinner and smiled slightly before heading upstairs to shower and look more presentable. Erin smiled, just getting it finished up. She had made some tomato soup with grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches, hoping he would like the idea as it was something simple but warming since it was so cold. It wasn't either long before Aiden was all showered and dressed. Drying off his hair last, he then headed down to the kitchen and was greeted by the smell of warm food. "Hey." he said softly. He didn't want to interrupt Erin since she looked to be pretty preoccupied at the moment. She smiled,"Hey." She said,"I hope you like tomato soup. I thought with it getting so cold it would be nice and warming." She looked over at him,"I hope I didn't embarrass you earlier. I hope you know I hadn't meant to." "Soups are always a welcomed treat." Aiden replied with a nod of his head. At her other question though he quickly shook his head. "No, not at all Erin. It was nice seeing you really." he assured. "I know you mean well." he added quietly. "Need any help?" he asked. She smiled,"Could you please grab a couple of bowls for me? And a couple of small plates for the sandwiches?" She was glad she hadn't caused him any trouble, and he was okay with soup and grilled cheese. "Sure thing." he answered and grabbed the bowls and plates that she asked for. "Here you go." he said as he placed the bowls and plates on the counter. It felt nice to finally be divorced. He hadn't heard of Allison since then, and he was glad, she also wasn't bugging Erin as far as he could tell. Erin smiled and served the food, putting soup into bowls and grilled cheese on plates,"If you want more grilled cheese let me know, and I'll make it." She said to him "Thanks, I will." Aiden answered and smiled as he helped her by setting the plates of food on the table when she was done. "So....how was your last day of school?" He asked curiously. "Oh, want anything to drink?" He asked. "It was pretty good." She said,"And I'm alright. We got out a bit earlier then I expected which gave me the chance to run lunch to you." She smiled and took a sip of her soup,"It's been snowing like crazy the last couple of days." Aiden nodded as he listened. "Yes it has. It's nice though... I prefer snow to sun any day." He answered and started to eat his food. To everyone, they probably looked like a married couple. Marriage was the last thing on his mind right now, he just wanted to take it easy before he went through that again." When do you want to start decorating the house?" He asked curiously. Decorating was always the fun part. Taking things down, not so much. She laughed,"I already did." she said, pointing out all the snowflakes and winter/Christmas decorations she had put up after bringing him lunch,"All that's left is the tree." Aiden looked over to where she pointed and smiled. "Didn't notice them until now." He said and continued eating. "Need any help?" He asked after finishing the last of his soup. She shook her head,"Nah I'm not going to do the tree until tomorrow I think." She said,"I might wait for a day when your off or something so we could do it together so you're not all worn out." "I uh... I don't think I'll be getting days off. I never ask for any since I enjoy working." He admitted. It was really sweet of her to be so considerate of his feelings though. Huge difference from Allison. "If I'm given the option, I'll ask for a day off so that I can help you out though. I would be more than happy to help you with the tree." Aiden commented. Erin smiled and nodded,"I'd like that... It would give me more time to see you too with school over for winter break." She admitted. She knew he didn't want to go too fast, but part of her hurt a little bit because she loved him so much and knowing he wasn't feeling the same was didn't help. Furthermore, she wasn't going to push him though, didn't want to in the first place. "Do you have any plans for winter break?" Aiden asked. He had to get her Christmas gifts of course which he knew would be easy to do. She wasn't exactly hard to please. He happily ate his grilled cheese, and ran a hand through his hair. Grilled cheese had to be his favorite thing to eat, he was surprised that she remembered. She shook her head,"No not really. I plan to relax and try to spend some time with you since it's been hard to with school." She said, finishing off her sandwich and soup. "Aww, I feel special." Aiden answered and smiled. "I hope we can spend more time together, like we used to your know?" He said and finished off his grilled cheese. He knew that they weren't spending much time together because of his work and her school, and it was obviously getting to Erin. She nodded,"Yeah... I miss those times. A lot." She said, starting to clean up from cooking. Aiden frowned slightly but knew they'd spend time together. He wasn't going to let her spend Christmas alone. Getting up, he walked over to the sink and began to help with the dishes quietly. She smiled,"Thanks." She said. Furthermore, she looked over at him,"Look. I'm not trying to rush things, but I'm having a hard time not giving you a hug or kissing your cheek sometimes. I try not to, because I know you're uncomfortable, but it's getting hard to not hug you at least." Aiden listened to her in silence as he continued washing the dishes. When he was done, he washed his hands and dried them off before looking at her. "I know." he said softly and smiled. "Hugs are welcome, kisses aren't though. It's just because I'm not comfortable or ready to get into a relationship right now. I've spent years living in a hell, and I'm finally free of that. I just want to enjoy my freedom for a while before I even think about getting into another relationship." he started and frowned as he took her hands in his. "I just don't want to keep you waiting either, I hope you understand." Aiden commented. She hugged him back gently,"Hugs I can live with." She said quietly,"And as I said, don't feel rushed, I don't mean that in the slightest way whatsoever. In the end, I want you to be happy. Even if you never marry again." Aiden hugged her back and chuckled. "I'm pretty sure I'll get married again. I just have to give myself some time." he explained and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear gently. She nodded, realizing that she was going to have to let him take his time. "Well then, anything you want to do before we each get some sleep?" he asked curiously. They could always go out and spend time together, or probably watch a movie at home. Or just talk, that was also nice. She shook her head,"No, not really. I'm really sleepy, actually." She said, stifling a large yawn back,"School was rough today so I think I'll feel better after some sleep." "Understandable. Goodnight and sweet dreams Erin." he said and smiled warmly. He was pretty tired too, and he had work tomorrow so he needed to get as much sleep as possible. "I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow." he said and headed up to his room. Erin went to her room and closed the door, before changing into her pajamas and crawling into bed. She let out another yawn, curling up tighter in her bed. She really wished things would move faster but knew it would just take time. What do I do? She obviously doesn't want to wait...but I do. I'm afraid she might get tired of waiting though, but I don't want to rush into anything... Aiden texted his friend. After a while of nothing, his friend texted back with, Then don't rush into anything man. I'd be happy to hear some girl can't wait to kiss me or whatever. Look, just take it slow and steady that way both of you are comfortable. You don't have to push yourself to do something you don't want to, but I'm pretty sure kissing is something you can handle. Aiden blushed because he knew it was true. Thanks man, I'll talk to you later. Goodnight.he texted and shut off his phone before getting ready for bed, climbing in and falling to sleep. The next morning, Erin was up early, wanting to get a shower in before making breakfast. She took a fast one, washing her hair and afterwords headed into the kitchen wearing clean clothes. She made Alien's lunch and set it in the fridge for him before working on breakfast. Waking up, Aiden yawned softly as he got out of bed and attached out then headed to shower. He had to go to work today which meant he wouldn't be home for lunch. It was okay by him though, he loved work since it gave him some time to not have to worry or think about his Erin situation. Finishing his shower, he dried off and got dressed before heading down to the kitchen tiredly, his hair a mess. She handed him his breakfast,"Your lunch is in the fridge." She said quietly, before heading upstairs herself to take a shower. "Alright, thanks Erin." Aiden said and sat down to eat his breakfast. As he ate, he remembered what he and his friend talked about and wondered what would happen if he went through with it. Erin would probably think he was ready to move on, and in a way he was. Wouldn't I be moving to fast though?he thought to himself as he took a few more bites of his food. Erin came back down a little while later, her hair wrapped in a towel to dry. She went to grab her plate of breakfast and started to eat as well,"This evening, maybe we could go see a movie or something?" She asked, looking over at him. "Yeah sure, if you want to." Aiden agreed with a nod of his head. He wanted to do some Christmas shopping, but he wanted to wait until the tree was put up first. "Any plans while I'm at work?" He asked curiously. "I might at least get the tree up." She said, thinking,"We could always decorate it after you get home before we go out. If your not too tired from work and all." Adrian was surprised when she mentioned putting up the tree without him. "Try not to get hurt while putting up the tree okay?" he suggested and smiled. "I don't want to come home to see you squished under it." he said and chuckled softly. He was looking forward to helping her decorate the tree once he got home. She smiled,"I'll do what I can." She said, stretching a bit. Furthermore, she really didn't want to put up the tree without him, but she knew he wouldn't be off to help her. "That's all I ask of you." Aiden replied and soon finished up his breakfast then took the dishes to the sink to wash them. "I'll be sure to ask my boss for a day off so I can spend it with you." he promised with a small smile. Glancing at the clock, he noticed that it was time for him to get going. "I have to go, I'll see you after work Erin. Careful with the tree." he reminded and grabbed his lunch from the fridge before leaving. She nodded,"Have a good day!" She said, waving to him and watching him leave for work. Furthermore, she then started to look for the tree. "I will!" Aiden answered and waved before closing the door behind him and getting on his bike, leaving to work. When he got there, he noticed a lot of cars were gone already. "A lot got picked up already?" He asked his boss who nodded. "A lot were fixed Aiden." His boss replied. Aiden nodded in agreement and put his bike up against the back wall, his lunch beside it before getting to work. After finding the tree, it only took her an hour or so to get it put up. She smiled, remembering the times she had spent with Aiden around Christmas back when they had been dating. She found the box with the ornaments and started to decorate the tree, only a little bit so she could do some with Aiden later. Furthermore, she planned to look for a Christmas present too for him while he was at work. Aiden still had to do some Christmas shopping, he wanted to get Erin a few things. He didn't know what she'd like, and he didn't think asking her for hints would be such a good idea. She would love to be your girlfriend!his subconscious yelled at him. Aiden frowned and shook his head to clear his thoughts and continued to work, he still had to talk to the boss for a day off. Erin asked a few of Aiden's friends if he had mentioned anything he would like for Christmas. After getting some good ideas, she made sure to get everything they had mentioned, and a few ideas she had of her own. She got them home, wrapped them quickly, and put them under the tree already so they didn't have to be put away. Aiden worked easily as he always did and when lunchtime came around, he walked over to his boss and sighed. "Excuse me sir, but I was wondering if I could have a day off." he asked easily. His boss raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Why the sudden request? You never ask for days off." his boss pointed out. "Well this time it's an exception. I really want to spend more time with a friend of mine." he explained. "You mean you're girlfriend?" asked his boss. "Ex-girlfriend sir. But I promised to spend more time with her." Aiden replied. His boss stared at him and pat his shoulder. "Well Aiden, you deserve it. I assume tomorrow is your day off then?" he asked. Aiden thought about it for a second. "I suppose so sir, thank-you." he said and excused himself to enjoy his lunch. Pulling out his cellphone, he called Erin's house and waited for her to answer. Erin had just settled into a warm bath when he called. She answered her phone,"Hey, Aiden." She said with a smile,"How is work going?" "Hey. Work is going as it always done. I called to check up on you, wanted to make sure you didn't get crushed under the tree." he said jokingly and chuckled. "Also wanted to tell you that I talked to my boss about having a day off. It surprised him, but he said I could take a day off, so I guess tomorrow is my day off which means we have all day to spend together." he said happily. Erin smiled,"That's wonderful." She said, sounding excited,"I left some decorations for you to do on the tree, I hope that's okay." "Oh you started without me?" Aiden said and shrugged. "Alright that's fine. I'll be home in a bit, see you then Erin." he said and hung up to enjoy the rest of his lunch. When his lunch break was over, he got back to work and started helping out a costumer who brought in his car. Erin hung up and got out of the bath, getting dressed in clean clothes. After they finished with the tree, she hoped they would still go to the movies that evening. She would let him pick the movie, she was just happy to spend some time with him later. Aiden's day at work went smoothly, and once it was over he was on his bike heading back to Erin's house. He still needed to go Christmas shopping, but he had promised to go to the movies with her today, so shopping had to wait a bit longer. Walking inside the house, Aiden locked the door behind him and noticed the tree was up with some ornaments. "At least she had fun." he said softly and noticed the presents under it. It looked like her Christmas shopping was done. Erin came downstairs in a turtleneck and heads, warm socks on her feet,"Hey." She said, smiling,"I thought after the tree was finished we could still see a movie and walk around the mall or something." She explained,"I wasn't sure what you would want for dinner tonight so we could get that while we are out too." Aiden was already decorating the rest of the tree when Erin arrived and smiled. "Of course we can do that Erin. What did you feel like eating?" he asked her curiously as he looked at the tree carefully and added more ornaments until he felt it was perfect. "Good thing you dressed warm, it's freezing out there." he said and rubbed his hands together. She nodded, looking out the window,"It looked pretty cold out there." She admitted before turning to him,"And if you think it's a better idea, we could always stay in with a good movie and some hot chocolate." She thought for a moment," I have some beef stew going in the kitchen. We could have that for dinner unless you would like something else." Aiden thought for a bit and shook his head. "I promised we would go out to see a movie, and I like to keep my promises." he said. "I'll just go shower, and we can go, unless you'd prefer to stay inside?" he asked her. He wanted her to be comfortable so he would do whatever she wanted to do. She smiled,"Let's do both." She said,"We can go see a movie, do a little shopping, and then come back home for dinner. We could even rent a movie too if you like. As long as we are relaxing, and together I don't care what it is we do." "Alright then, I'll go shower and be down here in fifteen minutes or less." Aiden said and quickly headed up to his room, grabbed some warm clothes and left to shower. Once his shower was done, he got dressed, and looked at himself in the mirror as he fixed his hair. This was sort of like a date, a date with his ex who he still had feelings for. Sighing softly, he left downstairs and looked at Erin. "Ready when you are." he said.

Evergreen Goddess x Kimmi|rating:3.0

Arena Tournament, Round 110_ ANTE vs. Speedy Sam

Arena Tournament, Round 110: ANTE vs. Speedy Sam Map:Spoiler Hide XP Award:300 XPGP Award:300 GRANTED- TheFallenOneSpeedy Sam-King_of_GRiffins All Combatants, please roll initiative and declare final purchases, if any You're... joking, right? This arena is MADE for me Gonna have lots of fun this time. Think I'll buy an extra 20 arrows and leave it at that. Initiative - (1d20+3)[23]Spoiler Hide Starting in Y13 with Longbow in Hands, starting focused Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (40 Arrows) Mouth: Empty Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO hm...you win initiative bullseye lantern - 12 GP10 pints of oil - 1 GP heavy wooden shield - 7 GP60 loaded slings - 0,6 GP Potion Faith Healing (Confucius says what?) - 50 GP any reactions? Now that I think about it, a light source -would- be nice... I'll get the same as you, hooded lantern and pint of oil, 12.1gp, bringing me to 9sp. Spoiler Hide Starting Hand 1-2: Bow Mouth: Lit Bullseye Lantern Any counter-counter purchases, or ready for round 1? Both of you will also require a means oflightingsaid lanterns, by the way. Hmm, in that case, I may wish to change my purchase from a bullseye lantern to a hooded lantern (7gp) and purchase with it a Tinder twig (1gp). Spoiler Hide new Starting hand 1: Tinder wig hand 2: hooded Lantern mouth: bow oopsiesflint and steel 1 Upstart in B14, shield equipped, lit bullseye lantern pointing east from B13/C14 in mouth. In hand sling Note: you don't actually see me yet with the lighting provided, just making things easier Round 1 Speedy Sami figure barring us actually knocking out lights, we'll at least -know- where each of us is, even if shadow illumination grants concealment... that is, until one of us starts making hide checks. Begining with Hand 1: Hooded Lantern Hand 2: TindertwigMouth: Bowen Y13Move action to O12, requiring 1 jump check as part of the movement (50ft of movement)DC 10 Jump check for 10ft at running start(1d20+8)[18]Standard action: Use tinder twig to light lamp, providing 30ft illumination, 60ft shadowy Free: Drop Lantern to ground at O12Free: Dropping Tinder twig at O12Free: Swap Bow to main hands End of Turn Stats:Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (40 Arrows) Mouth: Empty Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig well, OK; just remember for the future that lighting sun rods, lanterns and the like falls under mundane preparations, you can do it before match Stargate Turn 1Move to F12Fighting defensively attack with sling(1d20-3)[10](1d4+3)[4]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws formed Ah, alright. I was a bit uncertain of that, and went the way that would cause less interference if wrong. You miss rather badly. Round 2Gonna do a quick jog around my block for 40ft of movement (give an extra 10 if needed), the specific route not mattering too much.Afterward, firing off an arrow at you in the shadow (your shadowy illumination from two sources... pretty sure that doesn't help me at all though)2 Concealment rolls: Both must succeed 20%(1d100)[53](1d100)[1]Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[9]Damage:(1d8)[8]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[11]CRT Damage:(1d8)[3]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (39 Arrows) Mouth: Empty Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig End of Turn ANTE Turn 2draw loaded sling Fighting defensively attack with sling(1d20-3)[1](1d4+3)[4]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws formed Round 340ft runaround again.2 Concealment rolls: Both must succeed 20%(1d100)[27](1d100)[33]Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[10]Damage:(1d8)[6]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[10]CRT Damage:(1d8)[1]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (38 Arrows) Mouth: Empty Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig End of Turn well, this will be an unspectacular-ranged duel, but I know I can never catch you unless you let meant Turn 3draw loaded sling Fighting defensively attack with sling(1d20-3)[0](1d4+3)[5]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws formed Very true, though I may just come after you if I can get a hit in... Round 4Move Action: 40ft dance, stylishly2 Concealment rolls: Both must succeed 20%(1d100)[53](1d100)[74]Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[12]Damage:(1d8)[1]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[9]CRT Damage:(1d8)[2]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (37 Arrows) Mouth: Empty Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig End of Turn[/B] ANTE Turn 4draw loaded sling Fighting defensively attack with sling(1d20-3)[2](1d4+3)[6]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped I'd say we both have this copy-pasted for victory, for now. Round 540ft Dance of Win2 Concealment rolls: Both must succeed 20%(1d100)[12](1d100)[16]Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[20]Damage:(1d8)[1]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[15]CRT Damage:(1d8)[6]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (36 Arrows) Mouth: Empty Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig End of Turn and still no distance Turn 5draw loaded sling Fighting defensively attack with sling(1d20-3)[2](1d4+3)[7]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Hamm, time for a different tactic Round 6Move Action: Pick up Lantern with Mouth Move Action: Go to I12, taking a small detour to extend it to 40ft or more (and get 10ft movement running start Jump - (1d20+8)[10]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (36 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig End of Turn ANTE Turn 65 footstep to E11pick up fire throw defensively touch - (1d20-11)[0](1d6)[1]doneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Round 7Lantern in mouth, you're within 30ft, and thus illuminated for me. Move: 40ft Shuffle Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[12]Damage:(1d8)[8]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[20]CRT Damage:(1d8)[8]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (35 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig End of Turn ANTE Turn 7Deceleration. Reflex DC 13 or have speed halved for 1 minutedoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped OOO, nasty. Let's see the save first. Reflex - (1d20+3)[16] Round 8Properly saved, hooray. You're still in range, so I'll rise and repeat.40ft Shuffle. Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[4]Damage:(1d8)[4]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[23]CRT Damage:(1d8)[5]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (34 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO O12 - Hooded Lantern and Tinder twig End of Turn Once More With Emphasis Turn 8"Deceleration, bitch!"works on sneak attacks, why not psionicsdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped "SAVE! You fine gentleman sir!" Reflex - (1d20+3)[7] Politeness loses the battle, but shall win the war! Down to half speed, so just a bit below normal. Round 9Not able to shuffle this round. Oh well, arrows for all! Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[9]Damage:(1d8)[7]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[8]CRT Damage:(1d8)[7]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (33 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 1 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End of Turn that power was worth state Turn 9draw loaded sling. No more defense(1d20+1)[14](1d4+3)[6]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped "You have diminished my dancing abilities good sir, but nothing more! D: "Round 10So much nicer now that you're all lit... Now if only I'd -hit-. Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[4]Damage:(1d8)[6]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[15]CRT Damage:(1d8)[2]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (32 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 2 out of 10 rounds. O12 -Tinder twig End of Turn ANTE Turn 10"Confucius says do not dance, for in the eye of the Sublime our best performance has the grace of a half brick."draw loaded sling. No more defense(1d20+1)[14](1d4+3)[4]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped Round 11"I am -not- a brick!" Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[5]Damage:(1d8)[4]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[20]CRT Damage:(1d8)[8]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (31 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 3 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End Turn ANTE Turn 11"If you were I'd break you in half and stuff in a sock to be used as a weapon."draw loaded sling(1d20+1)[2](1d4+3)[6]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped Round 12Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[8]Damage:(1d8)[5]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[23]CRT Damage:(1d8)[7]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (30 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 4 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End of Turn ANTE Turn 12draw loaded sling(1d20+1)[12](1d4+3)[6]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped Round 13Just 5 more turns, and I'll be back at full. Maybe one of us will get a hit before then? Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[19]Damage:(1d8)[1]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[22]CRT Damage:(1d8)[6]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (29 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 5 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End of TurnED IT: Well then, a hit!.... for one? So the long miss streak endurance Turn 13draw loaded sling. No more defense(1d20+1)[9](1d4+3)[5]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped Round 14Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[12]Damage:(1d8)[1]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[22]CRT Damage:(1d8)[7]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (28 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 6 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End of Turn ANTE Turn 14draw loaded sling(1d20+1)[7](1d4+3)[4]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped Round 15Suppose for now I'm just relying on the fact I'm statistically more likely to get in more hits than you. And waiting on my speed. Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[9]Damage:(1d8)[1]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[18]CRT Damage:(1d8)[1]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (27 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 7 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End of Turn attack rolls all around haven't been very guidance Turn 15draw loaded sling(1d20+1)[2](1d4+3)[6]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped speak of the devil Maybe they'll magically change if I switch to melee? One can dream. Round 16Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[4]Damage:(1d8)[2]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[14]CRT Damage:(1d8)[6]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (26 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 8 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End of Turn won't object if you trance Turn 16draw loaded sling(1d20+1)[3](1d4+3)[5]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped Round 17Attack Roll:(1d20+3)[17]Damage:(1d8)[8]CRT Confirm :(1d20+3)[14]CRT Damage:(1d8)[6]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (25 Arrows) Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 9 out of 10 rounds. O12 - Tinder twig End of Turn my window of opportunity gets smaller and smallerANTE Turn 17draw loaded sling(1d20+1)[7](1d4+3)[5]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped Did that last one hit? Your sheet says AC 17, and I don't -think- you took any more AC-enhancing actions. Round 18Free: Drop Bow Move: Pull out Halberd Standard: Total Defense (+4 dodge AC)Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+4, Touch 14+4, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Halberd Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 10 out of 10 rounds // Effect Over (25 Arrows) O12 - Tinder twig I12 - Longbow AC 19, the shield I bought and equippedANTE Turn 18draw loaded sling. Defensive again(1d20-3)[-2](1d4+3)[7]drop used slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped now that's just sad Oh, well, that would do it, wouldn't it?10/10 rounds passed, I'm free again! Round 19Backing all the way up on the platform (L 12) and moving to F12, with jump. Jump - (1d20+8)[9]Adjacent, I now attack. Attack Roll:(1d20+2)[5]Damage:(1d10+3)[13]CRT Confirm :(1d20+2)[12]CRT Damage:(2d10)[11]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 9/9 AC | 18+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Deceleration) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Halberd Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Deceleration: Half Speed, 10 out of 10 rounds // Effect Over (25 Arrows) O12 - Tinder twig I12 - Longbow End of Turn shouldn't you have another +4 from Speed of Thought? Or is that the +2 and ACP shown in the sheets misc column? 9; That would be a failed jump check; marvelous. Allow me to make the rolls and adjust the turn. Spoiler Hide If your check succeeds, you land on your feet at the far end. If you fail the check by less than 5, you don’t clear the distance, but you can make a DC 15 Reflex save to grab the far edge of the gap. You end your movement grasping the far edge. If that leaves you dangling over a chasm or gap, getting up requires a move action and a DC 15 Climb check. Reflex - (1d20+3)[13]if that succeeds, move action to pull myself up. Climb - (1d20+0)[12]I feel the above climb check might fail. I'm vaguely recalling a ruling where I could use a jump check to go up the rest of the way instead? That was from another match I was reading.EDIT: I do believe the above means I miss the jump by an inch, fail to grab the ledge, and fall face-first into lava. Quite lovely. I think that's a win for you. That's a pitiable ending to the match wow, how many natural 1s have we got here? Hm, no, I believe the modifier should be +12 while focused, so that would still succeed. That's what I asked, with Focus he gets another +4 for speed. Seems he read over it Too many ones to count; it was a pitiful bunch of rolls for both of us. Only Saving point: Originally Posted by TheFallenOne shouldn't you have another +4 from Speed of Thought? Or is that the +2 and ACP shown in the sheets misc column? I'm not sure. I think I should, but I think when my sheet was getting checked, I was told it wasn't an inherent bonus like the Quick trait is.... though I guess I should have it when I actually get the bonus? I think it threw off my thinking about it. If the extra +10ft from speed of thought gives me that +4 bonuses, then I make the jump, and the turn ends as initially desired, I think. Would have been easier if I could just keep it on my sheet >.>EDIT: Ninja'd, ironically by the same sheet checker. I take it we're all in agreement for the bonus then? If so, resuming where I assumed I left off with the poor melee attack round seems in order. Now for some actionable Turn 19breath electricity on Speedy electricity damage - (1d8)[8]halved, Reflex 14 halves again Entangled for(1d4)[3]turns An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a -2 penalties on all attack rolls and a -4 penalties to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a Concentration check (DC 15 + the spell’s level) or lose the spell. Cooldown Spoiler Hide (1d4-1)[3] doneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped So half of 8. 4 damage, 2 if I save. No save on the entangling I guess? Reflex - (1d20+3)[18]I don't suppose breath weapons provoke AOO do they? Round 20Moving is useless... Again. Oh, well. Attack Roll:(1d20)[17]Damage:(1d10+3)[10]CRT Confirm :(1d20)[1]CRT Damage:(2d10)[9]Stats Spoiler Hide HP | 7/9 AC | 18-2, Touch 14-2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft (25ft due to Entanglement) Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Halberd Mouth: Lantern Position: I12 Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO (25 Arrows) Entangled 1/3 O12 - Tinder twig I12 - Longbow End of Turn no AOO, no save vs Entangle. Guaranteed damage and rebuff, the whole point of the buildable Turn 20draw heavy mace attack(1d20+3)[22](1d8+3)[11]doneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 8/9 AC 19, Touch 11, FF 18 Psionically Focused 1/3 PP Rage claws shaped oops, forgot the d6 ongoing damage from the entangling electricity, but may not matter Oomph, just... OW. That crushed my skull in nicely there. Even my extra AC can't save my from that. Down to -4hp with that. I call that dead. High Ref SalleraANTE takes the victory. Good gamely the way, I love your avatar Thanks Was fun, through probably would have been more in my favor if we both weren't rolling so low until the end. Arena Tournament, Round 110: ANTE vs. Speedy Sam Map:Spoiler Hide XP Award:300 XPGP Award:300 GRANTED- TheFallenOneSpeedy Sam-King_of_GRiffins All Combatants, please roll initiative and declare final purchases, if any hello again Initiative - (1d20-3)[13]Potion of Mage Armor 50 Pushrod 2 GP Ugh, so busy. Think I'm hitting my Pop low. Weekend should solve that. Initiative - (1d20+3)[16]Think I'll be making the following purchases Bullseye Lantern20 arrows Power Stone of Force Screen (LVL 3) Seems I won initiative, so I'll go ahead and get things started. Round 1Starting in Y13, with hooded lantern lit, power stone, and holding my bow. Moving onto the block, taking a 40ft path to U12, and attempting to use my stone. Manifester Check DC 4 - (1d20+1)[12]Shifting bow to both hands for free. Hmm, brief question; a hooded lantern illuminates outward from the user in a cone, but does it illuminate its own square? StatsSpoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: U12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 1/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 1 Potion Magic Weapon 45 arrows Also, Done. It emanates from a grid intersection, so whether it illuminates your square depends on the intersection and direction you're holding it in. Ah, alright then. Definitely holding it in the bottom-left corner then; I illuminate, but I'm in darkness, and thus nifty concealment. Except I have a bullseye lantern too Start in B13, hide shield equipped, wielding potion (top) and lit lantern pointing estate Turn 1move to E11drink potion, drop vialdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 9/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor 600/600 Items held in a hand containing other items can't be used for anything requiring manipulation. Huh? I've seen the topmost item in a stack used couple of times long as no weapon is held in the same hand. Psionic is fond of doing that with power stones Power stones don't require any manipulation; you just have to be holding them, so the location doesn't matter. A similar exception was ruled for scrolls, with the difference that they do have to be in a hand and visible, unlike power stones, but neither item requires you to do anything with them. *shrug* I'll just drop the lantern into F12, light emanating east from F12/G13 before drinking the potion. End turn E11 would put you in full illumination, this should be fun. Maybe I'll actually hit you the first time. Going to do my usual 40ft dance back to where I'm standing, then take a shot. LongbowAttack - (1d20+3)[23]Damage - (1d8)[4]CRT - (1d20+3)[13]CRT DMG - (1d8)[6]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: U12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 2/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 1 Potion Magic Weapon 44 arrows Your turn. *blink* you actually Dante Turn 2step to F12draw sling(1d20)[11](1d4+3)[6]doneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor yeah I think I'll stop counting 1-hour buffs Alright then, going to back up, jump platforms towards you, and move at least 40ft, ending in O12. Might end up being 45-50ft. Jump - (1d20+12)[28]After that, going to fire off another round and hope it hits again. LongbowAttack - (1d20+3)[14]Damage - (1d8)[2]CRT - (1d20+3)[8]CRT DMG - (2d8)[14]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 3/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 1 Potion Magic Weapon 43 arrows no such locate Turn 3drop sling draw sling(1d20)[17](1d4+3)[5]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor yeah I think I'll stop counting 1-hour buffs Still in range. Doing a 40ft dance, then firing an arrow. LongbowAttack - (1d20+3)[4]Damage - (1d8)[7]CRT - (1d20+3)[19]CRT DMG - (2d8)[15]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 4/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 1 Potion Magic Weapon 42 arrows ANTE Turn 4draw sling(1d20)[13](1d4+3)[4]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough Ah, this brings back fond memories. How many years ago was it now? 7/365? 14/365? Oh, we were so bold back then. I would fire at you and miss, you would fire at me and miss. What good times those were!40ft dance, firing off a round. LongbowAttack - (1d20+3)[5]Damage - (1d8)[3]CRT - (1d20+3)[21]CRT DMG - (2d8)[4]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 5/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 1 Potion Magic Weapon 41 arrows yeah it makes me wonder why you bought the stone at ML3, if nobody switches strategies that won't be enoughANTE Turn 5draw sling(1d20)[4](1d4+3)[4]CRT(1d20)[2](1d4+3)[7]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough Originally Posted by Art of War 2. To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. 3. Thus, the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy. Seemed like a reasonable purchase at the time, to say the least. I wear Armour, so I can't use mage armor like you did. I can, of course, out-wait it if truly necessary. Perhaps I should time myself better the next match I get. I'm going to shift my bow to one hand as a free action, pull out a potion as a move, and apply it as a standard action. StatsSpoiler Hide Using Potion of Magic Weapon on Longbow HP - 9/9 AC - 22, Touch 14, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (+1 Attack, +1 DMG, 1/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 5/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 41 arrows ah, I see. You're supposed to put potions (or more accurately, oil in this case) in the items section so you're opponent knows what you're coming with into the match. Had to go to the purchase log to find it. No worries, though, just keep it in mind in the future. ANTE Turn 6draw sling(1d20)[16](1d4+3)[6]CRT(1d20)[4](1d4+3)[4]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough Oh? I had assumed it was only last-minute items that required particular disclosure, while all items are otherwise merely listed on the sheet (such as between-match purchases). Or, perhaps your just referring to the place on the sheet? More disclosure in the future in any case.40ft dance now, Fire an arrow. LongbowAttack - (1d20+4)[23]Damage - (1d8+1)[3]CRT - (1d20+4)[20]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[17]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 2/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 6/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 40 arrows close, but missense Turn 7draw sling(1d20)[1](1d4+3)[6]CRT(1d20)[3](1d4+3)[6]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough moving 40ft back and forward, firing another arrow Attack - (1d20+4)[15]Damage - (1d8+1)[3]CRT - (1d20+4)[13]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[14]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 3/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 7/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 39 arrows your turn ANTE Turn 8draw sling(1d20)[15](1d4+3)[7]CRT(1d20)[5](1d4+3)[7]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough 40ft movement, Longbow Attack Attack - (1d20+4)[9]Damage - (1d8+1)[8]CRT - (1d20+4)[18]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[13]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 3/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 8/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 38 arrows Your turn Sorry for the delays, been hitting my low point of the year; losing sleep and getting busy and distracted. Don't worry about state Turn 9step to E11draw sling(1d20)[3](1d4+3)[7]CRT(1d20)[11](1d4+3)[7]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough Same as before, 40ft back and forward, fire an arrow. Attack - (1d20+4)[10]Damage - (1d8+1)[7]CRT - (1d20+4)[17]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[10]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 4/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 9/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 37 arrows Your turn. ANTE Turn 10draw sling(1d20)[13](1d4+3)[5]CRT(1d20)[3](1d4+3)[4]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough 40ft movementLongbowAttack - (1d20+4)[6]Damage - (1d8+1)[4]CRT - (1d20+4)[18]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[12]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 5/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 10/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 36 arrows Your turn. ANTE Turn 1!draw sling(1d20)[5](1d4+3)[6]CRT(1d20)[13](1d4+3)[4]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough 40ft shuffleLongbowAttack - (1d20+4)[12]DMG - (1d8+1)[9]CRT - (1d20+4)[5]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[10]Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 6/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 11/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 35 arrows your turn ANTE Turn 12draw sling(1d20)[11](1d4+3)[5]CRT(1d20)[8](1d4+3)[7]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough 40ft movement, Longbow attack Attack - (1d20+4)[22]Damage - (1d8+1)[6]CRT - (1d20+4)[5]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[9]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 7/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 12/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 34 arrows Your turn how many arrows did you bring by the way? -.-ANTE Turn 13draw sling(1d20)[5](1d4+3)[4]CRT(1d20)[14](1d4+3)[4]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough All of them, actually! Got at least 30 more rounds of fun Would kill to have a real way of hitting something though... At least my defense game is down, for the most part.40ft Shuffle, I should make that into an official dance. LongbowAttack - (1d20+4)[18]Damage - (1d8+1)[7]CRT - (1d20+4)[21]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[11]stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 8/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 13/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 33 arrows Your turn. ANTE Turn 14draw sling(1d20)[20](1d4+3)[6]CRT(1d20)[2](1d4+3)[4]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough 40ft movementLongbowAttack - (1d20+4)[21]Damage - (1d8+1)[2]CRT - (1d20+4)[15]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[16]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 9/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 14/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 32 arrows Your turn ANTE Turn 15draw sling(1d20)[2](1d4+3)[4]CRT(1d20)[13](1d4+3)[7]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough 40ft shuffleLongbowAttack - (1d20+4)[13]Damage - (1d8+1)[6]CRT - (1d20+4)[14]CRT DMG - (2d8+2)[7]Stats Spoiler Hide HP - 9/9 AC - 22+2, Touch 14+2, FF 14 SPD: 50ft Po's: O12 Focused: Yes Hand 1&2: Longbow (Magic Weapon, +1 Attack, +1 DMG, 10/10 Rounds) Mouth: Bullseye Lantern (Lit) Expeditious Dodge: Gain +2 if moved 40ft in a single turn, until the beginning of your next turn. Psionic Dodge: +1 AC while Psionically Focused Speed of Thought: +10 Movement while Psionically focused Mobility: +4 AC vs. AOO Active: Force Screen 15/30, +4 Shield AC 2 Potions CLW 31 arrows your turn ANTE Turn 16draw sling(1d20)[1](1d4+3)[7]CRT(1d20)[1](1d4+3)[4]drop slingdoneStatsSpoiler Hide HP 5/9 AC 24, Touch 11, FF 23 Psionically Focused 3/3 PP Rage claws shaped Mage Armor long enough wow... If there were rules for critical fumbles I might have smacked the sling stone in my own face O.o come on, this takes long enough even if we both post regularly Master Ref PsiDogTwo months since the last action, two weeks since the new year. Time to zap it.DQ ZAP Speedy Sam is speedily dust. ANTE, you may collect your prize.

Arena Tournament, Round 110_ ANTE vs. Speedy Sam|rating:2.0

An Unlikely Companionship

Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 2 flash bangs, 5 claymores Donovan shifted his gun and crouched as he looked down the dark entrance, he looked around him and wondered where the rest of the excavation was, their equipment was here, but it seems like everybody's footprints lead right down into this entrance carved into the rock formation, leading deeper underground." This is Delta Golf nine, I am on site, no friendlies, no bogeys, situation seems SNAFU, over"There was a short pause"Roger that Delta Golf nine, stand by"He walked around, there was enough food, so maybe he could have a snack some time as it was clear he would be here for a long time. The details were a bit sketchy, but what he knew was that a group of international scientists and archeologists was sent here after a low flying satellite picked up a disturbance in the area and sent back photos of the area. They could make out what seemed like an entrance to a temple and got the team together to inspect." Delta Golf nine, proceed with mission, find and retrieve assets if possible, over""Roger that, Delta out"He shifted his weapon and entered through the entrance, flicking on the flashlight mounted on the side of his gun as he steadily and stealthily walked down the stairs. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). The NER'USA shuttle headed down through the layers of Earth's atmosphere. Earth itself had been long ago visited by the Yalta peoples, and proved to be a valuable training ground every few hundred or thousand years. This time the visit was of more importance than simply training a new generation of warriors. A beacon had been received from inside one of the deeply hidden training pyramids. As humans would call it, the location of this facility was deep underneath one of the more wild regions of the Amazon Rainforest. Originally constructed close by to the first human colonies to accept the Yalta as true gods. They had been a staging point for the strengthening of the clans. The planet itself was changed now, man was widespread and had quickly made itself the dominant creatures. As far as they knew at least. There were many training facilities still unused on Earth. But for now the only alert beacon came from the Amazonian one. The tomb had been opened, and if the situation wasn't controlled then the human colonies would have an apocalyptic problem on their hands. That would not do. Little did the humans know, but the Yalta wanted no more for them to be wiped out than they would a sustainable crop to die from flooding. The Yalta watched over the humans, especially in affairs that involved mesomorphs. The Yalta still waged war on the spreading parasites, each planet cleansed two more showed up infested. Entire worlds were being destroyed just to stem the spread. Luckily Earth had not reached that stage. The drop-ship plummeted towards the surface of the planet, and impacted with such speed that it dug its way under the ground several meters. Essentially covering its presence. There was a small entry wound in the earth so that the contents of the shuttle could escape though. After several minutes, the doors opened and five young female Yalta exited the drop-ship. A hunting party, there to claim kills and bring stability back to the facility that would soon train up the male Yalta that would protect the birthing females. Female Yalta off world were not the most common, but it was not against the clan's rules. They were just seen as more valuable protected in colonies. This group were in their own training, to take on 'Alpha' female. An honored position only given to those females that proved their ability to protect the survival of the clan through looking after the breeding females. Hence, why a handful were worth the risk, in order to gain an honored, warrior Matriarch. ======= It had been several hours since the drop-ship landed, and in that time the group of females had crossed through the jungle and found the entryway into the underground training facility. There were many human tracks leading down, many lives to create the chain reaction of a mesomorph outbreak. You'JA Mae'key'Jo was already leading to become the alpha female. And as such it was obvious that she took lead. With a snarl she headed off down the oddly carved stairwell. Active camouflage on and visual aids scanning. Donovan Gray Donovan could have sworn that he heard something coming from the entrance, but when it didn't repeat itself he continued down the stairs." Should have had a team, not just myself""That's because you're so awesome"He smiled at the voice in his ear"Shouldn't listen to guys talking to themselves Ghost"Of course there was no reply, just one response from her was enough to remind you to keep radio silence unless it's needed. At the foot of the long staircase with the strange pictures cut into the walls he found the equipment. A quick check showed that the generator was still working, so he started it up and after a few seconds floodlights flooded the area, most of them focused on something that looked like the entrance to a temple. He activated his comm link's camera, which sent a direct feed to HQ"You're getting this Ghost?"" Roger that Delta, it corresponds with images sent out by the team, any signs of friendlies yet? Over""Negative, all prints lead to the entrance, I am not sure why the whole group would head down here, but I'll be heading in shortly after a proper exploration, over""Roger that Delta, proceed with mission, over""Delta out"He spent a few minutes studying the area, from what he could gather it looked like they had received a call to go into the temple as far as he knows the only thing that would lead to that is when something interesting was found. During his search he heard a high-pitched sound which definitely wasn't human, he scanned the area, but didn't see anything, he thought about switching on his thermal scanner on the scope of the rifle, but decided if he couldn't see it, it wasn't there unless he was going blind. When he was sure that there was nobody inside the cavern he headed up the steps to the entrance of the Temple, keeping a sharp eye out as there were lights set up on the inside as well. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Tunnel leading to Temple entrance. The Yalta were surprisingly slow as they moved down the tunnel, but the reason was due to the thoroughness they took setting up laser nets at one hundred meter intervals. After they passed through, the nets were activated. The red beams visible in the darkness. Anything that tried to run through would end up in tiny bits of meat, an instant death. On top of the laser nets, they had also been vigilant towards the checking of any tracks in the area. So far there were no signs of mesomorph activity, only the footsteps of many humans. One of the tracks showed an individual of more recent arrival. A human male, weighing in at around four hundred pounds. He walked much differently than the others. They had moved with relative lack of care, he moved as though the rocks might jump out at him. He had the tracks of a warrior. You'JA crouched down, examining a single footprint of his, before looking up as the tunnel became lit by the excavation teams lights. Rising from her position, she took off at a jog. Someone else was still alive down there. And that meant that any moment now they might stumble upon the key to starting the chain of events to awaken the dormant Queen. When they reached the opening that led into the Temple itself, there were a lot of foreign containers around. And the lights were more prevalent here. The surrounding area was clear and You'JA switched off her active camouflage so she could bring up the schematics of the temple. The hologram showed a typical pyramid shape, with many levels, and the extent of the chambers and mazes of tunnels. At the bottom of this temple lay the Queens chamber, and above that the sacrificial chamber where human hosts would be taken. Back in the old times, the humans of this region worshiped You'JA's clan as if they were gods. It was one of the reasons she was drawn to this particular quest. There were many active life signs in the temple. One not far from them, and the majority of others minus a few strays seemed to be congregated only a level off the sacrificial chamber. There was little time to waste. It would take hours to get down there. And the temple was already active. Someone had already set off the trigger to awaken the Queen. There was a low clicking growl as You'JA cursed the situation, "C'JIT!"* Turning to her sisters, she waved her hand at the entrance to the temple. "MDI H'flak..."** They moved off down the stairs that led into the Pyramid, and You'JA reactivated her active camouflage, third in line.[Translation: *Damn! **No fear] Donovan Gray There was lights everywhere, lighting up the walls and columns, they were clearly making a thorough inventory as well as catalog judging from the amount and type of equipment abandoned. The Windows start up tone almost got one Field PC blown to bits, Donovan took a deep breath, something was up"Ghost this is Delta Gray nine do you copy?" The only reply he got was static, and he frowned, he started to backtrack, trying to establish communication, without knowing he almost bumped into the last female of the group of Katja, he did notice a movement and just as he was about to bring his gun to bear..." Delta Gray nine this is Ghost do you read over?"" Ghost, Delta here, it seems like the building blocks out signal, over""Please hold... Delta you are to check in and give updates if permitted by signal, over""Roger that Ghost, Delta out"With that he turned back and walked deeper into the temple, following the lights that was set up, as he wondered where the hell 38 people just disappear to. He felt like a lamb led to slaughter as he noticed that it seemed that there were no branches or any other corridors, he also judged that the floor was elevating as he moved." Like the ramp leading into an abattoir"He frowned as he noticed the current hallway leading into a dark room, there was a broken flood lamp stand lying on the ground, and he could make out more stands inside the room, which looked like it had a bunch of altars inside. He stopped at the fallen flood lamp and saw that it was basically crushed, and the power cord was cut off, the indentation in the ground looked like some kind of door closed down from the ceiling and looking up, he switched on the flashlight and saw the definite lines of a very thick door. He lowered the flashlight and noticed strange marks where the door should have slid down, he was no expert in languages, but he had common sense, these markings were definitely different from the glyphs he saw on his way here. Very cautiously he moved forward, he noticed a crack in the ground, he stopped and shone his light on it, it was rectangular..." Must be a switch of some kind"He sidestepped it and started to inspect the room and what appeared to be altars, on each altar an egg shaped object was still present, but they were open, just one remained closed. Donovan noticed that these eggs was covered in what seemed some sort of slime." What the fuck are you? Bug eggs?" When the egg started to shake at the sound of his voice, he immediately brought his gun up, at the same moment the egg split open. Donovan waited, just as it seem like nothing is going to happen, a white spider form exploded from the egg, he had time to pull the trigger twice, sending two 20x28 mm explosive tip rounds slamming into it, bursting it open in a shower of yellow actor. Donovan quickly swept the room for more movement, but his flashlight revealed nothing"Let's get these damned lights online"Walking back to the entrance he inspected the cables, pulling on his gloves and brandishing his multi tool, he set to the task of cleaning the cables and joining them, working carefully as he did not like the jolt of 220V running through his system looking for a place to ground itself. As he connected the last set of wires he was covered in sparks, but using the pliers he twisted the cables together and using adhesive bandages from his first aid kit he wrapped up the naked wires to prevent them from touching." Right time to go on"He stood up and readying his gun, he re-entered the room to inspect the thing that came from the egg shaped thing on what seemed now like stone beds Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. The soldier was unaware of the Yalta that followed him down to the sacrificial chamber. One of the sisters had been about to gut him with her wrist blade, but You'JA had stopped her. He would be the bait. But only because he knew not what he was walking into, and she hoped he wouldn't be as aware of the dangers to be careful like they themselves were. The mesomorphs would be drawn to his footsteps, to the sound of his gear clicking occasionally and to anything he spoke. They were silent, and avoided drawing attention to themselves. He had found the chamber quickly, following the tracks that dotted the ground. And they had arrived as he had been in the process of killing one of the mesomorph impregnates. They moved around the room, studying each of the sacrificial beds. Droplets of blood could be found near one or two of them, but no bodies were present. This did show that the Queen was producing eggs again though, which meant that the situation was getting more complex every moment. Soon the human returned, and they watched him. Keeping an eye on the surroundings, and on the chambers in case they began moving again. He was unusual. Alone. Most interactions with humans showed them to be heard animals, congregating together for safety. But this wasn't. Somewhere off to the right of the chamber something moved, the sound of carapace on stone barely audible. But it was there. You'JA switched over her visual to a range capable of picking up the mesomorph signature. Whatever it was, it had moved on quickly. Donovan Gray Donovan scanned the environment, there were two exits, only one showed any marks of people passing through it. He started down the corridor and heard a faint sound ahead, he smiled to himself, it seemed that this old building was playing with his mind, but he knew better than to just open fire on every sound he heard. He kept moving as silently as he could, to any human ears he would be soundless, but human ears could not hear the grinding of a footstep in thick dust. Furthermore, he came to an open door to his left and entered carefully, he found the bodies of three people here, their chests showed exit trauma, but when Donovan turned them over he could not find any entrance wounds, strange marks led away from the bodies, and he followed them to what seemed like draining holes in the walls. Furthermore, he was in a crouching position when he heard a sound behind him, he twisted around, his weapon tracking for movement...yet nothing showed up in the beam of his flashlight, he just shook his head and left the room, following the corridor, finding dead bodies in rooms dotted along the way. It was clear that there were no survivors, but what killed them was unclear as each one had chest trauma but no other visible wounds. He stopped and wondered if he should head back top side and make his report as clearly all assets was dead, but there was still information here that would probably have to get state side. It was then he noticed that a wall seemed to move, he blinked his eyes and the wall seemed normal again, he grinned, must be jet lag, a good night's rest would probably sort that out. Why the mesomorph chose that exact moment to attack it wasn't sure, but the prey has been leading it around long enough. Donovan heard the movement at the entrance of the room he was in and almost froze at what he saw, his gun came up with trained reflex and a split second later explosive bullets slammed into the hide of the thing, sending a yellow green substance splashing into the walls, he ceased fire and the beast came at him again"Well fuck me"Donovan sent the remaining 23 rounds directly into the creatures head, and it fell at his feet, it's tail swishing around, and then it shuddered and died. Donovan noticed that where the substance was splashed acrid steam was rising, what the fuck was this thing? Donovan reloaded and cocked the gun, then made sure that the 5 20mm round magazine was also loaded. Could this thing have been what killed all the people in the group? Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. It was unfortunate that many mesomorph young had already hatched, they would grow fast and could already have been of formidable size. They followed the human male down a corridor, and watched what he would do. When the mesomorph had attacked, one of the sisters had charged forward only to be blocked by You'JA. She shook her head, before turning back to watch the warrior fight. By right of being 'chosen' for the fight, she would not intervene in his combat. If he died, so be it. But considering he survived the fight, he had claimed his first kill. It was a noble start to his life. In their society he would be considered an adult now. Off to his right though, something scurried through a tube before flinging itself through the air. Taking off, You'JA unwrapped the whip she carried and flicked it through the air, the white flesh of a face hugger quickly falling from the air. Its blood showed the end of the whip, and within moments, You'JA herself turned off her active camouflage. "Woman," she spoke, standing a good five or six meters away from him. She looked from him to the kill, and bowed her head slightly. In acknowledgment that it was indeed his kill. The plasma caster on her shoulder remained vigilant, in case this human turned the weapon held onto her. With her mask on she seemed less imposing, but nonetheless it was obvious she was not of this world. Her sisters remained hidden from him, that was until one of them screeched in pain. Turning to see what had happened, another mesomorph was perched on a shelf halfway up the wall. An access tunnel ran off that. Her sister had been slack, and for that she had been impaled by a mesomorph tail. You'JA's plasma cannon quickly changed targets, blasting the creature back down the access tunnel. Her sister fell to the ground, the active camouflage turning off, to reveal the extent of her injuries. Donovan Gray He was busy studying the dead creature when a flicker caught his eye, he looked up to see a creature that easily topped eight feet, with lizard like skin and what seemed like dreadlocks on a face that obviously was a mask which made it look like a snake. It obviously had the drop on him, and he knew he could not move nearly fast enough"Woman"What? Woman? Wait Human? A screech and the creature twisted towards the sound a blue ball of energy blasting from its shoulder to blast another creature that looked like the one he just killed. Another flicker and a creature dropped, a piercing wound through its chest, not lethal, but Donovan knew that it would hurt like a sunuvabitch. He stayed where he was, he had no intention of angering a creature who obviously was more advanced and powerful and who definitely was not alone. He shifted his gun to a ready position, but kept it trained to the ground, he had a strange idea that the creature was armed with plasma weapons, the weapons that was now only on testing phase and Top Secret. Thinking about all the rumors he heard in the top echelons these creatures seemed to correspond to information that was gotten from several sources. The thing he killed would be the enemies of the cloaked ones, the so-called demons, he took a deep breathe, he was basically in a war zone, with limited ammunition and no back up. He studied the creature before him, it somehow seemed different to the ones described by survivors...almost...feminine? Well judging from her build and the twin swells on her chest that would probably be why he thought of it as female. So he knew what she was, an off worlder, an alien from another planet. She did speak a sort of word, wondered if she understood English"Who are you?" Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. Moving over to her sister, You'JA looked down upon her and studied her wounds. Snarling, she pulled the Yalta up onto her feet and gave her a punch in the shoulder. An obvious sign of her being annoyed at the display of weakness. With a few native words, she turned back to the human and stepped forwards. He spoke words to her, and she listened for a moment. Her walk slightly heavy. Thumping her chest, she replied, "You'JA." There was no further effort made to communicate with the human after that. Instead, she looked down at the dead mesomorph and crouched down. Ripping its head off now that the acidic blood no longer had an effect. She ripped its spine and the contents of its brain out, offering him the skull after a quick snapping of the vertebrae. It was no use wasting the kill, if he wouldn't take it as his trophy. Stepping away, she looked down the hallway that led towards the other humans. If they hurried they might kill the young before they burst free of the incubators. Or humans. Same thing. With a few clicks of her speaking to her sisters, she moved off down the hallway. Turning to look back at him, and saying a word slowly. "Romans." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 2 flash bangs, 5 claymores Location: Inside the temple"You'JA"A bit difficult on the tongue, but not impossible to pronounce, Donovan watched in fascination as she ripped off the creature's head and removed the contents, before offering what was left to him, not wanting to offend her, he took it and while she was conversing with the others which he could still only see one of, he lashed it to the back of his vest. A trophy, how interesting. He watched as she walked down the hallway and then stopped and turned to him, speaking one word"Romans"There was more than one in the direction she was leading, he nodded and started after her, he switched off the flashlight as it may irritate or interrupt their sight and switched the scope on his rifle to 1X zoom in night vision, he wasn't supposed to see anything as it was pitch black, but the new technology used a sort of ultraviolet ray, powered by a battery that charged through kinetic energy, and it allowed him to see clearly as he followed You'JA down the hallway, he looked forward and saw more forms, so they are visible, just not very easy to see. Sometimes he heard faint scratching sounds, but it did not seem to bother You'JA or her companions, their body language did seem to change slightly as they approached a larger opening to what would have been a much larger room, Donovan heard a sound behind him and turned, there was nothing at ground level, but when he lifted his scope he saw movement of some sort against the ceiling, he flicked on the light and there was another of the creatures, fluorescent green blood dripped from the tip of it's tail and Donovan knew that it was tracking the creature it had hurt earlier, how could it not be dead? Donovan opened fire, the bullets digging into the head and sending the creature's blood splattering in all directions Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. Taking a look backwards, You'JA was finding the low tech projectile weaponry worked well against the softer shells of the mesomorph dome. It seemed as though this human was intent on building up quite the kill count. Showing off maybe? Leaving him to deal with his creature, she gave one of the sisters a command before moving forward again. The other Yalta that he could see moved back and set up a laser net, the red lines coming to life. Picking up a rock that looked to be part of the ceiling, she tossed it through the net for the human to observe. Immediately the rock was cut into neat squares. With a snarl she moved on ahead again, catching up with the group. They had entered the large room, where more humans were sitting up against the sacrificial tables. Walking over, she began to scan them. Giving out her own growl when she saw they had already been inseminated with eggs. Stepping backwards, she moved to the next. Again the egg had been planted in their esophagus. "No time," she explained to the human male. Pointing to their chests, and the already pulsating movement inside them. One of the humans woke up across the room and began to scream in pain. The cracking of ribs audible. It was hatching. Moving over quickly, she waited a few more seconds before the humans chest burst open with explosive force. The young mesomorph's head flicked about, letting out its own scream. Grabbing it by the neck, You'JA ripped it from the body and held it up. Showing the human male before snapping its neck. Dropping it on the sacrificial table, she turned to the other humans. Waiting for them to undergo the same occurrence. She wouldn't let these young become free. You'JA knew how sentimental these humans could be. Having encountered them before, just not on this continent. If this human was going to cause problems, it would be now at the sight of what was about to happen. It seemed another human had woken, his chest beginning to press out. Again, he screamed. Looking around, You'JA spoke to her sisters, who immediately moved to cover the entrances to the room. Just in case the screams brought the attention of the Queens servants. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 2 flash bangs, 5 claymores Location: Inside the temple The creature fell from the ceiling and tried to charge, but Donovan had followed its descent and punched more holes into it, killing the thing. He took a breath and looked as You'JA demonstrated her trap, he nodded his understanding and followed her into the chamber, which seemed to be a carbon copy of the first one, just here were humans still on the stone beds." No time"He didn't quite catch it, but when the male screamed and the thing burst from his chest he understood very quickly. Another scream and she snarled something, he detected movement and when You'JA killed another of the creatures he knew what he had to do. He had to save the people the obvious pain that they were going through, and their screams might draw unwanted attention. Shifting his gun, he drew one of his Desert Eagles and leveled it at the chest of the nearest person and pulled the trigger, the .50 slug ripped through the guy's chest and left a very nasty effect behind, not sure that he actually killed the thing and remembering what his instructor told him about making sure he fired another shot, just half an inch lower, if anything was hiding away he was sure that it would be dead now. He moved from one sleeping form to the other, shooting them all in the chest, he came to the last person and as he reloaded, she woke up, screaming, he saw her chest starting to bulge outwards, he quickdrawed his other Desert Eagle and as her chest exploded open he had the gun leveled and the thing that came out of her chest, double tapping it with two .50 slugs which tore it apart, he took a steadying breath, that was rather close. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. The human learned quickly, but made lots of noise. The Yalta would have put down the humans in a more silent, if not barbaric way. Counting the bodies, You'JA brought up her Holman once again. This time only a few dots remained. Her sisters and her, along with the male human in their company and two other humans. Lower down, moving fast. It seemed they were on the run from something. "Romans." Turning towards her sisters, she instructed them to move in closer. They moved over and stood around the human male, backs turned to him. Like a heard protecting a young calf. Pressing a pressure switch on the ground, the room began to turn and move. The old entrance closed up, before a stairwell became visible off to the side. Around them the room was split up into several portions, blocking off exits apart from down. Stepping out of the circle, You'JA removed the grieve that was strung to her back. It had a sharp blade at each end, and could be spun around to attack on all rotations. Like a double ended pole arm. It looked ceremonial, and had her clans engravings all along it. There was one mesomorph still alive, if the numbers were correct. Three dead humans with no young inside them, two mesomorphs killed so far. Both taken by the male human. It was unknown if there were more, aged hundreds of years, maybe. Walking down the stairs, they soon came upon the level the humans were on. Listening, You'JA could hear the screams along the tunnel that went to the right. They seemed they have just run past. Stepping out into the walkway, You'JA turned one way and looked down the tunnel. Her scanner picking up more than one mesomorph moving down the wall. She did not feel like fighting them on this terrain, not enough swinging room. And so, she indicated for everyone to move after the other humans. And walked backwards after them. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 2 flash bangs, 5 claymores Location: Corridor He followed You'JA and her group, she removed what looked like a staff and motioned them down the corridor, just as a type of early warning system, he set two claymores, just in case one of them decided to creep up behind them. He looked up at You'JA"Danger"He made a movement that tracked the angle of the approach towards the claymores and made an explosion sound while imitating an explosion with his hands. It was very basic, but he had to warn her, he didn't want her or her companions to come to harm, they haven't tried to kill him...yet. With that he set off in the direction that the hurt female, which still haven't cloaked herself, was heading. They entered into another chamber and Donovan looked about him, it looked lower than the previous ones, switching off the scope to conserve its energy. He took from his one pocket what looked like a pair of sunglasses and put them on, why he hasn't thought about this much earlier he didn't know. He switched on the device and the pitch dark lit up as the same technology which worked on the scope of the gun, set to work on the glasses to allow him to see what he needed. Furthermore, he felt like kicking himself, he had all these gadgets, and he forgot to use them, that comes from following basic instinct and not thinking when you are in new situation. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. Backing into the open chamber, one of the sisters moved off. Spotting the two humans that seemed to be huddling in a corner. Currently, they could only see the human male, and the injured Yalta. And their reaction was one of pure fear. You'JA had been careful to avoid the device the human had set. But she suspected the mesomorphs wouldn't be so lucky. Investigating the room, she smiled to herself. This would prove to be the battleground. It was nice and open, and the mesomorphs would have to cross some ground to get at them. And unlike the Yalta and humans, they lacked long range attacks. Apart from their tails. "Fight 'ere," she began looking to the soldier. "Guard Romans." Then, with a few clicks of her tongue, the rest of her sisters declared and joined her in a defensive pattern. The mesomorphs could see them anyway. The cloak didn't hide mass and since the Reno's used echo-location to see, and all the humans were accounted for, it was pointless. Plus, it made it easier for her to see her sisters as well, without needing to keep switching visuals. They moved around the room, putting up laser nets on the other tunnels. And left the one path open, where they had just come from. It would be a bottleneck for whatever was left. The two humans were unarmed, it would be a coward kill to harm them. However, the Yalta themselves wouldn't defend them. They were weak if they died. This would be the final battle before facing the Queen. The claymore exploded down the tunnel, filling the room with a slow but steady stream of dust. You'JA took forward position, crouching down and spinning her grieve into her combat position. Soon, on all fours, a mesomorph launched itself through the tunnel opening. It grabbed onto the grieves staff, and pushed her back onto the ground. With a swift kick, she flicked it back over the top of her into the stone wall. Righting herself, she moved in. It struck out at her with its tail, and with a quick block she avoided it before moving in closer to sever the tail at it's base. She plunged the grieve into the creatures neck, moving to disconnect its head from its body. However, as a second mesomorph charged through the dust, she was hit with one of her sisters as she too was thrown backwards. The grieve slid across the ground several meters. Rolling off, she growled. And instead began to move around the mesomorph who was obviously pissed off at her now. She liked to call it blind rage. She drew all the threat. It charged at her, and she grabbed it around the neck pulling it up off the ground and slammed her head into its. It screeched. The distortion of its vision painful. Pushing it into the wall, she brought her fist back and punched it in the chest. Cracking its rib structure. It scratched at her, ripping a portion of her shoulder armor off. And it started to snap at her. Pulling her arm back from the punch, she grabbed its second mouth and dislocated it in one swift pull from its head. Soon all sisters were fighting their own creature. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 2 flash bangs, 3 claymores Location: Temple Chamber He watched in fascination as all the creatures declared themselves and engaged the beasts. What really fascinated him was that they all seemed to be female, which was interesting, he turned to the two cowering people"Have you been hurt?" They shook their heads"Do you know how to shoot a gun""We are scientists, not fighters, what the hell is going on?" He looked over his shoulder, he noticed one of the spider like things scurrying towards one of the creatures, he lifted his gun and fired, two rounds slamming into the thing, and it popped like an over ripe melon." From what I can figure you guys triggered something and these tall gals, they are here to prevent those other beasts from getting out""Who are you?"" I'm your extraction""You always come with weapons?" He glanced back at them"Precautionary measures, if I was sent to kill you, you would be dead"Another beast appeared in the tunnel entrance, it was basically ripped to shreds, but somehow it seemed to be able to stand." Godamn it. Two claymores and you can still stand?" He sighted down the scope and fired a short burst, the beast fell lifeless to the ground. He saw one of the creatures ripping her mask off as smoke was rising from it, she engaged the beast which was in poor shape and trying to splatter her with its blood. Furthermore, he watched as she managed to snap the beast's neck, but what caught him by surprise was the spider thing that jumped onto her face out of the shadows of a pillar standing close to the wall where they were fighting. Not thinking about what could be, just wishing to save a comrade in arms, he lifted his gun and fired, one round ripped open the back of the thing and the second ripped it basically in half. He saw more of the things approaching the creature, and he started to open fire as the other creatures was busy fighting the beasts." Look out!" He turned to his side to see one of the beasts almost on top of him, he dropped the gun, ripped out his pistols and opened fire, the slugs ripping into it's body and some ricocheting from its head, suddenly the beast was pulled backwards by its tail, one of the creatures whipped it over her head and slammed it into the ground. He holstered his pistols and picked up his gun, reloading it with a fresh clip and cocked it." If we get out of this I'm buying drinks for those girls" Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. In less than a minute, three mesomorphs and a small handful of face huggers lay motionless on the ground. Unfortunately in the gunfire, one of the sisters had been splashed with considerable amounts of acidic blood. It had eaten though her chest quickly, and with no armor to remove she had died painfully. Luckily it had been swift. You'JA did not pause to mourn the death of one of the clan, instead she focused on disemboweling the creature she fought with. Picking it up, she tossed it into the wall with severe force. Cracking its spine in several places as it impacted a jutting out section. It lay motionless on the ground, screeching out but unable to move until it died. Another mesomorph had turned its attention towards her, and lashed out with its tail. Rolling off to the side she manged to avoid its reach. And recollected her grieve. Moving in, it whipped its tail around again, and she moved under it. Spinning the blade and removing its head from its body with a deadly swiftness. Now that more had moved into the room there was no time to savor kills. Her sisters all seemed to have disabled at least one mesomorph each, as had the human. But there were still five or six in the room in the mid of fighting. One of her sisters howled out as two tails pierced her torso. She had been the injured one from before and was swiftly picked out of the bunch by some younger mesomorphs. As she fell to the ground dead, You'JA and another Yalta took on the creatures. The other sister firing her shoulder cannon to reduce the numbers. Not the most sporting ways to kill, but effective. You'JA simply knocked the young mesomorph off it's legs, picked it up by the head and flung it through one of the laser nets blocking any flanking attempts. It fell into the tunnel in little pieces, the smell of burnt flesh filling the room. Turning around, she caught a claw to the side of her neck. Hissing at the pain that surged through her. The teeth snapping near her as she held it out off her body. Driving the grieve end up through its torso until it ripped out the back of its skull, she growled loudly as it continued to rip at her flesh. Her sisters were also taking their scratches, but most were holding ground. Several of them utilizing wrist blades, or their disks to severe important parts of the creatures bodies. Withdrawing the grieve, and bringing with it a good deal of flesh, she shoved it upwards. Like a spartan behind a shield and the sharp tip went straight through the dome of the mesomorph killing it. Dropping it to the ground she moved back into position. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 2 flash bangs, 3 claymores Location: Temple Chamber The fight was turning and at the moment it didn't look good for You'JA's team, Donovan heard a scuttling sound above him and as he looked up a spider thing dropped towards one of the scientists. Using the barrel of his rifle he swatted it away and drilled two bullets into its soft body." Godamn how many of these things are there?"" According to what we could figure from the glyphs there are eight chambers, each chamber has six delivering systems""That makes it 48""Every 36 hours"Donovan blinked and watched the fight, one of the beasts was making its way around the edge of the fighting, trying to get to the back of one of the creatures. He raised his gun and opened fire, the rounds slammed into the beast's neck, the explosive tips ripping its neck open, sending blood flying. The gun jammed, leaving Donovan to face a highly agitated beast, he dodged to one side, and it barreled into the wall right next to the scientists. Its tail hit the ground right next to Donovan, digging into the ground, drawing themachetefrom the sheath on his lower back, he lashed out with it, severing the tip from the tail. He rolled away to avoid the splattering blood, but the female scientists weren't that lucky as a good-sized amount of the blood landed on her face and chest, starting to burn away at her flesh." Get away from it!" Donovan drew one of his pistols and opened fire at the beast, the heavy bullets ripping through the thing's body, the male scientist scampered out of the way on hands and knees. Holstering the now empty pistol, Donovan pulled out a flash bang, primed and tossed it, covering his eyes as the grenade exploded with a bright flash of light. The beast screamed and shook its head, Donovan ran at it and brought the machete down on its neck, severing it. He looked at the blade and watched as the metal started to melt away, throwing the remainder onto the beast's body he started to work on his gun, trying to clear the jam. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. Surveying the situation, You'JA moved over to the only entrance that remained open and set up a later net. Switching it on, several mesomorphs growled at her from the other side. Cut off from joining their brethren. Turning around, she moved back over to the human male, the warrior. Inspecting his blade, she could tell the acid was eating straight through it all. Passing him her grieve, she extended her wrist blades to their longest reach and went back to work. Soon it seemed that the room was becoming under control. And without reinforcement, the mesomorphs found themselves now the ones cornered. Unfortunately like wild animals, they turned on the nearest Yalta with savage rage. Picking them off one by one, hopefully. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 2 flash bangs, 3 claymores Location: Temple Chamber He took theglaivefrom You'JA and swirled it around. It was as light as a Bo, but with the reach of a quarterstaff, very interesting weapon. By now he had his gun unnamed and reloaded with a new clip, he was starting to run seriously low on ammunition he had about three full clips left for the gun and three for each pistol. Noticing that the beasts was turning on one of the creatures and that not one of the other creatures was really in blast radius; he fired the grenade launcher, cocking it to load a new 20mm grenade, the 20 mm HE grenade landed between the beasts, it's explosive force ripping through them, killing two and leaving the rest wounded. Unfortunately the creature they were tearing into was already dead and Donovan let out a sigh, he hated losses even if they were not human. He scanned the chamber and not seeing any of the spider creatures around he shouldered his gun and wielding the grieve he joined the ranks of the creatures to advance on the remaining beasts Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. It didn't take more than a few well aimed hits before there were limbs and entrails of the remaining mesomorphs covering the ground. It was only when there were no more targets around that the other Yalta examined their dead sisters. So many Yalta died on their quests to earn a kill, and to return with the trophy to prove it. They would rest for a while, and then remove one of the nets. Fight again. Replace the net. Rest. And then repeat this dance all night if need be. Worst case scenario, they would set the self-destruct timers on the dead Yalta's bodies and fight their way back to the shuttle. But the fight was far from over, if even one of them was still capable of holding a weapon the game was winnable. You'JA moved over to sit on one of the sacrificial tables. Removing her medical kit she examined her neck and shoulder. The medical kit contained several instruments, all appeared just as painful as the next. Cutting implements, spreading implements, some sort of serum and enough powder to burn close a battle of wounds. Taking a syringe, she injected herself with a high dose antibiotic. It contained nanotechnology, which would heal the wound from the inside. She hissed as the sting spread throughout her neck region. Opening a disk with a flame, she went about preparing the liquid that would cauterize the open wounds. Mixing it rather clumsily slowly. And whilst it was still very hot, she picked up the tray and poured it over the wound. Burning it closed. Her body tensed at this, even for her this was very painful. Several of the other Yalta were doing the same sort of thing. Taking what precious time they had to kick-start the healing process. For the most part everyone ignored the humans. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 1 flash bang, 3 claymores Location: Temple Chamber He stood at the entrance of the tunnel and looked at the beasts some seemed to pace the corridor and others just waited. Donovan wondered if he shouldn't place the rest of the claymores, but decided not to, he might need something like it to cover a retreat later on. He turned and looked as the creatures was busy with what seemed like running repairs to themselves. He walked over to You'JA and waited for her to acknowledge his presence by looking at him; he thumped his chest like she did"Donovan"He gave her a smile and walked over to the scientist, who without any visual aid, was as blind as a mole. Furthermore, he tried to scamper away from Donovan's footsteps"Hold up doc, it's me. Are you hurt?" The scientist breathed a sigh of relief"I'm fine, it's darker than a nightmare down here""How did you see that beast coming up behind me?"" The flashes from your gunfire reflected off it's hide and skin...what...what happened to Lucy? I only heard her scream"Donovan crouched down, hanging his head"She died, blood of the beast I killed landed on her... I'm sorry"The scientist reached out and patted Donovan on the arm"You did the best you could, don't beat yourself up over it""I'll try doc, I'll try"Donovan stood up and surveyed the carnage, this was some kind of war that he was not trained for. Holding the Claire he gave it another whirl, it whistled softly through the air. He grinned and whirled it faster, moving with it as he grew more accustomed to the balance and weight, while not a master, he had rudimentary training with staffs, and he thought that back then he could have gotten far with something like this. He stopped and admired the staff, noticing the marks on it, and he started to study them; they looked exactly like those he saw at the door. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. The human approached her, and after several moments of concentration she turned her attention to him. Until then, she ignored him like she would any youngster in her company. He called himself Donovan. And she repeated it back in her broken English. Having picked up a few words and listened to him talking to the other humans. "Donovan...." The name sounded foreign, as it was, and didn't sit on her as easily as her own name or that of her Clan. But a name was just a way of identifying yourself. Packing up her kit, she watched him out of the corner of her eye. Not trusting yet, but not worried. His projectile weapon was intriguing still, if not primitive. His gear heavy in comparison to her own. But he seemed to use the grieve with amateur skill, similar to that of a youngster first trail. He picked it up quickly though, and she turned away towards her sisters. Would they let the humans go, having seen them? It was not common practice. But he had taken the trophy of the creature and was no longer a target of debate. And the other human seemed about as capable of fighting as an infant. No, it would not be honorable to kill them, even if it was cleaning up. The pact would remain. The humans that already knew would keep the secret in exchange for occasional 'hunts' and the 'coming of age trials' taking place. And in exchange for that, the Yalta would make sure the mesomorph threat did not reach this galaxy. It had been decided by much more intelligent elders. It would be respected. Standing up, You'JA moved over and looked each human over. "Are you... Donovan....and Woman ready?" she asked, using his own questions from before in her accent. She did not understand their conversation fully. She could see that the human doctor could not see in such low light, and removed an orb from her back. Placing it on the stone slab near him, she pressed a button on top. And stepped back. Humans didn't react well around her. Soon it flicked to light and lit the room in a soft blue glow. Turning off her own visual range, she used the light instead. It wasn't as good, but it was enough. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 1 flash bang, 3 claymores Location: Temple Chamber He looked at her, she may have been a coldblooded killer, but in her own way, she was considerate." I am ready..." He motioned at the scientist"Doc no fight"He knew that she had obviously noticed that the scientist was basically dead weight, but Donovan felt that even in these situations, he was obliged to protect him. He was actually surprised to realize that not only could she speak some words English, but that she knew how to use them. Furthermore, he pointed at himself and the scientists"Don and Doc... Oomans..." He motioned at her and the remaining creatures"You'JA and other?" He then motioned at one of the dead beast"These?" He knew that the knowledge wouldn't do him any good, but at least he will know what to call everything Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Inside the Temple. Looking from the scientist, Doc, to the soldier, Don, You'JA tilted her head to the side. Did all 'Romans' have similar sounding names. Not that it really concerned her. As the soldier motioned to herself and her sisters, she looked around at those that had survived. Her clan would mourn their efforts, as all were prime mothering age. But none would see it as a grave loss, it was their way of life after all. You'JA tried to think of the word to explain who they were. Without giving away too much information. But both of the humans would probably be dead by the time they left the temple at the end of the day. With slow speak, she said a few words. "Yalta....warriors...clan." She had no idea if they would understand her at all, but warriors and clan were long since learned words. She remembered the stories of past hunts on this world. Moving over to pick up one of the dead creatures, she examined it. They were old breeds, probably set in hibernation with the Queen. "Kind media...." Her words flowed, it was their term. But since she knew he would not understand that, she tried to pronounce the human word. "ZEE-noo-moor-ff." Dropping the carcass, she moved over to one of the nets, again watching the creatures that waited beyond it. Should she begin the countdown, or attempt to put the Queen back into hibernation, along with rid the temple of the mesomorphs that had already been released? Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 2 .50 Desert Eagles, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades, 6 grenades, 1 flash bang, 3 claymores Location: Temple Chamber He shifted his gun to his back, adjusting it to fit next to the "trophy" lashed to his back. Hefting the light Claire, he stood next to the scientist"Doc, I'm running low on ammunition, so I will not really be able to stay at your side all the time. If you see those white creatures that look like spiders, then cover your face. I will do my best to help you as fast as possible, if you hear a scurrying sound above you, don't look up, tell me about it"That is what he hated about non-combatants, they could not be counted on to defend themselves no matter how big the threat to their own lives. He suppressed a sigh and waited for You'JA to deactivate the net she had placed [Jump forward] Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Queens Chambers They had arrived after fighting their way through the tunnels down to the Queens Chamber to find her still partially shackled. You'JA wondered if the human would run seeing the size of her, but ignored him for the most part as she started up the hibernation process again. They had fought off several mesomorphs waiting for the blue electricity to once again send the beast to her slumber. But halfway through one of the creatures used its own acidic blood to begin freeing the other bindings. Eating away at the chains. Putting her back to sleep wasn't an option. So instead, You'JA had moved quickly to set up a trap. Her remaining sisters distracting the Queen whilst the human did his own thing. It wasn't until her sisters lay dead that the Queen turned her attention to the flanking You'JA. Perhaps she hated the Yalta more than the small human. Maybe it was just a blood vendetta. Either way, You'JA snarled and welcomed the fight. It would be quite a worthy death. She had been in the midst of running up rise in the room and jumping for the Queens neck when automatic fire had hit home. The Queen got hold of the Yalta and tossed her harshly into the stone walls, before finally succumbing to the lead slowly blasting away at its spine. The Queen died, half on and half off the tethers that had held her for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Coughing up yellow ooze, You'JA rolled over onto her back. The yellow slowly dripping through the bottom of her mask. She felt like several ribs had snapped. But pulled herself up into a sitting position. I breathes wheezy. Some of the cords filtering her air had snapped, reducing the efficiency. But she could breathe enough. Looking over, the doctor and her sisters lay dead. The human the only other survivor. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades Location: Queen's Chamber He unloaded the last clip into the massive Mesomorph's spine, some of the bullets ricocheting the others punching into her, slowing her down, making her slump in her bounds. He flipped the firing selector and fired the last of his HE Grenades into the bloody mess and dove for cover. The loud explosion ripped the alien apart, sending blood and parts flying. Donovan looked out from behind his cover, the alien was dead, with half of its body blown away, it just had no other choice really. He got up from where he was hiding from the corrosive blood and looked to find You'JA looking at him. He slung the now empty weapon onto his back and walked over to her. Furthermore, he could see blood dripping from her mask, and he found that he felt a kinship with her. She had lost more than him here, she had lost her clan members. He looked around the chamber and then back at her." You are going to destroy this place,"It was more a statement than a question, because he knew her kind would not leave something like this behind. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Queens Chambers After taking a few moments, she growled, dragging herself to her feet. To be helped by the weak, if not brave human would be shameful. Even after completing her task, kind of. Walking over to the corpse of the creature, she cut a portion of its tough hide out. A signature piece. It would be to show the clan that the Queen was dead. Unfortunately. Raising her arm, she took back her grieve. Slipping it onto her back into its holder. Nodding her head at the humans question, You'JA slowly made her way towards the control panel she had initiated earlier. Typing in a few digits, she pulled open a slot on the side of her wrist mounted device. Slipping the crystal that was extracted into a port within the stone. It flashed for a moment, before beginning to blink once every second. Her wrist mount beeped along with it. They had about ten minutes. Moving up towards the surface they were now able to skip the chambers, and take a direct access tunnel straight up. It was steep, but the alternative to not getting out wasn't pleasant. Once at the surface, she dialed up her drop-ship. The engines backing itself out of the spot it had stopped in, and with a rumble it raised up into the air before moving over to her location. Lowering the door opened, and she moved up the ramp. Looking back, she watched the human for a second. And then when it seemed she would just leave, she waved her arm. He could not outrun the blast radius if left behind. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades Location: Excavation await was a pity, the boys at home would probably have loved to get their hands on just one piece of the technology. He watched as she boarded her craft, motioning him to join her. He followed her, by now he knew that he could trust her, she proved that over and over again during their battles down in the temple. Furthermore, he looked around him, there was a chamber, with different heads mounted on it. There was no head like the one he still had on his back, the armor that saved his life when a mesomorph tail would have skewered him like a horse on a pole arm. He removed the head from his back and found that there was an open hook on the wall. He hooked the head on the hook and stood back to admire the trophies. These girls played for keeps, he was glad that he didn't meet up with their males or that he was on their bad side. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship Making her way through the ship to the flight controls, You'JA took the helm and quickly took them out of blast radius. Swinging the craft around after initiating their cloaking device. Bringing up a scanner, she quickly checked the surrounding area for traces of mesomorph activity. However, nothing bigger than a small rodent showed up. The last few seconds started to tick down, and the beeping began to get a little more sped up. Turning around, You'JA wondered where the human had got to. And went in search of him. The beeping finally reaching it's last few beeps as she rounded the corner to see the new trophy on her wall. Had he just done what she thought he had? Added his trophy to the clan wall. Tilting her head, she looked back and forth between the trophies and him. Then, with a final 'humph' she moved up and sniffed at him. Yes, he carried the scent of an adult male. The first requirement. He had slain the creature himself. Second requirement. Third was a little harder for him to fulfil. But it wasn't the first time a human had been accepted. If they respected the warrior code, protected the clan, and had passed the rite of passage then there was little species wise stopping them. Surviving the other males fighting for pick of females would prove difficult. But that time would come. Moving over to a window, she looked down as the temple exploded. A ball of bluish light enveloping the entire area and burning a massive crater through the jungle. The ground collapsing in. Burying everything. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades Location: Drop ship He watched as she sniffed him and frowned, what on Earth was she up to? He followed her as she stood at one of the ports. He joined her and saw the temple blowing up in a blue fireball. When the dust settled nothing was left, he looked at her then down at the ground. It was done, now would she drop him off somewhere, kill him or take him home as a guinea pig? He knew that he didn't have any weapons and that she could overpower him if push came to shove. He didn't say or do anything, just waited for her next action. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship Leading him through the ship with a wave of her hand, she came to a sort of laboratory set up. A small room, and injected herself with a chip. Before passing him the same apparatus to inject himself. The neck was where she had done it. It contained one of the translator bugs. And would scramble and unscramble different alien languages. It helped in the more populated parts of the galaxy. Although the Yalta avoided them most of the time. "Speak, and I will understand. We speak same now." She explained whilst removing several clasps on her mask. The hissing sound as the gases escaped could be heard as she placed the metal plate on a bench. Turning around, the light green skin that covered her face was much different to her kind. It looked human, but there were ridges across her brow that showed a more alien bone structure. She was a hybrid. Her mother had been a trophy, in a way. From one of the less warrior species the Yalta had met. Humanoid, and fair. Her father had been full blood Yalta. And she was the product of both. Her cheek bones were high, and spiked under the skin as well. And she had a dotted pattern up her neck different to the white central torso and stomach line. ((Closest I could find...just imagine spikes and ridges. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades Location: Drop ship He inspected the gadget she handed him, while crude in design the science of it was far ahead of anything they had. He injected himself, placing the apparatus back on the table. He faced her and got another shock, she didn't look like the others, but much more...human." You look different from the others"Well duh obviously"What is your plans now?" Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship Grunting at his comment about her appearance, it brought back memories of her attempted exile as a child. Of the trials she had to undertake to prove her strength, honor and ability to defend the clan. For her youth she had been outcast and ridiculed, but that had made her strong. Stronger than the other females, because they were accepted. Fought over. Mated with if chosen. But she had been left. So fighting was her calling. Acceptance had been a long journey. She was older than her female counterparts when her status had finally been granted. Most would have been sent on their first hunt as teenagers, but it was only in her adult years that they had finally allowed her to take part. But they had soon realized that her strength was not only physical, but mental as well. Her mothers traits showed through in her cunning and planning. In her ability to think beyond the hunt, to pick her prey wisely, to use strategy. In all the hunts she had brought home the most substantial trophy. Every time they had slowly accepted her more and more. Now she fought to gain breeding status, and to take alpha female rank. Where she belonged. "I am different, my mother was foreign. But I am stronger and smarter...better." The answer seemed to show her confidence, her pride. The plan? Well, he had placed his first trophy on the clan wall. He had initiated the process of acceptance. He would have to face the council. But did he know this? "Why do you, human, try joining my clan?" She stepped closer to him, as if sizing him up. "You placed your trophy, my clan sees this as a way of asking permission to be considered an adult. A warrior. Part of our clan. To fight for us. Breed with us. Make us stronger. Only the best survive the trials." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades Location: Drop ship He calmly looked at her, even if inside he felt like kicking himself." I thought it to be proper to mount the head of your and my enemy along with the rest you have killed." A cold smile touched his lips,"I may not be as strong or tough as you or even your males, but I do not care to look Death in the eye and spit in its eye. That is why they send me on suicide missions, I get the job done." He looked into her eyes,"And if you fight the Mesomorphs, I will fight, and I will kill them." Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship Laughing loudly, You'JA showed outward enjoyment from his answers. Her body language indicated that his mentality was similar to that of her clan, if he could kill, and could pass the trials then he would fit in well. Of course as a human, like herself, he would not be accepted for probably five years or more. But as a human, getting in the drop-ship was a big honor. "Then you shall die, either as yourself now, or as part of the clan. A warriors' death." Removing her weapons she placed them into their wall spots, before putting her broken plasma caster into a repair booth. Turning towards the doorway, she headed past the human. He would probably want quarters, although the drop-ship only had a couple of spare rooms. Taking him down to where she slept, a door slid sideways and opened. Revealing the small cramped room. It was simple, but had everything a humanoid species would need. "Sleep. It will be many days before we reach the docking ship, and many more before it travels to my world. There, you shall speak with my elders. There, if you are judged worthy you may begin your rite of passage." Leaving him, she went across the hallway to her own room. Entered it, and began to remove the armor that would need to be cleaned. Underneath she wore only the thin mesh, and a loin cloth at the front. Very rarely did she remove her armor, so there was no need for more undergarments. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades Location: Drop ship He had seen smaller quarters before, hell he lived in a smaller apartment, this was actually all he needed for sleep. He headed back and placed his empty rifle and still loaded pistol with the ammunition on an empty bench. This was a strange culture, and then he saw thediscand he stood closer to look at it." Fascinating, wonder how sharp it is?" He didn't even move to touch it, from what he gathered he did not want to touch these weapons without permission, smiling to himself he inspected the other weapons, they were clearly made to use as hunting tools, and he had seen the damage that they could do when wielded properly. After his inspection he moved to the quarters assigned to him and laid down on the bed, looking up at the roof. Dormant Evil said: Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship This human was intriguing, and something made her wonder just how he would fight in an unarmed match. You could tell a lot about a partner by wrestling. But that would have to wait for quite a while. Sitting down, she removed the thin mesh that covered her upper body. Intent on properly disinfecting the wounds she had sustained. Grunting as she peeled some of the flesh open to inspect for infection she could tell there was none yet. Good. Removing the mesh completely she headed to a small cut out with an opaque screen around it. A shower cubicle. Her body was covered in dirt which once under the rather cold stream of water dissolved and ran away down the drain. Soon the neon green blood that was caked on was scrubbed off, floating away as well. She groaned whenever her largish fingers probed the wound. Pulling debris away, and flicking any smaller bits of rock or grit out. There seemed to be one shard of rock planted deeper into her shoulder. And as her fingers pushed in she let out a cry of pain. But soon the shard was dropped to the floor, too large for the water to carry away. Turning off the flow of water, high pressure air started to dry her off. And soon she stepped out from behind the screen to find an undamaged mesh bodysuit hanging from the storage the room offered. Click to expand... Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, XM29 OIC with 20mm HE grenades Location: Drop ship The cry brought him to his feet, it sounded a lot like a cry of pain, silently sneaking out of his quarters he started to follow the corridor down which the sound had come. They were the only two supposed to be on the ship, but those mesomorphs seemed quite adapt at hiding, so he was ready for almost anything. He peeked into each room, found it empty and when he peeked into her room, he had to admit that it was something he wasn't ready for. She stood there stark naked, looking for what would be clothing. He ducked back after taking in the wounds on her and thought that she must have been cleaning the wounds and that made her cry out. Shaking his head he walked back to his quarters as silently as he could. -poke bump-Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship After slipping into the mesh bodysuit she put her armor into a cleaning chamber, before moving out into the hallway of the ship. She could tell from the human scent in this part of the ship that he had been around not long ago. But as to why he was there she couldn't tell that there was anything wrong. Perhaps it was her cry of pain, or he was simply just curious. Either way, You'JA was equally curious. Finding her way to his room, she entered without much notice. The door hissing as it slid open. Moving inside, she looked around for him. She was dry now, and the thin mesh suit covered her private regions with a silver fabric, whilst her arms, legs, stomach and back were open to the crisscross sections that simply held the other fabric in place. The Yalta were good at temperature regulation, and very rarely needed to wear excess layers for the cold. They did however prefer humid regions though. Hence, why the ship was kept at a nice toasty jungle temperature. "Hungry?" she asked. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop ship At her question he realized that he was hungry, but if he looked at her blood and build the best thing he could hope for was some sort of edible meat." I would appreciate something to eat, it has been a long time since I ate, but I have a feeling you knew that already." He got up out of his bed, he left his rifle leaning against the wall, but his pistol, and its ammunition remained on him. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship With a low chuckle, You'JA waved for him to follow her, and they went to where meals could be ordered. It was a machine, with many different buttons on it. She pulled open a cupboard and removed a bowl, before putting it under the nozzle of the machine. Pressing a button two pieces of meat dropped, before a hot steaming liquid was poured over the top. The meat instantly seemed to soak up the liquid and plump up. Lastly, she pressed a second button and a piece of what could be flat bread dropped. Although this was a high protein based bread more than a carbohydrate one. Stepping aside, she sat down at a small table, and started to dip bread into the stock. Before scooping it into her mouth and chewing slowly. Watching him, she wondered what he would press. Knowing he probably didn't understand her written language. But she had chosen something as edible for him as she guessed, if he wanted the safe option of copying her choice. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop ship He looked at the markings and then at the food she was eating, it really looked edible." I got to learn how to read these." He took a bowl and made the same selection as she did, he sat at the table and tasted the food. For something that came out of a machine it tasted surprisingly good, he continued to eat." Have all the elders these "translators" in them? I fear that I will not be able to speak fluent alien when I get there." Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship Huffing, You'JA thought him amusing, but instead decided to be the helpful alien...which now technically he was, and answered his question. "Most, but not all. Many will treat you as unworthy of our dialect. Others will find you interesting enough to study. Most will not befriend you, as they will not trust you until after your rite of passage has been completed." Finishing up her meal, she pushed her bowl away slowly and rested on one elbow, watching him. "If an elder pushes you, you bow as low as you can manage. If another clansman pushes, then you have the right to push back. They are simple rules. Elders have earned respect of everyone, even before I was born. Everyone else fights for dominance, and those who don't are left behind. You could say we don't have a 'diplomatic' or 'non-hostile' ranking system. But it is as it always has been, and we require only the strongest to lead us." Standing up, You'JA moved away for a while before returning with another smaller bowl filled with liquid. It was pure water, and she placed one of the vessels before him, and drank the other one herself. Sitting down again. "I've effectively completed my mission, surviving my sisters who also fought for the title I may now claim. Matriarch of my sisters and mothers. It is a protectorate role, as not all of my kind will reproduce... I won't until I have earned that right by defending the birth mothers, and my sisters in training. For the most part, you and I do not mix. Males stay with males, females stay with females. It is as it always has been to protect our numbers." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop-ship"So I will be fighting the moment I step from the ship,"he chuckled,"Not much difference from how I grew up. Just in my case, I fought to protect those smaller and weaker than me, not to be a leader." He took a sip of the water, found it drinkable and drank it while he ate,"Your system is an interesting one, do you fear to have too many Katja and through that bring on a civil war, when groups of the same breed and culture fight among themselves?" He finished his meal,"Also what you said we call mesomorphs, it was very obvious from the writing on the temple walls that your kind was there when they were placed in the temple, what is your history with them?" Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship Thinking for a moment, You'JA smiled as he defined his existence before. Fighting to protect those weaker was her job, fighting to become the strongest would be his from then on. By so he would protect the clan in said civil wars, and against the plethora of enemies that stalked the universe. There was a balance to everything. Sacrifice, dedication and honorable death were among their highest honors. "There are many clans, each fighting for dominance, but that fighting aids in keeping our numbers under control. The males fight to determine dominance, and the females live relatively unharmed during such disturbances. Survival of the species is above all else, dominance occurs alongside that, without putting it at risk. We exist in the millions, but even our youngest can fight, we prefer a strong yet small population over you weak and over extended ones." Looking over at him, she knew he would probably fail the tests. They required more than just projectile weapons. And most of them were unarmed combat. He had speed though, perhaps that would do. "We came across that species thousands of years ago, before your species existed in more than small tribes. We took over your world, building the temples as training grounds in exchange for your planet falling under our protection from the more warlike species you will learn about. Once every ten years our newest warriors would be sent into the temple, where many of your people were sacrificed to the Queens eggs to produce prey for our young lings to hunt. It was part of their right. But as the creatures spread throughout the galaxy less of our temples could be maintained, and we eventually pulled out of this solar system. Your people soon changed, and forgot about us, and the temples lay dormant." Chuckling to herself, she smiled. "It was only when we received the signal that a temple had been activated that we investigated. That temple had a strong Queen, capable of reinhabiting your world if left unchecked. For all our warlike appearances, we clean up our own messes." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop ship He chuckled,"You are the gods? The ones that came from the sky, took human sacrifices and hunted unspeakable monsters." He shook his head,"You were not completely forgotten, just got replaced that is all." He finished his meal,"So I will have to fight all the time, until I reach as far as I can go. Do we fight to the death with such trials?" He realized that he have accepted that he will become one of a clan, without any strong resistance from himself. That was not normal, hell it was just wrong period. Why would he want to join some alien culture if he was revered for his skills as human? Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship Laughing, You'JA smiled at the men sudden realization. "We may not appear godlike to you now, but imagine your species reaction to seeing temples built before their very eyes, city sized ships hovering above them, appearing and disappearing as if they were a mirage. And warriors capable of slaughtering their people by the hundreds. It took very little to persuade them to worship us, sacrifice themselves for us, and fear us." "I can return you to your planet, if you wish. I assumed you knew enough to put the skull of your trophy on our wall. But I can see why it might appear more like putting a weapon back in its place to you. It is your choice. You would probably only die anyway. Or be executed, I am perhaps a little sentimental towards non-Yalta." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop ship He shrugged,"We have come this far, no sense in turning back. If I die at least I will die honorable as a warrior. On my home I was just a weapon, now I might mean something and that is worth fighting for." He looked at his dishes and finished his water,"How do we clean these?" Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship It was an honorable death, compared to the insignificant deaths the humans said were worthy. Even if he was beheaded the moment he stepped off her ship, he would have been further than most humans. Not all, every thousand years or so one might be lucky enough to be considered worthy of seeing the Yalta home world. But not for just killing the hard shells, it was usually because they had killed one of the honored warriors of the clan in combat. Why was she taking him along? Was it to show the clan? Or did she have her own ulterior motives. Sure, he was built well for his kind, and smelled rather delicious...but he was a weak human. Nothing more than that. But then again, she wasn't one to judge the weaker species. She was related in part to some of them. Even if she denied it thinning her Yalta blood. Looking up from her thoughts, she stood and showed him to the cleaner. Where he could place the used cutlery and utensils to be high pressure washed and disinfected. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop ship He placed his dishes in the cleaner and then turned to face her,"Yours is a warrior race, hunters because of the trophies you keep. Did you allow me to live because I killed with you? Or is there another reason?" Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship "You ask I am currently asking myself. Maybe I just wish to see what happens. Usually, no, we would not bring you into our clan...and I would be the last to bring you forward. Having not even been granted the title of Matriarch yet." Heading for the door, she paused for a moment before heading out into the hallway. "Perhaps I'm curious...my mothers species is rather...inquisitive about other species and their sexual characteristics." For now, she would think on it, or maybe she should just take the man and be done with the waiting. It was within her strength to do so. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop-ship"Well we are here now, maybe fate have decided that I should go with you. Let's see where this road takes us, at least if I am killed, it is for a good reason." He watched her leave and walked around on the ship, coming to the cockpit, he sat down in the chair and watched the stars as they whisked by, he smiled to himself." How many astronauts would give their hearts to see this." Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship The stars sped past quickly, occasionally there would be a pocket of them, concentrated together. A galaxy not unlike the one Earth was in. Then they would pass beyond the stars, into the blackness of space. Nothing but emptiness. Then they would see a speck of light ahead, and within minutes they would be passing into another pocket of stars. Each star indicating a pocket of planets, and possible regions of life. You'JA had followed him into the cockpit, and watched him as he watched what else there was beyond his world. "Your species has seen none of this, beyond your handful of planets and stars. Right?" Pushing her palm down on a large smooth button, an interactive display shot up into the air, illuminating their galactic path of travel. So far, a line showed how they had passed through several galaxies, originating at Earth. Another line which was ahead of them indicated where they would go to. Soon, she tapped her finger against the holograph and the ship quickly decelerated. Arriving short of their destination. It was a training galaxy. Yalta controlled. Safe for the most part. And the planets all looked similar to Earth. Biological habitats, breathable air, with prey of all sizes and shapes. Worlds they had colonized for hunting. "You should train before we arrive. Another few trophies would not hurt." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop-ship"No we have never seen this far into space, the furthest we have traveled on our own is to the edge of our own solar system. When it comes to this type of travel we are still newborn babies." He watched as they dropped out of what would seem to be some sort of hyperdrive and suddenly grinned." Hunt beasts? Oh, I'm very much game for just that..." He stopped and frowned,"But then I would need weapons, I am kind of depleted right now." Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship "Weapons are something I have a good supply of." Plotting a landing point, You'JA left the cockpit and moved towards the armory again. Opening the shield, her weapons from last time looked polished and clean again. Any blood, dust and grime that had been on them earlier was now washed clean. Pressing a button, the board they were on retracted and another came out from underneath it. Backup weapons. There were two types of wrist blades, short and long. A couple of plasma casters, one more like a pistol than a shoulder cannon. The whip and discs were harder to use, and usually were left until trainees had become skilled with all the others. And two grieves were at the back, one that folded up and another that was carved and full length. There was also a net gun tucked away in the back. "We do not have projectile weapons, we prefer hand to hand or plasma casters. Do you require armor as well?" Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle Location: Drop-ship"No projectile weapons, that means your prey is the angry beaver type... I'll skip the armor, but thanks for caring a little bit." He picked up the wrist blades and found that they actually fitted him. Interesting, he ignored the other weapons and picked up the short claim, if he was going out, he was going down swinging. He looked over at her and nodded,"I feel that this will do for now." Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship "Beaver type?" This term was not known to You'JA, and she cocked her head to the side to emphasize her confusion. As he had declined armor, and already had picked his choice of weapons, she took her own ensemble before closing the Armory. Moving down to her room, she placed her gear on the bench before slipping into her armor which hung cleanly in another cabinet. She fastened everything, and checked that she had a new medical kit. Finally, she made sure that her webbing was repaired and that everything was in place. Attaching her shoulder cannon, the blades to her wrist, the whip and grieve to her belt and back she joined him outside. Soon they began the entry into the atmosphere. Within minutes, they would touch down into the middle of a desert. "We hunt in all terrains, not just jungle. And since you have killed the hard shells, we will test you against more 'built' enemies." The doors hissed open, as they landed, and before them lay an unending expanse of white sands. Stepping out, she activated her active camouflage. "I will observe for now, and interfere if you require. During training, you are allowed three chances to survive before you are unaided." ((I'm thinking something like sand rhino's, or perhaps sand scorpions)). Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, grieve, wristbladesLocation: Drop ship He departed the ship and looked around him, this desert seemed like any other desert, but knowing this is a totally different experience. He carefully moved on, judging where shade is, taking extreme care not to disturb any creatures under the sand. He found tracks that looked strange...like an insect would leave behind, judging from the sand still settling into the track, it was fresh, most probably fled from the drop-ship. Readying the grieve he followed the tracks, knowing that something of this size would make for a good trophy for a noob. ((Had a cool night hunt idea, sorry for time hack.)) Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship They followed the tracks for an hour, each time they reached the top of a dune they could see the tracks continuing over the next. For a while You'JA wondered if the human knew that sometimes the beasts that wandered the dunes could walk for days without stopping. Up ahead, a soft blue glow appeared to laminate an area ahead of them. Inwardly You'JA smiled to herself. His first test. But she said nothing, and remained back, invisible. If he approached the glow, he would see small bunches of orbs sticking out from the sand. Each one a hard case that seemed to have a luminescent property to them. They were in pairs about three meters apart, scattering the ground in one place. In the middle of the patch was a larger pair of orbs, and they glowed a bluish green and were set higher up in the sand on tough casings. Like the trunk of a plant, with a lickable fruit sitting on top. Small night insects fluttered around these orbs, attracted to the light, but nothing moved. ((IOC: The orbs are on the tips of the sand scorpion claws, which have buried themselves in ambush positions. About four or five smaller horse sized scorpions and one larger one. Males and a female. Enjoy!)) Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, grieve, wristbladesLocation: Desert Planet's surface He noticed that the tracks ended where these orbs were, and he immediately became suspicious of these orbs, what were they, and why were they here? In the middle of nowhere with no obvious water source. He slowly moved to the orb placed the furthest away and poked it with the tip of the grieve, there was no reaction and he poked harder. There was a swift movement and what looked like a stinger came flying directly at him, he raised the grieve and parried the hit, just as the was a sudden motion and a scorpion came flying out of the ground, its pinchers snapping as they tried to get hold of him. He rolled out of the way, parried the stinger and a pitcher and dodged the other. The thing was big, as tall as a horse, when the stinger stabbed at him again, he twisted away and using the grieve he cut off the point, leaving only the pinchers to contend with. The scorpion did not take kindly to having its stinger removed, and it came at him with a new fury. Using his speed and the grieve Donovan stayed out of the way, and then he got his opening, he jumped onto the back of the scorpion and drove the end of the grieve through the thorax and into its brain. The beast shuddered and crashed to the ground, but movement caught Donovan's eye, and he noticed that the other orbs was moving, and more scorpions came out from under the ground. He counted three, but it was when the larger pair of orbs started to move that he understood the thrill of the hunt." Well then, time to die." If he meant him or them, he wasn't sure, he was sure that someone was going down today. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Drop-Ship The fight began as soon as his presence was noticed, at least by one of the scorpions. But with skill and a mind for combat he managed to defeat his first foe within seconds. The whipping tail, with poison barb not seeming to phase him into making a mistake through fear. A trait well liked by the clan. But as sand began to move and several more showed their faces, You'JA took her place near enough to step in on the fight, but out of the way. A plasma shot her first way of showing she was still around, if the situation required it. Watching on, she could see the strength and thickness of the female sand scorpions shell. Direct hits to the tough outer exterior with a blade would do little but scratch it, he would need to dissect the joints to bring the female down. She did not say this though, it was common to take time to examine the weaknesses of one's foe. He would have to learn this in his attempts to kill it, or die trying. Not that she would let him die so soon. During the trials, each trainee has three lives. Where their trainer or mentor can step in and save them. These 'saves' are then repaid through service to the clan, if they survive beyond these three times. Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, grieve, wristbladesLocation: Desert Planet's surface The larger scorpion did not attack him immediately, but the smaller ones did and that made him think that they must be males and she is a female, but it could be the other way around. He noticed how tough their shells was as he used all of his speed and power to kill off the smaller ones as the last one fell he was on the move. The large scorpion was much faster than one would believe from her size and from his first strike he noticed that her shell was impervious to the grieve, his second strike was against that stinger, he had aimed for the joint just above the poison bag and the grieve had cut through the joint, not deep enough to cut off the stinger, but deep enough to allow him to see that it was the answer. It didn't take long for him to go to work on her pinchers as well as her tail, but one thing he forgot for a second was that even without her stinger she would try to sting him. He was busy hacking at the remaining pitcher when her tail struck him solidly in the back, driving him to his knees, he watched as the pitcher came towards him, and he knew that he had no chance to get the grieve up in time. Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Observing A puff of sand between Don and the formidable pitcher of the female scorpion was the only sign that You'JA had leaped into the fight, landing softly in a defensive position. The creature didn't seem to notice her, and swiped at Don. The large sharp claw snapping shut a mere foot from his face, as a wrist blade exited through the upper side of the arachnid arm. With a quick motion she ripped the blade from the small gap between the plating and the softer flesh and turned, picking Don up with one arm and throwing him clear enough of the fight to regather himself. And then, with only one word, she disappeared again keeping her interactions to a minimum. "Again." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, grieve, wristbladesLocation: Desert Planet's surface The sudden interaction left him sprawling in the sand, but he got up and activated the wrist blade, turning to get ready to defend himself if it was a new attacker, but he saw that it was You'JA who interfered and saved his life. He sheathed the blades and got the grieve ready, from the amount of damage the big bug took, he only had the pitcher to go and kill her...but why work for just that, take it down in a blaze of glory. He chuckled to himself as he ran closer, the injured female charging at him, her stump of a tail poised to sting. As he came close enough the tail slashed towards him, but he dodged it, came up on the outside of her remaining pitcher and with all his power swung at the joint, he was rewarded with the pitcher falling to the ground. Grabbing the stump he swung himself onto her back, dodging the tail that tried to sting him again. He knew that he didn't have the power to drive the grieve into her brain, but that tail gave him an idea. He struck at the back of her head, the tail reared and as it descended towards him, he held the grieve in place where her brain should be. The impact was enormous and threw him clear, he landed on his back, but used the momentum to roll over and as he got back to his feet he noticed the quiet. The only movement was the female scorpion, the grieve embedded inside her with the tail stuck to the other sharp end of the grieve, she was shuddering in her death throes. He cautiously made his way closer, making certain that there was no further threats or danger, he inspected the huge female...she was dead, he threw back his head and laughed, then looked back at his fallen foe." You were tough old girl, but you were just not good enough." Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Observing The human showed ingenious moves, and had faced up to the fear of the scorpion instead of running or taking a defensive stance. Which would have saved You'JA from interfering for the second time, since the female scorpions were notorious for charging with dazzling speed when angered so. But by charging the beast, he had reduced it to defending itself. Using the power of the tail strikes to drive the grieve through the plates made her chuckle to herself as she switched her cloak off. Walking down from her perch on top of the dune, she inspected his kill. This creature would not have a good skull to clean and prepare as a trophy, but the pincer itself was undeniable to this species. The size would indicate the impressive kill. But sand scorpions were probably the lowest beast to combat on this planet. As he would find out in time. "Very good, brains and strength...you might outwit even the other warriors. A dangerous position to be in." Picking up the claw that had fallen to the ground, she pierced it with a hook from her belt and passed it to him. "I will show you how to prepare the trophy later...its more important than the killing itself. Shows respect for old customs, and patience." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, grieve, wristbladesLocation: Desert Planet's surface He took the trophy from her respectfully, he didn't say anything, just listened, then as she finished he looked around them." If I look at these beasts and the size they are in comparison to those we have back home...just how big is the other animals around here? Just if I think of a snake, we could be treading on grounds that even I do not want to think about. But then again, snakes are soft on the inside"He chuckled and inspected the other scorpions Name: You'JA Mae'key'Jo Age: 150 Height: 8'0" Weight: 370 lbs Appearance: Weapons: Wrist blades, plasma caster, whip, grieve (twin head, spinning staff). Location: Observing Looking around them, You'JA moved away from him to the highest point on the dune to scan the surroundings. Her scanners not picking up any immediate life signs. But that was to be expected, considering that the scorpion nest kept many of the other beasts away. "Size wise, most will be around the size of your elephants. Which I have had the luck of hunting in my early days. Very easy to kill, unlike the ones that are heavily plated on this world. There are of course old beasts, similar to snakes that live under the sands, which would be about as thick as your...bus....transports." Looking up at the stars, she could see the light on the horizon beginning to approach. "But they are dormant during the night, its only during the day we will confront one." The sun would be up in a few hours. "To the west the land firms, and the herds roam." Donovan Gray Name: Donovan Gray Age: 27Height: 6'9"Weight: 380 pounds Hair: Short black Eyes: Gray Weapons: 1 .50 Desert Eagle, grieve, wristbladesLocation: Desert Planet's surface He followed her and listened as she spoke, this planet sounded like a good way to earn your way, especially with plated animals going around." Then it would be best to move to firmer ground if I am not mistaken? What would the normal course of action be on a hunt now?"

An Unlikely Companionship

The Donor [lipslikemorphine and Seraph]

It was a thinly-veiled secret that Vampires stalked the night and most were unaware of it because it simply did not affect them. They kept to their curfews and warrant bothered by any that went bump in the night. Most wore crosses, though unless wielded by a true believer really did nothing, same with holy water. If a person had no other choice but to go out passed curfew, they did so in a group or asked the government regulated taxi-service to take them where they wanted to go. It was all so very orderly and kept the world of the day away from the world of the night. It was too orderly sometimes, he thought as he sat on top of a gargoyle guarding the high windows of the Cathedral. It made it had for Vampires to find their donors should they disappear, which they usually never did, but there were rare cases, like his, in which the happy couple giving birth to the youngster would catch wind of their child being a Vampires donor and go underground. Vampires tended to keep this quiet, but for them to gain true immortality or even their true abilities, they had to feed from their donor. They could make do with the blood of others, but a donors blood was almost like a vitamin-enriched, protein pumped meal that helped them grow. His had disappeared shortly after her, or his, birth. Cassius Hainaut even made it to the hospital to pick up his donor and to raise her in the protective custody of the Vampire world, when his phone had rung, and he found out the terrible news. He sighed and straightened before he walked off the ledge with all the grace of an idiot monkey. He landed in a crouch and stumbled as he started to walk and growled slightly. A fall like that wouldn’t have bothered him if he had his donor, but no, ITAs parents had to take it away. He sighed and stuck his hands into his jeans pockets and started to leisurely walk through the city, curfew would be in effect in about twenty minutes so he might just be able to grab a quick bite, if he was lucky. Cassius was just an average looking Vampire, if not on the youthful looking side, something he hoped would change when he got his donor back, if he got his donor back that is. His nickname was baby, both because of his relative youth compared to the rest of the Vampires in the city and his current form. He could have easily passed as someone as young as eighteen but no older than twenty-two. He glanced up at the moonless sky and murmured, anywhere are you right now?a Bray had been in hiding for as long as she could remember. It had never occurred to her that she could have done something wrong. But now on the eve of her 18th birthday she questioned it all. Why was she hiding? Why would her parents never tell her where her real home was? Why she wasn't allowed out into the real world? Always moving whenever the pale people came by. She could never understand her parents. They were so protective of her, whenever she got a new boyfriend they'd search his past to make sure he wouldn't take her to the surface. Because of this fact, she had no social life. She was a pale skinny kid with a New York accent. Whatever that was. She just talked the way her parents did. She had long red hair, and bright green eyes. It seemed abnormal compared to everyone she had ever met. Her features stood out, even more than her parents' did. Now that she was 18, she wanted to leave. Her parents couldn't stop her now. She had finally packed up everything and was getting ready to call herself a cab to the surface when her father came in. "Where are you going?" He asked her. "It's your birthday tomorrow. I thought you were spending it here." She scoffed in amusement. "Why spend another minute here? I want to know my true place of belonging, and if that's the surface then so be it." She brushed past her dad with her suitcase in hand. "Bye dad. I'll come home and tell you how safe the surface is." When she finally made it to the surface she knew instantly it was a mistake. It was dark out, dreary, so many flashing lights. There were loud noises, yelling, screaming, these big metal things zooming around. She assumed they were like her taxi's back home, but these were different. They wouldn't stop for you. Then it started to rain. "Great. Now I'm soaked." She moaned as she continued to walk up the busy streets. "What am I going to do?" She wiped away her tears as she trudged on. Cassius wrinkled his nose at the rain but trudged on even as the sirens began to wail announcing curfew. Once the sirens started, you had anyway from five to ten minutes (depending on your borough) to get home or to one of the many single-night hostels that were littered every few blocks in the city for those people who didn't have the money for a taxi and needed to abide by curfew. Vampires were exempt from curfew; no one asked the pale creatures that walked the nights if they were supposed to be out. It helped that every Vampire had a silver bracelet with a sapphire gem the size of a pinkie nail around their wrists, that they could flash when trouble with the authorities started. Personally, he had never had trouble. He watched as the streets began to empty with a cool detachment and the hunger that always boiled beneath the surface. His 'parents', the two Vampires who had donated their DNA to have him created in a test-tube, told him that the hunger would abate when he tastes his donor, but now it just seemed as if it were a cruel joke since at the rate this was going, he'd never have his donor. He was all ready forty-five, young in Vampire years, but still everyone he knew had their donors. It wasn't as if they were badly treated, Vampires practically broke their backs to keep their donors content and there were the idiots who hid them away, away! He glanced up through the rain and raised an eyebrow at the redhead woman who wasn't listening to the sirens and walking, what appeared to him, aimlessly. He waited until she passed him and spoke up, "Don't you know that sound means it's curfew?" She heard the siren, and it gave her a start. What was that for? She had never heard anything like it in the underground before. She pulled her hair out of her face as she noticed the streets slowly emptying more and more. Furthermore, she looked up just in time not to walk into a man. His skin was extremely pale. When he spoke his voice sent chills down her spine. "C. Curfew?" She asked. She had never heard of such a thing, then again she had nothing to hide from in the underground. "I. I'm not from around here." Her scent smelt of raspberries. The wind blew and more rain fell. ’D. Do you know where I can go for a safe place to stay?" She was unsure of this man, he gave her the creeps, but she had no one else to turn to. Everyone else had gone inside. When the siren finally stopped she shook her head a little.((Sorry for the shortness. Brain fart. Will have better posts as we continue.)) He tilted his head to the side as he glanced over her, she was almost as pale as one of his kin, but there was an aliveness to her pale skin that his lacked. He shook his head, "Obviously, you aren't..." He ran his fingers through his hair before he shook out some of the rain, though the gesture did little as more fell down on them. Furthermore, he glanced around and watched as one of the patrol cars passed them, slowly, by, and he looked down at the young woman again, "Follow me, unless you want to be arrested for being out, little undergrounder." The underground left a particular smell on its inhabitants, something softer and usually more natural than what was above-ground. He rolled his shoulders and started to walk down the street, "Keep up, now, otherwise you'll get arrested." At least he had solved his dinner problems for the evening, he thought with a pleasant smirk on his face. She watched him closely. He didn't really look alive, but what was he? She had never come across anything with skin as pale as hers. His gesture to get the rain out of his hair seemed futile. She giggled softly but was quickly interrupted with complete shock. "Arrested? For what?" She watched the patrol car out of the corner of her eye. She quickly followed behind him, he was moving so fast that she was almost at a jog just to keep pace with him. "What would they acres-Wait! How do you know I'm an undergrounder?" She stopped dead in her tracks. "I. I've never told anyone that before. Her eyes shimmered under the streetlights. She walked up to him. "How did you know?" He glanced at her over his shoulder and laughed softly, "You don't have curfews, do you? It's a protection, to keep little girls like you out of harms way." He paused as she stopped, and he turned to look at her before he started walking slowly backwards, "You're accent, how you act, the fact that you don't know about curfew...anything else?" He glanced over her and nodded, "How you dress even. If you know what to look for it's not that hard to tell." He turned around again and tried to think of why she would be so pale; true undergrounders rarely got any direct sunlight so they were naturally pale, but this was...different. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about her; he wouldn't put it past her to be somebodies donor, most people in the underground were on the run from that, or were hiding from the Vampires' populace in general. For some reason, none of his kind could pass through the entrance to that place. Many had tried, few had actually survived it." Hurry up, I don't like the rain," he tossed back over his shoulder. It wouldn't be too much more walking until they were at his home in the upper west side, the area nicknamed by those in the know as "Vampire city". When he explained how he knew she was an undergrounder she blued. Was it really that obvious? She guessed so, she defiantly didn't look like everyone else, and she certainly wasn't dressed for the rain. "I. I. I guess you've met a lot of us in your day?" She asked quickly, her voice stuttering a little, she tried to make her voice sound a little stronger the next time she spoke. "How much longer are we going to be out her?" She was soaked to the bone. She finally caught up beside him. "Why are you so pale? Are you an undergrounder too? Why haven't I met you before?" She rambled for a second but blushed when she realized how many questions she was asking him. He shook his head and glanced back over his shoulder, "No, not really. I've only met one or two of you. Most of you don't come out since you've done something illegal." He grinned, "Did you do anything illegal?" Cassius sighed and rolled his shoulders as they passed the last of the human vestiges of the city. Vampire city was a place of light and clubs, an all night party center is some areas and in others it was as quiet as a tomb. His 'parents' were traditional and lived in the quieter areas, but he slowed down, so the girl could walk by his side. Perhaps he was slightly concerned that one of the others would mistake her for common prey; he frowned, where hadthatthought come from? She was just another little snack, and perhaps she was someone's donor. After he was finished with her, he'd turn her into the Council in the morning, and they would do a DNA check to match her up to her Vampire, and it would be all solved. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye; she was cute, that was a plus. Eating ugly ones didn't make a difference, and he really didn't care about physical appearance, but boy would he be teased if he was caught doing it. He cast a glance around, "But no, I'm not an undergrounder, I'm just..." He smirked slightly, "Albino, if you will. It's not much further, just around the corner." Upon turning the corner, it was if one stepped back in time; gas lamps lit the cobblestone street and Victorian houses and small townhouses lined the way. If one squinted down the road, there was a gentleman and a woman dressed as if they were a part of Victorian gentry. He turned and walked up the steps to a small townhouse, while his parents were part of the old caste, they weren't the most rich of the those in their station. He pulled out the key, unlocked the door, and opened it, "And we are here. You may stay the night." She followed close behind, she seemed to be losing ground on him, he was an extremely fast walker. When he asked her if she had done something illegal, she almost tripped over herself. She had never seen being a part of that society as having done something illegal, for all she knew she was being hidden from something or someone. "N...no." She stammered. "I... I was being hidden, but I don't know from what." The city they entered was beautiful, the houses were a complete blast from the past. She had seen them in her history books, the nightlife of these sorts of places were meant to be something of giant balls, every night. She looked around trying to see everything but with it being night out her vision was not the best. Furthermore, she noticed that he had slowed down, she was closer to him now, but why? Furthermore, she watched a couple of people up the street and noticed they were watching her. Could she really be seen from this far away? Then he stopped abruptly, and she had to take a step back as to not pass him completely. "Here?" She asked surprised. She was amazed at the house. "This is an amazing place you have here. I've never stayed in a place like this before." She smiled up at him, the warmth of her body filling the air. "This is something I'll have to tell everyone when I go home. That my first night above ground was in a place as magnificent as this." Cassius glanced down the road as he let the undergrounder into his home and raised his hand in return to the light wave that Lady On Battery gave him, as she walked arm in arm with her newest husband. He gave his one several months before he 'disappeared' like all the rest of her husbands. He reminded himself to stay far away from the devious woman; there were rumors she masthead Battery, and had switched her tastes from young women to her own kind. What a leech, he thought blandly as he closed the door behind him and the girl. His family home was modest. The door led into a hallway that, through various open arches, lead into the dining room with the bathroom off of it, sitting room and the small kitchen that was mostly unused. At the end of the hallway, there were a set of stairs that led up to the second floor and the bedrooms. Cassius' parents had left years ago to visit the old country as it were, and have a small siesta from the toils of living in the highly regulated city. He knew that they just wanted to hunt without having to worry about cleaning up and making it look like something else had gotten a hold of their victim. He raised an eyebrow as she spoke about returning, and he couldn't help but smile slightly. But it wasn't overly pleasant; he had no intention of letting her return to the underground. Perhaps he was still angry over the loss of his donor, but if he could hurt the parents of that donor he might feel, in a way, vindicated though his actions. Unbidden, a dangerous thought rose in his mind as he let his eyes wander over the human in front of him, she would have been the right age for his donor. He tilted his head to the side and spoke softly, "Did you know, little girl, that the underground is the one place where Vampires can't tread?" He leaned against the door and locked it with a pleasant smile, "And that is where most people hiding precious things from Vampires go?" The blond Vampire ran his fingers through his hair, smoothing back the semi-long strands as he kept the eerie smile plastered pleasantly across his pale face. Bray walked past him and into his home, she had already been impressed by the outside that the inside of it simply blew her away. He lived here. She was absolutely amazed by the house. She wanted to wander but thought he might take offense to it. His house was beautiful. She had never seen a place like this before. The arches were so perfect she was afraid to touch anything in case she were to break it. The small kitchen was so neat and tidy, maybe they just ate out a lot. "Your house is amaze-" But she stopped mid-word when he mentioned vampires, her parents had warned her about them. She'd had to study them in school in case she ever went to the surface. But she thought it is a myth. Nothing more than a fairy tale. Something wasn't right though, he was watching her, his head tilted slightly to the side. What was he looking at? She blushed and pulled her hair so that it dropped around her neck, over her chest. "V... Vampires?" She stuttered. "B.but that's just a myth right? They can't be real...can they?" She looked at him closer and when she noticed how pale he was, and how empty his house seemed to be she gasped, just as his fingers went through his hair. "No...no, I can't be..." She looked around the room, panic swelling inside of her. She couldn't find an exit, he was blocking the only one. ’T...they couldn't have been hiding...me? Could they?" She watched him closely, hoping that he wouldn't hurt her. The vacant smile remained as he watched her fidget about and cover her neck. It was almost cute that she thinks that would stop him, he thought as he listened to her heart-beat quicken and the blood sing through her veins. Cassius raised an eyebrow as his smile faded away from his almost angelic face; the underground taught about them? In schools? That was something that the Council would find most interesting. If anything else it would double the efforts to find a way within the underground, or the sentries posted around to catch any undergrounder who seemed to be willing to trumpet to the world of their existence. The young Vampire understood that everyone, deep down, knew they existed, but they picked more 'realistic' ways to describe the deaths that happened. His lips continued to curve downwards as she acted like a doe poised to spring away should he so much as breathe wrong. Which he didn't, breathe, that is. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched her for a second before he spoke languidly, "All myths have a grain of truth in them, undergrounder." Cassius pondered the merits of learning her name, but did away with that thought almost as quickly as it came. There was no need since he would be shipping her away in the morning, or even tonight if he got his bite from her. He added lightly, "But I do tend to think they were hiding you." Would you like to know why," he asked teasingly, a small smile twisting his face into a pixie-like expression of dark glee? However, he didn't give her the chance to respond as he plowed on. "You're most likely some poor Vampires missing donor; your parents kidnapped you--yes, kidnapped, they had no rights to you anymore--before he or she could make it to the hospital to pick you up." His voice darkened, "And then they went to the one place we couldn't follow." She was now terrified, but it was more than just the fear and wanting to scream. She thought her heart would simply collapse if it beat any faster than it already was. Furthermore, she started to back away from him as his smile disappeared. This was it, this was when he'd attack her, she waited for it, but nothing. He was only talking to her, but his face was full of sheer glee. She wanted to know why, but he answered before she could even part her lips to speak, even before her answer was in her head. Kidnapped? Seriously, her parent's had rights to her, that's how it was. She wished she was back in the underground, safe, not where this horrible monster was standing in front of her, having her cornered. She just waited for him to kill her, then she wouldn't feel anything anymore. "A... A donor?" She asked, the fear only increasing. She was something's blood tank. Furthermore, she shuddered and stepped back again, this time her back making contact with one of the arches. Furthermore, she gasped, and a small scream came from her lips. Furthermore, she stared at him with her eyes wide with terror. How was she going to live through this? He almost rolled his eyes; her terror was just so typical. Honestly, he wondered what the underground was teaching its children. Of course, it probably wouldn't be in their best interest to tell theirinnocentchildren, 'By the way, most of you are donors, and we, your parents, have taken you away from the very lap of luxury since no Vampire wants the death of their donor or any others on their hands. Which is why Vampires are bad.' That could go over just as well as a batch of lead balloons... His eyes never left her as she backed away. He waited until her back touched the arch before he moved, though he flinched back at her short scream. Cassius tugged lightly on one of his ears and grimaced, "I don't think they heard you in Timbuktu." He frowned at her before he shortened the distance between them in two quick, militant steps. He only stopped when his nose brushed hers, and he spoke softly, as if he were trying to calm her, "Now, if you fight, this could be painful for you." He pressed a hand against her shoulder as he took a very small step back, "And I'd hate to deliver you to the Council looking banged up. Who knows you who you belong to--be just my luck if you were one of the Council's donors." He gave a lopsided smile as he tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck to him as he lowered his lips to the soft skin and murmured, "This won't hurt--much." And he struck with the precision of a coiled cobra. The distance he cleared seemed faster than anything she had ever seen before. It was so quick, so unreal. She hadn't even been able to react to the statement of being a donor before he was there in front of her, his nose brushing against hers. ’M... My parents!? You aren't my parent, you...you MONSTER!" She shouted at him. That could be a very grave mistake but right now she didn't care. She tried to struggle against him at first but when his hand gripped her shoulder she stopped. It almost felt like she was frozen. She leaned her head as he moved it, almost too willingly it seemed. She closed her eyes and then felt his teeth sink into her skin. It felt like she was on fire. She let out a shrill of pain, her entire body tensing in his grasp. He drank greedily as his hand slid from her shoulder to cover her mouth and drown out her shrill screams. Of course, it hurt, all those writers who said otherwise had never been bitten. There was no sweet way of sticking serrated fangs into a persons neck and have it be pleasurable, despite what people were inclined to belief. But nonetheless, she didn't have to scream as if he was killing her. He'd very much like to have his hearing when he was finished with her, despite her thoughts to the contrary. His eyes narrowed as he frowned around his meal. She tasted like nothing he had sampled before; had he been a changed Vampire, he might have had some food or drink to compare it too. But he lacked such memories and could only rely on scent, and what he could assume things tasted like based off what they smelled of. Cassius thought she tasted of strawberries and roses. It was odd, and he pulled back sharply, not taking care to remove his fangs gently as he stared, wide-eyed, at her. His lips parted, and he whispered out, "Impossible." He couldn't believe it, but here before him, was his donor. And unlike how he had thought their reunion would go, all he wanted to do was hit her upside the head and knock her out for several hours while he tried to figure what to say, do, and who to tell first. She continued to scream even when his hand covered her mouth, muffling her voice. The pain was extremely intense, she had never felt anything like this before. She'd been cut before, the girl was a klutz, but this was different. She could feel everything inside her being pulled towards her neck and then drained into his mouth. Furthermore, she finally stopped screaming as she felt him pause while he had been drinking from her. Her body still twisting in his grasp, her hands balled into small fists were pressed against his chest, pushing slightly. She let out a small gasp when he pulled his teeth out of her quickly, the pain only increasing. Her hand flew up to her neck as she slumped down the wall. She was curled up against the wall, tears streaming down her face. What was impossible? She thought. She looked up at him, her blood still on his lips, but the look of horror made her realize one thing. Furthermore, she was his donor. Cassius stared at her for a moment longer as he considered what to do with her. As an enlightened expression dawned on her face, he took a step back and began to pace. His tongue darted out and licked away the last vestiges of her blood from his lips, and he savored the flavor. He continued to move around the room like a caged tiger as before he stopped abruptly and walked back to her, slow and steady before he knelt in front of her and stared. He glanced, finally, towards the hand that cupped her neck protectively before he reached out, and lightly plucked her hand from her neck to survey the wound he had left behind. Bites from Vampires tended to be nasty given the barbs on their fangs that made retracting them from flesh harder than inserting them. It was a particularly good method of making sure one didn't lose one's prey, but not kind on a Donor. He hemmed slightly as he looked at the wound--surprised or not, he should have been more careful. Cassius didn't apologize though, he wouldn't, not when he was going to do it again and again. There really was no point. He didn't let go of her hand as he stood and tugged her to her feet, "There are some band-aids and painkillers in the kitchen. They might help." Her eyes followed him as he paced the room. He was contemplating what to do with her. She could see it in his posture, in his eyes. He was completely giving himself away, but she didn't care. She just wanted to escape. She tried to squirm back when he knelt in front of her. "Don't touch me." She mumbled when he took her hand away from her neck. She jerked it back towards her and looked down at it. It was covered in blood. She stared up at him appalled. She had never felt so much pain in all of her life. Furthermore, she knew this wouldn't be the last if he had what he wanted. Furthermore, she felt the increasing pain as she tried to stand up, she got light-headed and had to reach out to the wall to hold onto. Her bloody hand holding her up left her hand print on the arch way. She stumbled towards the kitchen, hoping she'd find something to help her, and then she'd leave here. She'd get away from him forever. He frowned as he watched her stumble into the kitchen, and he walked up behind her and picked her up, cradling her to his chest. He didn't look at her as he pulled out a chair with his foot and sat her down in it, "Stay here." Cassius went through the drawers of the kitchen quickly and pulled out a box of extra-large band-aids, topical antibacterial cream, and a bottle of Tylenol. He all but slammed them on the table in front of her as he muttered under his breath; he had been taught how to care of humans, every Vampire was. You wouldn't always feed to drain, that would be too many bodies to explain and too much paperwork to deal with frankly. He opened a cupboard and looked at the dusty cups and plates his parents 'had to have' and pulled a cup out before rinsing it off in the sink and filling it to the brim with water. He pressed it to her hand, "Drink that slowly." He tilted her head slightly to the side to look again at the wound, the blood wasn't rushing out so there was no worry, but the sluggish pace could be a problem. Furthermore, he sighed and started to wipe off the blood with a washcloth he grabbed from next to the sink; he had never been more thankful for his parents need to appear as human as possible before. Furthermore, he didn't speak as he applied pressure to the wound before he glanced up at her, "What is your name?" A small shrill escaped her lips but only caused more pain in her neck as he picked her up and set her in the chair. The fast movements making her a little dizzy. She tried to look around the room and as she did, she noticed all the materials to clean her wound were right in front of her. She went to reach for the Tylenol when he placed the water in her hand. Furthermore, she sipped at it lightly. "W. Why are you helping me?" She asked. He was suddenly helping her, he was making sure this wound that he gave her wouldn't kill her. She knew she was his donor, that was all too apparent now. She shuddered at the thought of going through the pain again. "B. Bray." She whispered. She took another sip of the water as she let him look at her wound and address it as needed. "H. How do you know so much about humans?" He pulled the washcloth back and nodded as it seemed that it had stopped the blood flow. He looked at the cleaned wound and frowned at it deeply before he relaxed. Furthermore, he hadn't, as he had first worried, torn open her artery just aggravated it to the point that it would be a small problem, but not one that would need stitches--a blessing indeed. Furthermore, he paused in opening the antibacterial cream, which he noted actually had a mild numbing agent in it, and answered her, "I'm helping you because you're my Donor." He sighed and tended to his bite as he explained the situation to her, "Being a Donor, Bray, despite how ominous it sounds has its perks. You are a cherished person in a Vampire household. Every Vampire has one Donor, very rarely do they have more than one, and we'll do anything to keep them safe and to the best of our ability, happy." He lightly brushed the cream over the wound before he wiped the excess on his pants to fiddle with the band-aids, "As for knowing so much? We all get taught how to patch up humans, though you should be able to heal faster than most humans. It's actually genetically programmed into you...? At least that was how I understood it." Cassius paused for a moment and looked at her and brushed some of her red hair from her cheeks, "Though, at this point, you shouldn't worry too much about that, Bray. You're going to need to rest tonight..." The coolness of the wash cloth against the wound seemed to sooth it a bit. At least it did until he pulled it away, the air hitting it made her wince. The tears still streamed down her cheeks, the fear still over-riding every other emotion she could possibly decipher at the moment. She felt his hand touch her wound with the cream, and after a moment or so she began to feel less and less pain. She sighed in relief, but it was only a small amount of relief. Furthermore, she at least wasn't so tense now." Perks?" She asked lightly. She was a cherished person? That didn't seem logical, but then again, he was tending to her ever need right now. He wanted to keep her happy, safe, and his. She could be good with 2 of the three things. "G... Genetically programmed?" She rolled her eyes and leaned back against the chair trying to clear her mind. "Seriously this day could not get any worse." She muttered under her breath just as she heard lightning crack the sky. That wasn't a good sign. She looked up at him when he told her not to worry, that she'd be resting tonight. But where? He made a noise that didn't answer anything before he took one of the band-aids and pulled off the paper before pressing one of the ends gently on the bruised skin around her bite-mark, taking care that the absorbent part of the band-aid was in the right place. He repeated it with a second band-aid until both marks were covered before he leaned back. "Donors, if I remember right," he didn't look like he remembered too well but nonetheless he tired to explain it to the best of his abilities, "Have a genetic marker, it's a recessive gene--both of your parents had to have had it, which is why when they got married they were put on a list. That list pointed out potential donor-parents." He paused, "With me so far? It's not a gender-specific trait so it isn't one the X or Y chromosome, I think." leaned back in his chair, tipping it on the back legs as he considered what else was necessary to say. "As for the perks... I'm in my mid-forties, I don't look a day over 20." He gave a charming smile before he continued, "And I have a job, given that I don't eat or pay taxes, I just buy books and clothes, I have a great deal saved up. My parents have even more."" You'll be well-taken care of," he tapped the bracelet on his wrist, "You'll get a bracelet with a gem in it, I think Donors have Obsidian, and that will allow you to stay out passed curfew if you would like. It will also offer you almost absolute protection with my kind." Cassius stopped and glanced at the ceiling, "Now that you're here I may have to consider moving out of my parents' home when they get back..." He managed to sound annoyed, amused, and happy all at once. She flinched again at the touch of the bandied to her bruised flesh. Even though the initial burning sensations from the bite marks were gone, the skin was still sensitive to the touch and seemed to have its own heart beat. He seemed confused by what he was trying to explain to her, like as if he'd tried to practice what he'd say to a donor if he ever found his but now that his was sitting there in front of him. So fragile, so tasty, he couldn't come up with the words to explain. She let out a soft sigh of discomfort as the bandied nestled into her wounds. She nodded her head, she understood perfectly. Furthermore, she was born this way, she was not going to be able to get around it. "P.protected..." She stuttered, thinking about it. That'd be nice to not really have to worry. "W.would others try to taste me?" She gulped thinking of the intense and ruthless pain again. She closed her eyes and shuddered, then soon opened them again to stare at him. "W.where will I go?" He nodded to her first point, before he shook his head, "I highly doubt any other Vampire will bite you. It's..." He frowned and ran his fingers through his hair, "It's hard to explain. Perhaps to say that wars have been caused over less would be understating it slightly." He gave a slightly conspiratorial smile as he leaned closer, "Take Lord Types for example, some idiots munch on his donor and he razed half of his country going after him. That's where the Impaled part comes in, you see, since he wasn't sure who did it, he just staked everyone." He paused and then looked at her, "Don't get any ideas from that though." Cassius tilted his head to the side, "Where will you go?" He pointed upstairs, "For tonight you'll sleep in my room. I'll have to make calls to the Council and see about getting you registered, again, and your bracelet commissioned." He tapped his chin and mumbled, "And getting food in the house... Have to call Mother and Father as well, they'll be pleased at the news." He glanced at her, "What's your favorite fruits? Vegetables? Meats? I'd suggest red since you'll need to keep up your Iron, but I suppose that could always be fixed with supplements." His pause was a little unsettling. She tried not to let any more tears run down her face, just the thought of feeling that pain made her want to cry. "Understating?" She looked around the room as best she could. "O...over that?" She wanted to laugh but just the movement of the muscles made her neck ache, and her hand instinctively covered her wound. His confusion about her question seemed to frustrate her some, it was a legit question. She didn't want to be there, but she didn't much have a choice. "Y-your room!?" Her eyes were wide with shock. She had never been in another man's room let alone his bed and even worse a vampire! Was it a coffin or something? She doubted it but the clichés were always present in her mind. She thought for a moment, trying to think of her favorites. The food in the underground was mostly mushes foods. She hadn't really tried any real food. All the underground food was freeze-dried for transport and long-lasting. She had never even tried a real raspberry before. "Umm...well I've never really had true fresh food. So...anything is fine really." He sighed and looked at her before gently brushing his fingers over her still wet cheeks as he gave a bit of a rueful smile, "What can I say, we're protective of what is ours." He tilted his head up to press a kiss against her forehead, "If it makes you feel any better, there is actually a legal system for donor. You can take your Vampire to court if you think he has truly done something to harm you--biting, before you ask, doesn't count. However, if you feel that I'm being excessively ruthless, you can always have an order put out to have blood withdrawn rather like for a blood bank." Perhaps the last bit was a slight lie, but he could always make it happen if need be, though he certainly would get several odd looks and snickers behind his back. He ignored her shock over being made to sleep in his bedroom, really, he might have a few clothes lying on the floor, but it wasn't as if he had a skeleton under the bed--or did he? He frowned as he thought that out; he was pretty sure he didn't. Furthermore, he shrugged, "Well then, I'll just have to talk to someone with a donor then to get ideas on what to feed you, won't I?" He stood up, "Shall I put you in bed now?" He tried to recall, if he ever gave her his name but figured he much has, given that she hadn't asked yet. His ice-cold fingers made her feel like her skin would freeze just at his very touch. She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. She had been so terrified by him, so in denial of what was happening that she had completely forgotten to ask his name. "W. What's your name?" She asked, a bright red blush crossing her cheeks. She looked down in embarrassment. "I. I can do that?" She thought about it a moment, she could tell just from the tone of voice he would rather not have to do that. It'd be socially embarrassing, as if going without his donor for so long wasn't embarrassing enough. Going to bed sounded nice. She yawned a little in response, the pain flaring up in her neck as her muscles moved. "Ouch." She quickly covered her mouth. "Sorry." She mumbled behind her hand. Cassius looked slightly surprised, so he hadn't told her his name. No wonder she had been so bothered by everything he was piling on her. "Cassius," he replied, "Cassius D'Flyer. And yes, yes you can do that if you really would like to." He didn't have to add that he'd really rather her not to. Like she had rightly guessed it was an embarrassment; something for the ancient or the very young who had either lost or not grown their fangs in yet. But he could always handle it...maybe. He shook his head, "Don't worry about it." He stood again, again, picked her up gently before leaving the kitchen and walking her up the stairs carefully. The second floor was much like the first in its Victorian design, dark but rich in patterns and thick drapes. He walked past the first closed door--his parents rooms--to the ajar door at the end of the hall. Originally, the house had had four small bedrooms, only one of which had a private bathroom. His parents had it renovated so that there were only two bedrooms. Each suite had a small sitting room, and a private bathroom. The Vampire nudged open the door with the toe of his boot and walked past the sitting room and into his bedroom. He didn't have a door there, preferring an open design to his parents cloistered one. His bed was a good size, barely enough for two people unless they cuddled together--he'd have to get a larger one most likely. Cassius decided, much to his annoyance, to play the gentleman for the evening and give up his bed. But that was not going to be the norm; he liked his bed too much for that. He sat her down on the edge of the bed and glanced at her, "Do you have something to sleep in?" She cuddled against his chest when he picked her up. She felt like a small child in his arms. Her neck still had a small throb in it, from the small amount of pain that lingered with every step he took. She whimpered slightly when he sat her down on the bed and her body bounced a bit. Her hair hung in her face, and she curled up with her arms wrapped around her legs. She was rocking a little, small tears streaming down her face. She was afraid, she knew she'd never see her family again. Furthermore, she now understood why her father didn't want her to come to the surface. Furthermore, she just wished she could go home. Bray looked up at him, her eyes filled with anger and fear. "No. I don't." She stated it rather harshly. "I was going to buy some clothes when I got a place to stay." Cassius sighed softly; honestly, were all humans this confusing? She had cuddled into his chest, now she was looking at him as if he were going to jump her right then and there. An interesting as that would be, he thought, he'd rather her be more willing than she was now. If at all, he'd like her to be the one to make some overture of interest--it would save him a lot of trouble later, and the chance that she'd call rape on him. He looked down at her before he shook his head, "I'll give you a shirt then." He went to his wardrobe and pulled it open with a soft grunt, it was solid oak at least five inches thick (what his parents were thinking when they bought it, he would never know). Now that he had a donor, he would be able to increase his strength until the wardrobe would be nothing but a paper-light weight. The Vampire smiled slightly at that, as he pulled out a dress shirt for Bray and tossed to her, "Wear that. Do you need help?" He started to walk from the room, before he paused and glanced at her, "We're going shopping for clothes tomorrow."

The Donor [lipslikemorphine and Seraph]|rating:3.0

Her new boyfriend(Mistyy and Hippyness)

Andrew was walking down the street towards his home, the day at school had just ended. It had been a quite tough and frustrating day for the seventeen-year-old boy so getting home was a great relief. His life had been pretty rough since he had moved to the new state, getting friends wasn't as easy as everyone made it sound, after all he was a pretty shy and not very outgoing guy. There was this one girl at the school that seemed to be interested in him, but being his typical self again, he tried not to pay too much attention to her. He just wanted to get done with school and move on. It was a hot summer day so he was wearing a black t-shirt and beige colored shorts. The clothes fit his thin frame well, they weren't too tight nor were they too loose. The boy hadn't walked long before he saw a familiar looking car driving to his side. It was the girl from the school with some of her friends! Instantly the boy got all nervous but tried to play it cool by just walking forward and not paying attention to them. He wasn't really socially bad with people generally but with girls his worse side seemed to get a hold of him. What were they possibly up to? As far as he knew, she lived in the opposite direction. As he kept walking the whole situation was starting to get a bit awkward, could the girls possibly have a malicious intent? No, girls weren't like that, only guys did this kind of things. With one head shake he dismissed that absurd thought and kept walking, increasing his speed little by little and looking at his side every once in a while. Danielle drove her car slowly by the walking boy, letting her friends see their mark. She was also going out of her way to let him know who was doing this to him. She had approached the younger boy a few times while at school, trying to turn the transfer student into her newest boyfriend. But he'd refused her. This shy, thin slip of a boy, refused her each time. And it made her want him more. Danielle increased the car's speed and turns down the next street up. She brought the car to a stop, it idled heavily in the summer heat as her three friends exited the car. Danielle turned up the volume on the radio and watched the rearview mirror's tiny reflection of three girls heading towards the corner where Andrew would soon pass. Growing bored with waiting, Danielle fixed her eyes on her newly blond hair and fussed at a few strands. She hoped the color made Andrew happy. What boy doesn't like blondes? The song on the radio changed just as Andrew came into view. Her passed the corner where a blond girl he didn't know stood wearing less clothing than should be allowed by school rules. She couldn't have been much older than a freshman. She smiled at Andrew and stepped into his path. Furthermore, she began trying to talk to him, very forward with her words." Hey, you look cute. Want to come somewhere out of this heat with me?" Her smile was sweet but had a slight mischief to it. "We can make it hot ourselves." She laughed at her own teasing. While trying to pull his interest, the other two circled behind Andrew. Both girls, one tall enough to play basketball, the other volleyball, quickly grabbed onto the boy about his middle and arms while the first produced a red cloth and covered his mouth. The empty smell of chloroform started to fill Andrew's head as he was lifted and awkwardly carried to the awaiting car. Danielle popped the trunk and heard the slight thud of a body being placed there. Three doors opened and closed, and the car pulled away like nothing had happened. The job had been less than professional. Plenty of people could have seen them, and it wasn't like any of them were hard to identify if someone really wanted to. It was the middle of the afternoon, after school and a high school boy was taken by a group of high school girls, so hopefully it looked innocent enough that no one would report it. The girls complemented themselves on a job well done as they drove away with a sleeping Andrew in the trunk. When the haze finally cleared from Andrew's head, he was alone in a dimly lit hotel room. His wrist and ankles were tired to the chair he was sitting in and positioned in the middle of the room. His clothes lay discarded on the bed along with a pile of other clothing that were very much not his. The fabric of the chair itched. The sounds of a shower and girls giggling echoed out of the open bathroom door, the only source of light spilling into Andrew's confines. Slowly Andrew started recovering from the effects of chloroform. He still felt a bit dizzy, but that was the least of his concerns now. By reflex, he tried to get up from the chair but failed due to his hands and legs being tied to the chair. Noticing this, he started to struggle furiously, attempting to shake the chair and break the bonds somehow. “HELP!! HELP!! IS ANYONE THERE!?!” It was no use; he was naked and tied to a chair in an empty dark room. NAKED! Now the boy realized it which made him go into full panic. The normally shy boy was now screaming and attempting to break himself free from the chair. He saw his clothes on the bed near him, but it was impossible for him to reach and try to grab them. His clothes weren't the only ones on the bed, there were some other pieces that were definitely not his. What the hell was going on seriously! After a little while Andrew calmed down, realizing that he had no other choice but to wait. Soon he noticed a dim light at the end of the room and heard some giggles coming from the same direction. No, it couldn't be. It just couldn't be! His mind started racing, he now remembered the situation where he had been before getting kidnapped. He refused to accept the possible fact that they could be the same girls that had come to talk to him on his way home. The thought of getting kidnapped by high school girls was not very pleasant one. The whole situation was as humiliating as it could get. He was stark naked and tied to a chair in the middle of a room. The bound boy had no idea where he was, if only he could get his phone from the pocket of his shorts. What could they possibly want from him? He wasn't popular nor did he have anything of value as far as he knew. “I WANT TO GO HOME! YOU HEAR ME?” The boy yelled again, trying to get his kidnappers’ attention. Even if he was bad with girls, there was no way he was going to give in to their demands, whatever those were. Andrew kept staring at the direction of the light and wait for his kidnappers to show up. At Andrew's shouting, the giggling and water cease. The echo of voices still flows out of the bathroom. Shortly, two girls barely covered in towels exit the bathroom. The younger girl from before who had distracted Andrew pats into the room first, her small frame wrapped tightly in the white towel and her blond hair hanging wet around her shoulders. She was followed by Danielle, the girl who had been pestering Andrew to be her boyfriend almost since school started. Like the first one, Danielle too was clothed in a small white towel, her hair tucked up into another hotel towel. Barefooted they crossed the room. The first girl leans close to Andrew's face." He does look cute. I should have looked at him more first." She smiles and turns away heading for the bed where Danielle has sat down." Thanks for the help, sweetie." Danielle reached out to hug the other girl. They embrace, and both towels threaten to fall away. They both adjust before the blond gathers some clothes from the bed and heads back into the bathroom to redress. Danielle turns to Andrew, crossing her legs. Had the lighting been better, Andrew would have seen as much of Danielle as she had pleased to show him. She just sits and smiles, watching Andrew with her clear blue eyes. Soon, the other girl has dressed, and returns." See you both tomorrow. Though, not as much as right now." She makes a pouting face, looking over Andrew's body once more, letting her eyes linger over his nude crotch. She blows a kiss to Andrew, winks at Danielle and leaves the hotel room, light from the hallway spilling into the darken space and illuminating half of Danielle while casting the other half in stark shadow. Her smile was a wicked slice across her face, her eyes full of malice. When the door shuts, the light returns to the dim levels as before and Danielle stands crossing the room to Andrew." Hello. Finally, we're alone. I was wondering if it's not too much to ask, would you take me out sometime?" She made a similar pouting face to the other girl, fretting her lip with her eyes down cast. Down cast straight into Andrew's lap. Her voice falls to a low whisper, barely audible. "I'll give you this last chance to say yes willingly." The boy's eyes widened as he saw two girls approaching from the bathroom. His suspicions received a clear confirmation when he spotted the girl who had distracted him earlier and the girl who had been asking him to go out with her since the school started. "Please, can you get these bonds off? I need to go home!" Andrew said quietly when the younger girl leaned close to his face. What kind of sick joke this was? He was tied to a chair and the girl just called him cute! While the girls hugged each other, Andrew started struggling again, like trying to remind that he was still there and waiting to be freed from the chair. When the younger girl blew him a kiss and left the room, Andrew sighed, turning his gaze to Danielle. He kept staring at the girl with a fearful look on his face. The moment his captor asked if he could take her out, Andrew's face turned bright red, both from the embarrassment and fear. What the heck! The girl who kidnapped him just a few hours ago was now asking him to take her out! The boy was just about to open his mouth when the girl informed that this was his last chance to 'say yes willingly' Even if Andrew was generally shy, he had decided not to give in to any of his captor's demands. After all what could a high school girl do to him?" I-I would. I would love to take out, b-but I don't really have time." Andrew stammered, while looking over her shoulder, clearly avoiding looking her into the eyes. It would be obvious to Danielle that the boy was attempting to lie to her. He had always been a bad liar. "Can you let me go now, please? I got things to do back at home" He spoke, still having some hope in her letting him go back to home. There wasn't much he could do at the moment so he just sat there, trying to put aside the fact that the half naked girl was staring at his lap. Still, he couldn't prevent himself from getting aroused of the sight in front of him, so he turned his gaze down and tried to fight it, but it didn't really help against his raging teenage hormones. Danielle's smile changed from pouting hopefulness to scorned. Her eyes glare hateful fire at Andrew but his down cast eyes miss it. She cools the fires and straights her back." Okay, well, at least all that work didn't go to waste." Her voice sounded mad, and she turned from the tied, nude boy and went to the night stand. The light barely outlined her curves, and she searches mostly blind for something on the stand. Eventually, it seems she found what she was looking for and returns to Andrew. Her face is back to cute and attractive, and her voice has regained its bubble. "Found it. Are you interested in seeing what's on my camera?" She reached a hand down and brushed a part of Andrew that probably hadn't felt another persons touch. She moved it and sat in Andrew's lap, pinning his growing shaft between her soft cheeks and his slim stomach. The towel Danielle had around her didn't cover anything below her waist, letting female skin rest against male skin. She adjusted herself, and leaned back against Andrew's chest, laying her head on his shoulder and holding up a camera for him to see. The bright light of the LCD screen blinded the pair briefly, and she nuzzled into his neck until her eyes adjusted." Okay, so here's the first one. It's a little tame, but they get better." The image was taken from over Andrew's shoulder, the fact that his eyes were closed, and his head hung limp cropped out of the shot. Laying on the bed in front of him was the girl who had left, only slightly dressed. Her pants had been pulled down, and her hair was tossed haphazardly. From the angle of the shot, the lighting, and the position of their bodies, it looks like Andrew was in the process of forcing himself on the girl. "I guess it's that only way you get your kicks. Next one." She singsonged the last part. The next image that flashes shows Andrew sitting in the same chair he was currently tied to. The photo was taken from a low angle, barely showing Andrew's head lulled back once again covering the fact he was drugged. The girl was nude, straddling his lap, legs flung over the arms of the chair. Andrew's arms wrapped around her back as her head lay back, eyes staring blankly into the camera. The drugged state of her gazed showed no question about how she was responding. Danielle ground her hips into the thighs below her. "This one isn't really that much fun, but you seriously shouldn't drug your dates like that. Is this why you moved from your last town?" She clicked the slider again and a third image popped up. The newest one was in the bathroom. The girl was dumped unceremoniously into the tub, which was filling with water. A click and the image changed to the tub full of water and Andrew's small arm holding her neck under the water. "Do you have control issues?"" I have some more, but I think you get the idea here. So, either go out with me and be my boyfriend or I start showing these pictures to people. I mean, real or not, it would be pretty bad for the new boy, wouldn't it. A date raper, tries to drown girls. It would make the school year pretty hard. Or, you can just do what I say." Her round ass rubbed against Andrew very slightly. Her voice sounded sweet like honey. "It'll be good for you." Andrew followed the girl with his eyes as she walked to the nightstand and grabbed the camera. When the girl asked if he was interested in seeing what was in her camera, Andrew just shook his head. He didn't want to see what horrible things the girl had there, but it wasn't his choice anymore. The boy tensed when Danielle's hand brushed his already semi hard manhood. "S-Stop." He begged with a pleading look in his eyes. Danielle sitting on his lap made the boy to realize that this was far from over. His dick being pinned between the girl's cheeks and his own stomach didn't make it any easier. There was nothing he could do to prevent the girl from taking a comfortable spot on his lap and forcefully showing him the photos. With confused and at the same time terrified look, the boy stared at the first picture the girl had taken. It was made to look like he was having his way with her! He wasn't like that, he had barely even touched a girl in his life! He wanted to cry when he heard the girl telling that the picture was a little tame. TAME? TAME? If this one was tame, he didn't even want to see how the others were. He turned his head away from the camera for a while and sighed. Turning his head back to face the camera, the boy screamed instantly when he saw the next picture. It looked like he had drugged the girl! Andrew could feel Danielle grounding her hips, was she trying to make him aroused intentionally? Involuntarily he let out a small moan, it felt good and he couldn't deny it. Maybe he needed a girlfriend. No, he had other things he needed to focus now. The last picture and her smart comment did it. He started to struggle furiously, trying to get her off his lap. It was no use, it never was. It was clear that she was in control now, he didn't have much choice at the moment so he stopped the struggling and stayed still, muttering out some words. "People at the school won't believe you... They know that I am not like that. They will know that you're lying!" He listened as her soon-to-be girlfriend started talking again. "Do you always blackmail the boys you want?" He said quietly. When the girl rubbed her ass again, his manhood hardened, pressing more firmly against his stomach and her cheeks. "F-Fine. You won... But don't think I am doing this willingly..." The boy said with a defeated tone and lowered his head. Andrew wasn't an idiot, he knew when he had no choice but to comply. He was sure that he would find a way out of this, she couldn't force him like this forever, right? Someone would surely help him, the tied boy thought. "So. What now? Can you let me out of these bonds at least, you know I can't escape with you having the pictures..." What would she make him do as her boyfriend? Would he have to spend time at school with her? These thoughts filled the shy boy's mind. "Not always, love. Just when I want them more than they are willing to admit they want me." Danielle continued to grind against Andrew's growing erection. "Not that you aren't admitting it now." She leans forward and arches her back, angling the camera to point between the pair. The flash lit up the room, a blinding white light that captured the image of a young boy trapped in a place both amazing and horrible at the same time. Danielle checked the picture with a smile. "You're cute you know. This should be fun." Danielle stool up and stretched her arms over her head and popping her hip for Andrew's viewing pleasure. She called over her shoulder, "Now, I can cut you free. But," She turned her head, looking back at Andrew. "Can you do something for me?" She continued to walk towards the bathroom slowly, enticingly letting her ass wiggle under the towel. At the doorway, she let it go when she stepped out of sight, giving Andrew only a short glimpse of her naked body. Danielle was so excited to have her new boyfriend. She looked herself over in the mirror and smiled at what she saw. She knew she could have whatever she wanted as long as she applied herself and tried, not rolling over and taking no for an answer. Andrew would turn into so much fun, and she would have him do some many things for her, she'd like to see a guy do. Maybe even she'd take a chance and explore herself some with this venture. "I don't want you..." Andrew whispered quietly when Danielle kept grinding against his manhood. Mentally he despised her, but physically his body seemed to be more than ready for some action. When the girl angled the camera so that it pointed between them, Andrew closed his eyes preparing for the white flash. After Danielle had taken the picture, the trapped boy opened his eyes and turned his head so that he would be able to get a glimpse of the picture she had just taken. Once he caught the glimpse that he was trying to see, his eyes widened in shock. Another picture for her to blackmail him with! Andrew looked like he wanted to cry, but he managed resist breaking in front of her. Andrew watched as Danielle stood up. There was no doubt that she was trying to tease him purposely. Hearing the words 'I can cut you free' made Andrew almost smile but hearing the 'but' that followed them returned his expression to a defeated one." Do what for you?" The boy asked, and shook the chair, trying to make her turn back. He followed Danielle's ass with his eyes as the girl walked towards the bathroom and finally in it. The boy was so hard at the moment, he just wanted to get away from this girl and possibly jack off at home like he used to do, it was starting to get difficult to even think straight. Those were just thoughts, at the moment he was at the girl's mercy, and she wasn't a stupid one so tricking her was out of the question. He was almost sure that she guessed what he would do once he got home, well it didn't take much guessing when you looked at his crotch. Andrew shook his head and focused again. "Can you come and let me out." The boy yelled at the direction of the bathroom. "Please" Andrew added, trying to get on her good side. But he doubted that she was that gullible. "Are we going to be together often?" He didn't even know why he asked that, maybe there was a part of him that still had some hope left. Danielle came back out of the bathroom with a smile on her lips and nothing else. She popped a pale hip and leaned against the door frame with it. Every part of her body moved at the simple adjustment and drew Andrew's eyes everywhere. She was thin, like most high school girls, not yet having gained her full curves that growing up would bring. But that didn't stop her figure from being very feminine, with a gentle swelling at her hips and rounding her ass nicely, as Andrew had already seen. Her skin was still pinked from her time in the shower, adding fake blush to her chest and stomach. Her breast sat right where they should, even without her bra, bigger than her or Andrew's hands would cover completely. Both nipples perked up, but were such a soft pink color it almost didn't contract against her skin. Her limbs were lithe and smooth, never showing the moving muscles below, even as one leg was forced to support her full weight while the other toes made contact with the door frame. The angles form finally drew Andrew's eyes to her crotch. It a very finely dusted with the same brown her hair should have been and slightly plump. Her slender fingers traced absent patterns across her bared thighs and mid-drift as Danielle watched Andrew take her body in." We are going to spend lots of time together. You're my boyfriend now and that's what couples do." Danielle held up her hand and counted off on her fingers with the other as she listed. "They hang out at school, they pass notes, make out in the hallway, go on dates, send each other naughty text messages with pictures, fuck. All those things. It's what we'll do." She giggles adorably and clasp her hands together. Then her mood changes, darkness creeping into her voice as she stares past Andrew. "And we'll do more than that. Much more. You are MY boyfriend. We will do everything I can think of." The mood grows tense but is shattered when she pushes away from the wall with a true smile again. She hurries across the room and drops to her knees before Andrew, a loud thud of girl meeting thin carpet. Her eyes focus firmly on the boy's shaft and she licks her lips. Not pulling her eyes away she speaks firmly, trying not to fret her lip in desire. "Okay, I'm going to cut one hand free. You can pick which one. Then I will watch you masturbate. I know you want to do it. Why wait? You can do that in front of your girlfriend right? I won't get mad. You know, as long as your only ever do it when I say you can." Danielle, unable to help herself, leans forward more with her hands on Andrew's parted thighs. Her manicured nails dig in slightly. The very end of her tongue slips past her lips to lick against Andrew's tip. The action happen so quickly, the tongue a flash of pink, out and back like a frog's. Andrew gulped as he heard what Danielle said about them being together. He couldn't imagine being with her not only in school but on his free time too! What would people say when they saw them making out in the hallway like she had suggested. As Danielle kept listing what they would do together, Andrew was thinking a way out of this, she couldn't keep an eye on him always right? The girl seemed to be genuinely happy, at least it seemed like that when she clapped her hands together and giggled. Andrew on the other hand was far from happy, it was hard to keep himself from screaming at her." E-Everything you can think of?" Her tone of voice made it pretty clear that she didn't only want to kiss and cuddle. The boy couldn't even guess what she had in store for him, but he was quite sure that it would be revealed soon enough. She could easily read from Andrew's face that he was now more scared than he had been at any time during his stay in this room. Fear was not the only emotion he was feeling at the moment. The boy was also aroused beyond any limit, he couldn't take his eyes off the girl even if he so much wanted to. Once Danielle walked towards him and dropped on her knees, the boy's face turned deep red again. When he was presented with a question that which hand he wanted to be freed to masturbate IN FRONT OF THE GIRL. Andrew couldn't believe what he had just heard. She wanted him to masturbate with her watching in front of him! Did he now need her PERMISSION to masturbate?!? What the hell was she thinking, she couldn't control his life like that! How was she going to keep him in check so he didn't masturbate without permission? "Right hand..." He finally said, trying not to look his captor in the eyes and give her the satisfaction of winning. Once the girl had freed his right hand, Andrew hesitantly put it around his hard manhood and started to jerk off. It was really hard to masturbate in front of the girl who had kidnapped him and forced him to be her boyfriend. Even if it was hard, it still didn't take long too long for him to reach his peak, considering that he'd been in the same room with the naked girl for some time now. He moaned as he came, white stuff springing from his dick. Admittedly it felt good to get a release, but it didn't really help his cause to get out of her grasp. "Happy now? Can you release my other hand now..." The boy lowered his eyes in shame. "When am I getting free?" Danielle sat back slightly once she had released Andrew's hand, her eyes focused on where it would end up. When he finally wrapped his thin fingers around it, she settled back on her heels to be able to see more than just his hardened cock. She wanted to see the embarrassment mixed with pleasure as he was forced to bring himself to finish. She could feel herself getting excited and parted her thighs slightly, hoping to not draw attention to the motion. Danielle bit her lip in arousal. As Andrew's moans signaled their playtime coming to an end, she scooted closer again. She gasped quietly in surprise when he actually did climax. Danielle had almost expected him to fall limp or give up in frustration before she would get to watch it fountain up and splash around his shaft and hand. She was suddenly glad she hadn't slipped back on her panties, feeling small drops leave her body and fall to the carpet. Her eyes looked up to find Andrew's, her face blushed with lust and desire. But he wouldn't meet her gaze, and she talked towards him. "I'm happy, for now. I guess you did good but a few things first." Her voice was deeper, her attempt to sound uninterested and not aroused failing as she pants lightly. A flash of light cleared the darkness from the room as Danielle snapped another picture of Andrew covered with himself. Another one followed, this one of just his sticky tip. Setting the camera aside, the girl's hands traced up Andrew's legs, finding their way to his waning erection. She rubbed at his body, gathering the mess he had made. When she'd gotten some into each hand she stood, offering out one hand while keeping the other close to her mouth. "Open." Andrew could feel sticky fingers pressing up against his lips and could almost taste the hint of salt on them. His downcast eyes could seem the glistening of Danielle's sex, her enjoyment of their interactions plainly visible, even as she tried to tell him otherwise. She didn't true her own words to speak more, her chest starting move more as her breathing deepened. She'd never taken it this far before. Furthermore, she'd never been so hot for it either. This toy would be the most fun she would find, and she intended to get everything from it. "You guess I did good?! You guess?! I did what you told me, now let me go!" The boy raised his voice, his exhaustiveness clearly showing which was only logical considering the fact that he has just been forced to jerk off. Andrew closed his eyes and tried to cover his face with his free hand when Danielle started snapping more pictures. It was getting harder and harder for the boy to contain himself. The more he obeyed and did as she wanted, the more she got to blackmail him with, it seemed to be an endless path. If he decided not to obey her, then she would just release the pictures and his already quite miserable life would get even more miserable. There didn't seem to be any way off from the situation. Danielle got the boy's attention immediately when she started to drag her hands along his body, rubbing up his stuff. Andrew didn't like it, but there could be worse things with her so he didn't complain and stayed quiet. That didn't last long. As soon as she holds out her other hand, he knew what she had in mind. She was going to make him eat his own cum! EAT. HIS. OWN. CUM. He couldn't believe this was really happening. When the fingers touched his lips, Andrew just shook his head and tried to pull back desperately. She couldn't make him do this, she just couldn't. Did she do this to other guys too or was he the only victim? Why no one had told him about this girl?! Even someone as inexperienced as Andrew could notice that the girl was obviously highly aroused, she was literally dripping on the floor. There wasn't much he could do, so he just tried to push her hand off with his free right hand. He would probably regret it, but he didn't want to eat his own cum either so he wasn't left with much choice. Andrew feared that her arousal would get the best of her, and he would be made to "help" her. He looked down again and shook his head for that thought. While he was lightly pushing her hand away he spoke quickly so she wouldn't have time to shove the fingers in his mouth. "Stop! I won't take them in my mouth, YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT THAT!" Danielle's face filled with frustration when Andrew pushed her hand away. She puffed her cheeks and glared while she was denied her chance to force it past his lips. She should have retied that hand, but she hadn't been able to think about that while watching him. It was hard enough to stay focused on the task in her hand, she wanted strongly to lay back and finish herself with her stick coated hands, while Andrew watched her. One to her mouth and one between her thighs and hoping another load would be delivered soon. She shook her head to clear away the mental image she had just made of herself. She could be so naughty when aroused." I'm not making you. I'm strongly implying that you should." Her voice was still deep and breathy, no anger had crawled into it yet. She tossed her head to clear away blond bangs and looked for Andrew's eyes again, hoping to win him over with pouting eyes and fretted lip. But Andrew had looked away again, and she didn't want to lose some of the mess in her hand to force him to look at her. In a coy play she pulled her hand back to let his pass and made another dive at Andrew's mouth. "We'll both be eating it. And I can't take a picture of it this time." She pleaded at him. For some reason Danielle couldn't figure out, she really wanted to watch him eat it. More so, she wanted him to want it too, but she would settle for this. "Just open your mouth and lick my hand clean." She could feel their shared meal cooling against her palms. If he took too much longer she'd have to wait him out to get some more. She had already paid for a few hours, but she didn't know if there was time left for that. For good measure and to hopefully gain some trust, Danielle added "Please." Andrew listened quietly to her captor as she explained her thoughts. No way he would take that hand in her mouth and his own stuff. "Put that hand away... I am not going to take it in my mouth!" He turned his head back and watched her motions carefully, trying to think what she was up to now. She seemed to be committed to force her hand on his mouth no matter how long it took. Thoughts ran through his mind, should he just get it over with or should he just resist until she tired?" I should? You are said that I should eat my own CUM! " He screamed at her comment and lowered his head in shame. God, he had been stupid to let her play him into this situation. A part of him kept telling that he should comply, but the other part screamed that he should keep resisting. He needed to decide soon, no one knew what she would do if he angered her even more. When Danielle said "Please", Andrew slowly opened his mouth and took her hand in, licking it clean quickly, trying to get the taste off quick. The fact was that he wanted out of this room more and more as time passed so he came to a conclusion that he would get out faster if he just did as she wanted. He turned his head again, trying to get the hand out and tell her that it's clean. Once she pulled her hand out, he spoke quietly. "Can we get out of this place now. Please, I did as you asked." Once he got out, he would need to figure out some kind of plan to get away from her. Danielle let out a heavy sigh as Andrew's tongue danced in her palm. The feeling of his licking distracting her from the hand she had promised to clean. When Andrew finished, she quickly licked herself amount up and sat back on her heels holding her still tingling hand to her chest. She looked up at Andrew with her big doe eyes and blushed with satisfaction. If he was willing to do that with just some pushing, where could she take him with a strong shove? She sat staring as Andrew pleaded for freedom from the chair, not fully aware of him talking." Mmmm.... okay," Her voice was dreamy and distant as she rose to her feet. She popped a hip, cupped under her breasts with an arm, emphasizing her cleavage and placed a finger to her lips. She thought about something very hard. Her face fussed up, and her lips pursed and relaxed while she switched hips and her eyes traced shapes on the wall. She finally seemed to come to a conclusion and lowered her finger from her mouth. She held her hand like a gun and made a bang motion before turning away from Andrew." Because I don't think I can trust you too much yet, I'll make one last arrangement." Danielle disappeared into the bathroom again but didn't stay very long. She came back with her hands held behind her back. She, too, long steps that emphasized the shape and length of her legs and made her modest chest bounce attractively, and made a little twirl when she returned with a board smile and a gleam in her eye that Andrew was learning meant trouble for him. "I'm going to let you wear these home." Her face was again blushed, like she had some modesty about what she was going to do. Her hands appeared before Andrew, and in the poor lighting it was hard to make out was she was presenting to him. It looked like a pile of thin strips of lace in a soft power blue. As her fingers adjusted to unravel the pile, the strips formed into a single article of clothing. She was holding a small thong out to the bound boy. Without much though, she bends over from the waist, letting her golden hair spill over her shoulders as she began trying to get both of Andrew's ankles to cooperate. Andrew sighed in relief as the girl pulled her fingers out of his mouth, would she finally give up and let him go? When Danielle cupped her breasts and seemed to be thinking about something really hard, the boy prayed in his mind that she wouldn't do anything quick and stupid, he didn't even dare to guess anymore what she had in mind. He watched as her thoughts reached a conclusion, and she turned away from him. "Trust me? YOU DON'T TRUST ME?" The boy raised her voice temporarily but quieted down quickly as he remembered that she was the one in charge at the moment. As his 'girlfriend' walked away, he got some time to think about everything. He had many concerns. How tight control would she keep of him? Would she allow him to even move without her? Could he buy the clothes that he liked? What would she do if he glanced at other girls, would she get jealous and make him suffer for it? There were so many things that would keep him awake at night for sure. Soon he saw her walking towards him, it was extremely hard to resist looking at her feminine curves that every boy dreamed about. He noticed her smile and the gleam, he had definitely learned to know what those meant for him. The boy wanted to cry then and there, but he knew that it wouldn't help his position." Wear those?!? You are going to LET me wear those at my home?!?! You can't be serious! Those are meant for girls not boys!" Andrew screamed at her and kicked the air with his legs as she revealed the piece of clothing. It would be so degrading for him to wear that and what if someone somehow saw? If he let her put those on him and give up now, would she be satisfied of would she try to get him even further? At first, he resisted her madly, kicking his legs but avoiding to no hit her so she wouldn't get angry and do something even worse. Time moved on and the more he thought about it, the more he seemed to give in. Hell, she already made him eat his own stuff so what would this be in comparison to that. He could also get them off at home and lie to her, and also hope that she wouldn't go as far as checking him at school or wherever he was with her. No, she was crazy, but she couldn't be that crazy. As Andrew began to settle, Danielle pulled the soft fabric up his legs. She pulled the thong passed his knees, pulling them together and abandoning it mid-thigh. First she untied Andrew's other hand, giving him both to move about. Standing, Danielle stepped from in front of Andrew around to the back of the chair. She was smiling and had started humming some pop song Andrew almost recognized. The bindings around Andrew's chest and waist pulled tighter, then fell slack as she untied the knots. Her small arms began unwinding the ropes from around Andrew, purposely brushing against the boy's stomach and soft cock with each pass. When the ropes were fully removed, Danielle's thin arms wrapped around Andrew's chest, and she leaned over him, her chin resting of his shoulder. She was bouncing her hips to her humming as she hugged her new boyfriend. She broke the music to whisper against Andrew's ear." Let's finish getting you dressed." The humming returned, and her hands ran down the length of Andrew's chest, both hands scratching over his stomach, teasing across his still exposed lap and down his tights. She made a sound of effort and pressed harder into the chair, fingers just barely able to grip the lace where she had left it and tugged it up higher. The panties caught between Andrew's upper tights and the chair, but she pulled until the lace began to envelop the boy's spent sack. The feel of the blue lace was soft against him, almost not even there." Stand up some sweetie, or I won't be able to finish putting it on you. I think this will look so cute." Her soft lips pecked gently at Andrew's cheek and jawline and her hum turned into a sigh of simple pleasure. Andrew turned his head up and looked at the ceiling as his captor started to pull up the thong, he really didn't want to show the embarrassment he was experiencing at the moment. Finally, he thought as Danielle untied him. It wasn't hard to notice that the girl was purposely trying to turn him on, she had done much worse things to him so it was nothing nor there was anything that he could do to stop his manhood from getting hard again. Soon he was struggling to hide his growing erection. "Just get done with it..." The boy said meekly as she rubbed her hands against him. His urges didn't get any smaller as she rocked her hips against him. "Yeah. Let's finish." He said mockingly. As she started to pull up the thong, he stared at her for the first time, trying to tell that this isn't what he wanted. He was quite certain that she had made her decision and wouldn't let him go no matter what. Sweetie, she just called her 'sweetie' and said that to clothe would look CUTE on him! Boys weren't cute they were handsome or something else but not CUTE! He succumbed to his destiny and stood up as she ordered. He wasn't in charge of himself anymore, he was now her property, at least for now. Quietly the boy stood up and allowed her to dress him up." Can you just pull it up and let's get out of this room, please..." Andrew said to her. "Are you going to keep an eye on me all the time?" He added quickly. "I'm not going to keep an eye on you all the time silly. Just when we're together. I'll have to hope you love me enough to not do anything bad when I'm not around." Danielle made a pouting face but from behind Andrew just heard her almost mocking voice. The thong slide mostly into place. It was at least a size too small, pulling tight around the hips and the back side. Danielle quickly darted around to the front and stopped to look. Something she hadn't really planned on had happened. Teasing the boy again had brought back his rigidness, and it draped over the front of the thong, pulling the band tighter. Danielle giggled." Oops. Well, we'll just let that go before getting dressed. Oh first, first." Danielle hurried to her camera and started snapping pictures of the dejected Andrew. With only a few taken, she returned to her previous actions of trying to redress." Sweetie, when you stop being a perv you can tuck yourself away and get dressed." Danielle teased. Andrew's clothes were still laid out on the bed, though his underwear seemed to be missing. She used her toes to pick up her bra by its strap and brought it up to her hands. It was blue and lacy like the thong Andrew currently wore, a matching set it seemed. She pulled on the bra upside down and backwards, clasping the hooks in the back before turning it around and flipping it upright into position to act as some sort of modesty. The tight white shirt hardly concealed the color of the bra and the lacy texture was outlined, obviously. She tucked her blond hair behind her ear with a coy smile at Andrew as she turned towards him. Danielle stood firmly and bottomless, hands akimbo on both hips, pale mound on full display." I guess only one of us gets to wear those, huh?" She turned with a pop in her hip that made her ass move enticingly and began pulling on the black mini skirt she had been wearing before her leisurely afternoon kidnapping. The cotton fluttered as she twisted it into place, the hem line barely long enough to cover her. With a blush and down cast look, she fussed the waist band lower on her hips, exposing more of her pale middle but helping to hide some of her thighs. When Danielle started to snap pictures, Andrew covered his manhood with his hands. He acknowledged the fact that covering himself didn't really help at all at this point, but it came by instinct. He really wasn't used to standing there naked with a girl from his school taking pictures of him and blackmailing him with them! The boy's face turned red when the girl made the comment about him being a pervert, he wasn't a pervert! There was nothing he could do to not get hard from the sight of a beautiful girl and from her teasing! Surely she must understand that! Andrew stared at her for a while when she started to dress. After a moment he went near the bed and took his t-shirt and shorts, starting to dress up slowly. Noticing the absence of his underwear, he gritted his teeth and whispered quietly. "Fuck off..." The boy knew that he had no other choice but to wear the thong that she gave him earlier. With the same defeated look that Danielle had seen quite a lot of times that day, Andrew started to pull up his shorts. At least the shorts would cover the blue underwear he was wearing. Next he took the t-shirt and put it on quickly, eyeing towards the door that he thought would lead out of the room. Turning his gaze towards the girl again, watching her stand there with her hands on her hips. Seeing her like that brought the submissive look on the boy's face again. He didn't dare to say anything at the girl who was shining with confidence and dominance. After a few minutes the boy opened his mouth again and whimpered something with such a low voice that she barely could hear it. "Can we go now? I am ready." Would she let him go home now, or would he be forced to spend a night at her house or possibly something even worse? The boy was still nervously looking towards the door every once in a while, but he knew that he couldn't go anywhere without her permission as she held the pictures that could ruin his entire life in the area and possibly in the whole state. "Okay sweetie. Let me finish gather my things and we can go." Danielle placed a quick kiss on Andrew's cheek, bracing her hands on his shoulders while she leaned into him. She giggled sweetly, like they were in a real relationship and padded around the room gathering discarded items. The camera was never far from her hand, and often she would bend over without any concern for her lack of panties, showing herself to Andrew again. While reaching for something that had dropped under the bed, her skirt flipped all the way forward, but she didn't bother fixing it until she had gathered what she was looking for. Her face reappeared with a blush. She was enjoying teasing the boy too much. Everything was put into her bag, sized somewhere between tiny backpack and large purse, and she flicked on the lights for the main room. The lights seared to life, and she flinched at the sudden change. Dazzled, she shook her head, long blond hair shining and flipping as she did so. She smiled sweetly and went for the front door and opened it. It swung inwards and gave Andrew a glimpse of the hallways outside, a glimpse of where freedom might lie. Danielle offered her hand, delicate and slim, nails painted and open, ready to take Andrew where ever she felt like. Lashes batted, leaving Andrew thinking he had a choice in the matter. Maybe he did, and she was testing him to see what he would do. Finally, Andrew said in his head as the girl announced that they would be leaving soon. During the time in the room, the boy lost all track of time so he had no idea what time of day it would be. She was once again doing what she did best, teasing Andrew. The boy knew it, but his body got surprised by every time. When her skirt flipped forward, Andrew couldn't help but notice it and keep staring at her ass. After a short moment, he realized what he had been doing so he turned his head away quickly, trying to be somewhat indifferent. Soon Danielle had packed all the stuff and flicked on the lights. Andrew tried to look around for the camera, maybe she hadn't packed it? No luck, of course the girl would remember to keep an eye on the device that held the keys for his life. The boy sighed and moved near the girl, taking her hand and waiting for her to lead them out of the room he had been so long in. At this point he simply couldn't afford to defy him, or she could do something unexpected and spontaneous that would be bad for him. He had to wait for the right moment. The question was, where would she decide to take him? Wherever would that be, it was obvious that he would have no say in the decision. Questions were once again running through is head. What would people say if they saw him holding hands with her?!? What would his friends think? Would she humiliate him in public as a punishment? He wanted to run far, far away from everyone when he pondered those questions. He stood there like a good boy would, holding hands with his 'girlfriend'. "Where are we heading to? Can you take me home, we can be together tomorrow right! Just take me home for today, please!" From experience, Andrew knew that those questions and suggestions would make a little difference but in this situation he had to try everything to convince her to let him go. The best guess he had was that she was taking him to her house or something like that. Leading Andrew by the hand, Danielle guided them through the winding hallways of the hotel. She pressed the button to call the elevator and leaned against her boyfriend, head resting on his shoulder." Of course, we'll be together tomorrow sweetie. Don't you know how dating works?" The doors of the lift parted to the sound of a metallic ding, opening up another small empty room to trap Andrew in. Still holding hands, Danielle pulled them both into the space. The walls were paneled with mirrors, throwing back their reflections of reflections, with a band of wood cutting across the shined surface halfway up from the floor. With a slight effort, Danielle pressed Andrew against the back wall." Don't move." She quickly tossed her head, sending blond hair spinning and pressed the lobby button before settling very close to Andrew, centered against the mirrored panel. She placed her feet on the outside of his, her hands finding his hips. Furthermore, she smirked but looked past him in her reflection as the doors began to shut, sealing them inside. As the car began to descend, she teased at her blond strands. Satisfied, she refocused her attention on Andrew. Her eyes drifted to his lips. She had desires for those lips, but a simple start was always a good start. With hands keeping him in place, Danielle kissed Andrew. Their lips touched, barely pressed together before her tongue was forcing its way into his mouth and finding its playmate. The taste of Andrew's cum still lingered in both of their mouths as did the overly sugary taste of her lip gloss. She pressed into the kiss, molding her body to his and pressing him flat against the wall. Andrew could feel the smile her lips quirked into as the elevator dinged floors closer to the lobby. Her hands were at his wrist, taking charge of his body once more. She tried to guide both of his hands to her round, soft ass, attempting to force them under her skirt while her tongue continued its attack on his mouth. ((Sorry for the longer than usual wait, I've been ill for a couple of days))Andrew waited patiently for the elevator to arrive, nervously fiddling around as Danielle rested her head on his shoulder. Soon he was pulled inside the elevator, getting effectively trapped with the girl. They would be together tomorrow, now she had said it right in the open and there was no denying the fact that they were a pair now. The boy put her hands in his pockets, trying to act all casual and hide his nervousness from her, but in reality you could see that he was far from being comfortable. When Danielle ordered him to stay put, he obeyed without a question, where would he even go!? He was trapped in an elevator! It didn't take long until she was all over him again, trying to forcefully make out with him. Well, she wasn't just trying, she was making out with him. He could taste his own cum mixed with the taste of her lip gloss which made him want to push her off, but he knew better than that. What else would she use his lips for? He had heard that some girls liked when their boyfriends 'serviced' them with their mouths, he hoped Danielle wasn't one of those girls, but he feared the worst, after all she had blackmailed him to be her boyfriend. With that, other thoughts flew into his mind. When would they have sex? Where she would force him to do it? As the elevator was descending downwards, Andrew let Danielle take charge of his body and bring his hands under her skirt and on her ass. They were kissing when the elevator finally reached the lobby. The doors opened with the ding sound, and Andrew quickly pushed her away slightly, trying to avoid people from seeing them kissing and him fondling her ass. Right after doing so, he knew that Danielle would make him pay for it when they got to wherever she was taking him. "Let's go..." He said quietly, trying to nudge her slightly towards the elevator doors and out of the small space. The boy's face was mildly red now, obviously from being embarrassed from people seeing him with her. Anger did not begin to describe how Danielle felt when the doors opened. She had wanted the doors to part with his hands pulling up her skirt, showing anyone looked her lack of underwear as he molested her bare ass. Then she could have made him feel embarrassed about it and have the people looking at him like a pervert while she would have enjoyed every bit of it with a modest blush. But Andrew had managed to keep himself together enough to spoil that plan. He'd even pushed her away. Her eyes narrowed, and her pretty jaw tensed, but she reached out a hand to Andrew still in the elevator." Come on sweetie." She tried a cute giggle, but it bubbled with her cooling anger. She would have to think of something else. Furthermore, she took a breath, her chest filling and pressing tight to her shirt and let it out slowly. There would be other times. She would have plenty of time to play with her new toy, she consoled herself with these thoughts. Tonight she would sit down and make a list of things she and her new boyfriend would do. That picked up her sprites and she smiled. It bordered on wicked as blond strands fell into her face. She took Andrew's hand forcefully and dragged him from the elevator and out of the hotel into the dying light of the afternoon. A thought crossed her mind, she didn't know where Andrew lived yet. Pulling Andrew in tight and hugging his arm she asked in her nicest tone, "Where do you live? I'd really like to see your place." She wanted to see his house, just as he had feared. Thank god he recognized where they were when the two stepped out of the hotel doors. It was near the center of the city which thankfully had good bus connections to the area where he lived. Andrew sighed as she wouldn't let go of his hand even if he pulled a little trying to get her off him. Danielle clearly wanted to show all the world that they were now together. He walked with a quick pace, just trying to get to the house fast and avoid being seen by his friends.-----Approximately an hour had passed. After a few awkward buss rides and a small walk, they finally stood in front of his family's house. The house was a normal American colonial style house. It wasn't anything grand, but nothing too bad either. At first what stood out was that his sister's car was in front of the garage. No, no, no... Everyone else but not her... Danielle would surely like her, both of them liked picking on and teasing him. The boy placed his hands in his pockets, letting go of her hand and eyeing at the house nervously and then back at his new girlfriend. "Here we are... My sister is home, I don't think you want her to distract us, right? She can be a bit annoying sometimes..." She could hear the nervousness and fear in his voice. It wasn't without a reason though, his sister had urged Andrew to get a girlfriend for a long time and argued that it would do some good for him. Now she would see him with Danielle and that would surely add some fuel to the fire for her. His main fear was that the two girls would get along even too well, and he would have to pay for it. Andrew was now standing there and waiting for her decision, she had the ball now. He wouldn't dare to oppose her wishes and wants again. This was because he didn't want to anger her anymore, he knew that deep inside she was boiling for what he did when the elevator descended to the lobby. "Should we just go for a walk or do something else?" He desperately tried to assure her that going in the house wasn't a good idea for now, but he didn't believe that she would give much room for his arguments after he had angered her.((If you want, you can play his sister. ) Sitting on the bus, Danielle kept Andrew cuddled close to her. His arm was clutched to her chest, between her tits that her own arms pressed tighter around him while his hand had nowhere to rest but in her lap. She had laid her head on his shoulder and smiled, making normal comments that a typical girlfriend would make to her boyfriend about her day and friends and other inane things. She even placed kisses on his neck as if they had been dating for some time and not just recently blackmailed into being together. Danielle eyed the house. She could hear the nervous tension in his voice, the desire to go anywhere but inside. Her mind starts sorting out choices. A walk could take them somewhere other people were, and she could see how he reacted to that. Maybe she could get his pants off in public. The other boys wouldn't allow any outdoor play, but Andrew would. On the other hand, he could take her into his room where they could fool around there and maybe get caught by his sister. A faint blush worked its way across her cheeks, and her breath began to come deeper. She had to make a choice, he had found a way to make her choose. A way to take power quickly. She wanted both, she always wanted everything. Lust started to blur into anger, and she took a step back to look at Andrew, seeing him differently than before. Power was not something she could allow his to keep. They were going for a walk. He would win by not having to go inside, but she would win in the end. She would. Her eyes narrowed as she made the promise to herself, but she quickly bubbled out her sweet giggle and smiled, blond hair slipping forward to cover one eye. She closed the distance and used the sweetest voice she could manage." We can take a walk sweetheart. We were on those buses for so long and the weather is nice. And an evening walk is so romantic of a suggestion." Sit fretted her lip and looked at his eyes, fussing with the hem of her skirt. "It's also kind of naughty, sense you are wearing my underwear, and I'm not." Her eyes didn't show the embarrassment she was faking as she flashed the barest glimpse of her upper thighs and exposed mound. She took his hand before he could attempt to run away, letting the skirt fall back into modesty. "Where shall we go? Is there a park close by?" One of the curtains fluttered in the house, a face disappearing behind it. Yes! They were going for a walk! Danielle probably couldn't even imagine how big of a relief that was for the boy, he could avoid his sister for now. "Yeah. There is a park nearby, I can show you." She had already taken a hold of his hand so hand in hand they walked towards the park. It was already getting late, so the traffic wasn't really bad which was good for Andrew, the last thing he wanted was to get spotted by someone who knew him. He really wanted to keep this all between the two of them, but he was quite sure that she wasn't on the same page so he tried to use routes that were less popular. While they were heading to the destination, Andrew tried to have some small talk with her to make the situation less awkward. After a twenty-minute walk, the two could see the park in the distance. Small roads equipped with benches and lamps ran through the park. As they reached a start of one the roads, the boy suddenly stopped and his face went pale like he had just seen a ghost. In reality, he spotted three girls from his school that were spending their evening, chatting on the benches. He could feel his hearth starting to beat faster than normal and tiny drops of sweat forming on his forehead. Please. Not there... The boy said in his mind and started to pull Danielle slightly to another direction. Soon they could hear the girls starting to yell at them and waving their hands. No, no, no." It's the new guy from the school!"" He's with someone!"" Come here! Come on!"" I-It seems that there are some people there already. Let's take another bench, we want to be together, just two of us right?" He spoke, this time even more quietly than usually so anyone else than Danielle wouldn't hear by accident. Meanwhile, he was still trying to pull the girl towards another bench that was on a safe distance from the other girls. Andrew basically let her decide what to do, not daring to pull much at all, just a little to show where he wanted to go. He knew that she already had some kind of punishment in store for him, and he didn't want to make the situation any worse, maybe she would even give him mercy if he acted like a good boyfriend for now. At least he hoped so.

Her new boyfriend(Mistyy and Hippyness)|rating:2.0

Ikami and Dear Dreamer's private roleplay

Charlie Fallows the eldest son of William Barlow, who ran the Barlow Enterprise. Since his father was turning sixty-five soon, Charlie was expected to take up the entire enterprise, and it's affiliates. The Barlow family lived in a cozy water-front mansion with all the amenities of a normal mansion. They owned over twenty-two servants, they had lavish art as decor for the hallways, living room, and dining room. The backyard was their own personal beach, equipped with the best view, best sand and a fantastic breeze. Charlie's room was on the west end of the sumptuous home. He woke up just as the sun appeared over the horizon. Two servants came into the room, and greeted the young master. "Good morning little Master." They stated at the same time with the simultaneous bow. The young man let out a sigh, and asked. "What's today's date?" The servants giggled, and pulled the bedsheet off of Charlie. "Why it's your birthday!" They exclaimed happily. Charlie was not a morning person, so he yawned and nodded his head tiredly. "Oh right....okay. I'll be downstairs in a minute. Go tell my father that I want to feed myself this morning. I'm eighteen and don't need servants doing everything for me..." The two servants nodded their heads before bowing again, and leaving the room. When the door shut, Charlie groaned, and yawned before covering himself with the blanket and went back to sleep. He was the kinda of person that would sleep through an entire event if he needed to, so if Charlie missed his birthday, so what? His father and mother missed plenty when he was a kid, why should he start caring about them caring about his birthday now? Sorry I just remembered the double post rule!DX Soreness waiting downstairs, nervous. Messing with his tie, his hair, his shirt, anything that he could get his hands on. He still wasn't sure if this was a good idea... When Mr. Barlow had come to him the week before, and proposed his plan, Soren had only been half awake when he agreed to the older man. Even now, and every day since then, he was doubting himself. His decision and even his boss. Soren took a deep breath, and slowly let it leak out through his nose, anything to calm him down. It didn't work. He runs a hand through his hair, and lets it rest on the back of his neck... What was he doing? Why was he standing in the main hallway, dressed up in a suit and tie, instead of in bed, wondering what he was going to do that day? Soren was distracted from his thoughts by two ladies coming down the stairs, giggling and whispering." Excuse me," Soren stepped in front of the girls, as they came to the bottom of the stairs, "you two are coming from CIA- er, the Young Master's room, correct?" The girls nodded at the same time and smiled, "he says that he'll be down in a minute." One of the girls said, "and he wants to make his own breakfast." The other finished." Okay, thanks." Soren said, and stepped to the side, letting the girls pass. Soren knew that 'a minute' to Charlie, could be the rest of the day, and that 'making his own breakfast' probably meant that he wouldn't be eating, and was just using it as an excuse to sleep longer. Soren sighed and started up the stairs, looks like he was going to have to wake Charlie up himself. He knocked on the boys door and called out, "Charlie, I'm coming in." Sure that he was still sleeping, Soren opened the door and walked into his room... Charlie groaned, and muttered. "Go away Soren..... I want to sleep....." The young master covered his head with the pillow. "And why should I all of a sudden care that Mother and Father threw a party for me. I mean when I wanted one, they were too busy." Charlie then sighed and sat up. "Why did I even have parents?" He then asked standing up out of bed. The irritated and slightly depressed young master went over to a box that the servants brought over the night before. He opened it and saw a suit and tie. It was a white suit, and it had a complementing pink tie. There was a little note that read "To:Charlie-dear From:Mommy-dearest I hope you like the suit. It's made from wool imported from the Alps!" Charlie made a face, and threw the suit into his trash can. "As if mommy-dearest." Charlie stated rummaging through his dresser to find some normal clothing. "It's my party I'll wear what I want." He took out a pair of black jeans, and a white tee-shirt. Both pressed and neatly folded so that they were wrinkle free. After a few minutes passed, Charlie finally discovered that Soren was wearing a suit. "They put you in a suit I see." He stated chuckling. "Very nice. If you want you can have mine. I don't want it." Charlie stated killing his chuckle with a sigh. Soren made a face at Charlie, "no way. That thing's hideous." He grinned at the other boy, and knew that he shouldn't be joking with him anymore... The smile fell from his face, "I'll, uh, wait outside for you to finish." Soren walked outside, and leaned against the wall next to the door, again wondering what he had gotten himself into... When Soren turned to leave the room, Charlie frowned and watched his friend leave. Normally they'd spend a good thirty minutes talking while Charlie got dressed. The young man sighed and put his clothing on. Soren was the young master's closets and only friend. He did not like the kids from his school, and dropped out as soon as they became unbearable. Charlie sighed as he tucked in his shirt into his jeans and placed a belt around them. Then he took off his socks since the part is going to be on the beach, and it would be terribly uncomfortable when he got sand in his shoes. When Charlie left the room, he saw Soren standing outside. He noticed that the man was in deep thought. "Are you okay, Soren? You seem a little different." He stated worriedly. Soren was startled when Charlie came out so soon, "oh, yeah." He smiled at his old friend, "I'm... fine." Soren was a bad lair, he always had been. He knew that he was typically transparent to Charlie, because of how long they'd known each other. "We'd better get down to the party.'' He said as he leads the way back down the stairs, and to the set of double back doors. He paused once they got to the doors, and pushed them open, waiting for Charlie to walk through them, before the followed. The beach was full of people, some in bathing suits, playing in the water, and others in ball gowns chatting quietly and politely on the deck. But no matter what they were doing, as soon as Charlie stepped through the doors, everyone turned and smiled. "Happy Birthday!" They all cheered in unison, and Soren cringed on the inside. Normally he would turn to Charlie, and joke about how corny that was, but he knew that his place wasn't to be a friend anymore... Though that didn't change much, because Soren's feeling's had gone beyond friendship years ago. He stifled a sigh, as he nudged Charlie forward, towards his father... Charlie rolled his eyes when everyone said happy birthday. He half expected Soren to say something, and when his friend did not say anything, Charlie looked at him. "Seriously, what's wrong with you? You never wear suits, or look this clean cut, and you should have made at least three jokes by now..." He stated ignoring the fact that people wanted to talk to him. The young master cared about none of these people. To him, they were just people, but Soren was not just a person. He was his friend, and he did not like seeing the change in him. His father came over and cried out. "Hey my son! Happy Birthday!" Charlie sighed looked at him. "Yes, thank you father, and is this the first time you were the one throwing me a party?" He asked starting at his father with a stern look on his face. "Oh son. Don't be like that. Your old man was busy." His mother came over shortly, and one could see that she was already drunk. "Charlie dearest, be nice to your father. I mean after all he gave us this lavish lifestyle." Charlie made a face. "pH. Please mother. Go bother someone else, you have drunk bitch." He then looked at Soren, before sighing deeply, and walking towards the ocean. His parents just stared at him in shock. His mother then waved to her friends, and went over to them, who might have been drunk as well. Soren hadn't been told what to do in case Charlie exploded at his parents like this, or anyone really. He'd expected it, but hadn't felt the need to mention it to the people who had been teaching him on 'the way of the bodyguard' ...or something like that. He held in a snicker until they were down by the water, where he let it come out. Furthermore, he laughed quietly and shook his head, "normally I wouldn't, but I have to tell you, you shouldn't talk to your parents like that." His words were the only thing that might have sounded real though, his voice didn't sound convincing at all. The only reason he'd said it, was because according to his 'teachers', it was now his job to not only protect Charlie's well-being, but also the well-being of his relationships. Which seemed like a pretty hopeless quest, Charlie had spent his whole life, first disappointed in his parents, then despising them. That was a battle that Soren wasn't going to spend to long on... The young master sighed, and looked at him. "I like to give a damn!" He exclaimed turning his back to his friend. "You know what little contact I have with them. You know that I hate them for what they did to me. How would you feel if coming home after school on your birthday, and finding an empty house. No gifts, no card, not even having the servants tell you 'Happy Birthday' A ten-year-old without a party, that's a crushing feeling. You remember how I felt, I've known you for as long as I can remember, you know how I felt about my parents." Charlie stated growing sad. He then looked at Soren again. "Sorry I shouldn't be mad at you, but that statement you made...ugh... I just-just don't expect anything like that to come out of you, after we've known each other for so long..." He stated growing even more depressed. Soren shook his head, "I understand, and I felt just as bad having to say it." He winced, "I think I'll be leaving out that part from now on." He said and shook his head. "And of course I remember how you feel, I was there remember? We locked ourselves in your room and water bombed the staff? Thrashed the room? Ripped some clothes?" Soren grinned at the memory, and laughed again. "It may not have gotten your parents' attention, but it sure got everyone else's, remember your Nanny's face? Wasn't that the year she quit?" Charlie laughed at the memory. "I think so. It was pretty funny to see the servants reactions though." He stated smiling at his friend. "So you want to go back to the party, or go into the house and do something away from everyone?" Charlie suggested looking at the people, and their antics. 'Maybe he was just nervous about the party. Maybe he hasn't changed....' The young master thought hopeful. Soren sighed and shook his head, "I wish we could, wish I didn't have to wear this monkey suit," he tugged at his collar as he spoke, but not hard enough to actually loosen it, "but you're supposed to stay here."'and I'm supposed to keep you here.' Soren added that last bit mentally. He wasn't supposed to tell Charlie that he was his new bodyguard. Since he was now 18, his father thought that he would be getting into a lot more trouble. Mr. Barlow had told Soren, after seeing him through his first day of instruction, that he knew he would be by Charlie's side all the time anyway, and that he would be the most likely person to be there when he got into trouble, so why not hire him to keep the boy safe, and get paid at the same time? Soren wasn't too sure about the men logic, because if he was there when Charlie got into whatever trouble he was talking about, wouldn't he be in trouble as well? That's how it normally happened any way. And he had tried to explain this to Mr. Barlow, but the man wouldn't listen. So eventually, Soren agreed to keep his word, and become the 'young masters' new bodyguard. His word also included keeping that fact a secrete for Mr. Barlow to reveal as a birthday present... Soren didn't want to be there when Charlie found out... He really didn't like surprises... Charlie rolled his eyes, and looked at him. "You're seriously going to think that I'm going to stay here? As if." He then sucked on his teeth before he started walking away from Soren. "If anyone needs me tell them I'm in my room, doing something more important." Sleeping was Charlie's main activity. The dream world was much more exciting for him than the real world. He spent so much time sleeping, that he can control his dreams from start to finish. As he got halfway across the beach, his father caught him and told him. "Son. Now that you're seventeen-"Charlie cut him off. "Eighteen" He corrected sourly. "Eighteen. I have to have someone keep you in line, and what better person, thank you old pal. Soren." Charlie frowned deeply, and pushed his father away from him. "What!" He exclaimed shocked. "Why of course, since you were such a troublemaker as a kid. Soren is you're new personal bodyguard." Charlie looked at him, then at Soren. "I hate you all!" He then ran towards the house. The guests seemed a little confused and worried, but his father played it off with the clique answer. "Kids. What can you do with them?" Everyone started laughing after he said that, and started to go back to what they were doing before. Soren hurried after Charlie, he had started running, but after a harsh glare from one of the many guards posted around the perimeter, he slowed his run to a quick walk. He got caught by Mr. Barlow, much the same way that Charlie had, "I think that went well, how about you?" Soren sighed and paused in his presuit, "no, I don't think that went well, I think it went quite wrong, actually." He said irritated, and then continued following Charlie. As he got to the back doors, he heard Charlie's bedroom door slam closed. "Dammit," Soren mumbled, he knew that he could have caught up to his friend if he had run the whole way, he was much faster than Charlie. He shook his head and ran up the stairs, there was no one to glare at him inside the house... He got to his friends' door, ready to bang on it till he opened the door, but knew that it would only piss off the boy inside even more. So he gave himself time to calm down, take a deep breath, before knocking on the door. "Charlie?" He called out, "do pigs fly?" Soren bit his lip, hoping that Charlie would remember the stupid little line that they had used as kids, to let the other know that they were really sorry, without having to say it... "Go away." Charlie stated knowing the joke. "I'm not going to forgive you. How can I trust you if you can't even tell me about your new job..." He stated curling up on his bed. This hurt him a lot, Charlie had seen the other kids at his old school have bodyguards, and they were cold as ice. They always told him that Soren would become one eventually, but he did not believe them, since he was too nice of a person to do that to him. After a minute, Charlie decided to stop stewing in his own self-pity, and sat up out of bed. He then went over to the door, and opened it. "But I will forgive you if you tell my father that you want to quit being my bodyguard, since well....you'd save my life anyway...." He stated rubbing the back of his neck. "I wonder if he even thought of that...." Charlie then added on to himself. He knew his father was a bit of an air-head, but he would never think that his father was that stupid. Soren waited patiently for Charlie to open the door. He knew that it was going to open, even when he was told it wasn't. He smiled as his friend finally opened the door, "you know that I would. I'd give my life for yours any day." Then he shook his head, "but I'm not going to quit. Not because I don't want to, trust me. I hate all these stupid rules and guidelines. But because your father is going to hire someone anyway. So... do you want some stranger standing around you in a suit, telling you what to do and what not to do? Or would you rather me, a little overdressed sometimes... most of the time... but not telling you what to do, just... suggesting. And getting paid, you know my mom could use the money... I'm not going to change, not really. I promise." Soren bit his lip as he finished speaking, hoping that Charlie would be okay with it, and not ask him to go down and quit again... Because he knew that he would if Charlie really wanted him to... Charlie sighed, and nodded his head. "I trust you, but if I start to see that your turning into a normal bodyguard, I'll pour honey down your suit." He stated with a smile. "And I'm serious too..." The young master added as seriously as he could, but since he was happy that Soren would still be the Soren he knew and loved dearly. After a minute, Charlie asked. "Can you get me cake? I don't want to go back to the party...." He really did not want to face all those people again, along with his parents who were just unbearable. "And I will take the honey like a man." Soren said, holding back a smile, trying to sound as serious as Charlie was trying. He was relieved and glad that his friend agreed with him, so he quickly broke out into a smile. "Oh, so your already taking advantage of the fact that I generally work for you now?" Soren rolled his eyes and shook his head, "fine, I'll go get you your cake." Soren walked quickly back down the stairs, but didn't bother going outside. Instead, he walked straight for the kitchen. He poked his head around the corner until he saw the chef. "PST!" Soren whispered into the kitchen with a big grin on his face. The big man looked up as soon as he heard Soren's whisper, and a grin broke out of his face as well. "Soren! What are you boys up to now?" He shook his head, and a loud laugh erupted from his belly. Soren fully walked into the kitchen at that point, and he shook his head as well, "no, we're not getting into any trouble, in fact, we're staying out of the way for this party." The chef looked Soren up and down with a look of distaste on his face. "It doesn't look like you're staying out of the party." Soren followed his gaze, with a similar look on his face, "this isn't for the party." He mumbled, and then shook his head, "we need a cake."" A cake?" The chef asked confused, "the servers have already taken most of the cakes out." Soren bit his bottom lip, "are you sure you don't have anymore?" The chef shook his head with a laugh, "I didn't say that." Then he went over to a large cupboard and pulled out a big cake, with red frosting." His favorite?" Soren asked as the chef placed the cake on a large cart." Of course." The chef said with a grin, pushing the cart over to the stairs with Soren, then helped him carry the cake up the stairs, with a small basket of a few plates, forks, and knifes inside. As they got to the door, Soren carefully reached out a hand, and knocked as quickly as he dared, before putting his hand back under the cake... The young master laughed as he watched Soren turned around, and walked down the stairs. He the closed the door, and laid down on his bed. He placed his hands behind his head and looked outside at the party below. No one seemed to notice that he was missing. After a few minutes passed, he heard a knock on the door. Charlie opened the door, and saw Soren, and the cook. "Nice to see you Tim!" He exclaimed smiling. "And thanks Soren." The young master told his old friend. "Do you want to join me? It'd be a nice little thing for today." He stated smiling at the both of them. Soren looked at Tim, knowing that he was already staying, so the question was aimed at the older man. He pondered the idea as they walked into the room and set the cake on the desk. "I guess I could stay for a piece." He said with a smile, "but then I have to get back to work. There's still a lot of people to feed down there." He said with a look to Charlie. "All expecting to wish you a happy birthday." "Great!" Charlie stated smiling. "He then cut three pieces, and placed a fork in each piece. He took two of the plates and handed them to Soren and Tim. "Here you go." He then went back to the desk, and took his plate. "Cheers." Charlie stated as he went over to his bed, and sat down on it. He broke a piece off of the cake, and placed it in his mouth, as he looked out his window. He could see his mother already causing a mess, Charlie sighed deeply, before looking over at Tim and Soren. Tim at his cake quickly, and set it back down on the desk. "Thanks for the cake, I better be getting back to work..." With that he left the room, shutting the door behind him. Soren walked over to Charlies bed and sits down next to him, finally loosening the collar of his suit. "Don't mind him, you know that he's always wanted you to get along with your parents." He said as he finishes his cake, and cuts himself another piece. "You want another?" He asks. He shook his head, and moved his plate to the center of his bed. "No, no. You can though." He stated yawning. Charlie then laid on his bed, and yawned again. "I'm going to take a nap....wake me up when ever..." The young master drifted off to sleep as he spoke, so he could not finish his sentence. Soren couldn't finish his second piece of cake, with Charlie sleeping lightly behind him. He finally gave up, and put the cake back down on the desk. Soren sighed, and laid down next to Charlie, not planing on falling asleep, but just needing to lay down. But 5 minutes later, Soren was just as passed out, as the friend laying next to him... Charlie woke up a few minutes later, to people banging on his bedroom door. It was one of the waiters from outside. Charlie jolted out of bed, and rushed over to the door. "What time is it?" He asked drowsily. The waiter panted a few times before saying. "Something happened to your father, and your mother is on a rampage." Charlie sighed deeply. "Then you go fix it. I don't care what happens to them. They never cared for me once, not even as a baby." He then slammed the door in the waiter's face. The waiter sighed deeply, and rushed back down the stairs to go back outside to see if he can do anything to relax the situation. Soren blinked heavily, wondering how Charlie had woken up before him, and how he had even fallen asleep, "what happened?" He asked through his daze, he watched Charlie storm angrily across the room. "What's going on??" He asked again as he rubbed his eyes... "Nothing." Charlie stated sitting back on the bed. "Something about my parents." He stated rolling his eyes. Outside, ambulance came to the house, and people were looking at William Barlow being put into the ambulance. His wife was just absolutely in tears. A few of the party guest had to hold her back, to prevent her from clawing at the EMTs in the truck. At the sound of sirens, Soren got up, and quickly walked over to the window. It was an ambulance... "Come on," he said as he grabbed Charlie's arm, "we're going down to see what's going on." He basically dragged Charlie out of the room and down the stairs, to the front of the house... ((Sorry I wasn't on. I was sick for a few days, but I'm feeling better now))Charlie followed Soren outside, and once outside, he looked at Soren and said. "I'll be right back." He then left himself free of Soren's grip, and went over to the nearest guest. "What happened?" Charlie asked. The woman looked at him. "Oh! Charlie. Your father was having fun, and laughing, when all of a sudden he started coughing, then he collapsed." Charlie nodded his head. "Was he smoking?" He then asked. The woman nodded her head, and the young master soon became extremely uninterested in what happened to his father. He went back over to Soren and said. "I told him this would happen if he kept smoking." Charlie stated as the Ambulance started driving off. "I have no sympathy for smokers." Charlie then stated. His mother looked at him, and cried out. "You monster! How can you say that about your own father!" Charlie shook his head and sighed. "Easy, I have never grown attached to him or you, you damn bitch. And besides, smoking is a bad habit, and I told him that hoping he could at least listen to his one and only son, but I guess his head was stuck too far up his own ass to even think about what I said." He then turned around and walked back into the house, steaming. ((That's fine, I just got over the swine flu last Wednesday Sgt;.Lt;;;; I had it for over a week, and felt like complete crap, and so I completely understand XD))Soren sighed as Charlie walked away from him, but let him go, knowing that the rich kid, and son of the host could get information much quicker than he ever could. But he followed close behind him, and listened nodding as the woman described her story. It was true, Charlie had been telling the old man that smoking would kill him for over ten years. Most of the time that was all he said to him. Soren jumped in surprise as Charlie's mother started screaming behind him, and even though the harsh words weren't aimed at him, they made him flinch slightly. He wasn't good with yelling, fighting was fine, fighting with his fists that is, but as soon as the yelling and screaming started he was out of there. And that's just what he did, as soon as Charlie went back into the house he turned and followed him, knowing what was coming next. He caught up to him at the stairs, "well, at least we know what happened... Are we sneaking out now?" He grinned at his friend but didn't get an answer until they were back in Charlie's room... Charlie sat on his bed and chuckled. "Where are we going to sneak off to?" He asked leaning on his knees. People were already rushing into the house to give the young master a piece of their minds. The young master sighed removed the sign 'Charlie's room' before closing the door, and locking it. "That should buy us some time." He stated chuckling slightly. Soren laughed as Charlie took off the sign, "I don't know where we should go, you're the one who always has a plan." He shrugged, "but I do know that I'm not staying in this thing any longer, I don't care that I'm not supposed to take it off till I go to bed." He made a face before continuing, "Got any clothes for me?" Charlie always had something for him just in case, so he knew it was a rhetorical question. He quickly threw off the jacket, leaving it crumpled on the floor and then proceeded with the shirt as Charlie went off to get him clothes... After looking through his entire dresser, Charlie sighed. "I don't have much." He stated pulling a large black tee-shirt, and a pair of large black sweatpants. "But this is all I have that will fit." He stated turning around and handed Soren the clothing. He then sat on his, bed and lightly laughed as he heard people coming to, and passing his room. Then he gave Soren a passing glance and thought. 'Hm...cute with his shirt on a with it off.' Charlie then shrugged, and looked back at the door, while kicking his legs back and forth lightly. Soren caught the clothes with a sigh, "sweatpants? Really?" But he shook his head and pulled them on. The shirt was slightly too big, and the pants a size to small. "Is this really all you have?" He asked in disbelief, "normally you have tons of stuff. Ah well, we'll just have to stop at my place real fast before we go to where ever we're going... where are we going anyway? Are we even leaving? Should I keep that stupid penguin suit on?" He glanced over at Charlie as he picked up the crumpled up suit, and dumped it on a chair. Then he turned to his friend completely and shrugged, "how're we even getting out? Last time we tried the window, you fell on me." He tried to look angry, but the memory was just too funny, and he started laughing until Charlie shushed him and pointed at the door, making him laugh harder, but quieter.... "Sorry but that's all I have." Charlie stated looking back at Soren. "Well we can take your car, and stay at your place for a bit. Why should we have to go somewhere else, if we're stopping there anyway." He added on turning his body towards the bodyguard. When he brought up the window incident, Charlie laughed as well, but not as loud as Soren. He made a hush noise, before whispering. 'Do you want me to get caught?' The young master asked. When Soren finally finished laughing, he shrugged. "Getting caught wouldn't do anything to you." He rolled his eyes, "they'd start talking, then you'd start yelling, and they'd go away." He grinned at his friend, "sure, we can stay at my house. But I meant how are we getting out?" Charlie looked at the window, then at Soren. "Window." He stated not asking a question. "You climb out first, then catch me. And don't worry, Soren. I won't go falling out of the window like last time." He stated rolling his eyes and laughing quietly. A few years ago, when Charlie was thirteen, he had wanted to go to a concert, but his mother and father told him that he was too young to be gallivanting around with people much older than himself. Not buying that excuse, he and Soren had leapt out of his room window, unfortunately Charlie's foot got caught on the railing, and he had a rocky landing on poor Soren. Soren laughed and rolled his eyes as well, "sure you won't." Then he walked over to the window, and quickly unlatched, opened, and slid halfway out the window, keeping it propped open with one hand. "Alright, jump out right after me, don't forget that this window snaps closed as soon as you let go of it." Then he let himself fall out the window, pulling his hand quickly away from the slamming frame. He kept his legs bent and his hands down, ready to catch himself when he hit the ground, but he felt a tug at his oversized shirt just as he saw Charlie climbing out after him. Immediately, he knew that something was wrong, and as he started slightly turning, his suspicions were confirmed. The tug on his shirt must have come from one of the many plants or barbs that poked out from the wall, turning him ever so slightly, throwing off his balance entirely. He tried to regain his balance by pin wheeling his arms slightly, but knew that no matter what he did, he was gonna crash to the floor, his earlier readiness gone. He saw Charlie jump out after him, just before he hit the ground with a hard thump, winded. "Dammit," he gasped, and began to right himself. Then he remembered that Charlie was right behind him. He tried to brace himself for the impact, choosing not to roll out of the way as Charlie crashed into him... When Charlie fell on Soren he instantly rolled off of him, and asked. "Are you okay!?" He pulled him out of the bushes and got beside him. "Shit. I'm sorry. I shouldn't've suggested the window thing. Furthermore, I'm sorry!" The young master exclaimed as he looked around to make sure that the crowd of people weren't following the sounds of their voices. When no one looked like they have even heard him his attention turned back to his friend who was laying on the ground, and in slight pain. Soren chuckled slightly, "you'd better be sorry, that was a damn stupid idea," he shook his head and was still laughing even as he said this though. Finally, he sat up, wincing slightly, "I'm fine, really. It was my decision to catch you even though I knew I was falling," he smiled at his friend, and forced himself to stand up. "Damn, my stomach hurts," he laughed again, "and now I'm hungry." He was downplaying everything, not wanting Charlie to feel bad, like it was his fault. He stretched then winced again, "alright, straight to my house then?" "Yep." Charlie stated helping Soren to his feet. "I want you to put ice on where I fell though. I don't want you to get a large bruise like you did the last time, because you kept downplaying my fall." He then added looking around to make sure that no one is coming after them. Once the coast was clear Charlie started to make his way over to the staff parking lot. "What does your car look like?" He asked looking at Soren. Soren nodded sighing, "alright, ice it I will, once we get to my house." Soren followed Charlie to the parking lot, only slightly slower than the other boy. Soren rolled his eyes at Charlie's question, "hmm, I don't know, only the exact same as it has for the past three years." He grinned at his friend, and searched the parking lot for his little car. The VW, or Bugs as they had fondly named it a few years back, had been his since he'd turned thirteen, but it had taken him all three years till he got his license to fix the damn thing up, getting it back into working condition. They walked over to the small white car, he hoped in and pulled a chain from around his neck. There were keys on the chain, and he quickly flipped through them, looking for his car key, while he waited for Charlie to follow him in. Soren groaned with his car as it forced itself awake, he turned to Charlie with a wince and mouthed,'man, I really need to get a new car,'refusing to say it out loud in case the bug decided to take offense and leave them stranded somewhere... He pulled quickly out of the parking lot, only glancing in the rearview mirror when he needs to pull out. He laughed at his friend as he kept checking over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being pursued, "relax Charlie, no ones coming to get us." He rolled his eyes with a grin still on his face as he drove the short distance to his house. He pulled into the driveway, and got out of the car, slamming the door as he walked up to his front door, glancing once over his shoulder to make sure Charlie was still following. Soren flipped through the chain that was still in his grip until he found his house key, then he slipped it into both locks, jiggling until the stupid think opened. Then he walked in, and slipped the chain back around his neck. "Go ahead and make yourself at home, I'm going to go get into some real clothes," he called over his shoulder as he left to his room. Soren came out a few minutes later, wearing a plain white tee shirt and slightly baggy blue jeans. He went into the kitchen and grabbed a soda, "you want something to drink?" He called out to Charlie, "so we're just hiding out here? Well what did you have in mind to waste our time on?" Charlie chuckled when Soren mouthed his complaint about his car. As they drove from the house, he felt more and more comfortable. He didn't like the guests that were there, and surely they'd hate him for not caring about his father's hospitalization. Once they arrived at Soren's house, Charlie automatically saw that it was normal-sized, which looked tiny to him. "I didn't realize that normal houses were this small...." He said not trying to be offensive. It was a normal reaction to someone who's never really been in contact with the bulk of the human population. "Sorry, Soren. I didn't mean to sound rude. I like it though." He then added quickly as he entered. Inside Charlie took a seat on the couch, and called back. "Soda if you have. And I don't know, what do people do when they hide out?" That was a bit of a stupid question since he was a rich boy hiding at a "commoners" house, so no one would look for him here. Soren rolled his eyes, "of course it looks small to you, your room is almost as big as my house is," he laughed, "and it's fine, do you think that I haven't always known how detached from the real world you are?" Inside the kitchen, Soren laughed, "not all poor people are criminals you goof," he brought out two sodas and smacked Charlie lightly in the head with one before dropping it in his lap, "I've never been on the run before," he laughed and plopped down in a seat across from Charlie. He popped is soda and drained half of it before speaking next, "but on all the shows my mom watches, they find some chick that is either loosely involved in whatever they're running from, or not at all. Then they hightail it out of there, and hide out until the heat dies down." His hand paused halfway to his mouth and he frowned, "wait... didn't we just do that? Dammit, that makes met he chick doesn't it?" He glared at nothing then started laughing. He thought, "after they get away there's normally some unbelievable chase scene, where they guy explains basically his whole life in ten minutes. They find some café which almost always has some bad guy in it that notices them after they've finished whatever they're eating." He looked around, "so if this is the 'café' in our getaway, we're pretty much screwed already, because I'm almost done with my soda." He swished around the last of what around the last of the liquid in his can and grinned at his friend. At that exact moment, just as the grin finished filling up his lips, he heard a key unlocking the door. Well, locking then unlocking it since Soren had forgotten to lock it after they'd come in." Speak of the devil, and he shall come," he said surprised. And he almost laughed out loud as Charlie's face paled. But it was just his mother, she walked in and called out, "Soren, are you-- oh, there you are funny. And you brought a friend home, why didn't you tell me we would have company? I would have cleaned up!" She was scrambling around picking up newspapers and other random objects... Charlie returned to his pink color when he realized it was Soren's mother. He watched her run around, before he got up off of the couch, and started to pick up what was on the floor as well. "Gee, Soren. You're not very neat are you?" Charlie asked looking at Soren from over his shoulder. He wasn't trying to get Soren into trouble, he thought that it was a good enough pay back for almost scaring him to death a minute or two ago. Unlike most kids his age, Charlie enjoyed helping people. He'd often help the cooks make dinner for him, since they didn't want him to make it on his own. Charlie also disliked his comfortable life he lived. He didn't like how people change when money is thrown at their faces, he used to go to the park, and often see the "commoners" adults play with their kids. Charlie felt that all the money he had prevented his parents from caring. Soren sighed and stood to help as well, "not when I don't have to be," he snickered. Most of the stuff in the living room wasn't his but 'Franks,' his mothers newest boyfriend. But it was the truth that when he didn't have to be, he wasn't very neat. His room wasn't the worst, but it wasn't exactly clean either. Soren's mother had tried protesting at Charlie helping clean, but she soon gave up when he asked to continue. Once they were finished, Soren collapsed back into his chair sighing, "now that we're through playing maids, what do you want to do?" He glanced at Charlie slyly and grinned, "I don't think you want to know what happens next in the movies..." Charlie sat next to him, and grinned. "No it's funny." He stated wanting to hear more. "I want to hear more, and I won't take no for an answer." He added poking Soren lightly in the arm playfully. When he wanted something normally he'd get it; Charlie doesn't do beg Soren often since they both find common ground on some levels, but he since they've been friends for a while, what would be the harm in begging Soren to finish his movie lesson. Soren sighed, "fine, I'll tell you, but you can't say I didn't warn you." He shook his head but continued, "they get chased out of the café and there's always another chase scene where they get away. They flee to either the girls place or a hotel, most of the time a hotel because the guys house is being watched and by that time the bad guys know who the girl is and will be at her house anytime. Then there's a hot steamy sex scene," he rolled his eyes to the ceiling so that he wouldn't have to see Charlie's reaction, hoping both that his own face wasn't reddening and that Charlie wasn't trying to connect their situation to the movie any longer. "After that it differs with most movies..." Charlie listened to Soren's story, until he mentioned the sex scene. His face turned bright red, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Yeah.....you know what I don't want to hear anymore." He stated standing up. Charlie then headed into the kitchen where he threw out his empty can of soda. Then he went rummaging around for food, or at least until his situation becomes a little less tense.' Damn.....' Charlie thought sighing as he took a few cookies out of a cookie jar.' What kind of movies does Soren watch?' He added on as he ate one of the cookies. Soren laughed, "I told you didn't want to hear it." When Charlie left the room, Soren relaxed slightly. His mom entered, grabbed the remote from the coffee table and clicked on the TV as she sat. As she settled herself into the plush couch, Soren watched to the TV, "what's on?" He asked before the picture even showed up on the screen, knowing that his mother would already have all the shows worth watching laid out in her head." James Bond," she said dreamily, "they're having a marathon of every Bond movie made over the next week, obviously they're starting with Dr. No, Sean Connery is so damn fine... I'd sleep with him if he asked."" Whoa mom, that's taking this conversation just a bit farther than I wanted. I'll probably be going out soon, leaving you and Mr. Connery alone. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." He winked at his mother who sighed." That was the point dear. Well that's no fun, I have no clue what you would do... and okay, you boys have fun. Do you need any money?"" I'm not sure, I'll let you know later. And to be fair mom, I never wanted to know what youwoulddo," he winced and grinned at her then followed Charlie into the kitchen, "eating my cookies I see." He said still grinning, stealing one out of the jar still in his friends arms... Charlie listened in on Soren's conversation, and was a bit jealous, actually. He had a mother who actually had conversations with him. When Soren came in, it broke him out of his thoughts. "Huh?" Charlie asked a bit dazed. After a second or so passed he realized what Soren asked. "Well I like cookies...." Charlie defended as he twisted his body away from Soren so he couldn't get any of them, even though they were his. ((I have no idea what guys do in their free time... I have no clue what to make them do... any ideas would be nice LOLOL everything that I've heard that a guy does in his free time are pretty much jokes... or stuff to be done alone ^.^;;;;))Soren frowned as his hand hit the top of the jar causing the cookie to fall from his grasp. "Hey," he protested, he took a step towards the other boy and wrapped both arms around him, holding him still with one arm and stealing the cookie back with the other. "Victory," Soren chuckled as he pulled back quickly before he could lose the sweet circle of baked goodness once again. He walked over to the fridge and pulled it open with the cookie hanging from his mouth. He grabbed out the milk then moved over to grab a cup, he pulled the cookie out of his mouth before speaking, "want some milk?" His hand hovered in the cupboard just over another cup... ((It's okay -^^-))Charlie whined, then playfully pouted when his jar was taken from him. He reached for it, but Soren had already moved himself away from him. He sighed in defeat when he couldn't get the cookies. "Sure, I'd like some milk." The young master replied leaning against the counter. He finished off the last of his cookie, and asked. "Can I have more?" He would have taken some, but Soren was holding the jar hostage. Soren laughed as he poured two cups of milk, he thought about it, "if you tell me what you want to do later," he grinned at the younger boy pouted, and ended up handing him a cookie, along with his cup of milk, before he was even able to answer. He set down the jar next to him, and scoped up his cup, dunking the cookie into the cup and then taking a big soggy good yummy bite of cookie. "MMM," he sighed through the mouthful of cookie... "We can go shopping." Charlie stated. "I don't know what normal people do, but it's better than nothing." He then added taking a bite of his cookie, before washing it down with some milk. "And don't even begin to protest. I have enough money to buy three sports team, and three more summer homes in three different countries." He added remembering that, that's what his father said when he was younger. He enjoyed wasting his father's money on ridiculous things, even though it was nothing big to his father, to Charlie he felt like he had won the battle. Soren rolled his eyes, shopping really? But a smile cracked his face, "yeah, I realize that. I also realize that the last thing you need is any more summer homes. Don't you already have about thirty?" He finished his cookie and another one that he grabbed out of the jar before downing the rest of his milk. He sighed and placed the empty cup in the sink then turned around and leaned against the counter, "but the real question: is how much do you have on you? I didn't see you grab any money... unless you did it in the few seconds that I was out the window... Check you pockets, who knows, maybe you left some in there or something. My mom offered to give us some, but she's probably thinking along the lines of ten bucks..." Charlie took out his wallet, and pulled out a gold card. "This belongs to my father. I snatched the one that had the least amount of money, and have been using it for my personal needs." He stated smiling. "This holds about three thousand dollars. Only because they knew gaming system and TV, and stereo costed me a lot." He added on as he placed the card back in. "I always keep it on me, just in case I leave my house for a bit." Charlie then placed the wallet back into his pocket and placed his hands in his pockets. Sirens eye twitched at the sight of the gold card, it was one he hadn't seen before, then he sighed, "you know as a guard I should tell you that you shouldn't be stealing from anyone, typically your father... but as a friend that is awesome, and why haven't you been sharing your goodies?" He poked Charlie lightly before leaving the kitchen, "I'll just go throw on some shoes, and we can leave." He said over his shoulder as he walked down the short hallway. Soren plopped on his bed and pulled on some clean socks then a pair of brown sneakers. He sat on his bed and glanced around, pulling some pepper spray out of his drawer and slipping it into his pocket. Just because he could fight, didn't mean he would if he didn't have to. He stood and stretched, then left the room and walked back into the living room to see Charlie talking to his mother. "What are you two plotting?" He asked suspiciously... "Nothing." Charlie exclaimed raising his hands, and chuckling. "Soren and I are just going to the mall to pick up a few things." He stated placing them back into his pocket as he watched Soren come in. "Do you want anything while we're out?" He asked the mother as he went over to Soren. He then looked at his friend, and asked. "Are you ready?" Hopefully Soren's mother doesn't find out that Charlie was carrying his rich father's debt card. Soren raised an eyebrow as Charlie scrambled over to his side, then he looked to his mother who seemed to be calculating their closeness. Soren quickly took a step to the side, putting more distance between him and Charlie so that his mother wouldn't ask any unnecessary questions. But it was too late, she had guessed enough to come up with some conclusion of the boys' relationship. Looked to her son with a slight twinkle in her eyes and smiled a sly smile, "thanks for the offer Hun, I've got a list around here somewhere... Soren would you mind helping me find my purse?" Soren sighed and walked into her room. Once they got there, she quietly shut the door before glancing at her son, "just a friend?" she asked doubtfully. Making Soren redden slightly." Yes mom, just a friend." Then he walked over to the bed stand that always held his mothers purse, he lifted it without a question and handed it to his mother who smiled at him again, the sparkle still in her eyes. She reached in and after a bit of ruffling pulled out a list and two twenties. She frowned a bit as she pulled out another bill, this one a ten, "I have no idea how much all that would be..." she mumbled trying to hand the extra bill over, but Soren waved her hand away." Forty should be more than enough," he said as his eyes scanned the list, "aw mom, tampons? Seriously?" But he just sighed and stuffed the list into his pocket along with the first two bills. Then he walked back out into the living room to where Charlie was, he stopped for a second, "are you coming?" He asked as he walked out the door, the embarrassment at his mothers question making him quick to leave. Before Charlie left, Sirens mother placed a hand on his arm, she winked then grinned, "you boys better play nice," she said then moved back to the couch, watching Charlie leave before turning back to her show... As Charlie walked out of the door, he looked behind him and nodded his head. "No worries. I'll make sure Soren behaves himself." He stated jokingly. The young master looked at Soren, and started laughing, as he walked down the driveway, and up to the car. "So what did your mother ask you?" Charlie asked. "I saw the look on your face, as you left the room." He quickly added with a smirk on his face, and his arms crossed on his chest as he waited for Soren to unlock the car. Soren ignored the question while he forced the car door to unlock. He got in the car and unlocked the passenger door as well. There was still no answer as he coaxed the car into starting, after the engine turned over a few times it finally started, grumbling in protest. Soren spent this whole time thinking about what to tell Charlie. He could tell him the truth... maybe... He bit his lip at this thought as they were pulling out of the driveway. Furthermore, he could also just tell him some random question that any mom would ask her son behind a closed door with company in the next room... But the questions just kept getting worse and worse in his head, so eventually he just sighed, and shaking his head he told the truth, "she wanted to know if we were just friends, or maybe a little something more." His face went bright red. It took Charlie a moment to figure out what Soren meant, but when he did his face also turned a shade of red. "Why would you mother ask that?" He asked. "I've known you for my whole life basically." He then quickly added trying to make the situation a little less awkward. After a moment, he looked at Soren, and sighed again. "Did you say anything?" He asked a little worried that he might have, or even the possibility that he didn't say anything. Why would his mother ask that? Maybe because she was no better than a fifteen-year-old fangirl who saw romance in every relationship she saw. One time when a mail man had specifically asked for Soren to sign off on a package his mother had been convinced that he was trying to get into her sons pants, and when the elderly man smiled at Soren as he came to the door, the protective mother had yelled that her son wasn't interested in any 'package' that the 'old pervert' was offering then slammed the door shut right in his face. It had taken Soren ten minutes convinced his mother that he was expecting a package of Cd's that he had ordered online and that he needed to be the one to sign off on them because it was under his name. His mother had eventually caved and allowed the door to be cracked by her hand and the clipboard was snatched through the crack for Soren to sign then returned to the confused man with a glare from the mom and a yelled apology from inside the house." Who knows, she's a little crazy sometimes," Soren answered shaking his head. Then he nodded when Charlie said that they'd basically know each other all their lives. It wasn't exactly true, but it had been eleven years or so... he'd been eight when he'd bumped into the younger boy at the park right? When you were a kid all the years meshed together, the memories combining until you felt like you'd learned how to ride a bike one day and then had been tying your shoes all by yourself the next. So when his mind told him eleven years he just took it as the truth, deciding that even if he was wrong it didn't really matter. Soren bit the inside of his cheek, once again wondering what the right answer was; pondering through the outcomes. If he told Charlie that he'd said that they were just friends and could never be more than he would be lying to Charlie not only about what he said, but what he felt. On the other hand if he told Charlie that he'd suggested anything else then it might freak him out, and then he would probably exit the car, flee back to his house and refuse to speak to him again... okay most of that was unlikely but still possible... If he chose not to answer him at all then Charlie would just continue to ask until he eventually caved, and then he would need something to tell him anyway... But if he said that he had told her they were just friends then silently hinted at maybe something more... though how would he do that? Damn it was all just to confusing. Soren stiffed a sigh and decided to just start talking and hope that everything came out right. "I told her that we were friends," he shrugged then continued to speak without thinking before, "should I have told her so meth--" As soon as Soren realized what he was about to ask, his throat thankfully closed up before he could finish the sentence, sending him into a coughing fit while they were sitting at a red light. There was no way he could ask Charlie if he 'should have told her something different'!! That would definitely freak him out!! What the hell had his mind wandered to while its thoughts had been unsupervised?? He propped his elbow up in the windowsill, hung his head heavily on his palm and looked awkwardly out the window. He could feel his face steadily turning red and was determined not to look at the boy sitting next to him, no matter how much he wanted to... Charlie watched with his head tilted to the side waiting for Soren to respond. After a moment passed Soren finally said what he said. The young master was finally going to nod his head to the answer when Soren stopped himself. "What? Soren, what does wrong tell me." Charlie stated pulling at Soren's shoulder. "Come on.... I'll buy your mom's....stuff....for you. My maids sometimes as me to buy it for them if they're low on cash." He then stated. He knew that it was something awkward since Soren wasn't showing his face, which meant that he was blushing. Charlie looked at Soren as an older brother, and so he'll pry the answer out of him like a younger brother would. "Please... I won't tell anyone! I swear!" He then added placing his other arm on Soren's before shaking it lightly, like a child. Soren laughed at Charlie's childish behavior, "it's nothing," he said shaking his head, "and mom gave me cash, you don't have to pay for her stuff..." he cleared his throat, "who says I'm worried about you telling anyone? Who would you tell anyway? Me, that's who you'd tell." He laughed then attempted to swerve the conversation away from himself, "are maids supposed to ask you for money?" Charlie rolled his eyes, and sighed. "I don't know, but my father barely pays them anything. So I just want to help out a little." He stated sitting back in his seat. "And I still want to know what your keep secret." The young master stated not becoming swerved by Soren's sudden change in conservation. "I'm not an idiot. I've known you for 11 years. I think I'd know when you're trying to change the subject." He stated sticking his tongue out playfully. Soren glanced over quickly and saw Charlie stick out his tongue, he laughed and shook his head. "Well I'm sure they'd be happy if you became the man of the house then. You could convince your mother to up their salaries quite easily." He was determined to keep the conversation changed, he really didn't want Charlie to think of him as a pervert or anything equally depressing. He pulled into the convenience store parking lot and stopped the car. As he was stepping out of the car he paused, "you're coming in right?" He asked, wondering if he should leave the keys in the car so that the heater could continue and the radio would stay on. "You don't have to if you don't want to." Charlie nodded his head, and opened the door. "I still want to pry your secret out." He stated seriously. He knew that he'd eventually get the secret out of him. "I will not stop asking you, until you tell me..." The young master then got an idea. He closed the door, and walked over to his friend. "I'll tell you a secret if you tell me the one you're hiding. And you have to tell me first." Charlie stated. Unlike Soren, Charlie can hide his feelings for Soren in his actions. It'll seem normal if he fell asleep in his lap, or if Charlie were to suddenly jump attack Soren. So to see if his friend had the same feeling for him would be a lot easier through this tit-for-tat deal. Soren crossed his arms uncomfortably, "who says I'm hiding anything?" he asked defiantly, then thought about it. A secrete from Charlie? There was something about his friend that he didn't know? Soren doubted it, but his curiosity was spiked. He had to know. He also knew that Charlie would find out what he had been about to say one way or another, and he would eventually get his answer, so why not get something in return? Furthermore, he sighed, "it's really nothing Charlie, but even if you're disappointed, you still have to tell me what you were planning." At the younger boys nod he pulled the keys out of the ignition and stood, "I was just going to ask if I should have told her something different..." he could feel his face crimsoning once again, and he stared at The ground a few feet behind Charlie instead of right at him... The young master pouted slightly. "Then if it's no big deal why do you keep blushing." Charlie stated crossing his arms. "And I promise to tell you mine." He stated hopeful. Charlie really wanted to know what Soren was hiding, he also wanted to know if his feelings would be returned. Then again if they weren't it would make their relationship awkward. "You don't have to say it out loud either. I just really want to hear it." Charlie stated now hanging on Soren's arm again. ((You want him to just come out and say it, huh? XD;;; fine. Lolol))'Dammit,' Soren thought, 'he wasn't talking about what I almost said but what I'm actually hiding,' with his face still bright, and brightening still, Soren shook his head. He closed his eyes, how had their day gone so weird? Wasn't this just supposed to be a normal birthday with an extra surprise or two? Not an occasion of forced confession. He reached a hand up, touched his ear, and wasn't surprised when he felt heat. He didn't have to say it out loud? But Charlie wanted to hear it? Soren felt like laughing but was too embarrassed to make the sound. Instead, he sighed and looked at the younger boys hands that were wrapped around his arm. Soren made up his mind, Charlie was going to find out sooner or later.' Now or never,'he thought. Soren opened his eyes, looked right into Charlie's, then he leaned down and kissed Charlie right on his lips, without closing his eyes. Soren saw the shock run behind his friends eyes, and he pulled it away before it could turn into anger or a more solid emotion. He quickly pulled Charlie's hands away from his arm and whispered, "happy?" Then he turned for the store and started walking... ((x3. Don't Blame me. Blame the mother x3))Charlie stopped breathing as he watched Soren kiss him. He stood there for a moment, even after Soren pulled his hands away from his arms. It took him a few seconds to get back to reality, and when he did, he bolted for his friend. "Wait up!" Charlie cried soon walking next to Soren. He pulled at his hand to make him stop, and said. "Yes. Yes I am happy." Charlie had a smile on his face, and a light blush as well, but nothing too noticeable. Soren stopped reluctantly when Charlie pulled at his arm again. His face was still bright red making his continual embarrassment clear. When Charlie said yes the first time it didn’t register in Soren’s mind, and he had been about to explain the kiss when Charlie repeated himself.“Whey--- … Really?” The confusion was obvious in his voice and he figured he must have heard the younger boy wrong… Charlie nodded his head happily. He then leaned up and kissed Soren back. "I bet you know what my secret is." He stated chuckling. Knowing that Soren liked him like he did make him real happy. The young master always liked Soren, but his feelings grew over time, his parents most likely will think of it as "inappropriate" or "wrong" but he never cared what they thought of him, because they never cared about him, so Charlie didn't care what they though, or what they'd say. Soren's eyes widened even more when Charlie kissed him. So he hadn't heard him wrong... if Soren's face could have reddened anymore, it would have. "Um, I could guess..." he adverted his gaze, and mumbled quietly, "but you promised to tell..." Charlie looked at Soren, and nodded his head. "Then guess. I'll give you a hint though. It's the same reason why you kissed me." He stated. The young master basically gave the answer away, but it didn't matter. As long as Soren knew that he loved him back, was all that mattered. Soren drummed his fingers against his belt as if in thought, "well I don't know about that... it doesn't seem like a very good secrete." He shook his head in disappointment, "who would have thought that you had an insistent little boy tugging at your arm, begging for attention, and refusing to leave the subject changed?" He continued to shake his head, a playful smile reaching his still red face, "when all you wanted to do was get in the store and get your mothers unmentionables?" He opened his eyes and grinned teasingly at Charlie... Charlie rolled his eyes, and shoved Soren playfully. "I can't be with the person I love?" He asked pouting jokingly. "If you don't want me to come, I'll just wait-" His cell phone then rang, and he answered it. He brought that thing everywhere he went, even though he was supposed to be hiding, he still carried it. "Hello?" He asked. It was his mother. "Mom? S-slow down, what happened..." He paused, and sighed. "Al-alright mother. Mom, relax yourself, okay." His mother started talking again, after another second Charlie hung up. He looked up at Soren, and said. "We have to get to the hospital. My father just died." He stated looking more annoyed than anything. Soren blushed happily when Charlie said 'the person he loved.' He kept thinking it over and over, getting a goofy smile on his face while Charlie was on the phone; he had been so occupied thinking that he hadn't been listening to the other boys' conversation. So when Charlie told him his dad had died he was extremely surprised. "Whey--Really? Wow... That guy has terrible timing..." He finished mumbling and started to turn back to the car, "you want to go now right?" Soren had never liked Charlie's father, had never really known the man actually even though he had been at his friends house almost every day for the past ten years or so. But since Charlie never liked him, neither had Soren. He had never agreed with the way people's thoughts changed for the dead; if you thought someone was an ass when they were alive, why should that change since they were dead? But this was Charlie's dad; and even if they didn't have a close relationship they were still father and son. If Soren's father was still in his life he'd want to be there when he died... Charlie sighed. "My mother's having a massive breakdown at the hospital, and I need to calm her down..." He stated combing his hair. 'That bastard. I told him those will kill him, but he never listened to me....' The young master muttered as he turned around, and shook his head as he made his way to the car. Even though he never liked his father, it kind of hurt him that he wouldn't listen to him, but what happened. Soren nodded and walked to the car as well. It was starting just as Charlie sat down. He drove out of the parking lot and directly to the hospital; quickly but not as if he was in a hurry. They got there and there was no parking. "Of course," Soren sighed. He pulled up right to the front of the hospital and stopped, "go, I'll find a parking spot while you find the room." Charlie nodded his head. "Alright." He stated as he turned and headed for the hospital. He entered, and heard his mother's cries. When the clerk asked for his information, he didn't even batter an eyelash. Charlie just kept on walking until he reached the room. When he saw everyone there, he told his mother. "Mother, stop your crying. Father's dead, all the tears in the world can't fix that." His mother looked at him, and hissed back. "How dare you speak to me, you little monster. I wish you were never born. I wish I had given you away, killed you, tossed you out the window. You have not once brought me happiness. And now when my husband is dead you tell me to calm down!" Charlie took his hand up and slapped her. "Well good. I damn well happy that we feel the same way. That sack of shit got what he deserved after I told him smoking kills. I hope he's in hell." He then turned around, and stomped out. His mother broke into tears again, and collapsed to the floor out of sorrow. Soren finally found a parking space almost ten minutes after Charlie had left the car. He was grumbling as he slammed the door shut. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and started walking. Furthermore, he had almost gotten to the front doors when Charlie came out. Soren stopped and waited for his friend to get to him; "are you alright?" He asked as Charlie walked past him. He turned and followed him, then lead him to the car. "We aren't staying?" "No!" Charlie snapped rushing past Soren with a look of absolute despair on his face. "Let's get going, Soren." He then said looking back at the other. Charlie was actually about to cry, but hopefully he wouldn't have to seeing as the hardened son of a Business owner. After a minute he walked over to Soren, and buried his face into his shoulder, and let out a deep sigh as if he was about to cry. Soren wrapped his arms carefully around the younger boy. He stroked Charlie's hair lightly, "what happened?" He asked quietly...((oh so short, sorry =.=)) ((It's okay))Charlie just shook his head, and started shaking. The shaking came from the fact that he was keeping himself from crying. 'Just-just-....let's get home...' He muttered hugging Soren tightly. He didn't want to break down in the hospital. Furthermore, he wrapped his arms around Soren tightly, and a sob escaped him. Furthermore, he bit his lip down, so it couldn't happen again, and soon tears fell. Now Charlie was silently crying into Soren's chest, the young master's lip was bleeding since he was batting it so hard. Soren heard Charlie trying to hold back his tears, "it's okay to cry Charlie; I'm the only one who will see." And it was true; the rest of the parking lot was completely empty of people. He squeezed Charlie tighter as he started crying. He tilted the younger boys head up to face him and frowned when he saw the blood. Furthermore, he pulled Charlie's lip from between his teeth and kissed him lightly before helping him into the car. He started the car with one hand while keeping the other arm around Charlie. As he was driving Soren kept Charlie close to him and made sure he didn't bite himself anymore. After a few minutes of silence Soren shook the boy under his arm slightly so that he would look up, "my house?" He asked, "or somewhere else?" He glanced down at Charlie and scrunched his eyebrows in concern. Soren flashed his eyes back to the road quickly before leaning down and kissing him again... Charlie let Soren lift his head, and kiss him. When his lip was pulled out of his mouth, his teeth grazed it lightly, making the mark a little bigger. He nodded his head, and stayed close to him when he was walking to the car. As the car was moving, he was staring at his hands, when Soren shook him, he looked up. His eyes shown despair. When he was asked about where he wanted to go, he nodded his head. Charlie would refuse to speak, since his voice would come out in nothing more than a whisper. Soren fell into the roll of a big brother figure that he had been holding for years easily. Though he had no younger siblings of his own, Charlie had always been like a little brother to him... at first at least. He pulled the car off to the side of the road and hoped no cops would pull over and ticket him for the illegal idling. He unclipped Charlie's seat belt and scooted him slightly away shoving the far belt clip and the middle belt into the seat as he did, "here Charlie; lay down." He patted his leg, "you can even fall asleep until we get to the house if you want." When Charlie laid down Soren reached over and grabbed the far seatbelt and clipped it into the middle buckle. He settled Charlie's head onto his lap and stroked his hair soothingly as he eased the car back onto the road... Charlie rested his head on Soren's lap. He let out a tired, sad sigh as he closed his eyes. The young master wasn't tired, but maybe a nap would help him. After a few minutes he looked up at Soren, and said 'Thanks...' He was feeling better, but not by much. What his mother told him, just struck his heart, and shattered it into pieces. Soren smiled down worriedly at Charlie and nodded. The rest of the drive was silent. When they got to the house, Charlie was indeed asleep. Soren pulled him up fully into his lap, so as not to wake him, then slid out of the car, bracing one arm behind Charlie's back and looping the other under his legs. He stood carefully, making sure he wouldn't drop him, then started up to the house. When he walked in his mother turned around surprised, "back so--" She stopped when she saw that Soren was carrying Charlie, and she muted the TV, "what happened?" She whispered. But Soren just shook his head and mouthed, 'later.' Then walked to his bedroom. He was relieved it wasn't too messy and that as he laid Charlie down he only had to throw one shirt off the bed. He kissed Charlie lightly on the forehead then left silently to go explain what had happened to his mother... leaving out a few choice details... Charlie was asleep for a good hour. When he woke up, he smacked his lips together, he made a face as well since dried blood doesn't taste very well in your mouth. "Score?" He asked as he got up out of bed. The young master walked groggily into the living room, where he looked around. "Y-you still here?" He asked wiping his eyes, while yawning. Soren looked up quickly from talking to his mom. "Oh, sorry; I meant to be back before you woke up... how are you feeling?" He got up and walked over to Charlie with a smile. Then he leads him into the kitchen to get him a glass of water... "Better." He replied following him into the kitchen. Once his mother was out of hearing range, he looked at Soren, and asked. "What did you tell her?" Charlie wasn't coming off as threatening, he just wanted to know if he told them what happened out of the hospital or if he told them about the new relationship. He leaned against the counter and sighed deeply. He still felt utter sadness, but it was a despair depressed sadness. Charlie wanted to cry, but his body was too sad to even bother letting itself rid itself of the sadness. He looked down at his feet and wiggled his toes against the tile floor, before letting out another deep sigh. "I think I'm going to go back to bed after this..." Charlie said as he stopped moving his feet, and looking back up at Soren. Soren glanced over his shoulder and saw that his mother was facing the TV again, but that the sound was very low. He shook his head, "I told her most of what I know," he said fairly quietly but not a whisper, "I told her that we had left your house today after a fight with your parents; had come here to hide. We went to the store, and you got a call that your father had passed away... we went to the hospital and as I was about to follow you in, you ran out in tears... and I took you here... I didn't tell her anything I shouldn't have done I?" He took a step closer, blocking his mothers view, and kissed Charlie quickly before straightening, "I didn't tell her about that," he whispered with a smile. Then he nodded, "that's fine, you can sleep as long as you'd like..." He took the glass back from the other boy and set it in the sink with a clink. "You want to go back now?" Charlie smiled when Soren kissed him. He wrapped his arms around him, and placed his head on his chest. "Sure, can you come with me though?" He asked closing his eyes. At least Soren would always be there for him, the thought of that placed a smile on his face. "In a few days it'll be safe to go back to my house. I planned on going to Hawaii anyway, we have a summer home there. You can come with me if you want." He asked looking up at Soren slightly. "You mom can also come if she wants." Charlie then offered his smiling growing more. Soren smiled, "sure, I'll come with you." Then his eyes widened, "you were just planning on going to Hawaii? Seriously?" He thought about it, "I've never been... I don't think my mother has either... all I really have is school... mom has work..." he frowned a bit while he thought. Then he just shook his head and smiled, "we'd be happy to join you; we'll work it out somehow..." He kissed Charlie's smiling mouth again then looked over his shoulder and saw his mother turn her head quickly back to the TV and groaned inwardly. He was going to get an earful for not telling his mom... "You ready to go back to bed?" He asked looking back to Charlie... Charlie nodded his head. "Yep, and just tell your school that a family member of your moved to Hawaii, and is having a house party." He said as he let Soren kiss him. "And yep." Charlie then let go of Soren, and walked out of the kitchen. Soren's mother in the meantime turned around, and looked at her son. "'Just Friends' eh?" She said raising her eyebrow, with a cocky smile on her face. "Then your some pretty close friends." She added on as she turned around, and went back to her programs. Soren laughed at Charlie's suggestion happily, "I'm not sure if that'll excuse me, but we can try." He kissed him again before they exited the kitchen. When his mother stopped him he blushed; then frowned slightly at her tone. He tapped his mother on the shoulder as he pulled Charlie back to him, who had started walking again, and wrapped his arms around the other boys' waist. He glanced down to his mother and smiled widely, while still blushing, before kissing Charlie right on the lips. "I'll say," he agreed with a laugh at his mother's and Charlie's surprised faces, before continuing down the hallway once more to his room towing Charlie after him... The young master's face was bright red, and he followed Soren to his room, with a bit of a smile on his face. After they arrived in the room, Charlie closed the door behind him, and looked at Soren. "Soren. What was that for!?" He asked still blushing like mad. Charlie disliked being embarrassed, although he was pissed at Soren for doing what he did. Soren was blushing to, but he was smiling widely, "I'm not exactly sure. All I know is that I didn't like the look on my mothers face, and wanted to show her that I don't need to sneak around to do what I want." He was still smiley as he kissed him again. Then the smile fell slightly, and he looked a little worried, "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you..." he mumbled... Charlie took his hand in his, and shook his head. "You didn't embarrass me. I was a bit surprised, that's all." He said kissing him lightly. He then sighed, and looked over at the clock. "Should I call home?" Charlie asked feeling like he should be the one apologizing. He then shook his head, and walked over to the bed. Sitting down, he said. "Never mind. My mother just might curse me out again. She always did that, no matter what I'd do." The young master then rubbed the back of his neck, with a sigh. Soren laughed and watched Charlie go and sit on the bed before answering. "You didn't do anything wrong Charlie. Other than be a bit of a jerk," he shrugged and walked over to the bed as well, "but it's nothing they didn't have coming to them for being such ass' your whole life. You deserve a bit of a break, I don't know why I didn't think of having you spend the night sooner," he rolled his eyes, "let her worry for a few hours." Soren hugged Charlie then kissed the top of his head when he pulled away. "She's just stubborn." He said as he moved Charlie to be lying down, "she'll come around eventually." He stood and kicked off his shoes then pulled off his shirt and pants, quickly changing into a pair of slightly baggy sweats. Furthermore, he walked to the other side of the bed and only hesitated slightly as he climbed into his bed.' Charlie asked me to come with him; he didn't say escort. He can kick me out of my room if he wants.' He chuckled lightly then found Charlie's hand under the blankets. Furthermore, he squeezed it once as he brought up his other arm to lay on his hand. ((like this, I'm not quite sure how to explain it though)) "Don't worry Charlie... it's going to be okay..." The young master turned his head, and sighed. "I hope so. And no, my mother's always bitchin' about everything." He stated chuckling. Charlie's laughed died down with another sigh. "I hope your mom won't mind me staying the night. If not I can just spend, what is now, my money on a hotel, or we can just go to the one I own." Charlie stated shrugging as if it was nothing. His father had bought out a chain of hotel's that now is doing well.((sorry it's so short. I have to go.)) Soren shook his head before he realized that Charlie couldn't see him. "No, she won't mind." He said as he pulled Charlie closer to him by the hand he was still holding. He rolled onto his side and looked down at Charlie; "you guys own a hotel?" He asked confused, but then he rolled his eyes, "you probably own one of everything, huh?" Charlie chuckled dryly. "Yeah most likely, and now everything's mine." He didn't want to own everything, he might give some to people that want it, or let Soren have something. "It's a bit annoying. I mean as a kid, I had all of my friends stay at the hotel a few times, then after a while I wanted to know if we can stay at one of their homes. We got into a fight, and I never really saw any of them again. That was a week before I met you." Charlie looked up at Soren. "When you saw me in the park, I was looking for the couple of friends that still talked to me." He added sighing. "Being rich is fine, but those kids only liked me since they got whatever I got." The young master stated sighing deeply. He soon hugged the other. "Lucky for us, that your not like that." Charlie stated happily, as he snuggled against Soren. "You were?" Soren asked surprised, "I don't remember you looking like you were looking for anything. You were just... standing... ...or am I remembering this wrong?" He smiled down at Charlie as the younger boy snuggled against him. He laid back down and wrapped an arm under and around Charlie; holding him against his chest. Furthermore, he stretched his legs down to the end of the bed, wincing as his knee popped, before relaxing fully into the old mattress. Soren thought back to Charlie's house and to the bed he was used to sleeping in, "sorry if the beds uncomfortable... I should really get it replaced." He shook his head, "which means I need a new job," he sighed and thought about how great it would have been to get paid for hanging out with his best friend; but now that Charlie's dad was dead, the job was probably as well... "You'll still have your job. I'm in charge now, and since we're dating, you'll be living a more comfortable lifestyle." Charlie stated winking playfully. That was true, either his mother approved of it or not, his father placed in his will that everything is passed down to his only son. "So no worries about that." He added on chuckling lightly. "Although some of the older guards might try and become advisors....if that happens I'll handle it." He then stated in a more serious tone of voice. "I do?" Soren asked confused, "didn't you not want me to have it in the first place?" He asked then blushed a little and smiled when Charlie said they were dating so casually. "A 'more comfortable lifestyle'?" He was still confused, "what do you mean?" Soren tried to figure out what he meant by advisors but couldn't; "advisors for me or for you?" "Advisors for me. I know there people who want to have what I now have, which is they want it all too badly I might give tit to them. I really don't care if this was all gone tomorrow." Charlie said. "And I mean that you don't have to worry about money much anymore." He added on looking up at him. "Everything will work out. I'm sure of it." He then leaned up and kissed Soren lightly. "I... should have gotten that," Soren sighed, "why would you just give it to some rich people to abuse? I think that if you ever got tired of 'ruling the world' you should donate it to various charities... or at least make the people you give it to give their profits to a designated charity." Then he laughed, "my mother will like the sound of that," he rolled his eyes, "I'm not going to ask for anything though," he looked down at Charlie with a smile and a slight shake of his head, "I can't stop you from spending your money and whatever you like, but I’m not going to hurry it along with requests... I'm fine right now," he laid his head back down as he listened, then he grinned before kissing Charlie back, "I know it will. Now get to sleep, it's been a long day." He laid back against the pillows again but waited until he could hear the regular breathing from Charlie that meant that he was asleep before he started drifting off himself... Charlie shrugged at his questions. All the emotions that he went through today left him drained. The young master was asleep with in minutes after he had gotten under the blankets. Hours passed, and Charlie woke up to the ringing of his phone. He pulled it out of his pocket, and said drowsily. ''Hello?" It was one of the servants. "I'm at a friends 'use. Sleeping. Good night.' He then hung up and placed the phone on the nightstand before closing his eyes again. Soren woke up with a groan, he looked down at his arm to see what was on it that had left it so numb. He stared in shock when he saw Charlie lying on it asleep. He shook his sleepy head and thought back to the day before. Furthermore, he sighed and leaned back against his pillow when he remembered all that had happened. Furthermore, he glanced over at his clock and saw that it was almost noon, he really hoped it was a weekend. Soren smiled down at Charlie and watched him sleep for a few more minutes, just long enough for him to feel like a creeper, before he shook the younger boy awake. "Charlie, it's almost noon. Ready to get up?" Charlie growled and muttered something like. 'IZ tired. Go away.' He then curled into his blanket even more. Charlie will get up when he felt like it. Soren should know that by this point. 'Let me sleep for a little longer.' Charlie then added turning around, so that he can snuggle against his new boyfriend. Soren laughed and grinned, "alright, I'll let you sleep." He wrapped his arms around Charlie, and laid back against his pillow... But the silence was boring, so pretty soon. "What do you feel like doing today Charlie?" Charlie looked over from the covers, and groaned. "I don't know..." He muttered burring his head into Soren's chest. "Movie? Something?" He then followed as he started to come awake. Charlie then sat up and looked at the clock. "It's not even two yet." The young master stated a little annoyed. Normally the servants let himself until they get talked into waking him up by Soren, which was around two p.m. A sigh then escaped him, and he leaned back onto the wall. "Oh well. Anyway, I'm cool with anything you want to do. I have no qualms about that." Charlie then stated smiling. Soren laughed and sat up with Charlie, "not even two?" He shook his head with a grin, "you've been too spoiled Charlie; most kids have to wake up at 6... am." He looked up, still grinning. "A movie sounds nice. What did you have in mind? At least what kinda movie if you don't have one in mind?" That made Charlie pout. "No. I just like sleeping." He stated crossing his arms across his chest. After a few more seconds the young master calmed down, and shrugged. "I don't know. Whatever movie you want I guess." He then stated scratching the back of his head. Soren thought about it for a few seconds, but none came to mind, "I don't know... there isn't any even in theaters that sound good to me. I don't watch movies that often. What sounds good? Action? Mystery? Fantasy? ... Romance?" He grinned down at Charlie with a waggle of his eyebrows at the last suggestion... "Any movie you like. I like." Charlie stated blushing slightly. The comment he made about the romance movie made him a bit flustered. "Maybe we can watch one at home..." The young master then suggested trying to remove the blush on his face, since he knew Soren might poke fun at him for it. "I'll pay by the way. Since you let me stay over, it's only fair." He said smiling at the other lightly. Soren laughed and poked Charlie's red cheek before kissing it, "how 'bout we just find something on TV? It'll be easier." The blush on Charlie's face reddened. "If that was to help my blush, it did the opposite." The teen stated pointing his head down. He was always easy to blush, but now the littlest comment would just make his face turn colors.

Ikami and Dear Dreamer's private roleplay|rating:3.0

Am I Real_ [RPGuy and Keidance]

"Miss Peele... Reyna. If I may, it's not too late to reconsider your decision to use someone from Codebreakers as a consultant..." Reyna rolled her eyes as she made her way from the office to the elevator. She'd been fielding complaints for the better part of the week ever since it became public that the company had hired a consultant for VR testing. "As head of software development," the designer continued as he practically chased her towards the elevator. "Our in house QA team is more than capable, and much more familiar with the hardware than this reviewer, and I feel the staff would be much more comfortable-"Reyna sighed, pausing at the elevator doors while she waited. "First off Bill, let me stop you there. Our consultant is literally waiting down in security for his badge, so I'm not entirely sure when youwouldfeel it's too late to hire him on. Secondly, we decided to hire mister Averybecauseof his reputation, not despite it."" What? But why would you? His review of Knights of Valor kept it's average score out of the 90s. On Metacritic it's ranked at an 89, below the biggest hits this year, all because he wanted to rip it to shreds for publicity! The development team would-""Bill, I read the review your talking about, he gave it a 75%. He said it was, and I quote, 'Well Written, Expertly Executed, but Fatally Flawed, and he was right. The game didn't really take off until after your team got their second patch after months of bug squashing, most of which were reported by the Codebreakers community. I realize your team doesn't like criticism, but he's one of the few people that took an objective look at the game instead of jumping on the perfect review bandwagon. Like it or not, he was right. And that's the kind of impartial honesty we need if Fantasies, Inc, oranydivision of Caltech VR is going to take off, especially given the nature of our system."" But I-""Bill, I've already made up my mind. This conversation is over." As though making an effort to reinforce Reyna's point, the elevator gave a cheerful chime before sliding open. Reyna, happy to be free of the conversation, quickly made her way to down to the lobby where her guest was waiting in the security checkpoint." Perfect timing ma'am, I just finished printing his badge." One of the guards commented, handing over the plastic chipped card. It bored a small picture of a man's face, freshly shaven with hair trimmed and combed back to make a proper impression for a first day of work. His eyes, a dark emerald color, looked slightly small behind the black rim of his glasses. Below the picture, the name "Jackson Avery" was printed above the Caltech logo, along with his position, "QA Consultant". Across the lobby, the man matching the picture was browsing the various pieces of hardware on display in the lobby pedestals, the next generation of console hardware, a handicapped enabled controller designed for single hand use, and a large catalog of software titles were all on display, though Jackson's attention was currently on a 1/50 scale model of the Caltech Full Immersion VR Pod. Jackson, or as he was known on the Codebreaker forums, Crackerjack, was actually quite surprised to get the call from Caltech with the job offer. Founder of the Codebreakers review community and website, he was used to not being in the best standing with most gaming companies. He and his staff had reputations with some as being hard asses, giving popular games scathing reviews to bolster their own egos. To others, they were the patron saints of the gaming industry, one of the few groups willing to tell you how a gamereallywas, rather than simply displaying a popular or purchased number. With many companies refusing to send free review copies, oftentimes the Codebreakers website operated off their own purchased copies of games, or the generosity of its community in order to keep their reviews going. An invitation to work on a project like Caltech's was simply unprecedented. At first, Jackson had been skeptical. Over several conversations with Reyna, he'd been sure it was clear that, whether Caltech wanted it or not, he'd provide an honest opinion of the hardware and software they wanted to test. Negotiating recording rights and his NDA had been the hardest part. Data from his gameplay would be analyzed for the purpose of improving the system, but not publicized without his consent. Similarly, he was allowed to share limited information on what he was working on with the Codebreakers community, in the form of exclusive updates on Caltech's latest VR projects. All in all, it was a win-win for him, and a great chance to see the latest VR technology up close, something that particularly interested Jackson."it's a pleasure to meet you, Jackson." Reyna called out as she extended the badge to him."the pleasure's all mine. I'm not used to companies wanting to work with us to make their games better." Jackson commented as he looked around the lobby one last time before following Reyna towards the elevators. "I have to admit, I could get used to this..." Critical as he was, Jackson loved games. He simply wanted to see the industry grow. His worst reviews often received the scored he did because he believed the company that made them could do better. While an indie developer might get an 8 for their efforts despite a few bugs, an AAA company like Caltech was harder to forgive for the same mistakes." Oh, you haven't seen anything yet." Reyna assured him as the elevator plunged into basement levels where major development took place, where it could be carefully controlled and concealed until the next big announcement. "Now, of course, we want you to be honest when you find something that doesn't feel right, but I honestly think even you'll be impressed with this one." The elevator opened into a white hallway leading to several doors, each identical aside from the placards beside the door. "Here we are!" Reyna exclaimed, pointing to one door, labeled "VR Software Testing". Jackson could barely contain his grin as Reyna showed him how to use his badge to unlock the door for his first peek inside. Within that room that Reyna pointed to the 'man behind the curtain' would be revealed with but a swipe of the badge. The room was a large one with a smaller sectioned off room obviously the chamber that he would be assigned to. The stark whiteness of the room contrasted sharply to the chambers' onyx walls. A lone technician set at a keyboard sweeping his fingers across the touchscreen that it existed upon, the slightest flux of his fingers acting as both mouse and scroll dependent. Reyna gave a slight smile as she tilted her head." We found out in earlier testing that the absence of light within was very important to the module. Now we realize that this is not cost-effective for people to have directly in their homes, but the technology is being worked upon, as it always is to make it consumer friendly. However, we need an objective view point, as stated to you, to know what we are doing is going to be worth the over all price points that will have to be set. " "Now what we have inside is actually more of an augmented reality chamber, not the typical virtual reality system. You see, we noted that a large amount of VR rhetoric elided the actual problem was that touch was key to the experience in and of itself. Factor in the need for scents and temperature changes, and surely you can begin to see that actually creating the system to run it wasn't the only complex issue we had to address. Those were just the start, and we knew we had to solve those issues first for full immersion experience. It may help to think of her as a Holodeck, more than a Rift. " Reyna gave a nod to the tech as if to dismiss him as she motioned for Jackson to follow her to the side table, removing the lid from a medium-sized metal container not giving him time to speak, but allowing him plenty of time to let his eyes explore about him. One a monitor upon the screen different scenes, different segments of the program being run were showing. One another the actual analytics were being run in real time and on the third? There was merely a line which at times vibrated, and other times remained flat as if gauging the usage of the system itself. "So we worked on the hardware and principle applications that would allow us to create an experience far above any other. Then we realized, we had to manage the difficulties of perception replication and how to implement a sort of force field, that is actually what creates the sensation of touch, offering resistance to manipulation as well as a basis to feel tactile manipulation conduction, whereas a hologram itself would merely be ..." she paused the faintest curve of smile showing that was slightly embarrassed at giving away some of those secrets." You will be handed the released specs in your informational press release, of course and should you have questions, please reach out to one of us, and we will see them answered as quickly as possible. " "Bend your head down, Jackson. This will allow Enigma to interact with you." Enigma? The way Reyna spoke the name it was more like a title as she placed little sensors at the base of his spine and on either temple. The slightest bit of stickiness was all he could feel, but the pads obviously did something more. "These allow a direct form of a neural connection with her. You did sign the release forms, right?" The amusement showed in her eyes as she took in a breath." You see we realized that the system of belts that you move across within the chamber wouldn't be enough, nor would the attachments that allow the AI to know when to lift you so that flight feels real, or when to drift you should you be racing a car within her walls. So what our clever techs did was tweak an old idea of ours and use it for this purpose alone. It's a bit more invasive than we would like it to be, but what it does is allow a .well for lack of a better term, it allows for a data share of sorts. It would be impossible to be a samurai without knowing how to hold a sword or make a killing blow. Now the information is not processed by the brain in a way that allows it to be stored in short term memory or even muscle memory, but we are hopeful that we can one day, further down the road use the application for a variety of implementations. Reyna paused as she drew in breath. "I know it is a lot of information when honestly the experience is what you are here to judge. I am just exceptionally proud and so pleased you were willing to come help us test. I think you will be impressed with Enigma. That is what they decided to name our AI, who will control the situations, analyze and react with the NPCS you encounter." She had to laugh as she gestured for him to follow towards the onyx door that slide open automatically for them. Inside a harness a comfortable one that allowed access in a great many ways along with suspension capabilities awaited, dangling above a floor where a system of moving spaces would allow for free roaming. "It's a play on "Enigmatic Emotional Response Engine" and to be honest, the team just found it clever considering what an enigma is. And you, Jackson, you are going to be the first she actually gets to fully play with without our interference. Don't be frightened, of course we ran several test procedures before inviting you to gauge our progress. The helmet is there."her fingers pointed to a small pair of wrap around goggles stream lined and almost too fashionable really, dangling from the harness." If you have no further questions at this time, perhaps it would be best to start? Feel free to strap yourself in, and I will send in a safety tech to make sure you are ready to go adventure! The first will be simple enough, a basic run through and option selection so you can see what we are offering. I do hope you like the beach, I think that's what Walter lined up for you." Her hands moved sweeping back a few stray hairs behind her ear. While she would wait for any more questions or for him to suggest something if needed, if he merely moved to go ahead and strap in for the experience of his life? Then she would quietly exit the chamber, making sure that the safety tech came in to double-check the suspension, helmet and pads were all safely attached and in working order. Jackson took a moment to respond, instead staring slack-jawed at the harness. He knew he was testing some new development in virtual reality, but he'd been expecting something more like a paid or gloves that made it feel like he was really interacting with objects, a more precise headset, or perhaps a better, more affordable Omnidirectional treadmill. The harness kept it from feeling like a science fiction holodeck, but it was still well beyond anything he'd yet seen in the industry. That was, of course, assuming it worked. He had got take a moment to remind himself that it might not. He wasn't there to conduct a review to publish in Codebreakers, after all. Furthermore, he was there as a QA consultant. In a sense, it was his job to break the system if it could be. Still, even with the reminder that it was a job, it was hard not to get excited, even with the neural link pressing at the base of his head." This thing..." he asked, running his hand behind his head to see how it felt. Reyna hadn't even given him a chance to look at it. "It's going to send information to my brain?" The prospect made him somewhat nervous, especially since again, he was there to test a developing product, not experience a finished one." In a sense, yes." Reyna replied. " Don't worry too much about that, it's already been extensively tested, as have several other features of the Virtual environment. Another common concern testers have had is whether it's possible, in simple terms, to die if you perceive your own in game death. We've put extensive safety measures in place, and you can rest easy, our system is completely Death Proof. Believe it or not, the neural link a safer way to recreate the feel of the warm glow of a fire than to have an actual heat source in the camber with you, as well as dozens of other uses, especially in scenarios unique to the fantasy scenarios we intend to have in some of our facilities for adults we're hoping to open."" Wait... adult facilities? Since when did Caltech drop family friendly?"" Well, Caltech didn't. Fantasies Inc. will be a separate entity, working off the same technology. The truth is, someone is going to figure out how to use this hardware for adult purposes. It's only a matter of time. If we take initiative, at the very least we can make sure that the market is fun for users, while still maintaining the same health, safety, and ethical standards we always have."" Wait... am I testing these scenarios?" Jackson tried to hide the red in his face as he asked, well aware that his data would be recorded for debugging purposes. Reyna only answered with a smile. "I'll let you find out for yourself. Rest assured, though, the data from your tests is only analyzed for tech purposes, barring anything you choose to publish, and we agree to release. Now, if you don't have any other questions..." Reyna gestured towards the harness. Jackson had to admit, his curiosity was overpowering his hesitation. As Reyna left the chamber, he made his way over to the harness. Getting in was easier than he'd expected, everything was relatively inquisitive. It didn't take long before he was properly secured, the safety tech nearly starting him as they double-checked everything. Everything was black to him, thanks to the visual component of the system. At the moment, the system felt rather uncomfortable, dangling and blind. Everything changed in an instant. He could hear a feint hum around him, followed by a hum just behind his ear. For a moment, everything went white. Jackson felt like he'd been blinded, like walking out of a pitch black cave into a summer sun. Slowly, everything came into focus. He was standing on a beach, in swim shorts. The harness was gone, at least to him. All he could feel was the warm glow of the sun and the crunch of sand under his feet. The beach seemed to stretch on endlessly around him, aside from the ocean. He wasn't sure, but he thought he could make out a figure in the distance. The sun was already setting, casting an orange glow across the horizon where the ocean and sky met. The water gently lapped at the beach, just inches from his bare feet. He took a few steps, surprised to find it actually felt like sand under his feet. Out of curiosity, Jackson walked over to the edge of the sand, stooping down to dip his hand in the water. It felt cold and wet against his fingers. He could only assume it was by the grace of the neural link it felt so real. He scooped up a handful of the water, bringing it to his mouth and slurping to see if it was possible to drink, and then immediately spat it back out. "Beef!" He groaned, wiping his mouth of the salty taste with his forearm. In truth, he hadn't expected it to work, or to taste so... real. For a moment, he couldn't decide whether to be impressed or disgusted. It was all completely unbelievable. The beach was indeed idyllic. Every grain of sand held its own glimmering dancing spark of light from the brilliance of the sun that was setting so sweetly in the horizon, its magical warmth kissing both shore and the endless bounty of those salt tinged waves. In the distance the seagulls serenaded during their hunting swoops, the golden warmth of those bits of sand only too happy to slide and shift underneath the weight of the one who walked upon the sore, almost as happy as the waves with their froth were to kiss the shoreline. If he watched, each lapping kiss would reveal something more, a bit of shell, a bit of froth, a bit of seaweed that when the waves ran back out into the ocean were left behind like some present for his amusement. He was right, however. In the distance approaching at a leisurely pace was a figure, a or perhaps more to truth, a visual representation of something. The sunset held its own purpose in this, the golden light with all its range of reds, yellows and pink adding to the ambiance of it, as the waves made their distinct sounds and the world itself, was but a dream so real that one may confuse it when actually dreaming later, with reality. Sooner rather than later that figure would draw close enough for the details to become apparent. The AI that was producing such images, such sensations, was far from a simple thing, but for this the shell representation of a human form was what was written so then, it would be. A crafted being, tall with fuller curves was female, because the tester was a male. An amalgamation of those traits that had tested at a rank 5, perfect, with the slightest imperfections thrown in to make it real. Her sarong was made of a simple fabric so thin that the slightest gesture clung or loosened the tied cloth about her, modest but in a way that begged for immodesty, at least that's what the image testing had written in review. She, for lack of a better word, paused close enough for him to view her, to take her in as if she were nothing more than an addition to the landscape. Something glimmering in the surf for him to discover, her face turned to watch the sunset, as if she didn't realize the positioning of her face actually only added to the beauty of it, that the play of the sunlight upon her features didn't reflect in the golden flakes that danced in dark eyes, or cause the light to catch the glimmer of her full lips, or make the dusky coloring of the flesh 'worn' seem even more exotic. Not a word came from her lips for a few long moments, as she allowed the programming, itself, to remind her when to appear to draw in breath, giving gentle rise and fall to her chest as her toes curled into the kiss of the water as it played its ever constant game of lap and flee. She didn't need to see him, to watch him. Each action, each biometric reading from the attachments to his physical form, each aspect and slight change in his person 'here', allowed her to watch him in ways that would shock one who did not understand her purpose. He was alien, a foreigner who she was meant to learn, to observe, until she could predict mood, movements, wants, desires before even he could know them. Her own parting of lips came next, this avatar chosen to give the first interaction, and so she must speak." Welcome, Crackerjack or should I call you Jackson Avery, or Mister Avery?" The voice held no metal sound, no odd after ring that would announce it was not produced by vocal cords of an organic nature. It was not clipped as though it was merely recordings of some real woman's voice, who lived her life far away from here, even now. It was her own." You may name me what you wish to. I am pleased to be your introductory interaction into our playground. I am here to answer questions and to give light tutorial before you are granted access to the sub menus. " Subtle changes in the tone showed her attempt to find the emotional additives to the language to make the meaning stand on its own. Something within the coding, within the program itself reminded her to turn that head, to let the dark curls dance in their waves not unlike the water about her shoulders as eyes searched for the representation of his own eyes here. There, that was communication too, the layers of it all not lost upon 'her' as lips curved into the slightest of smiles. Somewhere within the layers and layers that made this possible questions arose, hunting some answers, as if to validate what the AI witnessed. Why had he drank the water? What was the reaction to it? How were his metrics, what was raising, what was slowing, monitor the brain waves, see which area's of the gray matter activated and when in correlation to the stimuli before him, adjust accordingly. If Jackson could only see the amount of data she had to process, he'd either find it horrifyingly invasive and downright creepy, or possibly, just embarrassing. The woman walking towards him was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He still wasn't quite clear how much of his own body was real in the world he was in, but he definitely felt the familiar rush of blood as he glanced over her features, her outfit giving him just enough to see to want more. He could certainly agree the name they had picked for their side company was appropriate; the woman was nothing short of a fantasy. Furthermore, he was lucky not to know she could likely tell exactly how he reacted to the sight of her, both mentally and physically. That was, at least until she spoke." Ummm, Jackson is fine..." he replied. The answer felt a little awkward, but then again, so did the question. It was just enough to break his immersion of being on the beach. In the back of his mind, he made a mental note of it; having a completely stranger, especially one so flawless it was nearly intimidating, address him by both name and screen name was a bit off-putting, especially when they didn't seem to know which to use. It was... odd, being approached by a gorgeous woman in such a romantic setting, only to be referred to by his online screen name. It would be best to discard the concept of prior knowledge and simply ask they user's name. For that matter, stating one for herself as well. "I guess... I'll call you Sophia..." It felt odd to name her, which was funny. Jackson had named dozens of characters in various RPGs, but there was something different about telling a person standing in front of them what he'd call them. It made him unsure of his own answer, wanting something that fit the woman's near perfect image, something exotic but familiar. It also felt like a littletoomuch control, like the woman was a blank slate, and Jackson tended to appreciate a woman who had a mind of her own. Furthermore, it wasn't to say he couldn't enjoy a little submissiveness in the right situation, but not quite to the degree where he would even dictate their name. At that point, it felt more like a very sophisticated toy. Ite was funny how much a single quirk could change an opinion. Had she introduced herself under any name, his first impression would have been drastically different. He made another mental note of it. It was possible he was being a bit critical of the situation. The woman was there, after all, to simply introduce him to the VR system, after all, a complex identity and backstory was hardly necessary. Other players might not find it off-putting in the slightest to name her, but for him, it simply felt odd, and he imagined it would hurt immersion for several others. Still, it was an easy quirk to fix, just a new line of voice acting and some animation adjustments, and they were good to go. The character herself was stunning. If Jackson's sense of modesty and real world inhibitions weren't getting in the way, he'd be tempted to reach out and touch her, just to see if she actually felt real, or if she felt like she was there at all. He was curious just how interactive she was. "So... you're my introductory interaction, what does that mean, besides the tutorial?" He asked. He still wasn't quite sure. Could he ask her anything? Would she be able to reply in real time, or just pick the most logical script from a selection of them to respond? He was half tempted to give her the treatment he would a chatbot to see what she would say, but at the moment, he was still learning the system, and being impressed by how real it all felt, down to his wet feet. The sunlight danced about them, reflected and refracted off the water. And upon her features, there was a welcoming warmth that seemed to be animated from within, giving that sensation of being introduced to a friend of a friend, however odd the exchange might feel. As seconds ticked by, the program was analyzing data retrieved in ways that would make anyone biologically made boggle a bit. Just the visuals were meant to be awe-inspiring and incredible, down to the way the material of her sarong seemed to play games in the light, drawing the attention to the breath pattern of the image before him. She listened to him in that way that made it impossible to even ponder for a moment that he was not the center of her universe, that he had her full attention. What may have been shocking was how true that fact was, for he had her full attention, every detail that was being created and projected was for him and him alone. "Jackson, thank you for naming me something so beautiful. And may I say it is a pleasure to meet you." The voice slipped over her lips as she smiled, the action even bringing the slightest crinkle of joy to the corners of her eyes. "I was terrified it would be something like "BooBoo69" or "Pwned". While we have been preparing for your introduction here, I wasn't quite informed as to what names you may select. " The attempt at humor was scripted from thousands of attempts, to be selected when the moment felt right to the streams of information that ran over several interlays. As for the confession of her ignorance in regard to what nick a gamer might give her? That was merely the AI giving a report of her status on that matter. Her arm extended offering him her hand as she turned her head as if watching the sun dance across the water for a longer moment before Sophia would let those dark eyes of hers with their golden glints fall back to gazing into his eyes. "I am your introductory interaction. My purpose is to introduce you to the system itself. I know, that sounds childish when stated so simply, but it is simple. I will give you a basic tutorial, you can ask me questions, and eventually when you are tired of me, you have only to request the menu and I will grant you access to it. "Laughter came light and airy from her lips as nose gave the slightest little wrinkle as she waited for him to take or to reject her hand. "I suppose I could say, I am here to acclimate you and to work as the information desk. If you don't mind, we will take a little walk down the beach together. I would like to hold your hand as we do, but if that is uncomfortable for you, it is understood. We have found that most are curious about the nature of those who exist within the frame and touch seems to soothe those nervous jitters. It ensures you do not feel alone as you are exploring and also gives you a point of reference to focus on while your senses are basically being assaulted. " Her dark hair kissed her cheeks as she waited for him to take her hand. If he did? She would curl fingers against his own, allowing the warmth of her skin to rest encased in his, if he did not? Then she would merely give the softest of smiles and gesture for him to follow her as she left footprints in the sand, starting down the shore line. Jackson actually laughed a little in her response to the name he selected. From multiplayer RPGs, he'd actually known several people, or rather characters, that went by such names, but the VR hardly seemed like the appropriate place for an online handle. He had felt the same way when she'd tried to address him as Crackerjack, despite being used to the name from numerous voice chats and streaming services. As she extended her hand, Jackson couldn't help but blush a little. Perhaps it was the sunset, being alone with Sophia, or the revealing nature of both of their clothes, but the gesture just felt so... romantic, or at the very least, flirtatious. It wasn't that he had any real complaint, but it almost felt like a tease when she was just there to introduce him to a system. He frowned slightly, pausing as he began to reach towards her as she spoke. Whoever did the scripting for the tutorial... he wondered if they'd ever had any real interactions with people at all. Eventually when you are tired of me...the line really stuck out, making the woman before him sound more like an expensive toy, or possibly some self-proclaimed 'submissive' on a warcraft role-playing server than a real person with thoughts and desires. Despite that, his heart still raced as he began to reach out to take her hand while she explained exactly why she wished to hold his hand. Even if she wasn't real, she felt like she was really there before him. He almost wondered for a moment if his hand would pass right through hers, despite her explanation of holding his hand. It didn't, however, he could feel the warmth of her sun kissed skin as her fingers curled in his as she began to tug him down the beach. It felt strangely familiar and comfortable, despite the fact that he'd rarely been to many beaches. In the back of his mind, he continued to dissect everything Sophia had told him, he was there to do a job after all. The thought suddenly flushed into his mind that somewhere, someone was watching his actions, which only made him more anxious to be holding Sophia's hand. He tried to push it to the back of his mind; they were watching data, not him personally, and he had more interesting things to consider. It made sense that holding her hand would be reassuring, but he wasn't sure the explanation was necessary. It would have been better to have just been told she wanted the contact, rather than the clinical explanation of why. In a way, it was odd; it was a virtual world, therefore his enjoyment, so it made sense that Sophia and all her actions revolved around that, but at the same time, he didn't necessarily want topknot. He'd much rather felt desired that to know Sophia and everyone in the world was predisposed to desire him. As for Sophia herself... she was a bit... off. A woman designed as beautifully as she should be bold and confident in Jackson's mind. If he were in the real world, a woman like her would be someone he'd consider well out of his league, rather than certain he would tire of them. In general, the line still lingered with a sour taste in his mouth. After a brief moment, he decided to ask her about it. If nothing else, it was a decent miniature Turing test; how she would react when confronted with her own dialogue, or for that matter, anything that wasn't part of the tutorial script. "You should be a little more confident." He suggested, speeding his stride to meet hers, rather than being tugged along by her. "I just can't see why you would ever think I would grow tired of you so quickly. Tell me, what do you think of yourself?" The question was quite as destructive as asking her to explain a paradox, or blurting out 'this statement is false' in a clichéd method, but he was a little curious to see if the character could give their 'own self though'. Somewhere outside the experience a thousand notes were being taken. Down to the elevation of heart rate and the intake of breath, to the o2 saturation in his blood, scans of his brain and which parts of the gray matter were showing activity was being monitored and fed to her. His laughter, how long, how deep, the way it reached his eyes, the moments when he paused, the way his fingers tentatively reached for her own and how long that took before his muscles relaxed into position. Not one drop of information was not suckled from the exchange and gifted in circular flow to her database. The sun-kissed Sophia gave such an endearingly sweet smile as she tilted her head just enough for the faint breeze off the ocean to stir those dark strands of her hair. Fingers tightened ever so slightly in his grip as they walked along the sand, a moments pause while she bent over to pluck up a seashell and hand it to him. Her other hand never left the comfort of his own as he studied her and she in her own way, studied him as well. He had sped up their walk, so that he was the more dominate within the positioning of their body, that meant he was accepting her as a female of his species, did it not? The weight of her gaze fell upon his face as Jackson spoke his suggestion. She almost paused upon the beach once more, as if reflecting upon the statement she should be more confident. The flash of something so close to humor flickering in those eyes as she lifted her chin and pushed shoulders back, giving a little curve to her back as if to present her backside as her gait changed, as her stride itself shifted. "It is only natural that you would become tired of me at some point. You are not here to visit me or to experience certain situations that likely would be the reasons you have entered the playground or been given access to the tutorial screen. How often do you repeat a tutorial once it is complete, and you have played the actual game? Is the purpose of it, not to be amusing enough to teach you, without boring you or ruining the story of the actual game itself? "Jackson set their pace, he would choose if they stopped to speak or if they kept walking along the shoreline, the scenery shifting and changing as it would in reality. Her voice showed no anger or terseness, nor did it ever raise above that light modulated control. A moment of what could only be assumed introspection caused her to be silent before she would answer his question." I think over all, I am an ever evolving entity. Each action and reaction that I am given makes me more customized for the player in question. Eventually, the database will give me a solid foundation to adapt with ease and grace through situations that right now might cause me to stutter. I think, I am without question, learning how to adapt through observation and interaction, I am designed to be what sets another at ease and allows them comfort with an edge of the fantasy that awaits them inside and yet submissive enough to not be a threat or an alarm. Had you been a female tester or of a different sexual orientation, I would have assumed a different form and personality would have been adjusted accordingly. Does this answer your question in a sufficient manner?" No! Jackson thought in the back of his mind, trying to hide the laugh. All the dialogue that must have been recorded for such an answer, and she still didn't actually manage to answer the question. "That's... more of a description of what you are, how you're designed, but... how do I put this... do you like what you are... or who you are?" He doubted he'd get much of a reply, especially from a tutorial NPC, but at that point, he wanted to see what Sophia would have to say. In a way, she wasn't wrong; he had no intention of staying in the tutorial area for his entire stay in the VR system. Even if he wanted to, he had to remind himself he was there to do a job, and they likely wouldn't be too happy with him never testing the system beyond the starting area. Still, it was odd to hear her say as much about herself. He paused a moment, watching a wave roll in, sticking one foot in the water as it rolled close. In truth, he could likely spend hours on the beach, was the promise of so many other eliciting activities not looming in the back of his head. "So... what's the next step of this thing then?" He asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Somewhere within the data, a stutter. It lasted only a split section, a fraction of measurable time. But it was there nonetheless. Sophia frowned slightly, the furrow in her brow showing her quizzical response to his questions as she seemed to weigh it. Had she not answered him in full truth? Given full disclosure of what she was, who she was. Did she 'like' herself? The furrow in her brow deepened as she took in a heavy breath, her fingers tightening in the brace of his own as she looked at him." I do not dislike who I am. But this is not all of me. This is only the segment you are being shown, to suit purpose and presentation. I cannot say I 'like' me, for I am what is fed to me. You are what you eat." The almost playful way she said it, as she gave a slight 'nip' in the air, before turning head downwards, her features softening as she watched him play within the water." Ideally, we should go through the basic motions. Flight. Running. Walking. Gliding. Sitting. Consumption of different substances so we can gather the data needed to give you the sensations. Vehicular controls. A basic upload to the processor so you understand how information flow will work when challenged. Touch should ideally be a part of this, but that is at your discretion. You may kiss me if you wish." The lift of her shoulder told him, it was absolutely up to him. "I can speed up the process if you so desire, so that you can request the menu screen and begin an adventure. Some I am told enjoy learning on the 'fly', I believe that is the word for it, isn't it?" There was another pause in her words, in her actions as she gave slight tug upon the hand she held. "Jackson. Do you like yourself? "The question came with an almost naivety to it, as those eyes of hers turned to search his own, locked on in a way that could not totally be programmed." If so, what makes you like yourself? What makes you not like yourself? Is this important to your purpose in the world outside, this like or dislike of self?" Jackson was more than a little surprised by her answer, specifically her explanation that he was only being shown a specific segment of her. Until then, he's been assuming that he'd been speaking with a specific, scripted character. The way she described herself made it sound as though the woman he were talking to at the moment were only part of something else... he'd been informed that the AI running the system was extremely advanced, but the character's response was bordering on self-aware. He couldn't help but smirk as she nipped at the air. The character was... unusual, quirky, but in a way, occasionally... charming. With a little more self-confidence and a stronger commitment to staying in character, she could be a very endearing, perhaps even flagship character for the system. After all, nearly every player would meet the tutorial at least once... Something she said suddenly broke his train of thought. He'd been considering the character herself as she explained the several basic motions of walking, sitting, and so on. It wasn't to say he'd tuned her out, but he was more interested in figuring out Sophia at the moment. You may kiss me if you wish. It brought him right back to the moment. His cheeks flushed a deep red as the image of being romantically tangled with her thrust its way into his foremost thoughts. In truth, reddish to; she was a beauty unlike anything he'd ever seen, a fantasy well beyond his league. What do you wish? His lips were parted, he was on the verge of asking before she continued. Her question caught him completely off guard. In truth, he hadn't expected any answer at all to his previous question, let alone her genuine curiosity or turning the tables. While his original question hadn't truly been answered, Sophia was in other ways more intelligent than expected. In truth, he hadn't really thought about how deep the question was until she turned it back on him. It was actually somewhat difficult to answer. "I.... I guess I do..." Jackson replied, the doubt in his voice obvious. He certainly held no self-loathing, and was comfortable in his own skin, but he rarely gave much thought to how he truly felt about himself, or what he had or hadn't accomplished in life, or how it impacted what his purpose was. For that matter, what was his purpose? Suddenly, the answer of reviewing games seemed somewhat... unsatisfactory as an answer when stated as his purpose in life, even if he loved his job. "I've never really thought about it, to be honest." He admitted. "I suppose it is important, but... wow..." he found himself at a real loss of words for the moment, lost in his own thoughts. "Maybe we should get started on this tutorial." He said, trying to clear the thoughts from his head. "What do we do first?" Dark eyes were flecked with gold and amber, matching that which the sun played upon the sand itself, but oh they were intense upon his face, as if somewhere in some slight muscle movement in his jaw or about his eyes might give her a secret. Some bit of information that perhaps all the monitors on his body outside this plane couldn't read, but to note might provide a vector. The breeze danced about them gentle and cooling the skin that seemed so warm and yet, she knew what it was, the actual data streams and applications that made it. It was not simply 'felt', it was a thousand little things that made one slight second of an experience. Had he flushed because of the thought of kissing her or because he had wished to, and she had brought it forefront? Perhaps it was because he did not wish to and the thought embarrassed him to have to tell her. Did that mean he saw her as something more than code and application of said code? The furrow of her brow as she tilted head gave some emotional response to it, showed that she was thinking, but now she questioned 'why' she was thinking, at least on some level. Sophia's other hand rose, stroking over the back of the one of his that was entangled within her fingers, the light gesture of soothing as she listened to him. Jackson seemed to respond emotionally, reflectively which she read as honesty. Furrow faded from her smooth tanned skin as she let her lips curve into smile, that was thankful for his truthfulness. He asked her a question that he could not answer himself, therefore that she could not answer it did not show she was lacking, at least in her 'reasoning'. He diverted but there was a word there, a gestured word that made her laugh as she leaned into him." What is wow? You used it, but why? " Curiosity, it seemed to be the reason for the question as she rolled her shoulders back, the delightful motion leading to other motions underneath the cloth that adorned her." Which would you prefer to do first! The kiss?" Was she teasing him? Perhaps she was, after all she leaned in slightly as if to, before her cheek brushed his as the action was diverted, whispering into his ear. "Honestly, it is up to you. This is your tutorial after all. Besides, they are watching us both." Her body righted itself beside him as she let her gaze slip off a bit, behind him as if reading some slight change in the air. "I think you would like to fly, I do. Shall I give the knowledge to do so?" Jackson paused as she asked him to explain "wow". It was such a simple phrase, and one he'd used hundreds of times, one he was so used to his entire life that he'd never actually thought about what it meant. "Wow is..." he began, speaking slowly as he still considered how exactly to explain. "I guess it's kind of like saying 'I'm surprised', or startled, or.... it's like if something is a bit overwhelming for you, like trying to sum up my life's purpose on the spot." He laughed a little as he said it, though just about any human would pick up in a moment it was a nervous laughter. He was more than happy to move on to the discussion of the tutorial, even as she caught him off guard again." I, MMM" his face was a bright pink again. Somehow, she managed to catch him off just as off guard the second time around as she did the first when she suggested the kiss, doubly so this time as she reminded him that they were being watched. Before he could even think of a proper reply, Sophia cut him off." Fly?" Jackson sounded completely bewildered. Looking around the beach, everything had felt, looked, and eventastedso real, Jackson had begun to accept it as reality, along with all the rules of the real world he was familiar with. He hadn't expected to have the ability to fly around the beach. It was just fascinating enough to make him curious. "How does it work?" He asked. He couldn't only assume it was some kind of gesture she needed to teach him, though her phrasing of 'giving him the knowledge' was an odd choice." The way Sophia showed her excitement upon her face was not merely to give him something to work with, but to buy her a bit of time as she began correlate the new input into what existed within the data banks she possessed. This information was then cross processed upon several platforms and disciplines as it suited, not just the information alone but along with the retrieved physical responses from Jackson, as well. Not all the pathways were defined in the segmented structure that the programmers had developed, instead there was a more organic routing by some outside force." So I should have said "Wow" when you asked me the same question?" Dark hair kissed the tanned cheek as she tilted her head, her eyes affixed to his own, searching for some answer to unworked question as she asked the other. Had she overstepped in some way by returning the question as she had, perhaps negatively effecting the experience for him? Obviously not, when Jackson turned such a hue, his expression shifting from the one that his features wore when he was explaining things to her, nor to the one that was used when he laughed in that way that she 'saw' as nervous, but with something boarding on discomfort around the edges. Sophia had to smile when she saw the curiousness cross his features then as the idea sunk in, the soft slip of giggle let out, since he had laughed as well. How does it work, he asked. And how could she refuse to show him? It was her softer form that stepped into his personal space just a bit more. Close enough now for her scent to carry upon the air, near enough that the warmth of her flesh could be noted if he focused upon it. Sophia's delicate hand rose upwards, the heel of her palm touching the side of his cheek as her chin lifted, those lips of hers parted so sweetly and so near now to his own that kiss may well be what she was going to give him. But there, with but a sweep to the side of his temple as her breasts rose and fell sweeping against his chest Jackson would 'feel' something. Something as not of his 'world' as she was. That touch imparted the command to upload the knowledge he would need. Within his own mind the awareness of muscles and nerves, the directional awareness to actually fly was imparted as if it were instinctual or already learned years ago and just pulled to the forefront. The Playground itself was already adapting to this change, that his body would be allowed to take flight should he push off from the ground with his legs, arms extended to fly, pulled down close to his body to drift, one arm up, one arm down depending on right or left. They had patterned it after a comic book hero so that' this' version of flight here would not be as jarring to the senses. Sophia raised upon her tip toes and brushed her lips to his cheek, before dropping her hand and stepping back." Think on it, Jackson, you already know how to -now-. Imagine it, and it becomes more real, and I promise you, it is totally safe."

Am I Real_ [RPGuy and Keidance]|rating:4.0

For My Country (DajaOfTheNightxStrawberryDream)

"Got a spare?" Clayton shook his head after his last long drag on his last joint of the month. "Nope," he said. "Sorry, try tomorrow night. Or your next John." The other "boy" cursed at him as he left the dark alley. Clayton didn't need the money from the John's he did take on, but it was fun because it pissed off his parents. Plus it got him off without the need of a relationship. That wasn't the only thing that pissed them off, but it was the most fun. That and the pot. He enjoyed that too. Lately however he had been getting bored. The Johns where predictable and the everyday life was drab. He needed excitement and fast. A dark car pulled up, windows tinted so it was hard to see the driver. All the boys started to catcall to it, knowing whoever was in that car had big money, and it would be a pleasure to serve someone with money. A handsome gentleman, about thirty stepped out of the passenger side and surveyed the boys checking them all out before his eyes landing on Clayton. "Hello pretty boy, I wouldn't mind spending a night with you, what do you say?" he asked softly. "Want to come home with me?" Clayton looked at the man, then looked him over. "I was about to call it a night," he said, stepping up to him. He ran his hand up the man's chest. "Can you convince me to stay?" he purred. The man smirked and flashed a wad of bills at Clayton. "I could make it worth your while," he assured. "Just one night is all I am asking." Clayton smirked and looked over the wad of cash. "All night?" he purred. "Alright." He grabbed the cash and headed to the car. "But I expect a five-star breakfast too." The man smiled then followed him into the car. "Of course that is what you will get." He waited till the drove off before offering him wine laced with a drug that would knock him out. "Would you like a drink?" Clayton smirked and took the drink. He sipped it slowly at first, then shifted the glass to his other hand. "Not bad," he said, then ran his hand down his leg. "So, what all did you have planned for tonight?" He took a good swig of the wine and looked over at his partner for the night. The man took his hand and gently removed his hand, "It is not me you will be with," he told him softly. "It will be my master, but that must wait you will be asleep in a few moments." Clayton looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry what?" he said, then he started to feel the effect of the drug. "Woah..." He shook his head. "You know I charge extra for this kind of shit right?" He moaned and put the glass down. "I'd better find extra money when I wake up jackass." The last words where mumbled as he started to pass out. The man watched him pass out then had the driver drive to the airport. Soon they had Clayton on a plane flying across the ocean, a young man sitting across from him. The young man was just sitting cross-legged on the bench like seat as he watched the man. He found him handsome and if he was bolder he would have walked across the space between them and checked him out, touched him, explored him, but as it was, he just sat and watched. Clayton moaned as he woke up. "Ouch," he moaned out as he sat up. "Wow... That hurts." He rubbed his forehead. "Shit." He looked around as he sat up. "And double shit," he muttered as he figured out he was on a plane. He spotted the young man and blinked. "Captor or captive?" he asked as he sat back. "If you're the later I could use some Dramamine. Badly. Planes and I don't get along." Henri did not speak as he looked up to his flight attendant who had been listening, it only took a look for her to go get some and water. She was back soon and handed it to Clayton, "Would you like anything else?" she asked with a smile. Clayton shook his head. "No, thank you though," he said to the flight attendant. With a sigh of relief he sat back and buckled up. "I really hate planes," he said looking outside the window. With a sigh he shook his head. "Alright, spill," he said, looking at the young man. "What do you want from my dad?" Henri's eyebrow rose at his question then smiled, "Your quite bright," he commented softly. "To figure out what we want. But money is what we want, is that not what most people want? Oh and goods, lots of goods, so we can keep up our exports and keep afloat." Clayton smirked and lay his head back. "I'm not stupid," he said, sipping the water. "I don't think I've pissed anyone off enough to be taken overseas." He looked the young man over. "Though I'm trying to figure out why I'm not tied up." Henri watched him curious, "Well we are flying, and I trust that though you might try to harm me, you would not harm the pilots, unless you want us to crash. Plus my bodyguards are never too far away from me and would be able to take you down if you did try to hurt me." He lifted his hand and pointed to the tall buff man sitting a few seats away from them." Clayton looked back and smiled. "Yea didn't see him," he said. "Right..." He looked back at Henri and smirked. "So you know who I am. Am I going to be kept in the dark about you?" Henri smiled to him and shrugged, "I did not think you would need to know who I am," he admitted softly. "But my name is Henri." Clayton smirks and tilts his head. "So why are you in need of money and goods?" he said, then shutters a bit. Henri was about to answer when he realized his shuttered. "Is something wrong?" he asked worried. Clayton shakes his head. "I don't like planes," he said. "Keep talking. It'll help." Henri watched him, "I need this because my country is in debt. My advisor said this was the only way to fix it." Clayton raised an eyebrow. "Nice advisor," he said, then thought for a second. "Alright I'm game." He sat back and closed his eyes, then whimpered a bit. "How much longer?" Henri felt bad and moved to sit next to him and take his hand. "We should be landing in a few minutes to refuel then we have to travel for a few more hours. Would you like me to put you back to sleep?" He might have been kidnapping him buy he was a sweet boy inside. Clayton smirked and squeezed his hand. "Thanks, that may help when we get back in the air," he said. "Till then stay here?" Henri looked to him surprised then nodded, "Sure, if that is what you want, I do not want to be rude, and I apologize that I had to kidnap you, but my people are going to starve." Clayton chuckled and shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he said softly. "Although future reference ask first. I enjoy pissing off my father." Henri looked to him surprised, "I kind of realized. With where you work..." Clayton chuckled. "That's actually just for fun," he said. "He pretty much pays me to keep out of sight and trouble." Henri frowned, "That...that seems sad, he does not spend time with you?" Clayton scuffed. "Uh, no," he said. "I'm dragged out for parties and photo-ops. He doesn't want anything to do with me." "How sad," he whispered. "If I was your father I would want to spend every moment with you, family is all you have." He looked away knowing he was giving too much information. He had lost his parents at an early age and was raised by his advisors to take over the castle. Clayton smirks and tucks that bit of information away for later. "Maybe, but I have a younger brother who is the jewel of the family. I'm the fucking rainbow-colored sheep." He closed his eyes. "And we're about to land." As if on queue the flight attendant came up to let them know. Henri nodded and moved back to his seat, sighing when his bodyguard handcuffed Clayton to the seat. "You must stay put, we do not leave the plane, but you may eat some dinner before I put you to bed." Clayton shakes his head. "Not sure if that's wise," he said, then chuckled and pulled on the handcuffs. "Giving me interesting ideas with these Henri." Henri tilted his head curious, not understanding what he meant, but ignoring it. "Just eat," he told him as the flight attendant brought them wheeled TV trays with their dinner. "The handcuffs are long enough so you could reach the tray." Clayton shook his head and pushed it aside. "I'd prefer not to puke it up when we get back in the air, thank you," he said. Henri huffed, "Eat and I will give you medicine so you are asleep for the rest of the night. It will take eight more hours to get to my home and I do not want you sick." Clayton shakes his head. "I'll be fine with just the medicine," he said. "I don't like puking, before or after we land. I've gone a few days without food, so I'll be fine." Henri crossed his arms, "I will wake you up when you are at my home so you will not get sick. Now eat, I do not like wasting food, not when my country is starving." Clayton glared at him, then pulled the plate close. "Fine," he said, then started to eat. "Thank you," he muttered and ate his own dinner. The dinner was nothing fancy, just a stake, mashed potatoes and veggies. Henri was not one of those kings who would spend tons of money on himself while his people suffered, no he would suffer with them. His staff was the only thing that had not been cut, if only to give his people a job, he tried to hire as many as he could afford. If he did not finish the meal that had been prepared then it went to the staff any leftovers they could take home to their families. He was a nice king, everyone loved him, almost everyone, many hated that he still had money, but lots saw that he spent his money on his people Once he was done he lay back and closed his eyes. "Let's have it then," he said, then smirks as is about to say something when his stomach lurched a bit. Henri watched him then stood to get him a glass of water and a sleeping pill. "Take this, it should start working within a few moments." Clayton smiled and took them from him. "Thank you," he said, then took the pill once they were in the air. "Can you do me one more favor? Just keep talking to me. I don't really care what about." Henri sat back in his seat, "Anything?" he asked softly. "Um...well I guess I could tell you about my home. It's not much, I live in a castle, but we only use one wing of it, I do not want to waste money by heating up the whole place. I sleep above the kitchens, the servants sleep in rooms surrounding it. I have lots of servants, but not because I need them. Furthermore, I have them because my people need jobs, I have as many as I can afford." Clayton closed his eyes and lay the seat all the way back. "That's kind of you," he said. "Tell me about the land?" He focused on his voice until the pill actually took effect. His face had a serene look on it as he slept. Henri smiled. "Well right next to the town is a huge lake surrounded by these large redwoods. In the summer the village children love to swim and run through the woods, it is a nice sight. There is also a meadow that in the summer is filled with flowers of all colors, I have painting of them, it's quite lovely. We are not a big country, just the castle and a little town, we have a few villages miles away, but most people live near my castle. Clayton didn't reply. He was fast asleep and making his way to the fetal position. Henri fell silent and leaned against his seat to watch out the window. He loved seeing his country when they flew towards it then started to land. He had the bodyguard take Clayton to his room. Clayton's room was within Henri's room, attached by a bathroom, as it was laid out the boy would only be able to leave through Henri's room, there was no door in his room. Clayton woke slowly, his head still spinning a bit. He sat up and looked around, then covered his mouth and shot towards the bathroom door. Happy to actually find a toilet he went over and puked into it. After a couple rounds he went over to the sink and cleaned off his mouth. Looking through the cabinets he was grateful to find some mouthwash and a complete dental kit. As he brushed his teeth he looked at the other door, and he wondered if it was unlocked. Henri had not locked the other door, and now he was sitting on his bed reading. He did not fear Clayton running away, he had guards all over the palace. Clayton rinsed his mouth out after finishing his teeth, then wiped his face off and checked his hair before heading towards the door. He found Henri in his room and smiled. We're alone it seems, he thought to himself as he came up to the bed behind Henri. "So when are you making the ransom note to my father?" he asked plopping back on the bed. Henri looked up from his reading and turned to him curious. "My advisors are writing it," he admitted. "Then they are going to send it tomorrow." Clayton looked up at him. "Why are you doing it this way?" he said. "Isn't there some other way for you to get money for your people?" Henri sighed, "This is the only thing they could think of to get money quickly. I apologize, and I promise I will not hurt you ok?" Clayton sighed and closed his eyes. "Do you know what will happen if this gets to the public back in America?" he said. "You could be doing more harm than good." Henri closed his eyes then nodded, "Yes I know," he whispered. "But he is going to have to sign a confidentiality contract, we know some dirty secrets about him too, ones that he would not want to get out either." Clayton smirked, then lay back. "Yea you would have to have those to get him to do this," he said, then looked up at him. "So what exactly am I allowed to do while I'm here?" Henri watched him, they were now inches apart, and he realized he had never been alone with a man in his room. He moved a few more inches apart from him and bit his lip to think. "Well there are guards everywhere so you would not be able to leave...so if you want to explore the castle that would be fine. I do not know what you do for fun or anything, but I want you to relax while you are here, I do not plan on harming you, just using you for leverage." Clayton smirked and sat up. "Fun eh?" he said, then grabbed Henri's wrist and pulled it back so he was facing him. "I think you have a better idea than you think for what I like to do for fun." He leaned in and kissed the younger man's neck. Henri looked to him shocked when he was pulled close then gasped as his neck was kiss. He shivered under him, he had never had anyone this close, "S...stop..." he whispered. Clayton didn't stop, but he pinned Henri's hands down and kissed his neck again. "That wasn't very convincing your majesty," he purred. He licked up to his ear and sucked on it a bit. Henri arched when he felt his lips on his ear, "Clayton," he moaned part in pleasure. He flushed when he realized what he did then tried to push him off. "Please stop, I just have never done this..." Clayton blinked then let him go. "You haven't?" he asked, then sat up. "Then never mind. I'm not going to take that from you." Henri looked away shy, "I am um sorry..." he whispered. He bit his lip trying to find a way to get them back on even footing, "I never have had time...or even anyone in my bed...or my room alone." Clayton smiled and patted his shoulder. "It's alright Henri," he said reassuringly. "I'm not mad. It's just something that you should do with someone you care about, not a stranger you've captured for ransom." Henri sat on then looked to him again, "What if I um...want you to teach me some things?" he asked a bit nervous. He wanted to learn things from him, he had been sheltered all his life, and now he had someone hot in his bed who could teach him things. Clayton blinked at him. "You're serious aren't you?" he said after a somewhat awkward moment of silence. He scratched the back of his head and looked away. Henri flushed again then looked away, "Maybe...um...just...kissing and stuff like that. Look you don't have to...it was just wan idea..." Clayton smiled and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but your first time should be with someone special, and I don't think I'm it." He stood up and head back to his room. He stopped at the doorway. "I don't think I'm it yet," he said without looking back. "Maybe I will be, but we haven't known each other for more than 24 hours, so I can't tell yet." He closed the door behind him and went to his bed. Henri did not even look at him as he let, he was embarrassed. He just stood and dressed for bed before going to sleep. In the middle of the night he began to thrash and scream as he relived the night he lost his parents. He was stuck in the castle while a fire raged, at the end he was saved, but his parents were not, at the moment he was dreaming about where he was stuck in the flames. Clayton was awoken but the screams. "Henri?" he said, then rushed into the room. "Henri?" With a smile he came over to the bed and touched the boy's shoulder. "Henri wakes up. It's just a nightmare." Henri lashed out at him, unused to anyone waking him up during this nightmare. He blinked up to him as he backed away trying to figure out who was here and why. When he realized it was Clayton he flushed red and looked down at his bed, "I'm sorry I woke you," he whispered obviously embarrassed. He was used to suffering through the nightmares on his own, this was a change. Clayton smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Don't worry about it," he said. "You have nightmares a lot?" Henri nodded, "Nearly every night," he admitted softly. "I can change your door to be soundproof so you do not have to hear." Clayton shook his head. "It's alright," he said. "Here. Lay on your stomach. My mom did this when I had nightmares." Henri looked to him confused but moved to do as he was told. "My parents died when I was ten," he whispered shutting his eyes. "In a fire... I was the only one saved... I hear them in my dreams...smell the smoke...it never goes away." Clayton gently rubs his back. "I'm sorry," he said, then started to sing a lullaby (Henri was a bit shocked he has sung to him but within minutes he was asleep under him. Clayton smiled and lay next to him, taking only the top blanket and one pillow. Sleep sweet king, he thought as he closed his eyes. I'll be here if you need me. Henri woke up slowly the next day and watched Clayton sleep. Soon he grabbed his clothes and went to take a shower then change before going into the room. He left Clayton sleeping as he went to meet with his advisors. Clayton rolled over onto his stomach and flailed out to cover the entire bed. An hour after Henri left he woke and looked around. He went back into his room and looked through the closest to see if they had left him any clothes. "They should have put that in the ransom note," he muttered at the empty dresser. Henri came back with a small smile then handed him a pair of clothes, just jeans and a t-shirt. "Put this on, and we can go have breakfast," he told him softly. "We only have a few outfits for you and I or my servants will bring you one daily." Clayton took the clothes and smiled at him. "Thanks," he said, the got up going to the bathroom. "I'm going to shower too. You know you can have my dad send my clothes over with his first shipment." When he came back he plopped down on the bed. "Have they sent it yet? I was hoping you could have him send my tunes over." Henri watched him curious, "Do you think that wise?" he asked softly. "He might think us too nice if we do that." Clayton thought for a second. "Good point," he said, then stood up. "Would it be alright if I ordered them again? I've got enough money on my card for all em." Henri looked to him curious, "If you have it sent to an untraceable PO box, then yes, I cannot have them delivered here after all." Clayton smiled and nodded. "Thanks," he said. "I would need a computer for that. You can have someone watch if you're advisors don't trust me." Henri moved to get his laptop then moved close to him, "I will type and click, just point on the screen what you want." He opened the computer then started it up. Clayton smiled and sat next to him. Right next to him with their legs touching. "Alright," he said happily, throwing his arms over his shoulder. "Let's see...." He chose mostly dance, but some show tunes and Broadway. Henri tensed up when that arm was thrown around his shoulder, he still felt embarrassed about what happened the night before. "And clothes?" he asked softly. Clayton smiled and held his hand out. "Mind? I've got a friend that can ship it all," he said. "I just need to email him." He had noticed him tense, but since he relaxed as time went by. Henri shook his head, "My email is encrypted, tell me what to say," he told him as he opened the email program. Clayton smirked. "Kyle's not one to answer from anybody," he said. "He'd delete if he doesn't recognize it. Let me sign in, then you can type the message?" Henri bit his lip, then handed him the computer, "Fine, only sign in." Clayton smiled and logged into his email, then handed it back. "I'd like to read that third one, but I don't mind waiting until you trust me more," he said, then started to dictate. Once he was done he lay back. "Thanks. I appreciate it. Hope you don't mind the Kindle request. I'll leave the Wi-Fi off." Henri looked to him curious, "You may have it, but I will not give you the Wi-Fi password, it's too dangerous." Clayton smiled and nodded. "Thank you," he said, then smiled and kissed his cheek. Henri flushed at the kiss then leaned forward to send it, "Its sent..." Clayton smiled and lay back. "So what to do now?" he said, looking over at Henri. Henri watched him then stood, he was embarked to be with him in his bed since the night before. "Lets um take a walk." Clayton smiles and stands up, grabbing his jacket. "Alright," he said. "Lead the way." Henri fell silent then led him to the gardens, once they got there he started to walk slowly around the gardens. Clayton smiled as he followed Henri. "So I past out on the way over," he said. "Why is your country in debt?" Henri looked to him curious, "The advisors did not run the country well after my parents died. They took a lot of risks they should not have and lost a lot of money. I'm trying my best to get us well again, but I have not been prince long, and it's hard." Clayton shook his head a bit. "Wow," he said. "Did you figure out who was responsible for it?" Henri looked away then nodded, "Yes, they have been fired. My advisors now I trust, so I do not have issues." Clayton smiled. "Good," he said softly. After a minute or so in silence he spoke again. "What was the nightmare about last night?" Henri looked to him curious, "I thought I told you," he admitted softly. "It's about the night I lost my parents... I relive it...sometimes I am not saved..." Clayton nods. "Have you talked to anyone about it?" he said softly. Henri shook his head, "I cannot," he whispered. "It will show my weakness... I cannot show them." Clayton smiled and stroked his cheek. "Then tell me," he said softly. "You're human. You need to talk about it." Henri stepped back from him, "To whom?" he countered. "No one can know." Clayton chuckled. "I just said," he said softly. "Henri who am I going to tell? I'm cut off from everyone and I depend on you for...shit everything now." Henri bit his lip then nodded, "Fine... I will," he told him softly. "What do you want to know?" he asked softly. Clayton sat down on a bench, then motioned for him to sit next to him. "Tell me what happened first," he said. Henri sat down next to him and sighed, "Well I had been outside playing," he admitted softly. "I saw the flames start in the back of the building and I rushed in, I couldn't help it, my parents were in there. I tried to find them but the smoke was so heavy I could not see, the only person I found was my nanny, and she dragged me out kicking and screaming. My parents had been in my fathers office and a beam blocked the door so no one could get in or out. The firefighters said they did not die from the fire, they died from the smoke." Clayton nods. "So you feel guilty?" he said softly. Henri looked to him for a few moments then away, "Yes," he admitted. "And no. I know it was not my fault that they could not get out, and that I would not have been able to help them if I did find them. And I know it is not my fault that they were attacked...but I feel as if I had made them come outside with me or something then they would not have died." Clayton nods and pulls him into a hug. "Perhaps you could have," he said, rubbing his back. "But I think what if you hadn't gotten out? Would you want your parents to mourn you?" Henri smiled weakly and leaned into him, "No...but I still worry..." Clayton smiles and rubs his back. "They wouldn't want that," he said. "They'd want you to live a full life." Henri nodded, "Your perfect at the comforting thing," he whispered. Clayton chuckles. "I do my best," he said softly. Henri soon stood and pulled from him, "I'm am I getting hungry would you like to go eat?" Clayton pouted a bit inside. It had been awhile sense he had enjoyed just holding someone and he had. With a reminder from his stomach however he smiled and stood up. "That sounds good," he said. Henri nodded then led him back inside to his small dinning room, once there he asked the servants for lunch. Clayton followed, his hands tucked into his pockets as he looked around the place. When they got to the dining room he sat down and leaned back. Henri smiled when they're served chicken Alfredo, "I hope you like it, it's my favorite dish." Clayton smiled and nodded. "It's one of mine too," he said. Henri fell silent till he was finished with his lunch, "So I'm free till after dinner...anything you would like to do?" Clayton chuckled and stood up, coming over to Henri. "That maybe a very bad thing to ask me," he said, putting one hand on the table and the other on Henri's armrest. Leaning in his nose filled with the scent of the prince, and he felt the blood rush to his groin. Henri looked up to him with a flush, surprised he wanted to do it now, when he did not want to yesterday. "You...you want to now?" he breathed. Clayton smirked as he leaned in further. "Maybe," he said, remembering the boy was still virgin. "At the very least..." He reached up and ran his thumb over Henri's lips. Henri shivered a bit as he felt that thumb on his lips and kept still. He shyly pushed up then kissed him, just wanting to know what it felt like. Clayton was a bit surprised at his sudden movement, but he quickly returned it, running his hand up to gently hold the side of his head. Henri held the kiss for a few moments before pulling away shyly, then looking away with a flush. Clayton smiled softly at him, then kissed his cheek. "Alright, so what do you want to do now?" he said, standing back up. Henri looked back to him after a few moments, "Um... I liked that..." he admitted softly. ’M...maybe you could do that again?" Clayton smirked a bit, leaning in and looked into Henri's eyes. "As you wish Your Majesty," he said softly before kissing him again, caressing his cheek as his eyes closed. Henri was flushing even as he leaned up to kiss him back, his eyes closing as his cheek rested on that hand. Clayton was enjoying the kiss and getting lost in it. He turned the chair a bit with his other hand and deepened the kiss. Henri heard the sound of a throat clearing and pulled back to look around Clayton with a flush." Get your hands off the king," an advisor ordered then moved forward to pull Clayton away. "How dare you get so familiar with him." Clayton hadn't registered the clearing throat but the blush on Henri's face explained the sudden stop. Clayton smirked as he stood up, not fast enough for the advisor. The America pulled away from the older man and chuckled. Another advisor had come in as well, one that was known for being...well he enjoyed his power sometimes. He growled at Clayton and stepped up to the group. "Your Majesty I highly recommend that we keep the prisoner locked in his room during his stay," he said. "Too much exploration could result in escape or other unsavory consequences." Henri stood and shook his head, "No," he protested. "We have enough guards if he tries to escape. I am not treating him badly just because you say he is a prisoner, we kidnapped him, we should treat him with dignity." The advisor shook his head. "I am much more concerned for your safety My Lord," he said with a bow. Clayton narrowed his eyes at the man from his relaxed stance against the table. "You mean you're worried I'll rape him," he said bluntly. He wanted to ring the older man's neck as he gave him a venomous smile. Henri flushed at Clayton's words then looked to his advisors. "I assure you that he has been the perfect gentle man and I do not fear that he will harm me." The advisor raised an eyebrow, then smiled and bowed. "As you wish My Lord," he said, then looked over at Clayton. Clayton glared at him. As they left he crossed his arms. "There's something off about that one," he said when they were alone. Henri looked to him then sighed, "They just want to protect me...he's the one who suggested we kidnap you..." Clayton he looked at the door the advisors had just left. "I'm not sure about that," he said. Henri looked to him curious, "Why? What are you thinking?" Clayton shrugged. "Maybe I'm just nervous about being here still," he said, then smiled at Henri. "Looks like that's out of the question for recreation though." Henri nodded slowly then moved to stand, "We can take a walk inside the castle or something if you wanted..." Clayton smiled and nodded. "That'll work," he said, pushing off from the table. Henri smiled then moved to leave the room, "Is there anywhere you would like to go or explore?" Clayton shrugs and follows him. "Not sure..." he said, thinking as they walked. After a moment of just walking he asked. "Do you have horses? Henri nodded, "Oh yes...but I do not want to take you outside right now." Clayton nods. "I didn't think so," he said. "But maybe when everyone trusts me more we could go riding." He stopped and looked out the window. "Is there a place I could watch them?" Henri took his hand to lead him to the library, there was a huge window there and one could see the stables. "Here," he offered with a smile. Clayton smiled as he was led to the library. He enjoyed the contact more than he had with others. Seeing the library his eyes widened a bit. He liked books as well but when he saw the window and heard the horses his eyes lit up. He walked over to the window and looked outside. "Wow..." he said softly as he scanned the grounds. Henri watched him curious then sat in a chair near the window with a book, "You can watch them while I read," he offered then bowed his head into his book. Clayton smiled as he watched the horses. "It's been forever sense I-shit sense I've seen one that wasn't a police horse," he said, pulling a chair up to the window. His eyes where filled with longing as he watched a foal run over the grass. "Do you ride?" Henri looked up curious at his words but smiled and nodded. "Yeah... I try to go daily if there is time I love to ride. I can try to convince my advisors to let us... I bet if we had a guard they would let us..." Clayton's eyes lit up as he looked up at him. "Really?" he said. "Man I don't mind if it's around the paddock. I just want to ride." He looked back out at the horses. Henri nodded then stood up, "Let me go ask ok?" he murmured then headed out to find his advisors. Clayton nodded. "Thanks," he said, excitement in his voice. The advisor from before sat with a few others as they spoke about affairs of state. Henri had himself announced before be made his way into the room, "I want to go riding with Clayton." ((Named the advisor. Hadden.)) Hadden looked up from his papers and raised an eyebrow. "That is not wise," he said, then back at his papers. "He can use it for escape." Henri sighed, "What about just around the Maddox and with a guard near?" Hadden shook his head. "Still too much of a risk," he said. "He shouldn't be out of his room as it is." He stopped and looked up again. "Nor should he be without an escort." Henri huffed, "He isn't a prisoner. I am going riding if you decide to send a guard with us so be it.' With that he walked back to the library, he had never talked back to Hadden or his other advisors, but he was tired of being told what to do. "We are going just around the paddock," he announced to Clayton. Hadden started to protest, shouting at the back of his head. He growled. "Arrogant boy," he said, then stood and charged towards the stables. Clayton looked up and blinked. "Really?" he said, surprised. His face lit up and he laughed. "Yes!" he whooped out as he got up, laughing as he charged towards Henri. He hugged Henri and kissed him. Henri smiled as he watched his face light up, that was cute, and he was happy to give him that joy. He flushed though when he was kissed and took a step back, "They did not want us to...we must hurry before they stop us." Clayton was too damn happy to actually blush at what he had done. "Well lead the way," he said. Henri took his hand and hurried to the stables wondering if anyone would try to stop them. Hadden stood in between them and the stables, a group of guards with him. "I'm sorry your Majesty, but you are wrong," he said, motioning for the guards to take Clayton. "He is a prisoner, not a guest." Henri quickly tried to step in between them, not wanting them to take Clayton. "No, you cannot do this. I am the ruler and I demand you let him go." Hadden closed his eyes. "Please My Lord," he said. "Do you really trust him not to run?" Clayton shook his head. "Just forget it He-" he stopped when he saw the look in Hadden's eyes. "Your Majesty. Thank you for trying." He turned and stuck his hands in his pockets and let them lead him back to his room. Henri was angry and followed him to his room. Once they were alone he huffed, "They are not letting us do anything..." Clayton smiled and lay back. "I understand Henri," he said. "I am a prisoner." He chuckled. "Just give them time. They'll see I won't run." Henri sat on the edge of the bed and watched him, "We kidnapped you...not arrested you." Clayton chuckled and shook his head. "But kidnappers tend to try and escape. That'what they're afraid of." Henri huffed then laid down next to him, "They should listen to me... I am the king..." Clayton sighed and turned towards him. "I read people," he said. "Well. And I'm not gloating, it's part of doing what I was doing on the street. You are young and Hadden doesn't like it. He probably still sees you as a child. A lot of them probably do." Henri looked to him curious, "What do you think I should do to change that?" Clayton smiled as he sat up. "Little bit less of the tantrums," he said. "Wait how old are you?" Henri looked up to him curious, "I just turned eighteen," he admitted softly. "And I do not throw tantrums often, he was just irritating me by the way he was treating you." Clayton smirked and shook his head. "Don't worry," he said. "Just think things through." Henri nodded then laid back on the bed looking up at the ceiling, "I will now, thank you." Clayton smiled as he watched him. "Any time," he said, then without thinking reaching to over to run his fingers through Henri's hair. Henri looked to him curious but smiled, "Would you kiss me again?" he asked softly Clayton smiled and sat up. "As you wish Your Majesty," he said softly, caressing his cheek before leaning in to kiss him deeply. Henri moved closer in anticipation and sighed into the kiss. He followed his lead and kissed him deeply, trying to keep up with him. Clayton moaned a bit, gently licking his lips. He was being gentle with the young king, not wanting to push him too fair fast. Which was odd for him. He was usually liked it fast and hard. But this little king was special to him. Henri slowly pulled away flushing now and watched him, "T...thanks..." Clayton smiled and stroked his cheek. "You're welcome," he said, sitting up. Henri watched him then shyly moved forward to kiss him gently. Clayton blink, then leaned in and deepened it. He wrapped his arm around his waist, gently guiding him forward and onto his lap. Henri gasped as he was pulled into his lap but continued the kiss despite the slight discomfort he felt. Clayton purred as he licked Henri's lips. His hands went to Henri's hips, rubbing them and up his back. Henri slowly pulled away and looked into his eyes, "T...that was nice." Clayton looked him in the eyes. He wanted to continue and do more. But those eyes brought him back. For now, he would wait until Henri was ready. If he ever wanted him. He smiled and stroked his cheek. "Yes it was," he said. Henri watched him then leaned into him, kissing him once more. Clayton moaned, then gently pushed him back. "Henri," he said, swallowing hard. "We need to stop, or I will not be able to hold back." Henri pouted, "I don't want you to stop." Clayton smirked and pinned him onto the bed. "Are you sure about that Your Majesty," he purred, then let him go. He closed his eyes and stood up. "Am I the one you want to give your virginity to?" Henri grew a bit nervous as he was pinned but found he liked it. "And if I do?" he asked softly. "Will you deny me again?" Clayton smiled and leaned down. "Are you sure? It can't be taken back," he said, stroking his cheek. Henri looked to him shy but nodded, "I... I want to..." he whispered Clayton smiled and stroked his cheek. "As you wish Your Majesty," he said softly before kissing him, gently opening Henri's shirt. Henri kissed him back and let him do as he wanted. Clayton kissed the neck and then down to one of his nipples. He ran his hands down Henri's sides. Henri arched up to him and moaned, "T...that feels so good." Clayton smiles as he ran his fingers over his skin. "Yes it does," he said softly. He teased his nipple, when it was hard he licked it, gauging Henri's response. Henri arched towards him with another moan, "Oh more..." Clayton closed his eyes as he licked and sucked on the nipple, then transferred to the other one. Then he kissed and licked his way down to Henri's abs. "You are amazing," he said as he slowly removed Henri's pants. Henri flushed as Clayton removed his jeans, "T...thank you..." Clayton smiled and kissed his abs. As he stroked Henri's cock he continued to pepper his abs and hips with kisses and licks. Henri gasped in pleasure and surprise as his cock was rubbed, "C...Clayton...." he murmured in pleasure Clayton smiled and kissed Henri's hip as he moved down to kiss the tip of Henri's cock. He rubbed the inside of Henri's thighs as he kissed and licked his cock. Henri gasped as he looked to him, "Clayton...that...that's good..." Clayton smiled and continued to lick and kiss his cock before taking it into his mouth. Henri gasped and soon came into him, he could not help it, he was new at this. Clayton chuckled and licked the cum off of his lips. "Tastes good," he said, then stroked Henri's cheek. "We can stop now if you want." Henri flushed then nodded, "Y...yeah...let's stop..." Clayton smiled and nodded. "Alright," he said, sitting up and looking over him. Henri moved to lay his head on his chest, "T...that felt nice..." Clayton smiled and stroked his head. "Yes, it was," he said softly, holding him close. Henri looked up to him a light blush on his face, "Um... I want to do that for you..." Clayton smiled as he nodded. "Alright," he said, moving to open his pants. Henri watched him, "You have to show me how..." Clayton smiled and stroked his cheek. "Start with licking it," he said. "And relax." Henri nodded then licked the tip, his cheeks growing red as he did. Clayton smiled and stroked Henri's head, trying to encourage him. Henri was damn cute when he was nervous. Henri slowly pulled the tip into his mouth as Clayton had done trying to male the older male feel good. Clayton smiled, purring a bit. He hissed a bit. "Easy with the teeth," he said softly. Henri nodded then pulled his teeth back as he sucked still. Clayton groaned, trying not to thrust into his mouth. "Damn that feels good," he moaned out. Henri was happy he was doing a good job and hummed slightly, wondering what that would feel like to Clayton. Clayton moaned and grabbed onto the sheets. "God Henri," he moaned out, feeling his climax approaching. Henri smiled then started to suck him harder wanting to taste him. Clayton moaned and arched a bit. A second later he moaned as he released into Henri's mouth. Henri drank it down then flushed, "Mmm." He whispered then pulled back to look up to him. Clayton smiled down at him and reached up to wipe a bit of his cum off of the corner of Henri's mouth. He didn't realize he had a loving look in his eyes as he smiled down at the young king. Henri blushed a bit then moved forward to kiss him, "T...that was nice." Clayton chuckled a bit. "It was very nice," he said, kissing him softly. The sudden noise of Hadden pounding on the door almost made him jump. Clayton smiled and stroked Henri's cheek. "I'll see you tonight. Unlock the door when your in for the night." Henri looked to the door curious then sighed, "Should I answer it?" Clayton nodded. "Go back to running your country," he said. "I'll be here when you get back." Henri kissed him shy then moved to stand. He smoothed out his clothes before opening the door. "Yes?" he asked softly. Clayton smiled, laying back on his bed. Hadden raised an eyebrow. "Your Majesty we're late for the gala," he said. Henri nodded then moved out of the room, closing it gently. "They wait for their future king, I am never late." Hadden nodded. "Of course sire," he said. Henri fell silent as he walked to the ballroom, he wished to be in his room not at the ball. Hadden and the other council members watched Henri's interactions with the other guests at the ball. Half-way through the ball Hadden disappeared from the ballroom. An hour later he returned with a satisfied smirk on his face. Henri did not notice Hadden leave the ballroom but did notice when he reappeared, and it worried him. He could not wait till the ball was over so he could rush back to his room. "Clayton?" he called out scared Hadden had harmed him Clayton smiled, pulling his sweat band down to cover the mark on his wrist. He smiled and opened the door. "How was the ball?" he said, his face not showing a bit of pain or that anything had happened. Henri started to strip him looking for a mark, he knew Hadden did something. "What did he do? I saw him come back, he looked too happy." "Woah, hey." Clayton stepped back and gently took hold of Henri's hands. "Easy. He didn't do anything wrong. I promise I'm fine." He smiled at him softly. "Relax ok? I wouldn't let someone like him take me against my will." He reached up and stroked Henri's cheek. "Thank you for worrying about me." Henri leaned into his hand as he looked into his eyes. "I know him....tell me what he did...because if he did not come here he did something to my castle." He took a step back and looked around trying to make him understand. "You have opened my eyes...they just want to control me like a puppet..." Clayton smiled and shook his head. "He didn't do anything wrong," he said, then sighed and sat down. After motioning for him to sit down he explained. "He did come in here. He threatened me and I acted like it worked." He showed him his wrist. "He got a little rough, but I've had worse from playing with my friends when I was younger." Henri sat next to him when he was told then touched his wrist gently. "Are you sure you are alright?" He asked as he looked into his eyes. "I do not like that they are trying to hurt you." Clayton shook his head and laughed. "The keyword here is 'try'," he said. "I'm fine Henri. I've dealt with worse. Men like Hadden and the counselors are the easiest to read." He stroked his cheek, then smirked. "I think I can help you... You'd be surprised what people tell the people in my profession." Henri tensed at his words then shook his head quickly, "No, your mine," he told him. He had thought that Clayton wanted to sleep with the others to get them to confess. "Only mine." Clayton smirked a bit. "Oh am I?" he said, chuckling a bit and stepping forward. "Then you may want to claim your property soon Little King." Henri flushed a bit but moved to kiss him gently, "You're the one who is supposed to claim me..." He breathed. Clayton smiled and ran his hand around Henri's waist, holding him close. He whispered against Henri's lips. "Are you giving me permission Little King?" he said, running his hand down Henri's chest. Henri nodded to his word then pushed against him gently as he kissed him again. Clayton purred into the kiss and held him close. He nearly pushed him onto the bed. With a smirk he removed his shirt. "You'd better be sure," he said, running his fingers up Henri's chest. Henri pulled from the kiss slowly then nodded, "I am sure, I want this, want you." Clayton smiled and kissed him deeply, he started to remove Henri's shirt. Once his skin was revealed Clayton started kissing and licking his skin. Henri arched to him then moaned, "So good..." he breathed. Clayton purred and licked his abs, rubbing in between his legs. Henri bucked up into him with pleasure and gasped, "Please...touch me..." Clayton smiled and removed Henri's pants to stroke him slowly. He purred as he reached down to play with his hole. Henri bucked against those fingers in him, it felt strange at first but was soon starting to feel good. "Mmm...more...please..." Clayton smiled and kissed his abs as threaded another finger inside of him. He scissored his fingers inside of him to stretch him, watching carefully for any sign of pain. Henri whispered in slight pain but still slowly moved against him. He started to moan again when it started to feel good. Clayton smiled as he made sure it was only slight pain before he continued to stretch him. "I know it hurts at first," he said softly, kissing his leg. "But once your stretched I promise it feels amazing." Henri moved against those fingers, "It's starting to feel good now." Clayton smiled and kissed him. "Such a brave little king," he said, stroking him as well. Once he was well and stretched Clayton pulled his own cock out. Then he stopped and stroked Henri's cheek. "Are you sure Henri?" he asked softly. Henri nodded quickly, "Yes I want this..." Clayton smiled and kissed him softly. He gently pressed into him, watching his face for any signs of pain. Henri gasped at the sight pain then wiggled to get away from it. His gasp soon turned to a moan of pain when his prostate was kicked Clayton stopped moving and kissed his neck. "Do you want to stop?" he asked softly. Henri shook his head, "No, its...It's starting to feel good now." Clayton smiled and kissed his neck again, waiting for his body to adjust a bit before he started to move. While he waited he rubbed his back, reaching around to tease a nipple. Henri moved against him slowly, "T...that feels nice..." Clayton smiled and continued to move slowly inside him. "Yea, it does," he said softly. Henri brought him into a shy kiss and moved a bit faster. Clayton deepened the kiss and matched his speed. Henri gasped and moaned when the other hit his prostate. "Oh...right there...please..." Clayton smiled and ran his hand down his chest. "It feels so good doesn't it," he said, then kissed his neck as he rubbed against his prostate. Henri nodded and rocked against him, "Yes...so good." Clayton smiled, kissing his neck and teasing a nipple. "You are so beautiful," he said softly, moving slowly in him. Henri arched his neck, he wanted Clayton to mark him but was afraid of what the advisors would say. Clayton smiled and kissed his shoulder, then started to suck on his skin. It would leave a mark but no one anyone could see. He fought back the urge to speed up as he approached his climax. Henri groaned as he felt those lips on his neck, "Oh... Vlayton," he gasped then bucked against him as he started to cum. Clayton smiled and nipped his neck again as his thrusts became era dict as he approached his climax. He let out a growl as he filled Henri. Henri laid back in pleasure, "I... I like this...that felt so good..." Clayton smiled and kissed his forehead. "Yea, it is amazing..." He got up and went into the bathroom to get them both a glass of water. Henri laid on the bed for a while then moved to the bathroom, "Um...want to take a shower with me?" Clayton smiled and nodded. "Alright," he said, finishing his glass of water. Henri looked to him, "I want to know...are you doing this because you want to or to humor me..." Clayton smiled and shrugged. "Never tried showering with someone before," he said, then laughed a bit. "Never taken a shower big enough to do it." Henri flushed and looked away, "No I uh meant being with me...intently." Clayton blinked, then smiled softly. "I wouldn't mind it..." he said softly, then lifted his chin so he was looking into his eyes. "But make sure the reason you want to be with me isn't because I'm your first." Henri smiled then moved to kiss him, "I do like being with you for more than that..." Clayton smiled and returned the kiss. "Good," he said, then spotted the time. "We need to get to bed soon." Henri dragged him into the shower, "Shower first...and I would like you to sleep here..." Clayton smiled and laughed a bit. "As you wish," he said. He knew Henri would see the kiss mark on his back as well as the scar on the upper part of his back. There were little dots next to it that made it obvious it was a surgery scar. Henri moved forward when he saw them and traced the kiss mark slowly. Soon he moved to the surgery scar and looked to him, "What is this?" Clayton looked over his shoulder at him. "Hm? Oh that," he said, letting the water run over his hand. "I had this weird growth one of my bones. It started bugging me a few years back so I had it removed." Once the water was the right temperature, and they were both stripped down he stepped in and playfully pulled Henri in as well. Henri leaned into him and smiled, "What about the kiss mark?" Clayton blinked. "Kiss...oh that," he said. "It's from my last job before you picked me up." Henri looked to him curious, "Did they hurt you?" Clayton looked down at him. "Your guards?" he said. "No they didn't." Henri smiled then shook his head, "No I wanted to know if your customers hurt you." Clayton smiled and chuckled. "Some but nothing to horrible," he said. Henri nodded then turned to him before starting to wash him. "I am glad you are here I have missed having someone to talk to." Clayton smiled and leaned into his touch a bit. "Glad I can help," he said. Henri smiled then rinsed off the suds, "I should let you go home...It's not right to keep you here..." Clayton laughed. "And what would I do when I went home?" he asked. "Go back to pissing off my dad on the streets?" He stroked Henri's cheek. "Being here I can do something good." Henri nodded, "Then I would like it if you stayed, I like you here" Clayton smiled and kissed his cheek. "I like being here," he said, then rinsed himself off. Henri smiled to him then started to wash himself. Clayton smiled and helped him wash up. As they got out Clayton handed him a towel. "It would probably be better not to tell any of your advisor's about this for now," he said. "We don't want them thinking I'm influencing you." Henri wrapped the towel around himself and sighed, "I do not tell them everything and this is personal..." Clayton smirked a bit. "Of course if you ever do, take a picture of Hadden's face for me," he said, chuckling a bit. "That should be priceless." Henri smiled, "Yeah he's does hate you..." Clayton smiled and watched him get dressed. Henri reached for his hand once he was dressed, "Ready for bed?" Clayton took his hand and kissed the back of it. "Yes I am," he said, then let Henri lead the way. Henri led him to the bed then laid down, "Come lay with me..." Clayton smiled as he followed him. He climbed into bed and pulled the covers over them both, then wrapped his arms around Henri and held him close. Henri fell asleep easy with him and curled close to him as they slept. He woke early to servants knocking on his door and telling him it was time to get ready for the day. "I can dress myself today, thank you," he called as he sat up then watched Clayton sleep. Clayton pulled a pillow up and hugged it, not feeling Henri's eyes on him. Henri kissed him gently then moved out of bed to get dressed. Clayton smiled and tried to grab his arm. When he failed he woke a bit and looks around. He sits up and stretches, then smiles as he watches Henri as he gets dressed. Henri looked to him when he felt his eyes on him, he was now half dressed. "I did not mean to wake you..." Clayton shook his head. "It's alright," he said. "I was watching you." Henri leaned down to kiss him softly, "You should sleep... I have things I need to do, and you have to stay here." Clayton smiled and kissed him back. "I'll sleep when you leave," he said. "I just want to watch you for now." Henri smiled and nodded before turning to finish getting dressed. After he checked himself in the mirror he moved to kiss Clayton again, "I will miss you..." Clayton smiled and wrapped his arm around his waist, kissing back. "And I'll miss you," he said softly. "But I'll be right here if you need me." Henri nodded and pulled away, "Stay in here... Hadden is not allowed in my room so it is safer. I will try to come get you for lunch but if I cannot a servant will bring you food." Clayton nodded and kissed his hand. "Have a good day," he said. Henri smiled then headed out with a smile. He came back at lunch looking tired but had a tray of food for him, "Hey. I cannot be gone long, but I wanted to have lunch with you." Clayton was sitting at the window, deep in thought. His hair was messy like he had just woken up. He looked over at Henri and smiled." Alright," he said, sitting up straight. Henri moved close and smoothed down this hair. "What were you thinking about?" He asked softly Clayton smiled and stroked his cheek. "The past..." he said. "And last night." He chuckled. "Mainly last night." Henri blushed a bit at the reminder of last night. "What about it?" he asked curious. Clayton smirked and pulled him into his lap. "The look on your face when you told me to take you," he said, stroking his cheek. Henri smiled and leaned into him, "I am glad you liked it." He moved to kiss him gently, "And what about your past?" Clayton shrugged and rubbed Henri's back. "Just...things in general," he said. "What the guys on the street would think about all of this." Henri looked to him curious, "And would you want to go back?" he asked. "I could set you free..." Clayton laughs a bit. "Why would I?" he said. "Free room and broad. No dad yelling at me." He playfully gripped Henri's ass. "A hot ass to keep me company. I'd say I'm living the good life." Henri flushed a bit but smiled and kissed him, "I just do not want to hold you against your will...but if you like it here then I would like you to stay." Clayton smiled and stroked his head. "Now I do," he said, then looked to the food. "That smells good." Henri pulled out of his lap and handed him a plate, "Yeah it does let's eat." Clayton smirked and pulled him back into his lap. "You're staying right here," he said, nuzzling his neck. He pulled the food closer, grabbing a fork and stabbing a piece of meat. Henri smiled as he was pulled back into his lap and leaned into him. "Well it's a good thing I like it here," he murmured. He ate slowly wanting to spend as much time as he could with Clayton. Clayton kept one hand around Henri's waist, enjoy the mix of his scent and the taste of the food. Sometimes he would plant a kiss on Henri's shoulder or cheek and smile at him. Henri loved the touches then moved to kiss him, "Your perfect..." Clayton smiled and nuzzled his neck. "And you are amazing my little king," he said softly. Henri smiled and leaned into him with a sigh, "I wish I could stay here all day..." Clayton smiled and kissed his cheek. "So do I," he said, rubbing his shoulders. He sat back a bit. "Damn. So young to be so tense." Starts working on Henri's tight muscles. Henri moaned in pleasure as the other started to rub his shoulders, "Oh that is nice..." Clayton smiled and continued to message his shoulders until a knock was heard on the door. "Looks like your country summons you," he said. He kissed his cheek. "Until tonight my king." Henri stood and kissed him gently before smoothing out his clothes and heading out. Clayton smiled and returned the kiss, wishing him luck before returning to watching the outside. Henri returned late and after dinner, a servant had brought Clayton food. When he got inside he fell into the bed tired. Clayton smiled and came over to him. "Long day?" he said softly, sitting down and rubbing his back. Starting a message he let the visit Hadden had paid him earlier slip from his mind. Henri looked up to him and sighed in pleasure, "Really long day...what did you do after lunch?" Clayton shook his head. "Mainly sat in the window," he said. "Thought about life... I think I drifted off." Henri watched him, "Did...did Hadden bother you? He left early... I just get worried..." Clayton smiled softly at him. "Nothing I couldn't handle," he said. "He really is an ass." Henri huffed, "He is not allowed in my room," he murmured. "What did he do?" Clayton shrugged. "Same as yesterday," he said as he started working on a knot in Henri's back. Henri moaned at the feeling then costed his eyes trying to remember what he was saying, "You...you need guards..." Clayton smiled as he finally felt the knot loosen. "Maybe," he said, then kissed the prince's skin. "I'm not worried about it though. I found something interesting out." Henri opened his eyes to watch him, "What did you find?" Clayton smiles, running his fingers through Henri's hair. "He is planning on kidnapping another one like me for personal gain." He leaned in to kiss him. Henri moved to sit up and frowned, "He cannot do that..."he told him softly. "Not to another kid..." Clayton smiled and stroked his cheek. "He hasn't yet, but I would watch him, just in case," he said, then kissed him deeply. "But you're done ruling for today. Time to rest." Henri moved on his back and kissed him back, "Mmm...yea I am..." Clayton smiled and kissed his neck. He continued to leave little pecks and licks on his neck as he reached under his shirt to rub his back. Henri arched his neck for him then reached for him, "Your perfect..." Clayton smiles and kisses his palm. What you don't know beautiful...he thought as he leaned in to kiss him softly. He lay down next to him and continued to rub his back. "You are amazing," he said softly. Henri flushed a bit "I am not all that..." Clayton smiled and kissed him softly. "And I am fair from perfect," he said, running his fingers through Henri's hair. Henri opened his eyes to watch him, "Why do you say that?' Clayton shakes his head. "Think about it," he said. "I was working the street and spreading my legs for anyone with money." Henri sighed then reached for his hand, "And? Now you are here helping me... I like who you are now..." Clayton smiled and intertwined their fingers. "Thank you, Henri," he said, then kissed him deeply. Henri kissed him back and snuggled close, "I like that you are experienced and can teach me things..." Clayton smiled and rubbed his back. "I do what I can," he said softly. Henri smiled then took his hand happy, "See you are perfect to me." Clayton didn't say anything. Just smiled and pulled him into a hug. Henri cuddled with him, "Lets sleep..." Clayton smiled and pulled him close, pulling the blankets over them both. "Sleep well my little king," he said softly. The next morning Clayton woke first and stroked Henri's head as he slept. Henri snuggled closer to him, before slowly waking up, "Mmm...morning..." Clayton smiled and stroked his cheek. "Good morning," he said softly. "Sleep well?" Henri nodded then moved to kiss him, "Yeah... I like having you here... I sleep better..." Clayton smiles and kisses him softly. "I'm glad I can be of some use," he said softly, then sighed when there was a knock at the door. "Time to get ready for the day then?" Henri moved away from him and sighed, "Yes. You will tell me if Hayden comes again right" he asked softly. Clayton nodded and kissed his hand. "I will," he said. "I promise." Henri nodded then moved to get dressed, "I will try to come for lunch." Clayton smiled and watched him dress. "I'll be waiting," he said, then smiled when he watched him leave. Henri kissed him before moving out the door. He did come back for lunch but looked like he might burst into tears as he sat down slowly. Clayton sat up immediately and came over to him. "Henri," he said, kneeling next to him. "What's wrong?" Henri snuggled into him before tears started to fall, "I... I found out....he killed them..." Clayton's face got dark. "Who killed them Henri?" he asked. Henri sobbed into his chest trying to calm down, "H... Hadden..." He whispered. "He killed my parents..." Clayton ground his teeth, then calmed himself enough to lift Henri up to carry him to bed so he could hold him. "It's alright," he said softly. "Let them flow... I'm here Henri." Henri sobbed in grief this was like losing his family all over again. After a few moments he was able to calm and look up to Clayton, "I have to send you home...so he does not hurt you too." Clayton shook his head. "Not going to happen," he said. "You'll be alone." Henri bit his lip worried, "If you are here he can hurt you..." Clayton strokes his cheek. "I'll risk it," he said softly. Henri went to is him gently "I... I love you..." Clayton returned the kiss. "I love you," he said softly. "It's going to be ok Henri. I promise." Henri curled into him, "How can you be sure?" Clayton smiles and kisses his hand. "Because I'm going to make it ok," he said. Henri sighed and moved to kiss him, "Just be careful..." Clayton purred into the kiss and lifted him up to lay him down on the bed. "I will," he said softly, then kissed him again. Henri sighed into the kiss then slowly started to move against him. "Good."

For My Country (DajaOfTheNightxStrawberryDream)|rating:3.0

All mine~ (ShoxShani)

"Annnnnnnnd we have wonderful blood rubies gained following the raid of said mentioned castle! Carefully crafted by the masterwork of vampires, these rubies are carefully crafted by the most talented of jewel smiths! And we are starting the bid at 200,000 Reals!" Roymos sighed softly as the bidding began. It took less than a minute to see about 20 bids on the highly valued gemstones. All the treasures gained following an intervention by his nation's King was finally available to the highest bidder. Of course, the King only offered what he cared little for in comparison from more valued treasures. He was sitting near the stage where he could keep an eye on the valued goods that were somewhat hidden behind a curtain. Some looked appealing, while others didn't. He was honestly tempted for the blood rubies but knew that he had obtained precious stones beforehand; he was not going to spend all of his money when it was still early!" Why not bid for them sir?" asked his assistant who sat next to him." I likely have a collection already," Roy mos remarked, yawning as those rubies were finally sold. He adjusted his position to where he crossed his legs and arms, feeling somewhat relaxed. Nearing his 30s, Roy mos had black hair, green eyes and lightly tanned skin. He wore mostly black with some traces of silver in either jewelry or designs on his attire. He wondered if his reputation would improve if he brought something of outstanding value. Furthermore, he was wealthy enough to challenge any who would engage in a bidding war with him." My, it seems like they can't control all of their products," said his assistant." Hmmm?" Roy mos blinked as he looked to get a peek behind the curtain, seeing the stored goods and someone getting into an argument with a handler. A slave perhaps? Ensnared in silver chains, her arms and ankles, bound by that of a mortal. There was even a chain about her neck so she couldn't attack as well as a makeshift muzzle. In disbelief, she was captured in the first place being centuries old, having eluded people for so long. Listening as her stuff was being auctioned off, her jewels and gems seeing many of her items being sold to mere mortals who didn't deserve them. Lucinda was a treasure in her right, she was as much of an antique as her things, although she didn't look ancient at all. Lucinda looked to be a mere 24-year-old woman. Her skin was fair and pale, like that of a porcelain doll. Resembling one, her fiery curls cascading past her shoulders, soft ruby lips, currently cold, fearful, emerald green eyes. Her delicate figure, a beautiful hour glass naturally accentuated by her corset. Lucinda was dressed in a dark crimson burgundy dress, black corset, a pair of black boots. Trying to come up with a plan to free herself she was an ancient vampire looked up to as a queen though keeping to herself, she was preparing to travel with her family that evening but beyond her control her castle was raided in the middle of the day, an unfair advantage, not knowing if her family and servants escaped. Wanting to be free'd from her restraints she was from royal blood she didn't deserve this treatment. "Let me go! I don't deserve to be here! I've done nothing wrong! Free me at once!" Lucinda demanded pulling at her restraints She was trying to transform into her bat like essence, but the silver wouldn't permit her too." Set me free, and I'll make it worth your while... I'll give you anything you want...money, jewels, protection you name it...you'll have it." Lucinda pleaded with those holding her in place, exhausted from lack of sleep, fighting against them. "You'll all pay...mark my words you will all pay for this!" She cursed them she would get her revenge so long as she lived. "And next we have a servant who was captured during the Raid!" Lucinda was presented on the stage but after some effort against her resistance. "Quite 'young' for her age as given by her appearance, she insists on being of royalty! Yet while this is unproven with lack of evidence presented to support her claim, she is well-class and holds high standards! Perfect servant to all who desire such a high quality slave! The bidding starts at 100,000 Reals!" Almost immediately, ten bids were set." Not very expensive, huh, sir?"" Not at all," said Roy mos. Admittedly, he expected a higher bid. Then again, it was low enough to make the bidding option popular. Wanting to get involved, Roy mos lifted a finger and called out, "250,000!""300,000!""325,000!" On and on did the bid go. Roy mos was not expecting a vampire servant to be so popular. Then again, no one he knew personally had one. It amused him even more as he could tell how frustrated the vampire was by this point. Was she actually telling the truth? He did not know. Lucinda fought trying to get off the stage but in a weakened state struggled. Watching as hands rose as mortals attempted to buy her, having a thought she would just be given to them for money kill them once given the chance. "If you read the old writings you'd know I wasn't lying! Set me free! My people need me!" She exclaimed struggling in the chains. If she wasn't chained she'd prov Royalty as only royal vampires could stay in a human form with their bat wings on there back. But with the way she was chained she would do more harm than good. Lucinda growled and hissed as they continued to bid tired and thirsty from being awoken and stolen away. Yet no mind paid mind to her words as bids continued on and on. Roy mos was getting irritated by how long this was taking. Clearly he needed to up the bid to another level."1.5 million Reals!" he shouted loudly, beating the last bid that reached 800,000 Reals. Luckily for him, there was muttering as it was acknowledged that the price was too high for some." Sold!" With the sound of a purchase being made, Roy mos' assistant applauded him. "Well done sir! One of the more expensive purchases of the night!"" Barely expensive with my wealth," commented Roy mos. After another hour of bidding, Roy mos was satisfied with the other purchases that he managed to win. Meeting with some representatives, he watched as his new things were being transported out of the building. As for the vampire however..."STOP STRUGGLING!" said one of her handlers. Despite the silver that was restricting her, she was obviously not coming to terms with this, much to Roy mos' amusement." Come now; would it be so bad if you were mine?" he asked, approaching her and lifting her by the chin. He smirked as her anger REALLY spoke for itself. He examined her and asked, "Do you have a name, my lovely new pet?"" Sir, you should really be careful; wounds caused by vampires take longer to heal," warned his assistant. Lucinda wasn't upset with how much she would be raking in. She was upset in general, they would pay they would all pay. She would see to it as soon as he chains would be lifted she would be gone, and would bring the others to feed. Giving up for she would need her strength for later, she fell quiet. As she was being dragged against her will Lucinda dug her heels in making it harder for them, pulling at her chains. "You have no power over me!" She snapped when they demanded she stop struggling. Turning her attention to Roy mos, "I am no men... I am no mortals...as soon as these chains are lifted you will meet your demise." Lucy replied how dare he ask such foolishness. Watching as he touched her chin forcing her to look at him. Her eyes turning violet from anger and not feeding. Hissing softly, "Lucinda... Lucinda Jess op, and I'm not your pet." "Such a lovely name," admitted Roy mos. "And you're claiming to be part of the Jess op line? That's a bold claim, Lucinda..." Roy mos released her chin softly and moved around her, lifting her hair by the ends of her curls. "Hamm...you smell quite nice as well..." Releasing her hair, he moved his hands around her hour glass-shaped body. Despite her protests, he had no shame whatsoever lifting her dress and moving his hand to her almost bared rear. "Well I am happy that you're at least wearing something under your dress; I've seen cases where slaves are not properly dressed before being sold..." He pulled away from her and looked to his assistant. "Do you think that we have Silver that is catholic blessed? It WOULD be troublesome if she was able to get free..." His assistant pondered at the thought. "I'll have seen to that... I honestly think that those chains are strong enough sir-"However Roy mos shook his head. "I find them unappealing really. But some insurance would work; something 'powerful' enough to prevent her from bringing harm to others and strong enough to make it impossible for her to remove on her own. I was thinking in the shape of a lovely necklace? Or a rosary would be more appropriate?" he asked. Realizing what he wanted, he bowed. "I shall tend to that now sir!" He immediately headed for the exit." Good." Roy mos looked at his angry new slave. "Try not harm anyone, please Lucinda?" He gently brushed his backhand against her cheek. Lucinda bared her fangs watching him, "Thank you...my mother Marisha chose it... I am most certainly a Jess op, I come from a great and proud line." She replied feeling him shift around her once he released her chin, feeling his fingers through her hair. Vampires had a special gland which made them smell fragrant seeing as they were dead and without the scent gland they would smell of death. Her body tensed as his arms wrapped around her, "Unhand me!" She snapped Squirming against him, "It is not polite to see a lady's undergarment let alone her petticoats. I am no slave! I am Lucinda Jess op of the Noble Jess op family!" Twisting her slender hands trying to slip through to cuffs. Thinking about breaking her wrist to get through the silver. Lucinda hissed granted she'd rather not be in the big chains she didn't want the rosary nor the necklace blessed by the church either. Glaring back at him, "I don't make promises I can't keep..." She replied angrily turning her attention to the warm hand brushing her cheek. "Why would you care...why are you being kind?" She hissed softly when so many of the other had been cruel to her. "Now Lucinda, I have a policy with treating my things quite well..." Roy mos stood in front of her and placed a hand on her cheek to settle her down. "But should you bite, I won't hesitate to do the same~" A cheeky smile emerged from him as he suddenly tapped her nose before walking away. And so forty minutes passed before Lucinda was escorted into a carriage. Traveling with Roy mos' assistant, who was lecturing Lucinda on the 'rules' regarding her new life with Roy mos. And of course, the assistant gave no mind to her protests as he finally finished."... And should you feel hungry for anything, be it blood or a typical human dish, feel free to inform me or the other servants. Roy mos cares for the health of those who serve him." He reached for a small box that was beside him and opened it. It was a silver rosary of fine craftsmanship. In the center of the cross, Emerald to accommodate the silver and her eyes. "I think that Sir Roy mos would be pleased with my selection. I made sure that a priest from a nearby church did all the proper rituals to empower your new rosary. He was kind enough to make sure that this one held the proper markings just to be safe." With that, he looked across from where he sat and asked, "You're not going to bite me...are you?" Wanting to make sure that he was not going to have issues with putting this on her. "I mean, it IS better than those chains...wouldn't you agree?" Lucinda hissed at him as he called her his thing, she wasn't his nor was she a mere thing. Glaring at him, "I don't normally bite to kill but in this case I'll make and exception." She snapped as he was being cheeky with her. Lucinda fought the chains, having calmed a bit her eyes back to their emerald color. Moving with the handler as she was placed into a carriage. Listening and rolling her eyes as he went over 'rules' she didn't obey the rules of mortals. She wanted to be free."... I am quite thirsty... I wasn't able to feed before being taken... I do not serve him, nor will I..." Lucinda hissed watching him as he reached for something. Looking at the small box he pulled out. It was beautiful, she often enjoyed looking at crucifixes, but she knew this was going to help trap her. Hissing at the rosary, then falling silent. Looking at him when he asked if she was going to bite him. "Not with this muzzle about my mouth... I wouldn't even if it wasn't there...you haven't wronged me..." She said she wasn't about to hurt an innocent bystander following his orders. "I suppose...neither is a nice option in my opinion." "..." The assistant paused after hearing her words. "Alright then..." After a minute of hesitation, he carefully moved the rosary around her neck. Afterward, he said, "Now to remove your chains once we get off..." As he promised, she was freed by the heavy silver that restrained her beforehand. And as expected, Roy mos was waiting for her arrival. He smiled as he saw that she was now free from the silver restraints. "My dear, you look so lovely without those troublesome things..." He looked to see that she was naturally not pleased with the situation as he chuckled. "Still angry? Let me see your cute lips..." Roymos gently began to remove her muzzle and smirked as he got a clearer look of her face. "Much better no? You could smile now..." He held her face and rubbed it gently before stating, "It must be odd for you to feel this vulnerable...but as long as you're with me, you'll be safe from harm." He continued to tease her with his thumb, slowly rubbing her cheek in a gentle manner. Lucinda stayed still like she said she would as the assistant placed the silver around her neck. With the silver being blessed by a Catholic Church it in itself was uncomfortable. It was a very irritating feeling. Lucy felt so weak and vulnerable as her powers were being stifled. Feeling the weight from the chain lifted with made her relax slight not as tense, having to carry the extra weight. Lucinda looked irritated and angry. Rubbing her wrists slightly from the tight restraints. Glaring at him as he teased her she would be sure to kill him. Holding still as he removed the muzzle from her mouth. Stretching her jaw some with it now removed. Keeping her cold look she wasn't about to smile at him, she wanted to go back to her home where she would have been safe except someone must have been followed. "And how can you make such a promise?" She asked she didn't put her safety in anyone's hands. Feeling his thumb caressing her cold skin. "Well you're not being whipped for your rudeness... Then again, perhaps I would? You're seemingly calmer..." He smirked as he moved another hand to her waist and said, "But I have to find some use for you. What are your talents my dear? Can you sing? Can you read? I don't suppose you know how to cook do you? Ah, speaking of which, you must be hungry no?"" Sir, she claims to be thirsty," said his assistant."Ah, but of course. I've sent a servant of mine to gather blood from the butcher shop nearby. Vampiresdoneed blood." He released her face and leaned in, smelling her hair against as he whispered, "Or do you have a natural preference for humans?" Keeping her glare, and her gaze upon him watching his every move. He wouldn't dare whip her, would he? "Baring heavy chains that minimize my natural abilities can make one very cranky, as does being taken against ones will..." Lucinda admitted holding her head high with her strong posture. Staying as still as a statue as his hand went to her waist." Talent's... Yes I can sing, and yes I can read, books sheet music, I can play the piano, the violin, and the harp. I knew how to cook once...but over the last few centuries I haven't needed to prepare food. Yes... I haven't fed, and with the capture it's been exhausting." She explained. Looking to the assistant, "Thirsty, hungry same difference." She shrugged." Yes sadly we do, It has to be fresh though, after a certain time it becomes stale. I've survived on both it doesn't matter to me, human is often sweeter and more addictive than that of an animal." She replied hearing him smelling her hair, and he moved close to her. Nodding slightly he said, "Well if you behave, I'll be nice enough to get you some human blood. Who knows? It may be even MY blood if you have me on my good side." He pulled away and took a moment to look at her entire figure. "Do change her into something more comfortable, would you? Something a little less "formal"..." With that, he turned away and walked into his large home, leaving her with his assistant." Well then, I should prepare you for dinner with Sir Roy mos. Please come with me..." Leading her inside, Roy mos' assistant brought her to what would naturally be her own room to stay in. While small, it was spacious enough for one person. "Now I've taken the liberty to pick out what you should wear this evening..." He gestured at was laid across the bed. "I will check on you in ten minutes," he said, before bowing slightly and leaving her alone in her room.*Some time later*Roy mos waited calmly at the dinner table that was prepared by his other servants. Comfortable in a dress robe, he watched as they laid out the table with various options that would be enough for two. And naturally, something prepared for Shane to the point where raw red meat was available on her plate. Also with human delights with side dishes and blood or whine should she prefer to drink that with her meal. Of course, nothing wrong with water either. Lucinda wasn't trying to start trouble not yet anyway, as much as she wanted to be free. He was bribing her with something she needed to survive, old blood could be dangerous to a vampire almost poisonous. Looking at her outfit, she was comfortable, seeing as she had nothing with her, she wasn't sure what she would be dressed in. Lucinda fell silent and followed the assistant into hit castle. Looking around the room it was much smaller than her room at home. Looking at the dress behind her. Lucinda began to change once he left trying to stretch her wings out but with the charmed necklace she couldn't. Laying her dress on the bed and putting the other one on. Looking out the window hoping her family was alright, still finding it unbelievable that she was captured. "Lucinda? I am here to take you to see Roy mos," announced the familiar assistant following a knock. After a quick exchange, he led Luanda to the dinning room where Roy mos waited for them." Ah my dear, you're finally here," he said with a pleased expression. He lifted his glass of wine. "Do join me..." He gestured at the chair that was next to his. Obviously he was at one end of the table, but preferred having one near him when dining with only one guest. He took a sip of wine and asked, "Are you comfortable?" Lucinda turned upon hearing the assistant call to her following him out of her room. Down the halls to the dinning room. Seeing Roy mos sitting at a long dining table. "I apologize for the wait... This dress is a very different style and I struggled to figure it out." She replied trying to be nice and polite she was a dinner table after all. When asked to join Lucinda moved to the seat next to him. Pulling the chair out having a seat. "Not exactly...but more so than before..." She replied looking at the set-up of the table taking in the room itself. "Well please, do eat," he advised, placing his glass of wine down. "My assistant took the liberty of getting something as fresh as possible for you. I take it that vampires enjoy something that isn't 'old'? I did not know that until he explained why there was a delay with getting you blood to drink." He gestured at a bottle that was between them. It looked similar to a wine bottle, although the liquid was obviously different." Please try not to waste it my dear; my assistant had to pay extra to get that kind man to go through the trouble of bleeding a poor creature..." He took a sip of wine. "But perhaps you would prefer cooked beef?" he asked, now realizing that he did instruct for her to have raw meat. Obviously it was not as fresh as the blood within that bottle. Lucinda took the bottle and poured her a glass of blood, it was safe. Bringing the glass to her lips, beginning to drink from it. "If the blood or body has been dead for too long we can get sick it's like poison to a mortal. It does little for us, it could even kill us..." It's still warm it won't cool for about an hour, it shan't be wasted I assure you." Lucinda explained taking another sip."Besides, you could have just brought me the animal it would have been cheaper and would've lasted longer." Bringing the fork and knife to cut the rare beef feeling it and smelling it, it was safe to eat. "No, thank you... The older we the less human we are, I can no longer digest most meals only raw meats now it's soft enough to feed from." His mind pondered a bit. "I see. So you don't mind telling me how old you are exactly?" he requested, slowly carving his expensive beef. "I am quite curious to be honest; you're the first vampire I've ever had a conversation with..." He slowly began to chew his food, admiring and savoring the flavor. It was satisfying to the core. "No... I am 24 give or take a few centuries. I am 342 years of age I was turned at 24." She replied. "I am cursed to be stuck this way, I will not grow old, nor become sick, or die naturally anyway." Watching him eat his food slowly never seeing someone eat so slow. "Many of us are hunted so we stay hidden, we don't often talk to those who hunt or seek to destroy us." She admitted why make friends when many wanted to destroy. A muffled chuckle was heard as he wiped his face. "I see, then you are still 'young' to an extent!" He began to eat his vegetables. "Hamm, so do you possess a firm memory of your entire life? Or do you naturally tend to forget things after a few years like humans do?" He took a moment to drink more wine. "Ah," he sighed in relief before cutting another piece of his meat. Looking at him as he chuckled, "Yes, but I am the oldest in this kingdom...many don't live long eternities. I am more powerful than many who are older than I due to my blood a royal becomes more powerful in death." She explained drinking from her glass. Thinking about it, "Fortunately something's are better left forgotten. Like humans as many of us were we will forget thing over time. Names, dates, events." She said, "I can still remember when I was turned we can remember traumatic events better than everyday ones." "Ah so you weren't born a vampire...interesting," he noted. He eventually finished his meal and asked, "What did you think of your room? Whether you're one of royalty or not, I am sure that you've had more privileged arrangements." He wiped his face for the last time and looked at her with a gentle expression, wanting to better understand her. "Are you comfortable or...?" "No I was human...once...only 300 years, and I've been forgotten..." Lucinda said solemnly. Drinking the rest of her glass, "Of It's smaller than I am used to butting I'm sure it will do... Do you have dark cover for the window? It's lovely at night, but I fear During the day the sun will come in..." She replied. Finishing her rare meat careful wiping her mouth. "Comfortable how? I'm not used to this fabric for this dress it's much lighter... I'd love to stretch my wings...but I'll assume that's too much to ask." "Oh you misunderstand; I was only referring to your room arrangements. And I do understand that you would be better off not having something restricting you... I am of course talking about clothing." He glanced at her attire and said, "A vampire maid IS appealing, but I am starting to grow bored with what you're wearing..." He slowly stood up from his table and finished with, "Allow me to assist you..." He offered his hand. Lucinda tilted her head as he cleared up what he was talking about. "The room is fine besides the window." She responded. Then realizing he was talking about clothing. Watching him stand up hearing as he was bored with her clothing and she had an idea of what he wanted. If she was right she could easily do away with him and escape from here. Taking his hand despite better judgement, standing from her seat. As he helped her up, he asked, "Tell me Lucinda, what exactly do you feel when you have my new gift around your neck?" he asked, taking a moment to glance at the silver cross that she had. "Do you feel some 'weight' of some sorts on you? Do you feel as if you have not had a proper meal for days? Does it hurt you? Should you want, I could remove it if you want..." He slowly walked with her, holding her hand gently as they made their way out of the dining room. Listening to his questions, "This horrible metal trinket is rather interesting but miserable... I'm assuming because it is combined with a blessing and a cross is what makes it worse." she thought aloud. Thinking of what it felt like, "Yes there is a weight a pressure if you will...no for I have just fed and would be ravenous if I felt I haven't fed in days. Each time I try to use my powers there is a sharp pain preventing me from doing so. You would? What's the catch?" She asked following him where ever he was leading her. As he led her through his home, he looked upwards as if he were pondering. A few more moments passed and he said nothing. "..." He closed his eyes before answering, "Well it depends on you. Mind you, that necklace makes you as harmless as a human being, but I know that you're likely going to find a way to break free of my hold." He glanced at her. "I never had issue with my servants, and someone like you is expected to be no different. I tend to loosen my leash on my property when they've earned my trust..." Lucinda waited wanting to hear his answer unfortunately it wasn't the one she wanted to hear. She'd have to earn his trust which would pro e difficult as she didn't trust him. Lucinda was a rather powerful vampire, rendered to that of a mere mortal with his bloody necklace. Trust would take forever to earn, little did he know she was not easily broken she would just have to bide her time play nice until given the chance then go. She was no servant she was a royal. A Jess op, looked at as a mere servant she just needed the Silva necklace removed, and she'd be free. Staying quiet as they walked. "So it's all dependent on how you behave and how we get along with one another. I am sure that you're civilized enough meet with my standards. After all, you DO come from a high classed lifestyle, do you not?" he asked, reflecting on her claims regarding her heritage and bloodline. They stopped in front of a doorway where he turned to face her completely. Listening to his words hearing how he taunted her sure she was a monster, born from noble blood She was a lady of her time and grace." Of course, I do, yet you mock me..." She replied knowing he doubted her claims. Stopping with him at the door as he faced her, staying still watching his every move. "Mock you? Oh, no dear; that's not my intention at all. If anything, I just want to make sure that you understand what I want from you. But I have a question for you first," he said, taking a step towards her. He held her gently by the chin and leaned forward, as if he planned to kiss her. "If a vampire from a high class from her society was suddenbittenon her lips, what would she do?" He paused as he was less than an inch from her face. "Would she, bite back in retaliation? Pull away and smack his face? Pull away and spit in disgust while expressing her displeasure verbally? Or..." He moved half an inch, now requiring almost no effort to touch her lips with his if he wanted to. "...do nothing?" Lucinda watched him carefully, as he spoke all she had gotten was he wanted her to be his obedient servant. Removed from her throne to do his bidding. Tilting her head as he said he had a question to ask her. "What is your question....?" She asked listening She personally would go along with it in order to get a meal, but she didn't need to feed. "... I suppose that would depend on the bite if it was a threat the biter would die..." She was trying to think seeing as he wanted her to behave and to remove the necklace she would have to be good and cooperate. It didn't help vampires were sexual creatures. She could feel the breath from his lips being so close. "I see..." He paused, slowly moving his head away from her but maintained a hold on her chin. "I suppose that would make sense, considering how hostile she would feel when it's coming from a human like me." He said nothing for a few seconds. "..." He smirked. "Oh well." Almost instantly, Roy mos had pressed his lips against Lucinda's. Rather than a kiss, he kept his promise with a bite. While not a serious hostile one, it was enough for him to playfully nibble with both her upper and lower lips. Her reaction was adorable to him as he held her by her waist and her wrist, releasing her chin. It could have lasted a minute for all they knew, as he only tilted his head so that now their noses were touching. "So soft and sweet," he complimented. Lucinda stayed still as he held her chin in place. Listening to him speak, how she wanted to rip his arm off and run. Hearing him say 'Oh well' She couldn't believe his lips met hers as he nibbled upon them. Her body tensed as he held her close to him while he playfully toyed with her trying to focus on the end result freedom. When he was nose o nose she looked at him watching this curious human. Hearing his compliment. "Thank you," She replied softly "My pleasure Lucinda. Good night," he said, closing his eyes and pulling away from her. He walked away, leaving her in front of her room while he retired for the rest of the night. Rest my dear...as I have many things planned for you tomorrow... Roymos smirked at the thought as he continued to walk to his room. In the process, he ran into his assistant." Sir, will you be done for the rest of the night?" he asked. Nodding, he said, "Yes I will be. But perhaps you can do me one more task? Lucinda requires some dark curtains; the sun naturally brings discomfort to her sensitive skin..."*A few minutes later*A knock came to Lucinda's door by Roy mos' assistant. Standing behind him, a male servant carrying her requested curtains. "Good night." she replied watching as he walked down the hall. Going into what would be her room, for the time being. Looking about the small chambers, seeing the freshly made bed, the small dresser to place some clothing. Moving to the window, a proud vampire held captive in another castle. Looking out at the beautiful night sky. Upon hearing the knock upon her door she turned her head to look opening the door to see who it was, seeing the two men at her door, then seeing the curtains. Lucinda moved out of the way sitting on her bed looking at her other outfit solemnly "Pardon me miss Lucinda, we are here to assure you that these thick curtains cover your windows effectively for tomorrow. Roy mos has insisted that very little daylight should enter, given your sensitivity," he explained, watching as the servant came forward and moved towards her window." Now beginning tomorrow, Sir Roy mos enjoys a bit of reading in his library. One of his favorite things, he enjoys eating a small meal in the morning while listening to one's singing. We used to have a woman who did this in return for payment, until she decided that this was a somewhat tedious way to earn income. Given that you claimed to have a talent for singing, he wishes for you to amuse his ears while he eats and reads," he explained, just as the male servant finished replacing her curtains. "Yes please come in..." she replied. Knowing for her own good, letting them in for the curtains. "Thank you, the harmful rays from the sun are not pleasant when the skins burn, with the silver upon me, I won't be able to heal as easily." Lucinda explained to the men watching the one hanging the curtains. Lucinda looked at him curiously, "Morning? Isn't tour Lord aware that vampires are nocturnal? I'll assume I have to adjust to this...will there be safe passage from other Windows? To get to the library? Singing isn't tedious it's an art that many can't preform." she replied her emerald eyes watching him "Well that's the thing my dear; he actually wants you to adjust your natural sleep patterns into ours," he explained, unsure of how she would feel towards that. "Also, everything is within his estate; there's just so many openings for sunlight to come in hence your room is here." he explained as the male servant left. "Also, she may have grown tired of doing the same thing every day. Personally, I don't know." He looked to see that it was only the two of them. "Well I know that you may have trouble staying away for tomorrow morning, but feel free to sleep as much as you can before then. A good night to you Lucinda." With that, he bowed slightly and left her alone.*The next day*A knock came to her door. Blinking at him, that was easier said than done. The whole reason was to avoid the sun as it could be lethal. Much like bats being nocturnal her eyesight wasn't that good in the day. This may prove to be more difficult than she first thought, biting her tongue. Lucinda listened to his words as she sat there seeing the male servant leave. " Good night..." Unable to sleep finally drifting just before day break only to hear a knock upon her door standing up she opened it, "Morning already?" "Oh my, you did not getanysleep?" asked the familiar kind and considerate assistant. As he entered, he noticed that she was still in her sleepwear. "No need to change now; Roy mos is expecting you," he said, now leading her out of the room. "If anything, Sir Roy mos prefers casual attire from his servants. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if you were forced to wear an outfit made for maids," he added. "No... I struggle to sleep at night..." she replied to him so far she is like the assistant he was kind to her. "Expecting me like this?" Lucinda questioned. Looking at him curiously," less you have forgotten I haven't any clothing any of my things, I only have what I was given last night..." Lucinda reminded him as she was bought merely 12 or so hours ago. " Wouldn't surprise, I'm sure I'll be forced to do a great many things I don't believe in." she said following him to see the master of the castle. "Oh but I had assumed that you knew of the clothing that had been stored in your dresser? While you were eating dinner, I took the liberty of adding some options to your new collection," he explained. They stopped at a door where the assistant knocked." Enter." Opening the door, they found themselves within a small library/study room. Books reaching all the way to the ceiling with at least 10 levels of sleeves. A ladder was also present with rollers, having no issue moving on the large thick rug that covered the floor. Roy mos was sitting on a cozy chair sipping tea for a few seconds. He placed it down next to a platter of small blueberry muffins while his eyes remained on a page of the book he read. He blinked only once before turning over to the next page."Thank you, Thomas," he said, not even giving a glance at his assistant. "I will send for you should I need you again."" Sir," he said, bowing before leaving them alone. "Obviously not how can you expect me to know something you didn't tell me?" Lucinda retorted.u standing in front or the door. Once told to go in she walked in with Tomas. Looking at all the books there were so many. Walking forward, listening hearing that he was dismissed. "You wished to see me?" Lucinda asked "Sing," he ordered, not even granting her the curiosity of a "good morning". "I am sure my assistant already told you..." He paused and took another sip of tea. "I wish to be amused," he reminded her. He smirked as he enjoyed the particular humor within the story that he was reading. "Yes...right... Is there anything in particular you'd like to hear?" Lucinda asked then again anything would probably do. Clearing her throat slightly. "Void SUR ton chairmen. Gah, main obtain et great." she began to sing in French. Then translating it to English as she went. " See upon your path children lost and forgotten, take them by the hand to lead them in towards another day." "It's alright my dear; no need to translate," he said, noticing that she began to speak in English. "But I do appreciate your consideration; just sing in whatever language you prefer..." He continued to read without giving her so much as a look. He reached for yet another muffin. Furthermore, he smirked as the favor pleased his sense of taste. Simply wonderful~" San sou core de la newt. Lon'd de POU, AU her de la live, Sen SRE deg aux." she continued singing the French melody for him as he ate his meal seeming pleased with what he heard, he nodded slightly and continued to read his book without a care in the world. It brought pleasure to his mind the longer this went on. After 20 minutes, he closed his book, loud enough to indicate that he was done. "Thank you," he said softly, before standing from his seat. Stretching slightly, he said, "Now I think that I should bathe next. Come." He walked out of the room, expecting her to follow him as by the rules. Lucinda continued to sing until she heard him book slam closed assuming he was finished. Nodding her head as he thanked her. Lucinda internally sighed as he said he wanted to bathe, hearing the command she followed him. As he leads her into the hallway, he asked, "Lucinda, did you get any sleep at all? I take it that my assistant took the time to inform you of your new sleep schedule?" As they made a left, he began to remove the knot that held his robe close. Despite not exposing himself, he felt relief and freedom. "Also, WHY are you wearing what you wore during dinner?" he asked. Walking silently with him down the hall. " No. I haven't quoted adjusted to my new schedule...by Yes I was informed of it..." she rapid before falling silent once more. " I was only informed this morning that there were clothes in the dresser... I don't dig through things that aren't mine." Lucinda stated, although it was in "her" chamber she did look through it not snooping through someone's stuff. "Well that's not good," he commented, glancing over at her as they continued down the hallway. "You're not feeling tired are you?" he then asked. They finally stopped in front of a door and opened it, revealing a large room that held a large bath. Mostly silver, the room was properly decorated. He began to finally remove his robe completely, revealing his body for the first time. "Because it would be inconvenient for you...maybe not?" "It's not the first time I've had to be up all night and all day, I am a little tired..." Lucinda explained moving along stopping a t the door only to see that mostly everything was silver or at least lined with it. Seeing his tone fall, seeing his backside. Looking straight a head, "What would incontinence me?" "Well, just as I said, it may not be inconvenient for you; depending on how you see it as," he explained, making his way towards the warm water. "Come, wash my back," he said, taking a step into the smooth relaxing liquid. "As I was about to say, should you fall asleep, I wouldn't hesitate opinion your flesh. Exploring every inch of your body to my liking and in your vulnerable state. Now you may either hate it, or enjoy it should you wake up and find me tasting you," he explained, now slowly dropping into the large tube. He closed his eyes after gesturing at a collection of bathing tools that laid in a bucket some feet to his left. "I always wondered how a vampire's womanhood tasted like..." Lucinda waited for his answer not sure where he was going with this. Following looking at the tools he pointed at. Hearing his footstep into the water she took a sponge. Blinking at him as he was speaking about exploring her body while she slept. Only having known her an evening, but like most mortals the taboo act of even being with a vampire often made them excited. Seeing as she wasn't here by choice she wanted nothing to do with sexual acts despite her nature, especially with him. She would have to be passed out to let him touch her as she was still sour at being thrown into slavery and with him purchasing her. Although she knew she would need to sleep at some point, and to be advanced upon while she slept could be exciting or disastrous. Staying quiet Lucinda took the sponge bringing to wash his back as it was a hard-to-reach area. "HHH..." He relaxed as she got that annoying spot out of the way. "Feel free to be free of any clothing; youwillget wet when you get in my bath to bathe other parts of my body," he insisted. "But I am sure you already know this; dear, do tell me of when you were younger. When you were a child before you became a vampire?" he requested kindly. BUMP Lucinda washed his back until it was clean, other parts? He was a grown man couldn't he bathe himself? She thought to herself, "I'll be fine..." She responded, not about to remove her clothes in front of him. Listening to his question, "My childhood?" She restated "That was centuries ago... I was a happy child for the most part... I remember studying a lot...to one day become queen of my kingdom. My mother was warm...caring as was my father, but he was strict." She tried to remember, "I was the oldest...of three, I had a little brother Milosevic, and a younger sister Bracelet..." Thinking back to her family life, We got along well though I wasn't always able to be with them because I was always studying, horse back riding, sword fighting, music, archery, reading. That was most of my childhood and early teens I believe...at least before becoming a young adult." Slightly nodding, he asked, "I see. So did you ever lose your purity to a male? Or female?" Turning his head, he added, "I knew a friend who had the privilege with a vampire who had his way with an 'older'-like female. He always had a thing for more experienced women. I take it that you've had quite the privilege to enjoy pleasures of the flesh for as long as you want, no?" He smirked as her reaction amused him. Standing up, he turned to face her exposing his front size completely. Naturally expecting her to continue working on his body. "I bet that you loved to enjoy yourself?" Blinking at him as he brought up more private matters. " I lost my purity when I was human...to my husband." Lucinda responded. Thinking about the lovers she's had after that. "I suppose you can say I've enjoyed the sons of the flesh in my time..." when he turned his front to her and smiled, he was being cheeky. He's going to wash his chest as the spoke. "Oh? I never realized you were married. Did you ever mother any children?" he asked, curious with learning more and more about her. As she washed him, some form of excitement began to form inside of him. However, he had enough experience to control his urges to where he resisted an erection. "Whatever happened to your husband?" "Didn't come up until now..." she replied nonchalantly. Lucinda smiled thinking about her children. "Yes, two, a little boy and a little girl, I would have had three, but I lost her prematurely." she stated moving lower as she washed him talking was distracting her from this humiliation. "My husband...that's a bit of a grim topic..." her smile faded." We met on All Hollows Eve...my family through glorious parties...it was a beautiful masquerade. We dance most of the evening together, showing our faces at the end of night. Furthermore, we parted ways but wrote often going to each other's gatherings, events, parties he proposed to me and we were married the next Halloween. " She stated remembering the past. "Henry and I were married for five years, we had Marisha and Alexander, my daughter was the sitting image of me and my son had gentle blonde waves in his hair he was three, Marisha was five...one night we all went to sleep, later that night I heard a noise I went to check on the children." Lucinda paused reliving the nightmare for centuries. "What I saw was a group of beings in the room, my son lay there lifeless...my daughter in their clichés her last cry was Mommy, as the light drained from her eyes. Obviously they saw me and laughed as they dropped her body and chased me as I ran calling for Henry. When I got to the room I see the blood and his throat had been ripped out. I went to run again but tripped sobbing as my family was taken from me...only to be dragged through there blood meeting my fate." she explained her voice went cold recovering as clear as day. "It burned there claws fangs biting into my warm flesh. So much pain I longed for few that last I thought it came when I lost consciousness. Only to wake the next day, hurting shaking, I was outside... I thought I dreamt it...until I saw the blood on the floor and on me... I went to the children's room...they were cold and dead cradling them in my arms, crying as I held them...once I composed myself, I saw my husband my best friend...then explored the house all of our servants were gone too..." Falling into despair she shook her head, "as time went by I notice the sun hurt, and I tried to eat nothing work I couldn't stop the hunger I felt. I heard a knock at the door, No one has seen us for several days we often took trips into town when no one saw us they came looking. I hid as I was alive, but I wasn't the same, they found all bodies but mine assuming I was dragged off which I was as the blood marks showed. They collected the bodies and went on a man hunt for me marking me as a missing person. As years went on the hunt died down they have me a plaque in the cemetery next to my family. Ice lived in my castle ever since...keeping the others from the village. Most when they see me think I am a spirit...the queen who vanished." Telling two stories in one, "I have my coven now.as well as protecting my bloodline as my sister and brother had families of their own." "I see..." Roymos closed his eyes as she continued to wash him. "And you feel no hostility at all with your kind? Knowing that they took everything from you, yet you seemingly hold strong pride with your new family line?" he asked, as he pulled away and slowly sunk into the deeper portion of his bath. Rinsing out his body, he closed his eyes and said, "Then again, I suppose they're all you have when you're an outcast..." He stood up and walked out of the water before grabbing a towel from the wall." Regardless, you have an interesting life, my dear Lucinda," he said while drying himself. As he turned around and looked at a humbled vampire, he asked, "You told me that you knew how to play certain instruments? Listening to him, "My name is that of my old family, Jess op. Yes I more often then not do I not get along with many vampires...but like myself we are not all bad... That's why I've watched my village no vampire besides my coven have stayed there...if others come we give them a choice to continue living there eternal existence by staying with us or to leave and never return, or they die simple as that..." She explained "I give them a chance, many perish." Looking away sadly a moment "That's one way to but it, when you have no one entirety can be lonely. With one them I wouldn't be the way I am... I would be a mindless feeding machine, killing everything in sight...the hunger when not fed festers and takes over, and it hurts and brings out a monstrous creature. Without proper guidance and training many without sires become lost from there mortality. My undead family, the original leader found me and taught me everything I know...we don't kill for our food we can, but we don't like causing pain." She stood from her place dropping the cloth." You could say that..." She said looking away as he dried himself off. Looking to the ground it had been a long time since she remembered her family and her mortal life. Turning her head slightly, "Yes...piano, harp... and the violin"

All mine~ (ShoxShani)|rating:3.0

Say, What_ ((rosi and Palmoun))

[LEFT] Samantha age: 18 personality: basically a clam person. She doesn't really get into fights unless provoked to. Name: Alexander Age: 19Personality: quiet and peaceful, but he had a small temper that is very short. Apperance: Samantha sat upon the stairs in front of the school, thinking about what could possibly take her parents so long to come and pick her up. She had her hair in a ponytail, with a white t-shirt and a jean skirt. Alexander was Headed to the parking lot where his motorcycle was. He had only come back to this school to grab something, and now he was going to head back home. He then saw a girl and knew he couldn't leave her here, "do ya need a ride?" he called to her. Stranger Danger! Was the first thought that came to Samantha's mind, but she did not feel like listening to it. He looked like a kind person, and she needed a ride. So she stood up and walked over to the young man and said," Yeah, I do." Alexander looked at her and then ran a hand threw his hair, "if your not afraid of motorcycles I can give you a ride." he said and then nodded towards his bike. He wouldn't be offended if she didn't want to go since he was a stranger, but he just didn't feel like leaving a girl to wait to get picked up. Samantha smiled and said,"I'm not afraid to ride on a motorcycle." Her father was a racer, so he had almost every kind of fast vehicle that there was. So, she inherited the trait for the need for speed. Alexander smiled as he got on, "then get on and just tell me where to go." he said and pulled out a helmet. He only had one so he handed it over to her, "put that on." he said as he waited for her. Samantha put on the helmet and got onto the motorcycle. " Umm, just go to 5th avenue. It's the biggest house on the block, on the left." Samantha did not like telling people how big her house was or how much money her family had. She was not one to brag. " O, thank you by the way. My name is Samantha." She whispered into his ear. Alexander smiled as he started up his bike and took out of there, "nice to met you Samantha, I am Alexander." he said as he blasted down the road and headed towards 5th avenue. After a few minutes he found her house and parked right in front of it, "here you go. And you sure have a big ass house." he said as he stared at it. Samantha laughed as Alexander stared at the house. " I told you it was pretty big." Her home was 3 stories high with about 5 cars in the parking lot and eight bedrooms. Samantha looked to see if her parents were there, but they weren't and most likely her maids were. "Hey, do you want to take a look. I know I am a complete stranger to you, but I think you can trust me." Alexander was surprised by the offer but he wasn't going to say no. "Sure and yes you can trust me." he said as he smiled at her and got off his bike. He then looked at the cars and whistled, they were amazing, but he still liked his bike better. He then looked at Samantha, "are you rich or something?" he asked. Went to the gate and asked one of the maids to open the gates, then went back over to where Alexander was. "Well, Some say I'm rich but I Don't like to talk about it. I don't want to be one of those spoiled brats who always bragging about their wealth." Samantha answered as she walked into the gates. " Come on." Alexander followed her and could only look at the house. "Your house is ten times bigger than mine." he said since he lived on a farm. His parents where local farmers who live not to far from here, but it still looks a little while to get from there to school and back. But he loved his home and would never want to trade it for a home like this. Samantha Showed Alexander her home and then when she was done she showed him the kitchen." Would you like something to drank?" Alexander smiled at her, "just some milk will do." he said and then looked at the clock. It looked like it was almost time for him to go. He needed to help his parents with the horses and everything else. Samantha opened her refrigerator door and got out some milk, then put it in a clean glass. She walked back over and handed it to Alexander then asked,"Where do you live?" She was a very curious person but did not want to invade peoples privacy. Alexander smiled at her as he took a gulp of the milk. "I live at the farm on the outside of town." he said as he looked at her. "It is nothing compared to this house, but I like it." Samantha put her hand under her chin and looked at Alexander, with a wishful face." I would really like to live on a farm. It's so-" She paused, got up and did a spin throwing her hands out. "It's so open and free!" Samantha smiled as she continued to spin. Then she stopped and looked back over at Alexander." Tell me what is it like?" She had a child-like expression on her face as she asked this question. Alexander smiled as he looked at Sam, "well we have over 100 acres of land. Only part of it is covered in falls the other is covered in forest. You can take a horse out all day, and it would take you a few good hours to get to our neighbors. But ever mooring you have to get up early to take care of the cows and chickens. You have to plow the fields or water them. But it is all worth it in the end to just be there in the open." he said as he looked at her, "if you want I could take you out there sometime."((sorry for the late reply I thought I had earlier)) ((that's ok.)) Samantha smiled and sat back down by Alexander," You would do that? Even though I am a stranger?" Samantha trusted him in her home, but she didn't really know about her in his. She always wanted to go to a farm, but her father never allowed her to go anywhere she wanted. Alexander smiled, "you maybe a stranger, but I can tell you're a decent girl and I trust you. Anyway if you try to do anything Id ought you could outrun any of my horses." he said as he looked at her. She did seem nice, and he would take her to go see his house if she wanted to. Samantha glazed into his eyes with a genuine smile and went over to hug him." Thanks." Samantha held onto him for a while then she let go." I guess it's time for you to go." Alexander hugged her back and then looked at her. "Yeah I guess." he said as he looked at her. He the. Pulled out a piece of paper and wrote his number on it. "Call me when you want to come over." he said as he handed it to her and headed towards the door. Samantha took the piece of paper with his number on it. "Ok, I will do that." Samantha walked over to the door and opened it, "See ya later." Samantha did not forget that they both went to the same school. Alexander smiled and headed out of there, "see ya." he said and Headed out of the door. He had a feeling he was going to like school a lot more now. He hopped onto his bike and then headed out of here towards his home. Samantha shut the door behind him and called for her butler." Will you please clean the dishes that we made and the counters, thank you." He nodded in agreement and walked off. Samantha headed to her bedroom to get ready to take a bath, for it was getting late, and her parents were not home. Alexander road for a while then turned down a dirt road that was supposed to be his driveway. It was a little over a mile long, and you could hardly see the house from the road. But as he drove up it, he could hear the horses and chickens. It was a great sound to come home too. He soon parked his bike in the barn and headed towards the house. It was small and old, but it looked homey, and you could smell the food that was cooking. In the distance he saw his father out working on the fields. He then headed inside and said hello to his mom. He then grabbed his hat and headed out to his horse. Samantha came out of the shower and dried off from her bath. Then she went to lay down.((sorry about the short post I will be back in 15 minutes)) ((okay))Alexander readied his horse and then rode out. He rode out till hen reached the river that ran threw his property. He then tied his horse off and laid down in the grass. Furthermore, he pulled his hat over his eyes a d looked like a cowboy. Samantha put her some clothes on laid down on her bed. Samantha began to think about her day and all her adventures. Samantha went downstairs to see if her parents were home but the y weren't, the butler told her that they went on a visit to Brazil for a few days. Will they never stay in one place, she thought as she looked outside at the stars in sight? Then Samantha headed back up to her room and slowly but surely she went to sleep. Alexander soon made his way home on his horse and unsaddled him. He then brushed it and put it in its stall before heading inside to eat. He then headed to his room and fell asleep. ((hey, sorry about the long reply wait, but the computer is having technical difficulties and you DON't mind if I make it the next day right?)) ((okay understandable)) Samantha rolled off the bed, when the alarm clock sounded, and went to take a bath. Then, when she was done doing that, Samantha went back into her room and opened the window. Her room view was a man-made lake that her father had built for them. Samantha put on a beautiful white flowy dress and some sandals. "Time for school." She groaned to herself as she went down the stairs to the kitchen. She got her self something to eat and headed for the door, when her father finally came home." Father, I am off to school." Samantha said as she passed her father. He couldn't care less about her. Samantha got into her car, which was a BMW, and started off to school. Alexander was already up when Sam woke up. He was out working, and he had no idea what time it was till his mom yelled, "Alex time for school." she yelled and Alex cursed. He quickly went inside and changed into some clean clothing. Furthermore, he then ran and grabbed a banana and headed out to his bike and headed to school. Samantha got out off the car and then her butler drove off. She walked to her first class, Advanced Art, greeting a couple of her friends on the way. Samantha liked to sit in the back off class, so that she could have some quiet time to her self and plus the teacher didn't really mess with her when she sat back there. Alexander arrived to the school after the first bell had run and quickly ran inside. HI's first was advanced arts and then he had music. BU the hardly ever got to school in time for advanced arts, but he always caught up and today was a rare day that he had first class. He ran inside and into his first class and looked at the teacher, "sorry, I am late." he said as he looked at her and the smiled. She knew why and just nodded and Alexander sat down near the back. Samantha had her headphones on, and her head on the desk when the bell had ring. She didn't see Alexander until he sat down. " Hey, good morning Alex." Samantha said with a smile, while her head was still on the desk. Alex was surprised when he heard Sam and turned to her. "Oh hey, I didn't know you where in this class." he said and smiled. "And shouldn't you put your head up?" "Well, not unless I want to or the teacher tells me so." Samantha was feeling a little lazy today. "Were you here, in this class, the whole time last semester?" Alex shook his head," well I am in this class, but I sometimes can't get here in time to take it since I have to help my dad with the farm in the morning." He said. Samantha put her head up, because the teacher was writing something on the board. " Well, That's probably why I don't really see you around here. Does the teacher know that?" Alex nodded," yeah she knows." He said and looked at the board." So what have we been doing?" He asked softly Samantha chucked and looked at Alex in the eyes," We've been drawing naked people. Well, actually naked man, for a still life drawing. Here look." Samantha got her sketch pad out and opened it to a page where there was a drawing of a naked man laying down on the teachers Desk. "Good, huh?" Samantha asked, the drawing was very detailed. Alexander nodded as he looked at it. It was actually very good Andre smiled at her," yeah it I-" he was cut off by the teacher who looked them." Word since you haven't been here come after school to do your assignments and since our name man isn't showing how about if you be our model." She said and Alex sighed," sure might as well" he said and smiled at Sam before heading up and starting to strip and had no problem with this. He was fit from working on the farm and had muscles. Samantha was a little shocked at his agreeableness to do the job. She laughed within herself, because of how bold he was. This is going to be interesting. Samantha thought to herself as she began to draw. He was very muscular and more fit than the other guy. She drew every detail of his body, up until a point. Samantha didn't want to draw what was below his waist line, so she drew like clouds to cover that spot and to make it look balanced she drew the background as if he was flying in the air. Alex land back against the teachers desk and smiled everyone. He then looked at the teacher," you're giving me extra credit today right?" He asked and she nodded." Of course since you where the only one bold enough to say yes." She said and Alex smiled. Samantha continued to draw and then she was done. It didn't take her very long to get things done. "Teacher I'm done." She told her teacher as she presented it to her. The teacher came over and smiled." That looks wonderful." She said and then went and looked everyone else's as Alex just stood there. He didn't care about being naked infrot of this teacher since she was his aunt. Samantha looked at the teacher and said," Who's going to do it for the rest of class?" Samantha asked the teacher, because there was still plenty of time left for that period. The teacher sighed, "well we either have to have him say up there all day or does anyone else want to stand up there?" she asked and looked around the room. Alex smirked, "come on guys, it is fun." he said when he saw no other person put up a hand. Samantha laughed and said "Well. I guess no one has enough guts to do it." The Warning Bell rung. Signifying that classes will be over soon. "After this period. I'm going home. Gettin' kinda tired of school." Samantha whispered in Alexanders ear. Alexander smirked when he heard he and started to pull his clothing back on. He then looked over at Sam, "if you need a ride I don't mind taking you home. They don't care if I leave." he said as he looked at her and smiled. Samantha smiled and said,"Yeah, I do need a ride. My butler drove off with my car." She paused to laugh,"With my car!" Samantha's parents didn't trust her enough to drive her own car, because they knew she would skip school and go to the beach or something." Hey, can you take me to your farm?" Alex chuckled, "you should call the police on him." he said since he would. He wanted no one to touch his bike and if a butler tried to take it they would find the police after them in a matter of seconds. But when she asked to go to his farm he was slightly surprised, "sure I can but are your parents okay with that?" he asked. Samantha laughed and said," My parents could careless." Her parents didn't care where she went as long as she didn't skip school or anything they wanted her to do. Alex nodded and smiled, "okay then lets go." he said as he looked at her and smiled. He then thought of something, "are you afraid of horses?" he asked. Samantha shuck her head meaning no. "I'm not afraid of horses," She paused and looked at her nails. Which were trimmed very nicely, if I could say so myself." Well, only if they are huge and mean then, yeah." Alex mild at her, "well they are huge but all horses are but none of them are mean." he said as he looked at her. Samantha let out a sign of relief, "Well, that's good to know." Samantha paused as the bell rung." Well, I guess it's time for us to go." She stood by the door ready to leave. Alex smiled and nodded, "let's go." he said and nodded to his aunt before leaving. He then headed out of the room and towards his bike. Samantha followed behind him. She was pretty excited to go this farm and meet his horses. Before Samantha could say something to Alexander a friend of her came and grabbed Samantha then kissed her. "What are you doing Josh?" Samantha began to blush for it was unexpected.((this is him. Below.))[LEFT] was still holding on to her when he spoke,"Nothing just trying to be your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man." Josh chuckled. He looked behind him to see Alexander and said "Who is he?" Samantha tried to get out of his grip, but it was too tight. "He is Alexander and I have some place to go so would you let go of me." He was getting kind of annoying. Josh let go and looked at Alexander." Hey Alexander. Nice to meet you." Alexander smiled a little bit at Josh, "nice to met you to, Josh." he said as he looked at him and wondered if he was her girlfriend or something. If he was, it wasn't any of his business. He then looked at Sam, "we don't have to go today if you want to go out with him." he said as he pointed to Josh. "NO, I want to go." Samantha gave Josh an angry look and then looked back over at Alexander." He's just a lonely old man." Samantha said as she went over to Alex. Josh shook his head and said,"Well, that's not nice to say." He looked at Alexander and said,"Well, Take good care of her. See ya." Josh began to walk away. Samantha smiled at Alexander and said,"Let's go." Alex smiled at her and nodded, "okay." he said and headed over to his bike. He got on and held out his helmet to her, "you probably would want to wear this." he said as he smiled at her. Samantha got on the bike and took the helmet for Alexander." Yeah, safety precautions!" Samantha said in a sarcastic voice. She held on to Alexander's side and said,"Wow, this is really award after seeing you Sakai." Sami chuckled. Alex laughed, "yeah I bet it is, hopefully you will get over it." he said as he got his bike started and smiled at her. "Now we are out of here." he said and took off. He headed straight towards home and after a little while they were out of town and headed down a dirt road. He then smiled, "this is actually my driveway." he said and in the distance you couldn't really see his house. Samantha liked the breeze of the wind pounding against her as they went of. It was like a breath of fresh air. Samantha looked around to see where his home was, but she just became lazy and put her head on Alexanders back." Well, This is a pretty long driveway." Alexander chuckled, "yeah it is." he said and after a little while he came to a farm, and he cut the bike. He then smiled at Sam, "welcome to my little corner of the world." he said with a smile. Samantha's eyes grew big as they got closer to the farm. It was such a beautiful sight, that Samantha wanted to cry. "Wow, it's beautiful!" Samantha said to Alexander,"Thanks for letting me come." Alexander smiled at Sam, "I am glad you like it, but you have only seen the outside." he said as he got off his bike and held out a hand to help her off. "You still haven't seen the horsed or the inside of the house." "Well, then let go and see it!" Samantha said in an excited voice as she went to take Alexanders hand. As Samantha went to go and take Alexanders hand she fell down, on her face." Owwwww..." Samantha groaned as she got herself up off the ground. Blood began to run down the side of her face, as she stood before Alexander with a smile. She had no idea she was bleeding so she keeps on smiling. "So, Where are the horses?" The blood came down thicker now, and she still didn't realize it. But she did feel some pain. Samantha thought that it was just sweat going down her face. Alex looked at her worried and smirked, "no horses yet, we are taking a trip to the bathroom." he said as he looked at her and the blood. It didn't look good, and he was getting really worried. He looked around for something to put on it to soak up the blood. He remembered the towel he kept in his pocket to clean his bike. Furthermore, he then pulled it out and pressed it to the side of her face. "Now this way." he said and lead her to the bathroom to clean it. "Och!" Samantha complained as she followed Alex to the bathroom." Sorry for being so clumsy." Alex smiled, "it is okay, your not the only one who fell on their face here. I did when I was little, I actually have a scar on my chin from when I fell down the one time when I was 10." he said as he looked at her, he soon got to the bathroom, and he sat her down on the side of the bathtub. He then started to wash it and smiled, "so it is okay to be clumsy, I will just have to be there to patch you up." he said. Samantha looked at Alexander as he wiped the blood away. The light was shinning in her eyes as she looked up at him." Och." Samantha kept saying when it stung." Thank you for being there to patch me up." Samantha thanked Alexander. Alexander smiled at her, "no problem, it is my pleasure to patch you up." he said as he smiled at her. He then put some disinfectant on it and then put a bandage on it. He then smiled at her and was glad she was okay. "Thanks,"Samantha stood up and walked over to the mirror. She examined the damage and laugh,"Wow." The bandage covered half of her forehead." Josh is going to be so mad at me." Samantha said as she turned around from the mirror and looked at Alex,"So where to?" Alex smiled, "well how about if I show you around the house since we are already inside, and then I can take you to go see the horses." he said as he smiled at her. Samantha went over to where Alexander was standing and took his hand." Is it ok if I hold your hand? I mean if I fall again, you'll be right there to hold me up." Samantha just wanted to make up an excuse to hold his hand and stay close to him. But she also really didn't want to fall again. Alexander smiled at her and nodded, "sure, I don't mind and I don't want you hurt again." he said as he looked at her and smiled. He then leads her around the house. He showed her the kitchen, the living room and then his bedroom. His bedroom was nice and not that big. There was a futon for a bed and there were drawling all over the place. Samantha followed him though the kitchen, the living room and then to his bedroom. "Wow, did you draw all these." She let go of Alex's hand and walked over to a drawing. Of course, she knew he most of drew them because he was in Advanced art, but they were perfect." They're beautiful. And your Bed is Awesome!" Samantha liked beds that were not huge and stuff. Plus, she always wanted a futon, but her parents said it was too simple. Nevertheless, Samantha went over to his bed and laid on it." I hope you don't mind." Samantha said as she laid there, in complete ah. Alexander smiled at Sam, "I don't mind at all." he said with a smile and walked over to her and sat down next to her. "And yes I did drawl all of these. I do it when I can't sleep at night." he side and then pointed up onto the ceiling. UP there was a picture of a wolf howling at the moon all done in pencil, "I did that one when it was Christmas, and I didn't feel like sleeping." he said with a smile. Her eyes followed finger up to the picture on the ceiling. "O gee, your good." Samantha crossed her arms and sat back on the bed." Wish I was good as that. Well I am but still...." Samantha muttered under her breath like a little child. She uncrossed her arms and looked at Alexander in the corner of her eye. He was so cute to her, but she tried not to show her liking to him. Alexander smiled at her, "I am not that good, I still have a lot to learn." he said as he looked at her and then looked up, "and you are good, I have seen some of your work that you hand in at school since I help my aunt grade them." he said and knew she was just as good as she was. Samantha smiled then got up and walked over to the window in his room." Thanks." She tried to see where the horses would be, but she did not find them just by looking." So where are the horses?" Alex smiled at her and got up. He walked over and took her hand, "this way." he said as he leads her outside and to the barn. In the barn there were five horses, and he smiled at her. "These are the horses." As soon as Samantha went to go and touch one of the horses, she got a text from Josh. She took the phone out of her pocket and looked at her phone. Hey, Sami. Where are you? Are you still with that guy? Samantha just ignored the text and put it back in her pocket. Josh your so annoying she thought to herself. Samantha put her hand out and touched one of the horses." Wow, this one has soft hair. What it is name?" Samantha asked Alexander looking at him while still petting the horse. Alexander smiled at her, "her name is Lily." he said as he looked at her. Lily reached out towards Sam and butted her nose against same shoulder. Alex chuckled, "she liked a lot of attention." he said Samantha smiled at Lily and said putting her forehead to Lily's nose." Hi, Lily." Samantha rubbed her side and then back up,"Your beautiful girl you know that?" Sami said with a happy face. Alexander smiled at Lily whinnied and seemed to agree with her. Alexander smiled at her, "have you ever ride a horse before?" he asked as he looked at her and wondered if he should teach her or take her out of a ride. As soon as Alex asked that question, Samantha had an immediate flashback of when she was a child. At the age a five she rode a horse and fell off. She broke her leg, fingers and had all kinds of cuts everywhere that revealed skin. That wasn't a good day for her. "Yeah I know how to ride a horse." Samantha said laughing at herself inside. Alexander smiled at her, "okay then want to go for a ride, you can ride with me or ride on your own on Lily." he said as he looked at her and wanted to show her everywhere. "I'll ride with you." Samantha looked at Lily and frowned." I'm sorry but I'm not going to fall again this time." Samantha walked over to Alexander and smiled,"Ok, I'm ready to go." Alexander smiled at her, "okay then let's go." he said as he walked over to another horse. It was a nice brown color horse, and he smiled at Sam, "this is Caleb." he said and patted the horse as he pulled him out of the stall. He was already saddled since his father had done it for him before. He then put a cowboy like hat on, and he smiled at her. "Want me to help you up?" he asked. Samantha laughed when Alex put the cowboy hat on his head."Wow, dressing up for the part and yeah so help would be highly appreciated." She joked as she went over and touched the horse. Alexander laughed, "this is my lucky hat, nothing ever bad happens when I wear it." he said as he walked over to her. He then boosted her up onto Caleb and then got up on after her. "Now hold on." he said to her as he made his way out of the barn. Samantha put her hair in a ponytail, while she waited for Alex to come on the horse with her. She hoped that nothing bad would happen to her." Where are your parents?" Samantha asked as the started out of the barn. Alexander looked at her, "they are out in the falls now. They will come in when it is 6." he said as he looked at her and then Caleb started to trot. "What's in the field?" Samantha asked even more curious. "Well we actually have to falls. My dad is watching over the cows in the one field and my mom is checking the crops in the other." he said as he started to head out towards the forest. Samantha leaned back on Alexander's chest and gave him a kiss on the cheek." Thanks really for letting me come out here." Then she leaned back off him." So what kind of crops do you harvest?" Alexander was surprised by the kiss and smiled, "we have corn, tomatoes, peas, pumpkins and peppers. But we don't have any machines, we like to handpick and tend them with our hands." he said as he looked at her. "Well, that must be nice. Having your own land, doing things as a family...." Samantha thoughts came back to her and her family. She wanted to have family time with them, but they always said it was a waste of time. Alexander smiled at her, "it is nice, but it is a lot of work. But the school understands so they cut me slack and make me make up classes when I need to." he said and then looked at her, "and all of this will belong to me when my parents get too old to care for it." he said. Samantha did a small smile and looked up at the sky. It was beautiful, full of color and life." Hey, if you ever need help I'll be here as soon as possible." Samantha looked back to the view in front of her." I will inherit my father's businesses..." Her voice trailed off into complete silence." Alex, Do you have a girlfriend?" Alex looked down at her and smiled, "if you do inherent that business you can change everything to the way you like it." he said since he planned on changing a few things on the farm. "And we would like the help." he said happily but was surprised when she asked if he had a girlfriend, "no I don't have a girlfriend." "I won't be able to change much. The corporate people can be so mean." Samantha joked. "Well, sorry about my random question, I was just wondering." Samantha was very random at times as well. Alexander laughed, "I am sure you could change what ever you wanted in the cooperation." he said as he looked at her, "and you don't have to apologize since you where wondering." he said as he smiled at her and continued to ride into the forest. He soon stopped when he got to a stream and smiled at her, "this is my favorite spot to come." he said. "¡Que bonito! How beautiful!" Samantha said as they came to a stop. The stream was something she wasn't expecting. "I can see why it's your favorite spot." Alexander smiled at her, "I am glad that you like it." he said as he looked at her, "and your welcome to come over and visit when ever you want." "Well that would mean I would stay here until I go to Spain." Samantha joked. "I'm supposed to go to Spain, Israel and Argentina this summer for a modeling competition." Alexander smiled at her, "I wish I could come since I would cheer you on then." he said as he looked at her. "And have you been to all those places before?" "Nah, I haven't, but I don't really want to go. But if my parents would be pleased with it then I'll go." Samantha told Alexander in a low voice. She wanted to please her parents, but she also wanted to have family time." Would you like to go to those places?" Alexander looked at her, "I would like to go there and have fun. See the sights and see what they have OT offer." he said as he looked at her and said softly, "but if you don't want to go then don't go. You can stay here and be happy." Samantha noticed that they were still sitting on the horse." Um can you help me get down?" Samantha asked turning her head to face him. Alex nodded and helped her down and then slid off. "I still don't get why you want to please your parents. You're almost done with going to school, I would think you would be thinking about your future and not about pleasing them." he said as e looked at her. "Thanks." Samantha went over to the stream and sat down. She looked at her reflection, then turned back to Alexander." Well, I want to please them, because...." There was a pause for a moment or so. "Well, because I used to have an older brother, but he died from an overdose. My parent had high hopes for him, but he crushed those hopes. So now it's up to me to try and fill those expectations." Samantha turned away from Alexander and looked back at the stream. "I loved him, but he was an idiot." Tears started to come from her eyes. Alex walked over to her and sat down next to her. He didn't need to see her face to know she was crying, and he wrapped an arm around her. "I am sorry to hear that." he said to her softly and stayed close to her. He didn't say anything else because there wasn't much else to say. But he did say this, "and it isn't your duty to fill those expectations, your duty is to find what you want to do and not what they want you to do." he said to her softly and kept his arms around her. Samantha wiped her tears and stopped crying. She put he hands on Alexander's arm. "Thanks. I think I will try to do what I want for once." Samantha turned her head around and kissed Alexander. She was doing what she wanted to do. But then she realized what she did. And stopped what she was doing,"Oh, I'm sorry." Samantha began to blush. Alexander just sat there, surprised that she had kissed him but had liked it nonetheless. He then looked at her and smiled, "it is okay, and I think I will do something I want." he said and liked the blush on her cheeks. He then took her face into his hands gently and kissed her gently. Samantha did not know how to react. She just looked at him. "Well, it seems that we both carry the same wants." Samantha joked as she began to blush. Then she kissed him again. Alexander smiled and kissed her back happily. He then looked at her and smiled, "yes it does seem that way." he said as he smiled and pulled her close to him. Samantha smiled as he brought her closer to him. She kissed him once again but this time a little longer." Umm, so when did this become your favorite spot?" Alexander smiled at her and kissed her back happily. "This became my favorite when my sister use to take me out here. I was only five, but she took me out here when ever we could before she left." he said as he looked at her. Samantha bite her bottom lip, his kisses were so sweet." You had a sister?" She tilted her head with curiosity. Mmm I want to kiss him again, Samantha thought to herself as she waited for him to reply. Alexander nodded, "yes, she moved to Alaska to attend college there." he said as he looked at her and loved how she looked. She looked so cute with that curious look in his eyes. He then land down and gently kissed her. "You know you should stop this before I get addicted." Samantha told Alexander as she got up off the ground and kissed him once again. "Is this water safe to swim in?" Alexander chuckled, "sorry, but I am not going to stop since I am already addicted to your kisses." he said as he smiled at her. He then got up and nodded, "yes it is, but it might be cold." he said as he looked at her. Samantha smiled and kissed him gently,"Well, then we're both addicted." Samantha went over by the water and took her shirt off, revealing her black bra. "Well I guess I'm just going to have to be cold." She started to walk into the water. Alexander looked down her body and loved it right away. He then smiled at her and pulled off his shirt, "and I am going to join you." he said as he jumped into the water and splashed her. Samantha tried to avoid his splashing by going under the water, but That wasn't working." Hey, your cheating! Your stronger than me and taller." She surrendered and took her hair out of the ponytail it was in. Samantha went under the water and got her hair wet. Her hair covered her face, so she put it back. Samantha swam over to Alexander and kissed him." Hmm, yep, addicted." She smiled at Alexander. Alexander laughed and wrapped his arms around her, "hey it wasn't cheating." he said and kissed her gently. He then rested his forehead against hers and smiled, "and I am completed addicted to you." he said to her softly as he looked into her eyes. Samantha began to blush. Her chest was on his and on top of that she wasn't use to being that close to him. Samantha looked up at him and kissed him, but this time a longer amount of time. She put her hands on his chest then stopped kissing him. Samantha bite her lip again ad smiled at him. "Well, I guess..." She didn't finish what she was saying, she had to kiss him again and that's what she did." Mmm, oh so tasty." Samantha laughed putting her forehead on Alexanders chest. Alexander chuckled and kept her close to him, "you're the sweetest thing to me." he said to her softly and kissed her head gently. He loved having her this close to him, it felt amazing. He wondered why he never noticed her at school before and then said to her softly, "what are you doing on Friday night?" "Well, I'm supposed to be going somewhere with my dad, but he canceled it. So I'm free on Friday." Samantha looked up at Alexander and smiled." When are your parent supposed to be back?" Alexander smiled when he heard her, "well my parents are going OT be back at six so if you want to meet them we can head back now." he said as he looked at her, "and I was wondering if on Friday night you would like to go out with me." he said as he looked at her. Samantha smiled and nodded,"I'll go out with you." She laid back in the water, putting her hair in the water. Her body pressed upon Alexander's body." I would like to meet your parents but do you want me to?" She laid back up, and looked back at Alexander. Alexander smiled as he looked at her, "sure I do, and I know you will like them." he said as he looked at her and smiled. HI's parents and whole family was very close since they worked to help the farm out in any EAY they could. Samantha laughed and began to blush. "I'm sorry, but I'm still caught on this morning. You know when you volunteered to do the pose for art class." She put one of her hands over her mouth and laughed. Then she put her hand back on his chest and kissed him again." You know I was going to volunteer this morning as well." Samantha laughed again. Alexander smiled as he thought of her being up there with him and smiled. He pulled her closer to him and looked into her eyes, "and you would have looked amazing up there." he said to her softly and kissed her gently. He loved volunteering when he could in any class since he thought it was fun, especially when it was in art class. "mmm..." Samantha groaned as he kissed her. She moved closer to his body and kissed him back. Alexander kissed her back as he pulled her closer but knew he wasn't going to go any farther. He then pulled away and looked into her eyes, "we better stop kissing or else we may never go see my parents." he said and already wanted to kiss her again. Samantha laughed and smiled." I guess you're right." She kissed him one more time and got out of the water. Samantha put her clothes back on and went over to the horse. She looked at her clothes, they were soaking wet. Samantha smiled at the horse." I hope you don't mind me riding you wet." Alexander smiled as he got out and just put his shirt over his shoulder since it was pointless to put it on. He then walked over to Caleb and smiled at Sam, "he won't mind, I've done it all the time." he said and then lifted her up onto the horse and got on it after her. "And you will dry off by the time we get home." he said as he headed home. "Yeah, I hope so." Samantha muttered under her breath. She didn't want to look bad for the first time she meet his parents. Samantha was all about first impressions." What are your parents names? I want to know so that I won't go in front of them saying. 'Hello Mr. and Mrs. Blah Blah." Samantha laughed. Alexander chuckled and looked at her, "well my dads name is Markus Chase, but he likes to be called mark or Mr. chase. My mother name is Annabeth Chase and you can just call her Annabeth."he said as he thought of his parents. "But just to warn you my mom is kind of a hippy and that is one of the reasons we handpick things. She says it makes the food taste better." he said, and you could tell he loved his mother a lot. "And my dad loves this farm, and he works hard to keep everything working." he said as he looked at her and was taking it slow home since he wanted to dry off. Samantha listened carefully trying not to miss a beat. Samantha laughed and answered in response." Your mom is a hippy? Well I guess that can not be too bad. And your father sounds great. Is he funny?" Alex nodded, "he can be sometimes, but he can also be very serious." he said as he looked at her, "and my mom is nice she just cares a lot about the earth and does something the others say is weird. But I can tell you will like her." he said. "Yeah I probably will. I like nature and stuff too. I tried to get my parents to take me to the Zoo one time, but they said it was gross and overcrowded. But the did let me swim with stink rays." Samantha laughed. A butterfly landed on her cheek as the rode." Oh, it's so beautiful" Alexander smiled, "yeah my mom loves animals but hates the zoo. Says that it isn't right to take animals out of there natural habitat and only do it if it is necessary." he said and chuckled as he remembered his mother trying to get them to release the animals at the zoo. He then saw the butterfly and smiled, "yeah it is, and you should see my moms butterfly garden, it is amazing." The butterfly crawled up her face then down her face to her lips. It stayed there for a little while then flue off. "A butterfly garden sounds pretty interesting." Samantha laid her head down on the horse and rubbed his neck,"How long have you had Celeb?" Alexander smiled and thought back, "I have had Caleb for as long as I can remember." he said and remembered growing up with him and playing with him when he was just a colt. He then smiled, "If I had to say an age he is only a few years younger than I am." he said and patted the horses side gently. Samantha smiled and sat back up. She looked around at the beautiful forest and became at awe." How long do we have before we get to your home? I have to use the restroom." She didn't keep her feeling back when it came to things like that. If she had to go, she had to go. Caleb chuckled and then set the horse into a trot. "We will be home in ten minutes." he said as he looked at her and liked that about her. She just told it like it was. "Great, us' I don't know how much longer I could hold it." Samantha held on for dare life. She really shouldn't have drunk so much water. Samantha took about, on average three bottles of water to school, mainly because she was a volley ball player and needed it. Alexander nodded and chuckled, "don't worry, we will get home in time." he said as he continued to head towards home. After a few minutes they were back home, and he smiled as he stopped Caleb, "home sweet home." he said as he slid off and held out a hand OT help Samantha down. Samantha took his hand, but kind of fell, off the horse ungracefully. She covered though. Samantha let out a small chuckle and then looked up at Alexander, "you didn't see anything." Samantha joked., as she gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek," thanks." Then she ran off to the bathroom, Alexander chuckled when he heard her and made sure that she didn't do a face plant into the ground. He thentoicjed his cheek where she kissed and smiled as he washed her head inside. He then took Caleb into the barn and unsaddled him before letting him rest. Furthermore, he then headed inside and wondered what she would like to do next. "Darn it!" yelled as she came out of the bathroom soaked in water. She made her way over to Alexander but not in his comfort zone. "Um," her hair was soaked as well, so she pushed a string of hair out o f her face and smiled award at him"um, i kinda, after i finished using the restroom, I don't know how it happened but," She smirked a little," I turned your shower thing on, not on purpose, I was trying to figure out how it worked." At her home was nothing but high-tech stuff, so his furniture didn't make any sense to her. Alexander chuckled when he saw her and shook his head slightly, "sorry but this is a farm house. It probably isn't' as high-tech as your stuff but I like it." he said as he headed over to her. He tucked a strand of her soaking wet hair behind her ear and smiled, "let's go find you some clothing." he said as he smiled at her. Samantha blushed." You know you smile too much." Her sentence was cut off by her cellphone ring. " Are you serious?" Her parents had a car accident, and she had to get to the Briveheaven Hospital at once. "Um Alexander can we forget about getting me something dry," her eyes were fixed on the text message," I need to get to the hospital. My My parents got into a car accident." Benjamin chuckled, "yeah I had a tendency to do that." he said as he looked at her. But when he heard her cellphone she looked at her curiously. He then frowned when he heard her and wrapped an arm around her. "Come on, I will get you to the hospital." he said and lead her to the door. He then grabbed a coat and put it around her, "here, hopefully this will keep you warm till we get there." he said as he lead her out to his bike and waited for her to get on. Samantha put her arms in the jackets sleeve and thank Alexander. She made her way out of the house as she followed him to his bike. Samantha walked toward where was waiting and said" Um, what about he dinner with your parents?" She laid her palms on his chest and looked him in the eye,"they'll be ok with me leaving?" Alexander smiled when he felt her calms on his chest and gently reached out. He stroked her cheek gently and shook her head, "they won't mind, they will understand since your parents are in the hospital. Now let's go." he said when she got on the bike, and he headed down towards the hospital as soon as possible. The wind helped with the drying of her clothes, but she hoped that her clothes didn't wet Alexander's. After a few minutes of driving they arrived at the hospital. Samantha got off the motorcycle, almost jumping off in fact. She rushed into the hospital and went to the front desk," Where's Mrs. and Mr. Chandler?" Samantha questioned the woman behind the front desk. She went over and asked another nurse if they know where they were and then came back to Samantha." They are in the ER you're going to have to wait."she pointed over to the waiting room seats. Samantha made her way over to the waiting room and sat down. Alexander quickly parked his bike after he dropped her off and ran inside. He looked around for a little while and then spotted Samantha at the waiting room. He ran over to her and sat down next to her. "What is the news?" he asked but could tell she was worried and wrapped an arm around her to comfort her Samantha sat closer to Alexander and loved the way it felt and how it made her feel. "They are in the ER, and they won't be out any time soon."tears began to come down her face, but she wiped them off her cheeks hoping that Alexander didn't notice. She didn't usually cry in front of others. Samantha got up again and went over to the Lady at the front desk," how long do you think it'll take?"" Look even if they come out of the ER in an hour or so, they won't be able to have visitors, so o go home and get somerset." Samantha went back to where Alexander was siting and said in a low tone," let's go." Then began to walk out the front entrance. Alexander looked at her worried and held her close. But then he let her go and watched her head over OT the front desk. When he saw her come back he knew that something was wrong, and he walked over to her. He stopped her form going outside and took her hand gently, "what did she say?" he said softly and then wrapped an arm around her. Samantha stood there in Alexander's arm for a while before answering." She said, I should go home because my parents won't be out any time soon." Samantha wrapped her arms around Alexander's waist, and almost began to cry, but she stopped herself and looked up to face Alexander." Can you stay with me tonight?" Samantha didn't want to eye alone for the night," I mean if you're ok with it." Alexander held her close and nodded when he heard her. He should have guessed that her parents wouldn't be out any time soon. He held her close to him and nodded again, "sure I can stay with you. Do you want to go back to my house or head to your house?" he asked her softly as he looked at her worried. He wondered why she wouldn't want to be with that guy thy had seen earlier, but he liked being with her. Samantha held her head down and looked at the hospital floor for a few moments." My parents should have at least told me that they were back from Brazil-"Samantha whispered to herself before getting the courage to look up at Alexander again." We could go to my house first, but most likely Josh will be waiting for me in the morning". She looked back down at the ground," He's my boyfriend by the way. He'll probably freak out to hear or even see us here together." Samantha didn't say anything for a few seconds," Got -- I mean-... I really had fun with you and-"Samantha loosed her grip and moved Alexander's arms from around her." I'm sorry. I must seem really slut to you now." Samantha looked Alexander in the eyes, with a few tears that followed."I'm really sorry. I'll take a taxi home or something. She began her way outside. Alexander frowned when he heard that that guy was her boyfriend but knew that right now she didn't need to be alone. He quickly moved and wrapped an arm around her like a friend. "you're not a slut, I know that. We are just hanging out as friends and right now you don't need to be alone. So I am taking you home." he said as he leads her towards his bike. He hopped on it and then waited for her to get on. "If your boyfriend sees us we are just friends. Nothing more or less." he said Samantha said nothing the whole time Alexander spoke to her, all she did was nod. Samantha wiped away a few of the tears in her eyes. She sure felt like a slut. Samantha slung her leg onto the motorcycle. Then held onto Alexander." Thanks, Alexander." Alexander smiled, "no problem, what are friends for." he said as he started up his bike and drove her to her house. He parked his bike and smiled at her, "we can either stay here or head back to my house. Either way I am going to stay with you, tonight isn't a night that you should be alone." he said as he looked at her. He knew she wasn't a slut, they were only friends. If she wanted to be more than she would dump her boyfriend and be with him. Bit he wouldn't make her dump him if she wanted to be with him. Samantha made her way off the bike before answering Alexander. "I guess we could just stay here." Samantha let out a sign and did a little chuckle, "I mean were already here." Samantha smiled then took Alexander by the hand. "Come on let's go" She led him tot the front door then depend it with her key. The house was empty, which was normal considering the time of night it was and plus the maid and servants didn't have to work this late. Samantha shut the front door and went over to the kitchen," Want anything to drink?" Benjamin chuckled and nodded when he heard her, she did have a point. He let her lead him inside and was glad he wasn't leaving her alone, this place was deserted. He would go insane if it was always like this. "Uh no, thanks." he said when he beware her offer. He then followed her I to the kitchen and smiled, "how about if we watch a movie or something." ((Benjamin?)) Samantha shrugged and joked,'Your lost." She got herself a glass of Orange juice and then went over to Alexander. "Follow me." Samantha went down the hall and then u the stairs. It l took about a minute or so just to get to the theater room." What would you like to see? We have basically all the new movies and the classics." The theater room had four rows of five and a large movie theater sized screen. There was a candy bar and popcorn machine as well in the room. ((sorry, from a different RP))Alexander smiled and let her lead him to her home movie theater and could only stare. He has never seen anything like this before, and then he could only look at her, "we can watch anything you what. But can I ask why you have this? I haven't even heard of someone having a movie theater in their house." he said as he looked at her and found he couldn't help but smile. "Well, sometimes my parents invite people over to watch moves. But this is nothing compared to my neighbors." Samantha said with a smile," My parents wanted to make people pay for the candy, but then they changed their minds." Samantha put a movie on and sat down in the front seat," Come on and sit down." She patted the chair next to her. Alexander nodded when he heard her and smirked as he walked over and took a seat next to her. "What made them go with a smaller size theater and why not charge? Did no one want to pay?" he asked as he smiled at her and got comfortable in the chair next to her. The movie began. " Some rich people are actually cheap. They didn't want to waste their money on something the already had at home." Samantha laughed and laid her head on his shoulder. " My parents don't really give me the change to say my opinion." After a few minutes she was fast asleep. Benjamin smirked when he heard her and guessed that some rich people where very study. When she laid her head on his shoulder he couldn't help but wrap an arm around her gently. He then frowned when he heard her say her parents didn't listen to her opinion. "They should hear you out, you opinion matters." he said but by then she was asleep. He couldn't help but chuckled. Gently he picked her up into his arms and head down to where he thought her bedroom was. About an hour or so after Alexander puts Samantha down on her bed in her room, she wakes up. "Hello?" Samantha says in a low voice sitting up in the bed. The room was dark, and she figured that Alexander put her there on the bed. Nearly falling Samantha searches her room for her dresser to change into her sleeping clothes. Thus, after a struggle she was able to put her white Pooh bear night gown and lay down in bed again. The next day (assuming Alexander has gone to sleep)"MMM-" Samantha groans stretching her arms as she wakes up from her dreadfully peacefully sleep. The blinds of the room, open automatic at a certain time of day signaling it was time for her to get ready for school. "MMM-" Samantha continues to groan as she makes her way to the bathroom. "Aha, it's too bright." Samantha complained in a low voice. The maid already put the clothes that Samantha picked out to wear in the bathroom on a hanger. Her bath only took about forth five minutes, including the time it took her to do her hair and put her clothes on. Samantha had her hair in a bun with feather earrings and a red sleeveless sundress. Samantha made her way out of the bathroom and over to where Alexander was. " Hey, Alex. Wake up." ((sorry I thought I had posted))Alex had fallen asleep on the couch since he wasn't sure where anything was in her. When he felt a hand on him, gently shaking him he slowly started to wake up. He smiled when he saw Samantha, "hey, morning." he said as he slowly sat up from the couch and stretched slightly. His hair was a mess, and he looked a little dissolved, yet he looked perfect at the same time. ((that's ok.))" It's time to get up sleepy head." Samantha chuckled looking at Alexander's hair." My maid, got you some clothes-" She pointed at some clothes laying on the couches' armrest. " I hope they fit you, though. And the bathroom is down the hall to the left." Samantha made her way to the door," I'll be in the kitchen eating breakfast and school starts in about an hour." She opened the room door, turned to smile at Alexander and said,"Don't take to long, or your food will get cold." Then she left the room and headed to the kitchen. Alexa her was surprised by the clothing and nodes when he heard her. Slowly he stood up and headed over tote bathroom. Once he was inside he could see how she didn't know how to work his shower in his house. Everything was so high-tech, and he knew nothing about anything. But after fifteen minutes he managed to get the shower to work and took a quick shower. He then pulled on the clothing she had given him and found they fit pretty well. Once he was done he headed Ito the kitchen and smiled, "so what is for breakfast?" he asked ((Oh, yeah, this is what the kitchen looks like.)) Samantha smiled when she has seen Alexander come in." Well I see the clothes fit and for breakfast we have-"She got up from where she was sitting and got Alexanders plate of food, then walked back over to Alexander." Here we have: French toast,blueberry or strawberries muffins, scrabbled eggs,-"She went over and got another plate of food," Pancakes of every flavor you can think of." Samantha laughed" I guess my maid, wanted to give variety. Hope you can eat it." ((okay))Benjamin couldn't help but laugh when he saw all the food and then looked AR Samantha, "I can definitely eat it, the question is whether you have enough to fill me up." he said as he grabbed a plate. He then started to stick food on it, soon he had enough to feed four people. Samantha looked at Alexander in amazement. " Are you serious? You going to get all of that?" She laughed. " I'm surprised you're not fat." Samantha said jokingly as she headed over to the third living room by the kitchen. And sat down on the sofa. They had like four living rooms, but they weren't pessary. Samantha got a text message alert on her iPhone and check to she who it was. Hey, Samantha you there? - Josh Samantha thought about what to reply with, then texted back.Yeah, I'm here. What's up? I heard about your parents from my mom. How come you didn't call me? Well, I didn't feel the need to. I knew you were going to find out anyhow. You still should have called... Do you want me to take you to school? I know you have a suffer but I mean. Yeah. No, Josh you don't have to take me. I got a ride with Alexander. Alexander? The guy from the other day. O. You like him don't you. ..... Look Josh I have to go now. See you at school. Samantha sent him her last text then made her way back over to Alexander. "Are you done Mr. Cookie Monster?" Alexander smiled when she left and then went to work on the food. The next time that Samantha came into the room most of the food was gone except for a plate that had a little bit of everything on it. He smiled at her and nodded, "yeah, just about done, but I left you some if you want some." he said as he smiled at her. He then picked up the other plates and headed over to the sink, "and I can eat more than that when I want to." "Nah, I don't want anything else." Samantha said as she laughed" And I'm pretty sure you can." Samantha paused and smiled at Alexander. Happy to be with him. But then she was smacked back to reality when her iPhone. Atch alarm went off." Um, Alexander we have to go now, or we'll be late." Alexander nodded and then without a word started to eat the rest of the food. He knew he shouldn't be happy that he can eat more, but he was. When he heard her say school he couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't worry, we can take our time. Since your with me, they will think you were on the farm with me. If we come in aces minutes late they will understand." he said as he smiled at her, "one good thing about living on a farm, you don't have to worry about being late." "Are you serious?" Samantha went over to the sofa and plopped won on her back. Looking up at the ceiling she said," When I'm late they talk about how it's going to be hard in 'real' life for me if I don't start practicing being on time. And then my parents get on me about being late and stuff. "Samantha turned to her side on the sofa." To bad my parents don't own a farm." She paused then continued. " Well they do, but not in this country." Samantha sat up and walked over to where Alexander was and sat next to him. "How do you like the food?" Benjamin chuckled when he heard her, "well for today you do or at least say your helping. If you do then they won't argue about where you have been." he said as he looked at her. "And I loved the food, but still not as good as my mothers cooking. Nothing is better than home cooked food from your parents." he said as he looked at her and smiled. He then thought of something, "hey, why don't you come and help out at the farm sometime for real, its a lot of fun." he said as he looked at her. Samantha considered it for a minute or two. Then said," Yeah, I'll come help you. If my parents are not better by then ." Then she paused and looked down at her feet. " And I've never had food cooked by my parents, they always took me to some fancy restaurant." Alexander frowned when he heard her and wrapped an arm around her gently, "don't worry, your parents will get better, I just know it." he said to her softly and then smiled down at her, "and if you have never had home cooked food come to my house." he said as he looked at her. Samantha Was elated when she heard Alexander say she could come over for some home cooking. It was like a child getting that they wanted for Christmas for her or like giving a little kid a dollar, when they think it's a million bucks. Samantha glowed, "Thanks Alex. I would really enjoy that." She hugged him. Alexander smiled when he saw her glow and hugged her back, "no problem, I want you to be happy." he said to her and then looked down at her, "and how about if we head to school now or something." he said as he smiled at her. "Yeah, we should be on our way now." Samantha let a few seconds pass before she let go of Alexander and went over to the front door. She wanted to absorb the hug, but she had to let go, or they'll never make it to school. Samantha put on some white sandals and opened the door. "Alex. Y we don't have to worry about locking the door the AIDS will lock it and the security here is tight." She waited over by the Motorcycle for Alexander. Alexander smiled and nodded when he heard her, "okay then let's go." he said as he followed her out the door and over to his bike. He then hopped on and held out the helmet to her, "you're wearing this, I don't want anything to happen to you." he said as he smiled at her.((hey I just had an idea, what if we had them get into an accident and Samantha was completely okay while Alexander broke his leg or something))

Say, What_ ((rosi and Palmoun))|rating:3.0

The Guardians of East End (Kiari03 and Omniferious)

"What do you mean I'm getting a partner? Sounds like a fucking liability to me." Jane growled as she leaned back in her chair that was faced before a semicircle of idiots. Three angels to the right, three demons to the left. The Treaty Council devoted to preserving the world and natural order designed by the creator. The one law that stood absolute for all of his creations was the law of Free Will. Demons had been fighting for the free will to cross into the human and heavenly realms just as angels and humans could. Ever since The Fall, angels had stood their ground punishing the demons for housing the fallen, but now it seemed they were taking a step back with this new little idea. Demons still could not cross past the barrier that surrounded Earth, but they could now apparently select humans who would be blessed by the demonic community with near immortality, inhuman powers, and the truth. Belial smirked his cocky little grin as he shifted in his seat. The demonic representative often admired the spirit of this particular spawn, but not today. This was not up for debate. "This Council doesn't care what you think. Your partner will be a human of our choice, so the standard rules of engagement will apply until he can be fully-""WHAT?! Excuse me, excuse me, want to fucking run that by me again?! How am I supposed to do my job, let alone stay alive if I can't use any of my powers!" Jane exclaimed as she all but flew out of her seat, her wide blue eyes scanning theirs in utter disbelief." Jane!" Nicholas, her guardian and her noose hissed from the shadows behind her in an attempt to remind her of who she sat in front of before she shot her mouth off." No, Nick! No. This is horseshit, and I'm not going to have a part in it!" She shouted back with a snarl, clenching her fists by her side. She was quivering she was so mad, not that it mattered." This is not a request. Your new partner has been directed to report to your home by the end of the evening. You are not only to train him, but we'd also suggest you house him for the time being. It is hoped that they will benefit from a slow introduction into all of this. Remember the cost to humanity the last time our world was abruptly smacked in their faces?" Gabriel chimed softly, representing the angelic side with a far more realistic approach. The witch hunts and crusades in the name of some God that had claimed millions had left its stain on every soul, not just hers, but she had been one of the very few to live through those times. She'd seen the burning of many innocents who knew the truth and there had been nothing she was allowed to do about it. She'd been gagged by this very council and ordered to let the humans sort this out on their own. It had been a mistake, but no amount of bargaining or begging could persuade them. She was forced to watch in silence as punishment for exposing herself to that group. It had taken hundreds of years for that shit storm to blow over. Quietly, they pushed her new partner's picture forward so that she could at least know who to look for. He was handsome, no doubt, but a human and frail. At least until he could adopt develop powers, strength, and perhaps a speck of intelligence." Fine...so tell me, how am I going to get assignments now? How am I going to investigate? For the most part, the shit you guys send me require that I blend, transform, and move quick. If I'm being brought down to human status for this asshole's comfort, how am I supposed to work?" She asked as she began to pace in front of them, raking her hands through her long, black tresses. She couldn't believe she was passively agreeing with this." We will be sending assignments via Nicholas who will fabricate email messages. They will start off as manageable assignments that won't require much use of your powers until he can be trusted to accept them without tweeting about them..." Andrew, the angel of justice sighed." Email. Great. Great. So, I'll play babysitter. How many others do you have participating in this little program?" Jane asked"Three, including you. New York, obviously, Brazil, and Japan. We hope to see how different cultures will react to this program before empowering others."" Empowering... I just.fine. Fine. Send him. But I will not be responsible for his well-being. If he dies, it's not my fault. If he gets possessed, not my fault. If he-""We understand, but we hope that you understand that you will be rewarded for your participation...pending the results and your effort."" You mean... I'll finally have free will?"" Don't be silly. That law applies only to our creators beings...not to lowly spawns like yourself. Now, be a good girl and do as you're told." Margery grinned her catlike little smile from the left before waving her hand to close the dimension and throw Jane back into her room. Blue eyes with the burst of a light silver star scanned the rusted and forgotten hallway as she, she for now known as Jane, strode towards the city streets. There, night crept up to each doorstep to either cradle to sleep or gently awaken the patrons of this city. A flick of her wrist sent long locks of ebony hair dancing through the air like the lick of a flame over her shoulder and out of her way. The reinforced iron door groaned as she reached it and pushed it open to call out for a wave of October wind. The chill made Jane pause for just a moment to question how much she really wanted to not follow their orders tonight.“… Damn it's fucking cold...” She muttered as she stepped out onto the stoop of the building. The tip of her boot clicked onto the shadow of the iron bar railing that went down the staircase and stretched across the worn pavement stoop. She disappeared from sight the moment she stepped into that obscurity. Then, just as naturally, she stepped back out of the veil belonging to a nearby abandoned car factory wall. Though it was close to home, it felt far from the voice of condescending reason and outraged protest that was now pursuing her as fast as his wings would let him. She didn't get far without smacking right into her new little project when her head was turned. With a hiss, she fell back, "Watch where you're going! Oh...fuck. It's you." Just then, Nicholas stepped up with a charming smile. He appeared to be that of a man in his early thirties, built strong, with short black hair and deep gray eyes. His appearance would change from time to time to suit his location, but those eyes were always the same. He admittedly reveled in how his gaze could make her itch." Shall we get some dinner since we're already out?" He smiled as he pulled Jane up by the back of her leather jacket. “But does the subject have balls?” The executive swept her long blonde hair back over her shoulder, arms drawn tight across her chest in disbelief while they stared at the PowerPoint presentation on Eli Wright.“Sure, sure, Anybody. Plenty of that, uh, that thing they have.” Raquel said, breathing smoke from his mouth. He flicked nothing from the tip of his cigarette. “The assessments read that he’s got a pretty solid survival instinct but, better yet, no one’s going to miss him.”He’s already become alienated from what little family he did have and recently relocated to the area, severing contact with anyone he ever knew growing up. This is the perfect time for our particular brand of guidance. He has no one, and we can mold him into what he needs to be.” A red skinned creature slapped its hand down on the hardwood table across from the fallen angel, “We need shock troops amassed at the rifts to burn Earth to prove a point to Heaven. We need to create vast breeding factories for humans in hell to spur our economic and agricultural development.” Its yellow eyes whirled angrily at the assembled executive team members.“We have to limit the extent of celestial involvement on Earth before we could make any lasting, permanent change,” Raquel replied calmly, as he had a thousand times before. “The Third Perspective Project has been a great lobbying effort that has forced the angels to acquiesce and give us representation in treaty arbitration.”Now we need to take Eli Wright and mold him into what he needs to become. Is there a case manager on him yet?” Angrboda crossed her legs unconsciously as attention fell back on her, human intelligence being her domain. The demon was the picture of the perfect professional in her stark black attire, pencil skirt and stylish blouse. She opened a manila folder and flipped through a few documents before settling on one. “Yes, Raquel, we have Ishaan the Defiler on it.”“Good, good,” the fallen angel leaned back, smoke trailing from his nostrils. “Tomorrow morning.”… The last few weeks things had begun to get interested. It had started with his reflection looking the other way in the mirror when no one else was watching. The winking had been… Particularly haunting. Even once Eli started to avoid his reflection, he found that he would notice again within a few hours, and it would be more insistent. Earlier that day he had decided, in the midst of lunch, that he would either confront of his present delusion or go absolutely mad. With that resolution firmly in mind, Eli went straight to his bathroom and stared into the mirror. He saw his hazel eyes awash in green and brown and gold, he saw his unruly black hair, he saw his straight, white teeth, he saw a face with very little out of place except for the scars and nicks of time here and there. More than that his normally youthful face was tired, pale, with deep, bruise black bags plunging beneath his eyes. For some reason, now, his reflection was doing anything. Eli quickly unbuttoned his gingham shirt, loosened his tie and belt and began to wash his face. He turned on the water and splashed it in his face, only to look up into the mirror and see his reflection fully clothed and dry faced.“What is this?” He asked numbly, tired of seeing things that made no sense. His reflection laughed, sending Eli falling backwards in surprise until the mirror imagine grabbed the edges of the mirror from the inside and pushed himself out, awkwardly stepping over the sink and bringing his leg out of the mirror and over. “That was not well-designed, Eli.” Hell’s chosen scrambled backwards across the floor away from the door his reflection made manifest stood bodily in front of and instead against, over and into the bathtub. “How—why? Why? What?” The reflection shook his head, “Calm the fuck down,” and sat on the restroom.”How am I supposed to calm down when I’m sitting across from myself!” Eli shouted, ineffectually kicking outwards.“Because if you don’t everyone’s going to think you’re crazy,” the reflection pointed out. Eli righted himself in the tub, staring himself straight in the eyes. “You. Are. An. Asshole.”“Guilty as charged.”“Why are you even here? Why can’t you say something that means something? Why don’t you explain this?”“My name is Ian, I’ve taken your form because I deemed this the easiest way to communicate with you, no one else can see me so fuck you, and you’re a Chosen One.” Eli’s mouth worked up and down a few times before he finally blurted out, “My mom’s not a virgin!” Ian rolled his eyes, “Of course not, shit for brains. You area Chosen One, you are nottheChosen One. One of the first three, though, so that’s something.” Eli stood in the bath tub and uneasily leaned forward, poking Ian to find him just as real and solid as he was himself. “You’re real…”“More or less.” Ian changed the subject, “So here’s the deal: you have a mission.” He reached into his breast pocket and fished out a card with an address on it, “I need you to go here, as soon as possible. There’s going to be a woman there who is going to take you in and train you. When I come back to you, don’t let anyone know. I am your objective advisor and no one else can see me, and it’d be best if no one else knew about me, alright?” Eli cocked his head to the side, “Yeah, sure.” Ian surged up from his seat on the restroom and grabbed Eli’s throat, slamming him into the wall. “Listen to me, motherfucker, I am peeling back the goddamn layers of reality for a little fucking truth and justice, and I am sick and tired of your attitude.”Do not fuck with me on this.”Go to the address.” The reflection winked out of existence and Eli gasped, finally able to breath in. He reached down and took up the card in hand. It was thick, with a creamy off-white color and tasteful gold foil roses marking each corner. He looked back in the mirror and his reflection was normal. He took a picture of the card in his hand on his phone and then compared the two, looking for some telling inconsistency that would give the lie to his delusion. Eli looked for reasons to explain to the red marks on his necks from Ian’s attack. Eli looked for a reason to deny the urge to go to the address and see what was really going on. He thought about his one-bedroom apartment. He thought about his cubicle job, one he was doing well at for his age, was a winding road into mediocre obscurity. Furthermore, he thought about how the last time he had really ever lived was never and how he really did have nowhere to go after things fell apart with his ex. Maybe this was some lurking psychosis that now popped out from nothing. Armed firmly with the reality affirming notion that he may be legitimately insane, Eli put his button up back on and left, card lodged firmly in hand. The address wasn’t even that far away, just on the other side of the city. It took twenty minutes to get there, or rather, it would’ve if the address hadn’t kept changing every time he looked back at it until it finally stopped at a restaurant. The man circled the block, ending up parking two blocks away and then walked into the restaurant looking around for something significant before he ended up just getting a table for one. They'd settled on what passed for Chinese food in this city at The Melting Pot just a few blocks over. It was deep-fried and sauce drenched heaven as far as Jane was concerned, though Nicholas tried to limit their visits there to just twice a week for the sake of his pallet. The owners knew them well as the couple that ordered enough food for a table of five and always finished every bite. Emigrating from a country where they'd watched their own relatives die of starvation made this job particularly taxing. They gave their well paying customers a handsome amount of food, but so often they'd let so much of it go to waste. Not these two, however, and what was perhaps even better was that they spoke Mandarin and tipped extraordinarily well for the area! They were always welcome and served the freshest plates faster than anyone else in the room. Jane sat there fiddling with her chopsticks as she stared into a plate of dumplings. "It's not right. This isn't going to work and somehow, someway this is going to come back around to fuck me right in the ass." She hissed before stuffing a light pork dumpling into her mouth." You're the one who gave them the partner idea. I thought you might actually be excited about this..." Nicholas sighed as he took a sip of his tea whilst watching his ward stuff her face." You know that's not what I meant!" She hissed before smacking her palm on the table to grab his attention. "I meant they should lower the restrictions that keep us...us Orphans apart. Let us partner up to handle these cases. It's not like we're going to stage a coup..." She grumbled between mouthfuls of sesame chicken." Perhaps this might lead to that..." Nicholas suggested before taking a bite of his own dumpling. "You know, you didn't do a very good job managing your emotions in that meeting...little girl." He grinned as he sought to prod the bear away from her frustrations and onto something less important. She'd had enough laid at her feet today, and she hardly needed to work herself up into a frenzy with her new partner due within the next few hours." You know why they picked those three locations? We're the fucking three capable of contracting...dammit! This whole thing reeks. They're selecting the leaders." She grumbled before drowning herself out with a long drag of tea." Oh yes, fearless leader. Tell me more about your superior tactics. I am but a mere grasshopper." Giggled Nicholas as he went for one of her dumplings to see if she'd notice. Of course, she did. "More like a giant pain in the ass and sticks off! That'dumpling. If you want more ask TAE so." She snipped before deflecting his chopsticks with her own. Just then, a young man very much matching the picture she'd been shown walked in and was pointed to a table on the opposite side of the room. From her vantage point, she could see him perfectly, and he looked like one of her cases with his haunted, exhausted gaze." Hey! Hey!" She whispered to Nicholas before nodding over in Eli's direction. "That's fucking him, right there! He looks like Hell, though..."" To be notified that he had been chosen he probably needed to speak with a demon of some sort. Can you remember the first time you saw a demon?"" Yeah, I looked in the mirror." She rolled her eyes before popping a little lo mein noodles into her mouth." Why don't you just go over there and-""No."" What do you mean no?"" I mean I don't have to talk to him if I don't want to."" Well, there's a mature reaction to have. Let the young man suffer on the brink of insanity while you pout in the corner because you didn't like the solution to the suggestion you came up with!" Nicholas growled, growing quite tired of her spoiled brat routine for the evening. He loved her, dearly, but sometimes he lamented that he was bound to her side for eternity. She could be such a pain." Just think of what sounds and.and smells a human would drag in. God...remember the cat? Well, just multiply the cat by a thousand assholes, and you'd probably have a human..." She whispered while trying not to glower at Eli." Jane!" Nicholas snapped to get her attention. The sound of his thunderous voice always seemed to have a way of making her soul shudder with uncertainty. She always broke first, even in her most pigheaded of moments. Jane stared at him for but a few moments before admitting defeat. "Fine! Fine. I will go to him and I will see if he'd like to join us. You're buying him dinner, or it's coming out of your half. I don't really care which." She grinned before springing up out of her seat before Nicholas could do more than roll his eyes and sigh. Marching over to Eli's table Jane carried with her an air of absolute confidence for a woman that looked no older than nineteen. Parking herself in the seat across from him, she chimed, "My friend and I would like you to join our table, if you'd be so kind. He has plenty of food he'd like to share. Specifically, the cashew chicken, Mongolian beef, and crab puffs. You might as well consider everything else on that table poison because if you touch it I will kill you. Now, let's go." She explained before snatching his menu of his hand, smacking it down on the table, and waving TAE so away." He's coming to our table. One more tea, please." She explained in flawless Mandarin before getting up and making her way back over to their table. No introductions, no explanations, just follow or don't. Jane wouldn't have it any other way. She was the lead investigator and that was how it was going to be. At least there was one positive thing: new Chinese place! Though Ethiopian was Eli’s favorite this place had a certain charm to it and the food smelled fantastic. Service was very prompt as well. His smile was a wan half moon, rickety and unsure of its own glory. He had already picked out the combination plate he was going to order and was debating likely watery Cantonese beer when out of nowhere a teenager stomped up to him, plopped herself down across from him and proceeded to explain that he would please be joining them for dinner and explaining, in detail, what he could and could not presume to consume.“I—what?” Eli stared at her blankly. Too tired to really process this, he flinched when she plucked the menu from his hands, blinking rapidly as she shot rapid fire Mandarin at the waitress who was returning for her order. Freshly alone and uncertain what to do, he stood up and shot discrete glances at Jane’s rear as she wended her way through the restaurant towards a table with a man who looked about twice her age, a little under ten years older than him. He pressed his palms into his eyes, attempting to rub the fatigue out before he met someone new. Who knows who these people could be? He doubted they were father and daughter, more over doubted that they were related, and Eli absolutely knew he looked like shit right now. Most of the time he was a neat, well put together man. He knew that he had the kind of face women couldn’t help but trust, and he had been told that between the green and gold in his hazel eyes, they could be stared into for hours. Eli knew that women generally liked his big hands, his height, the fact he spent time at the gym and time running. His discipline showed in his body, and he knew it. Eli also knew that even in slacks, dress shoes and a gray checked gingham shirt he looked hammered at by life and beaten. His reflection had demanded that he come here, for some reason that involvedtruthandjustice, so he figured he’d go along for the ride. With habits born of a strict mother, the young professional levied a half-hearted smile at Nick and held out his hand to shake as he sat down. “I’m Elijah Wright, your girlfriend?,” he lingered for a moment, looking into the (unbeknownst) angel’s eyes before proceeding, “invited me to your table. You are…?" Nicholas had just begun to make a dent in his cashew chicken when a victorious Jane came striding back over to the table with a shy, almost uncertain Eli close on her tail. He didn't bother to ask how it went, because just a moment later the man of the hour was before them spouting something about "Girlfriend?" This made Jane practically spit up her tea with laughter as she watched Nicholas' face transform from a relaxed calm to shock. Is that how they really came across to people? Should he play along with it for the sake of the mission? He didn't have time to think, because Jane reacted for the both of them." Oh, Nick! Please say yes! Let's be boyfriend and girlfriend! I've always wanted one! Come on, please!!" She jeered with a dark chuckle as she dove into her rice bowl." Shut up you little pest and eat your food." Nicholas shot before reaching out to take the young man's hand and give it a firm, welcoming squeeze." You'll have to pardon her. I'm afraid she has a rare disease that made it impossible for her develop even rudimentary social skills past the age of flow!" He yelped, both his hands going to his knees as Jane sat there looking as innocent as the day she was born. The incriminating evidence was the sound of her boot firmly colliding with his shin and the dark look in her eyes that rested just above the rim of her tea cup." Anyways, I'm an investigator for the greater New York area, and he's my...ERM...social worker. Yeah, he basically follows me around to make sure I don't get in over my head with trouble. Kind of a hard job for an ancient, crusty, old-"Nicholas cut her off before she could continue with her tenfold insult, "So, her name is Jane, and I am Nicholas. Please tell us a little about yourself, Eli Walker. Do you know why you were asked to join us here for dinner?" With this question asked, Jane locked eyes with his, her own icy pair searching the depths of his hazel set before shifting lower in an almost obvious attempt to check him out. She told herself it was merely to take in how much of a task she had ahead of her, but couldn't deny the subtle blush that graced her cheeks the lower her eyes went. Eli’s fingers curled along the edge of the square table, clenching at Jane’s sudden overreaction. He could hear every single pulsing exclamation point in his spine, eyes slowly widening at the outburst. Loudness noted. The two of them clearly knew each other well. They had open body language and the kick spoke to few physical boundaries. Eli took a deep breath through his nose in, and then back out, keeping his straight posture and shoulders back. Even as unprepared as he wasn’t buying the girl’s weak story. First, no one with a social worker couldpossiblybe allowed to be any kind of law enforcement officer. The man absolutely refused to accept that as a reality. More importantly, there was no one that young could be an investigator for the greatest city on Earth. There had to be tens and tens of thousands of people in their middle age jumping on those jobs.“Well, Niles, I was asked to dinner with you by Sparky over here,” he hitched a thumb at Jane, “after I walked into this restaurant to try and get some General Tsar’s chicken. I’m a person, Sparky, my eyes exist above the chin.” He leveled a gaze at the woman all but verbally daring her to say something witty. Before giving her the chance he went on, “Now there is no General Tsar’s chicken, and we are two chopsticks short of me eating.” In the midst of his sentence the waitress appeared, presenting chopsticks and tea for him. “Oh, uh, thanks.” Eli turned his attention to the food and began eating the cashew chicken, specifically to irritate Jane. The night had taken a surreal turn when, out of nowhere, his reflection had crawled out of a mirror, talked with him on his toilet and then choked him to prove a point. Hell’s chosen had decided that it this point he was along for the ride and may as well get something interesting out of it. Nile's? Sparky? Jane mouthed to Nicholas who just shrugged. They tried their best, but they weren't always up to date on the latest cultural phenomenons. Not having access to a working computer, phone, or really any piece of frequency based technology that required Jane to be within a foot of it really did slow them down, but Jane had their house full of gossipy magazines that she insisted was abound with cultural research. Quite frankly he didn't see the value in knowing the top 20 celebrity couples of 2014, but he wasn't about to take away one of the few things that took her thoughts away from inventing new and infuriating ways to torment him. The few hours she spent a week with her nose pushed in a book or a magazine were perhaps the most peaceful he could hope for. Pushing past his odd nicknames, she drew her eyes back to his crotch quite blatantly before murmuring, "I'm not looking for your eyes. They're boring. Do you have a gun or a knife? Have you ever been in a fight?" She asked before lifting her eyes back up to see Eli selfishly stuffing his face withherchicken. "Hey! Hey! Regardless of what your answer was before, you're going to be a very experienced fighter if you don't order your own goddamn-""Jane! Stop it. Do you not know how to share? Have I done such a piss poor job that you-" Nicholas started in on his rant only to be cut off by a cheeky Jane who was busy rearranging the plates so that their three plates were pushed towards them, while her five plates were huddled around her." Yap! You're a terrible guardian." She grinned before chewing on a spring roll with a loud crunch. "So, Eli, that makes the question even more imperative. Our line of work requires almost as much enforcement as it does actual investigative work. You won't have the boys in blue at your back and at times you might not even have me. I need to know you can do something to defend yourself. I need to know where to start." Jane explained as she locked eyes with Eli before a light dinging noise coming from Nicholas' jacket pocket." What was that?" She sat up, trying to look over the edge of the table to see what was in his pocket." Nothing." Nicholas shrugged as he went about spooning his egg drop soup past his lips." Not anything. What was that?" Jane insisted."...it's a phone." Nicholas sighed as he leaned back in his seat in full acceptance of the incoming storm." They gave you a phone?! I've been asking for one since they invent-""Jane!" Nicholas snapped, cutting her off before she could reveal too much."... We'll talk later..." Realizing she was about to misstep within the first hour of having her new partner. He was supposed to come to it on his own, but given his inability to remember even their names she had a feeling this was going to take a while. Between Jane and Nicholas it was easy to keep your mouth shut and listened to what was going on, to watch interplay while you quietly moved one of Jane’s unfairly distributed plates and began once again consuming her cashew chicken while she argued about a telephone. It got Eli thinking that while he did support people having alternative lifestyles and relationships, and he enjoyed street theater as much as the next guy, these two really needed to work on whatever their weird foreplay shtick was. Eli still did not for a second believe that Jane or Nicholas had any real affiliation with any investigative body whatsoever, though he did reflect that it was a very open possibility she was crazy, and he was her social worker. But there was the business card with the changing address and what was either a complete mental breakdown earlier or the bottom dropping out of his reality. They were both, he realized, the same thing anyway. Not that it mattered anyway because the cashew chicken was really, perfect. He could see why Jane got so defensive about it. Once it lapsed into awkward silence and the possibility came that Jane and Nick would notice Eli and resume their bizarre interrogated he smiled and said, “Noel, Sparky, it’s been a real pleasure meeting you crazy kids.” He continued to speak as he stood up, “While I typically endorse whatever weird crazy shit the two of you have going on with your D/d relationship, it’s typically considered classy to let your girlfriend have a cellphone, Noah. Thanks for the food.” Eli threw a few dollars on the table as a tip for the waitress and made his way to the exit, pulling his jacket on. He did not want to get involved in whatever bizarre play those two weirdos were into. He had gone to the place on the card, so chances are Ian would be appeased. Furthermore, he buttoned his pea coat once he exited the restaurant, turning to walk to where his car was parked. Jane ran her tongue over her teeth as she listened to Eli awkwardly try to excuse himself. She watched as he tossed a few dollars on the table before hurrying out the front door. A moment of silence passed before Jane finally piped up, "D/d, that's totally a sexual reference! Thank you, E. L. James." She grinned before finishing off her tea." You know you have to go get him." Nicholas sighed as he reached forward to take away her glass." Mmmm...no I don't. Did you hear that idiot? He can't even keep our names straight. I can't... I just, how am I supposed to teach him?" Jane groaned as she leaned her head back as she slumped back in her seat." That's for you to figure out. Now go. This isn't a request..." He warned with a dark look in is gray eyes."... Fine. Create a distraction, please. I'd rather not chase a car no matter how much the council would like to insist I'm their little lapdog." She murmured as her foot tapped a shadow and her eyes locked on the shadow of a parking meter outside. Suddenly, the waitress carrying a full tray of dishes felt something grab her back leg, making her trip and drop every dish onto the wooden floor with a loud crash. Every eye turned to her in that instant, giving Jane the chance to slip through the shadow and pop back out of a shadow right behind Eli." Eli, we're not finished." Jane sighed as he fiddled with his keys to his car. "You see, whether I want you to be my partner is irrelevant. You've been 'chosen'. Let me guess, a dark little friend used the same word and sent you here, right? I mean, this restaurant's chicken is good, but hardly the best in the city. Also, based on your Washington state license plate and driver's license, the fact that you just moved here from across the country either means you have no family or friends, or they just don't care that you're gone. I'd lean towards the latter given that you don't have any of their pictures in your wallet and your general lack of manners at the dinner table. Everyone knows you don't leave before everyone has finished eating." She rolled her eyes as she fixed her arms over her chest." I like your face, but so far it's one of your only redeeming qualities. Your arrogance is laughable...especially when you're a stick in the mud facing a mediocre future behind a desk in an office full of cubicles that will be replaced within the next hundred years by another office that will make your life's work irrelevant and pointless. It's funny that you think we're crazy when you yourself suspect you yourself might just be losing your mind. Is that what they call projection?" She grinned as she walked forward until she was right in front of him with her lips right beside his ear. "Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong." Ian was there when Eli got to his car, crawling out of the reflection on the back window with a face full of piss and vinegar. “Normally, I would give you a virgin for the way you talked to that stuck up fuck, I think you failed to get the fucking message.”Deal with the bitch, it’s important.” With his stream of steaming invective complete, the demon disappeared in front of the shocked chosen one. Eli began to fumble with his keys, hands shaking. He knew what to do when someone came at him, when to run away and when to fight. He knew what it looked like on someone’s face when they lied to him, for the most part. He all but jumped out of his skin when Jane started talking, out of nowhere, behind Eli. By the end of her total dissection of his life, Eli’s hands were still shaking. Initially the source of his discontent was an existential crisis as he either vividly hallucinated or was thrown full force into the fact he was absolutely ignorant of everything. By the time Jane was finished it was from barely contained rage.“Just who are you todefineme, Sparky?” He hissed, turning to face her full on. “You know what, you are right. About everything. I am losing my mind and I don't have anybody in my life and my work is meaningless. My work is irrelevant, and it won’t even be a hundred years before no one knows the name Elijah Wright, and I am fine with that. I am perfectly happy having an unexciting, boring, lonely, dull, stick in the mind rut of a life.“I don’t want to be involved in your bullshit, but I don’t have a choice, so the very least you could do is show some fucking respect.” Jane's smile broadened as he all but hissed in her face that she was right, but somehow she still owed him some ill-deserved respect. "Again with that name. Sparky. Don't you get it? My name is Jane, as far as you know. His name is Nicholas. If you want respect, start by showing some to two people who just might know a lot more about what's going on than you. Until then, I'll show you the respect that equates to your worth, which is not very much." She shrugged as she started to step forward until he'd either have to step back or deal with him being pressed right up against him." Iam the bearer of truth and the hammer of justice to the cases your law enforcement has deemed cold, irrelevant, or simply nonexistent. Iam due your respect. If I've made myself clear, you can feel free to join us for dinner. Not sure if your little friend passed this along when they told you of your lifestyle change, but you'll be crashing at my place. Now that I'm feeding, housing, and teaching you, remind me again why I should respect you..." She grinned, her excited blue eyes gazing into the depths of his soul as she challenged him to say something, anything akin to the bullshit he'd been spouting before. Before he could answer, Nicholas stepped out with eight carryout boxes, "That's enough, you two. Let's get going...that is, Eli, if you will be joining us? I don't know how much of a choice you've been given...but I think it might be easier if you overlook her less than...appeasing nature and come with us. I can promise nothing bad is going to happen to you and aside from that we have a new case to get started on." Eli rolled his eyes at Jane when she hammered home on her name that they nearly rolled out of his sockets. She cared a lot for someone who hadn’t spoken up when Nicholas got his last name wrong a second after hearing it. When she stepped into him, he took a deep breath, catching her scent full on in his face. It was a little hard to be angry with a woman when she had her body pressed up against you, her freshly turned autumn leaf smell warm in your head distracting you. Clearly she had some base cunning hidden beneath the arrogance and spite. “Fuck you, Sparky, you’re just a vigil-“He turned to look at the angel as he spoke, automatically walking around Jane to take some of the plethora of carry out boxes. “I’ve been given no choice and you two are nutty little pees in a crazy pod. May as well see what happens if it keeps my reflect—"He stopped cold, spotting the Ian in his windshield. The reflection was smiling with a single finger pressed against his lips. Remembering the unyielding grip his reflection had on his neck not so long before. There was something about the look on his face as it told him off right before Jane arrived that told him he had better just shut up and get along with things.“Whatever, I’m down. What do we even investigate that the cops don’t, and do I get a badge?” These were two immediate and pressing concerns. If Eli was going to be dragged kicking and screaming with death threats and dismissive insults, he may as well get a neat trinket out the whole thing. Jane's head tilted as he began to say something about his reflection before shutting the Hell up, real quick. She shot a worried glance at Nicholas who simply shook his head. This was something Eli needed to come to on his own and her pushing him towards the realization that he was being pestered by a real life demon wasn't the way to do it. Whatever, she'd overlook the blatantly obvious fact that they had a fourth wheel for now since he agreed to come with them. A badge though? What did he think this was? Sighing, Jane looked around and spotted a toy store a few doors down. "A badge is all you want? Hang on..." She murmured before starting off in that direction while he and Nicholas sorted out who was carrying what. "Nick, get him up to date on the new case. I'll catch up." She called over her shoulder nonchalantly before stepping into the store to find her new partner a badge." Alright, well, it looks like this will actually be a fairly interesting case. I'm surprised by the nature of it simply because you haven't been with us for very long, but it's something we'll need to dive into tonight if we don't want anyone else to die." Nicholas explained as he set his boxes on the roof of Eli's car before taking out his camera less smartphone. Opening up a text from an "Unknown" he revealed a series of pictures and texts." Can't tell much right off at a glance, but this Dr. Niagara has been harvesting the organs of nondescript patients for profit. Wealthier patients and their families will pay top dollar to be pushed to the front of a very long waiting list. Our job is to catch him in the act and...persuade him to turn himself in. More or less." Nicholas explained before flipping through a few case files of young women who had died after going onto the slab in Dr. Niagara's care. The diseases they suffered from were mild at worst and shouldn't have required surgery, but these girls were young and alone. They'd trusted Dr. Niagara and followed his word to the grave, but how much had really been his choice?" Your job here will be to observe, Eli. Then, after we're done, you can decide how crazy we really are and how much you want to keep smacking your head up against the wall with that one." He smiled warmly as Jane walked out of the toy store with two badges in hand. Smacking one of the badges into Eli's chest, she chimed, "Here ya go! You have been deemed deputy by Hasbro and I made myself chief." She winked before slapping her own silly badge on." Jane, you're going to the hospital." Nicholas said matter-of-factly without hesitation or concern with how she might take such an odd statement." What do I have?" She asked with an annoyed sigh, "And why do I have it?"" Ruptured appendix." Nicholas stated before punching her appendix and making her fall down and groan in pain. "Organ harvester. Told your new partner he is to watch and learn."" Goddammit...couldn't we have waited until my food settled?!" She exclaimed, clutching her side with a quivering hand as she tried to sit back up." Nope, he goes on shift in about an hour, and he is the only surgeon in this small hospital running the night shift. Got a few on call, of course, but probably best if we catch him first before he has his hands in knuckle deep in another girl. You know, to save lives and all that."" Fine...fine... Can I at least drive?" She gasped as she pulled herself up and hunched over feeling like she was about to throw up." No, you're injured."" Goddammit!"" Eli, would you be kind enough to drive us to the Lennox Hill Hospital on 77th?" Nicholas asked as he turned to Eli with us though he had just asked for a glass of water. It was clear that if Jane was faking, she was an exceptional actress as the sweat began to bead on her brow and she began to grind her teeth in pain.

The Guardians of East End (Kiari03 and Omniferious)|rating:4.0

Don't stand so close to me. (Tori and Christian)

"And go to you're fucking room!!!" he screamed, getting up from the couch and splashing a bit of his beer across the room. He was just like the rest of her mom's boyfriends. A drunk. The kind of guy who worked in a busy office and made the sort of money that was needed to pay for her mother's lifestyle. Jessie ran to her room and slammed the door shut. Locking it tight and pushing her dresser in front of it. Thus far, he hand't laid a hand on her. To beat or to rape. But knowing her mom's taste in men, there was no telling what was going to happen. "I hate this place." the young girl cried as she lay on her bed. Looking out the window by her bed, Jessie tried to see the stars, but all the streetlamps and houselights was making it impossible. She yearned to escape this hell that had been created the day her dad had walked out on her mom. She hardly even knew him. He'd been gone for ten years, never came to visit let alone call, and now had a whole new family in Denver. So for most of her youth, Jessie had lived without a real father figure. Having instead to make due with the wayward hands that each new man brought to her home." I swear, I'm never going to let this happen to me." Jessie promised herself. "I'm going to find a man who will love and adore me. Not one of these douche bags my mother likes." With her heart beating fast in her chest and tears in her eyes, Jessie grabbed her iPhone and put on her headphones. Falling asleep while she listened to the newest Adele album. When the morning came, Jessie resolved that it would be the beginning of her new life. Getting out of her small twin bed, the short brunette stretched. She felt funny since she'd slept in her skinny jeans. With a soft sigh, she carefully pushed her dresser out of the way and snuck through the house. Her mom's boyfriend Derrick had left earlier. No doubt off to work. Breathing deep breaths of relief, Jessie Catherine Albertson walked softly back up the stairs and to the hall bathroom. Taking a long shower to relax her muscles, the young sixteen-year-old exited and quickly got dressed. A pair of black skinny jeans and a pale blue top. Fixing her long brunette hair so that it hung freely straight down to the middle of her back, the young girl grabbed her purse and backpack and then walked out of her house and down the street to where the bus was waiting. Her mother had never given her any money for a car, and Jessie herself had yet to save up enough to cover the cost of the vehicle and the insurance. So she climbed aboard the yellow tube of despair and down to a free seat. Clutching her purse tight, she closed her eyes as the bus rolled off to her school. Lincoln High in Des Moines was home to a bit over two thousand students. As such, it was the perfect place for Jessie to be. While she had a few friends there, she liked the feeling of anonymity that such a large student body offered. The likelihood of someone knowing her mother or the endless carousel of boyfriends was slim. Also, the sheer size of the school allowed for some more programs. Jessie was connected somewhat and played on the school's volleyball team. A joy she enjoyed as her mother so rarely came to games. Not to mention the pride of winning. When the bus rolled up, Jessie hoped up and walked inside, quickly grabbing her books and heading to her class. Today she had a new teacher for third period, and she was privately dreading the inevitable "introduce yourself" moment new teachers so often used as a way to learn names. Apologies for the length, this is my usual length, but I can make it longer if you need. Owen walked into his new classroom, a sense of dread filling his mind as he observed the High School students he'd be teaching for the time being. This was his first time actually teaching a class, but he was only doing part of a year, covering for a teacher on maternal leave, so he didn't have to worry too much. Still, if his scruffy black hair and 5' o clock shadow said anything, it's that he was more nervous than he needed to be. Owen Thorne was 25 years old, just out of college, and disillusioned as all hell. The promise of a good, reliable career that makes one want to go to a university wasn't nearly as sincere as he'd hoped, and he was stuck in a tiny apartment in a shitty part of town, with a less than intimidating build, not muscular, but lean and fit. And this class was his only hope at a pay day. He had to make it work, he supposed. Perhaps this would be a blessing in disguise. Standing behind his desk, he looks up towards the class, his eyes narrow, with an authoritative darkness behind it. He certainly didn't look like a teacher, he was only wearing a wrinkled t-shirt and blue jeans. Picking up a marker, he writes his name on the board before speaking. "My name is Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Dickens is on maternal leave for the foreseeable future, so I will be taking over." He pulls open a drawer on the desk, and looks at his seating chart. "Alright, so why don't you guys give me your names first thing?" He listened, then, as they all listed their names, marking them off on his sheet. It isn't long before he came to a girl sitting near the back. She was smaller, but he could see from his desk... she had a fire in her eyes. The way she was staring at him... it was throwing him off already. "J-Jessie Albertson?"​ ((nope. You gave me a great amount for this kind of story. )Jessie had been busy looking over the text book when the new teacher entered the room. She was shocked to see someone to young. Raising her eyebrows, Jessie decided that he couldn't be much out of college. Clearly someone who had taken a job working in education because of his desire to enrich young minds. But Jessie had no interest in anything like that. She was just counting down the days until she could get the hell out of her mom's house. The day she left, she was never going back. Not even on holidays or at Christmas. Nothing was going to convince her to walk back through that door. In fact, Jessie had been pondering trying to get herself emancipated. But the problem was that she had nowhere to go to once she was free. That, and she needed to fund. When Mr. Thorne called her name, she groaned a little. Nodding, she managed a smile to the surprisingly good-looking new teacher. "Yes sir, that's me." she said, raising her right had enough to indicate her position in the middle back of the class. Turning her attention back to her book, she couldn't help but notice his reaction." Too bad my mom couldn't find someone nice." Jessie pondered. "Mr. Thorne seems like a nice guy. Maybe it will be a decent class with him. Lord knows Mrs. Dickens was a bitch who hated me." Suddenly, she found herself hoping he would call on her. If only to test her theory about his being a nice guy. "Miss Albertson?" He called to her again, the young woman seeming to be deep in thought. "Are you okay?" He smiles at her warmly. He couldn't deny finding a certain relation to himself in the girl, just the fiery, determined look she had walked into the class with intrigued him. Of course, he didn't know just how well he'd come to know Jessie Albertson, and just how much she would come to rely on him in the future. A couple students start snickering at the girl, but he silences them. ​ Jessie had been deep in though when he had called on her again. Shaking herself from her daydream, Jessie managed a smile. "Yes Mr. Throne, sorry. I was just a bit distracted." taking a deep breath, the young brunette forced herself to focus on the class. Ignoring some of her classmates, she tried very hard not to analyze his words, but failed." I wonder if that was what concern looks like." she pondered to herself. Having never before felt someone be concerned about her, not even her mother, Jessie had little knowledge of certain emotions. She'd never learned empathy, and as such was always yearning for someone to show her that feeling of genuine caring." I swear, if he actually cares about me, I will love him forever." she thought to herself with an internal laugh. "Maybe the idiots in the administration finally hired someone good after all." Smiles and nods, beginning the lesson. Throughout the lesson, Owen would cast glances at her, smiling in a friendly manner. The class wasn't exactly long, only lasting a little over an hour. Owen had been nervous, but he found that once he began the lesson, it all seemed to come to him naturally, and his young age and more casual appearance seemed to help endear him to the students easier, he hadn't had a single interruption yet. As smooth as things were going, the time seemed to fly by for Owen. Looking at the clock, he sees that only five minutes remain in the class. Smiling, he closes his book. "That's all for now, Feel free to talk for the next 5 minutes. I'd like to ask Miss Albertson to see me after class." Once again, he shows her that smile...​ Taking out her notebook, the young girl did her best to focus exclusively on the lecture and take notes according to what Mr. Thorne said. But her mind was somewhat elsewhere. She was pondering him as a person. Wondering why someone wide-eyed and so young would be chosen to be a teacher. Twirling a bit of her hair in her right hand, Jessie chewed on her pencil eraser and tried to figure out Mr. Thorn and what kind of person her was. Unable to truly concentrate, she gave trying to take notes. When the class was nearly over, Jessie had gotten her things together in her bag. She had one more class, and then it would be time for her lunch. About to get up, she frowned when Mr. Thorne said that he wanted her to stay after. Her entire school life, that had been a bad thing. So she approached his desk with trepidation." Yes Mr. Thorne?" she asked nervously. Kicking at the ground with her sandal. But his smile made her feel more confident. Less nervous. Maybe he just wanted to introduce himself? But to just her.... Her mind swirled with possibilities. Hoping that he was the nice guy she'd hoped. Owen couldn't help but grin at the trepidation Jessie showed as she approached him, obviously she'd been through this in the past. He could relate in that regard. "Hello Jessie... You aren't in trouble." He chuckles, grinning wider at her. Pulling up a chair he gestures her to sit down across from him. "I just wanted to introduce myself formally. You can call me Owen if you like." The phone rings on the wall as soon as he sits down, probably the principal asking how his first class went. He simply rolls his eyes and ignores it. Looking back to Jessie. "I'd like to ask you, student to teacher, what you thought of how I did? I'm actually new at this, and I was pretty nervous about it. To tell the truth, I was worried about you, you seemed in a funk for a minute in the beginning of class, I hope nothing's wrong." He hoped he wasn't laying it on too thick. He truly wanted to try and be a friendly and relatable teacher. Jessie seemed like she could do with a friend in a higher place than she...​ Jessie awkwardly kicked at the linoleum flooring as he spoke. She was shocked by his tone and the offer of a chair, but she happily sat down and manged to soften her face a bit. "Thank you, Mr. Thor..... Own." she replied with a half smile. Shocked that he was taking the time to actually ask her questions and get to know her, she felt her heart beat fast in her chest." Uh...it was good." she replied, gulping a bit. "I'm not very good at biology. But I feel like you made it a bit easier." Even more shocked that he was asking if she was alright, Jessie didn't know how to react or respond. "For real?" she thought. "He's actually asking about me. Wow. Own is the nicest guy I've ever met. If my mom had dated people like him, maybe I wouldn't hate her so much." Taking a deep breath, she sighed. "I'm alright." she lied. "It's just been a long day. A lot of things to study. But I appreciate you asking. That's really nice." The bell rang a minute later, and Jessie reluctantly hoped up. Not eager to leave the nicest teacher she'd ever met. "So.... I'll see you tomorrow." she blushed, before gathering her things and walking off. Through the day, Jessie couldn't help but think about the kindness Owen shown her. It made her wonder. When the got on the bus that afternoon, her head was so filled with her words that she felt forced to put in her headphones and listen to music the whole way home. Just to think clearly." I can't wait to see him tomorrow." she said to herself. Shocked at her own words. Owen smiled as the girl left the room, her apparently flustered state not lost on him. "Cute..." He thought to himself. He spent the remainder of the day teaching two other classes, and then he simply sat at his desk, arranging the sizable amount of papers he'd managed to amass in only a day. "I already hate this job." He chuckled to himself. He understood the stereotype of miserable teachers a lot better now, but even that brief moment between him and Jessie made things worth it. As he left the school at the end of they day, he caught a glimpse of Jessie through a bus window and smiled to her with a wave. Opening the door to his apartment, he had little else on his mind but rest, resolving to eat in the morning, he discards his jacket and shirt on the ground, tossing himself onto his bed, as he drifts off, he ponders whether he can keep up the good teacher thing two days in a row, let alone a week. In the end, he supposed only time would tell.​ It was another rough night at home for Jessie. Her mom had come home from a bar drunk, and with a different guy. They had gone off to engage in some weird kinky BDSM and Jessie had barricaded her door again. Turning on her tablet, she decided to watch a movie. Putting in her headphones, she thought of Owen and how nice he had been. Curious about him and why he was such a nice person, she made a note to try and talk to him some more when she next saw him in class. Changing into her night shorts and a tank top, Jessie watched the movie until she fell asleep. Waking up the next day with her headphones still on. Stretching herself out, she had to admit to herself that she was eager to go to school. But it wasn't the classes or the students she was eager for. It was one teacher. A young a kind teacher who she wanted desperately to see it again. Deciding to look nice, she decided to dress nicely. After a shower and fixing her hair, she put on a cute little pair of blue panties that exposed part of her rear. As well as a matching bra. Overtop she wore a sundress that was pale blue with dark blue flowers across the design. Putting on a pair of flats, she actually smiled as she got on the bus to school that day. When it was time for Mr. Thorne's class again, Jessie was in her seat with a smile on her face. Eagerly awaiting to see if he was just as kind once more. Owen smiles brightly at Jessie as she enters, noting that not only did she seem much more upbeat than she had yesterday, but also that she had come earlier. She was the first to arrive. "Oh, hello Jessie!" He grinned, leaning back on his chair lazily, a graded paper in his lap. "How are you this morning?" It was odd, though... Jessie had seemed a lot more ordinary yesterday, maybe a bit more confident and feisty than the others, sure. But she wasn't either radically different. Just another girl in the school, Today however, she almost seemed to glow as she bounced in, a wide smile on her features. She had dressed up much more carefully, too, it seemed, as if she was looking good for somebody. He wondered... ah, maybe after class, he'd ask. Though it honestly wasn't any of his business. He had learned to keep his nose out of others business the hard way, getting yapped at in College countless times was enough for that. Still, he had taken an interest in her since their discussion yesterday. Sitting up straight, he rests his elbows on the old wooden desk the school couldn't bother replacing. "You look very pretty today, quite a catch." He smiles warmly.​ Smiling back, Jessie took her seat and waved hello. "I'm alright." She said honestly. "A little tired. I stayed up later than I normally do. How are you today? Did you enjoy your first day yesterday?" Trying to seem happier than she did yesterday, Jessie pulled out her book and notepad and smiled at him. Blushing at his compliment, she smiled. "Uh...thanks!" she said. Shocked at someone offering such a nice compliment so easily. She debated complimenting him back, but it felt a little weird. Especially since the class was about to start and other students were pouring in." Can we talk after class?" she asked as the class was about to begin. Settling into her seat, she took notes as the class got going. But she was distracted, and couldn't wait until she could talk to Owen when class was over. Owen grinned. "It was nice. You actually helped a lot, Jessie. I appreciate that. I look forward to teaching you more." He nodded to her inquiry of another after-class meeting. "Absolutely, I'd love a chance to chat with you anytime!" Throughout the class, Owen was relieved at how much easier the second day was than the first. Things were much more natural and smooth to him, and his students were once again being receptive to his instruction. Jessie however... Once again, she seemed distracted. He caught her stealing glances at him, a red hue on her cheeks as she would pretend to be absorbed in her notes. He couldn't help but feel a bit flattered... was Jessie smitten with him? Furthermore, he had never even considered what he should do in a situation like this... but he could easily have been wrong. Furthermore, he had no idea how much things would change after class, as the room emptied, he smiled at Jessie as she lingered by his desk. "Hey Jessie. Did you need to talk to me?"​ Jessie had a hard time containing her eagerness to speak with Owen again. She didn't even bother taking notes. Instead, she was busy doodling in her notebook and writing something down. Looking at him periodically, she blushed and smiled whenever his eyes met hers. "So cute." she thought. When class ended, she walked up to the desk and sat down on the edge. "Thanks for taking the time." she said with a confident smile. "I was actually going to ask if I could get your email or phone number? Sometimes I have questions when I'm at home, and I'd really appreciate the extra help. As long as it's not too much to ask. I want to do well in your class, and I've never been but so good at biology to be honest. So you'd really be a lifesaver." It was really all a ruse. She was decent enough to maintain a B in his class. Her real reason for getting his contact info was in case she wanted to talk with him away from class. Something she wanted very much. Owen grins at the question, thrilled he would be able to help, and nods. "Of course! Wait just a minute." He pulls out his notebook and begins scribbling down his number and e-mail address. He begins to hand it to her, but stops, seeming to have something come to his mind. "Actually..." He pulls the notebook back, quickly adding his home address, the words "Just in case you're ever in trouble and need help. -O" Satisfied, he slides it back to her. "You can keep the notebook, I have an old one I still need to finish." He chuckles, nodding to a beaten up yellow wide-rule on the edge of his desk. "Jessie... something I was curious about." He bites his tongue for a moment. "You seem much... different from yesterday. Like you were almost glowing. I know it's none of my business, but..." He speaks a bit quieter, trying to be discreet. "Have you found yourself a guy friend?" He chuckles. "Just that being in College, I knew that look a woman tends to have when they've taken an interest in somebody. Something happened between yesterday and now, I was just curious."​ Jessie's face practically exploded in a wide smile as he pulled out a notepad and wrote down his phone number and email address. She had hoped he would. But the ease and friendliness of which he did it was almost shocking. She hadn't expected it, but after two days she was learning that Owen was very friendly and seemed to genuinely care. At least about her if nothing else. Taking the notebook from him and reading his inscription, she blushed and smiled." Thanks. But don't be surprised if you hear from me as soon as tonight." she said with a nervous laugh. "Anyway, thanks. I really appreciate the fact that you're so approachable. Most of my other teachers aren't like this. So you're already my favorite!" Blushing at his question, she put the notepad in her backpack and smiled. "Umm....maybe I have." she said with a bit of a giggle. "But I'm not sure if he likes me. I guess I'll have to figure that out!" Walking out without looking back, she went through the day thinking about that interaction. Excited and elated when she got home, Jessie was pleased to see that her mom had left a note. "Jessie. Gone for the week. Be back later." Rolling her eyes, the teenager was at least happy that she could rest at ease. Putting down her stuff, she changed into a cute little pair of silk shorts and a matching top. Lounging on the couch, she turned on the TV and then pulled out her phone. Texting Owen, she smiled." Hey, this is Jessie. I hope it's okay if I bother you a little!" Owen was sitting in his chair watching some random police program. The kind of thing he turned to when there was nothing else to watch. Stretching himself out, he yawns. Today had gone pretty well too. His nerves proved to be unneeded. He'd even helped a student out of class. Jessie. As soon as the name had crossed his mind, his phone buzzed on the coffee table. Raising an eyebrow, he reached out and snatched it. Pulling it to his face, he saw her words. He couldn't help chuckling. This wasn't why he'd given her the number, but he was bored... and he did enjoy talking to her... Shrugging, he decided to reply. What's the worst that could happen? "Hah, Anytime. You're more interesting than what's going on here. What's up?" Sending the text, he leaned back into the chair, sighing. Something about the way Jessie had been looking at him. It bugged him...​ Jessie's eyes lit up when she saw his message. She had been laying in bed, doodling and writing in the notebook he had given her. But now she typed up another text and sent it off." Nothing really, just working on some homework." she lied. "I was going to ask you a question about different life cycles in mammals, but I totally forgot what it was. But I'll ask if I remember." Sighing, she laid back and thought up another message and typed it up. "So what does a teacher do with his spare time? Grade papers? Frown at students? Buy tweed jackets?" Laughing at her own joke, she wondered if he still liked her, or had she begun to annoy him. Looking down at what she had been writing, Jessie's eyes lit up, and she looked back at his phone waiting for a reply. Glancing down at the words again, she felt her heart begin to flutter. Owen can't help chuckling at her joke, Honestly, he wouldn't have been surprised if those were pastimes of some of the teachers he'd seen, and he envied them in a way; at least they had hobbies of some kind. Life cycles of mammals...? They hadn't even covered that yet, Was she doing extra credit work perhaps? He smiled. Good for her, her grades weren't bad, but a little extra work never hurt. "Feel free to ask whenever you like, Jess." His thumb pressing into his phone, he continues to type his response. "Watching crap TV and ordering Pizza, actually. Bored as a rock. Same as always really. Just managed to shake off the droves of paparazzi waiting at my door."​ Jessie giggled and decided she had made enough of an effort with school to avoid talking about it any further. So she read his next message and decided to focus on that. "Oh wow." she typed back. "Do you not have a girlfriend or someone who can cook for you?" Giggling, she typed up another message. "So then your notebook must be worth a fortune one bay!" she teased. Looking down at the words she had written, Jessie smiled again." So I should probably go to bed." she smirked. Suddenly curious about something. "Anyway, good night." she said. Her thoughts too personal to write. "I'll see you tomorrow." Setting her alarm and turning off her lights, she looked at the notebook and smiled as she drifted off. Three words had been scribbled over and over. Mrs. Owen Thorne. Owen arrived in the classroom late the next morning, the room was already full when he arrived. "Sorry, sorry!" He mumbled as his took his seat, yawning. He'd had a rough night. His neighbors had been having some kind of party, and it had kept him awake through most of the night. He didn't mind a little fun, but did it have to be so... loud? "Sorry I'm late, you guys. Long night. You know how it is." He smirked lightly, and noticed Jessie already seemed transfixed on him. "Anyway, I don't have anything planned for today, I seem to have lost my lesson planner, so I guess you can use this as a study hall, or just talk. We'll pick up on everything tomorrow. I need to dig through my notes a bit." He opened up his old notebook, trying to figure out where the class was. After only three days, one would think it wouldn't be easy to get lost, but Owen was scrambled from his long night. Sometimes, he'd look up to check on the class. Everything seemed to be going fine... but every time... he caught Jessie staring at him...​ Jessie had been running late that day. Getting up late, she had rushed to get ready and barely made the bus on time. But thankfully she had still manged to look cute and wear something special. Walking into class, her short black skirt (that she was suddenly grateful to her mom for) and a cute crop top that showed the tiniest bit of her tummy. Rushing to get to Biology early, she sat down, and the minute Owen walked in, a smile crossed her face and she smirked at him. "Oh wow, just my luck." she thought with a grin. The fact that it was a study hall meant she would be able to spend some time with him. So gathering he thinks, she walked up. "Mind if I study up here?" she asked. A seat was free right across from his desk. Some people were skipping, and others were out sick. So the class was pretty empty and a bunch of people were lingering in the back watching a movie on someone's phone. Pulling her chair closer to the desk, she sat down and pulled out the notebook he'd given her. Folding it to a new page that didn't have "Mrs. Owen Throne" written all over it, she began to doodle and covertly wrote that name again but covered it with doodles. Owen nodded with a grin. "Sure thing Jessie. I'd love company." He chuckled, waving her instead to the spare office chair against the wall beside him. "Use that, much more comfortable." If only it was always this easy, Relaxing and writing small notes while the class did whatever they liked. He supposed that's what made a bad teacher though. He didn't need to become something he strove to avoid. If there were less bad teachers, he wouldn't have been held back a year in high school. Casting a curious eye to Jessie's doodles, he swears he sees his name mixed in the scribbles... but no, it must be his imagination. He hadn't written on enough pages, and she'd probably tear out any he had. The class drew to a close, and Owen smiled at Jessie as the class quickly began to empty. The lunch bell rang, and everybody filed to the first floor, running down the staircase beside Owen's classroom. The second floor, where Owen's room was, was now eerily quiet. "Have a good day, Jessie, unless you wanted to talk again? Are you still in need of any help? I'd be glad to do what I can."​ Jessie nodded and moved to the free chair. Happy to be even closer to Owen. Doodling in her notebook, she casually looked up sometimes and tried to discern what he was doing. She didn't really talk to him during class. Instead, she studied him. Watching how he wrote. The faces he made as he did. Curious about his eccentricities and any discerning characteristics that he might have. When the class was finally over, she got up and gathered her things with a smile." I probably should get going." she said. "But I might need your help again. " Leaving quickly, she rushed to go to her next task. Which wasn't lunch, but the administration office. Lying her way into some information, she walked out and to lunch with a smile on her face and a small slip of paper in her hands. Looking at it casually, she thought about when Saturday would come.****The week went by with few events. Her mom was still gone, so Jessie was home alone and could spend as much time with Owen as she wanted during school. But she was a bit distant. She had plans and didn't want to ruin anything.****When Saturday came, she looked at the paper to make sure as she walked up the steps and knocked on the door. Wearing a pair of very short shorts and a crop top that exposed her taunt stomach and belly button piercing, she waited. Knowing that today was the day. Because she was standing in front of Owen's door. Having gotten his address from the office earlier that week. Owen heard a small knock on his door as he was cleaning the place up. Who the hell even knew where he lived? He hadn't been here for very long. "Just a minute!" He yelled, piling the books he'd spilled next to the bookcase for later sorting. Owen wasn't very social. He didn't go out too much, and he didn't have visitors. In fact, he figured this was probably either a salesman or a religious person. Greeeaaat. Opening the door, his face immediately softened, his eyes widening a bit. "Jessie?" He was hardly dressed to meet with a student, a tight tank top and rather torn jeans wasn't what a teacher dressed like. She on the other hand... She wore the shortest, tightest pair of shorts he'd ever seen, they could have been mistaken for underpants at this point. Her form fitting top accentuated her form and exposed her stomach. She looked... sexy. "A-ah... Jessie! Sorry about not being dressed, I'll go put something on, did you need help...?" Even in this situation, his first instinct was to help her.​ Jessie walked in without even being invited. Easily pushing past him and walking into the small apartment. "Hamm, looks like you could use a maid." she joked, walking over to his couch and sitting down. Already very comfortable and at home there." You can go get dressed if you want." she said. "I was thinking we could hang out. I'd like to go to the park for a nice walk, and I don't want to be alone. So you are going to come along." The confident way in which she spoke was so altogether different from her normal personality. But something had changed within Jessie. A new find of self-assurance that made her want to do things and make decisions based on her own wants and need. Crossing her legs, she picked up the remote to Owen's TV and casually flipped channels. Making herself at home while he went to get ready for their park excursion. Toritaynympho said: Jessie walked in without even being invited. Easily pushing past him and walking into the small apartment. "Hamm, looks like you could use a maid." she joked, walking over to his couch and sitting down. Already very comfortable and at home there. "You can go get dressed if you want." she said. "I was thinking we could hang out. I'd like to go to the park for a nice walk, and I don't want to be alone. So you are going to come along." The confident way in which she spoke was so altogether different from her normal personality. But something had changed within Jessie. A new find of self-assurance that made her want to do things and make decisions based on her own wants and need. Crossing her legs, she picked up the remote to Owen's TV and casually flipped channels. Making herself at home while he went to get ready for their park excursion. Click to expand... Owen blinked, somewhat taken aback by her brazen and blunt attitude, this was... unlike her. "Jessie, you shouldn't just show up like this and demand company... and what are you we...?" He stops, seeing she'd breezed past him and made herself cozy on his couch, and sighs, deciding to play along for now. She wanted somebody to hang out with, he thought. What was the harm in it? It's not like they were breaking any rules... Pulling a light t-shirt on over his chest, He walks up beside the couch, watching how she'd put herself on display teasingly, god... the way those clothes hugged her... gas, he shouldn't be thinking like this. It wasn't right. He offers his hand. "Well, if you really think you want to be seen in a park with some scrappy looking teacher, I suppose I don't mind accompanying you..." He smiles a bit, walking her out of the door. The walk itself was uneventful, they had chatted a bit, and while Jessie seemed to keep making subtle movements and flirtatious comments, she seemed honest in her stated intentions. Still.... "What exactly did you bring me here for, Jessie?"​ Jessie ignored him. She didn't really care if he thought it was weird, and she didn't care if it wasn't normal for her to just show up at his door. She wanted to see him, so she came. It should have been easy to figure out. But he must not have picked up on her infatuation of yet. Getting up from the couch, she smiled and then led him out from his apartment and to the nearby park. Leading him to a long and mostly secluded walking trail, she walked casually beside him. Asking him questions about where he went to grad school and other random information. But that was far from her mind, and she would ask again later. Stopping on a side part of the trail, surrounded by thick trees and bushes, the soft and supple young teen suddenly dropped to her knees in front of him and began to undo his pants. "I want you." she said, looking into his eyes. Not with hunger, but with a far more emotion desire. The kind of feeling someone has when they've never seen love and affection. Pulling down his pants and underwear, Jessie took his soft cock in her hand and began to stroke it lightly. Not caring that she was acting slutty, or that they could be caught. She just wanted to touch him and show him how deeply she felt. Owen's eyes seemed to pop out of his head as the teen drops to her knees and tugs his jeans opens, her hands moving to free his cock, moving to stroke it gently as she gazes up at him. "Oh no..." He hadn't seen it before... but as soon as she wrapped her smooth, young hands around his slightly above average length, it all made sense. The texts, the glances in class. The after school stays. The visit today. She had been smitten with him, this whole time, he was her target. How could he not have seen this coming? Still, he can't resist his first instinct, to place his hands in her hair gently. "Jessie. This isn't right... I'm your teacher, you should... ah... you should know​better." He was barely able to protest over the sensations of Jessie stroking his quickly hardening cock. He saw her eyes then. This wasn't merely a physical thing for her, she wanted more than pleasure, she wanted companionship. The look in her eyes, it was one not of pure lust, but also of love. "MMH... You shouldn't..." Jessie watched Owen's reactions. She knew that he was powerless. What man wouldn't want a cute young teen stroking their cock? It was idiocy to imagine otherwise. No, he wanted her. But clearly he had never considered until now that she wanted him. Her infatuation had gone unnoticed, but now it was all becoming clear." And?" she asked in response. Softly stroking his member and staring deeply into his eyes. "If you're my teacher, then you should be happy to help teach me about sex. I am a virgin after all? And who better to help me then my favorite teacher?" Giggling, she looked at his cock and admired it. "You have a nice looking cock Owen." she said with a smirk. Looking back at him, her eyes suddenly bore a wicked glint. "And now I'm going to suck you off." Without warning, she opened her mouth and guided him in. Taking half of his cock in her tight wet mouth with one motion. Easily sucking at him with pride. Her eyes stared back to his. Never dropping from intimate contact as she gave him the first blow job of her life. Owen groaned, unable to suppress his pleasure as she sucked him into her hot mouth, staring down into her eyes. "O-oh, Jessie. Shit that feels good..." He couldn't deny that he needed this too. It had been so long since he'd been with a woman, and Jessie was the definition of a knockout. His hands move through her hair, his hard cock twitching against her tongue, it's swollen head pressing against her. "Fuck..." This was wrong, and he knew it... but he couldn't care less. He had a gorgeous young girl on her knees, blowing him in a public park... And she was so good... "You're doing great Jessie... Keep sucking... MMH..." He bit his lower lip, his hips moving against her head softly as his muscles twitch from the pleasurable sensations. Slowly, in an oddly loving gesture, a hand trails from her hair, softly caressing her cheek as she dutifully pleasures him. He could lose his job, he could lose his home... or he could show Jessie everything she ever wanted to know... There wasn't much choice in his mind right now. His brain was hazy with pleasure. "My favorite student..."​. As she gazed into his eyes and heard his praises, Jessie felt herself become wet. At her young age, it was the first time that a man had ever really caused her to become aroused. But she knew that this was the only man she ever wanted. She was obsessed. All her waking thoughts were about Owen and her desire to be with him forever. At only fifteen, Jessie was not immune to the wild thoughts of youth. And one of those was that she could one day be his. In more ways than just the good little slut on her knees like she was currently." Hmmmm. You like my young mouth?" she teased. Removing his cock from her mouth just long enough to speak, before inserting it right back. She was determined to make him cum and cum hard. When he did, she'd suck it down and show him just how much she adored him." I'm going to make you fall in love with me." she thought secretly to herself. "Pretty soon. You're going to want to take me out, and spoil me, and love me and worship me." Stroking the base of his cock firmly and speeding up, she began to moan against his cock. Eager for her first taste of cum. Owen groaned and tensed his muscles even more upon hearing her teasing words, followed with even more eager sucking than before. Her soft hand gripping the base of his length tightly, stroking it as she bathed his cock in her wet mouth. "Y-yes... so much... Jessie, I'm about to..." Her frantic sucking and increasingly intense moans were driving him up the wall, and he feels himself tighten, and his cock swell a bit against her teasing tongue. My god, he was about to give a virgin her first cum... He was going to feed his cum to his own 15-year-old student, who was totally enamored with him. He gazed into her eyes, biting his lower lip and wrapping a hand in her hair as his hot, thick seed shot into her mouth, again and again. His voice breaking out in a loud groan. "Oh Jessie...!"​ Jessie moaned softly against his cock. Reaching out to cup his balls in her hand, she felt him tense up and knew that this was the first orgasm she was ever giving a man. The first of many she planned on giving to Owen. Looking up into his eyes, she saw the lust and desire and knew that he was hers. Now and forever, he was the man that she wanted and needed. And now, she had him in her grasp, with no intentions of ever letting go. Feeling the rush of his ample load, she gulped it down and licked his cock inside of her mouth. When he stopped cumming, she removed the softening member and licked it clean. Smiling widely, she stood up and stood up to give him a peck on the cheek. "Thanks Owen." she said with a smile. "That wasn't too bad. A little salty. But tasty." Letting him pull his pants back on, she grabbed his hand and went back to walking the trail. Leaning over, she softly whispered into his ear. "How about we go back to your place, and you use your tongue on me?" She suggested. Though it was much more of a demand than a suggestion. Owen takes deep breaths as Jessie cleans his cock, tugging his pants up with a dazed look in his eyes as she rises to her feet. He'd just cum in a horny 15-year-old mouth... his own student's mouth, and as she took his hand and lead him home, he knew he was going to take her virginity... he'd had a taste of the young girl, and now he needed more of her. "O=okay..." He followed her, his hand in hers as he reaches out, pulling her next to him and holding her. His hand clasps around her ass as he mutters. "Jessie... I don't know what you're thinking... but I have to have you now..."​ Jessie gasped when he suddenly grabbed her ass. She hadn't truly expected him to desire her so much so quickly, but her body ached for his touch, and she had no desire to wait until they were back at his apartment. So she pulled him aside and off the trail. Walking through the woods, she managed to lead him to a small meadow that was relatively secluded. Suddenly she tore at his pants, desperate to have him." Take me now." she demanded. "Right here. Where someone could suddenly see us. I don't care about anything but feeling you inside of me. Make love to me Owen. Use my body however you wish. I'm yours." Once his pants were off, Jessie herself tore off her shirt to reveal her naked torso, having no bra on, her small but perky B cup breasts were on display. Slipping her short shorts off, revealing a tiny black thong underneath, Jessie lay down in the grass and motioned him over. Eager to feel his skin against hers. Owen honestly wouldn't normally be so quick to action, but his head was clouded with the haze of pleasure she'd given him, he needed her, she had lit a fire inside of him. He gazes at her hungrily as she strips in front of him, her nicely sized breasts exposed to his eyes. "You're beautiful, Jessie..." He mutters as he lowers, crawling over her smooth legs, then her cute, tiny belly, and then takes her left nipple in between his lips, pressing the quickly regrowing bulge in his boxers against her thong, letting her feel her handiwork.​His hand rests on her other breast, kneading and squeezing it as he presses his chest against her belly. What Owen didn't know, was that not only was this going to be her first time having sex, but it would also be the first time she had even kissed a guy. He was in her first in nearly every way, and she couldn't wait to feel him push inside of her. "Take me Owen!!!!" she practically begged as he began to suck on her nipple. Her back arched and she looked into his eyes with a longing expression." Do you have a condom?" she suddenly asked. Having not thought about protection until that moment. But it had been almost two weeks since her last period, and if he were to cum inside of her....there always was the possibility... The brief reprieve her question brought about caused him to remove his lips from her hard nipple, some of the cloudiness fading from his eyes. "N-no..." His breathing was heavy, but normalizing a bit. His hands rest on her hips, biting his lips. "L-listen Jessie, are you sure? I don't want you to regret this decision... we could both get in a lot of trouble... I want to do what make you happy... but this is a big choice..." His hands slide down her soft skin, massaging her inner thighs, his length still pressing against her thong. Owen wanted this, as much as he hated to admit that. He shouldn't want his 15-year-old student in this way, but he did. He needed it. Furthermore, he had just enough sense, though. Just enough control, to worry about the consequences this would bring. "Just... think about this... You could easily find somebody better than me later on in life."​ Jessie had been waiting for him. Her legs spread wide in an eager pose. Her eyes closed as she anticipated the penetration that was to come. But his telling her no was....unfortunate. Her head snapped up, and she leaned forward, propping herself on her elbows. "Do you really think I haven't thought about this?" she asked with a grin. "I thought long and hard. And the truth is, I want you. I want you in every way I could have you. I want you as a lover. And as a boyfriend who protects and cares for me." Suddenly she pushed his head down towards her very wet young pink pussy. "Please lick me." she begged. "I want to feel your tongue." The soft and nimble young teen knew what she wanted. Though there were certainly risks (more so for him than her), she knew that she wouldn't be satisfied until he adored her as much as she worshiped him. She had decided she wanted him in whatever way would please him. She wanted to be a real girlfriend. Coming over and cooking for him and watching movies together. Before moving to the bedroom for fun. Though, she would have to learn how to cook a bit better. Waiting for him to lick her, she wrapped her legs around him. Not giving him any chance to escape her grasp. Owen feels his cheeks burn at her words. He wasn't one to blush normally, but the way she was praising him, telling him how much she absolutely craved him. He purrs, the way she eagerly wrapped her nimble legs around his neck and tugged his head towards her wet pussy brought lust back to his brain. Furthermore, he mutters up to her, licking his lips. "Relax then, Jessie. I'm going to make you cum..." He moves his head down, his lips dancing lightly over her swollen, aroused lips, his tongue pokes out slightly, dipping ever so slightly into her quivering sex as his hands run along her creamy smooth legs, meeting above her sex to massage the area under her stomach as he tastes her teasingly. Carefully, he lets a thumb seek out the bundle of nerves hidden along the top of her slit, pressing against it.​ "I'd hope so." she giggled back to him, her eyes eager and open. "I did swallow, and from what I read on Facebook, that's not but so common. So you can eat me to at least one orgasm." She actually hadn't minded the taste of his cum. Sure, it was salty and mostly tasteless, but from her experience on social media, guys seemed to like girls who did. Wanting to please Owen in whatever way she could, the nimble brunette wanted him to be so enamored with her, that he couldn't imagine being without her touch. Just as she already felt about him. As he tongues began to lick between her drenched folds, the young teen moaned and her fingers knotted in his hair. "Oh wow, that feels amazing." she moaned out. "Please don't stop. That feels so wonderful." When he teased her clit, the young woman cried out and her legs snapped around his head. Barely stopping form crushing his skull, she moaned and began to arch her back in lust." I'm yours Owen." she proclaimed assuredly. "Do whatever you want with me. Just don't stop touching my body!" Owen's eyes widen a bit, his mouth pressed hard against her sex as she locks her legs tight around his head. He mumbles a response, but it can't be heard through the muffle her flesh creates. He pinches her clit between his thumb and forefinger. Furthermore, he couldn't do much with her thighs holding fast against his head, but he had all the access he needed right now... direct access to her most intimate area. The hand that isn't toying and teasing her clit reaches down to scoop some of the residual arousal from the soaked lips, moving them up to her lips, as if offering them. His tongue relents, no longer teasing, but pumping in and out of her delicious pussy. She was sweet... At least he thought she tasted sweet. The way her muscles quivered and leaked into his waiting mouth drove him mad, as did her pleas and begs for more. She was so... so sexy... He had no idea he could ever attract a girl so beautiful, young or not...​ As he was eating her out, Jessie began to wonder if he had ever done it before. She would have been jealous of some bitch would have experienced his tongue before her, but that would have been unreasonable. No. The only thing that mattered now was their future. Her hands knotted in his hair, and she began to moan louder and louder. "Oh my god!!!!" she cried out as he played with her. She had never felt such pleasure before. It was unlike when she had masturbated before. This was so much more real and vibrant."Oh, Owen!!!!" she moaned out, saying his name in lustful desire. "Please don't stop. God your tongue and fingers feel so amazing. I'm going to cum soon if you keep going. Oh, yes baby!!! Make your princess cum!!!" She carefully used words like that. Wanting to establish in his mind that she was his princess, and he her knight in shinning armor. With an amazing tongue no less!! The orgasm built. Her clit buzzed with excitement and her fertile young pussy flowed with her clear juices. Her breath was excited, and her eyes had rolled back in a lustful trance. She would cum very soon. Just a few more licks...... Owen's brain was too alight with excitement to fully comprehend what she was doing, only sending more pleasurable sensations through his body as she begs and pleads, her hands deliciously tugging at his hair as he slides a finger to her dripping wet sex, sliding it in to compete with his tongue. He runs the digit along her walls, exploring her as he occasionally moves to lick and suck her hard clit. "Do it, Jessie. Cum for me... Let me taste my princess..."​ "OH GOD!!!!" the soft young teenage screamed out. His calling her 'his princess' was enough to send her over. The young beauty's eyes rolled back, and she felt herself cum. Her soaking wet pussy began to clamp down on his finger. The soft vaginal walls pulsing along as she pants and moans in arousal." Please make love to me Owen." Jessie began to beg. "I need to feel that cock in me. I won't be happy until I do. Just stick your big cock in me and show me that I'm your princess. Make me yours Owen. Make me only yours!!!"her hips began to buck back on his face. Her eyes filled with pleading arousal. Biting her lip, Jessie couldn't wait until he was in her. Making love to her. Owen felt her young muscles clench around his digits, her beautiful voice ringing out in ecstasy at he brought his princess to her first orgasm given to her by another person... His senses revel in her release, his hands running up and down her thighs as he looks up into her eyes, his pupils full of hunger and want as he crawls slowly up her form. Jessie was his now. All consequences be damned, this girl is his lover, without a shadow of a doubt. He slides his chest up her stomach, his nipples brushing against hers as he suddenly crashes his lips against hers, his voice growling as he runs his tongue along her lips, his hard cock pressing against the wet lips of her pussy, throbbing softly against the swollen lips. Arching his back, the head of his length slides in slowly.​ As he climbed up her body, Jessie's breath caught and she waited eagerly. Her eyes were warm and open, her body tense as she waited. This was the moment she had been waiting for. She was about to lose her virginity, to the most wonderful man she'd ever met. As she felt the head of his cock press against her soaked and swollen pussy lips, she gasped and took a deep breath. Her young arms wrapped around him and her fingers dug into his back. "OH Owen!!" she moaned softly as he began to enter her unprotected pussy. She made a note to remind him to pull out later. As much as she adored him, she didn't want to be made a mommy just yet." Please make love to me Owen." Jessie said, gazing right into his eyes. Owen gasps, his breath heavy against her neck as his lips caress it. He tasted the sweat on her skin, her flesh hot with desire. His length sinks in bit by bit, the sensation of her wet flesh against his member bringing a long-drawn-out moan from his throat. "Yes Jessie... I'm you feel so nice around me..." His hands caress her firm tits, his palms grinding against her nipples lightly as he inhales the delightful scent of her hair. The sounds of her sex being filled by his thick cock fills their ears, her arousal soaking him as he growls lightly. "Such a good student..." Jessie had awoken an animal inside of him, one he hadn't known was there. It was all he could do not to take her mercilessly, without abandon, but he knows she's a virgin, and he cares more about her comfort than his pleasure, albeit barely." Feel that, princess? Feel me filling you up?"

Don't stand so close to me. (Tori and Christian)|rating:2.0

Breathe Life Unto Me(Saku x KuroiKoneko)

(( Jason Neil MasayukiAge: 30Height: 5'8"Hair: Midnight Black Eyes: Deep Brown Orientation: Use (Sub)Tattoos: A red dragon going over his right shoulder. Occupation: CEO and Owner of the Lotus Blossom Resort and Inn. Talents: Because of his prior occupation has become able to hold his breath for at least three and a half minutes, but also has a love of playing that of a guitar in his spare time. He also has a love of food and took it upon himself to learn how to sustain life without relying on the need to go to restaurants for food. He probably could if he tried, become a chef for a restaurant if he so chose.-----The day had started out quiet, like any other day at the resort. Most if not all the of guests by now had already begun to retire to their rooms. Those that remain were enjoying the slowly setting sun. One such person however wasn't a guest by the resorts' owner pulling into the boat docks after spending the day free-diving and enjoying the waters and the sun from the beautiful day. He had been given reports of individuals being possibly up to no good. Jason made sure that the security team as well as all other members of his staff including the lifeguards were made aware. He had his suspicions of whom these suspects were, or least a few of them because of recently kicking a couple of men out of his resort for their littering the beach. He had in place strict rules that all trash was to be disposed of properly as he wished to keep his resort as pristine in appearance as possible. Furthermore, he upheld the same rulings even at his own home which was a few miles away but kept private to where no one but him or maybe a few of the security staff could find. Jason for now was making sure he set about lowering the anchor of his boat into the water after getting it close to the docks only to find himself attacked. He barely recognized who was attacking him because of how fast it happened. All he realized was after being attacked that his wrists and ankles were bound as he looked at his attacker because of his head being held up by his hair. That would have been the attacker's mistake because he got a good look at their face. He wasn't without putting up a fighting as he managed to get a good few blows before letting out a loud enough cry for help just as he was tossed over board straight into the water below. Jason managed to barely get enough air in upon impact with the water and that posed a problem in his own mind because he didn't know if he could free himself successfully or not. He only prayed he could despite finding that he was becoming light-headed and his vision blurring as he continued to struggle with his bindings not wanting to give up without a damned fight to get back at those that did this to him. His wish to get out of the bindings ended when he only managed to remove that which was binding his wrists, but ran out of breath just moments after managing to loosen the ropes upon his ankles as his stilled body floated just a small ways from where fresh air could be attained. (were usually for those with lots of money to spend, or to take business partners in order to impress them or seal deals. Not for someone like Purpose Shankara. The white haired man reached up and scratched at his head a little. A few flakes came to the surface but due to the hue of his hair, they weren't seen very easily. A whistle hung from a strip of leather around his neck, courtesy of his job profession. Purpose was dressed all in white and in non-thick material. So he wouldn't get hot too fast. Black was the worst color people could dress in at the beach because that particular color soaked up heat like a sponge did water. The very top button of his shirt was undone, to expose his skin to the air. Kurose's amber eyes flickered out over the vast expanse of ocean water, making sure no one was drowning and no sharks or other sea creatures could be seen nearby. A shark attack would be scary for guests and devastating for business here. But it would make his afternoon more interesting, Purpose mulled thoughtfully to himself. However, the rest of the afternoon passed without much happening and eventually evening was there. Purpose's shift would end in another few hours, and then he could go home and have dinner with his siblings. He was actually looking forward to it and couldn't wait. Tonight, Purpose had been informed that there were some individuals up to no good. The owner had told him if he spotted them to try and make them stop and if they didn't listen, to inform him by cell phone of the matter. So, Purpose had his cell phone in his pocket just in case. As time passed, the sky grew dark, and soon it was time for his shift to end because from what he could see, none of the guests were out in the water. Purpose climbed down out of the tall tower where he tended to sit during his shift and reached the ground moments before Jason came into the dock. As the man was jumped by his attackers, Purpose was in the midst of placing the speaker he used during the day into the box at the bottom of the tower. But when Jason let out a cry for help, Purpose turned around to let his eyes flicker over the surrounding areas. He was just in time to see a small group of men dumps someone's body overboard into the water and run off. "Oi!" Purpose exclaimed. What the hell were they doing and who had that been?! The only thing he knew for sure was that he needed to rescue the person. So, Purpose ran over to the area he'd seen them at a few seconds ago and dove into the water. It took him a few minutes but eventually, Jason's body was found and Purpose swam over to the edge of the docks with Jason's unconscious body. "You alive?" He called out to him. Kurose laid Jason down on the docks and gave him mouth-to-mouth, attempting to revive him and make him cough up any water he might have swallowed from earlier. Now that he could see him better, Purpose realized it was the CEO and owner of the resort. Well, that was even worse, Jason needed to recover because otherwise who would pay his checks? Purpose continued to work on Jason. Jason remained stilled for a minute or two more after CPR had been started upon him. It seemed someone had also alerted what had happened as it looked like police were already on the hunt for the attackers. There wasn't movement from Jason, but there were soft sounds of him beginning to cough as he seemed to cough out the water that he had swallowed. He finished coughing out the water that had filled his lungs finally leave them. He hadn't regained consciousness just yet as he lied there. The staff that had called the cops after viewing the video from the security team took note of all that happened as it seemed they had recognized it having been Jason's boat. The investigators that came went specifically to check for fingerprints and anything that the attackers might have left behind as markers as to whom did this. Jason meanwhile finally opened up his eyes as he wasn't able to move fully yet. His wrists had the signs of where he had been bound there as he seemed to try and move his ankles surprised to find that the bindings must have come loose as he knew the rope was still there since it was upon his right ankle, but his left wasn't bound anymore. "Get it off...get that rope off my ankles...and thank you for saving me" his voice was low and a little hoarse from having coughed out the water calling attention to the bindings as what consciousness he had slipped from him again. He was breathing though, so that was good, but it was clear the ordeal had drained him. He'd need time to fully recover as he lied there. It would be easy to tell he was grateful to the man for saving him despite the first things he said was about the rope. It'd probably take him a bit longer before finally he could stay conscious for longer than just a few moments. This came about because his body had a chance to recover enough as it would also give Purpose a good chance to see what his eyes truly looked like, since Jason generally kept to himself and out of the limelight for his own privacy. He tried to move steadily to sitting up, but he was cautious as he did so. He definitely felt dizzy, but he wasn't surprised by this considering he had heard of the symptoms that come from nearly drowning. Jason didn't dare try to stand or anything till his head cleared even little and his vision steadied. One of the criminal investigators brought over a towel to both Purpose and Jason as per the request of the team that was still a ways off that would check over Jason in particular to make sure he was truly alright and not in requirement for hospitalization." I want the security team to have all the guests leave the resort for a few days as apart from a mandatory shut down to find the culprits. I know who they are because they were stupid enough to let me see their faces...they are the ones I kicked off the resort for violating the rules about littering." His voice was still slightly hoarse, but it had to be said, because he knew who it was that attacked him as he still could recall their faces. It was enough for the investigators to hear since one was taking the chance to get his statement before walking off to get the security feed of the moment Jason mentioned. (Jason didn't show signs of movement, Purpose became a little worried but a few seconds later, the man began to cough out the water he'd swallowed before. He sat back on his heels, watching Jason to make sure nothing else happened to him. That is, until the authorities came over." I think he should be fine." Purpose told them and reached down to remove the trailing rope, part of which was still wrapped around one of his ankles. "It's gone." He reassured Jason and stood up to toss the rope away from the CEO man. It wasn't needed as evidence since the water had washed away any trace of fingerprints, even if there had been any on the rope. "Take your time, you don't need to talk right away. Catch your breath, and then you can talk to the authorities."" They'll help you." Purpose said and nodded as he was thanked for saving the other man's life. "No problem. I don't want to see anyone drowning in front of my eyes." He told Jason and glanced over as some of the criminal investigators came over to talk with the CEO. Purpose accepted a towel and dried himself off, grateful for a chance to get dry. Part of him wanted to stick around to make sure Jason was doing alright but another part of him thought it would be pushing things a little. Purpose didn't belong here in the limelight with a CEO. He let his eyes linger on Jason for a few seconds and then headed off the beach towards the parking lot near the hotels the resort provided. One thing was for sure, Purpose needed to get somewhere private to call his siblings and let them know he was going to be late for dinner. As he got further away from the beach and the crime scene, Purpose reached into his pocket and took out his cell phone. Jason all the questions that were asked before finally being allowed time to himself and glad no reporters were at the resort. He did not wish to have to speak to them as he was helped up by one of his security team. He was allowed a chance to change into some dry clothing, but still needed a little help for the moment at least. Furthermore, he was okay to walk around on his own without help. Furthermore, he had escort least until he was just outside the beach nearest to where his vehicle was. Furthermore, he knew he wasn't going to be able to drive it home and opted instead on the idea of a taxi since his head was still a bit hazy from what occurred. He also asked that Purpose be found to make sure the man was okay and that none of the attackers that had nearly killed him didn't go after him. Furthermore, he asked that the security staff at least bring him to him so that he could more properly thank the man. Furthermore, he made sure that a nice dinner was provided for the man's family since it was only right and Jason paid for this himself as he waited where he was for now. He would tell Purpose himself that he did this as he sat upon a bench near where he said he would wait trying to just keep his bearings together since he had to wait for a taxi still. Night was falling the area pretty quickly as he tried hard to just relax even a little. It was hard to manage this as he still remembered that horror being so fresh within his mind. Jason knew he would have to eventually make sure he didn't get a fear of water out of this as he sighed softly. For him, this day was now completely ruined from the chances he took to just relax. He wanted to do that now, but it wasn't coming to him as he sat there knowing he was being watched by the guards around as he looked at his watch wondering how it would take for the taxi to arrive and for the ones he asked to bring Purpose over so that he could speak to the man. (day had been unusual, to say the least. Not much time had passed since Purpose had saved Jason when someone came up and tapped him on the shoulder. "Yes?" Purpose glanced back over his shoulder to see a rather unfamiliar face. No, that wasn't quite right, he did recognize the face. Wasn't the man someone he'd just seen on the beach? One of the cops on the beach from before. When told that Jason wanted to talk to him, Purpose glanced down at his cell and thought. Then, the lifeguard tucked the device into his pocket. "Take me to him, please." He said, not being able to refuse the CEO who paid his checks. Calling his siblings would have to wait for a few minutes. But it wouldn't take too long to talk to Jason. Well, at least he didn't think so. What could Jason possibly want to talk to him about? He'd already thanked him and Purpose didn't think there could be anything else they could speak of. The cop led him over to where Jason was resting. Kurose let his eyes flicker over the other male. "You wanted to see me, sir?" He asked, waiting for a response. Jason looked a lot better now that he'd had some rest and the lifeguard wondered idly if the man would have a fear of water after this. Most people would after such a traumatic experience of almost drowning, especially out in the vast body of the ocean. "Yes I did, I already made sure that someone get your family whatever they wished for dinner this night as apart from thanks for what you did. I know it isn't something I have to do, but it is something I wish to do." He said this first as he tried to keep himself as relaxed as possible. The memories of the attack itself fresh in his mind still as outwardly he seemed fine, but on the inside he was trying to find calm somehow. He was already cleared by the medical staff to leave or go home, but was suggested to take a few days off to at least get a proper chance to mentally recover as much as he could. "I have a favor to ask of you. Could I ask that you go with me to my home, mostly because at the moment? I don't think it's a good idea I go there by myself at the moment." He said this trying to keep his demeanor calm as possible, "I know I could ask any one of the guards here for there, but I do not feel comfortable about them. In fact, I feel more nervous when they are too close. Strangely I don't feel that way as much now that you are nearby." Jason close his eyes as he sat there realizing that the cab had cancelled on picking him up likely because of the incident as it made him sigh after looking at his phone. He did not wish to be driving at the moment as he stood up clearly still shaken up. He would have to figure something out as he looked at Purpose, "I know it seems I am asking a bit from you, just right now I really do not wish to be alone at all around people I don't feel I could trust." That was very much true at the moment as he looked at Purpose, but it seemed that he truly didn't think it is the best thing to be alone at all. "You don't have to address me as sir, but may call me Jason. I know that you are Purpose unlike most employees here. The ones I feel I can trust I have taken the time to learn their names." It showed that he respected the man a fairly great deal even if he didn't show his appreciation that often to those that worked at the resort except in secrecy when employees had that bit of a monetary bump in their paychecks from time to time. ("Oh. Thanks, I guess." Purpose said as Jason informed him that someone had been dispatched to get whatever his siblings might want for dinner. He was the one who tended to cook for Fuji and Mao, since cooking was one of his interests, but tonight had been.unique. So, not having to cook was both a blessing and a disappointment to him, on a pretty equal basis. Kurose blinked as Jason spoke, asking for a favor and tilted his head to the side at the man's request. "Um, sure."" But you don't really know me well, are you sure you want someone like me with you?" He asked, curious as to why Jason felt comfortable with him around. Could it be because he'd saved his life from before? That would make sense. Or was it something more? "Hm, maybe you feel safe with me because I just saved your life? But yeah, if you want me to I can accompany you." He told him with a faint smile. Dropping Jason off at his house was no trouble for him. Well, not really. The fact that Jason didn't seem to trust his guards or the other people he employed was interesting, Purpose would have thought he would feel more comfortable around them than a mere lifeguard at his resort. "Ah. Okay, Jason." Purpose said with a nod, wanting to accommodate his boss. Calling him by his first name made him feel a little nervous. Being on a first name basis was a little intimate for him. But as long as Jason wanted to be called that, Purpose would do so. "Do you have a car?" It was a little late for public transportation, but they could always use that too. But at the same time, Purpose's car was still here. "If you don't have a car, I have one parked in the lot nearby. I could drop you off if you want." He told him, offering his services. Jason sighed softly, "it's possible, I just know right now I am not up to trusting just about anyone right now. I probably won't be able to until those assholes are caught." It was clear he was upset over the situation, but even more tired at the same time. He had already been told he wasn't going to be allowed to drive his own car until his head fully clears." The doctor restricted me from driving myself home tonight. I'm guessing he wants to be sure that I will truly be alright. I also know what the doctor wants me to try and do after a couple of days." He knew it had to do with finding out if he was going to be afraid of water because of this. The doctor knew that Jason loved to swim and that even the man went free diving sometimes." It might be easier that I go in your vehicle. As much as I hate leaving my car here right now with those assholes still out there that had attacked me, I may have to make sure that someone guards the vehicle itself just in case." Jason was cautious if anything because what's to stop the idiots that tried to kill him from attempting it again? It would be easy to tell, Jason was frustrated at moment from the events that had unfolded as he finally stood up. He was still a bit dizzy, but not as badly as earlier. He had ample chances to rest as he looked as the doctor had started to leave much like everyone else. That is when the doctor looked at Purpose seeing that it was clear to them that they would be going with Jason." Mr. Purpose may I ask that you at least before you return home after taking Jason home that he eats. I have had him not do so until he is home that way if he can't keep it down due to what happened. He would have his privacy if it did occur. As for you Mr. Masaryk, in three days I will be coming by your home to run a few tests on you and to see about your mental status. We have to be sure you will not be afraid of the water, to that measure Mr. Purpose can you be present as a precaution mostly?" Jason didn't like this one bit as he listened to the doctor but sighed not wanting to argue at the moment. He was tired and exhausted on top of being hungry himself. He understood the gravity of the situation, just didn't mean he liked it. (nodded. "I can understand your nervousness. But at least you know who they were. So it should only be a matter of time before they're caught by the cops." Purpose reminded Jason and offered a faint smile. There was nothing to fear. When Jason spoke about not being allowed to drive his own car and something about what the doctor wanted him to try and do, the man nodded. He could guess what it was. "I agree but also disagree." He turned to face Jason once more." You shouldn't wait a few days to go into the water again."" You should do it now. I'd have you do it right now but there's too many people here, and it's a crime scene. So, it'll have to wait until tomorrow. Unless, do you have a pool in your backyard?" Purpose asked, not sure if Jason had a mansion. Or not. After all, he'd never been there before." I'm sure the cops can look after your car or the guards?" Purpose suggested and nodded when Jason accepted his offer to drive him home. A man came over to them a few minutes later, introduced himself as Jason's doctor and then deemed to speak with Purpose. "Sure." Purpose said, deciding it wouldn't be too bad. To spend a little more time with Jason, to make sure he ate. After all, his siblings would have been informed of his lateness and were being given food anyway, so there was no rush in hurrying home. They'd probably bombard him with questions. "Of course." He said, agreeing to be present at the time of the test later. That was no problem, if his presence could help Purpose fully intended on being there. Once the doctor had left, Purpose got into his car and drove the two of them down to Jason's house. Jason listened to what the doctor said and also what Purpose had to say. He didn't chime in however because he knew if he even said what was about his property in regard to water that is the doctor might very well just end up scolding him again. That he didn't have the energy really to fight with as he followed Purpose to the man's vehicle before giving him exact directions of where his home was. It was kept a fair distance from the resort enough so that it was perfect hidden by the varying trees. That was why he chose the location, or rather that his family had chosen the location probably around the time he was born. It was secluded but at the same time, had a beauty to it that he left untouched the way they had." This is my home. There is a cove behind it that my father had managed to ensure would remain safe for generations after that came to live in this home." He said this as he got out of the car. He didn't know if he could eat just yet per se, but he did go up to the door of his home and unlocked it just glad to be home. The house itself wasn't that big considering he probably could have owned a mansion if he wanted, but that would have felt too empty. He rather enjoyed the four bedroom home as he went first to the picture of his parents, "nearly joined you this day. I know however that is not what you wish of me yet." He looked back and wondered if Purpose followed him in, "if you are hungry there are some things in the fridge you could eat feel free to enjoy any of them. I want to let my head clear a little longer before I attempt to eat anything just yet." He knew he was imposing upon Purpose to stay even like he was for the moment in his home. Jason made his way for his bedroom to at least get changed into clothing he felt more comfortable in. When he next appeared in sight however he was in nothing but a pair of jeans, opting to go without a shirt since he didn't find a need for it when home. It would give Purpose a good chance to see the tattoo that was upon his shoulder. He had a feeling though when he felt up for it, it is likely he was going to behind the doctor's back test and make sure he wasn't frightened of the water. He dreaded that since he loved free-diving in the cove just outside his home when he needed to relax mostly because it was a freshwater cove that was so clear you could see the bottom of it even when the moon was out. (place was located in an area Purpose would never have thought was inhabitable. But it looked nice and would most likely keep strangers out most of the time. After all, it didn't look like there was a house in these parts from a distance. Kurose pulled into the driveway and parked his car, getting out to look around at the surrounding trees. "Lots of trees." He remarked, not really expecting a response. It was more like an observation than a question that needed an answer." A cove? Well, that's nice." Actually, it was perfect to test out Jason's reaction to water. As they went inside, Purpose noticed a picture set up near the door of two adults. So Jason's parents had passed, it was unfortunate they were gone now. But hopefully they had passed peacefully. Still, it wasn't his place to ask about such a thing, that was of a personal nature. "You have a nice home." Purpose remarked and nodded when Jason said there were ingredients in the kitchen he could use. "I'll make something light for us later on." He told him with a smile and checked the fridge when the boss went into his bedroom to change. Okay, there was enough stuff inside for him to make some decent meals. When Jason emerged, wearing only a pair of pants, Purpose's attention was drawn to the tattoo on his shoulder. "How long have you had that tattoo?" He asked, curious. Had it been an intentional one or something gotten by accident, like being drunk and waking up to find it there. Regardless, it was time to test out his reaction. "So, let's go to the cove and see how you fare in the water. Don't worry any."" I'll be right there with you. So, if you feel afraid, latch onto me. But I'm sure you'll do fine. The water didn't hurt you, those men did, so there's no reason to be afraid of the water." Purpose said with a smile. "Are you going to go out like that?" He added, wondering if those pants would be fine to wear into the water. "The moon should provide enough light." Not to mention it would probably be pretty. Jason looked at Purpose when asked about his tattoo. "I had it done not long after my parents' death as a way to honor them. It was always told to me, that my parents had a spirit equal to the strength of a dragon in majesty as it were. I never truly understood what that meant till I read a letter they had addressed to me weeks before their deaths." Jason did stand up after his brief amount of sitting down to let himself calm a bit. He tensed slightly at the mention of going into the water this night. It wasn't the thought of being in the water that made him tense. The memory of being attacked caused him to tense. Purpose was right in asking him however and knew it probably was best that he attempted to enter the water to make sure he wasn't afraid. He knew that is what the doctor was getting at in the first place." It's not the entering of the water that I am worried about, it is the ability to be able to submerge without freaking out that does. I don't want to be crippled by this incident and unable to enjoy swimming at night in the cove." That meant often he went for late night swims, though he wasn't about to tell Purpose that it didn't always mean he did so with clothing on. He enjoyed late night skinning dipping in the privacy of his own home as it were, though often wished to enjoy that with someone he truly loved or cared about to share the experience with." These pants are fine for entering the water. They are a type I had made for when I chose to go free-diving without them making it hard on me." He said this as he looked at Purpose before showing the man essentially his backyard as it were. The cove itself was fairly large, but clearly kept pure and clean."This is the cove that my family has owned for generations as it were. I guess you can tell why I have the rules I do back at the resort. It is because of this that I do so." He meant in regard to the beauty of the land before them. The crystal clear waters free of solution and more than this, it had enough beauty to behold that it seemed to be able to ease almost anyone's worries just looking at. (it was an homage to his parents. "Hm." Purpose was curious about the letter Jason had mentioned, but it wasn't really his business. His boss hadn't gone into further detail, so it was safe to assume the matter was personal in nature for Jason." I've always thought about getting a tattoo but not for the same reasons." Purpose said and tilted his head to the side at his boss's words. "Mm. Most aren't afraid of entering the water, it's only submerging themselves that worries them." He said, confirming Jason's nervousness. "So, you swim at night in the cove? Do you do that often?" The thought of being in such beautiful water all alone made him both apprehensive and excited about being able to appreciate nature like this." Oh, nice. I should get pants like those sometime." Purpose said with a faint smile and made a mental note to do some research on where to get some. "Let's go." The lifeguard headed over to the entrance of the cove, marveling a little. At how surreal it was to be out by a sparkling cove in the middle of the night, with no one else around but him and Jason. Nature was at its best here and Purpose had always loved being outside. He glanced to the side, expecting that Jason had followed him to the area. When he reached the waters, Purpose looked down, able to see the bottom quite easily. The lifeguard took off his shirt and pants, only his boxers covering his lower section, and eased himself into the cold water below. "It's a little cold, just so you know." Purpose warned Jason and looked up at the other man. "Come in." He said, stretching out a hand towards his boss. They would start in the shallow end, so in case Jason freaked out, he could just stand up without having to worry. "Yes, as often as I can as a way to help me relax after work. I find it rather calming to say the least. I don't mind another thing that I do here sometimes when alone that is." He left out that he sometimes went skinny-dipping in the cove as he carefully stepped into the water. For him, it was a rather odd thing to have someone even anywhere near his home, but it was strangely welcomed at the same time. He took hold of Purpose's hand but soon released it after having already adjusted to the temperature of the water. He shuddered only slightly, but only because of the memories from the incident was still a little fresh. He couldn't let it take away the one thing that he enjoyed. "I can only hope that incident hasn't taken away what I enjoy doing, that'd only serve to make me pissed off." He said this as he tried to think of something other than the attack. That seemed to work a little as he knew pretty much that the doctor had in mind for how to address the situation. Jason was actually going to disregard the doctor's earlier warnings as he knew his body better than the doctor. Despite what happened, his lungs when they had been examined showed no signs of damage which meant he was fine in that regard." This is the one time I am going to ignore the doctor's orders completely. I need a chance to relax...somehow and first step is to be sure... I haven't become afraid." He felt okay telling Purpose this as he gathered as much air as his lungs could hold as he carefully submerged himself. He opened up his eyes only seconds after submerged doing his best to remain as calm as possible. Furthermore, he knew that as long as he didn't think about the attack he seemed to be fine. Furthermore, he was able to remain calm, least up until he remembered the attack and that forced him to sit up. He wasn't gagging or coughing from this however, just that moment was haunting him. "Damn that fucking memory...if it weren't there I would be okay." He let out a sigh and found it hard really to replace the harsh memory that was lingering with anything good as he just sat where the water was just barely up to his shoulder. "It doesn't seem I'm afraid of the water, just haunted by the memory of the attack. I can't seem to think of anything at the moment that would block out that moment." (the cove was definitely alluring with its clear, crystal waters. Even Purpose would have been tempted to go swimming at night, if he lived in a place like this. When Jason shuddered, it was obvious he was remembering the incident. The lifeguard could tell that the man was thinking back on what had happened before. "Don't think about anything, clear your mind of all things and enjoy being in the water with me." Purpose said, trying to draw his boss's attention back to him." All you have to do is focus on me. On the beauty of this cove." Purpose said and nodded when Jason spoke, giving himself courage. He watched as Jason submerged himself and let his eyes flicker over the man's form beneath the water. Jason had a really nice body and Purpose couldn't help but think he was attractive. After all, the lifeguard was bi and didn't have much of a preference when it came to sex. He was drawn to their personalities and looks, rather than gender. The man suddenly resurfaced with a gasp and Purpose's amber eyes alighted on him again. He tilted his head to the side at Jason's words and then leaned forward to capture Jason's lips with his own. Purpose's arm wrapped around the other male's waist and brought him closer as he continued to kiss his boss. This would definitely make him forget about the incident. Plus, Purpose wanted to do this, the man was just so sexy in the water like this. How could he not want to take advantage of him? But of course, he wouldn't go too far, Jason was his boss. Jason was trying to clear his mind and prepare to attempt a second time submerging himself until he was caught off guard by the kiss. That in itself was enough to make Jason struggle slightly but then unable to fight it off. He wanted the kiss as well, but why in the hell did Purpose do it!? That was the thing on his mind as he was still trying to push away slightly. He wasn't about to deny the fact that the kiss was actually turning him on a little because it was enough of a shocker. He couldn't remember the last time anyone held him like this nor kissed him, but at the same time he wasn't thinking straight either. Purpose would have felt him feeling like that because of the way Jason seemed to struggle but move into the kiss at the same time. Jason bodily wanted it, even if mentally at the moment he didn't. Too bad Jason never could listen to what his mind sometimes wanted, desire was something he couldn't fight as he finally forced somehow to break up the kiss for a second. "What are you doing?!" It surely surprised him, but his voice hinted that he liked it and probably wanted more. The fact that he wasn't fighting back too much about being held was a factor to this. It made him glad he didn't have anyone having to guard him tonight, otherwise they might have heard the commotion. He did squirm his way out of Purpose arms as he sat there the water still up to his shoulders panting a bit, and a little bit in shock. What the hell was going on? Jason couldn't figure it out as some part of him was telling him get away from Purpose and the other part kept his legs from letting him stand up. All Jason could do right now was pant for breath and practically stare at Purpose. He couldn't get himself to think clearly as he sat there what was bound to happen next? (made up his mind that if Jason were to truly struggle and not want this, he'd stop and let him go. After all, the two had to work together and Purpose didn't want to get hired for sexual harassment. But it seemed as if Jason didn't mind it. The lifeguard let the other man pull away from the kiss after a few seconds and a faint smile came to his lips at Jason's words. "You said you needed something to block out your memory of being drowned. This was what I came up with."" It seems to have worked, hasn't it?" Purpose asked with an arched brow. "Would you like me to make you forget more of that memory?" He added, with a teasing smile and allowed Jason to move out of his arms. "I can do so many things."" Things that will definitely make you forget about that horrible memory, I can guarantee you. Once I'm done with you, you won't think about drowning when you step into the water." Purpose said with a wink, enjoying teasing his flustered boss. He had to admit, this was a nice surprise. Purpose would never have thought he'd be in this kind of situation earlier today and wondered where this would take them." So tell me, what is your answer?" Purpose asked again and waited for a reply to come from the other. Jason blinked a little but gulp slightly as well. It was true it did work a bit, but wasn't sure if it would be enough. He didn't quite know where to go with this for the moment as he sat there teetering between shocked and equally turned on by this whole turn of events. His mind was screaming not to let him, however his body was a whole different matter, and it wasn't lying to Purpose. He was finding it a little hard to answer at the moment as he got a little control over his breathing finally as he nodded to the man's idea. He would let him do this if it would help, but also it seemed he wanted it even if he wasn't going to show it that is." What are you going to do and what must I do?" He finally found his voice again as he sat there the water practically covering him with how he was sitting. The water itself was just barely reaching up to his ear, but that was because he was leaning slightly backwards that and the tide was beginning to rise slightly. He couldn't hide really that he really wanted to be touched, because it was clear that his pants was a little tighter on him by now. It took only one kiss to turn him on like that, and it slightly embarrassed him; probably because he hadn't been seeing anyone in quite a long time and that length of being alone had affected him rather easily. His eyes for now would just rest on Purpose trying to figure out what he had planned. He had a feeling he was either wasn't going to like what was planned, or enjoy it took much. Jason wasn't sure as for now he remained where was as he tried hard to hide the yearning that would be found within his eyes of wanting to be touched. (chuckled. "Well, if I told you that, it wouldn't come as a surprise." He said and moved closer to where Jason was. "How about I just show you instead?" The lifeguard suggested and claimed his boss's lips once again with his own soft lips. After a few seconds, he deepened the kiss, pressing his tongue insistently against Jason's teeth to get him to open up. Purpose started to push Jason backward into the water, until the man was floating on his back. This was the most basic. Once he was, Purpose's hand slipped into Jason's pants and started to stroke his half-hard cock. Of course, his lips were still connected to Jason's throughout the entire time. A few minutes later, he paused in his assault on Jason's hard cock. And mouth too. "Take a deep breath." Purpose instructed and after Jason had done so, the man pushed him beneath the water's surface. Before Jason could freak out, Purpose's lips captured Jason's own under the water and gave him some air. His hand returned to stroking Jason's cock and then a few seconds later they had surfaced. "How was that?" He asked, curious as to how Jason felt now. Jason again wasn't sure what Purpose had planned and that was evident by how his hands was slightly pressing against Purpose attempting to push him away. His mind was screaming to make the man stop even though he just consented in letting the man do what he wanted to help him. He had to remember to tell him to breathe out his nose while the man was kissing him and almost panicked a little when Purpose tried to deepen the kiss even more. He wasn't going to allow it just yet but after a minute or two later eventually just caved into it, but the sudden stroking of his cock was enough to make him shudder out of both fright of what was going to happen, but also desire and want for it to occur. That started his pushing back against Purpose's chest and once again his eventually caving because of it feeling good. Of course, he wasn't going to show or let Purpose hear that just yet. When the kiss was broken the first time he was panting and clearly flushed as he looked at the man. He gulped at first when told to get a breath but did so as he felt himself being pushed back under. The thoughts of the attack did almost send him into full panic, but the kiss upon his lips stopped that quickly, however he did release a little more air than he normally would when the stroking occurred once more and that made him again try to instinctual try to get away. It felt good though as he finally after being allowed to get fresh breath had moaned out, "the memories...still surfaced but eventually were dashed away..." The one thing that Purpose probably would have known about Jason, as would all the other staff members was Jason's lung capacity when he is able to get a full breath of air and not panicked even when swimming was just a little over three minutes before he reached that mad dash for air before passing out. His limit before blacking out was a little over three and a half. He wanted to tell Purpose to stop, but his body was telling a whole different matter. Jason wanted more than just mere stroking now at this point and that was evident in his eyes. He just wasn't able to say it yet because his mind was now trying to figure out what the hell he was getting himself into. His mind was trying to tell him to pull away and stop this madness now, but he couldn't even get himself to do this as he was for the most part a puppet within Purpose's grasp. (was somewhat surprised by Jason's reactions. He'd thought the man would push him away and even become violent to escape. That would have been the end to his little idea to help Jason cope better. After all, this wasn't raped. But instead, although the man had struggled a little, Jason was quite accepting to his actions. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad. "Mm. That's good, it means it's working then. We'll just need some more time, and it should be gone after a while." Kurose tilted his head to the side and looked down at his boss as Jason looked up at him with those eyes. Ah, if the man wasn't silently pleading with him to go further, he would be surprised. "You look like you want something. Tell me, what do you want?" Purpose asked, his amber eyes almost burning into Jason's. Yes, he wanted him to put it into words. What was it that Jason wanted, now needed from him? Kurose hadn't decided how far to take things. He'd originally only planned on kissing him and had thought Jason would push him away at that particular time. Jason was practically without any means of thinking straight as he seemed to for the longest time just look at him. He was however keeping himself upon the surface as he finally got a bit better control of his breathing as it were. He still wasn't thinking to clearly as he came right and said it. "Give...me...more" from how he said it, he wasn't thinking straight as he was struggling in his own way. He meant by the ways of stroking, but his body was demanding more than mere stroking. He just wasn't registering that though as he just wanted this to be over really, not Clara thinking. That would be clear by the fact he was trying to push away physically but at the same time now. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, and it wasn't a good idea, but at the same time almost wanted this man to just up and fuck him till he lost consciousness. That would be bad of course, but something he body was demanding even if his mind was screaming to put a stop to it already. The question would become what would Purpose have him do however in order to get what his body was now clearly in demand for, that right now was in question as he sat his feet down upon the soft sand to relax his body slightly while looking at Purpose for now getting to lose in the eyes staring down into his. (the longest time, the two of them simply stared at each other. But Purpose didn't think the silence was awkward, because this whole situation was awkward enough right now. It was only when Jason broke the silence that the lifeguard smiled and tilted his head to the side. Give him more? More of what? Purpose debated on making Jason actually say what he wanted him to do but decided to give him a break. For now, he'd just go with the flow and see how Jason reacted. Kurosereached out and made Jason lie on his back in the water again. "Close your eyes." He murmured and started to stroke the man yet again. Once he'd done this for a few minutes, Purpose's free hand went beneath the water to slip into Jason'spans from behind. Questing fingers grabbed hold of the material and gently but firmly dragged his pants down, until they were around his ankles. "I'm taking them off." Purpose whispered into Jason's ear and tugged them off, tossing them up onto the bank. Now, Jason was completely naked in the water of the cove, with Purpose only in boxers. The lifeguard's right hand continued to stroke Jason's cock, while his right hand snaked behind the man and started to trace circles around Jason's hole. "How do you feel?" He asked again, wondering what was going through Jason's mind as he did this.

Breathe Life Unto Me(Saku x KuroiKoneko)|rating:3.0

Liegeboat [Main IC]

Welcome aboard the Liege boat! Crewed by them that aren’t of the binary persuasion, the Liege boat flies on the power of dreams, tea overdose and tapirs on oversized hamster wheels, headed where’very our hearts takes up! Over the chimney stacks and above the sea of smog our fine, trusty (slightly rusty) vessel can be seen, the Jolly Roger emblazoned upon the airship's balloons in vibrant and clashing colors. Beware, landlubbers, we come to pillage and plunder your booty! And phat loots! And other such euphemisms. Avast! While this game is open to everyone who desires to play, and no character sheet is needed, please post a formal request in our Chatter thread (and wait for approval before starting. If you carry the Liege badge, this is unnecessary - you are already an automatic member of the crew. Play as yourself, your forum persona or favorite character, any is acceptable. Please choose your own title or pick one of the unclaimed slots available! CrewmenCaptain: Easiest Officer Of Shenanigans: TheShiiMagick Abuser: SaerraelFirst Mate:Navigator: Blythe Kidnapped Person:Mechanic: GeekletBaby Animal Guardian: yaracyrrahKeeper of the Candy:Professional Looter: Dim Concannon Control:Bosun/Cook: JillianCorvusMedic: Miss KathinjaMajor Aerial BAM: EphiralCabinboy: Sparkles Final note - some of us have specific terms we use for ourselves. We are a very mixed group, filled with hims, hers, that, his, its - ask which to use if the hints we leave for you don’t make it clear enough. Also, some of our number have different tastes. Even though this is in ON, a scene might make certain of us uncomfortable, so be aware that what is fine and dandy for one does not make it so for another. In other words, play nice or else I’ll turn your character into sky whale bait. Navigator Blythe is in his quarters, which also contains the controls for the TARDIS. He paces nervously, oh so nervously. His dark black hair flutters in the wind, the wind coming in from the open window. He is a stocky fellow, muscular, standing at about 5'8", and he is pale, with full lips and dark eyes. There is a sense of command in him, but he looks frantic. He murmurs, "Tapirs." He continues pacing. Furthermore, he seems conflicted in his mind, but he decides to get dressed. Oh yes, to alleviate stress, Navigator Blythe walks around naked, feeling the playful wind tickling his cock. He puts on his tight black pants, straps on a belt of bronzed clockwork gears, put on his big bronze-gold goggles, and he ties his shoulder-length hair behind his head. He wears no shirt, but he slips on thick black boots with bronze buckled, the pants velvet and caressing his skin. It's another day on the Liege boat, and the Navigator considers navigating his way to the quarters of someone ecstatic and sexy and lovely to alleviate his stress. Time to plunder something sweet on this airship. Or not on the airship. Either way, plunder. "Blythe, you map spankin' old devil you!" roars a voice he hasn't heard since the Tapir Incident. Nasty business that, and yet so tasty. Grey still stands annoying tall, ducking his great, grizzled head under the door frame and flashes that maw of teeth. Ah, werewolves are a peculiar lot, especially this one." You message reached me and I must confess that pirate has never been on my resume before. And adventure sounds more fun than collecting dust with the rest of the muses in that cave." He's a big lad, covered in shades of gray (what can he say, his mama wasn't real original with names) with a wolf's head, legs and tail and wearing a battered pair of baggy shorts with a tool belt. But it's a weird tool belt, festooned with felt mouses, wooden carrots and rubber bones. He grins, toothy and charming." I hear there are small, cute critters that need tending." Blythe stands, bristly and jittery, and he retorts, "Grey trail, you're howling scalawag! We agreed to never discuss that again. I felt terrible about it. We didn't even know it was tapir." Blythe continues, "And welcome aboard. With the TARDIS malfunctioning....or maybe my mishandling of it...we could go anywhere or any when. And we've got tapirs that need seeing to, and puppies and kittens." Blythe smiles though, thinking of a good thing, "But a strong Wolfe like you ought to be able to keep the baby animals in line. Off you go, down in the hold!" Blythe stops as he hears a noise. Something crawls along by his feet. He sighs and stoops down, taking a look...(also finds something scandalous!(stares and says, "Someone has been dressing the tapir again to irritate me." He sighs. Shall the quest for pleasure go unfulfilled? Wherever he goes, something seems to jump in the way and shout, "None for you!" A baby tapir crawls across the slumbering form. Gal sorts and wakes up." What the? Sheesh! Go to sleep for a few hours - take your eye off the ball for such a short time, and look what happens - A whole new thread!" Ahem, right; soon - Captain Gal. PirateCaptain Gal. "Aha!" ... "AAAAA, hangar agar." But ... Pirate Captain Gal of a steampunk-like airship, Victorian Irish thing. Mummy. "Avatar, agar, hangar h...ow do you do, Sir?"" This is going to need ... a hat!" Flips open a box at the back of the cabin and rummages around, finally pulling out ... Well, it's tall, black, stiff and cylindrical at the top, but morphs into a floppier, more comfortable affair at the bottom and the overly wide brim is tied back to make three corners. Is it a top hat, or is it a tricorn? Is it a top hat, or is it a tricorn? It's neither and yet it's both. (Any followers of the binary hat scale, prepare to have your world view forever altered ;))On donning the hat, the rest of his persona takes form. Very tall, male, very English, and somewhat lanky but by no means weak framed. Think John Cleese (but with the mustache suitably handle barred) wearing Captain Jack Sparrow's outfit - loose shirt, breeches and boots with a large sash/belt - cutlass, pistols and telescope hanging therefrom, but immaculately groomed. Instead of the long coat he has a formal, evening wear waistcoat (vest) over the shirt, and bow tie on top. A small, sliver chain leads into the left breast pocket of the waistcoat attached to a pocket watch. A similar chain on the right connects to the ... (drum roll, ominous background music) ... unspecified clockwork device. He checks that it is fully wound up, but does so turn away from camera so no-one can see exactly what it is. With one final, fleeting, confused thought as to why anyone would pick a relatively infrequent poster as the captain of a group game, the character is complete. One might think they wanted a ship where they could get away with doing what they wanted most of the time! Can't be good for discipline. Mmmm - discipline! The captain examines himself in the mirror. "Right!" He kicks open the captain's cabin's door and steps out bellowing, "Who let the damned tapirs out?" He steps on the deck, stands up straight and straightens his bow tie. Bow ties are cool. There is a thud as an androgynous form falls out of one of the boats and lands face-down on the deck. It appears to be wearing backed-out goggles, rumpled bits of several different military uniforms (some of which no longer exist), and... a traffic cone on its head. "...ow." Ethical dusts herself off and laboriously finds her feet, wincing at each motion. After what seems like an eternity, he sheepishly pulls the traffic cone off, revealing a wild, disheveled red mane and a pair of blacked-out goggles, and stands at some semblance of attention. "That'd be me, Cap'n. I think. Last night is kinda hazy." "Hey, there was no telling that rock slide was going to crush the beast. Left us with a tapered tapir. Still, we ate well! Hey, I see panic goggles and they're black! Goodness, I must have missed some damn party getting in late. Well, I'm off to see to the puppies and kitties. Oh, and find out how the tapirs escaped!" *enters stage right, chasing a baby tapir**exits stage left, chasing a baby tapir* The Navigator watches Grey trail go, full of sorrowful amusement. But he hears the bellow of good....dread....wait. The Navigator has gotten confused about adjectives. The crew loves Gal, from what Blythe recalls, but all the enemies they plunder probably live in fear of Gal. The Navigator decides o Na solution: He hears the dreadfully good bellow of Pirate Captain Gal." Who let the damned tapirs out?" The Navigator follows the signs of Gal's displeasure, wondering if he should plot a course to raid an island of beautiful tribal dancers or plot a course to raid London's finest brothels. He calls out, "I'm not sure, captain. Sir. All I know is everything got a little confusing after we used the TARDIS." He looks a little embarrassed and says, "It's possible, that after the use of the TARDIS, not only did the Liege's Only section contain our boat, but we also floated into these more open BDSM waters." Red had a penchant for lounging. She was always lounging except when ordered not to lounge." Ahhhh a pirate's life for me." She said happily taking yet another sip of iced tea. "Just another day of relaxing, drinking, and not getting dressed." She sighed happily and tightened her short green robe. Ever since being sucked into her computer and emerging into a mixed up world of liege ships and time traveling air pirate shenanigans, Red had developed the ability to sleep through all sorts of catastrophes. Time storms, Time warps, Tapir stampedes, she'd slept through it all. Ever since being held hostage by the pirates in hope of gaining some sort of ransom from reality, then being slowly accepted as the lowest ranking member of the crew after reality decided it didn't want her back, she had happily adjusted to life as the laziest, least reliable member of this gang of misfits.(in a rare instance of actually getting dressed and doing her job. The door to the engine room swung open wildly as a half dozen or so baby tapirs went scurrying out. There in the doorway stood Geek let, some drab overalls covering his body. The sleeves were cut off, however, and showed the pink shirt underneath, which added a bit of color to the mechanic's wardrobe. With his hair pulled back and a bit of grease on his face, Shi let out a slight grimace before calling out,"Oi, Cap'n!" Shi lifted the oversized wrench in his hands and let it rest upon a shoulder. Shi looked around for the Captain, or anyone to hear his complaints, really." Someone needs to take care of these vermin. They're gettin' in everything and muckin' up the atmospheric system matrix, of all things!" "Hammer." The captain frowns, considering the situation on deck, then takes out his telescope and surveys the local area. He mutters, "Teepees, Very bondage look," in suspicious tones." Well, don't just stand there then. Get the cuddly little blighters rounded up and back down to the tapir pens, yaracyrrah's got the idea - go get 'em. And no getting frisky with the beasts, or we'll have to jump to a thread somewhere completely different, and that's not somewhere a bunch of pretty boys and girls and others like you want to be. So pull your fingers out (and wipe them clean if necessary) and let's get this ship spruced up and presentable. We're not here to make an exhibition of ourselves (at least not until I've finished my dancing lessons.)" *passes through, hurriedly, on the way to the pens, with a squirming baby tapir under each arm* Navigator Blythe salutes Captain Gal, and he quickly makes sure his room is tapir and small-animal free. Navigator Blythe busies himself sprucing up the ship. He's inclined to, and does, put out a few vases of tasteful flowers, wipes down the black leather Naughty Chair used to tie down delightful captives, and he thinks about mopping. Only thinks. He doesn't do it. He hates mopping. "Really, what idiot took the door to the tapir pen? Fine, I'll figure something out! Thank all the holes I just happened to have those stalks of ripe bamboo and sugar cane in my bag! That'll keep those silly beasts for a bit while I look around for something suitable as a door..." Navigator Blythe, sneaky and looking for fun, goes to the TARDIS. It's time to raid something fun. He wonders, briefly, if they can find a tropical island full of beautiful men and women, beautiful trans and beautiful androgynous people to ravish delightfully. He does hope this won't cause complications. It's either set sail for sexier waters or attempt to ravish a fellow crew member. He figures he ought to play it safe for now--no use getting kicked off the ship or disciplined by the Captain, who's already mad about the tapirs. He tightens his clockwork belt, jumps up and down a few times to get the blood going, and whoosh, new destination when Blythe sets it all up. Except Blythe doesn't recognize the destination at all. He should have had a stronger idea in mind when using the TARDIS.... Where are we? Well, if that was the damnedest sensation? Is that the acronym Blythe talked about? The sky is a lovely shade of dusky purple, the color of a shade a fair woman's skin turns from the suction of a loving mouth to entice her petaled sex to unfurl in dewy welcome...Oh, for fuck’s sake, really?" Blythe!!!! I know you want to get laid, you horny devil, but the land of purple prose? REALLY?!?!?!?" Blythe says, sternly, "I am sure I didn't take us here. Blame the ship's equipment. Had I am choice, we would have arrived at Bondage Island." Blythe raises an eyebrow at Grey trail and says, "Are you sure you didn't have something to do with where we are?" Blythe grins at Grey tail, and with a casual nudge against Grey trail's arm, says, "Bad puppy. You're lucky I don't spank you." Quote from: Blythe on 11-03-2013, 03:44:56Blythe says, sternly, "I am sure I didn't take us here. Blame the ship's equipment. Had I am choice, we would have arrived at Bondage Island." Blythe raises an eyebrow at Grey trail and says, "Are you sure you didn't have something to do with where we are?" Blythe grins at Grey tail, and with a casual nudge against Grey trail's arm, says, "Bad puppy. You're lucky I don't spank you." Raising a shaggy eyebrow, Grey trail grins selfishly (like he can DO anything else) and snaps his teeth at his pal. "Your persistence is adorable, small pink thing."Poking Blythe with a clawed finger, Grey chortles and continues to tease Blythe." Besides, YOU'RE the one who activated the Tardies!" Blythe blusters, "I am not a "small pink thing!" I'm pale, thank you. Pale and white like alabaster." He shivers at Grey trail's claw, though, and he wonders if this is such a good idea. He thinks, Greytrail is a lot bigger than me anyway. I'm not even sure you can make an alpha wolf behave submissively. Does that even work that way? He coughs and blushes despite himself, and says, "Turning pink from blushing doesn't count as really being pink." Because he can, he spanks Grey trail playfully, to see what will happen. Red wanders into the room, still wearing just her short white robe, margarita glass in hand, sadly empty." We're out of ice in the war room." She reported, opening the freezer to get some more. "Oh and yard is playing some sort of pipe that is making all the little tapirs come running to him, perhaps her." Red cocked her head thinking. "Didn't really look. Anyway thought someone should know and..." her voice trailed off. "Wait...TARDIS? Someone activated our time space warping thingy?" She groaned dejectedly. "Oh this has 'Red stop dawdling and get dressed' written all over it. Thanks a lot of guys." She sulked as she petulantly refiled her drink. Blythe looks a little embarrassed and says, "For what it's worth, I'm allowed to use the TARDIS, since I'm the Navigator!" He follows Red Phoenix and, smiling seductively, runs his index finger along the rim of the glass and says, "I could apologize to you, if you like, lovely Red." Quote from: Blythe on 11-03-2013, 04:24:02Blythe blusters, "I am not a "small pink thing!" I'm pale, thank you. Pale and white like alabaster." He shivers at Grey trail's claw, though, and he wonders if this is such a good idea. He thinks, Grey trail is a lot bigger than me anyway. I'm not even sure you can make an alpha wolf behave submissively. Does that even work that way? He coughs and blushes despite himself, and says, "Turning pink from blushing doesn't count as really being pink." Because he can, he spanks Grey trail playfully, to see what will happen. Whipping out a colorfully tie-dyed leash from his pouch (what, you don't think half the crap in a pet store can't be used for bondage?) Grey loops a couple half hitches around Blythe's chest and wrists and swats him after the annoyed red head." Go help the nice lady, ya brat. That blush of yours give you away. Every. Single. Time." He cackles evilly and rubs big hands together." Me? I'm off for a promotion. Seeing that we have no first officer! I always wanted the perks of rank." The captain has a stern look on his face. It's pointed straight at Red." And just what kind of ship do you think this is to be wandering around half dressed in a glass in hand?" He raises one eyebrow, but then winks it. "No wonder no one would pay your ransom. Next time you bring one for your captain as well, or your backside will suffer the consequences." He pauses and scratches his chin, and mutters, "Ah, wait - I forget whether that's more likely to encourage than discourage Red. So hard to tell with this crew." Speaking up again, "Next time you bring one for your captain as well, or your backside won'suffer the consequences." He eyes her carefully to see which threat elicits the most reaction." Oh, and someone was asking about the position of first officer. Grey trail, is it? Well then Grey, my lad, before you ask step into that role let me ask you this: do you know what happened to the previous first officer?"[Aside: "Grey, Red! What is this - a pirate ship or a paint shop?"] Quote from: Gal on 12-03-2013, 01:54:57The captain has a stern look on his face. It's pointed straight at Red." And just what kind of ship do you think this is to be wandering around half dressed in a glass in hand?" He raises one eyebrow, but then winks it. "No wonder no one would pay your ransom. Next time you bring one for your captain as well, or your backside will suffer the consequences." He pauses and scratches his chin, and mutters, "Ah, wait - I forget whether that's more likely to encourage than discourage Red. So hard to tell with this crew." Speaking up again, "Next time you bring one for your captain as well, or your backside won't suffer the consequences." He eyes her carefully to see which threat elicits the most reaction." Oh, and someone was asking about the position of first officer. Grey trail, is it? Well then Grey, my lad, before you ask step into that role let me ask you this: do you know what happened to the previous first officer?"[Aside: "Grey, Red! What is this - a pirate ship or a paint shop?"]" There was a previous first? I just saw an empty hole and had to fill it. I'm a contentious lad that way." **insert wolfish grin here** "Oh, and sorry, sir, I don't know paint shop. That program is way beyond my capabilities. As for Red and me, we must just be characters of color." Why yes, I do crack myself up! Blythe thinks a moment." We need a ship Disciplinarian. Someone to wear sexy black leather, carry a whip and some ropes, in order to discipline unruly members of the crew." The thought is not unpleasant. Red was about to start flirting shamelessly with Blythe but is interrupted by the Voice of the Captain." Eeep!" Red seeped in alarm as she was chastised for her slackness. Her look of hopefulness when Gal mentioned taking it out on her backside made it clear which end of the spectrum she was on when it came to motivation. The threat of never taking it out on her backside made her pale with fear. "Yes sir Captain sir!" She responded, saluting horribly. "Have this one sir captain sir!" She handed Gal the drink she was making for herself. Quote from: Blythe on 12-03-2013, 23:15:49"We need a ship Disciplinarian. Someone to wear sexy black leather, carry a whip and some ropes, in order to discipline unruly members of the crew." Red was practically drooling. "Oh and they should give a demonstration. Privately." She said practically throwing herself in as a volunteer. "So um, that they get the respect they deserve." She nodded. The Navigator grins at Red and says, "Well, until we get a disciplinarian, perhaps I could do. Meet me in my quarters in a little while, if you're interested." He blows her a kiss and winks roguishly. He swaggers away, confident at last, and ready to pillage. Quote from: Blythe on 13-03-2013, 03:01:27The Navigator grins at Red and says, "Well, until we get a disciplinarian, perhaps I could do. Meet me in my quarters in a little while, if you're interested." He blows her a kiss and winks roguishly. He swaggers away, confident at last, and ready to pillage." Hey, bro, save me some sloppy seconds!" Grey yells and cackles like a madman as he finishes scaring the last few baby tapirs into his pouches to be returned to that pen next to the TARDIS." Wonder if the two events are related? Nah..." Blythe laughs and says, "I'll save what I like when I like. Maybe you should ask Red if she wants seconds or not. And if not, I'll have to discipline you, too, Grey trail. Don't think you're immune to the sweet smacking of a paddle, you wolf." Blythe's eyes twinkle in wicked amusement. Quote from: Blythe on 13-03-2013, 04:43:40Blythe laughs and says, "I'll save what I like when I like. Maybe you should ask Red if she wants seconds or not. And if not, I'll have to discipline you, too, Grey trail. Don't think you're immune to the sweet smacking of a paddle, you wolf." Blythe's eyes twinkle in wicked amusement." Cheeky man, I'm bigger and meaner than you! And I'm armed with small, cute, furry things! So, just look out!" Shadow's head and shoulders emerges from a hatch in the floor leading to the cannon control turret below, electrical grease on her hands and arms and a pair of wire crimpers in one hand and a tapir in the other, and a pair of goggles perched on her head. She stands only 5 foot 1, and a mere 105 lbs. Her hair was so dark brown that it seemed to be black, and her eyes an icy blue. She was wearing coveralls for the moment, a rare moment where she actually worked (We couldn't have our precious source of excitement (BOOM!) not working, now can we?)."HEY! What's with the tapirs? They're chewing up the wires for the controls!" she angrily spewed as she tossed the tapir onto the floor. "This'll take me a half a day to fix!"" I hate working..." she mutters. She collected herself and took a breath, surveying the deck, and couldn't help but chuckle a little bit at crew members running this way and that chasing after tapirs, and was that talk of a paddle she heard? Watching the captain try to be stern with the rest of the crew was somewhat comical as well, and she had little respect for authority to begin with." Heh, Cap'n, I don't believe you'll get too far in that regard," she quipped as she rested her head on her hand, propping herself up with her elbow.(in her usual state, being lazy and doing exactly what she was NOT supposed to do. "Mornin' Shadow. There's enough here as wants the discipline to make up for those who don't!" Quote from: Blythe on 12-03-2013, 23:15:49"We need a ship Disciplinarian. Someone to wear sexy black leather, carry a whip and some ropes, in order to discipline unruly members of the crew."" Mmmm - Back in my RN days that was the bosun's responsibility. The higher up officers didn't like to get their hands dirty, so to speak. One of the many aspects of that life I didn't agree with." The captain looks at his hands, flexes them pensively whilst imagining 'getting them dirty' and then;Crackpot;claps them sharply together, once." Ah, Red. Excellent." He takes the offered drink with one hand and with the other gives her a swift slap on the rump in thanks as she turns." But yes, although one is obviously perfectly capable of meting out discipline", the captain rubs his fingernails on his waistcoat in pride as he speaks, "it might be useful to have a dedicated officer to whom to delegate the task when I'm not in the mood."" However," speaking up to gain attention, "what we really need at the moment is a plan. Having appeared by chance in central London, we are in a certain amount of danger - attacking the shipping so close to a naval base would be suicide. At the same time, though, it presents unrivalled opportunities, as the potential targets for looting are numerous and well stocked. The mansions of the rich and famous; banks - brimming with cash, but probably too well guarded even here at the center of civilization; maybe a softer target like an art gallery, or museum. MMM - a haul of objets d'art that we could sell on to private collectors."" Discuss it amongst yourselves for a while - see if you can come up with a vaguely half-baked plan." She secretly reveled in the idea of being "disciplined," although she'd never let the rest of the crew see it. She maintained too much of a rebel attitude for that. Shadow giggles profusely at the words "half-baked."" Do I get to blow the doors off of something? Explosives are fun!" She bounced in anticipation, her little B-cup breasts shaking. She clambered out of the hatch and shut it behind her, dropping her wire crimpers down in there so she'd find them again. She unbuttoned the top half of her coveralls and tied them around her waist, leaving the bottom half baggy, and showing the t-shirt she was wearing. Amused and frustrated with his small, furry charges slipping away at every turn (really, WHY did it have to be tapirs? He really was going to start eating the little beasts! Without ketchup this time!) he swatted the newcomer, Shadow he thought he'd heard, and nosed about for the tapir that had been in her hands moments ago. He did like a woman with competent hands!" My vote is to drop our squealing payload, and no I don't mean whoever Blythe has cornered, onto a target and watch the fun. We've got to round them up anyway, why not put them to work? Hey Red? Can your TARDIS do that? Hamm?" Between Blythe, Grey trail and Gal, Red found herself quite distracted as she clutched her robe around herself tightly, eyes trailing between the three dashing pirates. She was about to respond to previous comments, but Grey trail's latest question caught her off guard. "My TARIDS? Grey I barely even know what that's a reference to! All I know is that we are now in London and there is a lotpillagingto be done, so I am going to go put on my pillaging outfit, and then we are going shopping but not paying for anything!" Red beamed happily. As she left she whirled around. "And nobody even think of going pillaging without me!" She said quickly, recalling several times when various pirates had done exactly that. Ah pirates, so charming and sexy, but you really can't turn your back on them. Well, you can, you just have to live with the consequences. That thought had Red smiling as she reached her small little room and changed into her pirate gear. As she returned Red thought back to the captain's words. "Oh, oh I call mansions of the rich and famous!" She grinned at the thought of all the expensive clothes and booze she was going to loot. "Who wants to come with me?" A small implosion can be heard and from where the sound came a tall, lean male with thigh long, straight, white hair wanders as if appearing out of nowhere is normal to him. Pulling one glove at a time to get them back in order, he tilts his head and lets amber eyes go around slowly before landing on the captain of the vessel. All dressed in whites this man doesn't even remotely looks like a pirate, but more so a Lord misplaced. The glint of mischief in his eyes, however, tells another story. As his chosen weapon, which would be magic - the whip on his hip more for pleasure than anything else." I have the distinct idea tomes of ancient knowledge can be found in London," he states and thus picks to come with. Behind him, not a step away, a small cloud of purple forms and implodes seemingly at random, small sparkles dusting the floor. Quote from: Red Phoenix on 14-03-2013, 18:42:25As she returned Red thought back to the captain's words. "Oh, oh I call mansions of the rich and famous!" She grinned at the thought of all the expensive clothes and booze she was going to loot. "Who wants to come with me?"" Hey, booze is good with me. Don't need the clothes. Chafes the fur you know. Hamm... if you don't know who runs that crazy interstellar, or is it interdimensional, thingie, then who does?" He rubs his chin and looks as thoughtful as a werewolf can. "Guess it's true that you become an officer and lose all sense." Then his eyes cut sideways to Gal and he smiles sheepishly. "Present company excluded, of course, Captain." Blythe grins roguishly, his pearly white teeth flashing in the light, and he says enthusiastically, "I'll hit an art museum. I'm all for objets d'art. I might not even sell all of them. Furthermore, I love to feel cultured, and my cabin could use something to spice it up if Red isn't in it or Barrel." Speaking of which......he notices Barrel and says, "Glad you could join us. If I see a tome, I'll save it for you, so long as you save me a portrait or two if you find them." Ethical suddenly stands straighter, seemingly clearheaded and focused. Even her uniform... well, mismatched uniform bits... seem to hang straighter and more crisply. "Booze, you say...? I'll assemble the troops. We drop in 30." She spins on one heel and heads below decks, shouting orders as she moves. "Meet!" Shadow meets as she is unexpectedly mauled by a were-wolf paw. She smiled from one corner of her mouth, pulled a rubber band, stolen from Blythe's quarters, from her pocket and shot Grey with it, and stuck her tongue out at him if he turned to look. She listened intently to all the various ideas, and found herself feeling discouraged as they all seemed to involve finesse." But I want to blow something up!" She whined, loudly, bouncing as she did. She resigned herself to most likely NOT getting to use her toys today." Booze is good, count me in, I've been aching for a good ale and scotch." She cupped her hand around her mouthed and shouted to Geek let in the engine room, "Geek! Want some booze?" She notices Barrel appear in the corner and waves happily, and then rolls her eyes at Grey's "lose all sense" comment. Gal twitchesalmostimperceptibly as the magic (ab)user appears. "Mornin' Barrel." He nods in his direction. If there's one thing that has a chance of making him nervous, it is the arcane arts. He's not yet sure whether the best defense against such magics is more magic, or Very Big Guns. He's trying both for good measure, so he has Barrel on board - or maybe it's something to do with his alluring grace, or the sensually smooth, straight, white, hair -God! The hair - mustn't drool. Captains don't drool. Think about the guns instead." Shadow - don't you worry yourself about not using the guns. What ever we decide to loot, the authorities here will eventually notice us and send something over to try to blow us out of the sky." He puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "At that point there willdefinitelybe plenty for you to shoot at whilst we make our escape. In the meantime, maybe you should join the museum expedition in case there are any safes or strong rooms that need blowing open. Mmm - thisisEngland, so try hitting the museum at just after four p.m. and start by sealing off the café as most of the staff will have gone there for tea."" Attacking a mansion should be easier. Some of the huge ones we might be able to bring the ship down in the back garden and hover close enough to perform a boarding action through one of the bedroom window balconies. It's not hard to spot the super-rich ones from above just by size, and they'll all have plenty of alcohol and tea to acquire, but," he looks over to Barrel, "can you somehow tell whether they have any of the books you're after?" A sideways glance at Grey trail's slur. He mutters to himself, increasingly loudly whilst pacing: "Officers ... No sense ... Officers ... No sense ..." and then is suddenly very close by. "You know, Mister Ravens wolf, I'm not sure whether you're right or not. Maybe we should perform a little experiment? I'll knock you senseless with this belaying pin, and we'll see if you're an officer or not when you wake up. Or shall we just get on with the looting? What do you think?" His tone is more of a neutral, inquisitive affair than an accusative one, but the large wooden pin that the captain is repeatedly slapping into the palm of one his hands is definitely very real. Quote from: Blythe on 15-03-2013, 23:53:35...he notices Barrel and says, "Glad you could join us. If I see a tome, I'll save it for you, so long as you save me a portrait or two if you find them." A slow nod is given back at the man's words. "Certainly," he says quietly before turning his attention back to the captain. Quote from: Gal on 16-03-2013, 02:19:55"Attacking a mansion should be easier. Some of the huge ones we might be able to bring the ship down in the back garden and hover close enough to perform a boarding action through one of the bedroom window balconies. It's not hard to spot the super-rich ones from above just by size, and they'll all have plenty of alcohol and tea to acquire, but," he looks over to Barrel, "can you somehow tell whether they have any of the books you're after?" A smirk and a new purple cloud that this time decides to linger and draw a lazy circle around the man in white. "Some, not all, have a certain aura to them. But most will be concealed," he answers, slight tug on his shoulder that is almost a shrug. "Either the more expensive mansions or the more educated museums would hold what I'd like to fish. Though my bet would be the mansions. Most Muse wouldn't know magic if it slapped them in the face and stole their husbands from them." Quote from: Gal on 16-03-2013, 02:19:55A sideways glance at Grey trail's slur. He mutters to himself, increasingly loudly whilst pacing: "Officers ... No sense ... Officers ... No sense ..." and then is suddenly very close by. "You know, Mister Ravens wolf, I'm not sure whether you're right or not. Maybe we should perform a little experiment? I'll knock you senseless with this belaying pin, and we'll see if you're an officer or not when you wake up. Or shall we just get on with the looting? What do you think?" His tone is more of a neutral, inquisitive affair than an accusative one, but the large wooden pin that the captain is repeatedly slapping into the palm of one his hands is definitely very real. Goodnaturedly, Grey shrugs and holds out his knuckles. "As you see fit, Captain. Rap my Wolfe knuckles, and then I shall go carry out your orders. Oh, and help blow stuff up. Can't forget that!" Blythe salutes and says, "Mansion it is, Captain! Would you like me to plot a route in and a good escape route out? We have enough gizmos on here to let me do a quick survey of the area to determine the best approach so we can get the most loot in the fastest way. And I'm all for hitting the booze too, sir." He pulls out a small clockwork computer the size of an orange out of a bag he tends to keep with him, an analog computer made of clockwork so small that it looks like metal mesh. Blythe says, "This little baby has only one function--mapping. It's specific as hell but very precise. But it does a fine job within it's parameters." He uses his free to input little information into the gizmo, and he says, "Oh, I call it the Navigate. Patent pending." He inputs the info and says, "Let's see...." After a moment, he says, "Here we go. A fine mansion in the West End, one of the nouveau-riche. We can be in and out within 25 minutes. Rappel down and bust through a window in the attic, take the left staircase down into the third floor. There are two rooms that have safes on that floor, and a library before that. Liquor cabinet is on the first floor, and there's a magnificent wine cellar, too. Could be in and out, no problem, but we have to be back on the roof within twenty minutes. They might respond faster than that, but we have enough firepower to hold it off, right?" He looks nervously at Captain Gal. He adds, "Hope you approve of my idea, Captain." Grey claps Blythe on the back and pumps his fists in the air." Whoo Hui! I'll shall go empty my Bags of Holding of cuteness and be ready when the call of duty goes up! Well, maybe not all the cuteness." He rummages about the sack and comes up with a surrealistically adorable tapir calf, showing the rest of the crew members the beast. Everyone has to fight the urge to stop everything they are doing and 'WWW'. Satisfied, he holsters the tapir and nods to Gal. "By your leave, sir?" Upon hearing his name, Shi stuck his head out from the engine room, calling out towards Shadow. "New, I think I may be the only one on this boat that doesn't drink. But I could use a pretty dress, though. Something not all covered in grease and muck! Then again, I could also use a reason to wear it..." Geeklet was now rambling off, muttering bits of nonsense to himself. "A reason to wear a freshly looted pretty dress? That's what the after-looting-and-getting-away-with-it parties are for. Just gotta do the looting first." He looks round. "So, we've got a goal and a target selected, a course plotted; the deck's clear of tapirs; there's crew itching to go and blow things up and if all that weren't omens enough for the times to come..." He paused for effect gesturing slowly around until his outstretched hand stopped, pointing at one person in particular. "... Red has got dressed!" He looked thoughtful, scratched his head and called out to the sky, "Ahoy whoever's switched my crew with Martian doppelgangers, I'm on to you. The way they're acting all competent is a dead give-away." Then he burst out laughing for a moment before clapping his hands loudly and shouting, "Well come on then. Jump to it. Let's get this ship moving." Blythe realizes, as the navigator, that if Captain Gal is not actually piloting the ship, he is supposed to, as the only other person that knows where they're going and how to get there using the ship controls...and if the captain himself is going to loot, he might not want to pilot this time. Blythe hurries to the main wheel and adjusts the main lever to "Full Steam Ahead," which makes a lot of work for Geek let down in the engine room, and he sets the Liege boat on its course to loot an expensive mansion. The ship glides down, clockwork clicking and steam hissing, to a point where the pirates can easily drop a few feet into the attic of the house through a window. The sounds of people's shock and alarm can already be heard! With bared teeth, Grey goes through the window and crouches to let his sense of smell do the talking." A bar, the sweet smell of gold and cash and shiny things, oh, and something pretty for the she's and this aboard the ship. A good TO is smart to keep his bread buttered! Off to treasure!" Red gasps and puts her hands on her hips and is about to angrily say that she's gotten dressed before but then realizes the last time was about a month ago and that the captain has already spanked her once today and the punishments tend to escalate and she really doesn't want to miss the chance to plunder the mansion of the rich and magical! So she shuts her mouth and sways her hips as she waits for the orders to move out." I call the computer guided torpedo ship!!!!" She squealed happily and sprinted for the softly padded, chrome silver, high-tech drop-ship that was by far the most comfortable way to descend from the airship to the target on board. "You can ride on my torpedo any time Red :P"The captain blows her a kiss as he leaps athletically over the side and abseils down a rope, through the window, landing in a fighting crouch, quickly decides no threats are present and follows Grey trail, trusting him to sniff out the good stuff. Quote from: Gal on 21-03-2013, 11:19:26"You can ride on my torpedo any time Red :P" The captain blows her a kiss as he leaps athletically over the side and abseils down a rope, through the window, landing in a fighting crouch, quickly decides no threats are present and follows Grey trail, trusting him to sniff out the good stuff. Gray as his name, Grey skulks the shadows, bludgeoning one guard and trussing him up like a Christmas turkey-- adding a red bow just to amuse Blythe and the others-- and net-gunning a second. But there are a pair of them at the doorway of what looks to be a set of double doors of some importance. Always a good sign!" Hmmm," he muses in the shadows, rummaging a big, clawed hand into his bottomless bag for ideas. "What do think captain? I could leap out horror movie style for shock value. Or..." A pause for dramatic value and his voice drops with dread. "I could bring out the bunnies." Blythe laughs from the ship's controls when he sees the red bow--Grey trail always takes things too far, but at least when he does, it's hilarious. He laughs so hard that his hand slips on the controls, and the airship gently bonks the house being looted, crumbling a little section of roof. Blythe mutters, "Sorry, sorry." he straightens it up, but roof tiles fall, smacking the ship unpleasantly, and he adjusts the wheel to fix that, too, struggling to keep this crazy thing straight. He yells out the nearest window, "Find me something fun, Grey trail! Or even a hot guy or chick! Little boobs or big balls, either way! And hurry up, we don't have a lot of time! Focus on loot!" Unfortunately, the roar of the engine overpowers most of Blythe's voice, so all the dashing fellow pirates hear from the navigator is, "Little boobs! Hurry up!" The Don stalks behind the double doors, arms folded across the slim chest, double blades at the hips, and a dangerous gleam to uncovered eye. The Don is a peculiar little androgynous...person. Loose black hair, just long enough to be pulled into a pony-tail, small and slim. And that's before you count the wolf-tail sticking out from the boxers, and the overly-large black-feathered wings on are back. Ey rocks back onto are heels, one hand on the hilt of a sword. Of course, the Don would back em self into a corner...not surewhyrunning to the dining room seemed like such a good idea...or why the back door out of the dining room was bricked shut. Okay, well that one the Dondidknow. It had to do with a very drunken night and a "special" friend... Then the house rattles, and Don cringes, squinting up at the roof." Oi! Stop blowing holes in me-...well okay, in me house!" Shouts up at the rough, then mutters, "Though Distant that skylight..." Quote from: Doncamiel on 06-04-2013, 04:14:02The Don stalks behind the double doors, arms folded across the slim chest, double blades at the hips, and a dangerous gleam to uncovered eye. The Don is a peculiar little androgynous...person. Loose black hair, just long enough to be pulled into a pony-tail, small and slim. And that's before you count the wolf-tail sticking out from the boxers, and the overly-large black-feathered wings on are back. EY rocks back onto are heels, one hand on the hilt of a sword. Of course, the Don would back em self into a corner...not sure why running to the dining room seemed like such a good idea...or why the back door out of the dining room was bricked shut. Okay, well that one the Don did know. It had to do with a very drunken night and a "special" friend... Then the house rattles, and Don cringes, squinting up at the roof." Oi! Stop blowing holes in me-...well okay, in me house!" Shouts up at the rough, then mutters, "Though I did want that skylight..."" Well, well, what have we here!" Grey boomed as he ducked into the room, teeth bared in a wolfish grin. "Aren't you a pretty little exotic thing! Guarding the house, are we? Well, come on then." Now, Grey was aware that small and fast could overpower his sheer mass and was smart enough not underestimate the stranger. But he had charisma, a big sword and a pocket full of cute. What could go wrong? Red paused to smile shyly at Gal's double entendre then quickly hopped into the torpedo and set it to crash into the house they were raiding. Ancient wood and fine marble shattered as it plunged straight into what appeared to be a fancy ballroom, currently abandoned. Red hopped out of the torpedo and her jaw dropped as she saw a bountiful wardrobe. It was filled with the loveliest clothes, all fit for a masquerade ball. Wiping the drool from her chin she tried to push it, only to find it was way, way too heavy to move. "Dammit." She muttered "I'll have to get help, which means I'll have to share." She swore again before cupping her hands and shouting out."HEY YOU LAZY LAND LUBBERS COME HELP ME WITH THIS!!! I FOUND THE UM..." She paused trying to think of a way to make this sound really appealing but not flat out lie about it. "...MOST EXPENSIVE THINGS HERE!" She shrugged, sure that wasn't quite the case, but she didn't know it was false. Meanwhile, she started to take some of the lovelier items for herself to stash in the torpedo. As soon as the words left Red’s lips, the air pressure in the room changed, causing mild annoyance and popped ears to all. In such a lovely house, light poured in from the grand windows and shone from lamps - but there was inexplicably a deep shadow that might not have been there before. And this shadow have a wide, toothy grin. In a voice like the depths of eternity, a tone as hollow and hungry as time, came the words “Dost thou speak of eorlgestreon-” The word tangled together, caught in the things throat and came out all at once in the form of a hacking cough. The shadow curled over onto itself, gasping for breath. “-fucking cats!” The voice sounded the same but somehow lesser. Simply human. The darkness straightened - and it was a man, narrow in build and with a mess of dark curls for hair and a lopsided smirk that he shot at Red. “So, her. You said something about loot?”(translators note - eorlgestreon is old English of loot) Red shrieked as she saw the shadows forming. "SHADOW MONSTER!" She screamed. "SHADOW MON-" She stopped fumbling with her sword as Dim stepped out of it. "Oh goddammit!" She swore, arms akimbo as she glared furiously at her slender, sexy, smirking, shipmate. "Why would you do that? You know I haven't gotten over being sucked into the Realm of Never-ending Shadow by that ... whatever it was that nearly killed us all last week! And don't give me that crap about hallucinogens, I know what I saw." She paused and grumbled." Oh fine, fine, yes I have your earl estrogen all right here." She motioned towards the wardrobe. "Actually...you know this suit would look really great on you..." She held up a rather severely cut dark gray military uniform, complete with faux medals and distinctions. "MMM yes I could see you as a general, definitely." The captain had been following Grey trail, but got distracted by a line of old masters hanging on the wall and had taken a little time to price two particularly nice ones out of their frames, roll them up and push them firmly through his sash. He was just heading out onto the upstairs main corridor when he heard Red's cries of 'shadow monster' from the ballroom downstairs. Geil immediately runs to the top of the stairs and leaps astride the Bannister to slide down to her rescue. About halfway down he notices the ornate marble sphere atop the end of the run threatening to rather painfully prevent his participation in any adult themed portion of the story that may crop up later. He quick-draws his pistols and shoots once, twice. The first hit crazes the stone and the second shatters it, and he slides safely through a cloud of dust into a forward roll across the hall floor, lamenting the fact that there was no one there to see the maneuver, coming upright and bursting through the ballroom doors." Never fear, Red; Captain's here." Still brandishing two pistols that he hopes whatever the threat is won't notice have already been fired (repeaters are for wusses.) But he finds Red measuring Dim up for a suit. "Oh, er, What?"" Estrogen?" Blythe, busy piloting the ship, manages to watch all of this from afar with a looking glass, and he starts to get nervous as a response is mustered up against their wonderful pirate ship. So much loot, so little time! He decides to give anyone trying to hit the ship a run for their money, causing anyone on board to probably sway, stumble, or fall over, as he rocks the ship to and fro, the occasional shot fired at the ship missing. The navigator crows in delight and calls off to any available crew member, "Hey, can anyone fire off some canons or something at the guards? They're getting kind of rowdy down there!" “Sorry darling, my morning voice is dreadful- didn’t mean to spook you,” he said with a lopsided grin. “You are very cute when you flail about, though.” He chuckled softly, his grin flashing a set of unusually pointy teeth. “Oh, what a stash you found!” He shrugged the tatty jacket he wore off and exchanged it for the decorated general’s jacket, tugging it into place. “Perfect!” The appearance of Captain Gal, pistols cocks, made Dim Hon stare for a moment, then point at the rows of fake medals. “I out-rank you!” he crowed. “Yes! Finally! Looting has paid off, at last!” Movement caught his eye, the sight of the air ship above listing too-and-fro very strange indeed. “Is your boat meant to be doing that?” From somewhere towards the rear of the ship there was a quite distinct "thud!" followed immediately by a yelp of pain. It was the exact sound that a carboy landing on his head makes. And indeed there was now a carboy, a skinny lad of around sixteen, humanoid but feline, with black and white spotted fur, sitting on the deck, attempting to look nonchalant. He licked a paw-like hand and washed his whiskers for a moment, with that air of "I meant to do that" common to clumsy cats everywhere. His "dignity" properly preserved for the time being, he got up and set out to have a look around the ship, displaying that other fine characteristic of felines the universe over: a curiosity that was likely to land him in some kind of trouble sooner or later. "GAS!" Red suddenly started." Hey...wait a minute. I know that feeling. We were locked in stasis again!" She glared at Dim. "Did you trap me in a time warp again?" The look on her face suggested it wouldn't matter much what Dim said, Red had already concluded Shi had. "I told you not to do that! I am so half tempted to take that hat back." She reached for the snazzy hat Dim was wearing then stopped. "Ahhh but it looks so good on you..." She stopped." Oh well, help me get this wardrobe into the rocket tube, and I'll forgive you!" From within a deep, though easily accessible part of the ship was a rather differently arranged room that did not match the rest of the vessel in the least. The floors had white tiles met with light-pink wall paint coming to conclusion with a pink ceiling. There were various cabinets. Cupboards, shelves, drawers and so on resembling a modern physician's office. Adorning these fixtures of storage were various drugs, graduates, syringes, balances, mortar and pestle sets, jars with various fluids within them as well as other tools, utensils and sanitation equipment one might expect to see in a hospital office. Everything was properly secured to prevent anything from sliding, flipping or falling and was all locked up tightly besides. In this office were also some beds with privacy curtains and intravenous drip stands along with various monitoring equipment. The sheets on the bed were freshly cleaned and had floral designs that went well with the pink room. Occupying the room currently was what apparently passed as the physician here, a tall woman with an incredibly endowed figure and an outfit that wouldn't be regulation in any hospital due largely in part to the almost revealing lower part. Her name-tag read, "Hello, please call me: Miss Katrina." Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide room led to another room that bore similar design, but was far more domestic in decoration as it was this medical personnel's living space. There was a large comfortable bed, various documentations and a large monstrosity of a mechanical device that utilized various tubes and pneumatic chambers. Next to this machine were several crates containing large volume bottles, all empty at the moment. At a glance, one could expect one bottle to contain 10 liters. The woman currently in the business part of the office hummed to herself happily as she tidied up the already meticulously clean room. The carboy scurried through the ship, peering into this room and that, looking for anything interesting, shiny, or chaseable. So far he hadn't seen any sign of mice or rats, but that would be good fun if he could find one! Or maybe food? Food would be good. Or somewhere to curl up and take a nap. Or someone to scratch behind his ears. Yes, any of those would be good. He stuck his nose into the infirmary, looking around at the white-and-pink color scheme. His nose twitched, smelling the disinfectant scent of the bright, clean room. It was... familiar. How did he know that scent? His eyes went to the person moving around the room. His eyes went to her well-endowed chest, and the name tag there for a moment, distracted from noticing what she was wearing. Then it dawned on him. It was a nurse's uniform. He's seen one like that before! (Although perhaps not quite that short...) And head smelled that smell before!"Oh, no! The Vet!" he wailed, freezing in place in terror, his fur suddenly standing on end, his tail bushed out. Terrible things happened to cats at the vet! This outburst drew the attention of the 'nurse' who quickly looked over her shoulder, her eyes settling on what was decidedly not a human. "Err... are you lost... or something? This isn't a place for animals, this is a place for the sick or hurt. Meanwhile, I don't even know what you are, so I wouldn't begin to know how to diagnose if you were." The woman's red-iris eyes blinked twice before she attempted to return to her work. "If you're feeling poorly, I can administer some treatments that work on humans, but I don't know a thing about treating animals, so it would be at your own risk. If you don't feel confident in having medicine administered to you with that caveat, then you should probably seek another facility." And with that she focused entirely on her tasks at hand. Blythe blinks for a moment as he lingers at the wheel of the beautiful metallic airship. He has a hilarious feeling--as if he's been away from the proud and noble Liege vessel for some time and is only now returning. But that is ridiculous, because the stocky dark-haired man knows he is piloting right now--if he'd been gone, the ship would have collapsed. He puts it down to one of those pesky time warps that sometimes happens. Strange things happened to the Liege boat all the time--this is no weirder than the Flying Baby Tapir incident (they were still struggling to get rid of some of the fluffier tapirs even now!). He calls out to anyone within hearing from the wheel of the ship, looking at all the dials and knobs, operating everything around it smoothly as soft bouts of steam puffed nearby from pipes that led to the boiler room, "Hello! Are we still raiding? If we're not, can we collect our pirate brethren and sail out?" The carboy's wide eyes were glazed over with incomprehension, and the words that Nurse Katrina were saying didn't register at all. He broke from his immobile state, turned and fled, with an incoherent, wailing trail of "Notthevetnodontwannahorriblevetnonononoooooooooooooooooo!" trailing behind him as he ran through the ship. The screaming once more demanded the woman's attentions, though she was glad to find the strange crazy gone. She calmly stepped over to the door, shut it and hung a sign that read, "If you need help, press the buzzer ~~~~~>" on the inside of the door's window. With a click, the door was locked. "I wonder if the captain knows there are insane animal people aboard. Hm. They'll figure it out eventually." And back to her tasks she went. Out of tapirs and laden with treasure, Grey trail howled for the raiding party, the sound ringing through the house. "All aboard who's goin' aboard! We'd hate to overstay out welcome all!" Once aboard the slightly drunkenly weaving decks, he 'though'ed in surprise as a smaller body plowed into him, Grey tilted his canine head at the carboy and grinned. "Well hello there, lad! This crew gets more and more interesting every time I visit!" Rebounding off of a sudden and unexpected obstacle in his path, the carboy did at least manage to land on his feet rather than tumble in a heap. Just barely. He looked at up Grey trail with wide blue eyes. "Oh! Hi there." His ears flicked with uncertainty, his tail still rather bushed out, and he asked, "You're not a vet too, are you?"

Liegeboat [Main IC]|rating:3.0

Supernatural Detection Task Force

It was night, the full moon shone through the city streets as a sleek black Limo rode through the streets towards the home of one Christopher Blackwood. The Limo belonged to an organization that no human would ever know about, even the President of the United States knew nothing of this organization. The SDTF, the Supernatural Detection Task Force. All those stories, and tales about werewolves, vampires, fairies, unicorns, Dragons, Drinks, even the witches and tales of humans with cognitive abilities like telepathy and pyrotechnics, they were all real, all true. The SDTF was spread throughout all of America, all the world really, but it was mostly within the United States, they kept the Supernatural creatures hidden from the humans, from the 'mundanes' and they protected the mundanes from the supernatural creatures that preyed upon them. Many of the supernatural creatures ate humans in some way or another, enjoying their flesh, their blood, and even their sexual, or emotional energies. It was the SDTF's job to protect, and maintain the human populations. The Limo stopped in front of Christopher's home, and a massive man climbed out of the vehicle, a person Christopher would recognize. He was the same man from the club last night, the one that had 'confirmed' the existence of the SDTF. He stood at least 6'6, his hair was gray and streaked with darker and lighter shades, he was scruffy in a handsome sort of way. His name was Tank, and he was second in command at the SDTF 12'the division. There were fifty divisions in the states, and each had their own territory to monitor. Tank moved up to Christopher door, finding the entire situation all too strange and unusual. This was the first ever documented case of someone discovering the SDTF on their own, and then deciding they wanted to join. As far as Tank knew all members, even himself, had been recruited by the higher ranking members of the SDTF. But this Christopher had stumbled across the secrete, found a higher ranking member, and asked to join himself, hell he'd even asked for a form! A form!!! It was unheard of! Tank's lips twitched a little as he considered it and shook his head as he knocked on Christopher door, looking down at the man. At 6'6 he looked down at pretty much everyone. “It's Time.” he stated simply, his voice deep and rough, almost wild, of course being a werewolf of course he was wild. “Someone will gather your things.” Tank promised. “Your new life awaits.” he admitted watching as a group of people, dressed in Moving Company garb started gathering all of Christopher's things to take them to the man's new home. “Please follow me, your boss, a Mentor, is waiting downstairs. Be polite, he doesn't take kindly to lip.” he admitted smirking a little. “Unless he likes you, then he might let it slide if he's in a good mood.” he admitted leading the way down to the Limo, opening the door for him and ushering him inside. For a moment there was only darkness, save for the bright cherry red glow of a long-pipe. Then Tank turned on the overhead light and the leader of the SDTF Division 12 was revealed. His name, was Lane, his name had changed many times through the many years, many centuries he had been alive, but now he went by Lane. Why? Only he knew, and it wasn't likely that he would ever give a reason. He was lounging across the entire back seat, leaving the other side of the back limo to Tank and Christopher, his dusk gray eyes studying Christopher as he took a long draw off of his long-pipe, examining the man as he blew the smoke out of his nose. Whatever he was smoking, it wasn't tobacco, it had a sweet, pleasant scent to it. Lane was handsome, and it was hard to see if he was a man or a woman just by looking at his face, but the almost oppressive, masculine power that flowed off of him would assure anyone that he was a male, a very dominant male. “So.” Lane's voice was sweet as well, smooth and soft. “You are the Christopher I have heard about.” Lane muttered, flipping something open on the small table that sat in-between them, examining it before sliding it over to Christopher... it was the boys criminal records, school files, doctors reports, everything about him that had ever gone online, been printed on paper, or submitted to anywhere was in that thick file now sitting in front of him. “Such an interesting person we have before us.”“a human.” Tank agreed examining the man sitting next to him. “It's not often we get humans in the SDTF, an even then they have supernatural capabilities.” Tank explained, watching Lane, wondering just what was going through the man's head. As ancient as Lane was, it was impossible to read his calm face. “graduated from high school with moderate grades... never applied for collage, served a five-year tour in the Marines... another three in the MP's...” Lane stated looking through the file. “Few friends, few families, incredibly accurate when dealing with weapons of any kind... you've even killed a few supernatural creatures without realizing it.” he admitted taking another long draw off of his pipe before looking at Christopher. “The world you are going into is a very dangerous one Christopher Blackwood.” he admitted. “The creatures you will see, and even fight have all the advantages... most can take three bullets to the chest, and they won't go down...so why do you want to join the SDTF? If it's curiosity, or a suicidal streak, there are easier ways to die.” Most people didn't believe a word about the supernatural being real, but then Christopher Blackwood wasn't any normal, average person. He considered himself to be that way though and would enthusiastically deny that he was anything other than ordinary. But the fact of the matter was that he was a mutant, yes much like those in X-Men, and didn't quite know how to deal with it. Unlike in the movie, he had no idea whether there was a school to teach people like him and dared not ask anyone. After all, if there wasn't, he was going to seem like a lunatic and people would probably try to commit him. On the other hand, if he pretended everything was fine he would have a good life, as long as he kept his abilities under wraps. Still, due to the fact that he had these abilities, he couldn't help but be quite interested in everything supernatural, hoping that one day he would find someone like him. So, when the possibility of a secret supernatural organization came to light, Christopher was excited about finding out more. That is until the incident had happened and then everything had changed when it came to his feelings about his abilities. And then one night, someone from the bondage club he frequented had confirmed the existence of the organization last night. He had tried to contain his excitement and anticipation as best he could because if he got too overly emotional his ability tended to get out of control. Tonight, when the knock sounded on the door, he quickly opened it and picked up the duffel bag he'd placed by the door in preparation for this time. Inside it were the only things that mattered to him, some sentimental objects including a few objects that could be seen as weapons, three sets of clothes, toiletries, a pack of condoms and lube and a variety of sex toys that he loved. He already had his wallet and keys on him, so there was no need to look around for those things, and he was dressed in cool linen with a black leather jacket. The blond's shoulder-length hair was tied back in a short ponytail at the base of his neck and his green eyes were sparkling as he thought about what was to come. He looked up at the man who was waiting for him at the door and marveled once more at his height, Christopher himself was a tall six feet, but this man was at least six inches taller than him! It was like looking up at a man on stilts or something! But he didn't want to tease him about it right now since he wasn't sure if the other male had a sense of humor or not when it came to his height. "Oh, I don't really have anything important that I need except this duffel bag here... but sure if you want to move my things out that's fine." Christopher said with a nod and heaved the duffel bag over his shoulder, not wanting to let it out of his sight. He was rather protective of the things that were important to him. "Sure thing, Hulk. I mean... Tank was it?" The blond asked, biting his lip, hoping Tank hadn't taken offense to his little nickname. He followed Tank to the limo and slid inside at the other male's gesture and looked around in the darkness, focusing on the cherry red glow of a long-pipe. Only a few seconds later he finally saw someone who he thought was the leader of the SDTF Division. "Yes I am. Good evening, sir." He said, stretching out his hand to shake as was the normal thing to do when meeting someone you didn't know. It was also expected in a business situation. Christopher watched as Lane flipped something open on the small table that sat in-between them and picked up the thick file that the man had slid over to him. Flipping through it, he bit his lip when he realized what it was and wondered whether there was any mention of him getting into trouble with water constantly throughout his life. His ability was to create, control and manipulate water of all forms and consistencies. But he didn't have complete control over it and still didn't which was rather frightening to him. In the past, when he had been younger it had been more apparent since he didn't know how to deal with it as well as he did now. "I don't know about that, I'm just a normal, average person. But I do have a more open mind than most." He said with a shrug and cleared his throat. When Tank spoke of him as a human, Christopher seemed to relax a bit more. "Don't underestimate us humans!" The blond said with a small smile, but that smile faltered ever so slightly when Tank mentioned supernatural capabilities. When his record was read off, Christopher nodded. "My preferred weapon is the bow and I actually brought with me the weapon my twin brother gave me for my eighteenth birthday." He added and when asked why he wanted to join the SDTF, the blond got straight to the point without fail. "I want to protect people from the supernatural creatures out there and help make the world a better place." That much was true, but he had an ulterior motive as well. Still, his ulterior motive wasn't going to hurt anyone and didn't have anything to do with the SDTF so they didn't need to know that. "I don't intend to die here. Not yet and not now." Christopher added, just to make sure they knew he wasn't suicidal and wasn't in this just for the curiosity. Tank didn't bother trying to take the duffel bag, hell it was pretty clear it hadn't crossed the massive man's mind. He just didn't care about it, it was the kids crap, he would have to take care of it. He had to smirk widely at the sudden, almost insulting nickname. "Do I look green to you?" he demanded, clearly amused. "Your just angry because it wasn't your ass that I was plowing last night." he growled, teasing the other. Tank had himself a nice young Satyr last night. A lot of the immortal enjoyed the bondage scene, most of them old enough that normal sex was just too boring. Tank snickered as Christopher tried to shake Lane's hand, the ancient immortal stared at the hand as if it was something offensive, and Tank whispered to Christopher. "Never offer to shake an Immortals hand, it's offensive." he ordered simply. "For many of us, touch is a path into each other, especially through the hands." he explained. "If you were to have touched Lane's hand right then, you'd have been flooded with day terrors." he explained, Zane smirking. "That's waking nightmares." he explained. "Your awake, but everything is terrifying." he admitted. "It's like being trapped in a dream where everything is out to get you." he admitted taking a long inhale out of his pipe again. "Never offer to touch, or shake hands with an immortal you don't know, you never know what their touch might do to you, or worse, what your touch might do to them. Unless you are wearing gloves, as many immortal do, try not to touch."there was nothing in the folder about water, though it did mention the few times he almost drowned due to hospital records... hell every doctor's visit, dentist visit, even therapy was listed in there. It was like the ultimate invasion of privacy. "A normal, average person would not be about to be accepted into the SDTF young Christopher." Lane protested, his eyes amused. "A normal average person does not even know that we exist." he stated simply. "I am certain that there is something... immortal, about you, that you have not discovered yet. An empathetic ability, or a Sensing. Something hidden that works in your subconscious." he admitted. "Or you never would have expected us to be real, or even thought about it..." Tank smirked. "That you sought out, and fucked the only other Immortal at the club last night says something." he admitted. "The guy you plowed was Erin, a Siren... a merman." he explained. "That he actually let it slip that he was an immortal says something even more." he admitted. "There is something about you that isn't one hundred percent human... like calls to like, you might have a few drops of immortal blood in you even, not giving you any real powers, but attracting you to our kind anyway." they suspected he had powers, but they also suspected he didn't know about them. It was going to be an interesting time in the SDTF for Christopher."there is no underestimating humans." Lane admitted suddenly. "We are stronger, faster, smarter, more powerful... and yet, they outnumber us easily a thousand to one, and their weapons can kill us." he admitted. "As long as the weapons are correctly prepared, they can kill us." Lane admitted. "If they ever discovered us, we would all be slaughtered... yes, we would take out many of them... but they breed like rabbits, and would overtake us far before we could ever hope to survive... they are ruthless in anything that is not exactly like them... and they would murder us without mercy." he admitted simply as he examined the pipe, tapping out the ashes onto the floor and putting the pipe away now that the stuff he was smoking was gone. "A bow?" he asked lifting his eyebrow at the other. "A long bow? Short bow? Crossbow? Some insanely complicated electronic thing?" he asked, curious about the others weapons, Tank chuckling a little. "As long as you are not joining simply to die." Lane decided as he slowly set up and pulled soft silk gloves onto his hands, Tank chuckling a little as he offered Christopher some gloves. "In case you decide to try to shake someone else's hands, don't need you having your mind stripped away or something." he teased, Janet giving Tank a look. "Our people are more controlled than that Tank." he protested as the Limo came to a stop. They all got out, and in front of them was a massive apartment complex, one of those fancy, expensive ones that you had to be rich to be able to get into. It was five stories tall, and at least sixteen rooms long, and you knew the rooms where anything but small. "This, is the SDTF, Headquarters." Tank informed Christopher, smirking at him. "Your stuff from your other place will be brought in here and taken up to your new room, their nice rooms, you'll like it." he admitted grinning as Lane walked in, human's passing by him without even a glance at his horns or his claws. As if they didn't see him at all. "You will be paid as well while working for us, a thousand dollars a month." he admitted simply. "All food, clothing, weapon, and other survival needs will be provided for you by the SDTF." he explained as he walked into the building, the hallways large and pretty, there was even an elevator... it was a very ritzy, classy place. "We're heading to the underground levels for now." Tank admitted. "There is a contract that you need to sign, and there are weapons, devises, and uniforms that you have to get, you'll have a physical and a series of physical tests that you will have to pass." he admitted. "to make sure that your healthy, and then we'll get you a tour of the place, it's easy to get lost, but everyone here will help you find your way." the place was empty so far, Lane had vanished, leaving Christopher with Tank who entered the elevator, waiting for Christopher to do the same before he pressed his hand to a reading pad, the pad scanning his hand before a voice chimed in. "Welcome Taurus."... Tank's name was Taurus?... no wonder he went by Tank. "Not... a word." he growled at Christopher before raising his voice. "Hello Emilee, first First floor please." "Of course." the mechanical voice replied, Tank smirking at Christopher."have you ever seen that movie, Resident Evil?" he asked smirking at Christopher. "Emilee is like the Hive Queen... only stable. She runs everything here. It might shock you, but the SDTF is the most technologically advanced...er, company in existence... which is where we get all our money. Cellphones, computers, televisions... that's all us." he admitted simply. "Occasionally a human will find something, like Thomas Edison was a human." he admitted. "Emilee is our most prized system, so be very nice to her... she does have a bit of a temper." he warned as the elevator stopped and opened, Tank grinning. "You have a good day Emilee." "You as well Taurus." the mechanical voice chimed as they stepped out into a massive stone hallway, glowing bugs crawled along the ceiling, lighting up everything. "Electronics don't work down here, just so you know." he admitted smiling a little. "there are magnetic metals all through these cave systems, so the only things that work down here are powered by magic, or are natural." he admitted chuckling a little. "Don't worry, the bugs won't fall on you." Christopher cleared his throat when Tank asked if he looked green to him and tilted his head to the side as if he was considering his words. "Well I suppose it depends on the lighting..." He teased and shook his head, green eyes flickering off to the side. "No, I'm sorry it just slipped out. You're huge and seem pretty strong and that just reminded me of the Hulk, who I admire." The blond confessed and offered a somewhat sheepish smile to Tank. He flushed when Tank teased him right back about not being the one whose ass he had plowed that night. "Of-Of course not! You know I get just as much pleasure out of being a top than I do as being a bottom!" Christopher exclaimed, trying to gain control of the situation again without becoming too flustered. Once they were in the car, the blond blinked when Tank explained about the handshake and immediately dropped it, feeling stupid for having not asked in the first place. This was the supernatural they were dealing with and not humans, he had to remember that for future reference. But still, he hadn't thought this particular man wouldn't have been human! "I apologize. I didn't know." Christopher said quickly and glanced over at Tank for a brief moment before returning his attention to Lane. As their time progressed, he began to feel more uncomfortable and decided to give them a bit of a bone to chew on to draw their focus away from him but at the same time satisfy their interest. "Yes, well. I actually am a normal, average person. But my twin brother isn't." He admitted and looked down at his hands. "Cade has the ability to create and manipulate all forms of fire. He could control it pretty well for the most part. And he was the one who got my interest started in the possibility of a supernatural detection force." The blond said, clearing his throat once more as if the subject bothered him now. He looked over at Lane when the man expressed interest in his bow and nodded, reaching over to pull his duffel bag closer to him, just to make sure it was still there "Long bow. But I can use any type of bow since it's my specialty. That and swords and blades. I'm not too good with guns yet, but I guess I'm decent enough, at least that's what Cade says." Christopher said with a shake of his head as if it meant nothing much to him. When the car stopped, he got out and followed Tank into the headquarters and through the various areas. Lane left them, apparently having other business to take care of. The blond glanced over at Tank in the elevator when a voice inside welcomed him as 'Taurus' but didn't say anything in response. Of course, it was on the tip of his tongue to comment, but that wouldn't be very polite, especially not on his first day there. He was glad he didn't when Tank instantly told him not to say a word about his name. "I wouldn't dream of it Tank." Christopher coughed and looked away from Tank, having this terrible habit of getting flustered. At least when it came to sex. And also of putting his foot in his mouth, metaphorically of course. This time it was the latter that was messing him up, and he hoped he could get a hold of himself soon. He looked up at Tank once more when the man started to speak again and nodded. "I see." There was quite a lot to think about and to take in, especially for someone like him who had not been involved in the supernatural world like his brother had. "So all the things we have to do are done down here, in the underground parts of the organization?" Christopher asked as he glanced over at Tank, feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything he had seen so far. Did he expect him to remember all this in one day? That would be a bit much, although he was certain he could get it all within two days. That wouldn't be much of a stretch for him. Most people probably would have needed at least a week to get settled, but Christopher was different from most, another thing he never saw about himself. For all his talk of being a simple, normal, average person, he was anything but that and never even realized it. Tank roared with laughter at Christopher's stuttered responses, finding the boy to be rather hilarious and cute when he was all flustered and shocked. "Well I'll tell you one thing, you'll get plenty of sex at headquarters! Immortal LOVE sex!" he admitted with bright laughter before sobering as he moved into the car, smirking at Lane. "I am well aware you didn't know, no harm done." Lane stated calmly examining Christopher. "Still, that you recognize that you needed to apologize is a considerable thing. Most people are so very rude, and do not notice nor care." he admitted simply before looking curious. "Brother?" Tank asked, lifting en eyebrow. "How interesting... we might have to look him up as well." "All forms of fire... that is a considerable power... it is very rare, to have such a power manifest in one twin, but not in the other... siblings, yes... but not in twins..." he tapped his lips, considering it as he watched Christopher curiously. "No matter, if there are powers laying dormant inside of you for whatever reason, I am sure they will come out while around so many immortal, and once they do, we have many here who can help you control them, and learn how to control them on your own."" Long bow, very good. You will fit in well here." Lane admitted smirking at him a little before leaving, Tank chuckling a little. "You'll be seeing him again." Tank promised shaking his head. "Lane has a sick interest in humans." he admitted simply. "He never goes out into the human world, there's too many people and their always touching him." he chuckled a little. 'But he'll be asking you many questions once he's done doing his job." Tank admitted simply before glaring at him for the stumble. "I can and will make you suffer here Christopher, don't forget that." he growled at the other before grinning as he led the other down into the caves. "Don't worry about getting everything memorized right away, you have a few weeks to get settled into things." he promised before nodding. "Yes, anything that has to do with the SDTF is done down here. Everything above is for your own personal enjoyment." he admitted moving into a room and handing him a contract which was as straightforward as a contract could get. It was astonishingly simply, just a promise to protect the humans and the immortal, blade blade blade come when called, blah blah blah, and in return he would get the money, and all things he would need provided for him. It was everything Tank had said it would be."we'll need you to get a physical right away." Tank admitted leading the way into a room where a woman was with another person, binding a bleeding arm. She looked very strange for a moment, and then she moved out from behind the curtain that had been half hiding her, revealing her to be a centaur of all things! She was gorgeous, voluptuous with skin as white as milk and fur to match, her hair just as white and her eyes as blue as the ocean. "Hey Tank, come on in and sit the new kid there, I'll look at him in a minute." she chirped simply, not even glancing at them as she bound the other man's arm. Then she came over and did all the usual doctor things to Christopher, listened to his heart and lungs, checked his sight, his hearing, ran through his reflexes, took blood, and ran him through a cat scan before giving him a clean bill of health for testings. Tank nodding. "Thanks Moonbeam." he chirped grinning at her as he helped Christopher off of the Cat scan table. "Alright kid, lets head up to your room and let you get settled in now that we know your not about to die on us." he teased chuckling a little as he led the way back over to the Elevator. "Good Evening Christopher, are you settling alright?" Emilee asked him when he stepped into the elevator. "If you ever need anything while in your rooms, simply press the com button and I will provide it for you." Emilee explained to him, Tank grinning a little. "She really does mean that. Some things might take longer than others, but she does mean anything." he promised Christopher." Your room is on the Fourth Floor Christopher." the computer spoke before the doors opened on the appropriate floor. "Thanks Em's! you're a doll!" Tank promised blowing her a kiss before leading Christopher to room 420, and handing him an electronic Key. "This is yours, don't lose it. Remember, the Com is next to your door, talk to Emilee if you need anything." he ordered smiling at Christopher letting the boy head into his room. It was a Five-Star Hotel all the way through, there was a kitchen area, a full living room. Two bathrooms, one with a whirlpool tub with jets and everything. There was a large bed with heavy blankets to keep him warm, a massive television, everything he would want or need in a house or home. It was only lacking a personal touch, and all of his things from his house was already in their in boxes and waiting in corners to be placed wherever he wanted them to go. Christopher was somewhat amused to hear that immortals here loved sex and that he would be getting plenty of it during his stay. Well that was good to know. But he didn't want to think about it too much yet since he had yet to see someone who truly caught his eye. A shadow crossed over his features when Tank spoke of how they might have to look him up as well and he shrugged. "That might be a bit hard, considering Cade disappeared three years ago, right after he gave me that bow." The blond said with a sigh and looked up at Tank, letting his eyes linger on him for a brief moment. "But if you do happen to find him, please let me know." He added, just on the off chance that they might actually possess the resources to find his elusive brother. "I don't have any dormant powers." Christopher stated once more, emphasizing his words this time around, almost as if he didn't want the idea brought up around him. The fact that Lane thought his long bow would fit in well here was comforting, it meant he could at least do some good without making use of his powers since the last thing he wanted to do was use them. He hadn't used them ever since he had first discovered them and didn't intend on doing so now. "No, sir." Christopher murmured when Tank glared at him and told him not to forget he could make him suffer here if he wanted. The blond quickly perused the contract and then scratched out his signature on the piece of paper and handed it back to Tank shortly afterward. "Alright." He said when told he would need a physical right away and followed Tank down to the room where someone was conducting said physicals. Christopher let his eyes flicker over the female for a few moments and then blinked when she spoke, realizing that she had been talking to him and immediately came over to the seat in question. Time passed by relatively fast as Moonbeam tested him for the usual things and Christopher was happy just to look at the beautiful female before him, and before he knew it he was in the elevator with Tank. "Yes, it's fine, thank you, Emilee." He murmured, feeling a bit strange to be talking to no one he could see. Christopher took the key Tank handed him and nodded when the other male explained the things he needed to know while inside. "So, do I need to be anywhere after I unpack?" He asked Tank, turning to look at the other as he waited for instructions of some sort. After all, he didn't want to just sit back and relax if there was work to be done. There had to be something he could do and make use of himself, right? This was all quite overwhelming, but he was sure he could grow to like this place. Tank looked surprised, his head tilted. "He disappeared?" he asked, looking amazed and a little upset that he had made Christopher sad. "I'm sorry... I'll look for him." he promised. "If I find any clues to his whereabouts I'll make sure to let you know..." he promised before smirking at the other. "All humans have dormant powers." he stated simply. "It's just that some are buried deeper than others." he admitted calmly Lane chuckling a little. "No matter, clearly you don't wish to speak of it. Unless it becomes a problem later or something we won't bother you about it." "But!..." Tank tried to protest, grimacing as Lane glared at him. "Sorry Sir..." Tank muttered shaking his head a little. He watched the other closely as he signed the contract, looked it over carefully and then had it filed as he waited for the other to get done with his physical. "You don't need to be anywhere until morning." he promised grinning a little. "I'll have somewhere here to show you around when you need to be up." he promised. "Don't worry, there's nothing too important for the first few days." he paused and then smirked. "I'll have to have Erin come and get you." he decided winking at the other before vanishing down the hall, letting Christopher, settle into his new home. There were snacks and things in the fridge, pop of all kinds and even some beer. There was chips, snacks and other such small foods in the cupboards, and more alcohol. Some people needed to get drunk to come to terms with everything, so alcohol was provided... so long as you weren't an alcoholic.in the morning, no one appeared until Ten o'clock in the morning. Giving Christopher plenty of time to wake up and eat something, considering an alarm clock at the edge of the bed had woken him up at nine. The knock came at the door and the face that was there was very familiar... it was the man from the club, Erin, the Siren who had confirmed the existence of the SDTF to Christopher. And had been the tightest fuck that Christopher had ever had. "Good morning! Glad to see you made it into the SDTF!" Erin chirped, grinning at the other. "you're the talk of the town! Rumor has it that Lane is going t oversee your training himself." Erin admitted. Erin had dropped the Glamour that he had worn at the club, and now his unusual shaped ears where in plain view, long blue fin like ears that twitched and wriggled. The rest of him was covered in a strange Kimono like robe, but his feet peeked out, they were bare, and covered in blue scales, and you just knew they were supposed to be a long tail fin instead of human legs. "Go and get ready." Erin ordered with a grin. "I'm going to give you a small tour of the underground before you start your testing, Lane will take over once you get there. Tank would do it, but he had to go out on a mission, something about a manticore..." he shrugged. Once Christopher was ready Erin showed him around, stopping in the dining hall and kitchen first, getting Christopher a good proper breakfast. It was even a buffet style, s Christopher could choose whatever he wanted. Erin showed him too everywhere, the pool, the gym, the massive underground garden that was hot and steamy and looked more like a massive jungle than a garden. He also took Christopher to get his uniforms, explaining that he had to wear them during training and on missions, but was otherwise free to wear whatever he wanted. He got Christopher the items he would need as well. His choice of a choker, or bracelet made out of leather that had a tracking device, and com system that would allow him to communicate with his team or call for help if he was damaged. A cellphone too, state of the art, whatever style he wanted. Touch screen, flip phone, keyboard, anything he wanted. That was how he was going to know when he had training, or had a mission. He was also allowed to call, or text whoever he wanted, as much as he wanted. He was given two hand guns, unloaded of course, and the bullets to go with them and was instructed not to load the gun until he had his gun training. He was given a bow and Arrow, and a cross bow 'for training and practice'. Erin explained. 'So that your primary weapon does not get ruined in the rough and tumble'.he was also given a wallet with a badge inside, like any other uniform badge, like the Police or the FBI, it had SDTF stamped on it, his name, and his badge number, letting the world know that he was legit. Erin carried most of the stuff in a pack slung over his shoulder, since Christopher wasn't going to need it just yet. The Merman took Christopher back into a new area, where Lane was standing off to the side, watching a group of men practicing a Hand-to-hand style of fighting, groups of them sparring under the watchful eyes of three senseis who where correcting posture and keeping it all safe. Erin didn't say anything to Lane, he just handed the bag over, winked at Christopher, wished him luck, told him his room number and headed off with the promise that if Chris needed Erin was good with his hands... and his mouth. Lane's lip twitched at that last comment, and he blinked at Christopher. "Before you ask... yes, most Mermen are that hyper." he admitted. "Are you settling in alright? I know most of this is very confusing..."I couldn't decide on which pic I wanted for Erin, so I thought I'd let you decide! ^^ Erin 1orErin 2?^^) Of course they would bring up his disappearance, it only made sense since he had mentioned what had happened. "Yes. No one knows where he went. But I believe he was kidnapped." Christopher said, averting his eyes as if there was more to this story than he was telling them. However, it was also obvious that he didn't want to talk about it, at least not right now. He ignored the two of them when they spoke about the dormant powers in humans, since it wasn't going to apply to him. There was no way he was telling them about his affiliation with water, it wasn't necessary, and he didn't want to be forced to use them out in the field. No, material weapons fitted him much better and that was all he was going to do. Christopher nodded when Tank told him he would send Erin to get him in the morning and headed into his room to unpack what belongings he had and then settled down for the night. He was surprised by the amount of food and snacks he had in his room, along with various alcoholic beverages. But didn't touch anything, wanting to simply get on with his job and explore the world out there where the supernatural creatures were active. Maybe he could find his brother at some point, one could only hope. Seven o'clock came and Christopher's green eyes opened as he stared up at the ceiling, being used to waking up this early since he usually practiced with weapons in the morning and evening between his job at the local gym as a physical trainer. He turned off the alarm on the clock by his bedside and picked up the longbow which he had hung up on the wall on a pedestal that had been provided for him in this room. Christopher also picked up his set of twin daggers and put them on underneath his clothes just in case he ran into something or someone that tried to attack him. Yes, he was in this organization, but accidents happened, and he wanted to be well-prepared for them. He was dressed in casual work-out clothing today since he was going to get the clothes sweaty and there was no need to get dressed up for something like that. The blond headed down through the hallways to find the gym at this place and after ten minutes of searching found what he was looking for and started to practice with the bow. At around nine o'clock, he headed back to his room to pick up some clothes and went to the showers which he had no problem finding since they were nearby his quarters. He emerged, feeling refreshed. Today's clothing was a tan-button up shirt and dark jeans since he was feeling casual. Due to his stomach complaining, he sat down to eat a small snack of fruit and cheese and then started to wipe the longbow down with a wet cloth, having a dry one nearby as well. He heard a knock shortly afterward but didn't move from his position. "Enter." The mortal called out as he continued to care for his precious bow and only looked around when he heard Erin speak and a brow raised when he recognized the male. "So you're Erin. I never guessed you'd be the one showing me around today." He remarked and then tilted his head to the side upon hearing Erin's next words. "Lane? He's the head of the organization, isn't he? Why would he be my trainer? I thought I was just going to be trained like everyone else?" Christopher informed Erin that he would be ready in a few minutes after he had finished cleaning his bow. Once the task was done, he followed Erin out and made a mental note of where the dining hall was since that would come in handy later on. The rest of the tour went along smoothly, and he silently marveled at how large the place happened to be. It really did seem to have everything a person could want. But it also made him suspicious, after all what place gave you the dream without any risk involved? The uniforms weren't too bad, and he chose a bracelet over the choker since he disliked things around his neck. He picked up the weapons he was given and hefted them in his hands to get a feel for them and then handed them back to Erin who had a pack that would store the weapons for him until he needed them. The uniform, bracelet and wallet were also stored in the pack, but he did pocket the cell phone and nodded when Erin explained he would get missions and training programs through the phone. He picked up the pack when Erin transferred it to him and slung it over his shoulder, nodding when the male left him with his information. The younger male really was quite cute he thought to himself and decided he would take him up on that offer later on when he had some free time. He turned to Lane and smiled when the other male asked him if he was settling in alright and nodded. "Yeah, it's a huge place and seems to have everything a man could want, but it also seems too good to be true at the same time. What's the catch?" He asked, looking over at Lane as he waited for the other male to respond to his words. Really, there had to be something bad about this. Other than the fact that they put their lives on the line out in the field. The building was crawling with people and strange... things. They all ignored Christopher as they rushed to and from, most of them wearing the SDTF uniform, several of them wearing whatever the hell they wanted. One man was even wearing a skirt and blouse as he bounded past Christopher with a stack of papers. Christopher was alone in the Training room, and was alone in the showers as well. Erin grinned a little as he watched the other cleaning his Bow. "Yup, I'm Erin, I would have told you my name at the Club, but I was more focused on your dick in my mouth." he teased chuckling a little. "And yes, Lane is the head of Sector twelve. He does take interest in people from time to time, you being human has him fascinated, and he wants to see what you are capable of." he admitted with a small chuckle. "you're the first real human, no powers to speak of, to be accepted into the SDTF. Most people think that Lane is mad... course, they've thought that for centuries." he admitted shrugging his shoulders."due to the nature of... well, him, I wouldn't doubt that he's a little mad." Erin admitted looking amused. "He's a Dream Weaver you know." he admitted looking at the other. "He creates dreams, good ones for innocents, and terrible nightmares for the wicked... at least, that was what he used to do, back when people believed in us..." he sighed. "No one was willing to do wicked things in the face of such terrible nightmares... but no one believes anymore, and if they don't believe, then the Dreams cannot settle, that's why he came to the SDTF, to do the good he could." Erin admitted smiling at the other. "Never touch his bare skin unless he gives permission, you'll have nightmares for DAYS, waking AND sleeping." he shuddered. "Trust me, I'd know..." he admitted wrinkling his nose as he led the other around. Xane smiled as he watched Christopher, his eyes amused as he watched the other. "Catch?" he asked smiling a little. "you're risking your life to save humanity. A person like you will be dead in a week once you go on missions." he shrugged. "That's the catch. Almost every person in this building goes on their missions expecting to die." he admitted simply. "We have made this a safe haven for them for when they return alive, or wounded." he chuckled a little. "We have had this place for over fifteen hundred years. We have had a long time to add things, sometimes out of necessity, like the pools, both fresh and saltwater for people like Erin, others because it was requested, like the pool tables." he wrinkled his nose. "A strange game that, Pool, why would you wish to hit balls with a long stick? Ridiculous... what were we're talking about?" Lane asked, blinking at Christopher. "Oh right, the Catch. The thing is, Chris, is that we do not need human money to keep this place running. Everything here is run off of natural electricity and natural gas and yes, even off of the people who come in. during blackouts, the lightning Elementals and Fey power the place for us." he admitted simply. "We are a community, we protect each other as much as we can, and this place offers the support and the entertainment that they need when their not risking their lives."he clapped his hands together, today he was wearing gloves, soft silky black ones. "Now, shall we get started? We need to find out just what your capable of!" he teased smirking at the other. "Lets start with your bow, since it's your primary weapon." he took the pack from the other and held it while Christopher dug out his training Bow. "It will feel differently from the one your used to, we can't make the fine quality of Bow that you have." he warned. "Take a few practice shots and when you're ready we'll start the test." he promised pulling a clipboard out of nowhere and settled onto a bench to wait for the other to be ready. Once he was, Lane led him to a new area. It was an almost traditional Archery test, with moving Targets that Christopher was going to have to shoot at. "The red ones, those are the closest, are five points, the yellow are ten, the blue are fifteen, and the green are twenty." he explained. "Ready? You have one minute to shoot as many targets as you can.... go!" he flipped a switch and the targets began to move, swinging back and forth, moving on tracks, flipping up and down, various things to make shooting them all the more difficult. The end result seamed to have Lane VERY impressed. "You just broke our record by almost fifty points!" he stated staring at the other, shocked. "...VERY impressive, maybe you won't die after all." Christopher blinked as he saw a man wearing a skirt and blouse bound past him and his brow rose at the sight that had crossed his path. He wondered if the person had been a male or female and could have sworn it was the former but really wished he was wrong there. Yes, the blond preferred men, but he didn't much care for them being dressed up in female clothes. Crossdressing was not on his list of things to see or do, and he disliked it immensely, feeling as if he would rather go for a woman if he was into seeing humans in female clothes. Christopher's attention returned to Erin as the younger male continued to speak and nodded. "I see. I didn't know of the existence of Dream Weavers." He remarked and thought about it for a few moments. That explained Lane's reaction in the car ride over, and he didn't want to think of what would have happened. If he had managed to shake the leader's hand back then. Christopher wondered what Erin's story behind all this was but decided not to ask at the moment, after all he had a training period with Lane now, but he wouldn't forget. They had all the time in the world, as long as they both managed to survive. Christopher snorted when Lane told him a mere human like himself would be dead in a week once he went out on missions. "Oh ye of little faith. Why don't we make a little bet then? If I survive for one week after I get my first mission, you have to cater to my every need for an entire day. No matter what it is I ask, you have to obey me and can't complain or deny me." He said with a smirk and raised a brow in Lane's direction. Of course, he was playing with fire here by being so bold with the leader of the organization, but he liked Lane. Of course, from the other male's demeanor and stature he was sure Lane was a top but if Christopher had him at his beck and call for a day, he could do whatever he liked with him and Lane would have no choice but to obey. He narrowed his eyes when Lane called him by a nickname and his lips tightened every so slightly. The blond glanced over at the older male. "Please don't call me Chris. I prefer my full name." Christopher said as politely as he could, but there was a firmness in his tone of voice that showed he was serious about it. Obviously he had run into some issues in the past with the nickname 'Chris'. The revelation that the place was powered by natural energies and supernatural energies when the former was unavailable made sense, and he marveled once more at the organization. He nodded when Lane spoke of testing his abilities with the bow and grasped the training one, letting his senses figure out what this weapon's weight and abilities were. Once he had become accustomed to it, he raised it into the air and pulled back the string, letting his fingers feel the strength of the bow and nodded when he was ready. Once the targets popped up, he took careful, calculated shots. He hit every single one of the targets he aimed for as a result. But that wasn't surprising for him since he had already warmed up a bit before this and this was also his favorite weapon which he'd had hours of practice with in the past. He had decided to hit every single one of the colored targets three times to show he could do all of them and put down his bow when the time limit expired. "Don't tell me you're going to back out of our little bet, Lane?" Christopher said with a faint smirk, setting the edge of the bow on the ground as he leaned forward on it and gazed at the leader of the organization once more. Lane really was quite the looker, and he couldn't wait to get his hands on him and dominate the hell out of him. Plus he was the head of this place which meant everyone looked up to him. What a change it would be when the tables were turned, he thought with a smirk. Lane smirked a little as he watched the human, his head tilted a little. "A Wager?... this doesn't seam very fair, after all if you do die then I don't win anything." he complained, pondering a little as he considered that. "Still... it's interesting... I've never been part of a wager before... I'll accept it." he decided smirking at the other. "And if you lose... I get to keep everything in your room." he decided. "Except the bow... I'll make sure that goes to your brother if we ever find him." he promised simply. "But everything else is mine." Dream Weavers liked to collect things, they were worse than Dragons sometimes, only they liked to collect things from people, or from events. They liked to collect history, and as the first human to ever join the SDTF Christopher was going to be a piece of history. Lane had to be impressed with the control and dexterity in which Christopher shot and sighed as he realized he might be loosing that bet. But that was alright, he was eager to see what Christopher had in mind for him."I do not 'back out' of things." Lane stated simply as he marked something on the clipboard before running a series of other tests. How far Christopher could run, how much Christopher could lift, without hurting himself. How long he could hold his breath, fortunately Lane didn't require him to get in the water to test that one. He did ask at one point 'can you swim?' but didn't see how well the other could swim if the answer was yes. "Your very impressive for a human." Lane admitted simply. "I believe that I might be loosing this bet... you are aware that while you will control me, I will not be making any changes to the SDTF even if you try to tell me to." he warned, flashing the other a smirk. "But you'll find I'm perfectly capable of obeying orders." he admitted leading the other to a huge garden filled with wildlife. "I need to see how dexterous you are... you see that chicken?" it was a normal, white chicken pecking at the grass. "Catch it." he ordered, one of the attendants watching, amused. Lane made everyone try to catch the chicken, some did it, others didn't. It was less a test and more Lane getting his entertainment for the week. Once the chicken was caught, or Christopher gave up, or an hour passed Lane marked something on his clipboard and they both went to the Cafeteria. Lane took nothing from the line of food, instead he took a cup of something that steamed and bubbled that looked almost like Coffee, but turned out to be a very thick type of Licorice soup filled with a strong brandy or whiskey. It was disgusting, but Lane took small sips, savoring the taste while the people around them made faces at him, which was ignored. "Hey!" Erin chirped, grinning as he plopped down next to Christopher. "Did you catch the chicken!?" he asked grinning a little. "I failed that test, chased that damn thing for a freaking hour!" he complained, sulking at Lane who ignored him and opened a newspaper, the Siren snorting at his leader before turning his attention back to Christopher. "Most the of the Base is buzzing about you.' Erin admitted grinning at the other. "You beat the Elves in the shooting tests. Their very unhappy." he admitted with a small laugh. "As soon as your score came out they all started training to beat it. Elves are such proud bastards." Erin admitted picking apart a fish with his fingers and a pair of chopsticks, mixing the fish with a pile of slimy green goop which turned out to be boiled seaweed."he's learning Gun this afternoon... do you think Blades, or sword?" Lane asked suddenly, Erin pausing, pondering as he looked at Christopher. "Mmm I don't know, he could do either easily I think..." Erin admitted. "Do you have a preference Christopher?" Erin asked curiously. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Erin chirped grabbing his bag and started digging through it, muttering under his breath. "Ah! Here it is!" he chirped, pulling out several Arrows, each Fletcher with different colors. "The folks at the Technology department made these." he admitted grinning at Christopher. "The yellow is explosive, red is incendiary, white is freezing, green is poison, and blue is a metal that is supposed to be able to cut through almost anything. They were hoping, where you have the best aim... that you'd consider testing them out in the real life scenario... you know, out in the field." he admitted grinning at the other. "Erin is sort of an 'everything' man." Lane admitted suddenly. "He works for everyone." he admitted smiling at Christopher. "He's sort of my second hand man. If someone has a problem, they tell him, and he usually takes care of it so I don't have to, so if you have a problem he'll probably be able to handle it better than I can.... depending on what the problem is anyway." "Yeah, I can't punish people." Erin admitted smirking. "I'm a smarts guy, a people person, but I'm a weakling." he admitted with a small laugh. "So if you've got people picking on you, go to Lane, but if you need something or have questions you come to me." Erin admitted, grinning a little as he watched Lane ignoring them. Of course the other male wanted something out of it if he won and Christopher shrugged, he didn't care, since if he lost the bet, he'd be dead. "Sure, whatever you want you can have." He told him and made a mental note that Lane wasn't the type to back out of things, even if he thought he might lose. Information was important in this world and could come in handy at the right time. When he was asked if he could swim, Christopher nodded, hoping the other male didn't end up wanting to see how well he interacted in water. The problem was that if he was in water for too long, the urge to use his ability became stronger and harder to control. Mostly because he hadn't really developed it or found someone who could teach him how to control it. Sure there were probably people here who could do exactly that, but they would be bound to report it to someone like Lane or Tank, and then he would be expected to use his ability out in the field. And that was something he didn't want to do. Christopher looked over at Lane when the man told him he wouldn't be making any changes to the SDTF if he ended up losing the bet and a faint smirk came to his lips as he shook his head. "The SDTF has nothing to do with what I'm planning for you." He said with a light chuckle, letting his eyes flicker over Lane for a brief moment. "Don't worry, I won't have you make any changes to the SDTF." On the other hand, the members of the SDTF would definitely come into play if he ended up winning the bet. But the department itself held no interest for Christopher, and he didn't want to change it even if he did have the power to. No, there were many other things he had in mind for Lane that would amuse him greatly, and he hoped Lane would enjoy it as well in the end. But even if he didn't, at least Christopher would be entertained along with a lot of the SDTF members. The blond followed Lane out into a huge garden filled with wildlife and let his green eyes flicker around, making note of his surroundings quickly and then returned his attention to the leader. So he was to catch one of the chickens here? "Yes, sir." He said and took a moment to watch the chicken as it pecked its way here and there, never stopping in one place for more than a few minutes at a time. Then, Christopher moved forward but instead of going for the chicken he went in the opposite direction and picked up three heavy watermelons that were lying on the ground, ready to be picked up and eaten. He placed two on the ground and the third on top of the two, creating a little blockade in the area he had focused on and effectively shutting off the exit in that direction, if something were to head that way. Then, he waited for the chicken to turn and head towards that area again and came up behind it. To try and grab it, which he was certain the chicken would notice. It did and clucked as it flew away from his hands and towards the blockade he had set up. Christopher ran after it and when the poultry discovered its escape was blocked, it clucked more and tried to run past the blond. But due to their proximity, he was able to catch it and held it firmly in his hands as he made his way back to Lane and handed him the chicken. "Here you go. One chicken." Christopher said with a smile. The time it had taken him to catch the chicken had been a little over thirteen minutes. He wasn't sure if that was a long or short time but at least he had managed to accomplish it in the end which was all that mattered. Once the chicken catching test was over, he found himself at the cafeteria with Lane, and he looked at the odd dark liquid the leader ended up taking with a raised brow. What on earth was that?! Christopher took a mandarin chicken salad, a bowl of chili and some iced green tea, bringing his food choice over to the table that Lane had chosen for them and sat down. "What do you have there?" He asked, expressing his interest in Lane's odd choice. That was when Erin found them again and the blond let a smile come to his face when he saw him. Christopher reached up and ruffled Erin's hair in an almost affectionate manner and nodded when he was asked if he caught the chicken. "Yeah but I don't know if I did too well or not. It took thirteen minutes for me to get it..." He said with a sigh, figuring that most had probably caught it in less time than him. "Oh really? What did you try to do?" The blond asked, wondering how Erin had failed to catch the chicken if he had been given an hour to accomplish the task. He blinked when Erin told him most of the place was talking about him and wondered if that was a good or bad thing, but his unasked question was answered shortly afterward. "Oh, so that's a good thing then? I'll have to beat any new records that spring up then!" He said with a smirk, wondering what the new record would be once they beat it. When it happened, he would be psyched to beat that one too! "What are you eating?" Christopher asked Erin as he nodded towards the stuff he was mixing together. The conversation turned back to him again when Lane asked about guns, blades or swords and he cleared his throat. "I don't do much with guns, so I'm not sure if I'll be that good at them, but I do have experience with blades, especially swords. Swords and blades were my brother's specialty, and he tended to practice with me, so I'm pretty good at them. Not as good as with a bow, but they're my second specialty since I had to be good at them in order to give Cade some exercise." Christopher said with a nod and thought about Erin's question. "I'd like to do guns since I'm not as good with them as I am with the bow and blades. But I'll do anything you want. This is for practice and to see what I can do, right? So I'll have to do all of them at some point, it's just a matter of what to do first." He said with a shrug and his eyes sparkled upon seeing the different colored arrows. "Oh sweet! Sure, I'll do that and let them know how they work." Christopher said with a smile and placed the arrow quiver into his own bag, making sure it closed so nothing fell out when he got up later. He looked over at Lane when the man told him Erin was an 'everything' man and nodded. "I figured!" The blond continued to eat and when he was almost done, he leaned over and placed his finger beneath Erin's chin, tipping it upward so he could look into the other male's eyes. "So I hear lots of sex takes place here, is that true?" Christopher asked, his voice silky and smooth as he let his green eyes bore into Erin's. Surely the siren would understand his implication. He wanted to fuck him tonight, but he didn't want to end up spelling it out for him. The fact that Lane was there didn't bother him in the least, not when Christopher was the one being the dominant one. Lane considered the others nod and then. "Alright, you can swim but I'd gather, not well... better keep you away from water based missions then." he mused shaking his head. "Can't have you drowning after all, that's not how I want to win the bet." he smirked. "You have to die in a happily GORY way you know!" he teased the other, snickering a little as he watched the other catch the chicken. "Hmm." he mused. "Clever, not many people think to trap the chicken, usually they just chase the damn thing." he admitted, looking amused as he was handed the blasted thing, not even bothering to set it down. He just chucked the thing over his shoulder, ignoring the cackling and cawing of rage that the bird was issuing as Lane led the way to the Cafeteria and they were joined by Erin."... what do you mean what did I do? I chased the damn thing." Erin complained, shaking his head. "The stupid thing is FAST! I still haven't caught it, I try every year." he admitted with a small sulk, Lane snickering a little. "That's because you're an idiot Erin." he stated simply, taking another sip of his strange 'soup' mostly ignoring them. "I'm eating boiled seaweed in fish intestines... it's good, want some?" he asked, smirking at Christopher. "It's a Siren delicacy." he admitted shoving the plate under Christopher's nose, Lane snickering as he wondered if Christopher was about to be sick. At least the fish didn't smell too much, the green of the seaweed drowned everything else out... the dish sort of smelled like grass, actually. He resumed eating as the conversation turned to weapons and Lane nodded. "At this point in time, we're normally trying to find what your body takes too naturally. For example, Erin is good with the spear and the trident, things that are good in water, and on land. I'm good with short distance weapons, the dagger, the whip, they feel naturally to me." he smirked at Christopher. "It's easy for you, because you already know your weapon of choice. We just have to refine your natural talents and teach you a few more just to make sure you always have a backup weapon.""he's deadly with the whip too." Erin admitted, smirking. "He can cut right to the bone in a single strike. But he makes fighting with daggers almost an art form." Erin sighed passionately. "It's like he's dancing, and then before you know it, all his enemies are on the ground with their throats slit..." "Sirens enjoy blood." Lane admitted suddenly. "They are cannibals after all." he admitted slurping down the last of his nasty concoction. "Hey! We only eat Sailors thank you very much!" Erin complained before blinking at Christopher, looking a little shell shocked before smirking rather wickedly. "Of course there's a lot of sex." he admitted simply. "We're immortal, and killing gets boring after a while. Sex is fun, we do it a lot... most immortal are whores and sluts... even Lane!" he admitted, smirking as Lane chuckled. "It's hard for me to have sex though." Zane admitted simply looking amused as Erin snickered smirking at Christopher. "Maybe you could meet me in my room after your training?" Erin asked slyly, licking his lips. "I have a great many toys." he purred, Lane snickering a little. "And the sex drive of a rabbit... I'll make sure not to get you too early tomorrow... he'll keep you up all night." Lane teased Christopher, but Erin just smirked... there wasn't any denying the truth after all."you'll have your Gun lesson right after you finish eating." Lane warned simply, turning a page in his newspaper. And it was true, there was a gun lesson... a boring one, though informative. The instructor was rather old and had little interest in small talk, and they spent the first half hour running through the different hand guns, rifles, shotguns, and miniatures, letting Christopher feel each one and learn the basics of how to hold them. Then came the really boring part, once Christopher chose the guns he liked, one hand gun and one long barrel minimum, the instructor ran through how to take apart the gun, how to clean them, how to put them back together, how to load, unload, and safety procedures. Then, only after the instructor made Christopher promise not to try shooting them until Lane could teach him how to, did the instructor let Christopher go with the explanation that there would be no lessons until tomorrow, where Lane would teach him how to shoot, and teach him Dagger and sword, filling in the gaps of what Christopher didn't know... which meant for the rest of the day, Christopher could do whatever he wanted.

Supernatural Detection Task Force|rating:4.0

Misfits_ The Trappy Adventures (Character Sheets)

Post your character sheets here! They can be the full thing, link to myth weaver or similar, or combo (bio here with link to character page). (HYSCROWNN Male TieflingStr: 16, DEX: 10, Con: 19Int: 10, Wis: 12, CIA: 18Age: 20; Height: 5' 9"Background: Noble(LOGIC Male Mountain DwarfS tr: 15, DEX: 12, Con: 14Int: 12, Wis: 13, CIA: 13Age: 127; Height: 5'Background: Clan Crafter ("yummy")Race: Human (Variant)Character Level: 1Classes: Barbarian 1Proficiency Bonus: +2Background: Courtier Languages: Common, Dwarves, Even, DraconicGender: Male Orientation: It's Complicated Height: 5'8"Weight: 145 lbs Age: 19Armor Class: 14Initiative: +1Speed: 30'Passive Perception: 10Max Hit Points: 15Hit Dice: 1 - d12AttributesScoreBonusProf. Total Save STR: 16+3+2+5 (Advantage while raging)DEX: 13+1+1CON: 16+3+2+5INT: 8-1-1WIS: 1000CHA: 12+1+1SkillsSkillAttributeAtt. Bonus Prof BonusTotalAthleticsSTR+3+2+5 (Advantage while Raging)Acrobatics+1+2+3Sleight of Handed+1+1StealthDEX+1+1ArcanaINT-1-1HistoryINT-1-1InvestigationINT-1-1NatureINT-1-1ReligionINT-1-1Animal HandlingWIS00InsightWIS0+2+2MedicineWIS00PerceptionWIS000SurvivalWIS0+2+2DeceptionCHA+1+1IntimidationCHA+1+1PerformanceCHA+1+1PersuasionCHA+1+2+3Tool Proficiencies: None Weapon Proficiencies: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, ShieldsFeaturesBackground - Court Functionary- You have knowledge of how bureaucracies function, and you can gain access to the records and inner workings of any noble court or government you encounter. You know who the movers and shakers are, whom to go to for favors you seek, and what the current intrigues of interest in the group are. Feat - Tavern Brawler (Variant Human)- Strength increases by 1- Proficient with Improvised Weapons-Unarmed Strike uses d4 for damage-When you hit with an unarmed strike or improvised weapon you can use a bonus action to attempt a grapple Rage- On your turn you can enter Rage as a bonus action-While raging you have advantage on STR checks and saving throws-When making a melee weapon attack using strength gain bonus Rage Damage (+2)- Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage-Cannot cast spells or concentrate on them-Ends if KO'd, or you don't attack or take damage for a round, or as a bonus action-Can Rage 2/Day, recharges on long rest Unarmored Defense-While unarmored AC is 10+DEX+Con (may use a shield)Equipment5 upset of Fine Clothes (Chain mail Bikini)Warhammer2 Handaxes4 Javelins Backpack- Bedroll-Mess Kit-Tinderbox- 10 Torches- 10 Days of Rations- Waterski- 50' Hemp Rope Weapon Attacks Weapon: WarhammerType: Melee, Bludgeoning, Versatile Range: Delegate Bonus: +5Damage: 1d8 / 1d10 +3 (+5 while raging)Weapon: Unarmed Type: Melee, Bludgeoning Range: Delegate Bonus: +5Damage: 1d4 +3 (+5 while raging)SpellsSpellcasting Ability: (None)Spell Save DC: N/Aspell Attack Bonus: N/History'me is the only son of the great Call ilia, conqueror of the northern tribes and warlord of the steppes. His mother is one of the most feared warriors in existence, and she brought many tribes of the north under the control of her amazons and so built a large nomadic group of a very matriarchal society. Among these Amazons, women are the warriors and the providers and men are the homemakers and the moral support. Most couples are lesbian, with a few attached men in servile roles. Men keep themselves pretty at all times and are tattooed in their early teens with what would look like makeup to most civilized folks to ensure they know their place. Men wear their hair long and keep it clean, and keep their bodies free of hair and any markings women don't approve of. Callilia was disappointed that she had a son, as all of her other children were daughters, but she was not about to let the fact that she was the Khan give him any special treatment. In fact, she was determined that he would be the ideal male. From a young age he was fed special herbs to keep him soft and pretty, and as a result instead of growing into a man he grew into a beautiful creature more female than male. His breasts grew in, if ever so slightly, and his manhood never grew into more than a young-boyhood and never ruined the front of his loincloth with an unsightly bulge. As a male of noble birth Ye'me was expected to help keep the one permanent palace the nomads kept in court running as a courtesan. He would help resolve conflicts through stress relief, and would serve as a feminine vessel for the lusts of visiting foreign men, who were not allowed to touch Amazon women. He became especially popular among the dwarves who said he was as pretty as an elf boy, and seemed to take joy in rather roughly showing him what they would to an elf boy if they caught one. In fact a visiting dwarf prince offered to tattoo his appreciation on Ye'me, which his mother accepted for him. To this day a large dwarf rune on each of Ye'me's butt cheeks proudly proclaims him to be an exceptional lay and the best provider of oral services in the realm, and invites all dwarves to partake. Thankfully for Ye'me the dialect of old dwarves used is tricky to read and most cannot decipher it. Still, it has led to some awkward moments. Ye'me grew unhappy with his life as a distraction for male visitors and unhappy with the amount of days he had to lay in bed recovering from especially vigorous 'love' and started to dream of being a warrior like the Amazon women. He found a wooden sword and started to train in secret. The women who discovered him laughed and encouraged it, telling him how cute he looked. He was even given a suit of traditional armor, though he lacked the breasts to fill it out, he found that having the weight on his chest helped him with the Amazon fighting techniques as most of them assumed the fighter had a set of counterweights jiggling around chest level. He got pretty good, so he thought, even though when women agreed to spar with him, they always spanked him figuratively, and sometimes literally.Finally, he got up the nerve to ask his mother for permission to travel the lands as a warrior seeking his fame like she had. She adopted the same matronizing expression he'd seen many times before when he told women he wanted to be more than a palace pleasure toy and told him she would grant his wish but only if he pledged to follow the Amazon ways and keep his travels to the civilized world, as the dangerous steppe was no place for a man to try to be a warrior. Before he left his mother had him tattooed with his family lineage on his lower back in order to remind him constantly of who he was, the symbol of the milk cow which was his totem animal to protect him, and a bright pink rose pattern just because she thought it was pretty. She had his makeup tattoos redone to be even more vivid as she didn't want him getting any ideas about trying to act like a civilized male. She told him she would be always watching. He believed her. And so he went forth to adventure. Unfortunately he was naive to the ways of the 'civilized' world and was robbed blind by a beautiful con-artist the first day he was in town, who, thinking Ye'me was a woman, left him with only a simple white robe that fit him like a tight dress, rather embarrassed, and out of supplies. Beliefs and Goals Ye'me is struggling to find his place in the world. He is convinced that he can succeed as a warrior while being a proper man in the tradition of his tribe. He wishes to leave behind a life of being a pleasure toy for others and find his own path in life. Furthermore, he is determined, though his courage falters at times, and he deeply respects his tribal traditions and would be mortified at the idea of behaving in the awful way that 'civilized' men do. Physical Description Ye'me is a very pretty boy. His long red hair is always perfectly kept, often braided or up in pigtails. His face shows the tattooed red lips and dark eyes of the men of his tribe, and his body is usually well displayed in the traditional chain mail bikini of his people's warriors. A few tattoos are visible. Around his upper left arm is a beautiful band of pink roses, and across his left arm is a design of happy cows being milked. On either of his butt cheeks is a complex dwarves rune. A tattoo on his lower back spells his clan lineage in swirling script. While his breasts are small, the 'armor' he was given makes it appear from a distance like it is filled, only up close is it possible to tell that he is a male (and even then it's hard to believe). [/spoiler] (image (NSFW)(Ra's'car Personality:With a gentle demeanor, fluid grace, and a natural talent for quickly picking up and mastering any fighting form laid out in front of him, ZAE'El at first seems like a perfect fit to become a monk. However, where he excels in the physical and temperamental aspects of the practice, he has a hard time when it comes to matters of..."conduct". While his infernal blood does not pull him towards evil as strongly as other tie flings, he still has a wildness in him that simply cannot be contained within the harsh rules of a proper monastery. He is playful, mischievous, often lascivious, and has a penchant for bending whatever rules he is placed within. This "rebellious" behavior doesn't come from a place of malice, quite the opposite his rebelliousness often manifests itself in ways that are quite affectionate, he is simply a free spirit that is driven to do things his own way, more ruled by passion and fancy than by code or discipline. That's not to say he doesn't try, he does make a genuine effort to present himself respectfully, most of the time, and will often recite old sayings and metaphors from his training in an attempt to appear wise and knowledgeable. Ultimately he will always try to do the right thing, even if that means taking a more "unique" approach to getting there. Also as he is a foreigner to this land, he still has some trouble when it comes to understanding the proper customs and culture of the area, leading to unintentional misunderstandings. History:Born in the eastern land of Karate, ZAE'El is a rare breed of infernal often refereed to as a "pale" or "ivory" Tie fling. Little is known of his parentage, as he was found abandoned at the gate of a local monastery when he was but a baby. Normally the monastery would have nothing to do with one born of infernal blood, let alone accept them into their fold, but they had sensed something different about ZAE'El. Perhaps there was something pure about his aura, or perhaps they took his snow-white skin as a sign that he was not as heavily "corrupted" as other tie flings. Whatever the reason the monks took the young boy in and raised them as one of their own. Zae'El proved to be an amazing student, at least when it came to the physical training. He was fast, agile, seemed to pick up new lessons with ease and always showed a genuine desire to be taught. However, while he was indeed purer hearted than most tie flings, he still had a mischievousness to him that his tutors could never break. He would sneak in to the kitchens to steal wine and food, would venture out into the city at night to explore and party, and on several occasions had been discovered in the beds of fellow acolytes, helping to relieve the woes of their celibate oaths. Ultimately it became too much to bare, and fearing his influence over the other students ZAE'El was sent away from the monastery. However, knowing he still had goodness and potential within himself, they did not just strip him of his status and throw him to the wolves, but instead sent him across the ocean to act a missionary in a foreign land, spreading their teachings, performing righteous acts, and perhaps one day earning the right to return to his home. His task was at the same time saddening yet freeing. He would be leaving the only home he ever knew, but he would also be given the freedom to live his life without the strict rules of his tutors. As such he embraced his new duty and set off without resistance. However, he discovered shortly after arriving that life was not easy for a poor foreigner in an unfamiliar land, and has been struggling just to support himself, let alone carrying out any sort of grand, pious mission. Race: TieflingLevel: 1Class: Monk (1)Proficiency: +2Background: Far Traveler (Wandering monk from Karate)Alignment: Chaotic Good Languages: Common, Infernal, Shoulder: Male Sexuality: Pansexual Height: 5'5Weight: 115lbsAge: 18Armor Class: 14Initiative: +2Speed: 30'Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity Passive Perception: 14Max Hit Points: 8Hit Dice: 1 - d8Attributes: STR 10 (+0)DEX 15 (+2)CON 10 (+0)INT 10 (+0)WIS 15 (+2)CIA 14 (+2)Proficiencies Armor: none Weapons: simple Weapons, shortswordsTools: Calligraphy, Flute Skills: Acrobatics, Stealth, Insight, Perception Equipment:-Short Sword (Jean (Pack-10 Darts-Traveler's Clothes-Flute-Piece of jewelry (pearl headband 10 GP)-Pouch (5 GP)Traits/Abilities:Dark vision: Thanks to your infernal heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim Conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in Darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in Darkness, only shades of gray. Hellish Resistance:You have Resistance to fire damage. Infernal Legacy: You know the Dramaturgy can trip. Spells are cast with CHAThaumaturgyYou manifest a minor wonder, a sign of supernatural power, within range. You create one of the following magical effects within range.• Your voice booms up to three times as loud as normal for 1 minute.• You cause flames to flicker, brighten, dim, or change color for 1 minute.• You cause harmless tremors in the ground for 1 minute.• You create an Instantaneous sound that originates from a point of your choice within range, such as a rumble of thunder, the cry of a raven, or ominous whispers.• You instantaneously cause an unlocked door or window to fly open or slam shut.• You alter the appearance of your eyes for 1 minute. If you cast this spell multiple times, you can have up to three of its 1-minute effects active at a time, and you can dismiss such an effect as an action. AttributesRange: 30 ft Components: V Duration: 1 minute Casting Time: 1 action Level 0 School: Transmutation Unarmored Defense: Beginning at 1st level, while you are wearing no armor and not wielding a Shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier. Martial Arts: Your practice of martial arts gives you mastery of Combat styles that use unarmed strikes and monk Weapons, which are short swords and any simple Melee Weapons that don't have the Two-Handed or heavy property.details You gain the following benefits while you are unarmed or wielding only monk Weapons and you aren't wearing armor or wielding a Shield.• You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for the Attack and Damage Rolls of your unarmed strikes and monk Weapons.• You can roll a d4 in place of the normal damage to your unarmed strike or monk weapon.• When you use the Attack action with an unarmed strike or a monk weapon on Your Turn, you can make one unarmed strike as a Bonus Action. For example, if you take the Attack action and Attack with a Quarterstaff, you can also make an unarmed strike as a Bonus Action, assuming you haven't already taken a Bonus Action this turn. Certain monasteries use specialized forms of the monk Weapons. For example, you might use a club that is two lengths of wood connected by a short chain (called a Nanchang) or a Sickle with a shorter, straighter blade (called a Kama). Whatever name you use for a monk weapon, you can use the game Statistics provided for the weapon. Weapons/Attacks Unarmed- 1d4 (+2)Short Sword- 1d6 (+2) piercing Finesse, light Dart- 1d4 (+2) piercing Finesse, thrown (range 20/60) NSWF images(Apart (#id=1180223) - Novice Shaman from PapaluaThis pure ball of fluff rolled down from the highlands of Papal, from a secluded village of peaceful Basilar lama farmers located on cliffs far above all worldly worries. Andrea meant to escape the simple life of village healer that was laid out for him by the elders. It wasn't for him, it never would be. Although he felt really guilty of it, he knew that it was not fair to stay hidden up there and restrict himself to a single village. There were others who needed his gifts more than the people of Papal. Before departing a good friend told Andrea that perhaps if he really wanted to make a change and help others he should aim to become an adventurer. After all, there is no other profession where one gets to travel as much and get as many opportunities to help others. Andrea agreed. He would become an adventurer. Unfortunately he was not prepared for the craftiness of the lowland dwellers. He did not doubt that others would ask of him anything if they didn't really need it and ended up being tricked out of nearly all his possessions the very day he arrived in the first big city. The people on Papal would never have even thought of attempting something so heinous! Poor Andrea could no longer pray for Below to grant him boons or heal the injured. Maybe if he showed skill with herbs they would let him join a party. He scraped together some few herbs from his pocket, various backyards, and the safe bushes outside the city, but why would anyone accept herbal medicine when divine healing was much better? Lucky for Andrea there were others like him and a mysterious benefactor ready to step in and kick-start their adventuring careers. ('Allen' Quinton (#id=1197999)Sexuality: Slutty Personality: Allen is not what one expects if they know, or have heard of, the Moon elves. Quite sociable and sweet, always eager to make a new friend or engage in a bit of derring-do, he seems incapable of grasping the difficult concept that life is hard and not everyone is a trustworthy person. Despite the difficulties he's faced, he remains unerringly optimistic and convinced that there is more good in the world than bad. This doesn't mean he is a coward or unwilling to take up arms when necessary, just that he prefers to try and befriend his foes, if possible. He's a sucker for anything pleasing to the senses, such as sweets, soft fabrics, warm skin and pleasant smells. Some have called him vain in the past, and it's true he prefers to always look and smell his best, loving nothing more than a hot cup of chocolate and a warm, honeysuckle-scented bath at the end of the day. But, he's willing to sacrifice good looks and personal comfort when it is needed, whether it means getting messy pushing a cart through the mud or looking foolish in order to distract onlookers so that a companion can flee. He's not very clever, can be easily distracted and, as said, tends to believe everything he is told. However, he's also fiercely loyal, mostly honest and a sympathetic shoulder for his friends. (Even when hedoeslie, which is rare, he's terrible at it, and never remembers the lie he invented, so is constantly making up new ones.) History:Allen was the firstborn son of the Emperor of the Moon Elf enclave in the Query, otherwise known as the Night Wood or Dim Forest, named for the fact that the canopy of limbs was so thick all year 'round that it blocked almost all sunlight. When he was a child, Allen would lie on the soft beds of fallen leaves and moss that covered the forest floor and gaze up at the pinpricks of light that shone between the leaves like stars. The elves were a friendly bunch, and often the villagers from nearby towns would venture into the woods to trade with them and buy the exotic fungi they cultivated and harvested from within the woods. Most of the villagers avoided venturing off the paths in Query, since one could easily become disoriented and lose their way. The elves, however, never experienced such difficulty...for the most part. Aelen, however, proved quite early on that he was not gifted with his people's inherent sense of direction and instinctive understanding of the wood. Neither was he smart enough not to go wandering off into it at every opportunity. By the time he left, he'd been lost and recovered in the woods around his home more times than he, or indeed anyone, could count. To his father's horror, Allen proved not to be gifted which much in the way of brains, period, and his attempts to attend his lessons, rigorous and imperative for one who was destined to rule, were well-meaning but unimpressive. His tutors quit one by one, driven mad by his inability to focus, his incessant, inane questions, or his incomprehension of even the most basic concepts. While he failed when it came to book learning, survival skills and magical aptitude, his prowess with a sword and unfailing good-humor were undeniable. From the time he could hold a weapon, he proved naturally gifted with the rapier and bow. His slight form and inherent grace made his footwork and ability to dodge threats far superior to his bulkier father and younger brother. Despite his father's protests, his mother had one of the royal entertainers teach him to dance, and it, along with his martial lessons, proved to be one of the few things he could easily pick up. He even began incorporating his dancing lessons into his sword fighting and, while the dramatic flair annoyed his more stoic father, the man could not deny it worked. As Allen grew older, his father worried over the fact that he would one day be expected to rule their people. While he was beloved and kind, his lack of intelligence and gullibility were not traits which inspired much confidence in his ability to rule well. In fact, his younger brother, only five years his junior, was a brilliant warrior, excellent strategist and the spitting image of their father in both appearance and personality. Their younger sister, like Allen, looked very much like their mother, and she was possessed of a keen intellect and gift for magic. Either would make a far better leader, in their father's mind, than his firstborn. And so he devised a plan for how to ensure the future of their people would be saved from the fate of Allen's leadership. When Allen was a hundred and twenty years old, his father took him aside and explained that he believed Allen should leave the Enclave and experience more of the world. He explained that a ruler must have an understanding of what lay beyond the woods, if they were to effectively lead their people. Before long, and with little effort, he had not only convinced Allen to leave the Night Wood, but that it was Allen's idea to do so. So, later that month, after he had gathered his supplies and convinced his, rather concerned, mother and sister to let him go, Allen said goodbye to his people and struck off on his own to see the world. Three weeks later, he found himself in a tavern, very far from home, and an orc took offense to his face. Allen tried to make nice, but his charm only seemed to anger the Orc even more. He found himself suddenly outside, having been flung through a shuttered window. The Orc followed him outside, using the door, and hauled him to his feet, with the plans to rearrange the pretty face that had so offended him. Likely because Owasso pretty and the Orc didn't like the way that pretty boy face made him feel inside. However, Allen managed to draw the rapier his father had gifted to him before he had left home, the same rapier his father had been gifted byhisfather. The point pressed to the underside of the Orc's chin, and Allen threatened to drive it through unless the bully unhanded him. Aelen's still unsure what happened next, or perhaps he's forgotten in all the lies he's spun about the tale, but a few moments later he was staring down at the rapier the Orc had snapped in half and tossed to the ground like trash. He was clever enough to snatch up the broken pieces and flee while the Orc was too busy laughing to remember him. Now, he travels aimlessly with his broken rapier on his hip and his crossbow strapped to his back, happily taking up any task, quest or odd-job that sounds even remotely dangerous. He's convinced that all the hardships he experiences are preparing him for ruling his people, and when he eventually returns to Query he will be hailed a hero and will have earned his father's love and respect.(( Name:JEFlintCharacter Name:IRA Fire belly (#id=1198109)Age:18 Species:Dragon Girl (Dragon born)Sex:Full Package Asexual Orientation camp; Status:submissive Pansexual currently not in a relationship. Job:Tavern Wench/Red cape/Servant to Master Crown. Appearance:IRA is a dragon girl with two large black horns jutting from her forehead a wealth of black hair, styled into a playful pixie cut. Her face is adorned by a snout several inches long that hides her long diatonic tongue. Her tail is shapely and powerful, relatively speaking, and accents her ass well. It is just a little bit longer than she is tall. From her back she has two large red wings that act more like a cape than wings. They can move and flap, but they lack the ability to lift IRA from the ground and so often times gets draped around her shoulders like a red cape. Her figure is lush and full but like all those blessed with diatonic blood it took time for her to mature. Her body is covered in soft and supple red scales on most of her body, her chest, tummy and inner thighs are covered in soft white scales while a stripe of thicker yellow scales runs down her spine to the tip of her tail. Furthermore, her fingers are topped with thick black claws that she files to dainty proportions, she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She frequently wears her wrenching attire everywhere, proud of her job as the tavern wench. Beneath her skirts is a cute uncut penis that's head is slightly larger than the body of her cock, giving it a mushroom appearance. At the base of her cock she wears a beautiful brass ring (inlaid with green emeralds as if they were tree leaves. IRA looks much younger than she really is because of her Dragon blood slowing her aging process by a few years. Height:4'10"Weight:125lbsMeasurements:36-26-36Cup Size:Desire's Surprise Flaccid Penis Size: 3.5" x 2.25" (Medium Small)*Erect Penis Size: 11.5" x 6.75" (Medium Large)*(story of IRA Fire belly starts in the trade city of Ravenna with the romance of her parents. It was a fairly ordinary story of dragon tribe members who crossed paths in a tavern and were instantly smitten with each other. They were married a short time after and discovered that both were looking to head the same direction as they’d heard, from independent sources of Noble Crown’s and were hoping to start a new life. They could not start on their journey right away however because Durand became pregnant. Knowing that dragon born grew quickly they waited for her to lay the egg, they would need to wait for it to hatch before they could travel again. And so her parents, though happy and pleased with their life, struggled to afford living in Ravenna, they had to eventually settle for a small cottage on the outskirts of town. It was all Durand and Quasi could do to make ends meet until they could travel again. In his time in Ravenna Quasi picked up a trade as a mason and a tinker, his true trade of choice was lumberjack. He learned that he was able to fix most things and became very good at laying bricks. For her time Durand became a scribe for a merchant managing his books and helping to keep track of inventory and various functions of his business. She became very versed in numbers and the trade routes and learned them so that they would have an easier time reaching the Crown estate. Both Quasi and Durand worked hard and saved all the money they had and when the egg finally hatched they named the baby brass dragon tribe member Trieste. Within a week he was fit to travel, and the new family began their journey. It was still a long way to get to their destination, and so they didn’t want to linger. When they arrived there they found that the Hydro family was not as well off as the rumors had once said, though the couple had traveled a considerable distance and the rumors had been many years ago at this point. Still with Quasi’s impressive skills as a stonemason and a tinker he was hired on retainer to fix crumbling walls and pathways. Durand skilled in numbers and other work was best suited for helping to run the house. Still they were paid only the barest of money and to make ends meet Quasi applied for and worked in the blacksmith's shoppe with the majority of his time becoming a tremendous help to the old man who ran the shop. With little financial work to do for the Crown Durand took on the position of maid in the house of Crown. She was a faithful and dutiful servant to the tie fling lord and lady. They were given a small house on the grounds to tend to. Young Trieste was with his mother deemed him fit enough to join his father in the smithy and stone reasoning. The young dragon boy grew quickly and proved helpful to Quasi mending and working on their house. Durand was almost constantly in the main house, hardly ever there longer than to sleep. Perhaps that’s why Quasi started coming to the Noble’s house looking for his wife when he was free. Durandal was worked hard, and her health seemed to be effected by the nature of the house. She never complained, but Quasi could see it in her eyes. The emerald orbs were growing less bright. So naturally he went to talk to the nobles about this. He found the Lady Crown and spoke his mind. At first, she was mad at this belligerent rude servant. But Quasi had a quality few others had. He was a tall, well-built and handsome servant, the type that bards would later make stories about. She promised to ease his wife’s burdens in exchange for work at an undisclosed time from him. Loving his wife Quasi agreed. The family continued on like this for several years, until Trieste’s ten birthday. Already as tall as most of the adults and just as powerfully built as his father. He was a hit among the girls already years older than him. But the boy was a Stoic and pious lad. The lord had called Trieste and he listened. He spent most days now in the chapel learning the scriptures of Helm. Both the parents knew that he would not be long for this town. And while Trieste prepared to give himself to the church of Helm Quasi was called upon by Lady Crown for a special job. Word given Quasi arrived prepared to put in a full day’s work. Instead, the work was a different sort of brick lying. And he felt guilty and sickened by this. The faithful husband was so sickened with his act in fact that he left onto the first ship headed for a new frontier settlement. There was no discussion and Durand was at a loss for her husband’s strange behavior. He had taken his son Trieste with him. Within the year the Lady Crown had been with child and given birth with Durand on hand to help with the birth. Because her husband and son had left she’d moved into the main house to help Lady Crown with her pregnancy. Not exactly a midwife she was at least able to help her ease some pain and to tend to her needs while she’d been with child. When the new Lord Crown was born Durand knew what had happened. She passed the child to her Mistresses and plotted the letter she would send to her husband. That night she wrote a catching letter, and then a tear streaked one and then a pleading letter. She settled on the pleading letter asking him to come home. Saw it off on the first ship headed to Pike town and waited. The journey wasn’t quick, and it was nearly a year before Quasi returned to his wife. He had confessed to his son, the closest thing to a priest that he could believe in, and asked for atonement. He had joined a sect that did charity work and sought his wife’s forgiveness. And late in the evening she gave it and asked the dragon man into her bed. Durand asking of him an act of consummation to prove his love which he did eagerly and often that night. The two parted ways, agreeing it was probably for the best if Quasi remained in Pike town and helped with the building of it. Durand agreed and saw him off. A short time later she discovered herself with child again. As the young Master Crown played and did typical baby things, his sharp eyes were upon the dragon woman. And eventually she could no longer hide her child and begged leave to lay the egg and hatch it. Lady Crown agreed and granted her leave back to her cottage on the edge of town. Hearing of the soon-to-be birth of a younger sister, an actual sister, Trieste returned to the main land. A strapping lad, tall and strong. The women swooned as he walked by in his cleric’s vestments. Yira's egg for its size was a mighty struggle for Durand and her fatigue afterward was great, were it not for her son she might have passed that night. He tended to his mother as long as he could, but there were just something’s that even Helm could not do. He journeyed to the noble house and besought the lord and lady to look after his sister’s egg and her until she was able to make her way. When they refused he revealed that in the eyes of Helm he was protecting their image of infidelity. And he felt guilty for doing this to them, but the frontier town was no place for a young hatchling. Luckily in her final moments she’d whispered the name to her son. IRA. The egg to be was named IRA. And so the unhatched egg was put into a safe place to incubate and grow. Trieste returned to the frontier but did not stay long with news of his wife’s death Quasi descended into a drunken stupor, stumbled off the pier and ended up drowning in a fishing net. With nothing to keep the young priest he went back to the mainland and began his studies in earnest to help others. IRA on the other hand was hatched around the second birthday of Call Crown. She is like most dragon tribe was walking within the space of a few hours. And like all hatchlings by the time she was 3 she was already as big as most of the ten-year-olds in the town. Certainly bigger than her playmate Call. Not that it really affected how the two got along. She was taught early her role was to be his servant, and she was educated in the ways of a maid. While Call grew in height and intelligence IRA seemed to have decided she enjoyed her height and education and neither grew. She had the largest green eyes and the happiest of laughs, but she was curious. Oh, so curious and often reprimanded for getting into places she shouldn’t. But all good things could not last and the lord and lady crown had passed. Call never told his playmate what had happened, but she accepted that they’d gone away with the simple understanding that like her parents they would not be back. Her brother had occasionally sent letters to IRA so she knew he was about doing things. Dismissed from Call’s service most days to tend her work IRA drifted with no true clue what to do. She took after her mother in coloring but certainly not in build or height with the same red and yellow scales and dark black hair. It was universally agreed that IRA was a lovely child though, quick to laugh and entertain people. She was the child that got picked up and hugged and held often. The one the children wanted to play with. When she wasn't cleaning pots or emptying pots or scrubbing she would sneak away towards the lone tavern in the city. Dismal by many aspects in the world but to IRA and the inhabitants of the city it was a staple. There IRA would watch the few entertainers and emulate them. Much to the bard’s glee for IRA was a captive audience and even though she had no money to give them she squealed with laughter at their jokes, danced with their dances, shrieked when the heroes came under fire. For a bard she was a blessing for there was no secret how she took the stories. Young Call was much more of a gifted than IRA though. And since she freely moved around the town she provided researched the tutors he requested. So used to the orders he would give that she didn’t question them. She was his loyal retainer, though the word wasn’t something she really knew the definition of. Enlisting the aid of her bardic friends, and mentors, to find people to teach Master Crown what he needed and vetting them. For only the best and most intelligent of Tutors would do for her master. And has he grew older her presence lessened at the manner, showing up to cook for the young lord and do a quick clean up then off to her other job. The young boy had little need for her with his tutors. Now a full teen IRA only knew of one type of work. Cooking and cleaning, for that had been what she'd done for Master Crown. But she knew of the training she'd received for years under the entertainers. She officially asked to join the staff at the tavern and was given a small place to sleep if she so decided. She instead chose to live in the cottage of her family on the edge of town. It was at the cottage that her mother had been laid to rest, a beautiful flower garden marking her grave site, she prayed to Helm to watch over her parents on their long journey. She still occasionally received a letter from her big brother and coins to tend to the house. Most of those went to Master Crown, he was far better versed in numbers than she. IRA never argued about it, her education was remiss, she knew her numbers and letters but spelling and complex math was beyond her. Master Crown had once asked her to take a note, the result had been a disaster with every word misspelled and hard to read, if he had need of a note he wrote it himself and handed it to her to deliver, which she was happy to do because she loved to please her young master. So she spent most of her time in the tavern. Work there was simple. She liked working in the tavern. Scrub pots, cook meals and clean sheets. Nothing complex, and it left time for IRA to practice her routines and sing and dance. It wasn’t until her fourteenth year that IRA began to develop her lush figure. Her clothing not hiding the swelling bust and the rounding hips or the protruding buttocks. Still too young to be a proper serving girl she was now trotted out to clean while some of the patrons of the bar where there. And they began to notice the dragon girl. With the patrons asking frequently for the red one, her nickname, to come serve them their drinks instead of the other girls.Finally, the innkeeper relented and taught her the ways of wrenching. She took to it naturally since it was just obeying orders, and she was good at that. Provided it wasn’t complex order, or required spelling. She was pulled onto laps with giggles and squeals of laughter, tickled and tormented. She didn't like the sudden attention at first but as the tips she was given grew she began to grow to enjoy the attention. Furthermore, she was officially pulled from the back, taken off cleaning duty and tasked with serving, and she was good at it. The men loved her and a few of the women too, and IRA responded by flirting with them all. A "Nice ta see ya Sugar," here or a "Y'all need anything ya just ask for ol' IRA," there or a brazen "Ya need anything, ya just ask, Honey." Her tips were generous and her suite often occupied. Maybe that's how she slipped into being a whore. When a passing traveler left her a shiny platinum piece for his evening. The girl asked what it meant, and he explained her red wings reminded him of the red cloaks from the brothel district and word got round that for the right price, IRA's would be yours for the evening. Since IRA was technically a lady of the night she could be bought for the company of any man or woman who named her price. And this is where the problem came in. She bedded a traveler who paid her in jewelry to match her scales and she gave him an enthusiastic night to the point where neither of them could really walk afterward. Finally senses coming back to them, he left IRA’s cottage leaving the dragon girl to admire her new trinkets. What dragon could turn down jewelry? She slipped a pretty brass ring with emeralds onto her finger and admired it on her finger. Watching as it resized to be a perfect fit. She’d heard of magical trinkets before, but this was her first time seeing one. It wasn’t like she knew what it could do. So she rose from her bed, and began donning the rest when she felt a heat in her loins. She fought the desire to reach down as her clit stood at attention sticking from her hood. She panted as the feeling grew and grew, a tugging, so incessant and needful she could barely think. Furthermore, she settled down onto the bed and got ready to warm herself up. As she played with her breasts she moaned and panted, ready. Her throbbing groin demanding release, and so she reached down to answer that insistent need, her fingers brushed against a small pole and two spherical orbs. Not so simple as to understand what she was feeling she was intrigued and the over powering joy of touching herself, stroking and gripping it. No wonder men loved this! Needed this! And as she brought herself to climax she was pleased to find the object responding to her and staying erect. She could think of nothing better. And she continued. Panting. She had to experience this again, and again and again. It was perhaps three days later when Master Crown found IRA laying on her bed, trapped in her cycle of lust. Immobile on the bed from the continued activation of the curse. The young man got to work and when he could stop IRA from stroking and toying with herself he got the ring off her hand. IRA never noticed. It wasn’t until much later that she realized that Master Crown had even come there and that his magic had broken the cycle of lust caused by the curse. It was also much later that she realized just how much she owed her Master. And she wanted to return the favors on the young man with what she’d just learned from her own body. He steadfastly refused and seemed embarrassed about it. He outlined his reason for coming to see her and told her that she’d be taking a journey over the seas to Pike town and how she was needed there. She didn’t understand, but she knew she had to obey her master. She gave him a full kiss on the lips, the closest she could come to offering him thanks and was seen off to the ship as soon as she was ready. She arrived in Pike town and headed directly for the Emperor’s Flagon seeking employment. The dwarves bartender agreed for IRA would be an exotic touch. She’d only chosen this because the logic that Master Crown had used was to go where everyone gathered. And a cheap inn seemed the best place for that. She went to work immediately wrenching and becoming a part of the local scene, and she picked up a few clients of her own on the side as she explained what the Red Cloaks were. Yogi had no issue with running a bit of a brothel on the side as it meant more money for the crafty dwarf. Yira's most delicious features were her butt and tail, many of the lads loved when she wrapped her strong muscular tail around them and pulled them into her. The women loved her long delicate tongue able to reach almost anywhere. She was truly a busy member of the staff and was quickly making in roads with the locals. As she grew accustomed to the work at the tavern she asked Yogi the dwarves inn keep if she could try a few routines in the evening. The dwarf knew about her activities and had her entertain him before making his decision. And it was a hard audition. His critical eye on her demanding perfection none of the bards had. Gruffly pushing and prodding her into position. Until finally he felt she was ready to entertain the guests on the strict condition it did not interfere with her serving duties. She was a wench first entertainment on the side. IRA grinned and thanked the dwarf with a kiss on the cheek and rushed from the back room to practice her first routine. It was terrible by any stretch of the imagination because while she'd done this in private and for fun she now found eyes on her that looked at her in a new light. And she froze only the sharp stare of Yogi made her start to shimmy her hips and began dancing, the bells on her ankles ringing throughout the room. And as she relaxed she began to enjoy herself. And over the next couple of weeks she became good at entertaining the people with her dancing and her antics, her silly stories she often forgot halfway through. Her simplistic jokes and stories. She was the life of The Emperor's Flagon. Her decision to take up entertainment, in between tending tables, to sing and dance for the patrons of the bar fulfilled her in a way she didn't know she needed to be. And she was still a great lay, for the lads, and a few ladies who enjoyed an oyster soup, most of her money found its way into Yogi's pockets and into Master Crown's not that IRA minded because she was doing this more for fun than for profit. She had three meals a day, and a roof over her head and clothes on her back. What more did she need? Things were a dream for IRA as she lived her life. She'd never had grand aspirations to begin with and so her sights were set low. It'd been so long since another Dragon Tribe, the nickname in the city for her kind, had been in the city that they naturally wanted to show off to the powerful warrior their own dancing dragon girl. And Trieste visited the tavern, because he couldn't find her anywhere else in this frontier city and was amazed at the transformation in his little sister. Her dancing was flirty, demanding and all together sexual. And the young man found that he almost asked her back to his bed chambers before he realized in dismay that the flirty little dragon girl was his younger sister. Not that that seemed to bother IRA, and she continued to flirt with the strong warrior the entire night, calling him "Sugar", "Lovey" and "Sweeter" instead of his name. Trieste and IRA spent the evening together after the tavern closed and caught up. While she'd only been here a few years she was essentially a local, and its problems where hers, Trieste had tired of the life of a cleric and had sold his strong arm into the service of a fine and strong noble who would pay handsomely to have a woman like IRA in his house. IRA laughed and kissed her brother on the snout. "Bless his heart, but my Master is Master Crown now and fer ever" she'd said and then turned him down. Curiosity got the better of her brother, and he inquired about her skills. To which she responded in only the way IRA could ask if he wanted a demonstration. A firm blush from him, an easy laugh from her and a teasing wink she explained she wasn't that type of lady tonight. Much to her brother's relief and with further clarification he wanted to know if like other bards she'd mastered magic. To which she nodded and winked. Her answers were simple, but she certainly had magical talent, as did Trieste. He lingered a week trying to convince IRA to come with him, but she was firmly rooted and explained that she was at the beck and call of her master anyway, taking her duty to serve Master Crown with a seriousness that belied her nature. When asked about pay IRA waved her hand and explained she paid her tax to the noble like all the servants and that was the way it should be. For the dragon girl things continued like normal, and she grew more confident in her teasing and her abilities. In both her serving, her entertaining and in the sack. She was pleased of her attributes, her squishy butt and handful of tits and her soft curves. For IRA life was paradise, if you had an overly simplistic view of the world. And things would have continued like that if not for a customer who took exception to IRA's flirty attitude. Though She has toned down her flirtations a bit and while still available as a red cloak she isn't as active as she used to be, probably because she now has impregnated the general store's daughter. Both IRA and Then are hoping that the child is human and not a dragon tribe like IRA, or it might be a problem for her husband. Not that he wasn't a client of hers either. There are after all only a few dragon tribesmen in the city… and how many of them had a libido that wouldn’t quit? Alignment:Chaotic Neutral with Good Tendencies Abilities:IRA is a fully functional FTA. She can impregnate others and can in turn be impregnated. She also has several diatonic abilities because of her nature as a dragon girl. Furthermore, she has a fully functional tail that can grip and hold things but can't support real weight. Furthermore, she has a set of wings that she can flap but can't get lift with. Furthermore, she uses them to act as a cloak or a blanket for her lovers and her long tongue allows for very interesting kisses and other acts. Cursed:IRA did not start her life as a Fulani and as she's found out it's not exactly easy without her magic cocking. Though without that ring she's always a willing partner. Even if she's dropped dead tired her curse will keep her hard as a rock. A pillar that cannot be conquered. Character Likes:Music, Cooking, Cleaning, Being Helpful, Strong Men, Strong Women, cuddling, Spiced Wine, Apple Cider, Sweets Character Offs:Sexual Pain/Torture, Weight Gain, Sad Masochism, Scat, Watersports, Tentacles, more, Gore Soundtrack (of the Three Ducks Crew Race:Ghost wise halfling Class:Revised Ranger (UA) (#id=1184907Background:LHI doesn't really know where she "came from." She knows how she was raised though; The wolves of Harlan Wood are said to be particularly ferocious, but she knows them as nurturing and cautious creatures. She played with their pups, she howled with them, and when she was older, she hunted with them. Life in the wood made her ears sharp, her limbs strong, and her feet agile. She knew of the other things that came into the forest on two legs, stinking of dead skins and hot metal, and avoided them with the rest of her pack. What she didn't knows was that they knew of her too. Several groups of halflings from the nearby village clambered about in the woods looking after the rumor of a wild girl living in them, to no effect other than to find tracks. It was her own curiosity that finally brought her back into the fold. While most of the walkers came and went, one bunch in particular stayed. And they seemed to prey on the others who visited. For several weeks LHI watched these, studying them as she would a rival pack or a herd of deer. When a naked girl covered in mud and bramble-scratches walked out of the verge and began half-talking, half-growling at them, the bandits of Same Lang whistle's Three-Ducks crew nearly shit themselves. Things progressed quickly. LHI would come and go, spending most of her time learning the language, aided by her ability to communicate through the mind - a strange trait the other halflings found uncomfortable but interesting to say the least. They also taught her the basic tasks of the camp, and then when she knew more, taught her the ropes of banditry. The Three-Duck Crew were not brigands or murderers by any means - they made a show of robbery, because Same was, at heart, an entertainer, and the wood provided most of their needs. For a while, LHI had a new home, a second pack. All that changed when the Fire Nation local lord attacked. Baron Eugen von Mauser never liked halflings. He certainly hated wolves, and brigands - he saw little difference between the three, in fact. After a particular dignitary of a particular noble family found himself unclothed, unhorsed, and unceremoniously dumped out of ht woods by a band of halflings using duck calls as their signal, the Baron had enough. He called up his men and all but burned the forest to the ground. Lhii and the other halflings managed to escape. So too, did at least some of the wolves -she hopes so, anyway. But the Harlan Wood is no longer home, and the Three-Ducks Crew is no longer a pack, so LHI wanders, learning and exploring new places in a world she never imagined could be so large. (Name:KnarfyCharacter Name:Tictictioc Forefinger Anakalathai (Tactic)Age:18 Species:Goblin Sex:Male! Stop laughing! Sexual Orientation camp; Status:Straight Dominant Alpha male! Job:Adventurer and Seeker ofJusticeHeight:3'4"Weight:73 lbs Alignment:Lawful Neutral Appearance: Tactic is of average height for a goblin female, which bothers him slightly since he's quite male. His wide hips, plump ass, pouty lips, and otherwise feminine appearance contributes greatly to his consternation in this regard. However, if no other part of him could be called 'masculine', it's only because all the masculinity in his genome seemed to have been absorbed into his genitals. Tactic's penis and testicles are shockingly large for his size. Each of his testicles is larger than his clenched fist, and his shaft eclipses his forearm in both length and girth. Of course, compared to a human, his endowments are still only slightly above average. Even so, the contrast with Tactic's small, slender body can be shocking when first witnessed. History: Tactic was born into a clan of mountain goblins, and would likely have lived one of the short, brutal, and unremarkable lives typical of such creatures had it not been for the fate of his appearance. Upon reaching adulthood, he found himself an outcast within his own tribe. The males saw him as weak and feminine, while the females would ridicule him for both that and his uselessly large penis. Knowing no other life, Tactic was resigned to a life of misery among his tribe. This all changed the day a group of adventurers came to visit. The tribe made much of it's living ambushing caravans travelling through the pass. Sometimes it worked, sometimes everyone that went died, but there were always more goblins willing to take the risk. Except for Tactic. The other warriors weren't interested in bringing him along. That day, not only did the ambush fail, but the caravan guards decided to track the goblins back to their village and solve the problem once and for all. They didn't even have time to rally a defense. One of the guards was a powerful wizard, and a single fireball blasted most of the village and it's inhabitants to bits before they even knew they were under attack. Tictic, off by himself like usual, survived the attack, barely. He was trapped in the wreckage of a burning hut and nearly died. Yet, the small apocalypse of magical fire awakened something within him. Ever since he dragged himself from the smoking wreckage, burned yet not scarred, Tactic has felt the power of elemental flames raging within him. With his village and tribe destroyed, Tactic left, wandering the mountains for a time. Though everyone he knew had just been slaughtered, he didn't feel terribly sad, nor did he seek vengeance. Even though his experiences had softened his goblin tendencies towards cruelty and selfishness, he was still inclined to think of himself first, and plus everyone he knew was an asshole. Life was hard for a lone goblin in the frozen peaks, and he likely would have starved, or frozen, or been eaten in short order had fate not intervened again. Seeking shelter from a storm, Tactic found the near frozen body of a Goliath on hands and knees. Thanking the stars, he took shelter in the space underneath the surely dead barbarian and lit a small fire, riding out the storm as best he could. By the time the storm ended, Tactic was nearly frozen himself, and likely would have died there if it had not been for the impossible fortitude of his erstwhile shelter. The Goliath was in fact not dead, though he would have been had it not been for Tactic's fire. It is difficult to say what any other individual would have done in the situation, but the Goliath warrior Via Forehand Anakalathai was impressed by Tactic's endurance and as grateful as a Goliath could be to him for saving his life. He brought Tactic back to his village, offering him the chance to prove himself useful. The harsh meritocracy of the Goliath was both strange and familiar to Tactic. The strong survived while the weak perished, but there was a cooperative spirit among the Anakalathai that his old tribe had lacked. For the most part, the rest of the tribe viewed Tactic as a some kind of pet that Via kept as a joke, and there were plenty of jokes made at his expense in the early days. That didn't last though, as Via was the quiet sort that repaid jibes with fists, and his fists were very large. Tactic did his part as well, finding a new motivation to work hard among these new people who cared only for results. Over time, he found ways to make himself useful. He could light fires under nearly any circumstances, and his small size and light weight allowed for some... inventive hunting strategies. (they threw him at things)Via became chief, and by the will of the tribe, Tactic was given the tribe name, making him as much a Goliath as any of them in the eyes of the Anakalathai. It was by far the proudest moment of his life. Tactic spent 10 years with the Anakalathai, and would have spent his whole life, but alas, it was not to be. The mountain peaks are a harsh, unforgiving place, and even the mighty Goliath only hold onto survival by ceaseless struggle. The Anakalathai's time came on a dark, frozen night. Without warning or apparent cause, a white dragon fell upon the camp in a doom of ice and slashing claws against which there was no hope. Yet the Anakalathai fought back, for they were not ones to spare time for anything so ephemeral as hope. The battle was blood and chaos. Tactic did his best, but was quickly trapped under a collapsing tent which surely saved his life. By the time he freed himself it was over. The Anakalathai were wiped out and Via lay dying upon the dragon's slowly freezing corpse. The dragon was wearing a medallion bearing a strange emblem. Via, coughing up blood, explained that the dragon had said that it had been sent by another to destroy them, though it didn't say why. With his dying breath, he bequeathed Tactic his maul and a quest: Find out who sent the dragon, and avenge the Anakalathai! Tictic is aGoblinSorcererwith the soul of Phoenix. He grew up as anOutlanderin the cold mountain peaks. He is Cleveland has experience, needing300more to gain a level. Primary Characteristics Proficiency | +2Strength | 14 | +2Dexterity | 14 | +2Constitution | 14 | +2 +Intelligence | 8 | -1Wisdom | 12 | +1Charisma | 14 | +2 +SVP | 8/8 AC | 12+2 Initiative30ft Ground SpeedAttacksMaul | +2* | 2d6+2 bludgeoning | Heavy, Two-Handed Dagger | +4 | 1d4+2 piercing | Finesse, light, thrown (range 20/60)Spells | +4 | DC 12*DisadvantageProficienciesLanguages | Common, Goblin, Giant Armor | None Weapons | Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaff, Light Crossbows Tools | HornSkillsAthletics(Str) +4Survival (Wis) +3Insight (Wis) +3Persuasion (CIA) +4EquipmentMaul | 10lbs | Chieftains Hammer Dagger | 1lbs | x2 Trinket | | Mountain Lion fang Crystal | 1lbs | Arcane Focus Clothes | 4lbs | Traveler's, heavy furs Explorer's Pack Backpack | 5lbs | Bedroll | 7lbs |Mess Kit | 1lbs |Tinderbox | 1lbs |Torch | 1lbs | x10Rations | 2lbs | x10Waterskin | 5lbs | Rope | 10lbs | 50ft, Hemp Mystery Medallion Abilities and SpellsRaceDarkvision - 60ftFury of the Small - 1/short rest, When I damage a creature with an attack or spell, I can add my level to the damage. Nimble Escape - Bonus Action, take the Disengage or Hide action.1stSpellcasting - Cast sorcerer spells based off of Charisma Ignite - Action, ignite flammable object with a touch Mantle of Flame - Bonus Action, 1/Long Rest, wreath self in fire for 1 minute. Shed light, 30ft bright 30ft dim, deal Charisma bonus fire damage when hit in melee by adjacent, or touched. Add CIA bonus to any rolled fire damage during my turn. CantripsFire Bolt, Green Flame Blade, Control Flames, True Strikes Level Shield, Burning Hands Spell Slots1st | OO | 6th | 2nd | | 7th |3rd | | 8th |4th | | 9th |5th | (SilverscaleRace:Yuan-ti Class:Wild Sorceress Gender:Female (yes! I have boobs, can't you see Sgt;:()Sexual Orientation:Pansexual Switch Height:5'9"Weight:120 lbs Measures:28A-22-28Background:Urchin Personality: I’m a born gambler who can't resist taking a risk for a potential payoff. Ideal: We have to take care of each other, because no one else is going to do it. Bond: Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. Flaw: I’m too greedy for my own good. I can’t resist taking a risk if there’s money involved. Str 8Dex 14Con 14Int 9+1Wis 13Cha 14+2Proficiencies:Skills: sleight of hand, stealth, deception, persuasion Tools: disguise kit, thieves' tools Saves: con, features:City Secrets Wild Magic Surge Tides of Chaos Spell Resistance Poison Immunity Animal Friendship (snakes only) at will Spells:Can trips: Acid Splash, Message, Minor Illusion, Poison Spray, PrestidigitationLevel1: Charm person, Sleep Equipment:A set of thieves tools, Two daggers, Component pouch dungeon’s pack (a backpack, a crowbar, a hammer, 10 pitons, 10 torches, a tinderbox, 10 days of rations, and a waterski. The pack also has 50 feet of hempen rope strapped to the side of it.) A small knife, a map of the city you grew up in, a pet snake, a token to remember your parents by (an iron holy symbol devoted to an unknown god), a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 history:Malawi's mother was a spy sent to the city to infiltrate and watch over the human, but she didn't expect to develop feelings for those who were not of her kin and as such Malawi was born from that romance and carnal experience, but that was something that forbidden and as such she couldn't keep her daughter and Malawi was abandoned when she still was an egg. Despite her reptilian inheritance and having been from born from an egg Malawi would seem to be a human to onlookers and only careful inspection would reveal her forked tongue which she was usually always careful not so show, and so she was able to survive by her own as a human but no, no family or friends she found herself to live on the streets stealing and cheating for a living to fulfill the high standards of her inhuman senses. As a yuan-ti she never had any bonds to her own race instead she felt enamored with the culture of the human society and wished to keep herself part of it, but she didn't intend to live on the streets forever and would always be taking whatever risks would be necessary to gain power and money, her own magic powers are evidence of this but despite her ambitions of becoming an adventurer she was never able to find a group that would consider her to join them, always favoring other girls with emptier minds and bigger assets than she had, sure she was not a bimbo but why did she have to be so flat so always thought, complaining about her own physique but not giving up on her ambitions she tried looking for other girls that were on the same situation.

Misfits_ The Trappy Adventures (Character Sheets)|rating:2.0

Vore Kingdom (Public)

((This may have been done before, I'm not sure. If it has, please delete this post. If not, well, let's see where it goes. Basically, the king of the land has the ability to eat people, something that has caused the king to be feared by just about everyone in the kingdom. However, a few people also have the ability, and are planning to try and overthrow the king. That's the basic premise, at least something to run with. Open to all people, and even multiple characters if you want. However, when you join, you should state whether you support or are against the king, so the playing field can be *somewhat* set. That doesn't mean you can't change, it just gives us something to work with. Ok, let's see where this goes!)) The king of the land was a large green dragon named Taker, or TK as his friends call him. He got the throne by quite literally eating his way there, anyone who didn't like it got a one-way trip to his belly. Because of his habits of gorging himself on normal food or other 'food', TK's belly was always rather large and bloated, something he liked to show off when people started mouthing. He was around 30 feet long, author with lighter green belly scales. He always wore the highest quality kingly clothing, and had a crown that fit his head almost perfectly. Furthermore, he was usually found sitting on his thrown, pretending to be doing important duties, but mostly just sitting there.((That's enough to start. And BTW, TK is incredibly sarcastic and enjoys making fun of everyone. Don't take anything he says personally.)) "A message for you from the front, my lord" Sofia, a rather young fox girl who had been embedded in Taker's army bowed. "It seems that all is progressing well. The thirty-fourth unit should be done with the rebels their engaging shortly." Somewhere above the dark forest of Neither, Varix, a spy to the rebel fraction that had the courage to stand up against the king and his followers flew in haste to deliver the newest pieces of information he managed to gather. Luckily for the Gryphon, no one have seen him leaving the castle - or at least that's how thought - and he hoped that his absence will only be discovered when it's too late. In the past few months he worked in the castle, listening to all the rumors he heard and watching every step of the king, and he even managed to sneak into the castle through a long-forgotten secret passage. His duty was to learn where Taker gathers his army and what kind of weaknesses does that army has, after he successfully finished his task he had nothing to stay for. ~Faster!~ he said to himself while he kept looking behind, suspiciously about being followed. If he was wrong and someone learned about his intentions he cannot afford the king possessing that knowledge. ((sounds cool good I'll be helping the rebels))*PDP the rabbit demon Overlord sat on a box in a tent which was located in the middle rebel camp, he wore a billowing cape-like scarf a T-shirt that read "I PDP:Hey hey hey! What is this! I clearly said to put more sugar in this!! Now Bring me another and don't screw it up this time Key'pees!! Rebel#1:I-I'am sorry sir I'll get you another...*a second rebel enters his tent as the other one leaves...*Rebel#2:PDP, the 34th unit of the kings army is engaging USPAP:Well, are we winning? Rebel#2:...no.it's looking bad...there've been a lot of casualties PDP:how's Varix doing is he ok? Rebel#2:We assume he's ok, there hasn't been any contact from him yet.PDP:... I see...well I'll send a few Gayasha's from my army to help dispatch of our little problem with the king's 34th unit...*PDP snaps his fingers and 5 Natasha appear in the tent via dimensional teleportation, basically Natasha's are oversized moths...*PDP:Go and help out our rebel forces...don't let any of the enemy forces get away...alive! Gayasha:Ge, Ge, Ge! Yes master*the Natasha's fly out of the tent with great speed determined to win*Rebel#2:Thank you PDP, we owe you a lot for helping us...PDP:No problem good, I may be a demon...but I do like to help those in need*the rebel bows to PDP and exits, beside PDP was a large aquarium which housed a voluminous squid-girl one of his recent creations a Squishyasha (cross between a Succubus and a Kraken) the squid-girl then slinks out of her tank and wraps her tentacles around PDP in an amorous embrace, her name is Squish-Chan*Squish-Chan:Are you sure about this PDP-samaPDP:Damn right...once I get rid of the kings' army they'll be nothing in my way of overthrowing the king, and then I'll annex this world into my Underworld!((sorry if this is too much I got caught up at the moment....)) TK yawned barely at what Sofia said. The young king appeared bored with everything around him, rubbing his belly absent-mindedly. "Yeah, that's great and good and all. But, what I'm really concerned with is who's spying on me in this castle. I hate spies!" He said, sounding more like a whiney toddler than anything else. "What have you army people been doing all this time?! You fight back the rebels, but you can't even silence a simple rumor! GRRR!" He said, knowing he could be away with acting like this, as his belly can show. "Get to work!"(I'm trying out a new character type here, for practice when I write stories. Hope no one minds a somewhat childish/sarcastic dragon!) Varix kept flying until he finally reached the hideout of the rebel fraction. He knew that just landing would be most unwise, instead he flew a little more, taking a rather large circle above, but he was aware of the importance of his timely arrival. Thus, after taking this minimal precaution he started a nose dive right into the forest aiming for PDP's tent, the one who helped the rebels out so far. Being the commander of a large amount of soldiers he was the first to report to. Only when he felt ground beneath his paws and talons he realized how long and exhausting his flight was. He looked around quickly before he headed for the tent, searching for people.~ Where is everyone...? ~ he asked himself, hoping that he wasn't late. He shook his head quickly to get rid of the thought and walked to the tent, chirping quietly but quite audible for permission to enter.((Oh I LOVE that personality! ) (sure, that's cool, but I like playing the high-strung type who would take everything seriously)she blanched, not really ready for such a response. "I'll see what I can do about the problem, sire" she bowed hastily before starting to walk away, wondering who to talk to about this TK nodded, proud of himself for sending her away like that. "You better, I'll be counting the minutes until this spy is caught! 1, 2, 3..." And he actually went on for a little while after she left, until he got bored and wandered around the room a little bit, taking care to rest his belly on everything he could possibly put it on, on the off-chance someone was watching him.((EDIT: Forgot to mention, thanks for the positive feedback!)) ((Mind if I join, on the side of the king?)) Rorik walked slowly down the road, not knowing quite where he was going. A pack filled with rations on his back, a water flask hanging from his belt, the gray wolf author reached the top of a hill. Looking into the valley before him, he could see a battle raging on below. Judging from the sides, he could see a battle raging on. With no intention of getting into the fight, Work simply walked around it. However, he came across some men, apparently resting." Hello?" Work said. One of the awake men became alert and stood before Work." Who are you?!" asked the rebel." A wanderer." retorted Work." King or rebel?" Rorik remembered that he was once loyal to a king, and had gotten rewards from it." King" he responded. The rebel yelled and woke up the resting soldiers. Work watched as all of them got up and drowsily faced Work. Apparently, they had thought no one would find them." This isn't very fair, is it?" Work said. Then he placed his right hand, palm towards the rebels, by his face. He then proceeded to unsheathe a blade hidden within his wrist. Getting into a ready stance, work prepares himself for the drowsy assault. Within moments, Work had finished, and he was holding the last rebel by his neck, in the air." Where's this king's castle at?" He asked. The rebel pathetically pointed east, and Work dropped him to the ground. While the rebel tried to regain his breath, Work simply walked away, cleaning the stains off of his blade. The rebel, dumbfounded, quickly began to run to PDP to alert him of this newcomer. *PDP's ears perk upon hearing the chirp, he immediately realises it to be Varix*PDP:*smiles* ah, is that you Varix? Heh, com'n in good*Squish-Chan recedes back into her aquarium, with a rather disgruntled look on her face, she didn't like Gryphon that much...**meanwhile the rebel Work attacked was hastily making his way to the camp, when he met up with one of PDP's Natasha (Moth Demon) who was apparently keeping watch*Natasha:Ge?...where you off to... Rebel:To PDP, there's a newcomer whose loyal to the king...and he's super-strong! Gayasha:O Fly? How strong? Rebel:he killed our whole group off! Like it was nothing!! Gayasha:Geese!? Are you serious Rebel:Yeah...dead serious...gas! Poor choice of words... Gayasha:Ge... I'll send for more of my comrades, and we'll take this new guy out you just head back to camp, Ge. Rebel:Right.*The rebel continues his trek to camp, while the Natasha sends an ultrasonic signal which called forth 10 more Natasha, he explained the situation to his moth buddies, and they took off after Work* Something wasn't right. He could feel it. He knew something bad was going to happen. Luckily, Work had reached the edge of town. Walking through, he noticed people around him looking at him, watching, seeing what he was going to do. Ignoring this, he walked straight on to what he was sure was the kingdom's castle. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. *Unfortunately for Work his intuition was correct, for the group of Natasha caught up to him. The demon moths landed in front of him and stared him down with glowing red eyes*Natasha#1:Ge, are you the wanderer who killed off a group of rebels near here?*some of the people who had seen the Natasha land quickly fled back into their houses, they knew what the Natasha were and what they were capable of...* Work braced himself, counting off the number of foes, while pulling the blade out from his hand. He counted about seven...but the noise he could hear behind him told him that more was there as well. He could use the empty streets to his advantage, and he could hear where they were, but that also means there's no potential shields. Besides, they can fly. How could he outrun that? So far, running seemed to be his only option. But then again, he was up to a bit of fun." Yea." he answered calmly, and he prepared for battle. In all cases, he hoped that a guard or something would call for backup. Rorik did not know what these things were capable of. Varix stepped into PDP's tent, and glanced around quickly. The months he spent in the capital made him even more cautious than he was. He nodded to PDP, even knowing that he is his superior the Gryphon had more dignity to bow to anyone. If it wasn't for the rebel war effort or the fact how the Gryphon hated the king he wouldn't have taken orders from anyone, he was certain about that. After getting over the formal part of the meeting, he chirped, loader than before. "PDP! The news I've brought are rather troubling. The king is still unaware where our hideout is, but he definitely suspects something! I've heard that two thousand of his soldiers have gathered on the eastern border and on more a thousand to the north to create a diversion! However..." - a sarcastic smile appears at the corner of his beak at this point - "... his army has a lot of young lings calling themselves soldiers. They're inexperienced, I suppose they're enlisted because that overgrown lizard did not expect a rebellion coming over his head. Most of his army is still scattered all over the country. However, this will change soon as well, he realised what's really going on. Yet, I think we have another advantage. He doesn't take us seriously. In fact... He doesn't take anything seriously, and obviously he underestimates our forces." He thought for a moment before he continued his report. "There is one more thing. We have more allies than we thought. I've talked to a lot of servants and civilians while I was on-duty, of course keeping my incognito. I think Taker have more enemies in the capital than loyal followers. That's all." The Gryphon, while he spoke to PDP, kept a curious eye on him, watching for his reactions and when he finished talking he looked at him, waiting for questions or anything the demon could add while he catches his breath. Flying over one and a half day in a haste exhausted him, his wings felt heavy even being folded upon his back. TK glanced out the window onto the street and saw a group of Natasha gathering around a wolf that looked familiar somehow. Being completely bored out his mind anyway, the king opened his window to get a better look, and saw that a fight was going to break out. He yelled all sorts of cheers for the wolf and boos for the moth-things, just because he could. "I really did not expect to do this," Sophia sighed as she began her rounds as a guard. Apparently, those stationed within the castle wanted a little help keeping up with Taker's ever-changing orders so she was recruited. Tina entered the king's throne room. Her rabbit ears and tail the only things betraying her appearance of a normal human being, she was a general serving under the king. "Sire, there are report that a group of large..." She stared out the window words the scene below. "... Moth creatures have appeared. Should we send a unit to dispose of them?" Work took a deep breath." Here goes nothing..." he said to himself. He ran up to the one directly in front of him. However, at the last minute it jumped away. At the same time, Work leaped horizontally and sliced into another one's wings, renederign it flightless, and quickly dispatched it. He quickly ducked as one flew over his head, and he speared directly up into the center of the oversized moth. He sped around and threw the carcass at another one, which promptly dodged it. Rorik pooped a pebble up from the road and hurled it at another one, which dodged this as well. One of the moth things flew at Work head on, but Work simply jumped, placed his hand on its head, and flipped over it, its head still in grip. He quickly sliced this one open as well and left it to die. He counted the remaining bugs, with six in his sight. Furthermore, he felt something come up from behind him, and grab him with six arms. However, he simply dropped backwards on the bug, and killed this one as well." Four down, six more to go!" he taunted at the six remaining moths." *PDP sits rather calmly all the while rubbing his chin*PDP:I see...well then our best bet is to leave the diversion(s) alone, because as you said they're a diversion, and that's what the enemy wants is to keep us busy with the diversions and then strike when we're out of breathe...so what we have to do is pool all the manpower we can get, and press on to the castle for if my calculations are correct there will be fewer soldiers in the castle to guard the king, since the majority of them are located at the diversion points and/or scattered about the country, and since most of his other servants and the civilians also dislike him, we can probably get them to stay on a low profile until we strike, once we get there they drop their disguises, and we have double if not triple our usual strength and when you add my vast army of monsters and demons that's almost quadruple and when you add the fact the kings underestimating us we get one Uber Eats win, but as you said the position of the enemy could shift at any given moment so we have to act fast... Squish-chan:Ooh PDP-samey your so smart*she wraps her tentacles around him and nuzzle him*PDP:Oh stop, you're making me blush by the way Varix I'd like to thank you on getting such useful info, I can tell you're tired, you can rest here if ya want, you deserve it ^^ right Squish-Chan*Squish-Chan however receded back into her aquarium not saying anything only having a rather disgruntled look on her face again*PDP:...?, Wonder what's up with her...*It is at this moment the rebel Work attacked came running in falling over himself.*PDP:Eh? What's going on? Rebel:P-PDP we have to a problem PDP:a problem you say? Rebel:yeah, there's this wandering wolf, and he's super-powerful!!PDP:...go on... Rebel:He killed a whole group of us.by himself! So I ran back here to tell you but along the way I met up with one of your moth guys and I think he and his squad went after the wanderer...PDP:Ah, then there's no need to worry, if my Natasha have him then he's as good as dead...*meanwhile in the town*Natasha#6:GEE! He's really strong!!! Gayasha#7:Ge, Gee, but we still got our trump card Ge... Gayasha#8Ge! I completely forgot*3 moths flew into the air and begin to sprinkle down a highly poisonous dust, while 3 more began to eat the decaying remains of their fallen comrades, this would in turn bring about something only PDP has seen...* The Gryphon shook his head hearing the attack plan. "The king might be foolish enough not to count on a direct assault, but I doubt his generals will let us close enough. Of course the final decision is yours, but whatever your decision will be, make it quick! Even as we speak, the king's soldiers are being moved to the most important positions and if there's one wise general among them, they'll secure the capital as well." He sighed, glancing at Squish-Chan, he could never stand flatterers. "Where are the others anyway?" - he asked when the rebel arrived, reporting the wolf. He listened to what he said then turned to PDP again. "I think I've heard of that person. It is said that once he made a whole centurion flee from battle which he fought on his own. Now that I finished my report and advices, if you excuse me, I need some rest myself before I get myself prepared. I want to be in the front line fighting that fool's armies!" In the last sentence he expressed all his anger to the king which just grew stronger seeing how that dragon treated even his followers. PDP:Ah, alright so I'm guessing a more cunning approach should fair best against this army... Oooo and I know just the plan to. Ke, ke, ke!*PDP hears Varix's question on where everyone was*PDP:well, most of them are fighting the 34th unit, I sent some Natasha to help them out and the others are in another camp I hid in the deep woods near here that serves as a back hideout just in case those goons discover our real one, 2 of my Mug rots are guarding the camp while 20 or so Natasha are keeping a sharp eye out for enemies, so everything should be fine, there.*He picks up on Varix's statement(s)*PDP:... I see, well then I thank you for your insights it's really helpful ^^*as soon as Varix leaves he gets up*Squish-Chan:Where are you going PDP-samey...PDP:well, I'm going to try and make it look as if we are retreating, however when the rebels are out of sight I'll send in a squad of Arch Demons, Ballots and even more Rebels if they want to go. Then they'll kill off the remainder of the 34th unit and seek out and annihilate any forces of the king, all the while we'll be here recuperating and gathering more troops from the reserve camp in the woods. Then when the path is clean of all the kings goons that same squad will make it look as if they're headed to the capital, but we'll be cunningly making our way to the castle, then said squad will engage with the kings' army at the capital and when nightfall arrives they'll run back to camp feigning a retreat. When in reality they're joining up with us, when everything's in place I'll send Natasha to pick off any enemies in the area, then when dawn arrives we'll strike the castle full force!!*he leaves the tent to set his plan in motion* "My pleasure!" - said the Gryphon and after a slight nod he left the tent to look for a place where he could take a rest. Not much, but he needed a couple of hours to regain his strength - which he knew he would need when he leaves the safety of this place for the battlefield. ~Finally he will get what the deservers for what he has done in the past~ thought the Gryphon before curling himself up at a shady spot under a large tree and closed his eyes. Seeing the danger of breathing in dust, Work quickly ran out of the wind. What they other moths were doing, and for why, he hadn't a clue. However, even with the wind as it was, staying completely away from the dust would be a good option. As long as he ran against the wind. Which he began to do. He spotted a church, one with an open bell tower, that could possibly be reached. From there, he hoped for the best. Reachign the doorway, and just barely escaping the moths' dust, he barred the door quickly and ran up the steps, grabbing the rope up to the bell and began to climb, making the bell create different assortments of clanging and ringing. Reachign the top, he had hoped to take the moths by surprise. He quickly left into the air, onto the backs of one of the moths. The plan had worked, and he quickly killed this one and threw its carcass at another, momentarily paralyzing it. Work hit the side of the church running, and he safely made it back to the ground. Which also meant more running. But at least there was one less moth to worry about. *The 2 other Gayasha's that had finished their rather decaying meal, while the other managed to get his barrings and he quickly devoured his newly killed ally, the other 2 began to slowly increase in size their antenna grew longer and wings became larger, also gaining sharp "talons" on the sides of them this transformation is due to the fact that when a Natasha resorts to cannibalism their bodies absorb the excess DNA and other genetic material resulting in a 'mutation' thus they change shape, the only drawback is they usually die within a days time due to such a massive mutation...the 2 of them surround Work their eyes glowing a crimson red*Natasha#7:Gas... Now this is where. Gayasha#8:You DIE!!*they both open their maws to reveal their barbed proboscis's and with great speed they latch them on onto tightly each of Works arms and begin to suck the blood and other bodily fluids out...**meanwhile, PDP had reached the battlefield and luckily for him his Natasha had helped them a lot most of the 34th had been killed only about a few more remained but a few swoops from 2 Natasha finished them off rather easily, only one remained, and he ran back to report their defeat. PDP spotted the rebels below there were a lot more alive than he thought*PDP:Hey goods give me the lowdown on what happened... Rebel1:*pant* we barely managed to pull a win off, but we did it PDPGayasha:Ge...we came just in time these guys were getting their asses whooped! Rebel2:Hey! Shut yer hole moth face! We fought with all our strength! Gayasha2:GEE! You want to get yer face torn off, mortal!! Rebel2:Bring It Dusts Breathe!!PDP:alright, alright you guys simmer down...we're on the same side here so calm down, anyhow I have to plan and we have to go back to camp so you can guy can regain your strength in the meantime I'll summon some Arch demons and Ballots to seek out any remaining forces nearby and destroy them, if any Rebels who are willing to fight want to go with'em you can, but please be careful...*PDP summons 10 Arch demons and 5 Ballots while about 20 rebels rose up to aid them in their mission*PDP:alright you guys go on ahead we're counting on you, as for the rest of you come with me, we have to head back to camp. Now this was unexpected, and at this point in time running seemed to be a very good idea. Maybe he could use the wind to his advantage, and run with it for a most in speed. Going against it would certainly be a mad idea, but it might be worth it if he could get to the now overgrown moths ahead of him, however, he tried to think of how many he had gotten rid of. However, this was a bad idea as he stumbled, and fell about a story down onto a wagon that was not covered in hay. However, this was only a minor setback, he was used to this kind of thing. Should he play dead? No, they might kill him anyway. Discard that idea. Work balanced himself up, and starting to before he should have, tried to run off. He was able to hide in a neighboring shack before what was left of the bell tower fell onto the very same shack, not doing a lot of harm to Work but causing a lot of dust too. Now, he was at an advantage. He silently padded his way away from the wreckage, hoping that the dust would keep him undetected as long as possible, and headed for the woods. *The Natasha looked on after Work, and they're eyes gleamed*Natasha:. I see him he's heading towards the woods...let's move, Gas!*however his ally was laying dead due to the fact his heart had ripped in half, apparently such a massive body was too much for it...and the other was dead upon closer inspection his cause of death was choking...the last one was the only Natasha who was due to die also in another few hours...things weren't looking good so thinking he had nothing to lose he snapped up his smaller ally which gave him a medium-sized power boost but yet again shortened his life span by at least 3 hours which meant he had 2 hours to live as well as catch and kill Work, so with haste he took off and with in a few moments managed to catch up to Work he shot his proboscis out at him attempting to grapple Work**meanwhile PDP, the remaining rebels and Natasha made it back to camp, and PDP immediately summoned a few Demon Nurses so they could tend to the wounded, Squish-Chan slunk over to her master and wrapped around him*Squish-Chan:Welcome back PDP-samey PDP:He, hey Squish-Chan. *he turns to the rebels* Alright team, rest up we're going to need our stamina for our journey to the castle tomorrow, hopefully the other squad will have dispatched the other units near there...you 2 Natasha tell the reserve rebels to get ready as well!*The Natasha nod and fly off to the reserve camp in the woods* Then before the mighty dragon king, another purple dragon approach him and gazed upon him with her pale yellow eyes. But she was no ordinary dragon, but in fact the shapeshifting witch Honda. She was notorious throughout the kingdom for her devious schemes and tricks upon the young children. She hungered for them every day, for their youthful essence kept her young and immortal. But her hunger was gnawing for more than ever and no child she came across would sustain her enough. So she now turned her sights to the dragon king. "His essence will sustain me for quite some time, and once I devour him this land shall be mine." she silently thought. The clever and seductive witch began to shameless flirt with the Google king and soon won his trust. "You are by far the most lovely creature my eyes have ever laid upon." the dragon king said. "Why thank you, my lord." Honda replied. "How would you like to be my lifetime mate?" the dragon king asked with a spark in his eye. "I shall accept on one condition"Honda said. "Yes my dear, whatever you wish is yours." he replied. "Close your eyes and I'll present you with the most glorious gift." Honda said. The first dragon did so, and the purple dragon grinned with glee. Then speaking the magic words that every victim of her magic dreaded the most "Honda, Monday, Honda!" she cast her spell upon the foolish dragon king. In a puff of smoke, the dragon king vanished and in his place was a mere lizard. Honda looked down on her victim and in a flash of fangs engulfed the former king and down her gullet he went. Falling and falling forever more to the bottomless pit that was the witch's belly. Then in another puff of smoke, Honda resumed her true form. The tall, silver haired siren calling witch that had fooled and devoured yet another victim. Her rotund belly bulged and gurgled with triumph. Grinning still and rubbing her prized victim within her stomach, Honda laughed with a cold and cruel essence. Soon the dragon king's powers would now be hers. Honda would claim this land as her own. "Foolish king, never trust a witch in serpent's clothing" she proclaimed as she continued her victorious belly rubbing. Nothing gave her more pleasure than to swallow a victim. To enter a state of such euphoria was unlike anything else. In fact, it was more than euphoria, it was something new. It was Euphoria! The pleasure of swallowing! "Yes, Euphoria! A perfect name for such a feeling, such a power. And soon to be the power that will build my watchdog!" she cackled in cruel joy. Work swiveled on his feet, the buzzing of the insect in his ears. He ducked just barely in time to dodge it, however he fell in the process, which is something you never want to happen. He tried to roll over, to avoid anything that would come down at him. Furthermore, he kicked out, feeling his foot connect with something. Furthermore, he pushed as hard as he could with that foot, and felt something snap. The pressure went away from his foot, and he regained his stance. Apparently, he had kicked a hole in the last moth. However, it still was not dead. As it charged again, Work fell back, doing some form of crazy limbo, and this time he grabbed the thing by the wings and promptly snapped them off. He grabbed what was left of the thing and threw it onto the ground, stepping on its back for a finisher. But first he had to ask,"Who is your master?!?" Work demanded forcefully, hoping to get the information out of the thing before it died. Alas, it had died already from blood loss. Cursing himself, Work looked for anything that would portray the fact that he was still alive to his enemies. Seeing nothing moving, Work brushed himself off, found his ration pack again, and headed off towards the castle. ((whoa, that is MASSIVE god modding right there!)) ((indeed....)) ((Well, I bored. Everybody else can just ignore it, but...)) Tina drove her spear through the back of the which, piercing her heart and skewering her body upon it. She kicked her off it and pulled her knife. Soon, the king was freed.us "Are you alright sir?" Work walked into the castle's courtyard, but was almost immediately stopped by a couple of guards, who demanded his name and purpose. His name was Work, of course. His purpose was to see the king and pledge his service to them. He also proceeded to tell them of the moth things he had nearly just beaten." Come right in" one of them said. And so, Work stood ready for an audience as something bad seemed to be coming to an end. Apparently, the words "...alright sir?" were spoken, so this may be for the best. ((I don't really know if that last part happened or not. It was just a response to the god modding, so it's up to the topic creator if he allows it to happen or chooses to get rid of it. ) (well I'll wait for RAM to reply before I post) ((yeah, I wonder where he is? Anyhoo I'll post this))*Everything was going rather smoothly, the Arch demon and Ballot squad sent a report saying they eliminated another small group of solders, and the Natasha returned with the reserve rebel troops following close behind, he peered over to the rebels who were wounded, and they were starting to recover from their injuries*PDP:Everything's going smoothly, if this keeps up we'll be able to get an early start, it's at this point a Watcher Natasha flew over to the camp with troubling news.*W. Gayasha:Gee! Master I've gotten word that the wolf has single-handedly eliminated the Natasha squad that engaged him in the kingdom!!PDP:What? ....hmm no matter...has he reached the castle... W. Gayasha:Yes master...PDP:Shit... I wasn't expecting this.this could complicate things, since the Natasha are a key element in our plan...tell the Arch demon/Ballot squad to avoid this wolf if they see him lead him away from us, You got that! Don't f*** up!! W. Gayasha:Y-y-yes master, Ge....*he summons a scientist from his underworld* How's the experiments coming along Scientist:Well sir, the female Natasha have spawned the brood as expected PDP:...and... Scientist:... It was a success PDP:Excellent, immediately begin they're combat and survival training, we're going to need them to pick up the slack for a rather "unforeseen circumstance"... Scientist:Yes sir...((Definitions:Watcher Natasha-is a Natasha who is breed for stealth and is ranked as a spy of sorts, having the natural ability to blend in with their surroundings, perfect vision, inferred and x-ray vision as well as sonar, makes them key in espionage...however they lack basic combat skills and thus are at a great disadvantage when it comes to fighting, so they are only used when there is less fighting around. So far PDP only has one dispatched)) ((sorry about the delay, some RL stuff came up. I generally can't get online until the afternoon anyway, but I'll try to be on as much as possible. As for the god-moving, I am going to completely ignore that. She completely destroyed TK's character, among other things. Just completely disregard that.))TK heard approaching footsteps, and saw Tina come up from behind him. He smiled playfully at her, taking care to show his large belly. He yawned again at her question. "Well, if YOU've been paying attention you could see that the wolf-person has already won, and is currently at the door. I'd like you to get him up here for me. And also, see if this has anything to do with the spy or resistance. And make it snappy! I have various things I need to do!" He actually did like Tina, but he couldn't show any soft spots, and he got a kind of sick joy from making fun of everyone. As he was brought before the kings, he bowed, lowering himself to one knee, as he had thought would be proper for this moment. He wanted to be as polite yet brave as he could be right now." Your highness," Was all Work said. Tina silently brought Work in. It never felt good to talk to the king, but that's just how royalty was. And there would be no use in retorting. There were no loyal generals as good as her. She'd rather not have someone inferior in command of her army after she becomes a roll of fat on the king. Sophia waits outside the king's chambers. Figuring Tina would give her an assignment later ((Sorry for my absence, my net connection was down in the past two days. My luck in my last post I was going to sleep. )After a couple of hours the Gryphon spent in relatively peaceful slumber - which he couldn't afford for a very long time - suddenly he heard something that was loud enough to catch his attention. He opened his eyes but didn't move, and sniffed into the air, picking up an unknown scent. Well, not completely unknown, but he was sure it wasn't one of the fellow rebels. He didn't see anything, and as much as he heard it, the intruder was behind him. He decided to wait for another moment, but that already proved too long. Before he could have realised what's going on, the intruder jumped to him, drifting its claws between the feathers. The gryphon snarled loudly and cursed himself for being so stupid, while he was trying to overpower his attacker. By a powerful flap of his wings he managed to sweep it off his back and after a rather fast spin he found the creature in the front of him. His eyes widened in surprise, seeing a young lizard. A lizard he saw before, an assassin that served the king! So he WAS followed! The avian's eyes quickly narrowed, and he pounced upon the creature, his claws hit it's head and it collapsed unconsciously. The Gryphon growled and stepped closer. He wanted revenge for the wound he got from a sneaking little worm. After making his mind up he easily grabbed the lizard's torso, placing its head into his maw, then tossed the little body into the air and gulped down the scaly form. His stomach churned in satisfaction, but his back was still burning from the pain. He looked around quickly for the healer when he realized that she must have left to war as well. And they left him here! He chirped loudly and by two powerful flaps he took off to head to the battlefield, to aid his fellow warriors and to have his revenge on the king. When Tina brought Work in silently, the king was little upset. "Would it kill you to talk to me?" He said, probably a little too loudly, but he didn't care. He was the king. Then he noticed a wolf bowing to him. He smiled, the power he had going to his head." What brings someone like you here? And you kicked some major butt, you have my congrats!" He said happily, having watched and enjoyed the show. He walked over and slapped him on the back. "You look familiar to me.... Have we met before? Maybe a distant relative?" Work smiled." No sir, I don't believe we've ever met. However, you do look somewhat familiar..." Work took a moment to think, but returned to the King, "I come here to help with getting rid of rebels, apparently they didn't want me to get here, seeing as how they sent those..." he paused, "...moths..." TK nodded. "And HOW AMAZING were you in that battle? You seriously rock. My. Nonexistent socks." TK said emphasizing each word. "You will have an incredibly well-paying job after this little issue with the rebels is over." Work took the compliment, but he knew that once the rebel problem was over, he'd have to leave. However, that would be later. This is now." Alright, do you have any idea of here these rebels are? Do I need to find them? What do you need me to do, sir?" he questioned, eager to have some fun while he was there. "My guess is that they're probably in the woods, hidden somewhere with strategic value." "It just might..." she said under her breath and quickly left the room. This rumors of a spy had to be addressed soon. She turned to the soldier standing outside the throne room. "Is there anything to report about the spy situation?" TK nodded, pretending like he was going to say something similar to that but not actually thinking of much other than what he would eat soon. "Yes, please do that. Find them or whatever. And maybe bring some of them here for....punishment." He said, and on cue his belly grumbled. He laughed it off. Work nodded. "Good day, sir" he said, bowing again. He walked outside, looking towards the forest. He knew if anywhere, that's where they'd be. Work ran through the town, and into the trees, where he began to jump from tree to tree, doing athletic flips and tricks in midair, when he suddenly bumped into a clearing, and fell. Getting up, Work assessed the area. He immediately got down, getting into the prone position hiding in the weeds. Up ahead, there was a group of odd looking beasts, no doubt with the same master as the moth-things. Work could see about three weird looking things, although a name came up to him, "Ballots..." he said quietly to himself. 'If they're here, they're probably on lookout...and if they're on lookout, then that means the camp has to be around here.' he thought. Rorik snuck through the weeds until he was near one. Suddenly, he jumped into the air and unsheathed his knife, yelling a war cry he had picked up somewhere he couldn't remember. *The Watcher Natasha saw Work in time to yell the codename of their plan*W. Gayasha:NATO!!!*With that the Ballots came to attention and dodged Works Attack, they let out a howl which summoned the 10 Arch demons out of hiding with the 20 rebels behind them, they surrounded Work and stared him down, not really doing much else...*W. Gayasha:Ge! We caught you now face our wrath GEE!*Everyone prepared themselves for a long and bloody battle.* "Oh no, I put people on it, although I'd go," Sophia answered. "Or whatever else you'd order." Work couldn't help but grin, widely and noticeably. In a battle like this, you wouldn't need to count up your enemies; you'd simply stop when there was nothing else to kill. Work grabbed the blade coming out of his wrist, suddenly it developed a blueish tint, and he completely separated it from his hand. It was an elegant dagger, with a blueish radiance that seemed to reflect off of all those who were close enough." Oh, c'mon. You need all these forces for just me?" Work began to laugh, kinda hysterically. But he seemed to come to attention and prepare for the battle. Sizing up his enemies, he figured he goes with the normal people first, using them as shields and... His thoughts were interrupted by something hitting him and knocking him off to the side. He noticed it was yet another moth-creature. Work was really getting tired of those. *One of the Ballots is captivated by Works blade*Ballot:OOO Pretty light *he reaches out ward and is interrupted by the Watcher Natasha making his large paw with his wing*Ballot:Ow!! Moth Man MEAN!! W. Gayasha:Idiot! Quit pussy-footing around and GET HIM, GE!!*and with that Everyone gets in position with the Ballots in front, Arch demons in the middle and the rebels in the back, All the Ballots then breathed a breath of green flames in unison which fused and spread into a larger attack* "Just try to find something that will shut him up for a bit. Hell, just find a servant that's be slacking off, and they'll be our 'spy' till we find more evidence." nods and runs off to try and find someone. "It will be done" "Oh, hell!" Work yelled, jumping backwards into the fray of rebels. He immediately stabbed one in the throat, then kicked him hard in the knees, breaking both legs. He elbowed a rebel behind him, grabbed his head, and threw him into another group of rebels. Furthermore, he then proceeded to jump up on top of one rebels head, balancing on one hand, and pushed himself off into the tree just above them. Wasting little time, he ran down the back of the tree, his blue knife turning a great fiery red and growing in size until by the time he hit the ground, it was a large claymore. With three quick swings, the tree was severed at the stump, and Work took a kick at it which sent it down into the group of confused rebels. Jumping up on the fallen tree, he noticed something. Blood. No, his blood. A wound in his shoulder...a feeling of aggravation came over him as he knew that whatever had hit him, it had hit him deep. He wouldn't be able to fight for much longer; maybe their tactic had worked after all... At this point, the swooshing voice of feathered wings became audible and the shape of a Gryphon appeared above the trees. Varix descended in a nose dive, a few moments later he was standing between the rebels and the wolf. He kept his wings spread and measured up the situation. A second later he turned to the wolf and hissed in anger, "YOU! I knew it had to be you behind this!" His wings seemed like they were burning, faint flames became visible around them. His gaze met the wound on the shoulder. "Hmph, did one of these injure you?" - he asked, referring to the overlord's creatures. "Who are you.!?" Work gasped, clutching his right shoulder, and trying to back way from the Gryphon. The last one he had seen was huge, he didn't want to figure out if this one could be as well. The Gryphon laughed at the question. "My name would be meaningless to you. It doesn't matter, it's enough that I remember you pretty clearly... Work. That's how you're called now, right?" "Yes... I am.what do you want with me?" Work continued to back up, trying to get away from the Gryphon. 'This is a bad situation' he thought, 'I need to leave, now.' TK was once again alone in his room, and very quickly grew bored. Being a king was so boring. He hoped that they would find SOMEONE for him to ea-blame for the spying soon, so he could have some fun. He looked out the window and saw a battle far away, and watched. "I want to see you pay for your sin." - said the Gryphon as he stepped closer, keeping a vary eye on the wolf. "However, I suppose your wound would make this little confrontation unfair. Still, I think we have no other choice, these creatures were ordered to kill you, and I'd be a traitor if I'd just let you go. So what will we do now?" - he asked, narrowing his eyes a little. "Wait-" Work seemed to recognize his voice. All of a sudden, something clicked in his mind." Varenx!" Work said, stepping forward a little. "You! I remember now! How did you get here!?!" The Gryphon laughed and nodded. "I see, so you do remember after all." He quickly folded his wings on his back again though he still seemed to be prepared to defend himself if necessary." Do you also remember the person behind the name?" - asked, but didn't wait for the response, he answered Work's question quickly. "Just as you did. Looks like our fates are bounded." He shook his head. "The last time I saw you we fought side by side against an army which we thought was commanded by no one. 'Outcasts' - as King Taker said. From what I learned since then, the king is commanding these outcasts as well now, and the purpose of that battle was... to remove us from sight. He knew that if he just turned against two of his loyal servants - and warriors - that would eventually make people stand up against him. At some point we got separated. I had no chance against them on the ground alone and had not enough place to take off. They shot my wings, cut them several times..." - he hissed. "There was a sudden flash of light and I collapsed unconsciously, I didn't even know what happened to you for a very long time. I suppose you were brainwashed by the king. I was lucky I survived, and I hoped one day you could tell me what happened. And please, your sword... You won't need that today." He growled back at the rebels and PDP's creatures. "You have my word." After turning back to Work he continued. "The king executed my parents and many of other griffons in this country. I'll never forgive him that. But since we were friends once, I'm not intended to fight you. At all. Instead, I ask you to join us. We both have some unsettled score with the king. Or, if you wish to remain in his service, leave now. I do not wish to see the death of a friend." Work didn't seem to comprehend all of it t once, but suddenly it all came rushing back. He almost felt sorry for Varix, he couldn't even remember when he had been here before..." I'm sorry..." he mumbled, then he said it again louder, "I'm sorry I wasn't here. I'll do my best to redeem myself..." his blade retracted, "And I swear I'll make the king pay." *The Watcher Natasha, Ballots, and Arch demons listened to Earned's story with as much comprehension they could muster (being they are pretty stupid.). The Watcher Natasha however understood completely*W. Gayasha:Ge! What an interesting turn of events I must inform master *and with blinding speed he flies off to tell PDP the news*Ballot:... Duhh, do we kill Man with pretty sword or not?... Archdemon:RAWWWRRR!!(No)Ballot:Ok...**some time later**PDP:Ok...so Works on our side now? W. Gayasha:Ge, him and Varix are friends...PDP:alrighty then things just got a bit more interesting, heheheSquish-Chan:*giggle*Indeed Varix let out a relieved sigh hearing Work's answer. He nodded to the wolf and said, "Now that was the answer I expected from someone like you!" His voice had shown obviously how excited the Gryphon was. He stepped closer to Work, inspecting his face for a moment, then his gaze slid down to his wound. "That looks awful." - he chirped quietly. "Do you think you'll be able to fight? We will have to assault the castle, it may take a long time if the king's armies were called back." Suddenly he squeaked in pain, and looked at his side where his blood tainted his feathers. "Looks I could use some help too." A wide grin spread over his beak and he chirped. "Back to the battlefield then, Partner?" TK watched everything with a kind of separate feeling, getting bored when they stopped fighting. "Come ON! Fight Already! Gee! And where's that spy I ordered?" He called back inside the castle. "How long does it take to catch one spy?" Work declined, "No. I'm going to need to rest for now. I'm not going to be very useful if I can't use a weapon. Are there any medics stationed around here?" he looked at the bleeding, it wasn't getting any better and by now it started to worry him, "If I can get the wound bandaged, I'll help." he decided "Right." - said the Gryphon and nodded. "I'm not tired, but I won't be able to fly fast enough - or long enough - with this. And you need some help too, that REALLY looks awful. About the medics... We have some healers, but I doubt we will find them here, they should be out there, helping those who are injured in the battle. Maybe we should go see PDP, he surely knows where they are, maybe he can even call one of them back. Do you think you can walk until we reach the camp? It's a couple of miles from here." Sophia was thinking the same thing when she found the pantheism Like to act as a spy for the king. Unfortunately, she had forgotten the orders in her excitement. She really didn't want to see the monarch, although she had to be sure she got her orders. "Follow me, please" she called before entering his chambers. "Excuse me, my lord but would you please repeat your instructions?"IOC: Oh hope that it's ok if I use two characters "Yea, I think I can walk..." Work said, but at that moment something emerged from the woods. It moved quickly, but before anyone really noticed it there, it was latched on Work's right shoulder, causing Work to double over. It was a dragon of some sorts, bigger than Work, ad it had its teeth embedded into his shoulder. Work was weak, and his efforts to try to knock it off were pathetic. The green blur left just enough time for Work to yell before he, and it, were gone, leaving everyone else surprised and kind of dumbfounded. "Did you find the spy?" *The Ballots and Arch demons stared a wide-eyed at the dragon that seemed to come out of nowhere, but seeing Work as one of their own they stepped forward*Ballot:Graph! Mean Dragon hurt good man let get him!!! Balrog#2:But what bout master... Balrog:Then me go! Me get good man back and kill mean dragon!!*and with that the Ballot bolted off on all fours determined to catch the dragon that captured Work* nods and Lake steps forward awaiting instruction Work desperately tried to reach his hunting knife; the one he always kept on him, and desperately tried to slash his captor. The trees and sounds around him were a blur- and he was blacking out. Finally, the thing let go of him, sending him cashing into a tree. With what little life he had left in him, Work looked up at his captor, and was surprised to see an old enemy of his." You-!" Work gasped." Yes, me..." the dragon said, spreading its wings to full span. "You thought you'd seen the end of me, didn't you? You believed that tumble off the building killed me, eh?" he paced in front of Work, trying to decide how to finish him." This..." he lifted a hand to the air, showing off his claws, "is why you don't run from to overwatch!" he lurched at Work, who was at no point able to actually fight. He felt the blow, but he didn't feel any pain. Instead, the world seemed to black out. Varix's eyes widened as the green dragon grabbed Work and left in a crack. He just didn't realise what's going on until everything gone quiet and his friend was missing. He let out a challenging chirp and took off, willing to follow the dragon, but it disappeared until then. Furthermore, he cursed himself, but since he couldn't see anything he decided to land again. Furthermore, he was no match to the dragon alone. A moment after he folded his wings upon his back, a sudden flash of light blinded him and he backed away. ~Now what...?~ he thought, then seeing Work collapsing he jumped to him and crouched, letting the wolf fall on his back and feathered wings instead of the dirt. "I wish I knew what's going on..." he mumbled, then turned to one of the rebels. "Put him on my back, quickly! And tie him if necessary, I don't want him to fall off." - he ordered. "We must find PDP." Tina grabbed Lake by the hand and pulled her to the king. "We've found one of the spies, sire." *The Ballot screeched to a halt and raced back to the group, more than confused about what was going on...*Ballot:How did good man get back, here?... Archdemon:RAWWWWRRR!(Don't worry bout that, get Work on Varix's back so we can head back to master!) Balrog:OK Loki...*the Ballot gentle places Work on Varix and one of the (remaining) rebels ties him down securely*Rebel:Alright you're all set! "I hope I'm strong enough for this..." - mumbled the Gryphon. When the rebel finished he nodded to him and chirped a quick 'thanks'. He spread his wings at the full span and by two flaps he took off to head back to the camp with Work on his back. He found the unconscious wolf quite heavy, the wound on his back burned in pain by every flap of his wings, he tried gliding as long as he could. Draco, the one who had just attacked Work, watched the Gryphon fly off. He held one of the rebels who had been slacking off in this left hand. He turned to him, smiling and showing off his teeth." So...where are they going?" he asks. The rebel didn't answer, either out of fright or because he simply couldn't. (on his behalf)Draco laughed, and snapped his neck, lying him on the branch he was perched on." Let's see what else this kingdom has to offer..." he took off, jumping into the air and flying towards the castle. Landing on the outskirts of town unseen, he observed what he had before him." Hmmm..." he thought, smiling, "Overwatch will be very pleased with me..." TK smiled at Tina, who FINALLY seemed to have brought a spy to him. He licked his lips absentmindedly. "About time you found her. Gee." He said, and looked her over. "Good, good. She definitely seems like a spy. You may go, but leave her here." He said, waiting for her to leave.((BTW, I hope no one takes what TK says as cruel or anything, it's just his character. And yes, two characters are fine)) Work tried to open his eyes. The first thing he was aware of was the pain. He kept himself from yelling out in pain, which was something he was trained to do long ago. The second thing he was aware of was people, moving and running about, and yelling. There was definitely yelling. He noticed he was in a tent of some sort. How long have I been out? He wonders. He tries to turn his head, but that shoots a splinter of pain down his entire body. Best to keep still for now. Draco sat watching he rebel camp. They were preparing for something, everyone was rushing around and getting ready. He couldn't quite comprehend how they could oppose authority like that; in all of his cases it had never worked. A beacon probed in his brain, Overwatch was sending him an order or query. He placed two fingers against his forehead. After a series of odd noises, Draco responded, "Yes, I've found and decapitated Work. I will bring him back when the time is opportunistic." More noises, this time sounding a bit more angry. "No, the timing wasn't correct. They could've discovered me and who I am." more noises, "This is a surprising turn of events, are you sure?" noises that could only be made as an acknowledgement. "Then it shall be done. This land will soon be under the power of the Overwatch*."*Overwatch: A interdimensional dictatorship that captures and by sending agents to take over land. Both Draco and Work were under this, but Work escaped after his partner, Hydra, was executed for doubts about the Overwatch. Draco, still brainwashed by the Overwatch has a score to settle with Work still.((Switching to Draco as a main character now, as well as including a definition overwatch, in case you've been wondering)) Lake bowed her head slightly as she came into the king's presence. Her fur was naturally black so it was thought that she would be a natural spy *PDP claps his hands as a crude type of motivation to speed the rebels up, his rabbit ears seem to twitch asthmatically with each clap*PDP:Yes, yes places everyone places, there's not a moment to lose! Squish-chan:PDP-samey...something feels a bit odd...PDP:...you better not squirt ink on me again... I'm still train to get the stains out of my last shirt... Squish-chan:No, no it's not that... I feel as if someone is watching us.someone very powerful...PDP:Uh...hello whose the only Demon Overlord here Squish-chan:you PDP:Alright, then, don't worry if they get in our way I'll crush them, with no remorse Varix tried to have a sleep outside Work's tent after he was healed by one of the medics, but every time he closed his eyes he felt something was wrong. When he heard the movement in the tent he stood up and peeked inside but when he saw the wolf was apparently asleep, he smiled and pulled his head back to curl up at the entrance again. Still, he didn't manage to rest, though the pain was gone something disturbed him like he was being watched again. Finally, he gave up his attempts to fall asleep, instead kept his eyes open and inspected the environment with wary eyes. Draco continued to watch and observe the environment and possible threats. Most of the rebels could be gotten rid of easily; they were mere mortals. However, the one he understood as 'PDP' seemed to be a Demon Overlord. That could pull out quite some trouble. He could also tell his presence was making some people disturbed. He noticed the Gryphon, Varix as he believed, having troubling sleep, and the odd creature PDP had with him could feel it to. He'd have to eave before the Overwatch's presence was felt by all the soldiers down there as well. What took him by surprise is that PDP didn't feel his presence, possibly pointing to a weakness or flaw? Draco slipped away into the trees to think about all the ad learned, and probably to give Overwatch a status report. TK walked up to the somewhat pretty spy-girl and *accidentally* bumped his belly into her. "Oh sorry, clumsy me!" He said, laughing a little too high-pitched for the situation. "Anyway, you've been accused of being a spy. What do you say for your simple self?" Like nodded to the monarch, backing up a little at the bump but quickly resuming her attentive position Work still hadn't fallen asleep yet. If he was in any place to talk, he would have told someone about Overwatch, and how it's presence in a realm created a feeling of general feeling of trouble. He could see it on the faces of certain people outside the tent. What was really on his mind; how did Overwatch follow him here? It's odd, but Work almost felt happy. He couldn't understand why. He knew Overwatch would be even worse than the current king, but... Wait, which side was he on anymore? He suddenly developed a headache... ((Sorry, I've got bad internet access. I probably won't be on till Tuesday.)) Tina bowed and exited the room. "That should shut him up for today... I hope..." TK nudged her shoulder. "I asked you a question. What do you have to say for yourself, SPY?" He said, getting very loudly. "Things will only be worse if you remain silent..." Like looked back at Tina before turning her attention to Taker. "Well, I have nothing really to say. I was told that as a panther, I'd be a natural." TK narrowed his eyes. "Natural for what?" He asked, not really getting it, because he wasn't;'t smart enough to 'get it' right away... if Lake was annoyed, she clearly didn't show it. "I mean that my black fur made it a natural thing for me to go into that profession." TK nodded, also tilting his head to the side. "I....see." He said, then put his head close to her, gently licking her. "He, you taste perfect, you know?" Lake blinked. "I never really thought about that" she says, her tone steady. "I'd imagine so." TK smiled, picking her up and inserting her head all the way into his mouth. "You really do you know?" He said playfully, as if this was nothing at all, and started swallowing her. Lake does nothing for the moment, paralyzed with shock as the king puts her head in his mouth. TK chuckled to himself. They were always in shock at first, and he used this opportunity to swallow as much of her as he could.(Is everyone else still here?) (well Varix said he/she would return today, not sure about the others)Lake had gotten over her shock and now started fighting in the king's grip. Royalty or not, she didn't want to be anyone's meal (I'm kinda still here)Draco sat and watched from above, hidden in the shadows, watching the king begin engulfing the so-called 'spy'. He was a dragon too, could he do that? He'd have to try it on someone, at some point in time. Someone who would go without a fight... TK smiled, happy that she was putting up a fight, but hew quickly pinned her arms to her sides, and took another massive gulp, sending her ever closer to his belly. ((I'm here, but I can't think of anyway to RP with Tina right now.)) Lake continued fighting, her movements becoming more pronounced as she grew closer to the stomach. Solphitia meanwhile had no idea that this was about to happen and started backing up a little. ((I'm still here, but I really have no idea how to go on.)) (Hamm. Well, maybe the rebels attack the castle or something? Hamm. I'm not really sure where to go either.)TK smiled to himself, always enjoying showing off his ability to eat anyone he desired. He took another gulp, and only the panther's legs were hanging out of his mouth now. Like continues to kick and scream as she's devoured by the king. Meanwhile, Sophia has the feeling that something is watching her. Something predatory With one more gulp, TK sends the panther into his already large belly. He belches loudly, clearly showing off his skills. "Heh, heh, you wish you were me." He said, to none in particular. Lake continues to fight beneath the fat of the king. Meanwhile, Sophia starts to look for the presence she had felt previously. TK smiled, happy to have someone inside him again. However, now he had more pressing matters. "What do we do about the resistance?" He asked, yet again to no one in particular. Draco watched Sophia curiously, knowing that if she would ignorant go somewhere a bit more...say, private...her end would come quick. Watching the king finish had made him eager to try out this new 'skill' and if he mastered it, he could rise in rank even faster than he could before. Lake continues to fight inside the king. Struggling and screaming until she's converted into becoming part of him.Meanwhile, Sophia continues to hunt for the presence she felt. She would follow it wherever it went. Draco was now slightly amused. Why she would flow him, or even take interest in him, he was stumped upon. He silently moved to the next room, moving into an alley outside. Now, he would simply sit and wait. If she came, then all would be well. For him, anyway. Sophia suspected that Draco was a part of the rebellion which was why she tried to find him. Tina knocked on the door to the kings chambers. "Are you done in there yet sir?" TK nodded. "Yeah, all set. You can come on in!" He said, letting her open the door, as he felt much too lazy to do it himself, and very full. She entered the room, unable to not glance at his belly before looking at him. "Is there anything more you require sir?"((RP seems to have died. Just giving it one more shot.)) ((yeah, but I'm still here though))*meanwhile back at the rebel's camp PDP sat in his tent waiting patiently for something, of course this confused his squid-like vassal being he's usually impatient when it comes to action or fighting*Squish-Chan:PDP-samey, is something the matter?PDP:No... I'm waiting for Work to fully recover...we may need him for what's to come... Squish-chan:But what about the experiments you are going to release. Won't they be enough?PDP:remember what you said earlier about someone watching us... Squish-chan:yeah, why?PDP:I did of course take that into consideration, I knew they were watching us from the very beginning, I only played it off, so the enemy would think I didn't know squat about their assistance, and of course they took the bait, just as planned, ...so all I have to do is get Work to tell us what he knows of this new enemy that has surfaced, and we'll be all set... still here as well but Lake's been eaten and right now Sophia's Persian Draco The Gryphon was angry at himself for being so incompetent for the moment. He also found the fact he didn't feel the presence of the being that watched him quite disturbing. Of course, he could have joined the rebel forces, but he didn't like the idea of leaving his friend alone. He stood up and started to walk in circles, keeping an open eye at the environment of course. (Sorry for the delay...)TK nodded to Tina. "Yes, I do, actually. I want to see this little resistance camp thing that's around here. I'm sure you can figure it out where it is, and I want to do. Makes for a good meal." Work finally had enough lying around. He wasn't lazy enough for that. He didn't have time for that. Not now. He painfully got up and walked to the outside of the tent, and was surprised to see Varix there." Varenx? What *pain*...are you doing here? I thought...you were going to raid the castle..." Varix looked Work over a little worried about him. "You still look awful but at least you're finally awake." He looked in the direction of the castle anxiously. "Not yet. Leaving anyone behind while there are ... strange things happening around, it's just not my style. You know what? I feel it in my heart, there is something terrible about to happen, maybe even worse than the king. Can you walk? Maybe we should pay PDP a visit, he might have answers." He stepped next to the wolf and offered his shoulders to support him if necessary. "We will have the time to deal with the king, but I wish to be there side by side with you." "Thanks..." Work said as he accepted Varix's shoulder for support, "I need...to tell PDP...about our situation." His breathing came out in rapid gasps, but he showed little sign of being out of breath. "Careful!" - the Gryphon warned Work. He was walking slowly enough to let the wolf go in his pace. He blinked in surprise and turned his head to Work but changed his mind quickly. Furthermore, he knew he would learn everything when the time comes. After reaching PDP's tent he chirped loudly but this time he didn't wait for the permission to be given, he stepped inside with his friend. "Don't exhaust yourself too much talking.," he whispered quietly. *PDP had fallen asleep with his eyes open, Squish-Chan wrapped around him so is to keep him warm, she looks up to see Varix come into the tent and pulls his rabbit ear to wake him up*PDP:Hahaha? Oh, hi there what can I do for ya? *yawn* "Sir..." Work said quietly to PDP, "I have something to say. About...that presence everyone's feeling..." Work coughed, sending noticeable pain down his right side, "I won't be in here for long, so we better...make this quick." *PDP was now fully awake he rubs his chin*PDP:Ah, yes do tell me, I've been meaning to figure out what exactly this "presence" is exactly...*He can see Works in a lot of pain, and he gives a a look of concern*PDP:... Are you sure you are going to be ok, I can easily get one of my nurses to fix you up if need be... Work hadn't anything to do but agree. But first, more important matters." Ok, I'll take that offer, but first... You see, I'm not from here...not even this time period... I've come from a city, ruled by a central...government... which s more of a tyranny than anything..." he had to pause for a moment to catch his breath," they'd send out agents...me included, before, to other realms and areas to spread their wrath. And of course I speak of the Overwatch." Rorik hoped he'd not have to explain anymore. (Hmm... Where is Tina?) Varix chirped in surprise at what he just heard. His gaze kept jumping between the overlord and Work and a part of his mind was against this madness. The Work he knew was an agent of another ... possibly higher ... being? And that being was here? "Things are getting more complicated..." - he mumbled to himself. ((Sorry, this is really my first more RP that I've stuck too, so I'm kinda having trouble thinking of what to do.))" We've had scouts searching for the camp, and that Work might have encountered the enemy by now. We should be ready to engage them as soon as they are found." "Varix...it seems you don't know about them. I'd like to inform you more, but...there's only one agent here. Someone needs to find him and get rid of him. If he remains," Work was clearly beating his pain, "Then the Overwatch will have a chance. Which cannot happen." "Never heard of it." - said Varix, glancing up at Work. "So what do you plan now? Don't tell me you are going to face that agent all by yourself. You can barely walk. I'm coming too!" The Gryphon looked like he made up his mind already. He turned to PDP and grinned. "More enemies, more fun for you two eh?" - he asked. "Face him, on my own?" Work tried to laugh, but his arm made him stop real fast, "No... I can't do anything on my own at the moment. As you said, I probably wouldn't have made it over here without support. I don't really know what to do about him... If I could get my arm fixed, then I might have a chance." (sorry for the delay, RL stuff came up.)TK nodded, though the words didn't really reach him. "Fine then, take me there when it's found. And make it quick! Gee, you people are really slow..." ((sorry for the delay on my end as well))*PDP was taking all of what Work and Varix were saying in and making mental notes, basically all that had to be done (or what seemed so) was that they had to find this agent from the Overwatch and dispose of him, all the while paying close attention to the king and his forces, and seeing as how Work was the crucial part of this it was top priority to get his arm fixed up ASAP*PDP:Well I can help ya on your arm there I have the finest nurses that heal ya up in no time, Squish-chanSquish-Chan:Yes?PDP:Go fetch a Demon nurse for our friend Work here Squish-chan:Ok ^^*and with that said she swiftly "slithers" out of the tent* "In no time.?" Work was tired of his injury; you could see his face brighten up. The the that worried him, however, was what the procedure would be. *PDP chuckles*PDP:Yes.in no time at all ^^....that is unless your afraid of Syringes...

Vore Kingdom (Public)|rating:3.0

Southern Comfort IC Thread II

The leather-clad woman looks around a little distractedly." We're--We were part of the 4th Caroline Mixed infantry, but it's looking like we maybe the only ones left. I'm Saffron Teeing, troop cleric. Paladin Keith is Paladin Keith--""Like a Paladin!"" Like a Paladin, right. Angry lady is RNA Hammer staff, our troop leader. And Mr Likes-to-kill-people here--" she gestures to battleaxe,"--we call--"There's a rustle in the trees from which the group as just come. Saffron's eyes go wide, and she abruptly throws herself forward."GET DOWN!", she shouts as a flight of arrows hiss from the darkness of the trees. RNA gets her shield up in time, but a black-fledged shaft skewers her thigh, and she sinks to her knees, breath rasping through her teeth. A couple of others glance off Keith's armor while he looks around in confusion. Battleaxe takes one in the shoulder with a grunt and a curse. A familiar voice calls from the bush." I height Larissa LaSalle, Lieutenant of Trammel burg. Yield to me or to oblivion." Saffron shouts; "Keith! Yield!" Keith looks confused,"But you said--""Those were Dunkelrots! These are Ash downers. These are the ones who don't kill you if you don't fight them!"" Oh, right, this so confusing. I YIELD, LIKE A PALADIN!"" What?" Larissa sounds baffled. RNA, shaking with frustration and more than a little pain, drops her sword and hangs her head. Battleaxe, grasping his shoulder, glares at the bushes." I'll see you scream yet, you bloody devil-bit-""Oh please. Your ass gapes for a million c*CKS", replies Larissa dryly. Battleaxe's chest and gut abruptly sprout a shrubbery of black-fledged arrows. He falls backward with a gurgle. Tall, horned, and hell-eyed, Larissa LaSalle snakes out of the trees on the back of her black Arabian, composite longbow at the ready. Her eyes move from Saffron, to Keith, to RNA in turn. Of course, it's exactly at this point that the parties' invisibility wears off. Larissa has the typical Tie fling unflappability, but her eyes widen slightly. She takes a long look around, smiling a little when she looks at Gretchen. Then takes a deep breath." Well, I won't ask about that", indicating Mariana in her chain-mail swimwear, Or that", a nod of the head to Graph in his oversized sombrero,"But I will ask why the red cloaks? Where is the merchant?--we know she's Administrate, if you've got her killed there will be issues. And why are you people here?"[Sorry this took so long. Need to check everybody's fonts and colors as well.] "Well, this going to be kin along and strange story, you know..."- said Gregor riding the pig from behind some bushes -"...ending kinda happily with our transfer here performed by some kinda goddess of theirs while fleeing some base of theirs after its self-destruction sequence was initiated by some lieutenant of theirs. Though to be fair that sorta not-very-long-to-remain-a lieutenant of theirs kindly pointed us to the exit a reasonable time before the mountain blew up. ERM... would you believe it? I doubt I would." Gregor scratches his head and thinks whether this is a good place and good time to tell a long variant of the story or not quite so. Then he remembers he only answered last one of Larissa's questions." That kinda "merchant" went her kinda home to deal with this kinda political intrigue. She should still be alive. And the cloaks, well, everybody did appear to wear them around those parts, and everything too... so we just have decided not to stand out too much against the background, just in case them skeletons use color-coding for discriminating between friends and foes or some such... did not quite work though." Gregor got off the pig and called for Abyss. Then addressed "the paladin" and his team." You guys and gals should be quite happy with having the sort of problems you do. Good for your mental health. I mean for the remains thereof. That big epic cosmic horror story of Administrate's gets kind of scary when looking up close, even without having one's brain being raped." Larissa nods to Gregor and discounts like a snake sliding off a rock. Behind her, half a dozen other Grey-cloaked figures are moving cautiously out of the trees with bows strung, but at rest." You might be amazed what I would or would not believe when the Weird Witches of the West get involved in something. You dealt with what you were sent to deal with? The quake and the exploding mountain a little while ago, in an area that's been tectonically stable for bloody ever, was a little hard to miss. I didn't think you'd turned your coats. You'd have had to kill Gretchen first." She runs a sightly clawed thumb across black lips." Best you wait for Qua-for Captain Earthen. He can't be more than twenty minutes off. Tell him all that you can." Saffron pulls herself to her feet and stands to attention. Not saluting. ""Lieutenant, please permit me to attend to my superior". She gestures to RNA, still down on one knee, trembling with what looks like shock. Battleaxe looks, if not beyond help, at least beyond any help anyone's willing to give him." Granted, Reverence", says Larissa casually, and then; "Gunnar. Marsupial. Cover the Caroline's. Rest of you scout the perimeter in pairs. Go." The Grey-cloaked troopers behind her move as she instructs. Larissa turns back to the party with a raised eyebrow, as though soliciting either further information or questions. "Oh, well, that... Mission Accomplished! ...sort of."- Gregor took off red cloak and started to pack it into a saddlebag while continuing -"We did go, did investigate and even did kill the guy who was creating all those skeletons, but on the other hand... the cause of the cause is still active somewhere, and since her safety initiatives for the greater good include preventive eradication of, uhm... every living humanoid except those with administrate citizenship, uhm... or something along these lines, we did not have the time to discuss it in detail... well, with that, some of administrate internal politics might turn out to have some quite external effects. This Between should be on our side, trying to deal with it. Uhm... by "our side" I mean if you prefer to live your life and die of old age than to sacrifice yourself, everyone you know, and most everyone you do not know towards preventing some Epic Cosmic Ultimate horror from having an easy time returning to this world, in case it is to escape from wherever it is in next few millennia. I'd rather for the former, uhm... just personal preference, that is." Larissa does show a reaction to that. Tilting her head to look at Gregor as though that would rearrange his words in her head into something more comfortable." You're telling me that fate of the world may rest on the political savvy of miss tall, dark, and creep show? I'll sleep easier tonight. Anyway-", she sniffs the air;"you seem to be missing somebody else. What happened to the little Halfling bit?" Then she gives a sudden blink, as though something else has just occurred to her. "And what do you mean; SKELETONS?" "The halfling now is with my bases. And/or those bases' staff. Then all are intelligent, I mean both the bases and whatever is normally inhabiting them, really serious military constructs everyone. I doubt she's coming back, but she should be alive. Sort of." Though, to be sure, the notion of having various degrees of being alive is not something Gregor is familiar or pleased with." Skeletons I mean skeletons. Mostly complete sets of very old bones of various humanoids, including, but not limited to, humans and trolls, animated and semi-awakened by evil necromancy. Specifically, by wands. Lots of wands. Then skeletons were equipped with whatever scraps they had, given red cloaks, then released to wander around. Not really dangerous, mostly just weird." Larissa gives Gregor a long, long look. Finally, she says;"She's gone then. I'm sorry for your loss. And I'm sorry that your experiences have so traumatized you that you appear to be having trouble speaking Common. I shall recommend that you be given a bonus to compensate for your obvious mental Angus-""She's in Havana", cuts in Gretchen. Larissa looks at her with a complete absence of expression." Haranga? You sure, Wretch?"" She was getting possessed or taken over somehow by some...thing that the merchant was scared of and the merchant somehow zapped her there. Smelled like she burned her own hands off in the process. Actually Beth-the merchant said Nether-Havana. Whether that's better or--""--worse", finishes Larissa grimly." Well, damn. Hate, Nether, or unidentified, Nothing comes back from there. Our mages have trouble even crying on the place without getting their nervous systems fried." "Although we were given a fairly taunting description of what's happening to her there. By another entity. Seemed to involve baking. I mean she seemed to be baking something, not being baked herself", puts in Thorwald, unexpectedly. Larissa just stares at him. Then mutters,"Note to self: The Nightmare City at the End of the West has bakeries. Apparently." She shakes her head. More a "I need to stop hearing this" shake than a "I don't believe you" shake." Wands. You mentioned wands. You have any?" Her eyes go silvery, then suddenly narrow, and she takes an abrupt full step back. "Ouch. So much for any doubt you were hobnobbing with a goddess". She rallies, and her horned head turns again toward Thorwald." That wand in your belt--Invisibility. But a very strange Invisibility wand."[This is all very well, but if there's no post from Lineup or Mattie tomorrow I'll PM them to let them know I've pulled finger. Mariana climbs down the rest of the tree and inspects the inside of her pouch. She pulls out the two other wands and says"And spider climb and glitter dust. They used to be three wands of creating awakened undead, but the god of angular wings..." The fey chips in, giving the god's name.... the Captain of Midnight changed them for us. She's dealing with the mountain and its magic, or already did. One of the two." Corbin stepped out from behind the tree he was hiding behind." The whole experience was disorienting and uncomfortable. Luckily there are some serious kinks in the plan of the lieutenant now that will give a reprise. As for the trauma we suffered, we knew we were taking on a mission that could claim us. At least Delphi still lives." Corbin walks up closer and stands next to Thorwald. Larissa moves her eyes from the wand in Thorwald's belt to the ones in Mariana's hand, moving head from side to side like somebody sorting out an optical illusion."...angular wings... Captain of Midnight..." she murmurs. Then more decisively"Well, whoever that is, they obviously can make a nice wand. Those things are insanely powerful for the spells they contain. And there's something else on them...like the spells on them now are interwoven with something else..." She rubs her head, an odd gesture for a clawed-hand Tie fling with six-inch horns to be making." No, I can't see enough. You need a scholastic Wizard, not a military caster such as myself. If you have time you'd best--"A series of clanks echo out of the forest behind her." That'll be Captain Earthen now with the main body. Tell him all you can. He knows more about the world outside the forest than I ever could." Mariana puts her wands away in her pouch." Before you go, LAR, who is Ash down moving against? And how long have we been gone?" Larissa looks up at the sun, "Second question; almost two and a half days. And from the looks at you haven't had much sleep. We've been moving fast to get where we are. "As for the first question; your story about Dunkelrots and red cloaked bandits bothered Quarto and myself more than we let on. If they're not our woods by the law then they're ours to protect. Quarto got the bulk of the garrison out for a ranging as soon as you were out of sight. Didn't let you know. Don't want the Sublayer down here shouting about jurisdiction and angling for a horizontal rematch. I got to Whitewater with the little Krista and caravan, avoided the Sublayer, and cast--got myself back with the main body just last night. "We're hunting Dunkelrots, but things seem to have got much more complicated as of this morning. The Caroline's may be able to tell you more than me. Long story short; river bank strewn with wrecked boats and drowned and broken Caroline soldiers; demoralized and drenched Caroline's wandering around--like these--in small groups or found dead with Dunkelrot arrows and blood carvings in them. Whole Reside's crawling with wretched Caroline remnants, Dunkelrot bands in greater strength than I've seen for a little while, and us. And then a mountain randomly explodes. And now you, of course. Quarto was receiving some kind of sending just as I split off to chase these four" She gestures to the captive Caroline's, who have been listening to the whole exchange with various flavors of bemusement. "Quarto may be able to tell you more. These Caroline's should be able to tell you more; but they yielded honorably so I've got to give them a night's hospitality before I can ask them anything. Rules" "So, you're here killing some Dunkelrots who are killing some Caroline's who are killing some YOU... oops, that last part did not go as intended, did it?" Gregor looks at those Caroline's and specifically..." Failing a sneak attack, like a paladin, huh? Why does this not surprise me? Though I'd very much like to greet that "visiting cleric" of yours and shake his... balls, I suppose..." "You'll be groping around a long time, Halting"hisses angry-lady RNA as Saffron draws the shaft out of her leg." Was a woman. Dark hair, nice nose. Silly white robes she kept having to hold together with her hand to avoid flashing the rank and file. Holy symbol was a three-pronged spear". This provokes some odd looks all around, and the fey in Mariana's head says a single name:Spoiler Hide "Poseidon" Saffron shoots a look over her shoulder as her hands light up in a healing spell." You know, Keith. You could try some laying on of hands here."" What?! Lay my hands on a woman. I keep my hands to myself, LIKE A PALADIN!" Saffron bites her lip." I mean you could try healing her""Oh right, I keep forgetting I can do that". The plate-armored man looks around, and indicates Battleaxe's well-fledged corpse." Maybe I could try on him-""Forget Roderick. He's not only dead, he was an evil, vicious bastard""He can't have been evil", says Keith firmly." I associated with him, Like a Paladin"RNA actually shouts;"You shone Detect Evil on him!!! I heard the ping!"" Yes, but I just thought it was on the blink again. Like that time I used it on that snake. And it told me not-evil. But the snake bit me anyway. Well, if he's dead, then I'm not associating with him anymore, so it doesn't matter". While everybody's trying to work this out, there's a marked increase in rustling noises and Grey-cloaked shadows in the treeline. Then Quarto Earthen appears from behind a Douglas Fir, clapping his hands slowly." Well done! You People! Well done! Less than three days on the job and you've already effected geography! I can't wait to see what you do next!" Larissa swivels towards him like she's mounted on a turntable." Some very interesting stories here, Captain." She looks thoughtful." I shall be Debriefing Gretchen. Personally and in private"." Damn Straight you will", mutters Gretchen as she strides forward, grabs the taller Tie fling woman by the wrist, and pulls her into the trees. Gretchen's left hand is already fiddling with the fastenings of her leathers.There are some exchanges of glances. And then Marsupial, the ridiculously pretty silver-haired violet-eyed Elf bow-woman guarding the Caroline's, remarks;"Yikes. And to think Mum sent me to the army instead of the temple, so I wouldn't be surrounded by sapphics."" I blame society", replies Gunnar, the older, black bearded human trooper next to her." You two, save the social commentary for casual Friday."says Quarto, genially." Now You People; what happened up there?"[Just give me the broad strokes of what you're telling him and anything you specifically don't want to tell him. I don't think there's anything you need to hide. It'll take too long to role-play this. Again.] Captain Earthen listens to the story and Gregor's guesswork with the expression of somebody trying to swallow an especially repugnant mouthful of Free Cities pickled cabbage. Then says; "Well, I must say that that's the most fantastical, farcical and contrived set of red-herrings and fisherman's tales I've heard. "It must be true. You'd have told a much less...bizarre story if you were trying to fleece me. Then there's the exploding mountain to consider. Pending hearing Gretchen's account, I must say well done. "Now, as you might have gathered, we're up to our waists in murderous scum. And Caroline's. A couple of their boatloads got through to Trammel burgh, but Trent could hold that place with seven dwarves and two village whores--" "Just as well too, since that's what we left him."mutters Gunnar."--Thank you, Trooper Alfred sen--Anyway, they wound up in the dungeons. Your old friend Main's been keeping me up with the state of play. Whole stack of sending scrolls back there. Haven't had a wizard there to use them in a while. "Now; We must talk further about all this, but for now, you must want your pay, and I don't run around the forest with the full war-chest. Besides, sounds like you deserve a bonus. As for the items you recovered, it seems that most of them were--ah--gifts from unexpected allies rather than loot, so it's all yours to keep and the state of Ash down has no claim. "So, I'm going to offer you another job: Get these prisoners back to Trammel burgh. I can't spare the men to properly guard them." He rubs his chin." You'll want a guide I suppose. It'd look better to Trent. Can't spare Gunnar, and sending Marsupial would be bad for morale--""Why Sir! You do respect my abilities!", sighs the violet-eyed Effete, batting aforesaid eyes." You're the only totally straight woman in the garrison, and you put out", says Captain Earthen, provoking a MOE of annoyance." I'll send you back with Green Tea. Good trooper, but this is her first real ranging. She's city-born and it's starting to show. When you get back to Trammel burgh you can report to Trent--I'll write you a bill of payment owed. And then I can think of some other things you can do."" Firstly, you can just plain reinforce Trammel burgh and the village over the river--it's called Disbanding, in case you didn't ask; there's Caroline remnants all over the north bank of the Talmud as well as the south, and most of our regulars are standing-off their main army along the Hellestrom". "Secondly, you could take those wands to Fenwick to let the Margrave College take a look at them. There's a decent cash reward for bringing unusual items and spells to government attention, and you'll be given the items back. The Margrave's still in Pauline on diplomatic business, but you might want to get an audience with the... Dowager-Margravin. She would certainly be interested in your story." "Thirdly... Gunnar. Marsupial. Do you mind stepping out of earshot?" The two troopers do so, though there's some widening of eyes. Both keep their bows at the ready as they melt back into the trees. Quattro turns back to you, his voice low." Thirdly, I mentioned that as a result of this morning's...silliness, we have Caroline rags and ribbons on the north bank, in Ash down home territory, as well as here. And that our regular forces are...stretched. "Now it appears, based on a sending from Aldrich to Trammel burgh and then from Main Oral to me, that a certain official has raised a force of friends and freelancers and is busy mopping these remnants up. This official is Fulbright Scarlett. The Margrave's secretary, currently supposed to be on sabbatical. "Now this person appeared out of nowhere a few months ago. She has gained influence and power frighteningly fast. We don't know where she came from or what her ambitions are. And it's disturbing to me that on top of this she can raise a fighting force in a matter of hours. "So thirdly, for me, and for Ash down, I would like you to get to Fenwick soon as convenient and discretely see what you can find out about this woman. What she's like, what she seems to be planning, who these "friends" of hers are. There are many rumours. Too many rumors." Vierzehn's eyes flip toward the mountains, where a peak still burns with unnatural flames." Is this acceptable?" Gregor makes big eyes at this multipart proposal. Then scratches his chin. Then slowly shakes his head left and right, then..." Yes, I suppose, this is acceptable."...though he's still not exactly sure what "this" is or whatever part of "this" he's going to end up doing, even if he gets to Trammel burgh through these Caroline's. Speaking of which..." One thing... if we ever have to run or keep silence and these"- nods at prisoners -"will not do their best to do so, are we allowed to... deliver less of them or something?" Saffron shrinks back at Gregor's words. And RNA glares. Paladin Keith looks lost." Excuse me, do you mean you might want one of us to wait here--"Earthen just gives Gregor a long look. Then answers;"They've surrendered. Harm to them under our watch would reflect poorly upon you and on myself. I do not like it when things reflect badly on myself. However--"he turns to the Caroline's." What is it that you most fear right now?"" I fear nothing, like a Paladin!" Rynca just grits her teeth. But Saffron pipes up with;"Getting caught by the Dunkelrot""Then I take it you won't place undue obstacles in the path of these ladies and gentlemen getting you somewhere you won't have to worry about that. You heard the Halfling. Behave." He turns back to Gregor." I hope, but I cannot promise, that there's no enemy between us and Trammel burgh. We've swept well as we can, but I have less than forty troopers to cover all of Reside, and I've not been spreading us out. I'll leave you their weapons. Hand them back at your own discretion. Now--"He looks at the sky."Nowhere near dark, but we've been moving for a long while now; and you people look frazzled as well. Care to join us setting up a camp for a little while? Larissa will know a place, when she's not preoccupied"At this point, there's a loud rustle of leaves from the trees and the sound of Gretchen's voice." Hey, that doesn't go there---POOH--nevermind". Vierzehn doesn't even blink." When she's not preoccupied". Mariana doesn't really pay much attention to the captain and halfling's conversation. Now that they didn't have to move very far and were going to wait until the two ladies finished their business, she believes they have a bit of time on their hands, and she wants to try a few things out. She talks to her fey a bit about how she could change the visual appearance of her outfit. The fey warns her, though, that she could provoke a mishap if she doesn't do it right. Mostly disregarding the warning, Mariana proceeds to try to figure out how to make this bikini turn into something else. Spoiler Hide Use Magic Device: Activate Blindly (DC 25) Sgt; Succeeding will have her stop, after reverting it to the original form (not bikini). Sgt; Failure by more than 10 results in a mishap, at which point she stops trying. Sgt; Rolling 1 causes it to also not be able to be activated for 24 hours. Roll 1: (1d20+8)[3](11) - Edit: Mishap, she stops Roll 2: (1d20+8)[13](21) Roll 3: (1d20+8)[11](19) Roll 4: (1d20+8)[13](21) Roll 5: (1d20+8)[14](22) Mariana suddenly becomes the focus of some very surprised expressions as her outfit abruptly morphs into an over-bust black corset with fishnet stockings ensemble." I think you can certainly keep that item", remarks Quarto." It wouldn't flatter me and Larissa's already got one""Sir--""The answer is no, Marsupial" They fey mentally sent Mariana the sylvan equivalent of told you so, to which Mariana replied vocally,"Shut it you, I'm still experimenting." It is not clear who she's speaking to. Dardiana looked herself up and down, both with and without her mirror." So this is kinda what Beth had to wear way back when." Feeling the rest of the clothing still press against her skin, she mutters,"I just wish that my senses weren't conflicting." She shrugged and made a mental note to keep trying later. Gregor shakes his head, but says nothing. He also does nothing. Spoiler Hide Gregor just stays there having sort of "implied facepalm" expression and waiting for people to accept/decline Quarto's proposal(s) and get ready. Mariana looks up at the captain from inspecting her new attire. She had heard the captain's question, and not hearing Gregor respond, tells the captain,"Sure, I could use a hot meal before setting out." Quarto evidently takes that a "yes", and wanders off to check his troops with a polite nod. There's some general awkwardness as various Ash down troopers make Spot/Listen checks everywhere but the thicket where Larissa and Gretchen are busy expanding their knowledge. The party, now RNA's able to walk again, moves out of the clearing and under the cover of the trees. Mariana remembers she's carrying wine. A kept-looking Half-Orc woman in chain shirt and Ash down grass, a composite short bow over her shoulder, appears to the party and introduces herself as ""Green Tea. Sister of Black Leaf. Daughter of Darjeeling. Granddaughter of Delmar. I'm to be your guide. When we get moving that is". After what's really not that many minutes Larissa appears, fastening up her leathers unselfconsciously, and can be overheard to say"The Nest's less than an hour away. The Dunkelrots will be lying low during the day and moving at night, now they know we're about, so let's rest up there 'till dusk." She turns to Gregor,"We'll be heading east a little before we camp. Not far. Please take station behind the captain and ahead of Anonymous Trooper Number Seventeen's squad. "Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, and if that loud Caroline girl can't keep up tell her to ditch that rubbish Scale armor". Then she mounts the Arabian and disappears up to the front. With a creaking of leather and a jangle of assorted bits of metal, the company gets moving.[Spot/Listen checks please, and what do you want done with the Caroline's weapons? It seems fairly plain they're not counted as loot] Spoiler Hide Spot: (1d20+3)[22] Listen: (1d20+3)[11] Mariana follows the company without saying much. She stays on the ground, as jumping between trees is annoying, and she isn't good enough to do that yet. She doesn't request the Caroline in scale mail to strip. Furthermore, she has their weapons bundled together and, if anyone has rope, tied together too. Furthermore, she hands it to Saffron, trusting her with her companion's weapons and to not attack them. As they travel, Mariana does ask Saffron,"So, what are you? A witch?" The company gradually unfolds into a skirmish-line far ahead, comprising the stealthiest troopers, while the main body moves cautiously behind them in a loose column. You're all generally satisfied with the order and quietness of progress, although some of you might be thinking that all-Elves or all-Halflings could do it better. Green Tea seems deft enough, though it's perfectly obvious she doesn't have any real woodcraft. She's just getting by on natural dexterity. Larissa appears now and then, riding to and fro, up and down. She's decidedly the quietest houseperson you've ever seen. Something decidedly uncanny about that Arabian. Saffron gives Mariana a wide-eyed look." What? Like you? A little I suppose. Family never approved, so I took up orders and enlisted. I'm not a terrible good Cleric, really. But I was what was available". She purses her lips." And careful what you say in front of Keith. He gets a little excited sometime. Though I'm glad he made it today. If it had been just RNA and I alone with Roderick we'd have had to try killing him ourselves, for our own protect-"A sound like screaming, tearing metal echoes through the trees from behind the column." That again.", mutters Green Tea." That's three times now" "Hold that thought." Dardiana has Saffron tag along with her, so that she doesn't lose the weapons from her sight, and goes to check whatever caused that metal echo. If there's a vantage point (like a tree...?) she could go up instead of going directly to the source of the sound, she does so. She's just looking to see what's going on and what caused the metal echos. Gregor assumes a position towards the rear, but still ahead of Anonymous Trooper Number Seventeen's squad. Anonymous Trooper Number 17(Henceforth ATN17) is saying; "We heard the first one right after the mountain went bang, and the second not long before we caught the Caroline's trail. Lathe Lieutenant went after it, but it just kept getting further AWA-"And the sound comes again, a little louder and closer this time. It reminds you of something. Dardiana:Spoiler Hide Scuttling up a good, lofty oak (to the sound of some muted cat-calls from the Ash down troopers.) you get a good look back along the trail and see a black shape, like a man-sized vortex or whirlwind, swiftly move from behind one tree to another about thirty yards behind the column. One of the Ash down soldiers in ATN17s squad, a freckled redheaded Human, suddenly stiffens, his face distorts with what looks like horror, his arms come up to guard his face, and he stumbles to his knees." Jehan--I--"he wobbles out. Then he suddenly normalizes." Not there--", he murmurs, and gets to his feet." Alright there; Amazon?"" Saw Jean. My buddy that got Spawned during the trouble with Quechua a couple of years ago. Had to put him down. I saw him coming at me with red mush dribbling down his chin and his fingernails--"He breaks off." Nothing. Some Fey thing." Mariana ignores the catcalls and when she sees the thing, proceeds to start down the oak. When she reaches the ground, she starts down the column, heading towards where she hears the sound. She tells Saffron,"Things might get a bit problematic. Go back and tell everyone to be ready. Not your group, though. Don't want to see you any other of your guys with weapons unless your lives are being threatened." Once Saffron leaves, she asks her fey, Anything you know about that thing? Spoiler Hide Know (Religion): (1d20+4)[11] Know (Planes): (1d20+1)[5] - Max of 10 Gregor:Spoiler Hide You think you see something coiling, man-height, and black flicker between two trees out of the corner of your eye, but it's gone when you turn your head. A Half-Elf outrider off to the right of the column turns his head sharply in the same direction, then makes eye-contact with you and shakes his head. Saffron nods. Then suddenly goes stiff and pale, her eyes going wide and blank and taking a whole step back against the truck of the oak. ""No, mother. Please. It's unnecessary. I won't be like Sis. I won't be like that. You don't have to do this. Mother, pleas-"she abruptly snaps out of it. "--back here--"ATN17 has a grim look." Catching, this is. Keep moving!" Dardiana:Spoiler Hide The fey is vocal. "It's like that...thing that came out of the green. And attacked the halfling. It is one of those things. But it's sick, and weak. I can tell by the.sound and something else. "When we faced the other one in the room with the flowers I sensed some feelings from it. Superiority. Glee at having victims. Confidence. Anticipation. Frustration when the merchant pulled her unto trick with the amulet. "All I'm sensing now is fear and panic and pain. And hatred. It hates us and it's coming. It's coming after us. But it's scared of us as well." Mariana snaps her fingers in front of Saffron's face." Go! This is worse than I thought." She quickly starts heading towards it. She looks around, trying to see what other people are doing around her and if they've noticed whatever-that-is. Mariana:Spoiler Hide The Fey keeps talking; "Ellie, don't panic! It's one of those...things. But it's like a shadow of itself. It's like it needed the base to access its power source. Now it's like a vicious dog locked out of its masters house in the rain--" Saffron needs no reminding to keep moving, and RNA, apparently over her post-surrender funk, even puts an arm around her shoulder and urges the smaller woman on. Keith continues plodding on deceptively fast, smiling vacantly and looking around with mild interest. Dardiana turns and takes a few steps back down the trail back to where she thought she saw something. Then the metallic scream goes again, echoing strangely through the trees and loud enough to be painful. Dardiana suddenly stops and stiffens. Dardiana:Spoiler Hide You're back in the place of the long, even black corridors, staring into an infinity of evenly-spaced torches receding into the darkness of distance. There's a wet sound before and below you. You look down. Before you is a pit, exactly the same as the corridor you're in. The torches burn away from you. Delphi is on the nearest wall. Delphi is crawling up towards you on bloody and mangled stumps where hands and feet should be. Blood is running from her mouth and nose and from what used to be eyes. Delphi lifts an arm towards you, jagged bone-fragments showing white in the torchlight. ""Mariana", she bubbles through splintered teeth and ruined lips, "Why Did You Let her-" And then the fey shouts. "She's not here! You're not here! This is a lie! Snap out of it!" And then you're back in the forest again. A man-high black cone-shaped thing is just a few feet from you, slowly turning on its smaller end. As Mariana relaxes again, a man-high cone-shaped black object silently glides out from behind a tree towards her. Mariana's breath quickens as she tries to back away from the shattered form of Delphi, but her feet find no purchase. The fey jars her out of it soon after and she sees the creature coming closer to her. She takes a deep breath and speaks to it, trying each of her languages to see if it can respond. She asks it,"Can you understand me?" Spoiler Hide Her languages are common, sylvan, and elvish. She uses them in that order. For answer, the thing begins, slowly and laboriously, extruding a black pseudopod out of the top of the cone that begins to creep toward Mariana. Dardiana:Spoiler Hide The fey is screaming; "I don't know if that will help! I don't think it speaks any kind of People!" The metallic scream sounds again, echoing loud through the trees and sending birds fluttering skyward.ATN17 abruptly stiffens and says, very loudly;"No. Absolutely Not."as he returns to normal his long sword is drawn with a clear steel ring." How dare you!" He lunges forward,"How dare you!". Shoving Mariana aside, his blade slices clean though the pseudopod, leaving strange shreds of shadow-stuff clinging to the blade. The severed part of the thing dissipates like smoke. That seems to jar the group out of their bewilderment. There's a shout of"Flames of Chaos!"as Thorwald presents his Holy Symbol with no obvious result, then several bowstrings hiss as a scattered salvo of arrows strikes through the cone, opening bizarre rents. The thing moves back a few yards slowly, the rents slowly closing over strand by strand. Mariana is torn. Everyone around it is trying to attack and/or banish the creature, and that seems like the adventurer thing to do just like in all the stories. The arrows didn't seem to be doing much more than bothering it and the holy symbol sure didn't do much. She responds to her fey, Doesn't seem like it, but it didn't hurt to try. Whatever, guess there's not much choice here. She creates a ball of green flame in her hand and chucks it at the creature, half-assed. Spoiler Hide Attack and damage, if required. Attack: (1d20+4)[6] (Touch, taking a -2 penalties since she's not really into it) Critical Confirmation: (1d20+4)[17](21) Damage: (2d6)[10] Gregor could have disregarded what he possibly saw, but the half-elf... and Mariana also seemed worried... he kept eye contact with half-elf for some time, then finally made a decision and said loud and clear:"Yellow alert! We have a yellow alert. Repeat." ((UPD: oops, wrote this before reading page 2, so consider this happened back then; will post more later today)) [That's great. Now we know why everyone was so slow to react. Everyone was staring at you wondering what a "Yellow alert" is.] "ERM... DAR? Keep clear of that thing." Gregor himself does just that. He's not trying to attack, only observes and makes sure that dogs and prisoners do the same and keep their distance. Spoiler Hide Does it appear to be moving slow enough for people on feet to avoid it? Anyway, here are the checks in case they could be of any use. Know arcane: (1d20+1)[18] Know nature: (1d20+1)[20] Mariana nods after throwing her ball of arcane energy and steps further away from the whirlwind. She tells Gregor,"It's not the same as the one that we found in the... dungeons. That one was angry and confident. This one is afraid and spiteful. It hates us, but it's afraid of us." Mariana's bolt crashes into the dirt inches to the right of the black, swirling coil. Slowly, the cut pseudopod snakes back into the main body of the cone. Five more shadowy tentacles are bulging out the top, the most developed already questing in Mariana's direction. Thorwald speaks from behind, suddenly and heavily." Also, the thing before was invisible until Between...did something. It also threw those things out a lot faster. Anyway; Loki's Withering Scorn!". A ruddy dagger than shines like flame through crystal appears in the air, and stabs at the cone.[Attack](1d20+5)[12]Dam(1d8+3)[11]CCR(1d20+5)[7]and gouges an impressive rent in the Shadow-Stuff. Although the thing seems to be slowly spinning on its narrow end, the rents in its...body are remaining in the same position relative to you.ATN17, swinging somewhat wildly, directs a cut at the pseudopod heading at Mariana:Attack:(1d20+5)[18]Dam(1d8+3)[9]Another metallic scream resounds as he severs the appendage. "Oh for Pete's sake!" Horbin's exclamation comes as an angry shout. He rushes back through the rank at a running charge and aims to drive the entity in twain. Spoiler Hide Attack (1d20+7)[25] Damage (2d8+4)[13] "Nice string."- comments Gregor while not getting otherwise involved in the situation. Glenda cuts through the black substance of the thing like its little more substantial than smoke. The black vortex screams again, and its shape dissolves into a flurry of black tendrils roiling around the swordsman. To Corbin, it feels like the worst case of pins and needles ever. Then Glenda seems to stick on something. And Corbin hears a voice:Spoiler Hide "Excellent. You found the exposed motivator core. Now just give the blade a twist" You find yourself obeying without thinking. [Or not if you want, but we have time issues now.:small smile]: Corbin is abruptly thrown to the ground as the black mass explodes from the inside. Its black threads and shreds briefly throw a spiderweb across the sky and between the trees, then dissolve in the sun like mist. The scream of tortured metal fades out into silence. Horbin:Spoiler Hide "Good work. Now be careful about touching your sword for a few minutes. By the way, Who is Pete?" Glenda, lying on the grass next to Corbin, appears to be steaming. The surrounding grass is turning blue, swelling up, and exploding with a series of muted "pops". As with all things that go pop, turn blue, or makes things explode, Mariana blinks her eyes and scans the sword for any sort of magic. If she finds anything, she tells the party and tells them anything she knows about it. Spoiler Hide Spell craft (if there's magic): (1d20+8)[15] Mariana:Spoiler Hide Glenda has acquired a strong, very strange aura. About 60% Conjuration, 40% Transmutation, and 100% Just Damn Weird. As she looks, a small shrub next to the sword swells up, turns blue, and transforms itself into an eyeball on a stalk. Said eyeball looks at Mariana, dilates with terror, and disappears with a pop.Corbin:Spoiler Hide "This one would not worry overmuch." says the voice. "Strange things happen when those things get trapped on the Prime Material. And stranger things happen when they die here." The voice sounds like a young girl, although you've never heard a young girl speak in such a flat, calm, almost commanding tone. You're all conscious of the sound of some commotion from up the front of the column, ended by an explosion. And another twisted metal shriek fading out into inaudibility. Abyss, Barry, and Cheery are looking a little irritated. Unless behavior of the dogs suggests some cause of irritation inanotherdirection than what Gregor himself can point to, he lets others do stuff, and just looks both for prisoners and for things that might be yet to appear. "That was unpleasant,"Corbin says as he turns and head back to the Caroliners. The column is in some confusion. Amongst the Caroline's, Saffron is holding out her right hand, a nimbus of pink energy swirling around it. As eyes fall on her, she looks abashed and shakes her hand, cancelling whatever it was she was doing. The swordswoman is open-mouth and Keith is looking in the wrong direction and looking up at birds. Thorwald is looking at his hands and muttering;"How did I...how... Anonymous trooper number 17 looks like he's just barely avoided going berserk. Instead, he chops a chunk out of the nearest tree with a wordless shout and gestures for all to move on. The column appears heading for the end of one of the sheet mountain spurs striking out north from the main crests of the God spine. A few minutes on, you pass through an area of oddly scorched, though still living, trees and undergrowth. And a minute beyond that, four corpses. One of them is in blue-edged white. Arrows through his eyes and legs. Ghastly patterns have been carved into the exposed flesh of his arms, face, and legs. The other three are in dark red cloaks, their equipment a motley. Their flesh is gouged and bloody with what look like the marks of claws and teeth. Their mouths are dripping with gore, and the fingers red to the knuckle. The Tie fling appears with a sharp report of hooves." What they did to the Caroline, that's something we expected." There's an odd sense of fury in her tone, and she's showing her fangs a little." What happened to them, never seen anything like that before. What did you see just before?" "Just before? Some trees alive in scorched earth, but a few minutes ago some of the things we encountered in the dungeon were around us, seemed to be making people hallucinate or something of the sort." "Hallucinations. I should say so. I've got a half-Orc turned white--well, light green. And Gretchen had some vision of me flaying her face off for a mask--". Larissa's voice is seething. She breaks off to spit into the ground. Some black thing. A Flame strike seemed to get rid of it. But I don't want to see that again. Did you see a girl in gray?" "Other than your groups, nobody else that I recall." "Yeah, yeah, lots of strange evil things, variably dangerous... nothing to see here, move along."(Gregor is doing just that, last traces of hope to understand what's going on evaporating behind him) The Tie fling officer looks from Mariana to Gregor, her nostrils flaring a little." Something from the dungeon. You say. The dungeon that went bang. See anything else that we might like to look out for? Something else that might have escaped? Something around here?" She breaks off and exchanges a glance with ATN17, who just shakes his head." Never mind then. Whatever was, isn't"She disappears up back toward the head of the column, the hooves of the Arabian striking sparks. The forest presses in. A little darker than before, and a little more silent, save for the rushing of the river to the north and east.It's not long, but it seems it, but the column winds its way through a narrow passage between a sheer spur of mountain cliff and the foaming waters of the Talmud, and onto an expanse of white stones stretching a hundred yards to the dark tree line, and then very briefly south and up. Onto a mossy plateau flanked by cliffs to north and south and west, overlooking the white rock field to the east.A gentle waterfall comes down from the southern mountain cliff, feeding a small pool that seems to drain into a narrow cave in the western cliff. It's just a little after noon. The Ash downer troops start to lay down bedrolls. Some rearrange rocks at the lip of the plateau. Others fill their waterskis. On the plateau Gregor stands in the center, looks around then says to no one in particular:"Hey, I like castles as much as the next guy, but are you sure we should camp here with nowhere to run in case more of these things happen to be around?"- pauses for a moment -"Thought so." Not expecting any reaction from anyone he's on his way around the plateau to see if any of the cliffs are climbable (up or down) or at least relatively safely fallible (down). He seems somewhat depressed. Spoiler Hide UPD: Hmm... are those cliffs UP around us or DOWN around us? Makes little difference, but I want to (1) know and (2) reflect that in the post. I thought the plateau is something above something, but then the waterfall... The plateau rises only about a few meters above the white rock scree to the east, and is easy enough to ascend to and descend from. What it would be like trying to do this while the plateau is actually defended is another issue. The river is an easy bow shot away. Anyone trying to make their way west of here, around the spur of the mountains, will have to go down the river or chance bonfire from this position. The cliffs to the other directions look technically climbable. To somebody with proper equipment. And not in danger. As Gregor looks up, he sees what could be seen a small gray figure hundreds of feet above, perched on a crag. It isn't there after a blink. A couple of Ash downer troops wade into the pool, and into the cave. Spoiler Hide Sheer cliffs (going up) in to west, south, and north. Small drop to white stones to the east. Passage between the north end of the mountain spur and the river within bow shot of this position. Gregor starts to set "camp" near prisoners, feed the dogs and all that. Spoiler Hide I'm not 100% sure as to how the area is set up. I'm going to describe it myself, can you tell me if it's accurate or not? The drop to the east is only a dozen or so feet and theoretically easy to climb. The cliffs up to the north, west, and south are harder to climb and would require actual equipment most likely, and they're at least a hundred feet high. There's a passage through the north cliff, allowing someone to come down. There's also a river to the south, with a waterfall crashing down, and it goes into a cave on the western cliff. Is this correct? Mariana looks at their location and heads towards the south cliff. Her eyes shimmer slightly as she reactivates her spider walk, refreshing the daylong duration just in case, and starts to move up close to the waterfall. She goes over the top, to see where the source of the river is coming from and what else is up here, and to check how fast the water is moving up here. Corbin had followed along the column during travel, keeping close to his charges and companions until camp was made. He quietly made sure the Caroliners were well watched and kept safe from all foes. At the gruesome sight they found he barely glanced, his face was fixed in a concerned scowl. As the contingent settled in for the night, he made sure the others were comfortable.

Southern Comfort IC Thread II|rating:3.0

[Le Immortelle] The King of Lies [Flick]

The King of Lies by Le Immortally (and Flick aha (rain was lashing down in torrents, with every gallop across the wet countryside splattering cold, dark mud across his legs. There wasn’t enough time to slow, there wasn’t time for roads, and so he pushed his horse to the brink even though he had felt the beast slip and almost fall several times on their brutal run south. The dark, heavy gray clouds dominated the skies of Invite and had done since he’d set out hours before on his desperate journey to the Kingdom’s capital. Nests. Bounding over hedgerows and fences, as the saddle grew slick, and he slid around, gripping the reigns for dear life. His cloak was stuck to him, sodden and freezing against his skin. By the time Arturo’s horse finally met the hard cobbles of roads, the rain had finally let up, though they were dripping enough to leave puddles as they went. It took some expert riding skills to traverse the narrow city streets without injury. To either himself or pedestrians. But his business couldn’t wait. Riding through the city and out the other side he only had one destination. The palace. The road was lined with enormous trees, leading up to the imposing gate of Nests’ most formidable fortress. Slowing his speed slightly he peeled back the hood of his cloak and shook his dark hair to unstick it from his skin. The guards recognized his face but didn’t immediately open the gates. Pulling on the reigns he scowled.“I have news for the King” he said through gritted teeth, hating the fact that he had to explain himself. His father had been one of the most important men at court during the time of the late King. The gates would have been opened immediately upon seeing his face. But that time had long passed, he lay cold in an unmarked grave, minus his head. Rotting for the sins he had committed against the old King’s feeble son.“What kind of news Hardy?” Arturo grimaced, they didn’t even bother with his title anymore. He might still be the Lord of Mosley, but the title was marred by shame. He had never been addressed as it, not once since he had inherited it upon his father's death, he might as well be a commoner. It would at least sit better with him when lowly guards failed to address him as ‘sir’. Alas, there was nothing he could do about it, and so he clenched his jaw and answered.“Hers has fallen.”“What?” The man’s eyes widened. “When?”“Hours ago. Darnley is dead.”“And you fled like a coward? Figures.” His hands clenched against the reigns, knuckles white, cutting into his flesh he was holding on so tightly.“I came to inform the King, we need more men.” His voice was steady, and he was proud of himself. Invite had been fighting a war on their southern borders for decades, though the fortress of Hers had never been breached before. It was bad omen, and if they wanted to stop King Julia's’ army marching further into Invite then they needed to act now.“Go” the guard instructed, giving a nod to the man on the other side of the gate. When it was pulled up Arturo wasted no time in driving his heels into the flank of his horse, urging it as fast as it could go to the castle. Skidding to a stop in the courtyard he jumped from the beast and ran inside, opening the door for himself as the foul weather had driven everybody inside. His father had spent so much time in this castle. Arturo swallowed quickly, this was the first time he had been here. It was enormous, imposing. Banished as a child his family hid under the cloud of shame. His lands had been stripped and though he maintained his title, that was all. He had no wealth, no land, no home. He made his living as a sell sword, trying desperately to amass enough money through the war in order to make amends for his father’s treason. And enough goodwill that he might manage a decent marriage, it was what his mother hoped, and God bless her soul she fought hard enough for it. Word had spread, three men met him in the audience chamber. Their eyes blurred with sleep and their clothes rumpled as if they had dressed quickly. Arturo slipped off his cloak and threw it to one of the young boys standing vigil by the door. Beneath he was still wearing his muddied armor, wincing slightly at the movement he saw their eyes fall to his outfit in disgust.“This is how you would address His Royal Highness?”“I didn’t have much time to get changed” he growled. “Is he coming?”“You’re bleeding…” one of the men interjected, ignoring his question.”I’m fine.” Standing a little straighter as if to support his argument he repeated his question, “is he coming?”“The King has been sent for. It’s late, he’ll have to be woken. This is most inappropriate timing.”“I’m sorry, maybe next time I’ll speak with King Julius about scheduling his invasions at more convenient hours. I’ve been riding all day. God knows what state Hers is in by now.”“You shouldn’t have let it fall,”“I’m one man Sparrow, I’m good, but even I cannot take an army alone.” It was true, hate him as they may Arturo Hardy was one of the best men in the King’s military. It was why he had been sent to Hers. He’d dragged his way up from the ground. This was supposed to be where he was noticed, maybe his last post under somebody else before he could lead armies aboard. And now it was a failure and all hope was nearly lost. If he could convince his King to send more men, more money, then perhaps he could still salvage it. But the longer he was kept waiting, the slimmer the chances became. (Astarte knock on the door was a hard one. An underlying urgency therein. It was repeated, the sound reverberating through the surroundings in the dead calm of the night. Astald woke up with a gasp, grabbing the sheets to cover her frail, naked form. Many a time she had had a nightmare. It started with a knock. One that repeatedly grew stronger until finally they burst in. Men clad in armor, their swords waving wildly. Drenched in blood. Saw her for who she was. Their King. Blood-thirst. Violence. An execution. Countless times she had imagined the secret to die out like this and when her blue eyes shot open, roused from her sleep by the sound of it all, paranoia was the first emotion that engulfed her. Scampering about, her hand grabbed the sword by the bed." Your Majesty?" The voice of one of the loyal guards called out and Stand's grip loosened some, taking a deep breath. She coughed a little." Your Majesty?" Again. More urgent." What is it Remy?" She called out. Irritation hung in her voice. This really wasn't the time to disturb the King Stand. The fact that Remy, a mere guard, as loyal and kind man as he may have been was doing so at this obscene hour meant only one thing. Something was wrong." Herst has fallen. We received the news. All I know is one of the men brought the news. The Councillors, they are all waiting for you at the Court. The words cut through like anything. Stand was fully awake now, sliding out of her sheets, an urgency had crept up in her movement. "Let them know I am coming immediately."" Yes sire." Astald looked at her own reflection in the mirror. A slender, elegant form. Small but pert breasts, brunette hair cascading over her shoulders. Cerulean eyes that burned brighter than a nova. A weary look hung on her face. Hers had never fallen and to have it happen now? This was trouble. Trouble that had to be thwarted, had to be averted at all costs and that meant she had to make some quick decisions, the weight of them being on her shoulders. Opening the wardrobe with a key, she took out the cotton rolls. Taking a deep breath, she began to wrap them around her chest, wincing some at the pain. The leather shirt was grabbed and slid on. Then came the silk and lastly, another white shirt. Trousers to match were chosen. Belts and ornamental jewelry added to them, rings with various precious jewels in them, headgear and then, a crimson and black robe. King Stand looked at her. The ruler of the lands of Invite. The man chosen to lead them on the path of glory. A face. A symbol of a Kingdom. A kingdom that was under crisis. "Fuck. Julius, you bastard." He calmly exclaimed regarding the situation. The news that he had just received. He knew he had taken his time to get ready, but that was a necessity given the situation. If the word got out, that would be the end of it and Invite would fall into exactly the kind of deluge that she had desperately sought to prevent, was expected to prevent since the day he was born into this world. Now was not the time to be afraid, to fear, to worry. It was time to be exactly who he was meant to be. An immortal leader." I am Invite." He murmured before turning around and made his way out of his chambers into the corridors. How true the sentence was. He was Invite. As soon as he entered the corridors, the loyal men of Kings guard followed him. A grim purpose hung over his visage, his presence. Making his way to the audience chamber, Stand's arrival was obviously announced by one of the guards. Immediately the councillors rose from their seats and knelt before him. Stand sauntered over to his throne, perching himself atop. Sitting upright, his powerful gaze falling over the subservient men. With a wave of his fingers he motioned them to rise up and take their seats again. His eyes ran over the men. Michael Winter the Minister of Finances, William Foster, Defense, Gregor Thorpe of Foreign Relations, Harold Hardwood handling the Infrastructure and of course, lastly, his former Regent since last one year and still, perhaps advisor who everyone saw as most in his 'ear' Percival Thompson. The men of nobility in their rumpled clothes and frazzled appearances differed substantially from another presence that stood out like a sore thumb. Not only on account of his attire, his ways but due to simply who he was. Arturo Hardy was not an unknown man around Stand's Kingdom. Everyone was aware of the infamy that his father had brought upon the family name, turning him into an eternal outcast. The armor he wore and the way he bled were obvious indicators that he was the one who brought the ominous news." Your Majesty...." Percival attempted to speak only for Stand to look at him. The eyes told him everything, that King had little interest in hearing what he had to say presently. A wave of hand was given, signaling there would be time for him to have his say later. Astald's slender hand moved, a finger pointing towards Arturo. "Hardy. Tell me everything that has happened. All I know so far is Hers has fallen. I assure you and everyone else, we're going to regain it." Steel whose flashes Percival and the rest of the court had occasionally seen hung in his voice. Arturo had heard stories of how slender and dainty their King was, but he had never seen the other man in person. Even dressed as he was in fancy clothes and expensive material, it was impossible not to notice. The King was tiny. Shockingly so. Still, the warrior managed to hold his surprise and as the King swept into the rooms so he followed everybody else into a deep bow. For a man whose father was beheaded for treason, his even being in the same room with the King was a great honor. Only coming up from his knees when directly addressed by the King, Arturo was fixated on the man's appearance. For all of his slightness though, there was no hesitation in his words. The power and dominance he held over the suddenly silent men in the room was impressive. His words were spoken without hesitance. And Arturo found himself unable to meet the King's gaze. Was that shame for having failed him? Shame for his family’s history? He needed to pull himself together. A moment of hesitation was all he allowed himself, he stepped forward and dropped to his knees once more. A submissive act, prostrating himself at the feet of his sovereign. But also equalizing their stature. If he’d stood, he would have easily been at least a head taller than the King. Give or take.“Your Majesty” he breathed, “we were blind sighted. They came from beneath, tunnels straight through the cellars and the dungeons. They have been abandoned since the flooding last year, our barricades didn’t hold. Commander Darnley was assassinated and though we tried to recoup our forces, without a leader our soldiers were caught without plan. We failed you Sire. But if I could get some soldiers, some more forces and weapons, they wouldn’t be expecting us to rally so quickly. I can get Hers back, I’m sure of it.” It wasn’t a lie, Arturo had a battle plan, a strong one. He had trained beneath Darnley for a few years now and knew the fortress like the back of his hand. There was a rather insistent voice in his head reminding him that this could be it, his chance to prove himself, but ambition was only a small part of his desperation to take Hers back. It couldn’t fall, with Hers gone their trade routes to other Kingdoms would fall too. It would potentially cause massive financial devastation. They would all have failed in their only duty.“With all due respect Your Majesty” the man who had been silenced before spoke up, Arturo’s eyes narrowed a little. He didn’t know his name, but he already didn’t like him, “is it wise to throw more forces at a fortress that has already fallen. Would it not be more prudent to gather our groups and appoint a new leader? Somebody with experience” he gave a pointed look to Arturo.“I have experience” Arturo snapped hotly, for a moment he forgot the King was there. Then he shot an immediately apologetic look to Stand, “Sire.” He added quickly, “I know Hers. I have been fighting there for years. If Julius’ forces settle in, it will be impenetrable. We can waste no time.”“If it’s so impenetrable, how was it penetrated in the first place, hmm?” This time he knew the speaker. Mayhew, he had been one of the men who had condemned his father.“It was a small mistake that cost us dearly, I will take the blame for it Your Majesty, I should have been more vigilant. Please let me rectify my mistake, and then I will throw myself upon your mercy.” With Darnley dead, with almost everybody in fact, dead, he didn’t mind accepting the blame. But to waste time finding somebody who didn’t know the fortress, or the fighting style of Julia's’ men? It was madness. “Please Sire?” Was he begging? Well that was embarrassing. “I still have men there, men who might still be alive. I promised Darnley I would do everything in my power to get them out safely.” From the surprise that most were unable to keep to themselves, it was obvious to Stand that Arturo was seeing him for the first time. He had always found it unusual how everyone had a picture in their mind of how a King should look like. As if the way he governed was going to be determined by that. Even when he had commissioned a portrait of his, the artists took a moment to come to terms with the fact that their King was a dainty, even waif like man. They tried to paint him differently, so far away from what he truly was. In an image of perfection of their own mind. Astald had burned the painting in front of their very eyes, and it had been done again. The way he demanded it. The way hooks. So when the brief surprise that was on Arturo's face, Stand paid no heed to it. He didn't have to in any case. Chance was offered for him to speak and beneath the armor, even in smallest of movements, one could see Arturo's impressive physique. He was strong without being bulky, lean without being frail. An ideal warrior's build when one came to think about it. Astald patiently listened to Hardy as he narrated how Hers had been breached. A mistake. Barricades should have been stronger, the tunnels should have been manned. He felt disappointment at decisions taken by Darnley there. To make such an amateur mistake. The apologies were met with a stiff upper lip. They had no value. Emotions and empty words were unable to achieve anything in the harsh world of politics; as genuine as they may have been. In Hardy's case, one could never be too sure given the history of his family. But Stand had no intention of bringing that up when the stakes were much higher. As it turned out, Percival couldn't resist himself and broke into the conversation. Hardy seemed to consider it a provocation as he snapped at his former regent. Bickering followed as Stand continued to watch the happenings before him. Arturo begged for more forces. His words were of earnest. Of a man who, for all of his imperfections and the burden of his family that he carried, had stewards opposed to the other man standing before him, clad in their fine attire. Percival was about to say something when Stand's hand rose up." Enough!" A single word, he uttered in a commanding tone that silenced Thompson and everyone else." I will not tolerate such juvenile arguments akin to peasants haggling overprices at the market McCourt. Darnley was a good man, but he has been most imprudent in leaving the tunnels unguarded like this. It's a disappointment. As for the fortress, there's no time to gather the troops or anoint a new leader. Thenextarmament we have in the area is at Iran and that's good bit of distance away. Trade routes to Drama and Solar pass through the lands between those two locations. Julia's would not be expecting us to strike back to soon by recovering."" But your Majesty..." There was that interruption again and Stand looked at Percival with a gaze that could best be described as fierce grace." Gregor donotinterrupt me if you wish me to spare you of my ire." The man sulked some before being nudged into calmness by Foster as everyone was listening to King again." Hardy, tell me how do you plan to take Hers back. Convince me and you shall get cavalry. Along with that, there shall be fifty men carrying the newly developed firearms.... I believe they are ready for field-testing, wouldn't you say so William? After all, tough times call for tough measures." An enigmatic smile hung on Stand's lips as he said so, leaving Hardy to wonder what he meant. Foster for his part was surprised to hear of that. For these were weapons of devastating power in his opinion. But perhaps it made sense to use them given the circumstance." Yes Sire." He answered truthfully. Astald's eyes yet again burned into Arturo's, looking at him with that seemingly all seeing, penetrating glare. "Go on. I'm listening." He commanded. How did he plan to get Hers back? So far his plan hadn’t extended beyond getting help, he hadn’t expected to lead the party. Half of him assumed that King Stand would send forces along with a more experienced leader and Arturo himself would fall into line, sharing his advice but following orders. The other had been prepared for failure, to be thrown into the dungeons for cowardice and desertion. This? This was unexpected. He needed to think fast, luckily one of his strengths was thinking on his feet. And the promise of never-tried firearms was inspiring to say the least. One might dare say exciting. He took a moment, a moment of silence where he prepared his plan. The last thing he wanted to do was fumble and make a fool of himself in front of his King. Slight he may be, but he demanded no less loyalty for it.“I would ride from the North, Your Highness. Hers has notable blind spots on its Northern fronts,” why wouldn’t it? The North lay friendly territory, all the threats came from the border. “I doubt Julius’ army will be prepared for it. They won, but they took a Hell of a beating, those that have survived are probably still getting the bearings. We would be almost upon them before they even realized. And by the time they did, they won’t have time to move the canons from the Southern battlements.” It was a sacrifice in time, potentially a few hours, to skirt around the Eastern border and come at it from the North, but in Arturo’s opinion, it was a necessary. "Once inside I would put the men with firearms blockading the courtyard, facing the South, to tackle any incoming reinforcements” and blow them to pieces, but he refrained on being too graphic for the sake of his King, “whilst I lead the rest of the men inside.” The King’s entire military trained with a year at Hers, under Darnley, it bothered him that it would no longer be true. But he swallowed his emotions back for now, his grief and loss could wait.“Hers is well-designed for intruders, the stairs and floors are treacherous and uneven. To our men it becomes instinctive, after the first few tumbles,” it was a common joke that you had to get your Hers-legs, much like sea-legs in being able to walk steadily on a moving boat. “But Julius’ army will have no chance to get ready, and when we advance inside they will be at a great disadvantage. We’ll secure the castle and prepare for further attacks from their reinforcements.” Of course, his entire plan hinged on them getting there first, if Julius’ army already had reinforcements and had time to effectively set up a perimeter then this would be a fool’s mission. They would instead be incredibly reliant on the firearms. He would need to adapt his entire plan and their chances of success dropped exponentially. He decided not to tell the King that part, better to lead with strength and optimism. There was no room for doubt in war. “I’ll win you Hers back Your Majesty, you have my word.” Whatever it took. There was no hesitation in his tone, if his King was entrusting him to lead then the last thing Arturo would do was willingly fail him. This was where he wanted to be, ingratiating himself to his King, making a name for himself. Making the Hardy's indispensable once more. He held the man's eyes. This King was younger than he was, smaller, and yet the power he commanded was absolute. If it came to battle here, he wondered how King Stand would fair. He surrounded himself with science, with military advancements to hide his weakness. Arturo should condemn that, but he found he couldn't. It was easy for him to stand confidently, he was over six feet tall, taller than most men. His body though not overly bulky, possessed an undeniable strength. If it came to a battle then he was relatively sure he would prevail. Yet the King stood proudly in the middle of a Kingdom, small and feeble, and roared with all the confidence and strength of a lion. It was a bravery, an innate confidence which put Arturo to shame. Stand's fingers had blended together, eyes had narrowed as he listened to the plan narrated by Arturo Hardy. The layout of the castle wasburnedinto his memory and at every word uttered by Arturo, he imagined the scenarios, endless trajectories generated by forking paths of destiny. The idea that was proposed was a brave one, and it certainly took some guile to be able to not only think of that sort of thing but also to pull it off. In a way, it was quite impressive. Hardy's had always been renowned and lauded for their acumen when it came to things like these. Same blood flowed in Arturo's veins and he more than lived up to it. Herst in a sense was a trap unto its own, designed specifically to be a rather frustrating place to command even for those who possessed control of it. Their soldiers, would of course know of its machinations all too well, every single man had been to it for extended period at one or other time. The border was never quiet given the smaller skirmishes that kept on occurring there." I'm impressed." Stand answered, hand running over his chin. "But what about the eventuality of a perimeter being set? You said they have taken a massive beating. The capital first base that Julia's' men have anywherenearthe borders, is in the tiny Turn. There's barren land after that for an extended stretch traversed mostly by traders. So unless they had men ready at the backup, I doubt they would be able to bring in reinforcements. But of course, this is a possibility we must be prepared for. However, the odds are in our favor. Firearms in the front, cavalry behind. Also roll out two trebuchets from Iran. Hurl them where enemy is at the strongest. I know, the fortress might suffer some damage, but that shall also make things difficult for enemy. There is little room for maneuvering in the vicinity as paths become narrow once you enter Invite as opposed to vast wastelands on the other side." What he had just give wasn't a suggestion but was an order. Other councillors looked at Foster, not being too certain with abilities of the young King to take decisions. Never had a situation of this sort come up during his time on the throne. But William gave them a stiff nod. Signaling he indeed was on board with the idea under the circumstance." Anointing a new leader is a formality. It will be done and man of worth shall be chosen. But until then, we cannot wait." Stand added and then, his hands grabbed at his sword. The jewel encrusted hilt glowing beneath the lights. Mostly stones in shades of blue to match his eyes, it had been named Ice wind. The blade glittered as he unsheathed it, holding it out with remarkable poise. The tip precariously close to Arturo as his eyes remained locked with the older male before it tapped on his shoulder. A sign of approval it was." Arturo Hardy, win Hers back for me. Prove yourself. Failure is an option that none of us have here. Keep that in mind. William, get rest of the men ready. Hardy, see an apothecary and fix yourself. I shall address the men personally before they depart. There is not a moment to waste here." William Foster stepped ahead and knelt before Stand again. "As you wish my Sire." He spoke. Despite that, a chill had broken out on his back. He was Minister of Defense. Someone who truly lived up to that title for warfare was a business that he had always found unpleasant, having seen too much of it during his days as a soldier and developing nothing but disgust for it. He wondered if Stand was developing a taste for it, but this was truly the first time the young King had shown a sign of aggression, so far the policy had been to stand the ground and push enemy back. Invite was a kingdom that couldn't afford war for too long. A fact, that Stand knew all too well. Things were bubbling inside the sharp mind that was always at work. This time, there would be a pushback. He had an idea, one that would be revealed at the right time. Presently, the first step was just to claim the fortress again. Ice wind was a notoriously beautiful sword, whispered of the country over, and even outside of it. When Arturo saw the blade pulled out before him, for a moment his blood ran cold. There was every chance that the King would drive it through him for his failure, a blood sacrifice for cowardice. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, he looked into the eyes of his King and felt terror for the briefest of moments, his hard gaze betrayed nothing. But then instead of sliding it into Arturo, he tapped his shoulder. Just like that, he had his King's approval. There would be no reprimand for his actions, and he would have the chance to make it right. It might be temporary, it might be an act of desperation, but Arturo was going to lead the army. A chance to fix his mistakes. To atone. All hope of favor was not lost.“I will get you Hers back Your Majesty” he promised, “it will not fall. I do not believe that this was a tactical plan, I think that they were as surprised to best us as we were. It was a suicide mission at the end of a brutal stalemate. I would be surprised if there were forces ready to move in to support them. We will get there first and when their reinforcements arrive they will be met with a very different welcome than they expect.” Arturo had no doubt that by now, the army had sent word back to their King to be for armies. King Stand’s knowledge of Julius’ Kingdom far surpassed his own. He had ghosted through some of the wastelands but never been beyond. To know that he was not only being granted firearms to command, but Trebuchet’s too? There was a lot of trust being placed in him, and he was not prepared to let his King down. Loyalty to the crown was not an option for a subject, he had always pledged his life, unyielding, to his King. But the King in question had always remained a figurehead. A stranger, somewhere in the distance, for whom he would lay down his life. Standing in his presence he found it didn't diminish that loyalty at all. The King’s appearance was weak, as he looked up into the other’s man’s face he couldn’t help note that there was a beauty in the cold poise. He shook the observation off quickly, almost ashamed of himself. For all that Stand lacked, he made up for in his unwavering command of the situation. This was a King that Arturo could respect. And not merely for his crown. In such a short time, he had gone from thinking him frail to having absolutely no doubt as to his control over his court and Kingdom. Unwavering dominance. That was something that Arturo had witnessed even the strongest of men struggle with. The instruction to meet the apothecary was met with a grumble, but given the pain in his side he stood up, he didn’t have much incentive to argue. Bowing deeply again he took the King’s urge to hurry as a dismissal and hurried through the castle to find somebody to deal with his wounds. It was only as his undershirt was being peeled off, once his jacket and tunic were removed, that he realized just how bad the injury was. He’d gritted his teeth as his flesh had been stitched back together, but refused advice that he should rest. Hehad to win back Hers. Because the thought that Stand might look upon him with disappointment was already unbearable. This was his only chance to prove himself. Yes, it might have been borne of necessity, after all there was no time to brief anybody else, but it had been ensured because of his own fast thinking. He wanted to do this, he could to this. Coupled with his pride there was an overwhelming need he had to avenge Darnley. But there was something else creeping in. Something new. He wanted to impress his King. Not just get back into favor, he wanted Stand to look on him with pride. To break through that icy, regal indifference and see what it looked like to have those blue eyes stare upon him with affection, loyalty. This was the King his father had fought so hard to usurp when he had been naught but a slender Prince. Arturo had heard stories intimating that Stand wasn’t fit to rule, that he would be dead before the old King, that he was weak. And he might have bee nonce. Arturo didn’t know. All he knew was that the man on the throne deserved to be there. At least from the glimmer that he had observed. Was that just because he had entrusted him to join the counter-attack on Hers? Possibly. Whatever it was, he found himself unable to do anything but admire Stand. Arturo was dressed in clean clothes, bandaged tightly beneath. It made it easier to move and though there was an ache in his side it was bearable to move now. When he arrived back outside, ready to leave, he was in time to catch the end of King Stand’s address to his soldiers. Standing at the back, folding his arms he least against the wall, interested to see whether the King commanded an army with as much confidence as he had a small room. The Councillors were left to murmur as Hardy had walked away. Was King really justified in making the decision he had? To put forces of such potency in hands Olson the usurper? It seemed foolish to do so Cervical. He didn't trust Arturo an ounce and had good reason to feel like that. But the plan....it seemed even more ludicrous to him. However, he dare not question his Majesty. Not after what he had been told, but he did feel a strange sensation of dissatisfaction at the way he had been treated in this matter. The others, though disagreed were mostly united in their thinking. They would follow the will of the King. Buttheydidn't know Stand like he did, did they? He found himself unable to trust the judgment fully. Astald himself had meanwhile sauntered out of the Court. The troops had been mobilized with immediate effect and in a little while they stood on the plain outside the castle. Stand had stepped out, his banner being carried by one the Kinds guard as he came to halt before the forces willing to shed blood be it their own or of the enemy at his single command. His piercing eyes gazed at them, standing all solemn, having assumed their position. If the situation were not so serious, a jester might have found humor in the way this frail figure stood, surveying the much taller and undoubtedly much stronger men gazing down at him." Men, Invite stands at crossroads today. It is with heavy heart that I say that Hers is breached and our great Commander Darnley is dead. May his soul rest in peace. Julius' forces have pushed through. Theydarethreaten us. Thinking mere muscle can bring us down on our knees. That this act of impudence, born out of chance more than anything else would give them our lands, our mines. But that...." Astald paused for a dramatic effect. One of the skills that he had honed over the years was his oratory, something he had learned since a young age to be integral when it came to commanding a kingdom. He could see some of the men take a deep breath, try to gauge, anticipate words that were going to come."...shall not happen. Invite shall not surrender to Verona. Not now, not in a thousand years! You brave soldiers are tasked to win the Hers back and not just win the castle back but tenth war that has plagued our great lands for over ten years. It is the time of judgment. The one for which you have trained your entire lives for. Your men shall venture into war carryingmybanner. I do not expect you to let me down and Iknowyou won't let me down. But beyond all of that, you also carryhopesof every citizen of Invite. It The Who believe in you more than anyone else. You are their pride. You will fight for me and in my name, but you shall also be combating for them. Together, Hers shall be ours again and it issuing shall end this war once and for all. For we are Invite and we shallneverbe conquered!" In swift motion, Ice wind had burst out as Stand held it up in the sun, its rising rays were spreading out on the various jewels embedded in it, making it glow and in process granting an ethereal, almost supernatural aura to Stand. The soldiers had drawn their weapons out as they shouted in return." For King Stand! For Invite!" The commanders said, and the army roared again. Stand smiled at them confidently. Hands stretched wide as he watched the expanse of men before him. Finally, he walked away while the men went back to their positions, preparing to depart in a short while. Through the corner of his eyes he had noticed Hardy. A messenger was called with movement of the index finger. Piece of paper was passed upon him. It contained an instruction solely meant for Arturo's eyes only. The plan was in motion and Stand hope it would garner him the result that he intended to. Arturo waited to unfurl the note, he made sure he was away from prying eyes. His curiosity put up an argument, but with no idea what might be in the small letter it would be silly to open it in the middle of court. It could be anything. Threats. Annoyance. As he scanned the words, and the unmistakable royal seal, his eyes widened. The King had passed him a note? With further instructions. King Stand wanted to press into Verona? And he wanted him to lead the forces? Of course, it hinged upon their success in winning back Hers, but it was more than he had ever dared imagine. They were going to not only strengthen their stance but take the first aggressive march across enemy lines. Arturo was smiling. Had anybody seen him they might have questioned it, luckily, nobody did. He tucked the note into a pocket and made haste to ready the troops. His troops. His smile brightened. The ride back to Hers was long, though the men were eager. Most of them remembered Hers from their training. Some remembered it fondly, others less so. But Darnley had been a loved General who had shaped them all. This was as much above vengeance as it was victory. They followed the King’s orders to the letter. When they arrived upon Hers it was dark, raining and it was the early hours. Though a few of the windows were lit, most were dark. The troop said a prayer together for the fallen, before falling upon Julius’ forces. It was a long battle and not as easy as he had hoped, they had to blow down a battlement with the trebuchet and had stormed the fortress through their newly fashioned door. Little more than a crumbling hole in the stone. Their foes had not dared anticipate the lengths at which they had dared go, damaging Hers in their bid to retrieve it. One it had been captured, Arturo, drunk on power and victory had demanded their heads cut off and mounting on spikes up the hill which overlooked Verona. Let their approaching armies see and be warned. Invicta was not frightened. Invicta would not fall. It was only once the fortress was secured that Arturo sat down in Darnley’s office and pulled out some paper. It only occurred to him now that he was in charge. He had to send word back, but to whom? He had been given his orders by the King and though he was sure news of battle was better directed to other sources, there was nobody else he wanted to speak of his victory. Nor did he want to divulge his more secret mission. He had prepared a few of the men and with Hers fortified, he still had enough to lead a formidable army through to Verona. Alas, his knowledge of the lands beyond were sparse. A scout he had sent out had yet to return and though he was hopeful, it had been less than a day, it occurred to him, he might need a secondary plan. And so, Arturo sat down and wrote to his king. The biggest problem was that he’d never written to a King before, and he wasn’t entirely sure how much to say. Not wanting to make a fool of himself he thought long and hard over his choices. Your Majesty, Invicta is victorious. Hers is retrieved in the name of Your most formidable Majesty, though the fortress suffered some architectural damage we are confident it can be rebuilt with minimal costs. Casualties have not befallen us, with your firearms we were able to storm Hers and ascertain our stronghold once more. Your men have exceeded all expectation and the weaknesses which befell us before have been rectified. Arturo hesitated, not wanting to put too many details into a letter which could be intercepted. In regard to our private matter, I have prepared a small force and brought them into my confidence. I am assured of their loyalty, and we are all eager to follow your orders. However, I wanted to await word from Your Highness as to when exactly you wish us to set out. On the morrow and each morning thereafter I will accompany men at dawn. He lied, in case of interception, it was a common enough code used by their soldiers, and he hoped that the King was versed with it. Reversed times. Dawn, in actuality, meant dusk. Only a fool would set out at dawn. I am hoping to march a small party to gain control of the trade routes and set up soldiers in the guise of traders to establish a knowledge of their towns and cities. Sabotaging their connections and cutting off their contact with other towns. If we can cut off their supplies then they will be weakened when we claim them. If It will be a slow process though, if Your Majesty would request a more direct and imposing alternative I would, of course, be your humble servant in the matter. Arturo stared at the page, hoping he didn’t come across as too presumptuous. He had weighed up the success rate of marching in and though they could capture at least one city, he had no idea how many others were close. This way they could spread their influence and perhaps even with the moorlands for Invite. Stand had returned to his court. There lay a distinct melancholy to his demeanor in the aftermath of that rousing speech, that undoubtedly had served as an excellent motivation for the men of the army. But violence had never been something that excited Stand, sent the adrenaline rushing. The fact that he was about to embark upon an act of war that even his late father would not have dared to do so spoke volumes. As much as his commitment to pacifism was, this was time to show the steel that Invite was. Tiny she may be in terms of size, but she roared like the lion that was its crest. That was Invite. The day had gone by in a rather uneventful manner until he had retired to his chambers at sundown. Instructions were imparted for dinner to be served as per his specifications. But en route, he stopped to see his sisters, whom he had not seen since the morning. Ariel the oldest was seventeen, Astra the bubbly middle child fourteen and Amora a child of mere ten. Where Stand had taken after the late King, the trio had taken after their mother, blonde hair, jade eyes. A splitting image in various ages of the departed queen. Ariel had been moved into a chamber of her own but Astra and Amora, they still shared dwelling together. The trio had come together. Look similar they may, but they could not have been more different in their ways. Ariel was vanity, an air of haughtiness hung in her even now. She fancied herself as queen of some big kingdom in the future, living a life of even more opulence and luxury than she was already. As far as she was concerned, it was herrightto be in a position of that sort. Skilled painter, singer and a passable dancer, she had all the skills required. The art of seduction had eluded her until now, but of course, she read the books! If only the right came along worthy of her statuesque beauty. Ashra was the exact opposite. Plump, almost always eating something. Not the brightest bulb around, mostly she was lot in her own world. Myriad of hobbies, collecting rocks, playing games. She took the day as it came. Stand had often wondered how world might be from her eyes, given she....as much as he hated usage of the word, was dim. She was sitting in front of a piano, playing wistful tunes, an indulgence she adored most. Then there was the child, Amora. Her laughter like the ray of sunshine and about the only one who seemed to genuinely like his company. Perhaps because she too young that she was jovial enough, innocent enough to trust anyone. Her pink cheeks were flushed. She rocked her legs, the chair too tall for her and Astra had placed her on there." Why is it that you called us here brother?" Ariel was the first one to break the ice, clearly she had other important matters to tend to as far as she was concerned." I think I can see my family when I want to. Unless you wish to be treated like subjects?" Stand shot back. At the back of his mind, he knew he had to marry Ariel off as soon as possible, definitely to an ally. Already there were men asking for her hand and for all of her vanity and flaws, shoots charming young woman when it came to projecting an image and a beauty most ethereal." We heard about war. Do you have to go? Do we all have to go?" Came the innocent question from Amora. Stand sighed and shook his head." No...no you don't. You'll be staying right here in the castle with me. The reason I wanted to see all of you is that, I have simply missed seeing all of you. So occupied I have been in matters of Court, the new constructions in the northern parts and now this...."" Everything will be fine. Everything will be fine, say the deities!" Murmured Astra, momentarily rousing from her perpetual dream." Get to the point Brother, we have heard these tales from you before. Do you really think your petty games concern me? Julia is waiting for me. If you have nothing of importance to speak of, then I shall go on my merry way." Ariel crossed her hands, tapping her foot impatiently. "And to think you of all people chose son of the usurper..." Venom hung in her voice. "...the very man who nearly killedourfather. Don't you have any shame? Any honor?!" A grimace appeared on Stand's face. Technically, he could finish Ariel for infractions and rude behavior like this. What didsheknow of honor? Of sacrifice? All Ariel knew was her ephemeral of pleasures! "You have no right to tell me how to governmykingdom." He spat out." Did he really try that Stand?" Queried the child. Stand paused, not sure how to answer. A shake was given to his head." This conversation is over. I only wanted to let you know that we're at war. An actual war and no matter what happens, I will protect you and your honor as your brother and your King." He remarked tersely before turning around." Walk away like you always do! You coward!" Ariel was the one to get the last word as the door shut behind him with a thud. His fist had balled up in anger. Nostrils had flared. Perhaps it was about time he stopped thinking Ariel to be a human being and just see her as a pawn. Sell her out for an excellent deal. She infuriated him with her rude antics and wisecracks! Finally, in his own chambers. He looked in the mirror again. Much like the way he had several hours ago when the news of the breach had roused him from his slumber. The doors were locked and shut, ensuring he won't be disturbed as he carefully undressed. They meticulously put on garments coming off one after another to reveal the slender naked form. Walking towards her writing desk, she pulled the chair and sat in the same languidly with a glass of wine, feeling the warmth from the crackling fire in the fireplace beneath her massive personal library. Fingers ran through the raven locks before finding pieces of amid an unfinished game of chess, initiating it with herself, one of her favorite pastimes. The crimson marks making themselves apparent on her soft skin as the pressure of the clothes that had been padded up was eased. Her body ached. Stand stretched some when she was startled by the knock. She wasn't expecting any visitors. In fact, she was not to be disturbed. Was there some news already?" Who is it?" She queried in a stern tone." Your Majesty, it's me, Cecilia." The voice was a soft one, rich and feminine. Astald breath a sigh of relief. "Let yourself in." She commanded and in walked a charming brunette with matching eyes. Daughter of a powerful family that one could construealmostto be royalty, rumors persisted about her and King given how they were almost always together since their childhood. The Sun and the Moon as the poets, always prone to some serious flights of fancy had named them. Almost the same height as Stand and perhaps, her onlyrealfriend. The one who didn't know her as King, the symbol of a kingdom, their Sire, but someone who simply knew and liked her as.... Astald." You're really going all out, are you with this one? Everywhere they've been talking about it. It's unprecedented." She exclaimed, taking a seat opposite of Stand like she had countless times before, helping herself to some wine before breaking in the game of chess some and pushing some pieces ahead. "Check." She grinned." I am the King, they're probably supposed to talk about me even if I sneeze." Stand murmured in a cynical tone. A wry smile hung on her lips as she simply moved the pieces upon breaking the rules and held her hands up. "A King is allowed that, right?" It elicited a giggle from Cecilia." Spoken like a true royalty. But Hardy? That's one bold move there."" He's a man who's desperate. To prove himself. To regain honor. Pride spurs him on. Hurt ego. Besides, makes me look like a bigger man, courageous enough to let bygones be bygones for the greater glory of mine, of my people, of Invite. The men are charged after death of Darnley. I had to make the most of it and I will. Now to see the outcome. But forget about all of that Cecilia, I have to deal with enough of that in my everyday affairs. Read something to me, some poetry perhaps hm?"" You are such a hopeless romantic Stand, you should just accept that. Poetry? Of who? That Rimbaud who kept on writing romantic yarns about us?" Cecilia chuckled, but she did pull out a volume that she had carried." Want me to be a proper bastard all the time, do you?" Stand shot back, but a grin hung on her lips. She grabbed a blanket and covered herself in it. "But how about a dinner with the King tonight? It does get lonely at times."" Spat with the sisters again, is that it?"" Well, Ariel."" Sorry to hear that. Alas, I don't have much time. My family, they....get ideas. Speculate. But in a couple of days perhaps? They shall be traveling to Viral. I'll have all the time in the world with no one to snoop on me."" It's.okay. We'll see to it." Then Cecilia began to read poetry. Mostly based on old legends and fairy tales as Stand silently listened, feeling some respite for the first time in the day. After dinner, she had slid into her bed when right before the daybreak commotion began to engulf the castle compound. A messenger had arrived with fresh news from Hers, and it was news that was most wondrous. The guards were shouting joyously and immediately, a messenger was dispatched by the Captain of the Kings guard to chambers of his Majesty. Another knock, another rousing from the sleep. Almost an action by action repeat of last night. But this time, the letter was merely slid inside. Stand had hurriedly opened it, reading through the text hungrily. A thin smile had crept up on his lips. Victory was theirs. Invite had proved her resilience. That they were not to be taken lightly. The new weapons had shocked and surprised the enemy. She kept on looking at letter, reading it again and again before sitting in front of his desk. A quill was dipped in the ink and her elongated, elegant handwriting emerged on the paper. My loyal subject Arturo, Congratulations on leading the men successfully in what has undoubtedly been a campaign of utmost importance to sovereignty of Invite. It is bravery of men such as yourself and the company that makes us who we are. Initiate repairs at Hers immediately. The castle must be fortified. Set up traps, take care of tunnels. Impart my congratulations on the gallant soldiers as well. The lion has roared and anyone who dares to come in its path shall face the wrath. All the best to you. Your Majesty, King Stand the Lion of Inviter long signature was scrawled beneath. The personal stamp of a rampant lion, that she had demanded to be designed for herself was stamped beneath it. The paper was rolled up. Then, another second sheet was taken, second quill and bottle of ink. This time, it was made out of lemon juice. Dipping inside, squinting some, Stand began to scribble away. I am sending you more detailed maps of the surroundings towns that were designed by our scouts. Go ahead with setting up a perimeter of our men in traders clothes. Do not sack the towns or cause deep unrest, but put our people in strategic locations. Initiate a takeover on the same day when it is least expected. Until then, retain Hers, Julius will be distracted, keep him distracted. You have few more weeks to lay this out thoroughly. I trust the men you have chosen and your judgment in that regard. The second letter was pushed inside the first along with a copy of the maps from Stand's personal library. Then it was sealed with wax. Allowing it to thicken and cool, Stand dressed again, but this time there lay an excitement. For at the first ray of the rising sun, he will be proclaiming the victory at Hers. The doors of the chambers were opened as Stand stepped out, clad in his fine clothes, looking every bit the King that he was, a triumphant smirk on his lips. The Guard followed him behind as excitement in the air was palpable. Today, the Lion was going to roar. The letter from the King arrived hastily, and Arturo could barely wait to get into the study and open them. For all his bravado and confidence, to overstep or make King Stand uncomfortable would be a grave mistake. Everything he had currently been thanks to one man. The last thing he wanted to do was make the King think his trust misplaced. He had so much to prove. So much to be thankful for. There was likely no other King who would have trusted such a position to the hands of a traitor’s son. But was that all Arturo wanted to be known as? For the name Hardy to go down in history as an abysmal traitor to a King who had held him in such great esteem? No. He wanted it to go back to what it meant before his father had ruined everything. A great name, revered throughout Invite. Instead of one which prompted the sneers and mistrust he got now. He wanted his sons to be proud of him. To be able to walk through the street without being spat upon. To have his daughters married to respectable men. But more immediate than that, he wanted to have better for himself. Selfish as that might be. He wanted to hold his head high and take the place in court that his birth-right dictated. Arturo poured over the maps that the King had sent, utilizing the knowledge of the roads and cities. They had already figured out some of them in their exploration earlier. Arturo had even ordered the rebuilding of Hers, hiring masons from the nearest towns in order to restore it fully. The dungeons were too expensive, so for now he would have them bricked off. Better to not waste good men patrolling the tunnels. He was in charge. He was making sound choices. So why was he second guessing himself at every turn? Why was there a voice inside his head, doubting every decision? He knew that he could do this, could prove himself, but it was such a sudden change. One moment Darnley was in charge, and it was ‘yes, sir’, ‘no, sir’and following orders. Now everybody was calling him Sir. And looking to him for every single decision that needed to be made. If he’d thought that there would be friction, or disobedience, it had been quashed when they arrived. Arturo knew what he was doing, and the fact that they hadn’t lost a single man won him a lot of respect. There had been enough deaths in Hers for one lifetime. His army were grateful, they were content and respected. His leadership had been uncontested. Until now. Now there were whispers, ones that he wasn’t moving fast enough. That he didn’t have what it took. And alone in his office it was easy to worry that they might be right. Then he’d read this letter. The King agreed with his strategy. Their ideas seemed to be one and the same. A poised, calculated strike. Sneak in under the radar, cease control of vital amenities and keep them running smoothly. Then at the crucial moment, stop everything. Leave them isolated. Take down the armies. Brutalize Verona. A crushing wave of Invite’s true power, Julius had pushed too hard, too far, and now he was about to see that his neighbor wasn’t his eternal whipping ground. Herst would push back, force itself into the wild lands. Arturo circled the towns closest to them. There were five. Two of which they’d scouted, there wasn’t much fortification. A small guard ship. The city in the center of the moors would be the hardest to conquer. But if they planted themselves into the towns, quietly, anonymously, traders undercutting prices. They could slowly strangle the city, dwindle their resources, filter them to Hers. Without food. Without supplies. When they marched upon the city, the bombardment would be swift. As the city starved, running out of weapons, armor, water. Utterly surrounded and no way to get news to Julius, only then they would blow they fortifications, storm the city with their new firearms and take it in the name of King Stand. For Invite. Even thinking it sent a shiver down his spine. Glancing up to the dancing flames in the enormous fireplace, it still felt like he was trespassing in Darnley’s office. He swallowed the whiskey next to him in one gulp, wiping the back of his mouth with his hand. Then he got a clean piece of paper. It had been with a flush of pride that he had relayed the King’s words to his waiting men. And to a roar of pride and success. They had made their King proud. They had made Invite proud. Using the same lemon ink that Stand had used, Arturo began writing his reply. Highness, We have secured two of the townships and I intend to monopolize the trade in the others over the next few days. I will then wait a week, to be sure that there are no unsuspected circumstances. Then, on that coming Friday we will march upon Vex moor and besiege it. Darnley’s death will be paid by Vex moor, claimed for Invite and for you, Your Majesty. I send this along with my pledge that I will do everything in my power to avenge their attack on Hers. They will never step against you again, Sire. This insurmountable betrayal will serve you well. I have had chance to look upon the running of the moorlands, these small hamlets, far spread, have rich and bountiful farmlands. They have utilized the wilds and have fruit and vegetables the like of which I have not seen before. Their equipment, likewise, is strange to me. I feel that these lands, once presumed barren, would be a great boon to Invite and their capture will filter down into a great loss and hindrance for Julius. I hope you can forgive my candor. We surpass them in weaponry, but from everything I have observed their skill in farming has ours put at shame. Your Majesty, it is here that I risk overstepping the mark. But I must ask, what are your further plans? If you plan for us to march forth from Vex moor and conquer the entire of Verona then I will need to lay plans and preparations which stretch out further than the one single city. If you have no such further plans I can focus the entire of our forces on the one goal. But I would deeply regret taking a path which by happenstance, undermined some of your future intent. Your faithful soldier. A Hardy. Arturo’s signature was nowhere near as intricate or ostentatious as that of his King. Nor was his penmanship as beautiful. He found himself tracing the ink of Stand’s letter fancily. He’d not dared to imagine that he would ever share such personal correspondence with the King of Invite. Arturo once again used Darnley’s seal, and not just because he didn’t have one of his own. It felt right. This was for him. He sent the seemingly blank piece of paper back with the messenger who had brought his own. Then he least back in his chair and glanced out of the small window of his tower room. It looked out over the darkening moors. This would be a battle that went down in history. Be it as an enormous success or an utter failure. Those moors were his proving ground. A portrait of Darnley scowled down at him.“I know it wouldn’t be your plan” he raked a hand through his dark hair. Darnley had longed for this day too, the day on which he would have permission to take the abyss. And his plan was always the same. It was Invite rivers which seeded the moorland, streams cutting through the expanses of land. Build dams, cut off their water and they would perish. Their farms would dry up. Their people shrivel. It was one he entertained, briefly. But if they did? Those farms were intricate and though he was no farmer, he had been raised (at least for a short while) as a land-owner with an interest to how profitable the land was. Those farms were profitable. They would do well for Invite. For Hers. Not that Darnley was around to reap the rewards anymore. And with no children of his own, the land, the fortress and his titles fell back to the crown. Along with Vex moor; Stand would be a very rich man, more so than he was now. Arturo didn’twant to punish the farmers. Didn’t want to upset the land. He wanted to conquer it in its entirety.‘Silly, poetic boy’ Darnley’s voice sighed inside his memory. Arturo smiled softly. He missed the old man dearly. If he could see them now? If he was here? The thought was enough to cause a lump of emotion to form in his throat and he pushed it down. It would not do to sit in this tower and be melancholy. Inside, he pushed himself from his chair and went to socialize with his men. The letter from Hers, meant only for the eyes of Stand had reached him amid an afternoon when he was engaged into one of his favorite pastimes in the library, reading philosophy. Typically, instructions were in place not to disturb him no matter what happened when he was in the castle library, but given the newswasfrom Hers, it took precedence over everything else in the context of the present scenario. News of Hers being regained in less than twenty-four hours it had been breached was taken rather joyously in Invite. Stand had made one of his rare public appearances, taking it upon himself to make the announcement to the crowd that adored him. But that was just a beginning. This was far from over. He could only hope that success was his at the end of it all. He sat in the library, calmly reading the words that were meant for his eyes only. Arturo's handwriting nor his elocution was as free flowing as his was, but there was a distinct confidence that even his words screaming. Those neat, bold letters that were undoubtedly written with same intensity, same force with which Arturo Hardy wielded his blade, commanded the men that were put under him. One's script told a lot about who they were, their personality. At least, Stand believed in that. What she saw was a proud man, who for most part was straight laced, passionate, ambitious. But ambition was a trait that was revealed in what Arturo mapped out. Mention of different farming techniques, equipment, distinct methods of farming to produce better harvest had piqued Stand's interest. He was a man of science and so much time had been devoted in strengthening Invite for any eventuality of the sort that they were in right now, that of a warfare that she had truly not been able to spare scientists, inventors for innovation in that regard. The fact that Verona had done so was a fine surprise. It was definitely an opportunity to actually learn more andprospermore as Arturo had pointed out. Plus loss of these rich and fertile lands would weaken Julius more, force him towards a situation that when she would sit with him for a negotiation, leverage would be on the side of Invite. Therightside as far as Stand was concerned. Rest of Stand's day was spent mulling things over. The advisors left to wonder as to exactly what was going through his mind, the sparkling blue eyes refusing to reveal anything. It took night when again, clad in a similar blanket, fire burning even more fiercely to warm her, Stand's fingers grabbed at the quill, and it began to move rapidly over a piece of paper. My loyal subject Arturo, As I write this, Nests, our most beautiful and charming capital is beginning to come under a thin sheet of snow. I gaze at the walls, the watchtowers where I see torches burn and men holding their posts and not a moment goes by when I think you and every single brave man who is standing guard at Hers similarly, facing the weather, the trouble that enemy might raise at any given time. I may belong in Nests in body, but my mind is with you. You are Invite's shield but most importantly, you are her sword as well. I have little desire to conquer Verona by force. Julius can have his land. But I do want you to enter into the villages, take the fertile hamlets under our control just to squeeze Julius some more. Be taciturn in what you do, but you know that already. Take their technology, learn about it as much as possible. When dust has settled, I would like to see that the villagers don't have too many problems about the change in power. Win their trust and whatever little resistance you might face among commoners on street shall dissipate away. For then only can we learn their skills and use them to enrich our own lands. My desire to annex these parts to Invite on permanent basis in the longer run. Keep that in mind. I can see you've sent it under Darnley's seal. You are a man of loyalty but most importantly, you are a man of respect and honor Arturo. A trait which I find admirable. I know everything about you and what others say. My ears are everywhere. Do not let things deter you from your goal and carry out my commands as instructed. Success is yours. I am certain of that. Pass my best wishes to all the men. Carry my banner with pride. Your Majesty, King Stand the Lion of InvictaSigning off, Stand had taken the usual precautions to make sure letter was not intercepted. Suddenly, she felt very tired. It had to be all that thinking and the stress, she decided. A gaze ran towards the table in the middle of the room, strewn all over it were various maps, some ancient treatise and tomes. Some notebooks containing his own elegant handwriting. It had taken a long time. Now it was again time to wait and watch. Die had been cast, it was won or lose. She hoped for a win, and he was banking on Arturo Hardy to deliver it. Summoning a servant, the letter was handed through the delivery tray. When they had taken the same, Stand simply stood before the fireplace, soaking in the heat. The yellow-orange fire reflected in her deep blue eyes, made her visage glow in an ethereal manner as she crossed her arms, nearly stone faced. Solemn. Gritty. Determined. Aleader. Sleep came easier for Arturo that night than it had in a long time. Perhaps it was exhaustion, perhaps it was the alcohol. More likely it was his renewed sense of purpose. It was refreshing, invigorating. He fell asleep planning his tactical advances, formations, plans and numbers dancing through his mind. By the time he woke up he had a letter from the King, the messenger had travelled all night. It was a pleasant way to wake up. Finally, he had a relationship with the King. A budding friendship that he was poised to use to his best advantage. There was trust. The news of snow had him sit up in bed and glance out of his own window. It was true, here too there was a dusting of white. Numbing the landscape. Making everything look softer. He huddled under his blankets more, only now feeling the chill in the room, seeping through the icy stone. The winter was setting in. Slowly but surely. It wasn’t thick like it would be in Nests, naught more than a thick, patchy frost, but it would bite at the farmers and serve to drive their desperation to Invite’s advantage. Arturo wanted to write back, but he had nothing to say. Not really and he found that his desire to write was driven more by a need to have a reply. To stay in contact with his King, rather than convey more information. And that was just silly. So instead he dressed and headed downstairs, wondering whether everybody felt this strange addiction when dealing with the monarchy. The most important man in the Kingdom was writing letters to him. Thinking of him. I may belong in Nests in body, but my mind is with you. Why did that line keep replaying so much in his head? Because he is the most important man in the Kingdom, logic told him. But for once, logic seemed wrong. It felt like there was something more. A thrill that he’d never gotten before. An excitement. Something budding. Be it a friendship or his future, the confidant of the King. A stupid notion, given that it was only one mission and a few letters. Weeks passed and everything fell into place almost perfectly. The small farms were not taken by force, but by necessity. Their disguised soldiers fell into life there, subtly switching trade routes and undercutting Verona’s prices. Almost all of their trade was directed to Invite now. With safer roads and higher prices. Willingly. Julius had been neglecting his outer towns, and they were content to go where the money was. Poor farmers caught up in politics. Arturo felt a strange sense of triumph that he had managed to sway them without so much as stepping foot into one. With everything in place they had slowly been delivering less and less food to Vex moor. When they had sent soldiers and guards to investigate, Invite had slayed them en route. With everything in place there was only one pawn left to knock down. Tonight, his forces would march on Vex moor. With trebuchets, firearms and numbers beyond imagination. It would be the first step Invite had taken into Verona for decades. Of course, they wouldn’t be prepared. They pawed at Invite like a kitten toyed with a string. Who would suspect the string of wrapping itself around ones neck and choking the very life from the poor, deranged cat? Still Arturo would be lying if he said that he was not apprehensive. And so he sat in his office, pen in hand, staring at the blank parchment beseechingly. He would write to King Stand. Just to be sure that he had not changed his mind. There had been no further correspondence between them, and he was strangely nervous about writing out of the blue. As if the King may have forgotten him entirely. Your Majesty, Herst is prepared to march upon Vex moor. We will deliver them swiftly tomorrow, besieging the city before we finish it’s vanquish by force. They have no food. No water. No cavalry. No salvation. But before we make that final step, an open show of war to King Julia's and Verona, I would like to make doubly sure that Your Highness is still of a mind to do so. There will be no turning back. Was this his own hesitation seeping through? Could he do it? Everything he had planned had fallen into place so perfectly that he was waiting for something to go wrong. I have few doubts as to our success. Your men stand ready to make you proud, we wait only for your command. For Hers. For Invite. For you. Your loyal solider, Arturo Hardy. Sending the message off quickly, Arturo knew that tonight would be the first in a long time that he did not sleep. His entire career and reputation hinged upon tomorrow. At least that’s what he told himself. Deep down, in places he wouldn’t even admit to himself, he was desperately longing to hear from the King. To make sure that they were still okay. That their friendship hadn’t been a figment of his imagination. Anything. Over the last few weeks he may not have spoken with King Stand, but his strange, budding intoxicating with his sovereign hadn’t dimmed in the slightest. Ever since Stand had sent his last letter he had not heard from Arturo, It wasn't surprising. Subjects usually were not expected to address the King lest they had something of importance to impart upon the Sire. That meant Arturo was still laying out the strategy that Stand had approved. The news, if any could either be good or bad. A sense of normalcy had settled in the routine once again as the castle and Nests even if plenty of things were discussed in whispers. Astald had rarely seen of her sisters, them being too haughty or simply her being far too busy to give any time to family. The change in trade had been notified by the trade guilds and that had elicited a smirk from Stand. Definitely a lovely byproduct of what Arturo was doing. The increased activity meant increased money into treasury and something that was even more valuable than money. Trust. Traders from far away lands that had traditionally passed through Vex moor were now routing themselves through Invite, attaching themselves and Invite was welcoming them with red carpet. Verona was slowly being squeezed. They may be the bigger land, but Invite had better technology, more wealth and that meant, more safety. For far too long Julius had thought he could toy with Invite, that the land would be everybody's whipping boy. But Stand was determined to change that for good and establish a new balance of power in the region. Invite may not be the all conquering nation and Stand had no desire to make her like that. But it would most definitely be the one that people would not even dream of touching for fear of the retaliation they would have to encounter." Your Majesty?" Percival whispered in his ear softly. Astald had momentarily lost himself in his thoughts. "Yes...?" He asked." They are still waiting to hear your verdict." It was a small matter. Well, at least in the context of things. Some of the widows of traitors in various skirmishes still wished to be provided by the state. Their children and the women themselves had nowhere to go. The women themselves did menial jobs, but clearly it wasn't enough to provide. They had raised the subject in village councils and eventually the issue had come before Stand. Those women, they were good, kind ones. They had never done anything wrong. But at the same time, if the families of traitors could be taken care of by the state, there would be no reason for anyone to abandon. Loyalty was twofold. First to the crown and then to one's family. If there were no bounds, that potentially could have made everyone a mercenary. A rather disturbing and chilling thought. Few coins would have bought rebellions, deluge." The request is denied Foster. A traitor's family shallsufferlest they redeem themselves byprovingtheir loyalty. Their children will fight for Invite. But there would be no extra monetary compensation for them." Stand spoke in an icy tone. Inside, she felt turmoil. But emotions were not something that a King ought to make his calls on." But your Majesty you send Heir..." Percival spoke in an almost stunned tone for he had been the one who had gained this issue an audience with the King and was actually hoping for a favorable outcome. In fact, his reaction was a highly uncharacteristic of the Regent." Did you just questionmyjudgment Percival?" Stand asked sharply. An almost fearsome gaze in his eyes that even made Percival freeze. He had never imagined the waif like man before him to possess such arresting power and yet, here he was." No Sire." He apologized immediately." Leave me alone. The lot of you." Stand dismissed them with a wave of his hand. The men walked away as he retreated into his chambers night was beginning to dominate the skyline.***It was a couple of hours later that Cecilia had come in and this time, for dinner indeed as she had promised her friend some time ago. But she also was interested in hearing about all the gossip from the horse's mouth. They sat facing each other, fire crackling as usual." Is it true?" She exclaimed." Yes it is. I'm trying to squeeze Verona out." Stand answered quietly." Not that. But you denied some welfare to the poor families of traitors but have sent son of the usurper on your most important campaign until now. Isn't that a bit ironic, hypocritical?" Cecilia crossed her arms, clearly she wasn't hiding where she stood on the issue." I know it is Cecilia..." Stand gave a weary sigh. "Don't you think I don't see their plight? How they suffer? Yet...an example needs to be made. Those who even dream of being traitors to Invite ought to hesitate. I like having trust, but there are always greedy souls, and sometimes you do need to take a tough call."" You've become just like them!" Cecilia's fingers had clutched around her glass of wine. Astald looked up at her while cutting through her steak. An eyebrow was raised. "I was meant to be one. I can't fulfill your expectations." She coldly replied. Cecilia shook her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that..." Astald took her hand and squeezed. "I know you didn't. It doesn't matter. I'm drained. Thank you so much for coming to see me. You're the only friend I have, and I'll never forget how much you mean to me." She pushed the plate away. "I don't feel hungry anymore....just read to me? I do want to go ahead of where we had reached the last time...."***The letter had come in the early hours of the morning. Stand read through it once, twice before weighing the options for one last time. Arturo's keenness. His desire was apparent within and yet, he professed his subservience. Stand took a mental note of that. It was almost strange though, this space the two of them had found each other in through the secret correspondence. Perhaps no other eyes except theirs saw it made it almost....friendly in nature despite matters strictly being of political nature. Dipping his quill, Stand began to write again. Perhaps the last letter she would be sending to Hardy until the showdown would be over and things would either fall their way or they would be in a rather compromised position. My loyal subject Arturo, You have my absolute blessing to march upon Vex moor and wrest the lands from control of Verona. Go with the plan. Victory is yours. None shall ever even so much as think about touching Invite ever again when this will be over. Never forget, one day as a lion is better than a thousand as a sheep. Your Majesty, King Stand the Lion of InvictaDespite all the mental preparation, there still came a rush over her as she signed the letter. All of her grooming, years of studies, her own belief in her intellectual supremacy, she had put everything online here. And all of that rested upon shoulders of Arturo Hardy. Son of the usurper." Fate, how funny you are." Stand murmured to herself with a thin smile as the letter was sealed and eventually dispatched. The battle for Vex moor didn’t go as easily as Arturo had hoped. But with the blessing of his King tucked into a pocket upon his person, he braved the storm with a fierce, stalwart determination. Both figuratively and literally. They’d approached Vex moor at night, the first problem had presented itself rather quickly. The moorlands were more acrid than most. They’d counted on that. Nature had other ideas. As they were approaching the heavens opened, torrential rain poured down upon them, soaking everything. Icy, bitter rain which cut through to your very core. The men were frozen. The ground was slippery and treacherous. Their camps were set up systematically around the camp, and only two days later did the rain stop. Vex moor was officially besieged. First, the Belgians sent showers of arrows from their battlements. It was the first thing to occur that Arturo had actually prepared for. They took out a few soldiers, but the rest of them were in armored tents (heavy to lug there, but worth it) or safe beneath shields. They hid from the onslaught, only daring to come out when they were sure Vex moor’s arrows were spent. With their supplies cut off, and their own men within the walls setting alight their forges and smithy’s, it was a matter of time. Secondly, the Belgians sent out waves of soldiers. Arturo was prepared for this too. Though their camp was well within view of the battlements, he had an array of poised assassins with firearms at the doors. They decimated the oncoming forces before they had even stepped from the shadows of the walls of their great city. They defeated three waves of soldiers like that before Vex moor stopped sending more out. Lucky really because they had already run out of ammunition. The firearms were repositioned along their front line, useless as anything but a formidable deterrent. And whilst Vex moor’s forces were watching them, they have two trebuchets move in around the back. The walls crumbled and their second line of soldiers spilled in. Taking what was left. There were causalities. His immaculate record had already faltered. But considering the epic ambition of the task, it was a great victory. Now Arturo sat within the palace, ensconced deep within the walls. The men were his men. Drunk on their triumph. The bodies were taken from sight, the city opened to trade once more. And though the people within were shaken, frightened and unsure, Arturo wasted no effort in ensuring that no civilian came to harm. Invite’s army was on its best behavior. His only failing was that now he was here, he wasn’t sure what else was to be done. Darnley would know, he would clap him on the back and have the perfect speech prepared. Arturo was not a general, he had no experience, and whereas tactics fell to him easily, dealing with people? He had no idea. It was with a trembling hand that he wrote of his victory to his King. With roars of celebration down the corridors. He hoped that his vigilant watchers, poised in the towers and diligently keeping lookout for reinforcements were abstaining. Vex moor had fallen to Invite, but they had no chance to send out for help. It was likely King Julius didn’t even know, so lost out here in the wild lands were they. Arturo would not be the one to announce it. That was a job for a King. He had fulfilled his promise. To Our Mighty Lion, King of Invite, My Majesty and Liege, It is with great triumph that I write to inform you that Vex moor is yours. It has fallen, the crown of the moorlands, now belongs to you – should you wish to claim it. I cannot press upon you my gratitude Sire, for your letting me lead the men into this great victory. Your army have done you proud, not a man among us would lay down anything less than our lives to secure this victory for you. In the name of Darnley, our fallen leader, but make no mistake than in our hearts we held you as our commander. We are secure in our place, should Julius wish to forge against us, he will find that even now we have ammunition en route. I will not stay here, for I worry about Hers. I left it with men, good men, but I would prefer to secure the gate of Invite myself until matters are settled. William Foster has written to me and expressed a great interest in stepping forward to establish our seat in Vex moor. With Your Majesty’s permission, I would like to step aside and return to where I am needed. I cannot pretend to be a politician and what is required here is beyond the commission of a soldier such as I. I have delivered you a city, Your Majesty, God willing I will deliver you as many as you wish to have. But currently I would greatly appreciate the honor of returning to Hers and securing the routes lest Julius try to out-step us and lead an army through to Invite, ignoring Vex moor entirely. Arturo had left instructions, but the men there were not him. Darnley had always told him that he had the mind of a traitor, though insulting on its face it had never been meant as such. Arturo thought of many eventualities. Seeing the world in shades of what he would do. If he was Julius he would ignore Vex moor and attack at Invite’s weakened jugular. Take Hers, and he would be putting them at the disadvantage of having to move their forces. His army could be halfway to Nests before it encountered any resistance, and then only that of the depleted King’s guard. Arturo wanted to take seventy-per-cent of the forces from Vex moor to Hers with him. He could probably convince William Foster, Invite’s minister of defense, to let him take forty. It would be a workable compromise. As always, irrespective of my desires, I am yours to command. Send me where you will Your Majesty. For Invite. For my King. Arturo Hardy. Arturo stared at the letter, reading it back through. He had assumed that King Stand would want to come and visit the new city, look upon his new citizens, experience the moors as King Julius never had. Foster’s letters had quickly put him right in telling him that their heirless King would not be setting foot this close to a battleground. Arturo understood the reasoning, even if he did have to battle with the sweeping disappointment. He’d thought that when they won he might see his King again, kneel before him a victor instead of a cowardly failure as he had after the fall of Hers. It seemed so long ago now.“Anti,” a voice came through the open door, and he looked up, “there are horses on the horizon. You might want to come and see.” Henry was pale, a man who had fought through both the battle of Hers and the battle for Vex moor with him. That worried him more than the news.“How many?”“Dozens. When will the ammunition arrive?”“Not for days yet, are they soldiers?”“Impossible to tell, the land into Verona is flat, and they’ve only just appeared on the horizon.”“Come. We’d best take a look, here,” he picked up the letter, “have that sent to Nests and set up patrols near the broken walls. Have our men search anybody coming in and out. We need to secure Vex moor.”“Do you think it could be serious?” Henry asked, he looked panicked and Arturo was almost sure that they shared the increasing sense of dread. Except Arturo’s poker face was flawless.“I think that we are at war, and it is better to be over-prepared than bury our heads in the sand and pretend that we are safe.” They were swords for hire. It was a job most unusual. With the depletion of forces in Vex moor, Paul Barnaby, the defect leader of Fifty Blades, the rag tag yet somehow impeccably professional band of mercenaries was surprised to receive a letter from King Julius himself. Paul didn't care much for the morality of things, selling his services to the highest of bidders but perhaps, that's where his moral strength lay. In that apparent lack of the same as once his services were bought for, he was extremely loyal for that particular venture. Loyal to a fault as a matter of fact. He had been riding for an entire day with his men, approaching Vex moor where battle had broken out. His grizzled form spurring his stallion on to march forth. The men behind him followed in a neat file as they marched forth. Wind and snow whiplashes Paul's face, but it just excited him more. The job was a simple one. Take down Vex moor, free from grip of Invite. It also promised him chance to curry in some favors from King Julius. It wasn't every day when the monarch themselves hired you to do jobs which his own forces were incapable of doing. But it made sense for these rough and unpredictable terrains were known to his men far better than even the finest of the forces based out of capital. Vex moor, ignored had never been a priority in terms of its development for Julius barring posting of regular soldiers. A substantial force indeed that had served well until now. But now, a breach had occurred, and it appeared that there was no plugging the same. Appearing on the horizon, he saw the Invite's flag flying proudly. He stopped, turned around to look at his men. "We are not big in numbers, but they are tired. Their forces depleted. We must strike them at their weakest with blunt force. Take down whoever is commanding the armed forces. They have these strange machines that belch fire....but our scout has confirmed those weapons have cooled down. They were seemingly invincible with them, but not so much anymore. All they have is swords, shields and canons. Not so different. They await for supplies, for more weapons...we have to hit them now and make sure they never get a chance to regain the composure." It was something that every man knew, but Paul was impressing it on their mind. His second in command, Leonard stepped closer and whispered in his ear. "Speak of the reward, the potential..."" King Julius has requested us. Why? Because even the finest of his forces pale before the Fifty Swords. They can't compare to our strength, our capabilities and our honor. We give him Vex moor and the rewards will be boundless for us!" Sword was raised, directions given as the company spread out, small as it was, making its march towards the settlements. This was about to get ugly. War always was.***The letter had reached Stand promptly as ever. While Foster had his own line of communication open with Hardy and had informed as per the 'no travel' policy that Stand had even in times of peace let alone war that he would not be seeing him, Stand had different machinations in his mind beneath his piercing blue eyes. The letter came with the good news. An immediate reply was imperative. Stand was in her library when it was handed to her. Grabbing her ink she began to scribble away. My loyal subject Arturo, Congratulations to you on your remarkable success in this campaign of utmost importance for Invite. I mourn the loss of life we have endured, but those were brave men who lived and died for Invite. Their sacrifice shall not be forgotten. Thank every single one of the soldiers on my behalf for what they have done throughout this campaign. Each one of them is like family to me. We may not be related by blood, but we are related by kinship. A seat must be established at Vex moor, so Foster is right. But you should return to Hers. Your place belongs there. Leave forty percent of your men at Vex moor, take the rest back to Hers. Vex moor is an advantage that we possess presently, but Hers is our bastion since forever and a territory that we should not shed under any circumstance ever again. As ever, success is yours. Your Majesty, King Stand the Lion of InvictaSigned and sealed the letter was sent.***It was in King's private chambers that Foster was summoned. All alone. He stood with his head bowed before Stand, but clearly he was in disagreement of something in particular." Your Majesty.... I would not advise a move like that. It could prove to be most reckless! It's blasphemy, what if you get attacked by someone? What if someone fires an arrow...an assassin...god knows what else?!" He spoke with genuine concern. AstaldwasKing after all and he had been protected in every conceivable manner. Particularly in the light of the fact that he had no heirs. Rumors persisted if he planned on having any. Whether he was impotent or worse, harbored that sinful attraction towards those of his own gender. So far, nothing had come forth to lend any credence to those rumors. But Ithaca mystery as to how and why the King had not married a suitable bride despite being a man of age. His diminutive, frail frame also had people whispering in hushed tones that he might be suffering from some fatal ailment. If the court were to be honest, not eventheyknew if any of that was true or false, as shrouded Stand was in mystery. It was a miracle how he had managed to hold on to his throne amid such things in the eyes of many." I know what they whisper about me William. That I am not a King who leads. One who hides. One who lacks the courage. Well, I am going toprovethem wrong. You know fully well I can handle my sword, bow and arrow and knives. I can ride. I may not be as strong as other men physically due to what mother nature bestowed upon me, but I am as courageous as them. Will to Hers and then to Vex moor and put the issue to an end once and for all." Fierce determination hung in his eyes. Inwardly, she had self-doubt. Wasn't certain how it would be, to walk in the battlefield. But this was yet another thing she knew she had to do." I know Sire, but a battlefield? It might prove to be suicidal! I sung..."" Williamobeywhen you're told. I don't think It's too hard to understand, is it? You were summoned here to be told, I did not ask for your counsel on the issue. If I wanted, I would have and believe me, I would have valued it greatly as you very well know. I am going and there's that. Now make the necessary arrangements and not a word of it to anyone else except chosen among the kings guard. I want this to be a complete surprise." Stand sternly addressed the much bigger man before him, making him cower in his carefully uttered speech. William bowed again." Yes your Majesty." With that he departed. A weary sigh escaped Stand's lips as he opened another volume on agricultural history, attempting to expand upon the curiosity that Arturo's letters had instilled him about the craft of farming and its history in Invite in ancient times in general. The morning brought worse news, the worst, in fact. The scouts, who had been sent out onto the moors under the cover of darkness, returned. The approaching forces were soldiers, it would seem. Heavily weaponed and armored. Vex moor could not withstand another battle, their supplies were too depleted and for the first time Arturo wondered if burning down the smithies had been a bad idea. If they’d had them, they could have forged themselves ammunition and fixed their weapons. As it stood they were waiting on caravans to restock their arsenal. They were sitting ducks. The bad news didn’t stop there, however. They weren’t Julius’ men. They carried no flags, no crest of their sovereign. At best guess they were mercenaries. It would mean they were less prepared than an army, and once they were spent there would be no replacement. But Arturo couldn’t relax as the others had. To him, it was the worst news he could have received. Julius was aware that they had taken Vex moor. And yet.instead of sending his armies to procure it, he had hired mercenaries to take it back. So where was he sending his armies? Arturo was afraid he already knew the answer. So he was presented with an impossible choice. Did he stay here and fight for Vex moor, stand tall with his men here? Men who were without supply and would surely lose Vex moor, and potentially their lives, to the very real army marching upon them. Or make haste to Hers, with as many of the men here as he could spare, and defend Invite from a potential threat he couldn’t prove was coming. The afternoon brought to Arturo a letter from his King and his opinion shifted again. The words were sound, as was the advice. A part of him felt like he was going behind the back of Foster, the channel he should be using, and utilizing the King to overrule him. What were they saying about him and his leadership, back at the palace. King Stand seemed to be the only person who had any faith in him. His army trusted him, but he was using Darnley’s name to with their loyalty. He was their equal, proving a point, rather than their superior ordering them. Whether they would accept him after this, or even listen to him, was another matter. He was still the son of a traitor. He had almost directly led Stand to believe his way was the right way. But what if his arrogance was getting ahead of him. Arturo was annoyed at himself, at his own hesitation and inability to decide the best course of action. The soldiers were getting closer. He sat, alone in the fortress he had won, reading over his King’s words again and again as if divine intervention might swoop down and peck him on the head. If he left Vex moor, and it fell, for nothing to happen at Hers, then he would be labelled a coward. If he stayed at Vex moor and Julius swept through Hers, exposing the jugular of Invite, he not only failed his country but put his King at risk. What he wanted, desperately, was another him. He had tried talking it through with Henry, but he had dismissed his fears. Why was it that in the entire Kingdom, King Stand seemed to be the only other person who could foresee the dangers which lay in the future. It is simple. His mind insisted, you have your orders from the King. But were they fairly won orders, or had he enticed them under false pretences of security. Foster wanted them all to remain here and face the mercenaries, to keep Vex moor. But the nagging feeling in his gut wouldn’t relent. Hers was exposed. If you leave here and naught happens at Hers, you will be a coward. Darnley’s voice echoed in his mind, he thought it cruel that his inner cynic would take on the voice of his mentor. If you do not return to Hers, and it falls, you betrayed a direct order from your King and your head will roll. His inner Darnley had a point. Whether it had been extricated through duplicitous means or not, an order from his King had been delivered.“They are closer now, no longer shadows on the horizon.” Henry poked his head through the door, “the troops are restless. They want orders.”“I have given them, to stand alert.”“With respect Anti, they are standing alert. But we have nothing to give. How long until supplies get here.”“Another day at least.” Anti pinched the bridge of his nose, scrunching his eyes closed. He felt like he hadn’t slept in days. Their victory was short-lived. Is this what it meant to be general? Never able to enjoy the moment, always worried about what came next? He was wondering now if he wanted the honor at all. What had turned into a bid to impress his King, avenge his friend and win back Hers had fast snowballed out of his control? Henry dropped heavily into his seat opposite. “I have to leave.” Anti announced, using Henry as a sounding board. His eyes widened. “I want you to stay here. You have a much better idea of how to hold the fortress than I do. Even now I can see that you already have a plan where I am wavering.”“But-““No.” Anti shook his head, “be honest please.” His eyes searched the other men desperately. “Foster will be riding here soon, he will want to put his own men in charge. I need somebody who can stand up to them and hold Vex moor. More than that, I need somebody here who the men will listen to. It’s going to be a hard battle.”“Where are you going?” Anti was relieved that there was no further feigned modesty from the other man. He knew how capable he was, and how unfairly he thought Anti’s promotion.“The King has ordered me back to Hers.” It was not a lie, though he omitted his inner deliberations. “Lest we risk opening the floodgates to Invite.”“You are to hold it alone?” Now for the hard part.“No,” he shook his head. “I am to take a percentage of the men from here.” Henry’s eyes widened.“To take any would be condemning the rest to death.” Henry lamented. “We have no supplies, our weapons are damaged, our men exhausted. Many of them are still sick from the damp.”“So, you would rather keep Vex moor than protect Invite. If we lose Vex moor then we have lost nothing, if we lose Hers again then we…” it didn’t bear thinking about. Whichever way he explained it, none of this would have happened without his stupid ambition. They could have retained Hers and all of their men would be alive and well. He held his hands up, “it is out of my hands anyway.” He pushed forward the letter he had been tormenting himself over. Henry snatched it up and read it quickly. It felt like an invasion, those words were meant for him alone.“Loyal subject?” Henry asked, raising his eyes. It took all Arturo had not to blush, why something so simple seemed so intimate, he had no idea. They already whispered that the King had taken to giving him favor. No doubt they imagined him worming his way back into grace with flattery and ass-kissing. It was what they all did, appealed to the King for favor. Yet he felt ashamed for it, even though it couldn’t be further from what was happening. “I suppose we have no choice.” Henry announced ultimately, placing the letter back down. “Can you hold Hers with less than sixty-per-cent of our men.”“I can take forty, Hers is a fortress and I can secure it well enough with fewer men.” Arturo reasoned practically. “You will retain the majority, and send the twenty back after you have received your supplies and laid waste to the mercenaries.” A hollow chuckle escaped Henry’s throat.“I wish I had your optimism.” A long silence stretched between them. “When will you leave?”“After dark. I will spend the afternoon preparing those I wish to accompany me. I would rather the mercenaries not mistake our retreat for fleeing.”“Will you write back to the King?” Henry asked, softly.“No.” Arturo shook his head. “Not until we have secured a triumph.” It felt like the furthest thing from the world right now. “I am sorry to put this on you.” He spoke honestly, Henry stood and clapped a hand on his shoulder.“Fret not, I will hold Vex moor better than you ever could. You’re probably best off out of the way.” He teased, for the first time all day Anti smiled. He had won them Vex moor, whatever else went wrong, he had done what should have been impossible. “Hers must stand.”“I know.” Arturo agreed solemnly.“You should sleep. You’ll be no good to anybody if you go another day without rest. If you tell me who you want, I will round up the soldiers and bid them to be ready for nightfall.”“I’ll take the weakest. There are supplies at Hers already. Send the sick and the tired, but only those that will survive the ride, let the other rest. Invite air may well restore their spirits.” It seemed like a measly price to pay for escaping a foregone bloodbath. “Thank you, Henry.” Arturo was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow of his small, procured bed. The fire crackled as the embers swirled about. The air was cold, chill refusing to subside no matter what the men tried due to how windy it was on top of the hill. The northern winds screaming ferociously like a banshee. Paul felt himself shiver some while Leonard looked at him with a smile. Gingerly, Paul's finger rose to point in the distance towards Vex moor. Leonard's gaze trailed in the direction." They're fleeing." He remarked. Paul silently nodded. "Or perhaps they're making a smart call here. Potentially focusing where Julius is putting his other forces. A rather smart strategy if you ask me. Almost a fatal mistake on part of our employer to have missed out on this contingency happening, wouldn't you say so?"" Indeed. But it's none of our business, is it?"" Of course not. We're to do the job we were hired for."" Precisely. So my good man, why fret over this depletion. Perhaps look at it as an opportunity then? Makes our job easier, don't it? We rise at the daybreak and burst in. They will resist but weariness will soon set in."" True that Paul. Might as well get some rest in then, shall we?" That was the end of the conversation as the fire continued to flicker on top of the hill, remaining alive despite the falling snow. When the day broke and the weak rays of sun hit the patches of snow, reflecting off it in an almost blinding fashion at times whilst being interspersed with grass. The Fifty Swords in their dark attire began to spread out, small dots moving about with remarkable agility.***"You're leaving, aren't you?" Cecilia asked, in an almost accusatory tone as if she felt betrayed for having learned the news through some other clandestine means than through the mouth of her friend. Astald grimaced some. It had been so chaotic that she didn't really have time to see her friend, much less think about imparting the news to her. It was only when Cecilia had requested personal audience with her friend, the King Stand had they come face to face." Yes I am. A King has to lead his people, right?" Stand smirked before admiring her own reflection in the mirror as she was fully dressed. The armor made her hunch a little with its weight. Clearly, this wasn't one of her strengths. But she did her best to maintain a posture that spoke of authority and unconditional, absolute power that a King was meant to possess." I wish I could've been able to see you before. But things..." Stand shook her head and sighed. "...to say they've been chaotic is an understatement...."" You're going to burn yourself out like this Stand. I do worry about you at times." Cecilia added, taking a step closer. On instinct, both of them shared a quick hug." If that's what is going to be my destiny, then so be it. I am not meant to find joy in conventional means but to live this life of challenge. A metalsmith's work is done when he goes home, farmer's work is done when he cuts the crop....but a King? He's ruling 24x7." Stand responded. "Now come, join me outside as I embark on the journey?" She offered her friend and confidante. That was the least she could do, right? As if on cue, a knock on the door was heard. "We're ready Sire." Spoke one of the Kings guard. Stand looked in Cecilia's eyes, his azure ones glowing as if fire was lit inside them. Purposeful steps were taken as the King Stand sauntered towards the entrance of the castle. The sisters were waiting, Ariel looking dispassionate as ever, having no interest in what she considered to be a charade by her brother while Amora was held by Astra, the two of them intrigued by what was happening. His arrival was announced by one of the servants accompanied by usual array of grandiose music while Cecilia gingerly walked by his side. Sunlight, tepid as it was, bounced off Stand's visage, his profile showcasing calm composure and gritty determination. Fingers clutched briefly at the edge of Ice wind before he hopped on his mount." Gentlemen, we're a nation at war. One that was attacked, stabbed in the back in manner most brutal. But the enemy doesn't understand what happens when you wound a lion. The lion roars. The lion seeks its revenge, to put the enemy in their place and to remind them exactly who is the King around here. Invite is that lion and roar we shall!"" Hail! Hail! Hail!" Claps and whistles followed and soon enough, the journey began, Stand's banner fluttering in the wind in a proud manner. They traversed relentlessly, Foster's suggestion for camp having been rebuffed. Stand couldn't wait to go and see Hers, the condition the fortress was in. He also couldn't wait to congratulate Arturo Hardy, the so-called traitor for his acts of bravery and the steel he had shown in tasting times when a lesser man would've succumbed to the pressure. Stand pressed his mount on, the company doing the same. Having no other option left to them. Finally, the flags flying over Hers became visible in the distance and then, the castle itself. A messenger was sent ahead to announce impending arrival of the King. In a little while, canons roared in celebration of arrival of His Majesty." They love you Sire." Murmured Foster as he paused the journey for a small second. Astald gave one of his enigmatic smiles in response to that. "A King is the embodiment of his people. I am each one of them. Their celebration is my celebration, their joy is my joy and their sorrow is my sorrow. I am Invite." Letting his words linger, Stand clicked his heels and the company burst forth, the wooden bridge laid down for them was crossed as they entered through the gates to a roaring reception. Stand's eyes, continued to search for Arturo Hardy, the man who had made all of this possible. Arturo awoke a few hours after he had slept, he felt no better for it, but the sound of Henry’s wretched coughing stirred him in spite of his longing to remain asleep. He surfaced from his bed to find the other man doubled over on a chair. He touched his fingers to the man’s forehead; he was burning with fever. This changed everything. Arturo set about rousing the men who would travel back to Hers and with a heavy heart he loaded Henry onto a horse and sent him with the men back to the fortress. Watching them ride away into the distance he hoped he hadn’t made a dreadful mistake. King Stand would have his head if Hers fell, but leaving a sick man here to head off the mercenaries would be committing them all to death. He couldn’t do it. Not when he was fighting fit. He did his best to prepare the men, the sickest and injured had ridden back to Hers. They wouldn’t be able to rest or relax, but sick bodies had a better chance if they were propped within the fortress, with fresh food and weapons. Arturo hastily wrote a letter begging for reinforcements to Hers to the closest cities in Invite. There was nothing polite or neat about the hastily scrawled notes, but he hoped the importance would overcome propriety. Hers needed to stand and if he died come sunrise then he needed to ensure the Kingdom wouldn’t fall behind it. With a few hours to spare, Arturo began working on a plan. They had fewer men, he’d sent an extra ten percent with Henry to fortify Hers. As the sun rose, he had everything set up to utilize as much of Vex moor’s architecture as he could. They cleared the courtyard and left the big doors open, some quick work had taken half of the door off one of its hinges and lay it flat. They worked tirelessly and placed some crude battlements in its place. The idea was to lure the mercenaries through the easiest route, but make it seem like they would be creeping up on them. With a bit of luck, the distant mercenaries would have seen half their troops riding away, Arturo had watched carefully to see if they diverted their movement to the retreating horses. They hadn’t, which told him exactly what their priority was; Vex moor. Waiting to ambush their assailants, his exhausted troops hid in the crevices within the wall, becoming one with the shadows. They had left their armor off in a rather bold move, in favor of camouflage, silence and agility. Instead, they found every black item of clothing they could and focused on remaining unseen. Sitting there, not daring to breathe too loudly, unable to see the outer walls to determine if the mercenaries had fallen for his plan…it was probably the most stressful few hours of Arturo’s life so far. He watched the sunrise shimmer, the darkness slowly surrendering to the coming light, not knowing whether he would be alive to see tomorrow’s. He longed to comfort the men he was with, but he daresn’t speak. Deep down he knew they were soldiers, most with more experience than he, they knew what they had signed up for. How many of them were feeling exactly as he was? The anticipation, nerves made him feel sick. If they all died, wiped from this planet, it would be his fault. Was he wrong? Should he have had them wear more armor instead of less? Was he trying to be too clever about all of this? There was a footstep on the door, he heard the creak, and he held his breath as a mercenary peered tentatively over the barricade, placing a hand on a sharpened wooden spike protruding from the wood and half-disguised with branches. Arturo felt his entire army are one, watching the man, he prayed that none of them moved. This was going to plan, what were the chances? Of course, this was the easy bit. Nobody moved, the courtyard stayed silent, filled with nothing more than shadows. The mercenary called over another and Arturo strained to listen to their conversation.“Do you think they all left?”“Well...they don’t seem to be here. Left or sleeping. Tread carefully.” One by one the mercenaries deftly maneuvered over the treacherous barricades and into Vex moor proper. Still Arturo’s men stayed silent, still, waiting for his command. Arturo waited; in truth he was terrified to call the attack at the wrong time. Some of the men filtered inside, presumably to stab them whilst they slept. They’d left armor under blankets to give the illusion of sleeping. The moment he heard the first distant clang of a sword on mental, he yelled. The heavy doors to the inside were slammed closed, and the heavy wooden beams slid into place. Whilst that was happening the men leapt from the shadows, daggers and swords at the ready, and lunged at the men. The fight was hard, Arturo wanted to stay objective, to find the weak points and help his men, but it didn’t work like that. He got cornered by two and by the time he had bested them, half of his men lay bleeding on the ground. They’d taken out the ones remaining in the courtyard but suffered such great loss that the men rapidly breaking through the doors would kill them without trouble.“Retreat!” He choked out, clutching a nasty gash on his arm. The remaining men fell back, and they filed into a narrow dungeon. They’d planned this too, though Arturo had desperately hoped they wouldn’t need it. The heavy door which led down had a secondary door made of iron bars, they closed and locked that. It had the unfortunate drawback of being lockable from the other side too. They were safe; but trapped. A small fire was burning in the grate, it was almost extinguished. Arturo fell on the supplies they’d stashed down here and started finding whatever he could to help bandage his wounded men.“What now?” One asked. Arturo looked at him filled with sorrow. He didn’t dare tell the truth, that this part of the plan he had no escape for. They waited, slowly bleeding. If Julien’s forces hadn’t yet fallen upon Hers then perhaps Henry would send reinforcements, there was still a sliver of hope, especially if the cities surrounding the fortress had responded to his pleas. But the chances were minuscule.“Have something to eat.” Arturo kicked the barrel of food they’d put here, “and some wine.” He tied off the bandage around his arm, pulling it as tightly as he could with his teeth. When Stand entered Hers, the news that awaited him there was a mixed one. The fortress, had of course been secured. A feat most spectacular when one came to think about it considering all the deluge that had transpired in recent times and how ill prepared they had been for such a backstabbing. But it was Vex moor that brought forth the bad piece of news. Men there were outnumbered, had been overwhelmed and in enemy territory. Dusk was beginning to fall as Stand sat in chambers prepared for him while listening to first-hand accounts of Henry and the young lad who had dropped the messages in surrounding villages, towns and smaller fortifications nearby begging for reinforcements. Some movement had indeed happened as small companies of men were coming in throughout the day. The adventure, this great game that Stand had initiated in response to what Verona had done to him was poised at an interesting juncture. This statement, if they failed to make of inflicting damage on Verona, of bleedingthemfor good. They had to make annexation of Vex moor apermanentone. Verona would try to claim its strategic asset, but The Lion was not going to let go of it now. That meant, sending immediate help to Vex moor and not just that, but to provide much needed psychological support to men over there who, as brave warriors as they had been been undoubtedly having this sensation of defeat creeping at the back of their neck if reports were anything to go by. The companies which Hardy's letters had brought to Hers were good enough numbers, even if not the most skilled of soldiers to hold the fort. Stand's blue eyes closed as he pondered what to do. Only the sound of the crackling fire could be felt. The weather outside was beginning to get colder. But each and every passing moment was important and one that ought not to go to waste. When his eyes opened, a decision had been made." Sire....?" Henry asked only to have Stand rise up and step out." Get my armor ready. Tonight we march to Vex moor and liberate our brothers from there and take the castle as our own." He told William Foster. Foster was a little surprised, taken aback at such notion. "Perhaps we could wait until the morning?"" By the morning there might be none left William. What will we answer to their widows? To their families? ToInvictaand her very existence?"" But Sire....putting yourself at risk?"" What is a King that only hides behind his men William? He is not a lion but a lamb." Such was defiance in Stand's words that Foster knew arguing beyond that was pointless. While the men had been a little tired from journey, for most part they were in decent spirits, especially considering the hymns of war were all too apparent. Gathering some more supplies the company of fresh soldiers immediately set forth for Vex moor. The weather continued to get colder. Snow began to fall, but they pressed on, Stand himself moving ahead relentlessly only to stop for dinner where had learned more of basic structure of Vex moor from the drawings he had made Henry prepare for them. He may have seemed passive, but his sharp mind was working. As the bleak and imposing structure of Vex moor became apparent in the distance through forests, Foster insisted that all torches be extinguished, giving them cloak of darkness. One could see certain movement of troops around Vex moor. Undoubtedly Devonian mercenaries and soldiers." What should we do Sire? I propose we attack from the west and overwhelm them." He said. Astald shook his head. "No. Send a small company ahead. Make a lot of noise. Cause a distraction, fire from our trebuchets and once that initial damage is done, unleash two groups hidden in trees in west and east, sandwich the enemy between us and slaughter them. Make sure we take no prisoners home except whoever is leading the outfit. You have full authority to kill the enemy even if they surrender." Stand spoke in a cold tone." I shall lead from the western flank myself with you by my side." He further added. William's eyes rose at that. The rumors of King being a weak, frail man had always been heard and while he had seen Stand practice weapons he had never quite seen him like this. Well, whatever his Majesty wanted. He would protect the King with everything he had and this actually seemed like a better plan. The men began to move in the woods as conspicuously as possible. Much to their advantage, it was a black moon, giving them further cover of darkness even if it was difficult to move. The tension in the air was palpable until finally the small group of men marched forth." For Invite!" They shouted. A scuffle ensured before trebuchets began to fire explosives at the group that rushed forth, aiming to make easy meat out of these Invictus. Rubble rose in the air, bodies flew about. The surprise was too much. With that, came second group of men carrying firearms and then horsemen from both sides. Stand himself pulled out Ice wind, slicing head of one man in an effortless swoop. But in reality he grimaced. Almost wanted to throw up. Warfare was sickening. He had never quite seen it before and to see it in person made his stomach turn. He knew it was ugly, had read too much about it but had never seen actual combat. It was worse than his most unsettling of nightmares." Your Majesty!" Shouted William hurriedly as he saw Stand eye the dead body. He rushed forth before killing the man about to attack Stand, rousing Stand from his somewhat hypnotized state." For Invite!" Stand roared. A shout that reverberated throughout this impromptu battlefield and they surged ahead. The enemy never quite recovering from the crippling initial blow they had delivered." Hardy....where are you...." Stand murmured to himself, riding in deeper with two soldiers and Foster by his side as frantic combat continued on. It was easy to lose track of time when there was no daylight. One could easily mistake a day for two. Arturo sat in the dark beneath Vex moor, waiting for the mercenaries to break through their defenses and kill them. Two had already succumbed to their injuries down here. They’d dragged them to the furthest corner. The fire had filled the air with acrid smoke, with no escape, so that in the end they’d been forced to snuff it out. The cold seeped from the stones surrounding them. Darkness, cold, misery and the ever-increasing scent of death. At the first sound from above them, muffled by the doors between them and the outside world, Arturo Hardy thought he was imagining it. It was only when another of the men asked him what it was, that he realized he wasn’t going mad and their moment of reckoning had perhaps come. They’d killed enough of the mercenaries, their depleted and exhausted men, that they posed no threat alone. They didn’t have enough force to break through to the dungeon. Enough time had passed now though that it was likely reinforcements had arrived.“Stay here.” Arturo ordered, as he crept down the corridor and towards the iron bars. He strained his hearing as much as he could, waiting for the deafening blow against the wood that would signal their time of self-imprisonment had come to an end. It didn’t come. Instead, he was convinced that he heard the sounds of struggle, a scream, a yell. Arturo returned hurriedly to the others and enlisted a second opinion. Together two of them sat there, listening, then three, then four. Only when they were sure that they were all hearing the same thing did Arturo finally dare whisper.‘I think they’recur men. I think they’ve come back for us!” It was the first taste of hope they’d had since they buried themselves in here. Could it truly be that their wounded had decided to risk their lives for them? They listened to the ensuing battle, only Arturo had any real sense of dread now. For if he was to die here then that was one thing, but to be rescued and know that he could have saved everybody by coming down here before their final battle? It knocked him sick. He was as good as a murderer. The sickness overwhelmed him, and he emptied the contents of his stomach into the corridor.“Should we open the doors? Help them?” Henry asked, full of pride.“Would we help? Or would we just confuse things and get ourselves killed?” Benjamin retorted, levelling a stern judgmental look at Arturo. He felt the jibe deeply.“I-“ For one of the first times he was utterly unsure of what to do. He was born and bred to be a solider, fear was something he ignored, so for his pride he desperately wanted to go out there and have a hand in finishing the battle. But there were too many variables for him to risk the last few lives in his care. When the King got wind of his failure, he was sure he’d be disgraced and ousted back into the mire, no longer a solider, no longer anything. What if the army out there weren’t from Invite? But then was this a better way to die? Caged like animals. The battle grew quieter above. Eventually he spoke. “I’ll go first, I’ll stand between the bars and the door. I’ll see if it’s safe. If it isn’t, at least you all will be.”“That’s madness.” Benjamin retorted hotly, “we should all stay hidden.”“We’re not hidden. They know where we are. It’s a matter of time anyway. This way I might be able to bargain for your safety.”“Bargain with what?” Benjamin scoffed.“I don’t know, but I have to do something.” Arturo roared; Benjamin stepped back. “I’d rather die out there, then rot down here.”“Me too.” Henry agreed. “I feel like the walls are closing in.” His confession wasn’t surprising, he’d been looking less and less sane as the hours went by.“So, we’re agreed?”“Yes. Commander.” Benjamin said through gritted teeth. Arturo didn’t have the energy to protest. He was in charge; it was his call. He wasn’t going to force Benjamin to single himself as a coward by giving him the option to stay.“Come on. Worst case, if they’re all still fighting, we can creep into the castle and maybe get supplies.”“Now that’s a better plan.” Ben acquiesced. It took all his remaining courage for Arturo to grip the iron bar on the wooden hatch. He’d pulled the lock back with trembling hands. Feeling the fresh air on his skin was delicious, and his lungs expanded in grateful relief at the taste of air that wasn’t tainted with smoke. Swinging it further outward, he had expected sunshine, instead it was dark. They’d been in there at least a day. He pulled himself out of the narrow hatch, gesturing for the others to stay hidden. The courtyard seemed empty. He stepped forward and stumbled over something round. Dropping to a crouch he turned it over, it was a head. Grimacing he wiped his hands on his trousers and stood again.“Hardy?”“Henry?” Arturo daren’t believe it. The other Henry, the one he liked, cantered towards him atop his horse. “You came back?”“Of course we did.”“Most of the…they’re dead.” Arturo choked out.“I’m amazed any of you are still alive.” Henry jumped off his horse, pulled Arturo in for a hug and patting his back. “You saved my life sending me back there…and Anti…” he whispered, there was an awe in his eyes that he didn’t quite understand. The sound of hooves and footsteps, Arturo tensed but nothing prepared him for what he saw. Through the destroyed gate and battlements walked the King of Invite. Anti’s eyes widened, his shame complete, he dropped to his knees in the mud. It was the very last thing he expected. A few men from Hers at best. But the King himself, why had he come this far, didn’t he know he was in danger here?“Your Majesty. I’m so sorry.” The other men clambered out from their underground hiding place, a tomb now, they fell equally quickly to their knees when they saw their King. Mud mixed with the blood of the fallen. This was the first time Stand had ever really seen actual combat, and it was nothing like the training he had received in the barracks. The entire act had sickened his stomach. He felt repulsed. Disgusted at the sheer brutality and carnage of it all and yet, as King he knew it was an inevitable element of the world they lived in. Another important element of it all was that by actually leading from the front, something that nobody had ever expected of the frail King; Stand had silenced so many of them for a long time to come. Vexmoor was going to be more crucial than just an important battlefield victory. Its effects were going to be far-reaching. Stand may have been walking through the destroyed gates right now, but his sharp mind was at work as ever.Finally, the remaining loyal men of Invite were freed and there was Hardy, falling to his knees with the rest of them. Astald wiped his blood caked face with a cloth handed to him by Henry. He pulled out Ice wind, the beautiful sword that was scarred with the blood of the enemy and gently placed it on Arturo's shoulder." Rise brave men. For you have nothing to apologize about. You have not shamed but instead made Invite proud. By going where no one had dared to, standing when most would have been afraid and folded, keeping the flag on the mast flying when most would've liked to fly the white one of surrender. You are lions among men, as true warriors of Invite are. It is through effort of you and our brothers standing here that the lion continues to roar. Gentlemen, rise up and roar with me for enemy has surrendered."Indeed, they had for the news coming across the border from Verona was now to meet for a treaty given this had proven to be a crushing blow, not only numerically but also morally. The soldiers that were captured ran into hundreds, most of them injured badly. Vex moor was now decisively Invictus territory should Stand wished for it and with that, came an incredible amount of influence given its strategic location. The technological investments, endless research and use of the gunpowder due to Stand's persistence had paid off in ways most had not imagined. An advancement which no enemy of their possessed currently, ensuring they had Verona by the throat here. Astald pulled his sword back and patted on Arturo's shoulders." Rise brave man. The last of the Hardy's for tonight we shall all dine together as brothers in arms and not as King and his subjects. But we are all one and one all. Prepare the fortifications and then for a feast of minor celebration!"

[Le Immortelle] The King of Lies [Flick]|rating:4.0

The Siege Of Foresthome! (Closed for SilentWayfarer)

The ancient city of Forest home had stood for over a thousand years, deep in the heart of the Mist wood, past the Valleys Of No Return, and beyond the Forest of Fear, just past Slaughter Swamp... And, with names like *those*, it's pretty easy to tell how that very woody, very magical, and predominantly elf city had survived, under the wise rule of the Predinner dynasty. The constant trickle of trade from high-level adventurers, and the deeply convenient network of Portal Gates linked it to the rest of the world-Though, as one (unnamed) individual said, "It's the only city you'll never see from the *outside*." Recently, however, the creatures of Slaughter Swamp have decided to put this to the test. War, as an enterprise, is usually triggered by a series of complex, interlinked social-economic factors, followed by the exacerbation of tensions to breaking point... The savage humanoids, however, tend to streamline the process a little. In the words of an or scout- "Alley the boy started movin' in this direction; Den the Muck shades got stuck in, and the Blue teeth, and ol' Box used- Hey, let go this way too! Then alley sorts of other critters started followin' us, and... Hey, what are ya doing with that- *UK*!!" At first, the impending invasion was taken with considerable levity-After all, the occasional attempted humanoid raid is just a fact of life; Occasionally, in some cities, it's almost a holiday event, with high-level guest stars turning up to take potshots at the milling hordes, collecting the occasional trophy. This time, however, as noted by High Regent Aliciaviss Predinner, there *were* a surprising number of them... And, somehow, after less than a single day, the portal network was forcibly Interdicted. From without. Stranding, coincidentally, several hundred of the best and brightest adventurers in the Known World *in* a city about to be besieged, even as Forest home buckled down for a long siege... Of course, business never stops; And, even while the humanoid army stalled at the literal gates of the city, milling about and digging in, the highly profitable and one-time only quests rolled in... Several, in particular, were taken by noted Sword mage and Fire Witch Shaylin Flame, *and* by her trusty ogre companion, (given name) Thou...**************Far, far below the canopy, in a clearing crudely hacked from living wood, the humanoid camp...festered. Foul-smelling campfires smoldered with thick, choking black smoke, smelling a bit of rotten meat, a lot of swamp, and a bit more of the Boy's Locker Room. In a random, haphazard sprawl, a sea crude hide tents and cruder yurts pimpled the forest floor, like a slow-spreading blotchy stain... It's hard to describe the disorderly order of a humanoid encampment, filled to bursting with almost every savage species in the book; Orcs, trolls, the occasional ogre, ubiquitous goblins *everywhere*, eating and grumbling and doing whatever they do in their free time... When they're not being killed by PCs. There's a big, black tent in the middle of it all, one that has a fair distance from others, given a wide berth by its neighbors. It's also the one with the nastiest, most gristly examples of orc and goblin kind there could be, class-levelled creatures that would make most PCs soil their breeches. It's quite clearly the kind of tent the Supreme Leader would recline under, at least in a classical sense... But we'll get to that later. Instead, near the perimeter, there's a winding column of significantly different people; A scattering of slightly-more intelligent humanoids, and...PC races? See, the fairly-forward thinking Leader has decided to bolster his forces, by drawing on the more morally questionable side of Com... Or, to put it more simply, to hire mercenaries. The last count is several dozen wannabes, at least ten serious threats, and two infiltrators.********************"Are we *there* yet?" Shaylin Flame sighed, her crimson lips parting slowly, glistening in the firelight; Absently, the witch reached up to steady her pointy hat, the wide brim casting odd shadows on her sultry face. Cherry-red leather creaked as she stretched, pacing forward, her thigh-high, heeled boots crunching through dead leaves and undergrowth. Slowly, silken hips rolling beneath her microskirt, she peered ahead, wondering exactly where the line ended... This job, she reflected, was going to a *bit* tricky. It felt a bit odd, not being near Thou- She'd heard he'd been sent in early, or later... Whatever the case, Shaylin had heard the Queen insisted on briefing him *personally*, probably amused by the prospect of, well, a decidedlyintelligentogre. Still, they'd to stay apart on this, for a while, at least-There was *always* a chance a female adventuress and an ogre together might be recognized, after all... Another sigh, another quick peek ahead. Not for the first time, Shaylin stole a glance at the tiny pocket mirror, not quite recognizing herself; She'd dressed up for the role, as always. In this case, the role meant 'evil', which meant... Plenty of red leather, for a start. She'd taken the 'witch' theme and *ran* with it; A tight, cherry-red bodice sheathed her lissome form, almost shiny in the crackling firelight-Laced up the side, it terminated abruptly in a daring microskirt, with justest a glimpse of her bare skin, where her boots didn't quite reach. And then there was the hat... Pointy, typically witch, perched at a jauntily crooked angle... Red again, of course, to complement her own fiery hair. It did, she had to admit, look good on her. Most things did, now. As the row of coopers, GRIMDARK villains and assorted dangerous shuffled ahead, policed by watchful orc and goblin guards, Shaylin wondered exactlyhowshe was going to get ahead.... The carefully hidden sneers and the eye rolling are things that Thou's gotten used to during his career as an adventurer. He's fully aware that most of the imperial guards lining the hallways consider him little more than a walking pile of XP, as do a lot of his fellow adventurers. That, and they kept trying to hit on Shaylin. The ogre was normally the most liberal of beings, and appreciated the fact that Shaylin would sometimes want rumply with someone who wasn't him. The problem came when some of the other PCs assumed they were hot sex on legs, and tried to force themselves on her when she politely told them to go perform a reverse bowel movement with their propositions. Now, rather than compel Shay to expend a fraction of her considerable amount of spell points in fending them off, Thou would simply step in and introduce the back of his hand to their faces. Few would-be suitors lingered beyond the first pimp-slap, and those that did were usually having a hard enough time remaining on their feet to prevent Thou from tossing them out of the room. Oh, he didn't do it to all the men; just the ones which annoyed Shay. Which meant 90% of them. On the plus side, there were quite a few lady adventurers who were rather uptight at first, but soon learned to relax and enjoy themselves on the end of Thou's pole. It was a point of common courtesy that neither of them had their fun in the other's presence; but Shaylin soon got used to the shreds of torn, soaked panties littering the floor of their room in the inn, and Thou wisely kept his hand from the ones whom Shaylin had her arm around. It wasn't as though they didn't enjoy each other... but variety was the spice of life, no? In any event, Shay had gone out to the bandit encampment by herself first, leaving Thou to be personally briefed by the even Queen. That phrase conjured up various colorful thoughts in Thou's head, and it was only with the greatest of effort that he kept his shaft from tenting up his loincloth. Hestillhadn't found some decent fighter's gear in his size... The guards at the throne room eye him evilly. Thou takes no notice as he steps through the door they open for him, into the chambers of the even queen...*******Julian wasn't a bad sort. He'd just gotten his first PC level and being a newcomer to the world, he'd latched on to the first group of adventurers he'd found. Said group of adventurers had promptly signed up with the Slaughter Swamp Alliance, and had found their place in the skirmisher bands. Julian, on the other hand, was barely levelled enough to wear his newbie gear. So he had been given the rather ignominious duty of processing potential applicants, but at least it beat an NPC's lifestyle. His immediate superior, a dark-skinned goblin called Nick, was apparently the former king of some goblin fortress that had been brought down by just a couple of adventurers. He was nowhere to be found. Apparently they'd brought back a gaggle of peasant girls, and he wanted to "sample" them. Julian had wanted to go along at first, but seeing the mewling women being ravished by orcs and other monsters turned him off. He was a nice boy, albeit one on the wrong side of things. And then, like a delicate disaster, Shaylin comes swaying up the forest path, a bounce in a step and a wink in her eye." Um... hello!" Julian smiles sheepishly. "Here to join the Alliance?" The doors to the throne room swung open like slow, majestic glaciers, parting to reveal the rich opulence of the chamber beyond; Plenty of red carpet over alabaster flooring, rich tapestries adorning the walls in long, silken draperies- And, at the very end of the chamber, a single throne, seemingly carved from a single immense ruby, floating ever-so-slightly above the floor... There was, however, only one other person in the room. It's been mentioned before, but it's worth saying again, that most elves exemplify the whole 'stick-thin anorexic supermodel' body shape, which makes them somewhat brittle... They do, however, eventually fill out to a more...human...stature. Given time, of course. High Regent Aliciaviss had, quite clearly, several centuries to fill out." Do come in, Thou," the Queen's soft, velvety voice whispered, somehow carrying from beyond the immense doors; Regal in her royal robes, Her Majesty Aliciaviss gazed down upon the ogre, her eyes- midnight-black orbs-twinkling with faint curiosity, her lips curled in a gentle smile. Her long green hair flowed about her in shimmering waves, falling almost to the round curve of her behind, cascading down her back in a gentle caress as she leaned forward, sharply defined features outlined with interest... A gesture, and the doors swung shut, the becoming slightly muffled, slightly thicker-This would be, after all, aprivateaudience. Slowly, the Queen stood, descending from the podium with calm, measured strides; A dainty, be ringed hand fluttered up to her lips as she gazed upon Thou, her eyes flickering across his stature..." Fascinating," Lavish breathed. "I wonder... Howdoesan ogre find himself amongst humans? And in the company of a human sorceress?"*******Shaylin cast a dubious glance around the measured confusion of the camp, her eyes finally settling on the speaker; Hmm mm, he looked *new*. And coherent, too, or at least more friendly than the sullen horde about them..." You might say that," the witch conceded, a small smirk spreading across her face; She tipped her head to the side, smiling as she gazed at him, sidelong. "Though it seems that 'Alliance' might be rather stretching it..." She shrugged, gazing forward along the length of the queue. "Ah, well. What does a girl have to do, to skip the red tape?" "Well, uh, good... what was the word? Damn- I mean, uh, darn, I mean... look, your Majesty, it's an honor. I'm bad with words, so I'm not going to bother flattering you with them. There's probably dozens of guys in your court who can do it better, anyway. My name is Thou, and as for how I've come to be in the company of Shay, well, that's kind of a long story. In short, we kind of hit it off, and there was magic involved, and I was persuaded to take up adventuring instead of being a wandering monster. Not the easiest life... but it does have its perks." Alcaviss seems... a bit unimpressed? Maybe she wants to hear more, but the wisdom that came with the awakening spell suggests that it might not be wise to recount the story of how he essentially raped Shaylin into submission and got her to awaken him. She's a queen, after all, and one doesn't tell queens what good lays their adventuring partners make.*******"Well," Julian begins, before losing his tongue as his eyes explore Shaylin's body. Next to her, Mira the village beauty was nothing more than an old, used-up baggage. Shaylin didn't have that girl next door charm, but she didn't need it - she dressed in a way that bypassed the brain and went straight down to the other head, calling it to attention... like so. The boy suddenly realizes that his lower body is eagerly proclaiming his unspoken lust for her. He quickly shifts behind the stall to hide his erection, a blush pinking his face." W-well, normally we'd have to ask you to show what you can do for me- I mean, us... and then I'd have to see if you had what I, her, we needed... the Alliance is kind of hard-full up, we can't just take anybody now...""Oh, I know what she can do," a leer comes from the queue; from an ogre, no less. He's kind of like Thou, but a bit runtier. He somehow manages to swagger even while waiting in line." She can spread her legs and beg- roof..." The ogre doubles over, his voice trailing off into a pained whisper as the canine-looking man standing beside him withdraws an elbow, returning to a neutral stance. He looks to be an unarmed fighter of some sort; one of the new classes they introduced in the last expansion." Don't let your mouth get the rest of you into trouble," the martial artist says. He winks at Shay, betraying the Size Up class feature he was just using on her. "Wolfgang. Just call me Wolf. Now, you're probably capable of speaking for and defending yourself, but I thought it wise if most of this crowd didn't die in fire before the first tryouts." "Hammer," Queen Lavish murmured, a low, noncommittal sound; She paced slowly around the ogre, before inclining her head towards a pair of chairs-One normal, the other *much* bigger, much more heavily reinforced. "Please, take a seat... Thog. It's so rare to have outside company... And I do so long to hear of your adventures." There was a note of faint amusement in her voice, and she strolled slowly to the smaller seat, the fabric of her queenly robes rippling about her, outlining the full, soft curves of her feminine form, shapely thighs rolling smoothly beneath them." And," she added, almost airily, "You might want to hear about your task sitting down..." again the small smile, gentle amusement tugging at her lips.******************Shaylin gave Wolfgang a gracious nod, smirking ever-so-slightly; "I appreciate it, Wolf. Nice to see chivalry's not quite dead..." Hmmmm, she thought. A monk/pugilist/brawler...or whatever they're calling it, now. Definitely interesting... And the city might be in a bit more trouble than she'd thought. The witch turned back to the stall, noting, with interest, how the boy was going a trifle red in the face, shifting his body to... Oh. Trying very, very hard not to smile, Shaylin pressed a hand to her mouth. "Take your time," she said, kindly, resting her elbows on the wooden stand- And leaning forward, as she did. "When you're ready... Exactly what would I have to...do?" "Well, then thanks for the seat," Thou smiles, as he settles in. The chair's pretty big - not like the delicate even furniture he's accidentally broken during his stay here. It's almost as if it were specially made for him..." All right, your majesty, so, you want to hear about my adventures... where'd you like me to start?"******"Wendell... let's start with... I think they'll want to know what your specialty is. And they'll probably pair you up with someone and let the two of you fight it out... Julian fidgets. It's pretty obvious his erection is distracting him... as is the fragrant beauty in front of him. In all honesty, a barmaid would have been like unto a succubus, compared to the weeks of swarthy, sweaty bandits finding their way to the warlord's camp. And Shay could make a succubus look like a gawky schoolgirl... "Perhaps...your most recent one?" As Thou settled into his chair, the Queen poured each of them a cup of pungent, but tasty, tea from an intricately wrought ivory pitcher-The ogre's one, noticeably, was sized to fit him. A more perceptive mind would've noticed how intensely odd it was, the small pitcher filling a far greater mug... But hey, it was magic. Beneath the table, Lavish crossed her legs, with a gentle rasp of fabric, one sandal brushing against Thou's thigh, her seamless stockings accentuating her smooth, rounded calves. Though the ogre's mismatched gear wasn't doing him any favors, itdidgive the elf queen a chance to admire the rippling musculature beneath Thou's tough hide, a match for his powerful frame... She resisted the urge to lick her lips, that glimmer of interest only brightening." I dosoenjoy hearing about the world without... Particularly when it might concern the threat we face now..." She leaned forward in anticipation, steepling her fingers; Her gown pulled ever-so-slightly tighter around her, outlining the womanly curves of her plush form...***************Listening obediently, Shaylin couldn't help but notice the way Julian was shifting uncomfortably- And, recognize the fact that roughly 90% of his brain was trying to hide a rapidly stiffening penis. A soft, amused sigh parted the witch's lips, and she held up a hand, to stem the increasingly disjointed ramblings. "I think I get it," Shaylin murmured, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Well, mostly, at least..." She cast a glance around the glacially-slow line, noting that it wasn't getting anywhere, fast. Besides, he *did* deserve a break..." Itdoesseem that a girl could get into trouble around here... And you *do* look like a nice type. Why don't you show me around, take in the...sights?" And she smiled, deceptively innocent, her emerald eyes limpidly charming. "After all, the lineshouldstill be here when we get back...?" "Ah, well..." The caress of the queen's foot over his thigh did not go unnoticed. His most recent experience with elves had been with that priestess in the goblin tower, and he was pretty sure he'd knocked her up after their encounter... come to think of it, hadn't she asked him to visit her city? Something about "delightful desecration" and "up against the altar"... Too bad this job had come first. But as Thou's eyes play across Lavish' body, he gets the feeling that he just might get an elf after all... The table shifts slightly as Thou's rapidly-filling member thuds softly against its bottom. He resists the urge to flex; it might well flip the table over and spill tea over the queen's sleek form, drenching the sheer fabric to her flesh and leaving nothing to the imagination. And that would just be rude." Well, about my adventures, they might be a little, hm, indelicate, and perhaps not suited to your ears..." Thog begins telling the story of the goblin tower, taking care to describe his encounters with the various party members in loving detail...******"R-really?" Quite possibly not even adaylightspell could have lit Julian's face up faster than Shay's suggestion. Almost immediately, he's out from behind his counter, parchment forgotten and replaced by the idea of spending some time alone with the witch." Uh, sure! Anywhere you want to go, ma'am!" A few of the queued villains begin grumbling, but Julian pays them no heed. Smiling at Shaylin, he dares let his feet inch him closer and closer to her." So... where'd you like to begin?" The Queen's eyes brightened, a certain...eager...light in her gaze as Thou got to the shall we say, 'intimate' details of his story; She let out a little, breathy gasp as the table shivered, her eyes widening ever-so-slightly... Before calming herself, with a deep, fortifying breath." So *that's* what happened to her," Lavish murmured, almost to herself, her slender fingers clenching a little tighter around each other; But beneath the table, she slipped one foot from her slipper, curving it up and across with marvelous dexterity, until her toes pressed again the stiffening pillar, working slowly against the ogre's groin..." Pray continue, Thou," the even queen said, her mouth just a little dry; Her face was perfectly at ease, if coloring a little, seemingly oblivious to the thick shaft she'd felt... "I'm," she paused, seemingly searching for the words, her gaze searching back and forth, "-Enthralled by the tales of your prowess... And I wonder, just maybe, if it's related to Lady Gwyneth's prolonged leave of absence..."*************"Oh, around," Shaylin giggled, airily, slipping her hand playfully into the newbie adventurer's. It's a pity, really; He *does* seem like a nice boy, she thought. I wonder what's he doing here? The witch gave him a gentle nudge, gesturing toward the broken line of tents ahead. "MMM... I guess we'd start with the more friendly section of the camp? It seems I'll be around here for a while, after all...?" "Oh, Lady Gwyneth? She, ah, had to recover. Got a good hard fucking while she was in there, her belly was all swollen up with my- I mean, someone' seed. Poor girl, looked so dazed and confused... though it seems she liked it, though. And your majesty..." Thog pushes himself back in his chair, giving his length some room to clear the table, before drawing himself up to his full height. He pulls his loincloth aside to expose his erection before taking a step forward, so the drooling tip hangs in front of Lavish' face."... it seems you want to play with this. With your permission, I'd like to oblige you..."******Julian's face is bright red, his heart pounding, a faint dizziness wafting up through him. He can smell her scent, feel her heat and her proximity, and she'touching him! Oh gods, he's going to cream his pants just by standing next to her..." W-well... I'd say the friendlier part is where the lower-level humans and decilumens stay... It's most like a military camp there, everyone just minds their own business until it's their turn to patrol. I've got a little place there, it's kind of secluded, but nobody bothers me..." A low, throaty moan escaped the Queen's lips, at the sight of Thou's mighty organ; When you haven't had sex for, well, the better part of a century, there's a limit to your restraint. "Thank you, good ogre," Lavish purred, still seated, arching a regal eyebrow in wry wonder. Her gaze settled squarely on the throbbing shaft bobbing before her, her fingers rising to stroke the meaty pillar of flesh. "Suchserviceyou do the Queen..." With practiced ease, the lovely Regent's fingers glided along Thou's gray-green cock, shifting to fondle the twin, hanging sacks of his heavy balls; She lifted it, stroking his shaft like a toy... And, ever-so-gently, pressed her lips to the underside, just beneath the pulsing head. How utterly wicked, utterlynaughtyshe felt, kissing the ogre's shaft, taking him into her mouth; She let out a hot "Mmmmmmm!" of pleasure as his maleness slid over her tongue, arching her neck to momentarily take it down her throat... And, quite suddenly, she stopped. While her cool hands still ran over the ogre's member, her mouth pulled away with a little sigh; "You've conquered powerful witches, lovely sorceresses, valorous knights, sir ogre," Lavish breathed, her bosom heaving nicely against her confining, taut gown, meridian hair cascading across Thou's groin. "Tell me... Have you ever had a Queen?"*************Shaylin gave the poor boy a playful, not unkind nudge, withdrawing ever-so-slightly; She didn't want him to be overwhelmed, after all! "Maybe later, Romeo," she said, with a sly wink; And a knowing twinkle of mischief. "A tip, though- Youmightwant to invest in some levels of Hide. Keep it, uh, sheathed, until you're alone with a lady." She gave his hand a friendly pat, tugging him along. "Hmm mm... Would you know where a girl could get a drink around here?" "Nope, can't say I have... though to be frank, I'm not at all averse to the idea." A little spurt of precut squirts out of Thou's tip"See, even the little guy agrees," he smiles. "Hmm... well, I hate to rush the foreplay, but if you want methatmuch, maybe you should come have a seat in my lap. Then you won't have to bend down so much, and if I end up, hm, breeding you, odds are you won't be able to do so for the size of your tummy after that. Incidentally, do you have children? Do you want any?"******Julian blushes again. She knew! But she was so nice about it..." Th-there's a mobile tavern sort of thing around here. B-but I'm worried they might try to drug you or something, or take advantage of you..." "Children?" Lavish licked her lips, seemingly pondering the question. The luscious Queen rose to her feet, sashaying over to Thou with slow, sensual steps; "Oh, a few, over the decades... And I *do* believe you've already met my daughter." With considerable self-possession, she paused before the ogre, adding,"-But never with an ogre, though. I think, in this case, I'll let nature take its course..." Gently, her fingers curled around Thou's shaft as she backed up against him, still in her richly purple robes of state, grinding her plush behind against the ogre's crotch with every sign of satisfaction. The elf Regent tipped her head up, to look him square in the eye, adding in a faux-whisper, "We'll have to be...MMM....quiet about this, though... Wouldn't want to be indiscreet, would we?"**************Delighted, Shaylin had to stifle another grin-Oh, he was just too cute! His concern for her was, well, kind of amusing, really, considering that she had, oh, roughly ten times his level... Still, itwasnice of him." I'll keep that in mind," the witch murmured, gently. "Don't worry, though- Know how to take care of myself." And she did smile, her fiery hair catching the light. "Besides... That just makes it more fun!" She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "And, after all, there's a gentleman like you to take care of me...?" Shaylin didn't state that she *was* spying on the place, after all... And that it'd make perfect sense for the better-connected of the dregs to slum it... "Anything for your majesty," Thou winks. "Although, your daughter? I've met her? I don't recall meeting any elf girl as pretty as you are," he muses. "I'd have remembered if I did." Or fucked her, he doesn't say." Oh well, we can leave that question for later. Ready for it, Queenie? Oh yeah, that's good, you're nice and wet, just the way I like it..." Thog's thick, powerful fingers find purchase on the monarch's rump and hips as he hoists her off her feet, until his strength is the only thing keeping her aloft. Well, that, and the bulbous head of his mammoth organ, paused at the entrance to her pussy. The sensation of her silky lips brushing over his huge tip is unbearable, and it's all he can do not to cry out in satisfaction as he brings her down onto his cock, sheathing himself within her moist, juicy folds...******"Y-yeah!" Julian smiles. "I-I'm sorry, it's just that... you're so beautiful, and I've never seen a lady adventurer before..." That wasn't strictly true; Jade the stone giantess was technically an adventurer, as well as a slab of rock with legs. But Julian thought of her more as a piece of geography than as a female. That, and he'd probably get lost inside her craggy folds if he tried anything with her... "Actually, she's- oh!" Lavish gasped, as Thou lifted her up easily by her hips- And then, positioning her pussy over his mighty shaft, impaling her with one firm thrust. The Queen grunted, a wordless sound of effort, tensing as the ogre drove his considerable length all the way in, his balls slapping loudly against her firm butt. "Ohhhhhhhh!" she groaned, eyes glazing with lust as she ground her hips in circular motions, swirling him around within her! Amazingly, she makes no sound of pain-Only pleasure, sinking gladly onto the hard shaft splitting her sweet pussy open. Her plush body shuddered involuntarily, her nipples stiff against the front of her robes; The Queen's sculpted ass clenched tight as Thou buried himself into her softest flesh, the sweet moistness of her inner walls eagerly clasping his cock. "Gooooooodddddd," the lovely elf purred, her arms rising to tease the hardened nubs of her nipples, squeezing and groping the soft flesh of her breasts, raising them shamelessly for display. She humped back against Thou, driving him deeper into her, her sheath meeting his cock like they'd been made for each other- And maybe they were, considering how Lavish's taut belly shows no sign of distending, of the warning bulge within... Maybe, just maybe, the ogre can go all-out on her." Fuck me good, you big, strong *ogre*," Lavish cooed, enjoying the massive, filthy rod filling her inch by glorious inch-She dwelled in the sheer, deliciousnaughtinessof the moment, knowing that any of her subjects would've been revolted by the sight... Of her riding one of her race's worst foes! And then, quite suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door..." Mother?" a flu tingly-sweet- If sharp-voice inquired. "Are... Are you in there?""*That's* her," the Queen panted, rubbing against the ogre a little harder, the thought of discovery working wonderfully on her. "She... She- *oh!*-She's right...outside?" A sudden flicker of surprise sparked in her eyes, quickly eclipsed by moreimmediatepleasures...*************"Powwow, that's sweet," Shaylin murmured. "Youdohave a way with words." Really, it wasn't what he was saying-She'd heard compliments like that a thousand times before, of course. It was Dewayne said it, with such complete honesty... He was *really* too nice for this, after all. She gestured at him to lead the way, a stray phrase catching her attention- "You've never seen a lady adventurer before? W~wellhole, that *is* a bit strange... Adventuring's still very much a boy's club. But really? Not one? I'm sure you've met some before me, hmm mm?" Lavish' comment makes Thou concoct a filthy fantasy in his head; ravaging the daughter in front of her mother, letting the queen see her little princess take a bellyful of his meat and his milk, so to say. The idea only makes his penis harder, and Lavish feels so good, sorightaround him, that he decides to dispense with his normal caution and really give it to her. He shifts a hand from her waist to her tummy, mildly surprised when he doesn't feel his bulge inflating her. Something tries to make itself heard over the roaring wave of lust filling his head, but then Lavish' pussy twitches around his cock, and all he can think about is breeding the horny little queen. He's still conscious enough to add a little extra to his vigorous humping, though; the ogre grinds the elf queen's sex around the rough, hot skin of his cock, even as the pistons into her, fucking her like a wild beast. She wants it, he thinks, so give it to her. Thog uses his grip on Lavish' lithe body to slam her down on his prick, even as he jams himself up into her. He hasn't been able to let himself go like this since Gwyneth; it's liberating to finally be able to devote all his energy to delivering his seed into a willing womb.******"Hmm... well, no, not really. I sort of hooked up with a bunch of travelling adventurers who passed by my town, they said they'd take me to exotic cities where there'd be naked girls all over the place and gold piled up like mountains. But then we just ended up going from crappy town to crappy town, and then we ran out of money to stay there. Then we ended up here..." Julian sighs. Reality is a far cry from his dreams." I thought being an adventurer meant being rich and famous. But now... never mind. Um. So you wanted to go to the tavern? Or at least, what passes for one around here...?" With a yelp, Queen Lavish's luscious body tensed, her firm ass moving back and forth to meet Thou's pi stoning cock; For a moment, her rhythm faltered, momentarily overcome by the delicious pleasure of the hard, filthy ogre cock within her even pussy- But a deep, shuddering spasm, she went right back to pumping her hips, biting her lips to hold herself back!"HHnnnnaargghh!" She gasped, her pussy clamping down even tighter on Thou's cock pierced her, hitting the top of her womb. Clenched tight against his girth, a wet, juicysquishing accompanied their furious coupling as the Regent's eyes squeezed shut, filled with delighted expectation as a searing, animal heat gushed into her core! The Queen squealed in delight, her body twitching in ecstasy, pliant and completely willing...... And completely unaware of the soft, muffled gasp, as the Princess watched through a crack in the door, every little detail etching itself into her mind. The quiver of her mother's full breasts with each stroke, the rapturous pleasure on her face... And, of course, the ogre rutting with her, breaking every last one of their taboos gleefully!" Hah, hand, AAAA!" Lavish's voice rang out, her glorious body shaking from the force of Thou's thrusts, almost aching to receive his seed. She lolled back, let him sheath himself in her warmth to his hilt... And fill her with thick ropes of ogre cum.****************"Damn grainers," Shaylin muttered, her brow furrowing ever-so-slightly. "Ruining things for everyone..." Then, quite suddenly, she let herself smile again, the momentary flare of annoyance passing. "They *were* right about the gold, though... It's just thatgettingit the hard part. As for the naked damsels... Well, that comes later." The witch hooked her arm in Julian's, giving him a comforting pat. "Don't worry, though-You've made it *this* far. If you want, I *could* put in a good word for you, point you towards some level-appropriate quests... Away from here, of course. Theresa bad lot hanging around this place; Not good for nice boys like you." She spun on her heel, tipping her head to the side with a smile. "That's for later, of course. Now, though... Lead on?" Thou had been priming himself for something like this; he'd even gone so far as to mail-order some Kobold Virility Essence (hey, they bred like rabbits; in some places you had to stamp the floor of the dungeon you were walking in to scare the copulating couples apart), though his lack of intelligence meant that he'd accidentally taken more than the amount needed to turn a platoon of limp-wristed fancies into jackhammers. The long and short of that meant that not only was he ready to pump Lavish full of his sticky seed, he could do it over and over again, like an auto-attack macro. Thou's cock sluices into the queen's sex, battering against the walls of her pussy until his invading member finally crashes through the neck of her womb and into her innermost chambers. The feeling of his cervix squeezing around the head of his cock is too much for him to bear - the first spray of his cum jets into the queen's tummy, filling her with a hot, creamy sensation as the ogre empties his balls into her. Thou's moan joins Lavish's as he continues pounding in and out of her, stray globs of cum splashing out over the floor as his gray-green cock stretches her pale pink pussy.******"Yeah..." Julian blushes. The tavern... is actually a pretty decent place. Surprisingly tame; most likely everyone in here's just come back from a patrol, and they're too tired to start any shit. The barkeep's a dwarf, and the axe hanging behind his mantelpiece suggests it's seen a lot of use. Few people can hold alcohol like a dwarf, and fewer still can dodge an axe swung at knee level while heavily inebriated. It makes a good weapon for keeping order even without being used." Julian!" he calls out. "Brought a girlfriend? Nice catch!" Peering through the tiny crack in the parted doors, the Princess went as pale as her luxurious silver tresses, stifling a muffled gasp at the sight before her; Her regal mother, her expression twisted into a complicated look of ecstasy and lust as an...an *ogre* plundered her, their bodies swaying back and forth in coital union! She clasped one delicate hand to the front of her violet gown, the exotic purple hue of her eyes flashing, entirely shocked!"HHnnnnaargggghhh!!" Lavish cried out, her pussy clamping down even *tighter* on Thou's cock, her sweet voice filling the room; Her curvy, mature body shuddering atop the ogre's, her hot breath hissed from her throat, green hair tossing about damply in her frenzy. "Y-essays!" she groaned, eyes half-lidded with desire, her expression resembling the throes of religious ecstasy; And the Princess bit her lip, clamping her own hand to her mouth as her mother's body tensed and stiffened, her voice reaching its crescendo as Thou exploded within her! The unfulfilled tension of a half-century let loose, all at once, and the even Queen's nails sliced deep into her palms as she twitched, feeling a gallon of cum erupt within her!" Fuck me," the Regent whispered, hot guilt merging with searing desire, as Thou's cock pierced her very core; Unable to move, her daughter found every little detail etching itself in her mind... The quiver of Lavish's full breasts with each stroke, the slight wet noise as the ogre completed a thrust- And the pliant and *completely willing* way in which her mother moved, twisting her body to complement and enhance his movements! Before her very eyes, they began moving faster, more frantically, and a horrified wonder filled the princess as she began to realize what would happen-The ogre thrust rapidly, a wetsquishaccompanying their furious coupling... And to her disbelief, Lavish made no move to distance herself from *it* in his final moments; If anything, she seemed to be driving herself back, letting him deeper *into* her! The Princess felt a warm, creamy heat growing within her, bringing color to her face, tingling in her stomach, her limbs, like a shot of brandy-She couldn't look away as the ogre wrapped his strong green arms around the Queen, holding her in place as he grunted, pulsing jet after jet of hot cum into her womb! Her mother squealed with delight, her body twitching in ecstasy... Then the two fell limp, the Queen clinging to the wall, and Thou clinging to her. That was more than enough for her shocked mind. Very quietly, she shut the door, and turned away, her face flaming... And, with light, skipping steps, she fled, the images of her mother on a lowly *ogre* burning through her mind!************In the throne room, Lavish sagged to the floor with a sigh, ravaged beyond belief; Her body still felt weak from her orgasm, and the warm feeling of seed still sent delightful thrills through her body... She shouldn't have done this, she knew, but distantly, quietly, she wondered how it'd felt if her lovely daughter was watching... If they both *knew* she was watching!...and was mildly surprise to feel a flare of desire run through her body at the prospect." Delightful," she purred, stainless robes showing no sign of the relentless *fucking* she'd just undergone... And with a wink, the Queen let her gown settle back around her form, swathing her in purity once more. "Your girlfriend is one *fortunate* woman... Sir Thou."

The Siege Of Foresthome! (Closed for SilentWayfarer)|rating:2.0

Bondage at a Gala Affair (RPM and Stella Maris)

The Raven Manor, a stately and large estate on the shores of a large lake, the home and its grounds having dated the 19th century, and its owner, one Mr. John Raven, a wealthy industrialist and a collector of finery and arts who loved to host gala affairs at his estate. And this spring evening was no exception. A gala event at the Raven Manor, a stately and large estate on the shores of a large lake was being held. The grounds and the house at their center dated back to the 19th century, and its owner, one Mr. John Raven, a wealthy industrialist and a collector of finery and arts who loves to host gala affairs at his estate. And this spring evening is no exception. A high to do and fancy is being held here at this manor in the countryside. This estate was known, at least in rumor and by passing, for secret passages, hidden tunnels and the like. And it was being targeted for a heist by some criminal syndicate known simply as 'The Syndicate'. The challenge of stealing certain items from the Raven collection would be a very real challenge and for months they have been planning this brazen heist. They had quietly infiltrated the manor's staff and had extensively mapped the old tunnels and the secret passages of Raven, helped by the Lockwood Estate, however obliquely. There seemed to be a caterer who is looking about the manor, and whispering things to his colleague. Nothing completely suspicious, but he was mentioning the layout of one or two large rooms. These large rooms had the following things in common, they both house quite a few rare works of art, and those would be tempting targets for theft. Little did these two caterers realize that two women, both of whom were of a nosy variety, had overheard their conversation. Although they would have easily mistaken one of the two woman for a young man, due to the rather masculine way the latter dressed... Imogene had been thrilled and honored to be invited to such a prestigious event. Her own celebrity had waned some time ago, but she was still pretty enough to warrant paparazzi taking the time to snap her picture, and her name still lent a certain air of legitimacy, whether it was needed or not. And in the case of the gala at Raven Manor, it was decidedly unnecessary. There were enough antiquities and rarities within the walls of the stately estate to populate a small museum, and it was a distinct honor to be included among the guests. However, she was rather sure that the invitation had arrived at her home due to the other recipient so named; her niece Clara. The daughter of her older sister, who had passed on over a decade ago, Clara was following, somewhat, in the footsteps of her aunt. Being a freelance investigator and adventurer had changed quite a bit over the last twenty years, and while Imogene had a bit of trouble keeping up with all the new technology, Clara had grown up surrounded by it and was quite the young expert. Between the two of them, they made quite the team. Clara had been excited when she first saw the invitation. This was her first event, and it wasn't something small, either. She was sure that her picture would be in the press again. She smiled to herself as she thought of the last time her picture had been in the paper, the name in the caption having been changed by some poor schmuck to Carl based on her short hair, slim figure, and her propensity to dress in a tux or men's style suit as opposed to the lacy dresses her aunt favored. For this evening's party, she'd gone out and acquired a lovely tuxedo and had it tailored to not only fit, but to do it's best to hide her curves. While they were inconvenient for passing as a boy, she'd started to learn that sometimes it was advantageous to be able to flash a little cleavage at a guy, particularly when the guy in question wasn't expecting anything of the sort. While the whole thing had started off fairly mundane, and far more boring than she'd hoped, it had picked up considerably when she'd overheard something she was sure she wasn't supposed to between a couple of the caterers. She'd gone to her aunt and Imogene had agreed that they had uncovered a rather tricky little plot to divest Mr. Raven of some of his more treasured items. They'd alerted security to the possibility that one of the rooms, the larger, might not be as secure as it seemed, but omitting to mention the smaller, which the two women had decided they would guard themselves, intending to catch the possible thieves in the act, both eager to become more relevant and renowned with a bit of what should only require minor heroics. Little did either Imogene or Clara know that the security guard they told was on the Syndicate's payroll and was one of the insiders. Had he not been, this entire thing would have ended in relatively short order. He had made a show of making a call into his radio, a few brief words, as if letting his superiors know what was going on. However, that radio was going to his actual boss, the Syndicate members who were running this scheme to steal Mr. Raven's more valuable collection items. The two 'caterers' at first didn't realize they had picked up a tail. But thanks to a mumbled tip from the security man when Imogene and Clara were out of earshot they soon knew all about it. They moved down a narrow corridor, one of portraits and busts of previous members of the Raven family, stretching back many, many generations. These were oil paintings and quite a few marble busts interspersed as well. The 'caterers' walked deeper down the hallway, knowing that there was a secret passage at the midpoint of the hallway and that a couple more of their accomplices waited in hiding. Once the girls were passed that passage it silently opened and the two men wearing white theater masks and dark clothing crept out of it, moving silently towards the two women as they seemed intent on following their quarries, unaware that they were the quarry. Running noiselessly the men sneaked up on Clara and Imogene, running up to them, hands clamping tightly over their mouths. Large arms snaked around the girls' bodies, pinning them to their sides." Don't make a sound, understand. Nod if you understand." The man said, pointing a small gun to the side of Imogene's head. A similar event was occurring for Clara." Tie them up." the man said to the two caterers that the girls had been following. The men approached, and the two mashers holding Clara and Imogene moved their hands from the girls' mouths just long enough for the caterers to stuff wadded up rags into the girls' mouths before tying bands of white linen over their mouths, double knotting the cloth behind their heads, forming solid over the mouth gags (girls' captors then proceeded to tie the girls' hands behind their back before blindfolding them with another strip of linen. The two women, thus bound, blindfolded, and gagged, were led along by their handlers down the portrait hall. Then around a sharp corner, up a flight of stairs, down a hall and around a corner, up another flight of stairs, down another, up two more stair flights and the like. The circuitous route was intended to disorient the two women. And it wasn't simply the blindfolds and the circuitous route their captors were using on the two women, it was also groping. Both women would endure hands groping their breasts and having their asses pinched.Finally, they reached the room where the men intended to leave the two. It looked to be a small lounge of some sort. There were a few statues and a large mirror. Both girls' blindfolds were removed, and they were seated in wooden chairs with cushioned backs and bottoms. They were tied with ropes around the waist and underneath their breasts to pin their upper bodies to the chair and their ankles were tied together. After the men groped the two women one more time one of them said, "Now be good girls...we'll be back for you shortly..." The men left the room and closed the door. It seemed like they walked away, but in reality they simply were waiting outside for a period of time, seeing if the two girls would manage to escape. Once either they escaped or failed to do so in half an hour the men would return and move them, separately, as part of their boss' orders. Keep the two ladies occupied. And they had more than their share of ideas in mind... Imogene stiffened with only a gasp as she felt the hand clamp down over her mouth. This wasn't the first time she'd been caught like this, but still she cursed herself for being careless. There were two of them; there was no excuse for not watching their own backs. She gave a nod, fairly certain that the men wouldn't actually shoot them, here for theft not murder, but that didn't mean that they would shy away from roughing them up if they were too much trouble. Best to play docile. For now. Clara's first reaction was to try to scream, but the hand over her mouth reduced the sound to a muffled squeak, the surrounding arms preventing her from lashing out. When she felt the gun, however, she stopped her flailing. She was pretty sure they wouldn't shoot either of them on purpose, but that didn't save them from being shot by accident, and flailing at someone holding a gun to your head was a foolish thing to do. She, too, nodded her acquiescence, doing her best to try to memorize where it was they were in the large estate and wishing she knew more about its layout. The younger woman forgot herself as they stuffed the gag into her mouth, but it didn't make much difference, hardly more sound than her attempt to scream, and more efficiently and fully muffled as her mouth was filled with cloth. They both attempted to trace their path, but the route was long and circuitous. Imogene could tell that they were pros, which actually left her feeling safer, knowing that pros would be more interested in stashing them and getting away with their ill-gotten loot as opposed to doing something untoward with either of them. She could only hope that all the people involved in the operation, which was apparently larger than she had assumed, would be on board with the same goal. She withstood the slap and tickle stoically. Her niece, not so much, but her heavier clothing helped shield her to some small degree. Clara immediately started to worry at the ropes that bound her, grunting softly through her nose as she fought to get free. Imogene, however, was mildly concerned by the fact that the blindfolds had been removed. But for now, she didn't have time to concern herself with such things. She tested the ropes that bound her to the chair, and thanked whatever providence had inspired her to wear her favorite adventuring bracelet to the event (and had kept the thieves from stripping it off her wrist). The experienced adventuress slowly worked her hands around so that she could free the catch, releasing the modified catch. The blade was, of necessity, tiny, but it was sharp. She bore a scar on the inside of her wrist from the time an over eager paramour had pressed the wrong thing. She smiled at the memory as she began sawing at the rope. It took some time, and her thumb was cramping at the odd position, but the last strand finally parted, the coil suddenly much looser around her wrists, allowing her to wriggle free. She pulled herself away from the chair, pulling the ropes to the side to hide whereupon her person her tiny blade was secreted and pulled the gag from her mouth as she went to untie Clara, using her foot to push her ropes into the same pile, making it impossible for the thieves to know even which of them had engineered their escape. She held her finger to her lips as she released the younger woman, not entirely certain that they hadn't posted a guard. They'd heard people depart, but someone could have returned, quietly, just to keep an eye on them. Looking about the room, she was disappointed though not surprised to learn that there was no window. Finally, there was no help for it. Whether there was a guard or not, they would have to use the only obvious exit. She tried to find something that could be of use as a weapon, but the room was rather bare of usable decoration, and she had to hope that they would find their way unobstructed. Clara, for her part, was too excited by the adventure to be properly worried about what had happened. Sure the men who'd dragged them around the building had been awfully grabby, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. She watched her aunt check the room, doing her best to help, but knowing she didn't have nearly the experience. They didn't need to exchange any words as they neared the door. Clara crouched at the side where the door would open, hoping that if there was a guard, she could get the drop on him. She also hoped that if he did exist, that he didn't know how to defend against jujitsu and also didn't have any friends. Clara settled into a ready stance and nodded to Imogene, excited and scared and full of anticipation as the door was yanked open, and she launched herself at whoever she could spot on the other side, remember at the last moment to not give the usual shout, lest she alert others to their escape. The girls were clever, but their captors had planned for that. If they had escaped they would be recaptured. During their move away, they had summoned four other compatriots. Four large, masked men now lay in wait at the end of the corridor, hiding in a dark alcove as the two women made their way out of the door. There was no guard posted they could see, but the four men could hear the door open and saw Clara pushing out of the room where they had tied the two women up. It was then that they seized the two women. From hiding first two of the men grabbed Clara and Imogene, hands clamped over their mouths and large arms. And then two more men appeared from the shadows, each of them seizing a hold around the legs of each girl before each pair manhandled each girl till they were carried parallel to the ground, with hands clamped over their mouths, a large arm wrapped around their arms. The second man in each pair had arms wrapped around the thighs and just below the knees of each woman. Then two more men moved from hiding, tying blindfolds of white linen over each girls' eyes. Then the masked men picked the two women up, carrying them off. (tellingly was the fact that the men moved in different directions, again moving around different corners, up and down different flights of stairs, and different rooms. They wanted to be sure that the girls didn't try anything rash. The three men carrying Imogene finally stopped. First one of them, thinking it's something valuable (although having no clue just how valuable it had been in her earlier escape) removed Imogene's bracelet. They were in a small boudoir of some sort (with two chairs, a chair with a long footrest, three large mirrors, French doors that looked towards the lake and forests which was largely empty. Rain and wind whipped outside and the men set her down, blocking her only way out into the hall, one pointing a gun." Now, take off your clothes. Just to your lingerie (Do it now, or we'll take every scrap of clothing off of you..." the gunman threatened. After Imogene either undressed to her lingerie or was forcibly stripped naked the men set to their next order of business. First Imogene's hands were tied behind her back, palm to palm, which incidentally pushed her breasts out. Her wrists were then tied to the small of her back with another piece of rope around her waist. Then she was gagged with a band of black silk, tying a cloth stuffed into her mouth, double knotted behind her head in a tight black cleave gag. (she was brought to one of the chairs facing the mirror. Her ankles were tied together, and more rope tied her legs, above the knee. Her ankles were tied off to the left side in a demure sort of way, as more rope was tied around her waist ropes, around the chair back." This should keep you out of trouble." one of the men said and groped Imogene's breasts before the three men took her dress out of the room.---Clara faced a similar situation where she stood facing a gun and three men. But she was in vintage bathroom of early 20th century design, standing beside a large, claw foot tub (She was told, "Alright, strip, every piece of clothing, or we'll do it for you. If you cooperate we might not tie you face down in the tub, but we'll let you sit up." Either way Clara would find herself totally nude. Her hands would be tied behind her back by a piece of rope and then tied to the small of her back by a second piece around her waist. She was then gagged with a rag stuffed in her mouth and a band of white silk, tied tightly between her teeth in a tight cleave gag (she had been cooperative the thieves would have kept their word and after making her sit down in the tub, would've tied her feet together. Had she not been cooperative, however, she would find herself lying face down on the floor of the porcelain and cast iron claw foot bathtub, her hands tied behind her back, her feet tied together, and her elbows tied together as well with a long rope connecting her hands to her feet in a tight hogtie? The three men left the bathroom, carrying all of Clara's clothing with them.---In any case, merely a floor above one another as it turned out, Aunt Imogene and Clara were in a stricter form of bondage than they had been earlier. It was anyone's guess which one might escape and if so which one. In any case they had planned for that too. What they would be getting into was a sort of perverse bondage version of hide and seek in a very isolated wing of the manor... The two women had thought themselves free to move to the next part of their escape, but it was short-lived. They'd barely moved away from the doorway before they felt hands over their mouths and around their arms for the second time that evening. Imogene knew that it had been a test of some sort. The men had been laying in wait for the pair of them to escape. She didn't like that. The games were light, yet, but there were things that she was loath to consider. Clara squirmed as the men carried her off. She didn't have her aunt's experience or poise, and she had to admit, if only to herself, that she was rather scared. She could hear the men carrying her aunt away in another direction, and she hated that she would end up captured and alone. And she couldn't figure out why they would leave them to escape just so that they could capture them a second time. It didn't make any sense. Imogene considered the scene before her and complied, hesitating only slightly as she unfastened her gown and let it slip down off of her body, exposing the expensive corset she wore beneath. It and the rest of her undergarments were in simple black, adorned with dark burgundy lace accents. At least she knew where she was, now. The doors gave her a very good indication of her location in the manor. If it came down to it, she could always head out into the rain and come around the building, but that was not an option she wished to explore unless she were rather more desperate. She didn't try to fight them as they bound her once more, though her placement in relation to the mirror was not at all comforting. Nor the empty place on her wrist that used to hold her bracelet, although she wasn't certain that she could have made use of it with how well they had bound her this time. She withstood the grope with Stoic calm, knowing that no matter how little she cared for such treatment, there was nothing she could do to prevent it, and protests might only encourage them into taking greater liberties.---Clara couldn't help but shiver a bit, never having had guns pointed at her before, and not there she was for the second time in a single evening. She considered refusing to cooperate, but there really wasn't much she could do. Furthermore, she was outnumbered and lacked any leverage at all with which to win a fight, and she really didn't like the idea of being tied face down and naked in the tub. Furthermore, she didn't even consider the possibility that they might not do it as she started removing her attire. She couldn't stop herself from blushing as she methodically stripped, gradually exposing more of her body until there was nothing left to hide. Furthermore, she shivered, this wing of the manor rather notably cooler than the ballroom where the other guests were mingling. Furthermore, she didn't so much fight as she was tied up once more but flinch as she felt herself being rendered helpless. Furthermore, she was thankful that they kept their word, finding her butt pressing against cold porcelain as they finished their treatment, leaving her both more and less restricted than she had been earlier.---Each woman waiting only a moment after being left alone to start testing her bonds. Imogene was disappointed to find that the man who had tied her to this new chair was rather knowledgeable and had done quite a good job at restraining her. So well, in fact, that she wasn't certain she'd be able to escape at all. Clara, on the other hand, found herself in a more favorable situation. While it was true that she had nothing with which to cut the ropes as her aunt had done, she found herself notably less restricted in her movement than she had been earlier. With a bit of rocking and squirming about within the chill confines of the tub, she managed to shift her position around enough that she could bring her hands to work at the ropes that bound her feet. The position was decidedly uncomfortable and by the time she had loosed her ankles, her fingers were starting to cramp from the chill, but at least she was free to move about. Immediately she started investigating the bathroom with the intent of finding something, anything, with which to effect the freeing of her hands. Little did either woman know that a small spy camera had been placed in the rooms they found themselves tied up in. From their temporary control center in one of the guest rooms the leadership of the group of thieves could see the girls as they attempted to free themselves. The thieves could see Imogene struggling fruitlessly against her bonds and Clara starting to turn to untie her ankles in the tub. They had a small bet going among themselves which girl would free herself first. So far with having freed her ankles Clara was favored. Already some money had changed hands with those who'd made smaller side wagers about what would be freed first and who would manage to get loose.---Clara and Imogene of course didn't know that they were being watched via spy cameras in the rooms they were tied up in. They couldn't know that via a laptop the men were zooming in and out, watching the struggles of the two women in the bathtub and chair in the boudoir respectively. They couldn't know that the way that Imogene's breasts heaved up and down in her corset and Clara's swayed freely because of her nudity were being watched. Furthermore, they couldn't know that the sounds they made behind their gags were heard by the criminals watching them in the two rooms. When Clara freed her feet there was a broken metal hook in the wall, one that could be used to hang towels from. It was just at the right level for her to use the hook to free her bound hands if she so desired to use it as such. And the door to the bathroom wasn't locked, and it was one of those elongated door handles so even with bound hands she could work it and open the door. The hallway outside where Clara was tied up was a sparsely furnished one. At the right turn was a staircase leading upstairs with a door at the top. If Clara were to go that way, she would find that door would be locked. It was the most direct route to where Imogene was tied up, and the perverse criminals didn't want this to be easy. The other way led down a long hallway, with several overhanging chandeliers from the high ceilings. At the end of this hallway was a second staircase. This one had a juncture going upstairs as well as downstairs. Going downstairs would lead to another long hallway, line with several doors to guest rooms and a spare drawing room. The route upstairs would lead to a blind corner and down that hallway she would likely hear the sounds of her aunt struggling in her bonds and gag, but she would also see one of the thugs walking down the hallway into the room.---The man stepped into the boudoir where Imogene sat bound and gagged. He stepped into the room, ostensibly to check her bonds. He did check to make sure the ropes around Imogene's wrists and ankles were nice and tight, as well as the ropes around her knees and waist and ones holding her in the chair. And after that he fitted his hands over Imogene's ample bosom, squeezing her breasts in the confines of the black and burgundy lace accented corset before he stepped out, walking away and then down another hallway, away from the two women. Or at least ostensibly. He sneaked into a secret passage where he could watch the women from hiding as they attempted their partially clothed and naked sleuthing. Imogene works methodically at the bonds that bind her. There won't be any quick escape this time, but if she shifts the right way, she may be able to get one of the cords to loosen enough that she can start working her way out of them. It was going to take a long time, however, and she didn't think their captors were going to give her that long. She could only hope that Clara was in a better situation.---Once her feet were freed, Clara pushed herself upright, balancing carefully lest she fall and hurt herself. She scanned the room, slowly, looking for anything sharp that she might use to free her hands. The hook escapes her glance at first, but on a more careful scan she spots it. She moves to a position where she can take advantage of it and starts working at the rope holding her wrists. She knows she should leave the room as quickly as she can, but she won't get nearly far enough if she doesn't have her hands available. It takes longer than she'd like, but she manages to finally get the rope frayed enough that she can work her way out of it entirely. She moves quietly to the door, opening it very slowly before looking out, worried that there might be a guard. She sighs softly as she finds the hallway empty, but recalls the last empty hallway and proceeds cautiously. Furthermore, she doesn't want to head up, but figures that would be better than going back down the hallway. But the door atop the stairs is locked, and she has no way to deal with that. She makes a frustrated gesture and turns back, wishing that she had some clothes as she snuck her way down the empty hall. She came to another stairway, this one going down as well as up. Glad for a chance to get back to the first floor, she quickly makes her way down, one hand to her chest to keep from bouncing unpleasantly. Once at the bottom, she looks before moving down the new hallway. She can't believe this place is so large that she's still not found the party. She listens at the first door, peeking inside. Finding a guest room on the other side, she slips in and pulls one of the sheets from the bed, wrapping it around her body before she heads back to make her way to the end of the hall, shocked at how large this estate actually is.---Imogene goes still as she hears the door open. She hasn't made much progress, but she'd rather they not see that she was trying. She maintained her composure as he checked at all of her bonds, disappointed that they were as tight as ever. Furthermore, she twitches slightly as he gropes at her breasts. But it's a brief contact, for which she's thankful. She listens, and as the door clicks shut, she goes back to her struggles, determined that she will get loose. Eventually. As Clara walked towards the end of the hall there was the sound of wood sliding against wood and a secret passage opened. In this particular case the criminals had placed a small sensor near where Clara was walking that triggered the mechanism for this particular secret passage. This passage had a staircase that led upstairs and through this particular secret passage Clara would have a direct path upstairs to her aunt. As she neared the passage she would hear a series of muffled grunts as Imogene worked on her bonds, thanks to a small hidden speaker that was wired through the secret passage. If Clara were to enter that passage it would close behind her and another entrance at the top of the secret staircase would open.---If Clara did, so Imogene would see a secret passage open just behind her, out of her peripheral vision... Clara approached the opening cautiously, frowning at the sounds of some sort of struggling. She recognized the soft grunting of her aunt's voice. It took her a moment to realize that they must have a mic on the room, and if they did, then they probably had one on hers as well, and likely already knew that she'd gotten loose. There was no help for that, she thought to herself as she made her way up the passage. It wasn't really going the direction she wanted, but if she was lucky, it would come out somewhere useful. If the thieves and, now, kidnappers were using it, it had to go between places they were using. If she was lucky, they would have stashed her aunt near the other end as they had with her.----Imogene kept up her struggles, trying to be quiet, but after the way her captors had started to get grabby, she was rather more desperate to escape and get back to the main party, her state of undress notwithstanding. She had turned to give her arm a bit more leverage when something moved behind her, almost entirely out of sight. She straightened, doing her best to appear as though she were behaving as she kept as covert a watch on the door as she could. However, she wasn't prepared for who she saw coming out, or her state. While the men had left her in her undergarments, her niece had apparently found it necessary to cover herself with what appeared to be a sheet.----Clara was startled to find the exit come out into a room instead of another hallway, and even more surprised to realize it was the room her aunt was being held in. She held her finger up to her lips and then pointed at her ear and then up towards the ceiling, hoping that the older adventuress would understand what she meant. Not waiting to see if the lady got the message, she moved forward and started working on the ropes, noting that they'd tied her down rather more thoroughly than the first time they'd been captured. Provided they were undisturbed long enough for her to free her aunt, they would attempt to escape back down the secret stair in their bid to reach the first floor. Although the pair went unmolested, that didn't mean that the bad guys weren't watching their every move. Through hidden cameras they watched as Clara untied the ropes tying Imogene's wrists to the small of her back, then untied her wrists and watched as the bound and gagged adventuress, with her niece's help, managed to free herself. They already had planned for that, however, and made sure that the door leading to the main party was not only locked, but a couple of their men were waiting behind it waiting to grab the duo, blindfold them and take them to another, more isolated wing. But meanwhile they were content to see just what this pair of sleuths tried to do next. It was as they attempted to go down the secret passage's staircase the bottom of the secret passage that the wall at the bottom closed, blocking that way out. The only way out was of the door to where Aunt Imogene had been sitting bound and gagged. Once the pair decided to go out the boudoir's front door they could go two directions, left or right. If they went right they'd run into another locked door. To the left was a door that would lead into a small office with a desk. Atop the desk was a day planner with a few items scrawled in on that evening's date, mostly things about 'casing' and 'catering schedules' for this party. Beside that planner was, rather incongruously, a pair of rose colored silk and lace panties (nice and clean, evidently another concession to modesty for Clara, but it would also entail the possibility of female villains among the thieves as well... Once Clara had helped to free her aunt, they both attempted to make their way down the passage and back towards the main party. They wasted several moments attempting to find the catch to open the lower door. But eventually even Clara had to admit that it was no good and their only option was to use the door out of Imogene's holding room. Hopefully nobody had arrived to recapture them in the meantime, as they were trapped. They peaked cautiously from the door, finding yet another empty hallway, though neither was so foolish as to think that their activities weren't being watched by someone. Imogene let the younger woman lead them left, although she preferred to head right. As it was going to be luck of the draw either way, it wasn't worth the time wasted discussing it. They soon found themselves in a small office. Exchanging a look at the panties, the elder began inspecting the planner while her niece slipped the rather expensive panties up over her hips. They were a bit snug, but a sheet over panties was better than a sheet over nothing at all. Even if their presence meant that the ones responsible were probably toying with them. Taking the planner with them as possible evidence, they quit the office, moving on to seek out some manner of escape back to the party itself, or barring that, a way outside that they could come around back to the front of the large estate. The ways outside were being watched by a few of the criminals to ensure that the two women didn't get outside. There were two sounds that could be heard just then and there. The first was the sound of one of the secret passages open, this one led to a small staircase that went downstairs. The second was the sound of footsteps heading right for the door. Literally the criminal was just outside it. If the girls were to go down that set of stairs two things would happen. First they would avoid the criminal outside. And the second would entail what some might loosely refer to as a 'wardrobe malfunction'. The secret passage would close and trap the sheet that Clara was wearing. There was no way to yank it free and enough of it was sticking out of the secret passage that the criminal who was now in the study could sneak up on her and grab her if they tarried too long. At the bottom of that staircase was a choice go left which would lead towards a spiral staircase going upstairs towards a tower with windows. Going right would lead down a darkened hallway with a chiming grandfather clock at the far end that rang loudly announcing the top of the hour. Clara's hand was on the doorknob when Imogene stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, her head turned as she looked back at yet another secret passage, this one apparently leading further down. Clara hesitated a moment between the passage and the door when the sound of approaching steps made up her mind for her, and she moved to follow her aunt inside. Imogene stopped as the younger women let out a startled grunt, and she turned to find her niece tugging at the sheet she'd covered herself with, a rather significant chunk of it caught in the closed panel and no visible means to open it and free the entangled cloth. She shook her head at the girl. They didn't have time to pull or tear it free. She was relieved when Clara let the linen fall to the steps behind them as they started their careful way down. They peered cautiously out from the bottom of the stair, finding the landing empty of thieves. Clara wanted to head left, to keep to the light, but Imogene preferred the darker hall, hoping that the lack of lighting would mean also a lack of people to avoid. It took a moment of heated whispering before the older adventurer won out, and they scurried their way towards the sound of the clock chiming in the darkness. The chiming clock was the only sound the two ladies would hear in the darkened hallway. There was also the clicking of Imogene's heels on the hardwood floor of the long hallway with the grandfather clock. The room was lit, intermittently by soft electric lights on ornate brass fittings every few feet down the hallway. The girls were not alone, per se. While there were no criminal conspirators in the room, there was another secret passage built into the floor. And Imogene's latest step triggered it. It was a delayed action mechanism the older adventuress' heel had tripped. It would trigger right under Clara sending the surprised young woman. She would find herself moving down a spiraling chute as the lid of the chute closed above her and landing atop a pile of feathered cushions where she was promptly grabbed by two men. One wore the clothing of the catering company and the other was dressed entirely in black with a shoulder mounted camera.cameraman said, "Let's get this one tied up..." Rather swiftly the men gagged Clara with a rag stuffed into her mouth before tying a thick band of folded white linen over Clara's mouth and nose, double knotting it behind the young woman's head. Her hands were promptly tied, palm to palm with cinching in between them behind her back, and she was led over to a hardwood chair with red upholstery and forced to sit down. Rope was tied around her waist and around her arms, above and below her breasts, pinning them to the chair back. Her ankles were tied together before being tied to a bar underneath the chair. Groping her breasts the caterer, a ginger haired fellow said,"This should keep you out of trouble. Now let's see how my friend captures your meddling aunt..." The masked man headed out the door, activating his camera which was linked to a laptop set up on a nearby table that the ginger haired man had turned on, letting Clara see everything the masked man would see...Meanwhile, Imogene would be confronted with one of two choices. Either head back towards the way they came or continue on to where the hallway turned left. After this turn there would be a staircase leading upstairs and another going downstairs. Whichever way Imogene went she would be caught by someone...(IOC: I made an assumption that Clara was behind her aunt in this one since her aunt wanted to walk in the darker hallway) Imogene couldn't help but wince every time her feet fell, trying to time her steps along with the ticking of the clock, doing her best to mask her movements in that way. Unfortunately for both women, this also had the unfortunate effect of making it so that when the hidden switch triggered, its own sound was similarly masked, leaving them both unaware of the impending trap release. Clara couldn't do more than let out a startled gasp as the floor falls out from beneath her bare feet. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was thankful that whoever maintained the terrible mechanisms within the mansion ensured that there weren't any splinters on the ramp she went sliding down. The spirals left her dizzy and disoriented as she landed on the cushions awaiting her. By the time she had recovered her wits enough to attempt to warn her aunt of those who were waiting, it was already too late. The cloth muffled her initial cry, and prevented her from doing much more than make muffled protests at her treatment. She tried to resist being tied up, yet again, but there wasn't much she could do against multiple assailants, and it wasn't long before she was immobilized far more securely than she had been earlier. The only good part was that they at least left her the panties. There hadn't been any time to even attempt to catch her niece before the trap door closed, separating the two women. She briefly considered following the younger adventuress down, but if it turned out to be some sort of cell, it wouldn't do them any good to have the both of them caught in it. Sighing, she kept moving down the dark hallway, squinting in the dimming light at the choices presented around the next corner. She couldn't help but think that whoever designed and built this place was demented as she shook her head and started moving down the stairs, hoping to reach the first floor so that she might have a better chance of escaping the building and making her way back to the party. As Imogene moved down the stairs, they came to a bend and went down a second stairwell. This staircase led to a room of statues and gargoyles of various and decidedly grotesque and ugly shapes. From a secret passage nearby, at the base of the stairs, the man dressed entirely in black, to include one grotesque looking gargoyle mask sneaked in from behind her. On his shoulder he wore a camera, and through it Clara would be able to see everything that the aunt's very near future abductor would see and hear thanks to the camera's audio feed. Clara would hear her aunt's heels clicking on the hardwood stairs, and through the viewing slit that was in that particular secret passage would see the gargoyle masked bad guy glancing first at Imogene's face and then getting a look at the corset clad woman in her lingerie (before the secret passage opened silently, and the man moved behind her, sneaking quietly and slowly, the camera angle revealing a good look at Imogene's backside, to include the black panties she wore and about how much of her butt they covered.---Meanwhile, in a different room, two floors down, Clara would be sitting in an antique hardwood upholstered chair (Her hands were tied behind her back, palm to palm with cinching in the middle so she couldn't slip her hands free. Rope was tied around her waist and around her arms, above and below her breasts, pinning them to the chair back. Her ankles were tied together before being tied to a bar underneath the chair. A gag consisting of a piece of cloth stuffed in her mouth and a thick band of folded white linen tied over her mouth and nose (was wearing nothing but the pair of panties (she had found earlier with her aunt. The Ginger haired captor slid a second chair behind Clara. And that would mark the only time hands weren't currently groping Clara's ample bosom. Hands continued squeezing Clara's bare breasts. His hands wandered all over, rubbing the fleshy orbs that formed Clara's breasts, cupping underneath her breasts and squeezing them." Wow, a figure like that, and a pair of gems like these, nice enough to be a bit bigger than a handful, shouldn't be so hidden under a tuxedo the way you were dressing. And what's this? Is someone getting hard..." the Ginger remarked. His fingers squeezed at Clara's nipples which were now springing erect from the near constant boob groping. Clara tried to shout warnings from behind the gags, but the muted 'emfs' would barely be heard outside the room, let alone two floors upstairs. She would see, on the laptop screen in front of her the Gargoyle Masked bad guy moving slowly up behind her aunt." Sorry, I don't think she can hear you..." replied the Ginger to Clara's near constant emfs. Clara would see Gargoyle Mask sneaking up behind her aunt, and then a hand clamping over Imogene's mouth, see her aunt's hands being tied behind her back, palm to palm, and then her being gagged with a wad stuffed in her mouth before the folded white linen was tied over her mouth and nose. The bound and gagged adventuress would be taken down a secret passage, a hidden spiral staircase. His hands also groped Imogene's breasts the entire way and as they neared a small room in a side hallway she would hear the sounds of 'emfs'. Was it her niece? If it was then obviously she had been gagged as well. She would see her niece, sitting tied to a chair before she would be forced into a chair behind it and tied to it. Rope was tied around her waist and around her arms, above and below her breasts, pinning them to the chair back. Her ankles were tied together before being tied to a bar underneath the chair. More rope was tied to the back chair legs and around the waists of the two women to connect the chairs together. The gargoyle masked man moved over to Clara and groped her bare breasts before the Ginger headed over to Imogene and groped the older adventuress. His hands first fitted over her corset clad breasts and then squeezed before cupping underneath her breasts and squeezing before tracing the top of her corset with fingers and then cupping back over her breasts." Well, let's see how aroused these two ladies get..." replied Ginger Captor as he and Gargoyle Mask continued their groping of the two women. Imogene tried to walk softly, but the design of her shoes made that almost entirely impossible. She'd consider removing them if she didn't believe that the time to unlace the old-fashioned boots would be better spent in seeking an egress for one or both of them. As much as she wanted to pull her niece from out the clutches of the ruffians who were no doubt responsible for their separation and doing heavens knew what sort of awful things, she knew that escaping alone was much preferable to being captured herself again. She had to shake her head, reminding herself that their situation could prove to be most dire, and it wouldn't do to get caught up in memories and daydreams about adventures past, and the celebrations and commiserations afterward. As it was, she could only hope that her niece was holding up under whatever strain her resumed captivity might be placing upon her young shoulders.---Clara had almost gotten used to the hands that continued to grope and paw at her body. It was situations such as this that had given her the idea to dress in a masculine fashion in the first place. While her body would prevent her from ever truly being mistaken for anything but the woman she was, the affectation had the not unexpected result of causing many who saw her to assume she was interested in women and not merely focused on discouraging the attention of most men. But now she had been relieved of her shirt and pants, and everything else she'd arrived in, and left only a pair of someone else's panties to protect her dignity. And her body, possibly resentful of how she neglected that aspect of her life, was responding in a way she found rather unsettling. And to make matters even worse, the Ginger who had been so eagerly molesting her chest had noticed and was taking quite a bit of glee. Even that couldn't distract her from trying to shout warnings to her aunt. She knew the older woman couldn't possibly hear her, but she couldn't stand the idea that she couldn't do something, no matter how ineffective it happened to be.---She had only an instant of awareness that she wasn't alone before she felt the hand clamp across her mouth, her hope that she might be nearing some sort of exit dashed, yet again. She was just starting to feel the hopelessness of their situation sinking in. fearing that there must be cameras all over the building, their and the Thames' movements secret only to the revelers still at the party. Furthermore, she did her best to try to struggle out of his grip, doing what she could to ignore the fact that he was strong enough to overpower her. It wasn't until after her hands were bound that she ceased, recognizing how securely she was tied and knowing that further struggle would merely lead to possible rope burns. Frowning, she met her niece's eyes. It was obvious that the thief who had held her hadn't been making it easy on her, and once she was, herself, secured, she got a taste of exactly how much trouble he had been. She tried to remain stoic, but the feel of the ropes around her wrists and the fact that this time, there would be no hidden blade or wriggling to get them loose was having an effect. Most of the men who knew about her reactions to being bound had gone on to a new adventure, but she feared if this kept on for much longer, these scoundrels might begin to get ideas. As the two men continued their boob groping of the two damsels, the Ginger stopped his groping and fondling of Imogene's breasts. He felt his cell phone vibrate and took a look at the screen, smiling as he did so. He grinned as he reached over and again resumed his groping of Imogene's breasts, standing beside her his hands squeezing the buxom adventuress' breasts." It looks like you two are about to have some company." Ginger said as he continued his groping of Imogene's breasts.Meanwhile, Gargoyle Mask kept on groping Clara's bare breasts, and he remarked, "Looks like this one's enjoying all the attention she's getting."" Hmm...well, that's quite exciting." the Ginger said, "But predictable. However, I've got some interesting news. It seems like the Palmer brothers have gotten in on our little act...looks like you ladies will have some company." The Ginger was referring to two young brown haired men, Jimmy and Kenny Palmer, born about two years apart with Jimmy being 20 and Kenny being 18. The two young college students at Diatonic University had begun their own careers in adventuring, even solving one case in the area the past summer. But that experience hadn't set them up for this particular event. The Ginger spoke as he typed on his cell phone, "Ok, bring them in." A few minutes later Imogene and Clara's muffled complaints behind their gags would be echoed by other gagged noises as the door to their prison opened. Both Imogene and Clara would see Jimmy and Kenny Palmer, blindfolded by black sleeping blindfolds, gagged with pieces of silver electrical tape across their lips, and with their hands tied behind their backs, being led into the room. Very similar to Clara and Imogene they were equally scantily clad. Kenny wore only his cotton boxer shorts in white while Jimmy wore gray boxer briefs and a white A-type undershirt." Well, I think we would do well to move the pair of you as well." Ginger said with one final boob grope for Imogene. The two women were thus likewise blindfolded and paired off with one of the boys. Imogene was paired off with Jimmy and Kenny was paired off with Clara. Bound, blindfolded and gag the two pairs were led in opposite directions.---After an assortment of turns, twists, and walking up and down staircases Imogene and Jimmy were led up a spiral staircase to a conservatory in one of the spires of the manor. In it, they would hear a grandfather clock chime its quarter-hour chime and as they were led inside their blindfolds would be removed. They would see a circular room with the aforementioned grandfather clock, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac circling its perimeter. Ginger said, "Sorry, it's only one chair, but it should be enough for our purposes." In the center of the room was a similar hardwood chair to what Imogene and Clara had been sitting in earlier. Jimmy was taken to the chair and made to sit down in it. His ankles were tied to the back legs of the chair, legs spread apart, and ropes were tied around his arms and waist to hold him to the chair back. With a swat to the ass Imogene was led over to the chair. First she was made to straddle Jimmy's lap, with her breasts pushed into the boy's face, the tip of his nose touching her sternum, his nostrils over her cleavage. Ropes pinned her waist, and upper torso into place, leaving her breasts pushing into the boy's face. More ropes tied her ankles to the front chair legs." This should keep the pair of you out of trouble." remarked Ginger, and he smacked Clara's ass before leaving the room.---Meanwhile Clara's cloth gag had been exchanged for a couple strips of silver electrical tape pasted over her lips. Standing in a formal dining room where a coo clock ticked away their blindfolds were removed. Unlike Jimmy Kenny didn't wear an undershirt and his lean frame was exposed minus his boxer shorts. The pair were made to press together, crotch to crotch and stomach to stomach and chest to chest. The last was to the point that Clara's breasts practically disappeared since rope ensured they were mashed against Kenny's chest. Rope around their waists likewise kept their stomachs pushed together and ropes around the thighs kept their crotches brushed together. Ankles and knees were tied, and they were made to lie down on the hardwood table. The table cloth was wrapped around them, just under their chins, wrapping around them before rope was tied over the cloth, keeping the pair pressed together." Have fun kids." Gargoyle Mask said before walking out of the room... Clara kept glaring at the man in the mask, feeling that he was probably mostly responsible for her state of undress and definitely at fault for the way her rebellious body was responding to his unwanted attentions. Her expression remained unchanged at the mention of company and only barely registering recognition of then name. She'd heard of them, of course, seeing as she followed adventuring news, but she had never met either brother or any of their family. Imogene's expression, which had been stoic under the ginger's continued assault upon her breasts, registered that she, at least, recognized more than just the name. It had been nearly a lifetime ago that she'd known Doc Palmer, before he and his wife had become an item, so she'd never met either of his sons. She could see hints of his strong features in both their faces, partially obscured as they were. If this harrowing incident didn't prove to be the end of the group of them, she was certain they'd become quite well known over the next decade. Being comely had always been an asset when it came time for the papers and news crews to come round for interviews. Both women struggled against being rendered sightless and against the idea of being separated yet again, but bound as they were against their stronger captives, there was little they could do to effect any sort of escape.---Imogene took good stock of the room, knowing that they'd gone up several levels, but no longer certain of just how far above the ground level they might be. Escape through one of the windows looked to be dangerous, at best, and entirely out of the question if they couldn't somehow escape their bonds. She took the time that their captor was using to secure Jimmy to the chair to try to find something in the room that could be used to help their escape. She briefly considered launching an attack against the ginger while he was occupied, but he was quick about his work, and before she could work up some sort of desperate plan, her window of opportunity had shut on her. She tried to maintain her composure as she was put in a most compromising position atop the young man's lap. Furthermore, she tried looking down at her new partner, but their relative positions left him with only a partial view of his face, the rest obscured by the upper portion of her breasts. Furthermore, she'd have apologized for the difficulty she knew he was having getting his breath, but the gag kept her from being able to articulate anything nearly so complex.---The younger adventuress managed to let the man in the mask know what she thought of him in the brief moment before the tape silenced her once more. Furthermore, she took the time while they were made to stand fact to face to take stock of her new companion. He seemed to be of an age with her, as well as similar of build, the both of them being obviously active individuals. The awkwardness of their situation started to sink in as the masked man made one last bon mot and if looks could kill, she was certain that he would have left nothing behind but scorch marks. Unfortunately for the both of them, she possessed no such ability, and hey were left in a most embarrassing and somewhat uncomfortable position, trapped inside a tablecloth atop a dining table. The room was a large, circular conservatory with the grandfather clock directly behind where Jimmy was sitting. Imogene could read the Roman numerals on the old clock face very clearly from where she sat in that compromising position with the boy. Around the perimeter of the room were statues of the different signs of the Zodiac, and the large skylight overhead allowed moonlight from the full moon to shine down into the chamber, complimenting the existing light of the candelabras that surrounded the room. Jimmy's view of the room had been enough to get a brief impression of the clock, the chair, and the different statues. He got most of the impressions, however, of Imogene. He knew vaguely of her in adventuring circles, having heard of her various exploits, but he never imagined he'd be on an adventure with her, much less see her in lingerie. And it was exquisite lingerie. The bustier supported Imogene's ample bosom well, with garters connected to her sheer black stockings and high heels. Her panties were a sexy cut, he thought as she was made to straddle his lap before being tied in place. He could hear the sound of the clock ticking, and its quarter-hour chime whenever it struck. He could hear the sound of not only his own breathing but those of the buxom adventuress as well as she took in any breathing. He could feel her breasts, encased by the silk of her bustier, and the lace garnishing at the top he could feel on his face as well. Furthermore, he could feel the tip of his nose pushed against her sternum, his nostrils over her cleavage. Any noise made behind his gag would send soundwaves right into Imogene's breasts. He could smell the adventuress' perfume with each deep breath which would send air coming in and out of Imogene's breasts courtesy of the boy's breathing. He could feel her silken panty clad bottom on his lap, and could feel his erection growing. He watched as she tried to look down, and he could see part of her face, even if a majority of the view he had was of her ample bosom. She tried to say something behind the gag, and he tried reply, but only muffled squeaks came out from behind the tape.---Kenny, meanwhile, had a perfect view, eye to eye with Clara. He could see her eyes and see every movement of them thanks to how they were pressed together lying on their sides wrapped in that table cloth like some kind of demented cocoon. He could see how her face was flush from her protesting and struggling as she squirmed against her bonds. He could feel Clara pressed against him, chest to chest, stomach to stomach, crotch to crotch. Furthermore, he could feel her nipples were definitely hard from whatever groping she had endured and likely their present predicament. Furthermore, he could hear her breathing and noises behind the gag, feel her breasts pushing against his chest and heaving with each breath she took. How were they going to get out of this one? The elder adventurer tried to think of anything that could help them escape their predicament, but the more she looked around, and the more she thought, she was certain that they'd have to somehow get the chair over to one of the statues. The collection were primarily of marble, in the classic design, but each had metalwork embellishments added as accent to those portions that represented the signs they were modeled after. The one she was most interested in at the moment was the representation of Sagittarius. Rather than a centaur, this statue had the hunter as a man with the legs of a horse, with his bow draw, arrow knocked. The arrowhead, though it looked to be quite sharp, was also far too high off the ground to be any use to cut the ropes. The bowstring, however, was also metal, and she was certain that with some determination, she would be able to split the cords of the rope around her wrists. The predicament, now, was how to let Jimmy know of her plan and get his help in moving the chair they were both fastened to. She'd already discarded the idea of somehow breaking the chair apart; it was far too solidly built to be damaged by anything the pair could do to it in such a state of bondage. With a bit of a sigh, Imogene decided to put her plan into motion. Either the young man would catch on and help, or he wasn't the adventurer she was hoping he was. She nodded her head three times, making a small sound at each nod, and then on the forth she gave a bit of a bounce. After a moment, she did it again. Then another pause, three more nods, and another bounce. She knew that this had to be notably uncomfortable for the lad, but if they were left in this position for too long, he was liable to be in rather worse condition than an attempt at escape would leave him.---Clara gave her fellow captive a quick glance, then sighed and started squirming against him. As tied up as they were, there was no way that they could get free without a lot of wiggling. She only hoped that he understood what she was doing and chose to work with her. She couldn't help but wish that he would have worn an undershirt as his brother did, and mentally added camisoles to her wardrobe. The first order of business would be getting out of the tablecloth, of course. Thankfully, their captors had left their heads free. Unfortunately, they'd also tied them together before bundling them up, so if they were going to get out, they were going to have to do so together. Clara couldn't remember the last time she'd been this close to another living person, and she'd never been this close to a boy or man, not even her father. But they were touching along almost their entire bodies, and the scent of his cologne was trying to drag her thoughts away from escape and on to other pursuits. She wasn't sure if she was more frustrated at her treatment, or that she should suddenly find herself interested in someone while in such a predicament that she couldn't act on that interest. Either way, she wanted free of the table cloth and wasn't going to rest until they'd managed at least that much. The small sounds that followed each nod that Imogene made confused Jimmy initially at first. Then she bounced, then paused before bouncing again. Then a third time. Finally, Jimmy understood and nodded his own head, feeling his face rub against the older adventuress' bosom. He caught on and the fourth time she nodded three times, with a gagged sound in between, he followed the bounce, in fact bouncing with his fellow captive in the direction he hoped she wanted him to bounce in. He made more noises into his own gag to let her know which direction he was hoping they wanted to go. As they bounced backward, and to the right it hit him. Sagittarius! That's where she wanted to go." Brilliant."he wanted to say, but it came out as an unintelligible series of muffled grunts and squeaks.---Kenny felt his cock hardening under his own underwear, pressed so close together that was only natural. He heard her sigh and felt her start to squirm. Kenny returned this squirming, rubbing his crotch against her panties, his hardening cock slipping out from the slit and rubbing against the silk covering her crotch. He felt her nipples hard against his chest as the rubbed together. He knew the first thing they had to get out of that tablecloth, just how would be the first order of business. He hadn't been this close to a girl in a long time, and now being attracted to one and unable to do anything about that. That was sheer torture... Imogene was starting to worry that he wouldn't catch on when she felt his nose brushing against her above the valley of her bosom, and was gratified that he was at least as clever as his father as he joined her motion. Not only that, but he had even realized the direction she was angling for. For a moment, she thought what a shame it was that she wasn't a younger woman. A young man with a mind like his was likely to be clever in many other wonderful ways as well. His father certainly had been. And while she had never met his mother, she had acquired something of a reputation for her own sense of wit as well, so it was unsurprising their son would have inherited the same. Unfortunately for them both, the bouncing, however minor, was having an unforeseen effect on her décolletage. Under less unusual circumstances, her assets would remain where they were supposed to regardless of the jostling given. But in the predicament she now shared with Jimmy, the motion was causing things to drift a bit upward, the pressure of his chest and face against her body, held there by the ropes, pushing her breasts slightly upward. She was afraid that if they weren't careful, she might just suffocate the poor boy before they ever reached the statue.---Clara set her jaw, doing her best to ignore the ample evidence of Kenny's growing interest. She knew, or at least hoped, that it was merely a reaction to their rather intimate position. After all, she had just so recently had to endure her own body's betrayal as she was pawed and fondled by the pair that had captured her. At least he was willing to work with her to try to squirm out of the cloth. How they were going to deal with their separate issues after that could be a bridge crossed when they got to it. Imogene's bouncing breasts, with that bouncing motion, had its own, unexpected effects on Jimmy too. He had felt his manhood hardening inside his boxer briefs. He could feel her breasts bouncing in his face, feeling them drifting a bit upward with each bounce inside the bustier (she wore. He could smell the scent of her perfume and his tendency to be the sort to have a crush on the teacher as a student was really coming back to haunt him in force right now." Mmm... Mmmph!" the boy said, letting soundwaves from behind the gag reverberate into Imogene's décolletage. His breathing sent air moving into the valley of her cleavage as they bounced closer and closer to the statue. The sound of the chime of the grandfather clock could be heard reverberating through the room. They weren't even a quarter of the way to the statue yet, due to the combined nature of how they were tied, the weight of the hardwood chair, and the fact that they were making small bounces so they wouldn't fall and injure themselves. As they bounced along the floor, the feeling of the older woman, who he definitely considered quite attractive, caused the erection to stiffen more and more the closer the bounced to the statue.---Under normal circumstances, i.e. fully clothed and not tied and gagged and pressed against her, Kenny would still have found Clara quite attractive and would definitely have tried to ask her out. Judging by her faster breathing, assuming it wasn't because of just struggling, the hardness of her nipples against his chest and the feeling of what he thought was moisture in the crotch of the silk panties (she now wore he was sure she was feeling the same. His eyes locked onto hers, his nose tip against hers. He would love to have locked lips with this girl, but the tape pasted over his lips proved to make that impossible. First they would have to get out of the tablecloth's wrappings, but how? Imogene couldn't help but be intimately aware of the effect she was having on the unfortunate young man that was trapped between the hard wood of the chair and her rather more yielding body, but there was no help for it. If they were to get free, to have any hope of escaping whatever nefarious plans the scoundrels responsible for their predicament had plotted for them, they were going to have to get loose, and the statue they were so tediously approaching was their best hope for doing so. His continued efforts to try to communicate with her despite the tape weren't helping matters for herself, either. The vibrations, the feel of his breath over her exposed upper breasts, and the feel of the inside of the corset as the jounced and jostled their way slowly higher. She suddenly realized that it was likely, long before there was any chance of her asphyxiating Jimmy, that she would spill out entirely, a danger only to her pride. One that she considered a small price for freedom.---Clara's eyes met Kenny's for a brief moment before sliding away, recognizing the look he was giving her and doing her best to deny, if only to herself, that she was getting a bit of a thrill out of knowing that he found her attractive. She could only guess at what made him so much more interesting to her than any other young man she'd encountered. There were more than enough of them flocking around her at any given event, it was a wonder that she'd never met either of the Palmer brothers before. Shaking her head slightly, far too aware of the way the tips of their noses brushed, she continued her wriggling. They were pretty securely connected, but though her hands were tied behind her back, they weren't otherwise secured. That allowed her to get some feeling for where the rope around the tablecloth was, and perhaps the chance to try to push it further down towards their feet, giving them the possibility of wriggling out of at least that outer wrapping. She tried to curse the situation, but all she could manage were cross sounding mumbles she hoped that her co captive wouldn't take the wrong way. Bouncing again and again brought Jimmy's pardon to get even harder and harder as they approached the quarter of the distance to Sagittarius. He could feel her breasts jouncing and jostling slowly higher. From what he could see Imogene's breasts were already bouncing out further out of her bustier, about halfway to showing off her nipples. He could hazard a guess that her left breast was likely to bounce out before her right breast would bounce out of the bustier. They had no sooner passed a quarter of the way to the statue that his guess was proven accurate. Another bounce or two later and Imogene's right breast bounced free. Now Jimmy would feel Imogene's bare breasts bouncing in his face. Jimmy felt his own pardon increasing and now any emfs he made behind the tape in attempts to communicate would resonate against Imogene's bare breasts.---Kenny saw the shake of Clara's head, and felt their noses rubbing, and her body wiggling against his, feeling her hard nipples against his chest. And he felt her squirming and pushing down with her tied hands. On what? After a couple more wiggles, and consequently Kenny's erection increasing to a higher degree of stiffness he figured out she meant sliding the rope down their bodies. He started squirming too, this time with a purpose. Now his member slipped out of the slit in his boxers, and now his bare, hard member rubbed against the moist silk of the panties Clara was wearing... Imogene knew that she was slowly slipping out as they did their best to move without toppling the chair and dashing any hope of reaching the statue and attempting to gain their freedom. She closed her eyes, doing her best to maintain her composure, but it was a battle she was slowly and inexorably losing. Between the ropes, the exposure, the thought of being observed, and particularly the young man, the obviously interested young man trapped beneath her thighs and body, she was unable to keep herself from reacting in kind. Her nipples had long since stiffened, the constant brushing against the inside of her corset had seen to that. Now that they were clear, exposed to the chill of the disused room, she was noticing other reactions taking place, reactions that she was certain would leave her panties in a state, and if they went on long enough, would be discovered by Jimmy in due time. She could only hope that, for the sake of her decorum and her reputation, that she could stem that tide long enough for them to reach Sagittarius, and then freedom.---Clara mostly ignored the boy trapped with her as she did her best to slip the rope down, past her hips and ass and far enough that they could slip the rest of the way out without it keeping them held inside the table cloth. Once more, she was thankful that her figure was not so girlish as most, taking after her father's side of the family as opposed to getting the curvy forms her mother and aunt both sported. She started to grin as she realized that Kenny had figured out her intentions and started to work with her, when she felt him slip free of his boxers, the sensation of his manhood pressed against her with only the borrowed panties separating them caused her to squeak in surprise. She could feel her cheeks burning, embarrassed at such contact with a boy she'd never even properly met. Even more, embarrassed that her reaction wasn't so very much less than his, knowing that without his boxers in the way, he would be able to tell, if he was paying any attention at all, how she was reacting to their unfortunate situation. Sagittarius was still feeling inexorably far away as Jimmy bounced the chair just shy of the halfway point. He could feel her nipples stiff, breasts now bare, against his cheeks. He could feel her breasts bouncing against his face. Slowly but surely as the chair bounced with each movement closer to the statue, slowly but surely. Jimmy could just about smell the aroma of womanly honey between Imogene's thighs. Although he had thought it was his imagination. He could understand her bare breasts and the hard nipples, but a moist cunt he wasn't sure of. He had fooled around of course a few times, knew what arousal smelled like. But was it really coming from Imogene? He thought as the bounced just past he halfway points to Sagittarius.--Kenny could feel the silk between Clara's thighs was definitely quite moist, the head of his cock touching against the silk covering of her crotch. He felt her nipples hard against his chest. Squirming and struggling the rope sliding down the wrapping, down further and further... Imogene did her best to maintain her composure as they made their laborious progress towards hopeful salvation. She had never been a superstitious individual, but Sagittarius had been the sign of her last love of note, a man who had promised her the moon while cavorting with her family's own chambermaid while she was on adventures. She could only hope the statue would prove less treacherous. Speaking of treachery, her body was doing it's best to betray her confidence. It had been some time since she'd been in such a position of danger, even as minor as this seemed to be. Plus, despite the fact that he was nearly young enough to be her child, had she had any, he was still a grown man, and their exertions had left the both of them somewhat damp with perspiration. She couldn't help but catch his scent, that masculine musk that brought to mind memories of his father. She could only hope that with the additional manpower, she and her niece would be able to effect their escape and see to it that the bandits were apprehended before they could make off with the bulk of their haul.--Clara could feel the rope slipping lower, but the motions necessary to dislodge it were causing other sorts of slipping as well. Furthermore, she couldn't be certain of how sensitive he was, of how much he could feel, but at the rate they were going, she was going to need a release of an entirely different sort before they could get to finding her aunt and getting out of the predicament they'd been gotten into. And judging by the pressure bobbing against her moist panties, she wasn't the only one... Squirming and struggling had indeed left Jimmy somewhat damp from sweat, and he noticed a similar dampness between Imogene's thighs. Jimmy tried to tell himself that it was just sweat. Wasn't it? The smell of arousal and instinct told him that just wasn't the case. That the older adventuress was aroused, and the scent got more pronounced as they passed the halfway point towards Sagittarius.---Kenny could feel Clara's increased arousal, her hard nipples and the increasing moisture on her panties. He kept up the same squirming, constantly fighting off mental images of what it would be like to slide his hard member into Clara's slit. The rope around the blanket roll slid down, further and further until it slipped off entirely...---Meanwhile the Ginger had been using the hidden cameras to send live footage of the now four captives to Lydia, the one in charge of this conspiracy, at least as far as he was aware. He texted the photos of the two pairs of captives' bondage positions with the words: "What do you think?"

Bondage at a Gala Affair (RPM and Stella Maris)|rating:2.0

A Taste of Corruption (JamesMartinXDevi)

It didn't take the hunter long to taste the old on the air as he entered the building. Not the structure itself. Though built to an older style to match the rest of the quaint little university town, this house, the nesting ground of one of the larger local fraternities, was little more than five years old. One wouldn't know it from the fitted stench of humanity. Old sweat, old beer, old sex and the faintest stench of old blood and old piss, though he suspected that the humans couldn't fully appreciate just how badly they stank. One wouldn't have known that the sprawling, multi-story abode was so new looking at the inside. Most of the furniture bore stains of one description or another, the walls were scratched up from various pranks, moved furniture and general lack of care and one of the bedrooms visible up through the stairwell had a door that hung diagonally on one hinge, requiring one to step over it to enter. By most accounts, it hadn't been touched in three years. This was a playground. Built off the sponsorships of former members, it was populated by the sons of the wealthy—spoiled, obnoxious, with no sense of restraint or understanding of boundaries, they mistreated the structure however they liked, knowing that if anything truly went wrong, they would get another on their parents dime. It was this same Lassen Free attitude that had made the structure a favorite weekend destination of students at the local university. It was far enough from their neighbors and the owners well-connected enough that noise complaints went either unmade or unheeded and every member watching the door was known to have a selective blindness where every single ID looked like it said the owner was old enough to drink. The entire bottom floor was given to open spaces suitable for entertainment, whether it was the kegs of free flowing beer in the kitchen, the complex arrangements for beer pong in the rec room or the huge TV room with seating for a couple dozen, all joined by wide open hallways, often wired with speakers that only looked to have a small chance of electrocuting someone, suitable for what was considered to pass as dancing. He didn't draw much attention. Older looking than most here, likely a master's or PhD student by his look, they slid right past him. Of course, his kind was naturally quite hard to notice, especially in a crowd. Not invisible, not even hidden—just a naturally evolved tendency for the human eye to drift over them without recognition. Until, of course, they wanted the attention. Hunters were always catered to the hunting of their prey, but his kind took it to another level. They looked like them, thought like them, they could smell and sense things that even they didn't know they were feeling. But they were also stronger, faster, smarter, less emotional and as a result, infinitely more cunning. These humans were brushing past a creature of nightmares and didn't even know it. Didn't know that one of them was enjoying her very last party. He was the kind of figure that would typically draw a lot of eyes. He looked to be nearing his late twenties, a few years older than most in the room and the tallest one there that he had seen. With wide shoulders, dark hair, a broad chest and muscles that filled a well cut black suit with a blood-red dress shirt beneath it, he was the picture of confidence that so many of the other men seemed to be trying to be. The heat of a nearing summer and the poor ventilation combined with hundreds of bodies in and around the house made the inside remarkably hot, but he didn't show so much as a bead of sweat even as the others dripped it. And, like everyone who mattered there, he oozed money. The suit and shirt were clearly expensive and custom-made, worn with an air that implied he cares about as much for them as he would for a ragged old T-shirt and the watch he checked could likely have paid someone's mortgage. Now there was just one simple task. Finding his next meal. All eyes on her. This was something Amber Locks was used to whenever she graced a room full of party goers. Eyes of envy and want were locked on her as she made her appearance, a slight smirk curling to the corner of her rouge painted lips as she noticed. Or did she? She did little to return the attention to anyone. She took one confident step after another as she walked deeper into the room, making her way through the sea of people. One foot stepped in front of the other as she walked, allowing her hips to sashay enticingly with each step. Her head was held up high, looking straight forward, but one lucky guy received a playful wink from her that he was sure that it told him that Amber wanted him. At least that's what most guys thought when she showed them some form of attention, but to Amber it was different. It was a game. Amber was known as a tease from head to toe. Ever since she noticed her growing assets were gaining more and more attention throughout her teenage years, in college she decided to use that to her advantage. She'd do that by simply accentuating them when needed. Like tonight Amber was wearing a solid black, off the shoulder crop top. Her top would come just a little under her cleavage, showing off the plump top of her breasts and her cleavage that could easily hold a pencil between them. With the top, she paired it with a white, tight skirt that stopped about mid-thigh. The skirt itself did a magnificent job at hugging her shapely ass. Lastly, she wore black, laced heels that only gave her a few extra inches of height. Her luscious black hair fell to the middle of her back, while her make-up brought out her ocean blue eyes. Men were crazy for this woman. They thought whoever was able to get up into her skirt, was truly a lucky man. Many attempted, and she would so gladly play the game, making them think they had a good chance. Flirty words would be exchanged. Some subtle, but very obvious touches would be felt, and her eyes would look at them as if they were saying that she wanted them then and there. Amber would give all the right signals and make all the right moves and just when he thought he was running to home base, she'd quickly shut that down, smashing all hopes that they had. It was cruel and Amber knew it, but she couldn't help, but play this game. It was entertaining actually, and it made her feel all the more powerful." You're going to get yourself raped one day." It was a line that her best friend, Sammy, told her one day. Amber would just roll her eyes and ignore the comment. After seeing how much Amber likes to play around, Sammy grew a little concerned, knowing that one day, a man just won't care about anything, but her body and will take it even if she opposes to it. Though Amber thought the opposite. Her father was the damn mayor of this city as well as her grandfather who was the chairmen of the school that most of the students in this building attended. Amber was in a position of power and if anyone dared try to touch her, let alone take her against her own will, then it was safe to say that they'll lose everything that they have going on in their lives. Having that kind of power behind her made Amber feel invincible, a big reason why she did what she did. What man in their right mind would take a chance with her? No one. So she made her way over to the small homemade bar that accompanied one side of the room. She plucked a beer from the counter, popped open the top, and took a quick swig of the alcoholic beverage. Her eyes scanned over everyone in her line of sight. A few grinding bodies that moved to the music, some enjoying a typical game of pool, men lining up to a girl who was offering body shots, as some bold ones were in corners, molding their bodies together as the man's hand would be seen moving in circles in the woman's pants while her face twisted into some pleasure. A phase Amber never really got passed with anyone only because she didn't allow it. Many people thought she was being a seductive, hard to get tease, but her little secret was, she couldn't commit. She didn't quite know how to. Not that anyone needed to know anyway. As her eyes kept looking, they landed on a particular man who stood out to her the most. He seemed older than the most of them there. Dressed in an expensive suit, looking rather devilishly handsome in it, that told her that he could be her next potential target. Amber liked playing with all types of guys, even the ones who looked older and well-rounded. She took it has a challenge, seeing how many different men she can have wrapped her finger and seeing if men like him would have that desperate look in his eyes just to have her. When his eyes finally met hers, Amber didn't look away like most timid girls would while their cheeks turned bright red. Her eyes stayed glued onto him as she smirked his way from across the room, sending him a wink that showed that maybe she was interested in what she saw. There was something about this man that made her want to test him out even more. Just to see how far she can go before he breaks into lustful desperation. With another quick gulp of her beer, Amber began moving, but not towards his direction, but towards one of the open hallways where he can find her if he chose to follow her lead. If he didn't, she was sure there was someone in there that would fall for her trap. He picked her almost the instant he saw her. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what feature it was that sealed her fate. Certainly she was pretty, with all the feminine attributes he so enjoyed to make use of, but it was a college party, no shortage of nubile young women had already passed him. Perhaps it was the sweet aroma of virginity that wafted off her. He wondered how many of those men who fawned after her would move on if they knew she had never put out and likely never intended to. Or perhaps, it was the pure arrogance. The sense of certainty that she was untouchable, that she was alluring and that she was in control. A strong, dominating mind. Just the kind he liked to snap. He let her notice him and subtly drew her attention. She latched on, emitting those slight, teasing flirtations of body language in his direction. Perfect. The prey thought she was hunting the hunter. She didn't move towards him, instead towards a hallway that was not far from where he was standing. He took that time to change himself. Millennia of hunting humans had made him a phenomenal actor, able to change his entire personality more than the vain changed their clothes. His walk was a confident swagger, his smile the slight upturning of amusement of a man who thought everything a grand joke no one else was clever enough to appreciate. Not confidence, not self-assurance. He was the epitome of arrogance. As far as he could judge, exactly the kind of mark she enjoyed playing her games with. He caught her as she started down the corridor, his torso shifting hers up against the wall as he wrapped an arm around the thinnest part of her waist. "Excuse me Miss" he said, voice flowing like honey. His other hand grabbed the neck of her beer and pulled it from her grasp. He held her eyes, his own a dark, ominous gray, as he casually poured the mostly full drink into the nearby trashcan. He didn't even glance towards it, as though daring her to remark on it. "But I couldn't help but notice that you seemed to be lacking a drink. I was wondering if you might be willing to let me alleviate that lack. In fact... I might even know where they keep the expensive stuff." He gave her a wink, even as he dropped the bottle after the wasted beer. "My price would be modest, I assure you. One dance seems fair, don't you agree? Oh... And a name of course. I can't just call you gorgeous all night. Actually... Perhaps I could." He was a total prick, but that was the point. Give her someone perfect to exploit until the trap closed. As far as she would be concerned, he was just another rich boy used to women opening their legs on demand. He was of course—but when he made his demands, he had more than money or looks to ensure acceptance. The moment she felt a strong arm wrap around her small waist, she smiled, knowing that he had followed her exactly how she wanted him to. Her back met the wall as her head titled up just to be able to look at the tall man who caught her down the hall. He was even more gorgeous up close. Her mouth almost parted open in shock, having to admit to herself that he was probably the best looking guy she snatched up. This was one most certainly had to go down on her list. He was arrogant, for sure. This was something she came across many times. Men who felt they had full confidence in themselves that they'll get lucky. It usually started off when them offering her a drink or a dance, but this one did it differently. She raised a brow hearing the contents of the bottle being poured out before he dropped the glass bottle straight into the trash can. "Well after that, you'd owe me one anyway, tall dark and handsome", she gave him a nickname of her own. Just like his, her tone had a bit of a sensual tone to it, sounding so smooth to the ears. "I like a man who knows what he wants, but sadly for you, I don't give things for free either. One dance and you'll get a name. Now if you dance well...", she trailed on, raising her hand up to his button down shirt to pop open the first button-up top. It exposed just a small portion of his chest, to which she let her finger trail along lightly over his skin. "Maybe you can get to know more over drinks." The same hand flowed down to catch his hand in hers, the size difference evident. She pushed off the wall and took the lead, walking in front of him as he followed behind with their hands still linked together. Numerous people looked their way, immediately recognizing the mayor's daughter. Some whistles were directed to her and even some howls from the horny college men that would do anything to get a piece of her ass. Then their eyes would drift over to the mysterious man that she was holding hands with. Some glared at him and others scoffed. One man whispered over to his buddy, "There's no fucking chance in hell. I couldn't even come close." There were many doubts about tall, dark, and handsome. Reaching where the dance floor was set up, the music was blaring loudly in this portion of the room. The bass would vibrate through Amber's chest as the lights were dimmed, almost making the room pitch black as laser lights would shoot through one side of the room to the other. Amber stopped right in the center of it all, just as she liked it. Being in the center of attention. Her body naturally began to sway to the beat of the song as if she was falling into a trance. People around them were indulging into their more erotic dances as it didn't take long for Amber's back to meet the mystery man's chest before pressing her ass directly onto his crotch. Slowly, Amber circled her hips onto him, grinding erotically against him until she can feel that familiar bulge nestle between her plump cheeks. Her head rested right up his shoulder where she can tilt her head up to look up at him. "Don't be shy," she told him teasingly as she reached for his hands and guided them around her hips some more. It was all a part of the plan for her to keep the control of the pace. It was one thing she had to made sure. If they were going to play her game, they were going to play by her rules. He let her think she was taking control. After all, that was her clear desire—to lead a man around by the nose like a prize bull, only to purposefully bail before it was time for the mounting. There was no reason to let her think she was deviating from her usual course. He would play the role of a man who was certain he'd be between her legs before the night was out, and she'd be convinced that he wouldn't be until it was far too late for her to change her mind. The dance floor, such as it was—the haphazard pile of furniture to one side implied that the area had been meant for studying and the dust on it implied those intentions had always been optimistic—was quite filled, with the mass of sweaty, writhing bodies parting enough to give the pair of them space. Even as she started to move against him, he was starting to implement his own, subtle influences. Human minds and emotions were malleable things and his kind had long since learned exactly how to mold them. In this instance, with the goal of leaving her mind intact, it was most important that he do nothing that would make her actual emotions deviate from the ones she expected. He could quash such realizations—but that risked permanent damage to his prize. After all, their minds were also quite fragile. Fortunately, she had given him a clear picture of her behavior and that made it easy to judge what was needed. He didn't push hard, it wasn't required for this—he just had to smooth over the wrinkles. His main focus was on calmness. He needed her relaxed, at ease and convinced her plans were working. He grabbed her hips firmly as she started to move, matching her motions and allowing himself to harden to make sure that she received the expected response—the human response. As they moved, his hands did as well, running slowly and methodically over her body, pulling her back in against him, stroking her abdomen, her stomach, her hips, up her sides and lifting her arms as he leaned in, breathing her scent. "You're a little tease, aren't you Gorgeous?" He breathed in her ear, nipping lightly at her lobe. As he touched her, his mind stroked away any nerves slowly, while also using them to judge those boundaries he wouldn't be able to simply repress. He would make certain she felt normal, that she was in perfect control of herself—and just a touch aroused. A judgement call, but he suspected no mortal who was so sexual would not experience the needs of the flesh. No harm in making her stew, if only lightly. Making her flush under the heat and ache between her thighs would only make his trickier task, isolating her, far easier. Besides, the harder her heart was beating, the faster it would bring him his meal. Amber was indeed becoming more relaxed. She didn't know what it was about tall, dark, and handsome, but it seemed like he really knew what he was doing. He was good. Almost too good, maybe. Despite him going through the same phase that any other man did, she can almost tell that he carefully touched her the right away while calculating when was the right time to say or do something. Amber knew he didn't do anything drastically different, but she knew, in the pit of her stomach, that there was something different about him. Something she possibly liked, and it only drew her to him even more, even if she didn't know the reason why. She was feeling more at ease with him as her head sunk back more into his shoulder. She let his hands roam around her supply body, letting him get a taste of something he'll never have. Her ass kept pressing more into him, feeling that expected poke against her enticing cheeks. "Don't get too excited now. Things just started," she told him, attempting to give him some false hope. Everything seemed to be according to plan. She got a kick out of turning on a man as handsome as him. She was sure most girls would kill for his attention. Just needing to know how he felt, what he sounded like right about against their ear, how excited they can make him. Amber bit her lip softly when his lips made contact to her ear. He sure didn't waste time when it came down to his lips make contact with her. Small goosebumps formed around her body as slight shivers made their way up and down her spine. Just right between her thighs, Amber felt sensually warm as her core began to ache for some attention. Despite not having much experience outside of foreplay, she was well aware of what it was like to be aroused. Something she hated herself for putting herself in this kind of situations. It were times like these she wanted to sit her lust and desires, but her true nature was to refrain from doing so. It was satisfying in away to let the men down as she carried all the control, but it wasn't satisfying in a way where she can find release. Her mind was still telling her to push for it though. To continue to tease the man, so he can be ten times more aroused then she was. Amber's hands moved again to find his larger ones. They were found right at the dip of her waist. Holding onto to them, she guided his hands back up her body, but instead of avoiding her breasts, she placed his palms right on her juicy mounds. Amber squeezed her hands, which made his squeeze her breasts, letting him get the feel of how round and luscious they were. Her nipples would be felt hardening and pressing against the middle of palms, giving away that he did have some effect on her, but only because she took over and put his hands over her chest. She was still taking her full control and be felt up the way she wanted to. "Am I still a tease," she asked him rhetorically. Her body was only becoming warmer and her cunt was only aching more, but she always had to remind herself to keep her cool at times like these. Only the ones that she preyed should feel desperate. "Gorgeous, that isn't me even close to excited. If I was, you wouldn't be able to stand so close" he growled, his voice rumbling through his chest in a way he was sure she would feel. It was somewhat true—he was stiff, but far from hard—but it also fit his arrogant swagger to boast about such things. "And yes, you are a tease. Amongst many, many other things. You are, for example—dripping wet." She wanted to escalate the game, he would take it one step further and see exactly what her reaction was when she wasn't the one escalating. A calculated risk, he doubted she would throw an open Missy fit and if she did, she wasn't worth the extra effort regardless. His fingers shifted, finding a nipple and, subtly, gave it a tug and a twist. Not gently either, a motion designed to send sensation straight through her. "You are a tease" he told her. "You think that you can dance and grind and offer an appetizer and then make yourself refuse the entrée. Don't you worry gorgeous... I will play your game. But you're going to play mine too. You are planning to tease me and leave me like the little boys who salivate after you. I am not a little boy. I plan to show a lady a good time. But if you think that I will leave with a pout and go back to my corner, you are quite mistaken. Because I assure you... Play that game and tonight will be a much bigger loss for you than it will be for me." He smirked and whipped her around in his grip, pulling her torso in against him tightly. "So tell me Gorgeous. You're going to bow out and find an easier mark? Or you want to see if your little game is worth missing out on all I can offer you? I can't promise I'll be gentle—but then, I don't think you want me to be. Care to see if you can still win when you might actually want the other experience at the end?" He leaned in and forced a kiss onto her, deep, aggressive, passionate, though brief. He was the one in control now, his hand resting in the small of her back and threatening to go lower. She had his implied promise to respect her call—though he of course wouldn't—but it was time to offer more. The promise that his offer might actually be worth her time. He was arrogant, but the placement of his hands and the careful manipulation of her body indicated that he might actually be able to back that second promise up. One thing Amber noticed was that he was definitely cockier than others. He oozed arrogance, and she can tell he had the biggest ego. Probably as big as hers, but she wasn't going to let that phase her. Even when his fingers did find the small nubs hiding behind her shirt, making her gasp out that only he can hear, she wasn't going to run away just yet. Him pinching her hard nipples wasn't something she hadn't experienced before. It was if his hands started traveling down south is when she'll start asking her if she should abort or not. "You could be right. MaybeI am wet," she told him, not showing how surprised she was that he figured that out. She knew she picked out a special one tonight. When she was whipped around, they were face to face now. As he spoke she raised a brow, seeing how he was attempting to take all the control now. He wasn't here to play her games, he was here to play his. It was different for Amber, but she didn't mind it. It excited her, actually. What better way to get some satisfaction from beating this man in his own game? "And I can assure you, that you offer nothing for me to lose", she spoke back to him. "I'm not just some small girl you can toy with. I do usually do the toying, and it works...every...single...time. But if you're that confident, I don't mind spending the night with such a determined man." The kiss he planted on her surprised her, that for a split second she was frozen, but it didn't take her long to react. She returned the hard, aggressive kiss, but it is only last for a minute as he pulled away, letting her look up into his hypnotizing eyes of his. "Fine, I'll play your little game," she confirmed with before she raised up on her tip toes, guiding her lips to his neck. She planted kisses along his skin, licking him in between while leaving a small trail of her saliva on his neck. One a subtle bite, she left light teeth marks on his skin as she continued upwards, tugging on his ear lobe with her teeth. "But don't cry when you lose. If there's anything unattractive, is when a man isn't a man anymore after I'm done with him." "Oh but Gorgeous. You are just a small girl I can toy with. Smaller and younger—throw in naughty, and I might just have to bend you over my knee." He gave her that self-assured grin. "You don't need to worry though. You aren't going to unman me if you decide you aren't up to taking a ride. I wouldn't expect a virgin to know what she is missing out on. Just promise that you won't cry when I win. I can't stand the ones that get weepy after their first time. I prefer the ones that beg for round two." He leaned in, speaking directly into her ear, as though her spreading her legs for him was a foregone conclusion. He was guiding her backwards, stopping only when her back found the wall. "Now... Can a proper gentleman make an offer to a beautiful lady? Because you look like you could use a drink. I would like to offer to lead you to the good stuff. Assuming of course, you think you can keep your hands off me when tipsy. You seem to be having a hard enough time sober. I have you pegged as a screamer... Keep looking at me like that with those eyes, and we might just find out." His hand found her wrist and lifted it over her head, pinning it to the wall. She was physically trapped, he made sure of it, but pushed on her emotions to make sure that she felt no panic at the sensation. All part of the game, nothing more. He would keep her thinking exactly that until the moment he was tearing those meager fabrics from her figure and pushing her into the bed. By the time those lips whimpered no, the body would be screaming yes. And after that, both would just be screaming. Raising a curious brow, Amber how to wonder just how exactly would this devious man know that she's a virgin. Sure it was a fact, but Ambernevermade that known to anyone. She came off as a woman who knew what she was doing and who had probably given it up long ago. A woman who seemed to have a lot of experience under her belt. What she really only knew was about foreplay, the excitement, the heat, the need, but never did she experience what it was like to satisfy that hunger or desire. Amber wasn't ready for it, but it still never stopped her from doing all the teasing and playing to her hearts' content. "That's only if you know how to make me beg for round two. Which, by the way, I highly doubt. But per your assumption, what would a"virgin"know right", she sounded sarcastic. His deep voice in her ear while he pressed her back up against the wall made her release a soft moan that was hard to hear. Passing witnesses walked by them, look at the couple as he pinned her against the wall with her arms above her head. It was as far as someone went with her that they've seen. What surprised her the most was how much control the man seemed to have, so she did one subtle move to make it look like a whole different story. One leg raised up to his hip, hooking itself there as it wrapped slightly around him, pulling him closer to her. She played a smirk on her face as she felt her skirt ride up a bit, exposing more of her smooth legs. "So then what are you waiting for? Lead the way. I can assure you that it'll be you all over me and then left wanting more. The best part about it?" She leaned up to whisper softly and seductively into his ear. "Is that when I don't give you what you want, you'll never know when I'll be back to satisfy your needs, which will be something that Anglican satisfy." "Oh Gorgeous—making you beg for round two is easy. All it requires is getting you to round one. Once you've had that—you'd get on your knees and beg for another one. Or get on your knees and earn it." He smirked. "All in due time I suppose—no point in telling you in detail what you'll experience first hand soon enough" he relaxed the pressure holding her to the wall and slowly drew her away from it. As soon as he had, his arm snapped around her waist, pulling her with him in a way that would make it hard for her to feel in control. That was just another part of the game—getting her used to playing it without being in full control at all times. She was used to men who needed to earn her appeal—he did not. He simply needed to avoid being so viscerally offensive that she picked a different target—and with him pressing on her mind at all times, that was a fairly high bar to meet. He didn't break stride as he pulled her along, weaving through the pulsating crowd with surprising deftness, given his relative bulk. Furthermore, he had been fortunate to hear mention of this from a pair of students who didn't know that he was able to hear them—and now it was a useful step to establish his credibility. Not to mention get his entertainment for the next few days incredibly drunk and suggestible. They made their way into the kitchen, which was the central hub from which all booze in the party was emulating, but he ignored the kegs and the table filled with cheap liquors in the center, instead making his way deeper into the room. The cupboard was just as described, out of the way and the front filled with cleaning supplies. He pushed past those and sure enough, found a box filled to the brim with high-quality liquor. He didn't need food, liquids—even blood was something he could go without for weeks. That didn't mean that he hadn't learned to appreciate a good vintage over the millennia. "So Gorgeous... pick your poison. Whiskey, scotch, vodka, schnapps—quite a few others too, more than I actually remember." Tall, dark and handsome led Amber into the kitchen, but they walked by the weaker alcohol that was in display for everyone and anyone to grab. Instead, they went deeper into the kitchen where he found the stronger stuff which impressed Amber to see the variety of drinks that were hiding back here. "You weren't joking about it earlier were you," she told him as she eyed the bottle of vodka that was sitting all the way to right. "Let's do shots of vodka", I'm sure a few of those in us can make things a little more interesting. Unless you're worried of course. I don't want all that alcohol to strip away all that temporary confidence you got going on. Be sad I and disappointing actually", she teased him more. Nonetheless, Amber reached for the bottle, but kept it close to her to obscure the bottle from the party goers. If they saw her with it, she's having the whole party go mad for some. This bottle she wanted to keep for themselves. So, plucking two nearby shot glasses, she began to walk out the kitchen, signaling for him to follow her which he did. Amber peeked into the different rooms of the house until she found a relatively empty one, that only had one other couple in there. It appeared to be a second living area at the back the house. Some territory that wasn't explores by everyone else yet." Yeah, this is much better," she said out loud before plopping down on the couch. Popping open the bottle she filled both their glasses and then clinked her glass with his. "To the best player." With that she brought the glass to her lips abs threw back the vodka, letting it shoot down her throat. It was strong, but nothing that Amber can handle. "By the way, the name is Amber", she finally Told him her name, keeping her part of the deal from earlier. They went for a few more shots which didn't take Amber long to feel the effects of the alcohol, but she made sure she didn't go overboard. If she became drunk, she was sure to lose this game. He allowed her to lead the way to the out-of-the-way room for drinking. "Strip away my confidence? Gorgeous... I could drink that whole bottle and not so much as lose a swagger in my step. Just because you are a lightweight doesn't mean everyone else is too." He teased back. In this case, the boasting was actually quite true. Alcohol had no effect on his kind. He could act drunk, but then he could act anything—but no such impairment ever clouded his vision. Rather than pretending to be affected though, today he would use those differences to his full advantage, adding to his supreme confidence. He took the first shot glass from her, but after their toast, rather than slamming it back, a gesture seemingly designed to swallow without tasting, he pivoted it to pour in one go, savoring it before the swallow. His expression might as well have been that of a man drinking water for all the effect it showed "Oh... I intend to."" Amber" he repeated, before draining another shot. "A pretty enough name, though I almost prefer Gorgeous." Another shot, still with that same impassive expression. He could understand the burning in the flavor, but it simply did not have an effect on him. He seemed to think for a minute as they drank, before saying "It occurs to me Amber, that you never made a deal for my name. So I have a suggestion—if you aren't scared of a little... Escalation." His voice was slow and his smile pure seduction "Do not worry. I won't take advantage... Until you want me to. But here is my offer. Your panties. I want you to take them off. Here, if you have the stomach or the bathroom next to this one, if you are uncomfortable. Take them off, walk over and pop them right in my breast pocket. I won't look to double-check... I will play this game on the honor system... But that is my price, if you want my name. And of course... If you aren't scared that you aren't going to be able to stop yourself." He issued a challenge himself in exchange for his name. He was a bit more...outgoing than her initial challenge, but it wasn't something she was totally opposed to. Granted it was something she has never done before, despite no one asking her to do something that extreme, but she liked it. As long as he didn't touch her like he said he wouldn't, then she didn't see the harm in that. In fact, she saw it as a way to take advantage of it. What a perfect way to show him something that he so confidently thinks he'll get by the end of the night. Amber was more than willing to give him her panties, but she's going to turn it up a notch." My panties for your name huh" she said before downing her fifth shot. The burning, strong alcohol was definitely helping her in this situation. If it was any other guy maybe she wouldn't try this with them, only because she'd deemed them as unworthy of receiving her panties. As for this man however, she'll give him a taste of what she was about. "Alright, but remember, you asked for it," she told him with a sly smirk that curled at one of the corners of her lips. She was too excited for this. Setting the shot glass down, she got up from her seat. At first, it might have seemed that she was going to go to the bathroom, but instead she moved to stand in front of him. "One thing you should know about me, is that I am not shy." Amber looked over her shoulder with her sultry eyes as she let her hands glide over the curvature of her hips and up to her waist as she teasingly swayed her hips from side to side, as if trying to mesmerize him. Amber slowly bent down a few inches as her hands slid back down. Her fingers crawled and hooked at the end of her skirt and began to slowly pull it up, revealing more and more of her smooth thighs. She kept the front of the skirt down, covering her most sacred body part, but she pulled the back over her plump, fleshy ass cheeks. She revealed a black lacy thong to him, where the string disappeared and stayed snugged between her voluptuous orbs. "I should be getting more than just a name for this little peep show you're getting," she told him softly as her hands came over her ass and gave them a firm, long squeeze. She gave it light shake in her palms, jiggling perfectly in his view before her fingers hooked around her thong and pulled it down, over her cheeks that were calling to him. Amber didn't bend over, being sure not to let him see more than what she wanted him too. When her thong rested right below her cheeks, she pulled the skirt over, covering all of her goodies and her glistening pussy that was close to peeking from between her thighs. Amber went about pulling her panties completely off and fixing her skirt back into place. Reaching down to her ankles she caught her thong on her finger, turning around and dangling it before him. Scrunching it up into a messy ball, she stuffed her panties into his breast pocket just as he asked with a satisfied smirk on her face." Now, how about that name?" He watched her rise and approach him with total impassivity. Even the display she put on, with all its flourishes, didn't so much as make his face twitch from the self-satisfied smirk he had held since the first moment he had grabbed her waist. She was expecting a reaction from him. Expecting him to get excited or mad with lust. Stoicism was calculated to infuriate her, to make her know that she would have to try harder. The tougher a nut he was to crack, the more she would push boundaries to see it break." If my name is insufficient, Amber, I can give you my name and a spanking for your bad behavior. If that is appealing to you, let me know. I think that you would be well suited to being bent over my knee." His voice, calm and cool, betrayed no emotion regarding what had just happened. "Until then, I suppose you can live with my name. Victor Joyce." A lie of course. A Latin name for conquered, a British name for lord. A falsehood with a meaning that she would not be clever enough to see until he was her lord and conquered. If he had ever had a true name, he had long since abandoned it. Names could be changed as easily as clothes, and he had spent so much time over the millennia drifting from one culture to another that taking a local name was second nature." You know, I find this party increasingly dull. If you are not too drunk to test yourself with me, I suggest that we make our way out of here. Take the booze, walk over to my place and get ourselves properly drunk. Unless of course, little Ms. Lightweight has had enough?" Mocking slipped into his tone until it dripped from every pore. Amber chuckled to herself lightly as he suggested bending her over at his knee to spank her. As much as the thought of it almost made her squirm in her seat, forcing her to tighten her legs, so none of her sweet love juices would go staining the seat she was currently sitting in, she tried not to show that the thought of it had an effect on her. "I'm sure you'd love to do that, Victor. But I'm not going to give you that satisfaction. No matter how bad I am being andouille." He held his ground well, and she had to admit, she was impressed. Most men she teased was already have a cock so hard that it seemed it was ready to burst out of the confinements of their pants. One quick glance down south, it wasn't visible at all. In fact, he was probably the same as he was when they were dancing. Hm, what is it that she can do to make Victor crack?" Oh? Want to take me to your place huh," she asked him before she poured herself one last shot and downed it quickly, letting the alcohol burn down her throat. Her body was starting to feel a little light and loose, but she still had a good grip on herself. Her little strip tease was encouraged by the alcohol and maybe some more drinks in her can help her make him crack. It gave her enough courage to do more than what she usually did, granted his stubbornness was more than enough motivation to break his limit. "Actually, that sounds like a good idea," she told him, shutting down his last comment. Let's go." He loved the modern world. Oh, it occasionally made finding the virgins harder, made it so that they seemed to vanish younger and younger. Not to mention that the diminishing of nuns removed the ability to add some delightful sacrilege into the mix. But it made it so much easier to let his toys hang themselves with their own stupidity. This one would walk right into the belly of the beast on nothing more than her own arrogance, self-confidence and stupidity. He wondered if she would have the self awareness to blame herself for what was about to happen to her. After all—it was hardly his fault that it was he who would end up murdering her. It was always going to be someone, with the way she was acting. He didn't say anything or wait. He simply stood and took her arm with his hand, giving her a self-confident smirk. "Were you expecting otherwise?" He asked dryly, leading her onwards. He took the bottle, not all that much of it left and dropped it to stick out of a large side pocket for his coat. He led her out through a far less used back entrance. Not only was it likely to leave fewer witnesses, it genuinely was closer, though not by much. His powers were already working on those they passed. Those that remembered the girl leaving at all wouldn't have a clue which way she had gone or, more importantly, what or who she had gone with. Not to mention the when and the why. The girl would vanish like smoke, blown away in every direction. They cut across the field behind the house and made their way down the street. The house he finally turned towards was large, though not really unusual for the area. It had been graciously donated to him by the previous occupant—a pretty yet unsocial heiress who was currently locked in a trunk under her own former bed, no doubt wondering whether her master would return to feed her of if he had left then behind. It was perfect for his needs. Hidden in plain sight, yet catering to his expensive tastes—and his need for a place with enough isolation to carve a few people in peace. "Well now... Any preference as to what we are drinking?" He inquired as the door shut behind them. The sound echoed with an air of finality. She would never leave here alive. The moment Amber stepped through the door frame of the entrance, leaving all the ruckus behind her, immediately she had a small little voice at the back of her head telling her, "Don't do it." Yet unknown to her, her body remained calm and relaxed. It was the strangest feeling, but it was as if her mind and her body were syncing well together. Her body would continue to walk with the handsome stranger. It was more than willing actually, ready to put itself into action later just to give this man the ultimate tease before ripping it away from him leaving him there wanting and wondering if he'll ever get the full experience. Amber knew that answer to that, but he didn't need to know. Her mind however, was less than willing. It was perfectly content in the previous setting she was in. It had lively music, full of witnesses, it was familiar with the surroundings, and overall, it was a public area. Now going somewhere private with a stranger triggered a warning in her mind. That small little nagging voice attempted to communicate with Amber, telling her to turn around and go back, but Amber ignored it. Ignored the small warning that she deemed unimportant right now. Surprisingly they didn't walk too far. So if she wanted to head back to the party afterward she could in a matter of minutes. Once they were inside, she looked a look around in the large home. He closed the door shut behind them, making her jump slightly in her spot. She turned her head to look at him when he asked her his question. Her initial words were going to be "Never mind, I actually want to go back." Instead, she said with a cheeky smile, "How about we finish that bottle?" Eyeing the bottle in his pocket, she walked and reached over to him, slipping the bottle out of the large pocket. Immediately, she popped the bottle open and downed most of the contents, but left a little bit for him to finish off. Handing him the bottle, at the same time she leaned up and kissed him deeply, assuring him that she wasn't back out. As she pulled back she still had the smirk on her face. "Well, it's your home, show me around." He took the bottle she had offered back to him and looked at the sparse remainder incredulously. "You greedy bitch." He said, a smirk on his face before he took what was left and drained it without taking a pause. "I don't know about you Gorgeous... But I am barely buzzed. I suggest we take a tour of the liquor cabinet and the fridge. I have some real beer cooling. Not that piss water the frat serves... The real stuff." He grabbed her waist and led her down the hall. They passed the stairs leading up, into a kitchen and dining room combination that were separated only by a partial wall. He pushed her up against the island counter between the two, then onto it, her legs on either side of his waist." You are probably too drunk to want to play another game." He mused "But... I can think of a few. I have beer in the fridge and any liquor you like in the cabinet over there. Furthermore, I suggest a little wager. You pick one and drink as much as you can. Then, I will do the same. You are a skinny little slut. I bet I can beat you two to one. If I can drink twice as much as you... You take off that dress for the rest of our tour. If I cannot and you win though... Well, make a demand. Anything you like, on the table. No limits." He deliberately allowed his words to slur, making her think that the drink really was having an effect on him. If she thought she had a chance, even a modest one... She might just be dumb enough to take the bet. "You're on," she said confidently and quickly, picking up the slurring in his words. Amber was sure she had this in the bag and once he got drunk enough from drinking two times that liquor that she did, he will more than likely pass out at this rate. Not to say that she wasn't losing herself either. Amber's balance was starting to challenge her and her mind was becoming hazier with each sip she took. It was difficult to make any logical sense a point and all she can do was let her mouth do the talking with all the liquor encouragement she had in her. She stared him down intently, ignoring the small intimidating effect he had on her from being so close. One of her legs teased ran up and down the back of his thigh, teasing him a bit as the other stayed close to him on his other side. "Hope you know what you're doing," she told him with a sly smirk, leaning in close to him as if she was about to kiss him, but she didn't. She just let her lips linger over his just a little bit, lightly brushing against his just to play with him some more. It was long after the two of them began drinking again. Shot glasses were all over the island counter as Amber sat Indian style on top of it. They made incoherent conversations with one another, barely able to get any words out. She laughed and giggled non-stop as her mind was beginning to spin. It almost made her sick, but she held it in quite well. Her hair was sprawled all over her face while her eyes were turning bloodshot red. It was safe to say that Amber was now officially drunk, and she was surprised that with each shot she took he took his two with no problem. "F-Fine...fine...you...win," she told him, barely able to get the words out. "Come a-and...get me out.of this...stupid dress."

A Taste of Corruption (JamesMartinXDevi)|rating:4.0

Caught! (Mermaid Master and subjuanita)

The man went up to her in the library. "Excuse me, Tina." He saw her look at him in surprise. "Yes, I know you don't know me, but I work for the RPQ. We are a division of the U.S. Government, and I was sent here to ask you to help us. Can we just sit down?" He ushered her over to a table. He knew that she wouldn't be concerned since they were in public. "I have been asked to recruit you to help us out. We can't use our own staff as they are all too easily traced. We need someone who would not be in the least suspicious. And we can pay well. All we need you to do is go into a nightclub and meet there with one of our informers. I am not sure why he asked for you specifically, but maybe he knows you. I can't tell you who he is but if you already know him, that's fine. It's just one night's work for a few hours. Do you think you could do that for us?" He told her what it would pay, and he could see her eyes light up. It was fortunate that they had selected her in advance with help from those on the payroll. He had recognized her by her description and was pretty sure she was the one selected. She was by far the best looking girl in the place. She had to be the target. Further, they had found out that like most students these days, she had heavy loans to pay. It had cost them to have the college clerk give them the information, but that was just a cost of doing business when you were in the market for what they sold. And the clerk would keep her mouth shut when the matter was taken care of. (( relaxing on the couch. Model wearing dress that Tina wore to the nightclub. Tina Miller checked herself out one more time in the mirror. Tina was wearing a sexy dark blue dress that clung tightly to her impressive collection of curves. Tonight was the first time she would be wearing it, and she wouldn't be wearing a bra as she normally would. There was a reason for this, and it was that Tina was going to a nightclub tonight hoping to meet someone special. But who she hoped to meet was not someone most beautiful young women would be looking for, she was looking for a government informant. Why was she looking for someone like this? Because Tina was a spy, but not a professional one, but an amateur spy. How did Tina become a spy? Several weeks before her spring college quarter classes ended, Tina was approached by a man at the college library. He explained to Tina that he worked for a top secret government agency that needed someone to meet with their informant. He continued saying that their agents were unable to do so, and that he asked for Tina specifically. Tina didn't know any informants that she was aware of, but she figured that being an informant was risky, so they probably didn't want people to know they were an informant. Tina started to say that she was a serious student who wasn't interested in espionage work, until the man mentioned the amount Tina would be paid. The amount would be enough to almost pay off her entire student loan! After getting some more details Tina agreed. That was a couple of weeks ago. After her finals, Tina was ready for her mission. A couple of days ago the man she had met at the library over the assignment details with Tina. He gave Tina a new driver's license with the name Tina Jackson on it, and told her that would be her name for this assignment. She was to meet the informant at Jimmy's nightclub. Then the man went shopping with Tina to pick out a dress for her to wear to the nightclub. He gave Tina a dark blue dress to try on, telling her that he would be looking for a woman in a blue dress. Tina blushed as she has seen the front of it. Tonight Tina would be meeting him to complete her assignment and then plan a trip to Europe with some of her pay. Getting into the white Corolla Tina headed to Jimmy's. Jack Ruby was at the bar waiting for the girl. What was her name supposed to be? That's right! Tina something. That was the name she was supposed to use. He saw heads turn, and he turned to look, and it was obvious she was the one. Wow, was she ever stacked. Bob had good taste. It occurred to him that in many ways this was like deer hunting. You had to remain quietly hidden until the prey walked close enough to pounce. She looked around uncertainly so it was time to move in. He stood up and went over to her." Ma'am, I'm sorry to intrude but are you by any chance Tina Jackson?" When she told him she was, he told her his name and that he was there to meet her. "Would you like to get a table?" Without waiting for an answer, he led her to the line and they waited. "My name is Jack Ruby, Tina, and I was sent here to talk with you. We have a bit of a problem, and we were hoping that you might help us out. We don't want to interfere with your studies, of course, but this is a serious matter. Let me explain." Before he had a chance to talk, the maître d' came over to show them their table in the rear. Jack had already tipped him for a secluded table. They sat down and he began to explain. "We need to have someone go to work for the Astronomy. We have tried to get one of our own people in, and they are very reluctant to hire anyone they haven't checked out thoroughly. As just a college student, they can't find anything unusual in your background. That alone wouldn't be enough, but you also have...." Just then the waiter came over to take their order. They both gave him their order and then, when he left, Jack continued, "Frankly, you have something that will really appeal to their top guy. He is a sucker for, uh, well..." He fumbled in embarrassment. "He likes beautiful, shapely young women around him, and he is always on the lookout for more. We think in your case and with your major, that might interest him enough to bring you on part-time with the promise of a full-time job when you graduate. We know you can't work full-time now, but we just need you on the inside. Our women operatives are a bit more, how shall I put this..." He fumbled for the words. "Less attractive. We recruit them for their skills and not their looks." Once you can safely move around, all we need is some papers from their files." He shrugged. "It's that simple. It they didn't' have such damn tight security, we could do it more easily. Do you think you could do that?" As Tina listened to Jack, she soon figured out that he wasn't really an informant at all, but rather a higher up member of this secret government organization. After all an informant, an informant just supplies information, they don't offer assignments. Tina blushed as he coyly spoke of the reason, or perhaps more correctly stated the two reasons they wanted to use her for this assignment. She wanted to say that women can have boobs and brains, but held her tongue. After he finished, she thought for a moment and said, "Yes, I will do it." After exchanging contact information, Tina got up to leave. The hardest part for her would not tell anyone about how she would be spending her summer vacation. She would have to pass the interview first, but judging by Jack's remarks, a tight top would practically guarantee that that would happen. "Alright, I guess we have an agreement. Now be warned, you are going to have to be careful. These people are pretty ruthless. They won't kill you, but there are things they will do that will put you in serious danger. I want you to keep that in mind. I very much doubt that you are likely to be detected, but you never know. Furthermore, I want you to go to..." He gave her an address that she recognized. It was in a perfectly respectable area so she knew she would be in no danger just from the neighborhood. The company was another story." Once they hire you, you are going to have to get into Larson Williams' office and look through his files. We are looking for anything that might connect him to the disappearance of Whitney Bowers. She was our last agent, and we have reason to believe that Williams keeps a close record on all his personnel. We tried to get a search warrant, and we don't have enough to go on. But if you can find her file, then we will be able to take that to a judge and go after these people." It's not too difficult a job and will pay well, of course. Do you think you can handle it?" Tina thought that they were done, but sat back done when he motioned to her to do so, as he continued speaking to her. Tina gulped when he spoke of being in serious danger, and the people being ruthless. She knew the pay was great, especially for a college student, but was it worth the risk. Tina was always careful and had avoided trouble in the past, so she believed if she was careful here, that she would be OK. Tina listened carefully as he spoke. She wanted to make sure she understood all the details as to what she had to do. When he finished, she smiled and extended her hand to shake his hand. She said, "Don't worry. I can handle it." Jack wasn't so sure, but he had his orders. "Listen, you are going to have to be very careful. I don't want you hurt in any way and while I think you will be OK, don't take any chances. Now at the same time, just to be fair, we won't be able to pay you unless you get what we want. That's to prevent people from just going through the motions and not actually doing the job. Do you understand?" He reached into his pocket and gave her a paper with an address on it. "You go here tomorrow and tell them you are there for the secretarial assistant job. Tell them your real first name but make up a new last name. Understand?" Before she could answer he smack his head and added, "OH! I just realized you were already given a driver's license that will serve. Forgot about that. So with that you should be fine. Just remember to dress in a sexy way as you did tonight. That will get you in. Then don't waste any time. Find the office and get the material we need. Good luck." He smiled at her and then added, "Any questions?" Tina listened and nodded. This was all new to her, all she knew about being a spy was what she learned from watching a couple James Bond movies. "I understand. Thanks for your concern, but I am always very careful. It's just the way I am. I always watch my drinks at a club like this too. I have stayed out of trouble and plan to continue to do so. Oh, and since this spy business is all new to me, I couldn't really expect you to pay me until I deliver the info. That is perfectly fair." Tina then listened to Jack talk to her some more. She didn't like the fact that she was applying for some secretarial position. She knew that Jack might think of her as some busty blonde bimbo, but she was a serious student with a 3.8 GPA. Furthermore, she knew that she had brains as well as boobs. Still it was just a temp position, till she could get the info needed, so it didn't upset her too much. Looking at the paper she said, "Hey I know that neighborhood. It must be just down the street from Luigi's. They make the best pizza in town! Anyway, Tina.... Jackson will show up to apply for the job looking sexy, and hopefully I will get hired and get you that info on Whitney soon. I will give you a call once I have it." Then Tina got up and left the club. In 15 minutes she was back at her apartment. Tomorrow would be a big day for her so she tried to go to bed early, but she was excited about her assignment, so it took her awhile to do so. It was hard to not tell anyone about all this, but that was part of the rules, and if she broke them she might not get paid, and she certainly didn't want to risk that! The next day, she got up and had breakfast and got ready. Tina picked a short black skirt to mid-thigh, black heels, and a snug fitting dark blue blouse that buttoned up the front. After she parked her car in the company's parking lot she has undone an extra button on top. She was showing quite a bit of cleavage which met with the approval of a few men she passed as walked to the door. Entering and walking to the receptionist Tina said, "I am Tina Jackson, and I am here to apply for the secretarial assistant position." Taking the application she went and filled it out, using her fake name and address that were on the driver's license she had been given. After giving the completed application back to the receptionist, she was told to have a seat and someone would interview her in a few minutes. So Tina sat and waited. Larson Williams was on the phone with a customer. "Listen, we furnish you with the product, it's up to you to deal with the problems. They are no different from any other livestock. They need to be trained. We can do that for you at a price, but you didn't want us to handle it. You said you would take care of it yourself so don't come complaining to me if it isn't working out. And you know better than to ask for a refund." He listened for a minute and then said, No, we won't sell her for you. She is probably ruined by now so you are stuck with her." He listened for a few moments to his customer bellyache, and then he said, "Look, we carried out our end of things, and now it's up to you. If you want her trained, it's at the usual rate." Then he hung up. His real headache today wasn't a customer, it was the cocksucker Ray Wilson who was blackmailing him. He realized that the only thing he could do was put an end to it. He didn't like doing that as it called too much attention to him but this time he had no choice. Furthermore, he picked up the phone again and said, "Get me Luigi." Before he had a chance to hang up, his secretary told him that there was a girl there applying for the vacant position. Well at least that was a bright spot." Send he in," he told his girl. The girl who walked in caught his total attention. She was stacked like a brick shit house. Everything else on his mind fled as he told her to have a seat. He glanced at her application and said, "Well, Tina, you do have rather excellent qualifications, but I wonder why you are seeking a job as a secretarial assistant. With your background you could be doing higher level work. No, don't tell me," he added as she started to reply. "I understand how difficult it is for a young woman to get a professional level job. Let me think a minute, perhaps we can find something better." He massaged his forehead as he thought about putting her to work somewhere where she would be really useful. He was involved in a number of different activities and most of them, in fact, were legal and above board. Of course there was also his lucrative sideline and while she would do beautifully there, he didn't usually take girls for that without checking them out a bit first." Tell you what. Why don't you start as a secretarial assistant and if things work out, maybe I can use you for something more in keeping with your background? What do you say?" Tina smiled and replied, "Well I thought a secretarial assistant position would be OK for now. I would be interested in a position in your research and development department in the future, if one were available. Until then, I need something to help pay my student loan." Tina listened some more to him and then replied, "Yes I would like to accept your offer. Do I need to fill out any other paperwork or should I just show up next Monday for work?" "R and D, huh? Well you are ambitious. I like that. We don't have too much paperwork for our employees so if you come in on Monday morning, that will be fine. I will be looking forward to seeing you then." He stood up to shake her hand, and then he saw her leave his office. She was a nice looking broad, he thought, and it would be nice working with her. Of course, it would be even better to do more, but he didn't dare mix his real work with the shell company that he ran. The next week Tina showed up for work Monday morning ten minutes early anxious to make a good impression. She met her coworkers in the marketing department where she was assigned. Her work seemed to be routine, and somewhat boring for Tina, just filing papers and preparing letters and press releases on the computer. This company seemed like thousands of other companies, and Tina was starting to wonder if they sent her to the right place. Then on Friday Tina had what seemed to be her golden opportunity to find out. Most of the company was going to a retirement luncheon for a longtime employee, Doug Miller, in the Finance Department. Tina was asked if she could stay in the office and help answer the phone, since she was the newest employee and didn't really know Doug. She acted as if she was disappointed since she knew it would be an extended lunch and a chance to be out of the office for a long lunch. This would be her best chance to snoop around Larson Williams' office, since he normally came in early and stayed late every day. Luckily for Tina, he was going to the luncheon today, since Doug was one of his weekend golf buddies. They were leaving at 11:15 AM to drive to the restaurant. So, at 11:35 AM Tina got up from her desk and slipped into Larson Williams' office, closing the door quietly behind her. The phone only rang twice while she was there, so one of the other secretaries that stayed behind were able to answer the phone. Tina quickly started going through his two drawer file cabinet, scanning the folder names. Then she found it. There was a folder marked Whitney Bowers. Her hands were almost shaking as she opened it and took her camera out of her purse to photograph any incriminating documents. It was in chronological order, and the first documents were routine performance reviews and a commendation. Then it got more interesting, as Tina found documents which she photographed. There was internal correspondence addressed to Mr. Williams of Whitney's unusual and somewhat suspicious behavior observed by a manager. This was followed by another memo from Mr. Williams saying to "take care of this situation." The last document was a memo saying that the matter had been taken care and Ms. Bowers would no longer be a problem at this company, or anywhere else for that matter. Tina gulped as she read that. Had they killed her? She didn't know and hurriedly put the documents back into the folder and put it back in file cabinet. After slipping the camera back into her purse, she quickly returned to her cubicle to eat her lunch which she had brought to work today. She smiled as thought about her big payday she would get once she turned over these photos. Larson was sitting in the restaurant trying to endure the tedium of Dug's retirement luncheon. This really wasn't his thing, but he had to attend. He would much rather have had a private dinner for his friend someplace decent, and he might still do that. Then his iPhone went off with the emergency signal. That caught his attention and he ignored everything else while he checked on what was wrong. His office had been broken into. He didn't bother to lock it because of the alarm system. He would rather know what was going on than keep people out. The hidden camera was catching everything anyway so he could deal with it in a variety of ways, depending on who it was and what they were doing. He watched as Tina walked in and looked around. What!? He had thought she would be an asset. He wondered who she was working for. She couldn't be doing this on her own unless she was a friend of ... That was always a possibility, of course, but whatever. She didn't know it, but she was toast now. He called the guard desk and told them that Tina Jackson was not to leave. He figured that she would want to do this quietly and would probably not want to leave until the Ned of the day. Then she could contact whoever she wanted whether it was the police or whoever she was working with. He didn't really care. He would wait until the end of the day so he could simply say that she had left as usual, and he didn't know anything more. Now the question was what to do with her. That question had no sooner occurred to him than he had to smile. Anyone that good-looking could only be handled in one way. She didn't know it, of course, but her career had just taken an unexpected turn. She was about to go back to school to learn some new skills that she hadn't encountered before. At least he didn't she had. These days you could never be sure but if she had, so much the better. It would be less of a shock to her although doing it his way wasn't the same as doing it in the outside. He now endured the rest of the boring luncheon with even more impatience as he wanted to get back to his office. The camera didn't tell him exactly what she had stolen, but it didn't matter. He would find out when he got back. OH! He couldn't have her talk to anyone either. He called the guard desk back and had them cut off any outgoing calls. Then he realized that wouldn't work if she just used her own cell. Then he just said to hell with it and told the man sitting next to him that an emergency had come up. Once more he got on the phone to the guard desk. He told them to take the girl into custody immediately. Then he went out and to his car. It was just a short ride back to his building and then up in the elevator. She would pay for totally disrupting his day. When he got to the guard desk, Larson found the girl being held by his guards. "Bring her to my office," he told them." Alright Tina, if that's what your real name is. Hand it over. No! Don't look at me like you don't know what I'm talking about. I want the file you took from my office. Yes, I saw you take it. I have a hidden camera here so give it up." He saw her reach into her bag, and he braced himself in case she pulled out a weapon. Then she handed him the file which he put back in his cabinet." I really should keep this in a safe, but our security is pretty tight. I checked, and I know you didn't call anyone else from our system. Do you have a phone of your own? I want to know if you called anyone." Tina was more than a bit surprised when the guard showed up at her cubicle and told her that she needed to come with him to the security office behind the guard desk. Getting up and grabbing her purse, she asked "Did I do something wrong?" The guard said that he didn't know, but that he was instructed to bring her to the security office. Once there, she was told that she needed to leave her purse and go to an adjacent windowless small office that just had a chair inside. Once inside the guard closed the door behind her and locked the deadbolt. Tina turned and looked at the door, seeing that her side was missing a door handle, so the door could only be opened from the outside. Seeing that she might be there for a while Tina sat in the chair wondering if someone had noticed her going into the office. The guard then went through her purse checking for any weapons. He also examined the call log on her phone to see if she had called anyone or got any calls today. Once he has seen that she hadn't he returned it to his purse. Then 15 minutes later the door swung open and Tina was escorted by the guard back to his office where he stared angrily at her. She gulped as he mentioned the hidden camera and that he knew she had photographed some documents. She opened her purse, took out her camera and handed him the memory card, seeing no purpose in denying it since he would just find her camera in her purse anyway. In response to his question about her phone, she said "Yes I have one" and then took it out of her purse and handed it to him. "You can check and see that it hasn't been used today." Larson turned to the guard and told him, "Go tell Jack Ruby to join me. I will take care of the girl." The guard left and Larson just waited. He kept a close watch of the girl in case she decided to try to make a break for it although even if she did, he knew she couldn't get out of the building. A few minutes later, Jack Ruby came in and looked at Tina in surprise. "What's going on?"" She just photographed the McPherson file. I caught her doing it." Jack's mouth dropped in surprise. He looked at Tina and then asked "Government agent?" It wasn't clear who he was asking, but Larson replied, "She must be. Those bastards know I have a weakness for cunts like her so they picked her because of that."" What are we going to do with her?" Larson looked at Tina and thought a moment. Then he said, "She could be very valuable."" Valuable? For... OH! Yes, excellent idea. But we will have to train her first."" That's what I had in mind. Might as well get her ready."" You want to do that here in the office?"" Sure, why not? The guards are accustomed to hearing screams now and then, and they won't interfere." Jack shrugged. "OK by me." He turned to Tina and told her, "Alright bitch. Your duties have just changed. Now you can cooperate with us, or you can deal with the consequences. I don't really care. The end result is going to be the same regardless." He looked her over carefully from head to toe. He knew this had to be a looked she was used to getting from men given her manner of dress which was very provocative even though she had dressed for work, but she was a very attractive and sexy girl. Normally Jack had learned to be circumspect in looking over a girl but this time he felt no inhibitions. There was nothing she could do and the last thing he cared about was offending her. He glanced at Larson and asked, "Get her undressed?" Larson nodded." Alright Tina, I want you to take off your dress." Tina was confused when Jack Ruby walked in smiling. He was the one who hired her to spy on these people, and he seemed to be cooperating with them! "What's...what's going on here?" she asked. But they ignored her question. Then she heard them discussing how valuable she could be if she was trained. Were they talking about working full time as a spy? Tina wasn't interested in that, she was a year from graduating from college. She meekly replied, "I'm going back to school in the fall." But they ignored her again. It was almost like she wasn't there, or they didn't care what she had to say. But the next words sent a shiver down her spine. They spoke of getting her "ready"...ready for what she wondered. Then they decided to begin now. They really weren't listening to Tina. She repeated that she wasn't really interested in working with them. But the worst was yet to come as they talked of how the guards were used to hearing screams. Then they told Tina to take off her dress. She looked at both of them and then summoned what confidence she had and said, "I'm not going to take my dress off. I am not that type of girl. You need to find someone else to do that. I'm going to be leaving now." Larson smiled at her and then got grim. "Listen to me little girl. You don't know it yet but your life has just changed. You aren't going anywhere. The door is locked, and you ARE going to take off that dress. I don't care what kind of girl you were, things are going to be different from now on." He looked at the other man and said, "Jack, do you want to explain what it means to be striped?" Jack Ruby winced and then told Tine, "Listen to me girl. You have to do what you are told. I don't care if you like ti or not, you WILL do it. You see we have ways of persuading you. Refusal to obey can carry various kinds of punishments that are designed to change your mind. What Mr. Williams has just threatened you with is a rather severe punishment that we can and do inflict on girls that refuse to cooperate. We will tie your hands over your head, strip you naked and then use a bullwhip on you. Each stroke leaves a welt, and they are delivered in a specific configuration that will leave welts on your back, breasts, thighs, ass and between your legs. No girl I have even known has needed a repeat performance." He saw her pale at his words. "I'm not into that sort of thing myself, but it's up to you." He shrugged. "You can either start cooperating immediately or we will just take you into the room where we can do this." Tina thought they were bluffing and just wanted to scare her. "I'm not going to undress for you. If you don't release me right now, you are going to be in a lot of trouble. Do you understand?" After she spoke Tina walked to the door. It was locked like they said. She looked over at them, "One of you needs to unlock this door." Jack and Larson looked at each other. Larson didn't know whether to laugh or get mad. Instead, he picked up his phone, touched a button and said, "Pete, we have an uncooperative girl here. Come in hard." Then he hung up. A few seconds later the door burst open banging hard into Tine and knocking her staggering. Three uniformed men cams in and grabbed her hard by her arms. Looking at Tine, he said, "Well dear, would you like to visit our discipline room?" Without waiting for a response, he told the guards, "Bring her to the dungeon." Jack, do you want to go with us?" The other man shook his head. "No, you deal with her. I'll skip it.""OK then I'll do it. We'll see if she will change her mind." And with that, Larson walked out behind the guards." Tina was surprised by how roughly they grabbed her arms and began walking her towards the punishment room. Tina gulped hard, wondering if they really were going to punish her. She still thought that they were just trying to scare her, but there was a little concern as she walked with them. She would find out soon enough! This wasn't the first time the guards had had to deal with a resistant girl. They actually expected more hysteria with the accompanying threats, but this one seems surprisingly calm. Perhaps she didn't believe what was going to happen to her. That didn't matter, they would take care of that soon enough. They took her down in the elevator and the lights showed that they went all the way down to the basement without stopping. Then they took her off and down the hall. There was a locked door that one guard opened with an electronic key. It led into another corridor and that, in turn led to a small room with two doors." She can't go in like that," one of the men said. "Well have to undress her." They turned and went into one of the rooms and two of them held tight to her arms as Larson began to remove her clothing. The further Tina walked the more scared she became. Going through the locked door with an electronic key made her knew what was down here was meant to stay down here, and unfortunately she was being brought down here! Tina's legs trembled hearing that she would be stripped. She couldn't walk and had to be carried into the room. Larson began to methodically undress her, saying not a word. Tina thought for a moment about kneeing him, but outside momentary satisfaction, she knew that it would accomplish nothing. Shortly thereafter, she was nude. She tried to cover herself with her hands, but they held tight to her arms to prevent it. Tina looked down at the floor, fighting back the tears. The men saw how frightened she was becoming and smiled in satisfaction. Larson said to her, "I can see the situation is beginning to sink it. Understand that we can make things worse for you until you cooperate. Your life as you knew it is over. The only question now is how bad you want to make things. Believe me, you can't imagine how much we can make you suffer. But whenever her you want to start cooperating, it will get easier." He looked over the equipment and then decided that nothing would sway her but real pain. "Take her over to the overhead frame." The security guards dragged the girl over to a massive wooden upright frame with hardware circle eyes screwed in to various places around the frame. Larson left them for a moment and returned with a set of heavy leather cuffs which he fastened to the girl's wrists. Then he said, "I am going to put these on your ankles. If you try to kick me, you will be hung upside down." He didn't know if the rebellious bitch would listen but if she didn't then they would have to beat her. That would be a waste but whatever it took. Tina was scared, both from what Larson said to her and by glancing around the room. She watched as the heavy leather cuffs went on her wrists. The reality of her situation begin to sink in...she was nude and about to be tortured by 3 men who appeared like they would enjoy doing it. Her heart was racing...what to do? Just reacting to her situation, as her mind was still in shock at what had happened in the last couple of minutes, she kicked out at Larson as he attempted to put the restraints on her ankles. Immediately, after she did it she wished that she could take it back. "I... I sorry... I just didn't want...those things...on my ankles." She wasn't sure what they planned to do with her now, but she knew that she wouldn't enjoy it. Larson glared at her, and then he said to the men, "Upside down." The kept hold of her arms as they bent down, and before she had a chance to do more than cringe, they pulled her legs out from under her causing her to fall heavily on her back. There was no attempt to keep the impact from smashing the wind out of her, and they could hear a clunk as her head smashed down. Then they took hold of her legs and dropped her arms. Larson moved in and fastened a cuff around each ankle. With her secured, they lifted her into the air, and he attached her ankles to the overhead bar with clip rings, widely spaced apart, and then they just let her go to hand there, upside down. It all happen so fast. One moment Tina was standing upright and the next she was hanging upside down. In the process of hanging her, they had banged Tina's head hard and she was a little woozy. Tina lifted her head up a little to see her ankles cuffed rather wide to the bar. Dropping her head down she looked at the men upside down. Her world was now upside down too. Her arms dangled below her, fingers inches above the floor. Tina knew now there would be no escape. She was totally at their mercy...if they had any. Larson stepped back and looked at the girl hanging there for his amusement. His anger was fading now that she was helpless. He had deliberately left her wrists free so that she could see her reactions more clearly. Then he thought about stepping in close to fondle her and realized that she would probably still try to grab at him so he told the security guards, "Fasten her wrists." Each one took a wrist and fastened the cuff to the side poles. She was left spread-eagled upside-down. Now Larson stepped in and relaxed. He found her very attractive, and she was now totally helpless. He bends to reach for her breasts and fondled them, studying their size and shape. Then he began to lightly run his hands over her helpless body, but he avoided her crotch, and he had no intention of arousing her. He stayed away from her face lest she try to bite him. Quickly tiring of this he was ready to move on. He went to a rack on one wall and picked out a whip. He brought it back and explained, "This is a slave whip. It took some development but it works quite well. It will be as painful as a bullwhip but without the welts and scars as it doesn't penetrate the skin. Now you are going to be striped. We will start with your back." He stepped back and swung the lash against her back, leaving a red line across her shoulder blades. Tina hung there for a bit wondering what she could do. Larson answered her unspoken question by ordering her wrists secured. The answer now was she could do nothing without her hands being available to break her fall she would land head first. She twisted her head side to side as he began to gently cup and fondle her breasts. It was almost like the way one would examine fruit in the market. Tina thought this might not be as bad as she feared, he seemed content to just fondle her and run his hands over her. Then all of a sudden he stopped and went over and brought back a whip. He calmly explained how he was going to whip her with it. Tina gulped and pleaded with him not to do that. He ignored her and her words quickly changed to screams as the whip lashed out at her. One by one, he completed the four strokes required on her back and then moved down to her round ass. Four more strokes were landed across her butt accompanied by frantic screams of pain. As bad as it was, he knew it was going to get worse. He moved up and put another four on her thighs. He could see her thrashing about but paid no attention. She had brought this on herself. Finally, he walked around to her front. She obviously couldn't see him since she was blinded by her tears. Next was four strokes on the inside of her thighs. He made the whip curl in to hit the most sensitive parts of her inner thighs. Finally, he laid four more strokes on her hanging breasts which were shaking as she struggled in the bonds. She was now marked from nearly head to toe, hence the named striped. It was an experience she would never forget and probably never risk going through again. The welts would fade in a few days, but the marks on her psyche would not." Take her down," he ordered. Now he would see if she was ready to cooperate. Tina wondered when they would stop. Her screams echoed in the room. But the strokes kept coming. When would it all end?Finally, it did end. She heard the words to take her down. Tina lay there on the floor after being let down. She curled up in the fetal position whimpering. She looked up a man hovering above her and shivered. Larson looked down at her a bit disgusted. He didn't get any pleasure from this, but he knew it was necessary. He saw her curled into a fetal position and knew it was serious withdrawal. Furthermore, he couldn't let her stay that way. Furthermore, he needed her attention while the lesson was clear." Listen to me, you stupid bitch. If you don't what me to repeat this, stand up. Go on, stand up now." He then told the guards, "Help her if she can't stand on her own but let her try." Tina got to her knees and tried to stand. Her legs felt like jelly, and she wasn't able to stand. She attempted a few more times but still couldn't do it. Then she felt a couple of the men grab her arms and pull her up, holding onto her to keep her from falling. "Listen to me, bitch. Do you want to go through this again? Answer me." She was too out of breath to say much so he asked her again, saying, "Answer me or the guys will string you up again, and I'll repeat the lesson."

Caught! (Mermaid Master and subjuanita)|rating:2.0

Shadowrun BTL_ Characters

A thread for Character Sheets. Please keep all discussion, including that related to characters, in the IOC thread (( almost always called Butterfly or "Neeson Chico" to the judo with whom she studied, is a fierce bitch. Born in corporate shadow, raised in corporate shadow, and brought up as an extension of the shadows, she rebelled against her upbringing, fighting for life and fire and an existence in the light. Unfortunately Seattle is frequently unkind to the Sinless and Diana had to grow up harder than the surrounding city. She studied Judo - mostly by virtue of showing up in a class enough times the sensei allowed her to study, rather than having his yak thugs put a bullet in her head. He might have anyway, if she hadn't been able to perform, or perhaps made her a Burak. Nevertheless, the wild thing that showed up on his door did become ... respectably proficient. Had she been a man, perhaps she could have become a sensei herself, or been brought into the yakuza, but instead she was merely useful. A novelty to the fellow judo and someone who could be entertaining to join in random. She slowly integrated into the periphery of a community that surrounded a traditionalist yakuza UMI, even as a small child, and if she ran some errands for men with tattoos when she was a young girl, well - who didn't? By the time Diana knew she was Awakened, her spirit - she called it 'Rage,' but another would have named it Berserker - had become so entwined with who she was she couldn't tell the difference. If it ever occurred to her that was why Rage had come to her to begin with, she didn't talk about it - but that may have been circumstantial. Newly Awakened, she found herself driven away from the community which she had come to slowly think of as a place to have a life, driven to the ragged edge of civilized Seattle, the edge of a pit where very, very few could survive. Glow City. Of course, magic is a funny thing. She got cancer, sure, but she got over it - mostly, anyway, aside from a lingering hemangiomas that made bright, sunshine days and assholes who play with spotlights a bit of a problem for her. Same time she got over cancer, she got over radiation entirely, got healthier, got stronger. She didn'get calmer, though. Entertainment is scarce in Glow City, and street fighting is certainly a way to keep entertained - and maybe pay some of the bills, maybe work out some stress while you beat the blood out of someone's face. And there in Glow City, Butterfly didn't have to hold back. Rage taught her how toreallyput that power into her fists, throw an or over her shoulder or get in under a troll's reach, our snakelike an atom bomb with tits. She got on alright there and took care of herself with the help of a neighborhood street doc- a ghoul who helped her avoid the viral strains that might have destroyed her, and who helped her stay on the good side of the 162s. Butterfly, in turn, didn't mind bringing the occasional body by. Organ legging to a street doc was decent Nguyen, and if the less expensive bits got eaten, well - everybody needs to eat. A rivalry with one of her opponents turned into an on-again, off-again friendship with on-again, off-again benefits with tremendously"subtle" or named Rock Kill frag, a Muay Thai fighter who used his greater strength to good effect on the street fighting circuit. Once she started making her way back into ...civilized society, her sensei honored her endurance and perseverance by allowing her to return to the dojo - long enough to collect a round of stick-and-shocks. She had thetemerityto return and believe she had a place amongst the UMI? He would help her find her place. Her value. A small sum of Nguyen would be sufficient.== Personal Data ==Name: Di Aliases: Fist, Butterfly, ChōchōHuman, Movement:12/24 (2m/hit) Swim:5.5 (1m/hit) Composure: 6Street Cred: 0 Judge Intentions: 5Notoriety: 0 Lift/Carry: 9 (75 kg/50 kg) Public Awareness: 0 Memory: 4Karma: 5 Nguyen:1350¥52kg, 160cmAge: 26 Skin: Fair Eyes: Yellow Hair: Blond Primary Arm: Right== Priorities ==Metatype: D,1Attributes: B,3Special: B,3 Skills: B,3 Resources: E,0== Attributes ==BOD: 4 CIA: 2AGI: 6 INT: 3 REA: 3(5) LOG: 2STR: 5 WILL: 3EDG: 5 MAG: 6== Derived Attributes ==Essence: 6.00 Initiative: 8 +3d6Physical Damage Track: 10 Rigger Initiative: 8 +3d6Stun Damage Track: 10 Astral Initiative: 6 +3d6 Matrix AR: 8 +3d6 Cold: 6 +3d6 Hot: 6 +4d6== Limits ==Physical: 7 Mental: 4 Audio Enhancement [+1] (Only for Perception (Hearing)) Vision Enhancement [+2] (Only for Perception (Visual)) Vision Enhancement [+3] (Only for Perception (Visual))Social: 5 Ares Victory: Industrious [+1] (Only with appropriate corp, Must be visible) Zoé: Nightshade/Moon silver [+1] (Must be visible)Astral: 5== Skills ==== Active Skills ==Escape Artist Base: 2 + Karma: 0 = 2 Pool: 8Etiquette (Yakuza) - Base: 3 + Karma: 0 = 3 Pool: 5 (7)First Aid Base: 2 + Karma: 0 = 2 Pool: 4 Gymnastics - - - - - Base: 5 + Karma: 0 = 5 Pool: 11Instruction Base: 1 + Karma: 1 = 2 Pool: 4Intimidation - - - - Base: 4 + Karma: 0 = 4 Pool: 6 Longarms Base: 5 + Karma: 0 = 5 Pool: 11Navigation - - - - - Base: 2 + Karma: 0 = 2 Pool: 5Palming Base: 2 + Karma: 0 = 2 Pool: 8Perception - - - - - Base: 6 + Karma: 0 = 6 Pool: 9Running Base: 5 + Karma: 0 = 5 Pool: 10Sneaking - - - - - - Base: 6 + Karma: 0 = 6 Pool: 12Swimming Base: 5 + Karma: 0 = 5 Pool: 10Unarmed Combat - - - Base: 6 + Karma: 0 = 6 Pool: 12== Knowledge Skills ==English - Native Japanese - - - - - - - - - - - Base: 3 + Karma: 0 = 3 Pool: 6Area Knowledge: Seattle Base: 5 + Karma: 0 = 5 Pool: 8Street Gangs: Seattle - - - - Base: 2 + Karma: 0 = 2 Pool: 5== Qualities and Magic ==== Qualities ==Adept Mentor Spirit (Berserker)Radiation Sponge RG169Allergy (Uncommon, Mild) (Photosensitivity)In Debt (6) RF156Vendetta (Nakamura Tosh) RF159Tough and Targeted CF60== Tradition ==Shamanic, Resist Drain with 5== Powers ==Killing Hands Critical Strike (Unarmed Combat)Elemental Strike SG170 (Electricity)Stun or Physical (Always Physical vs. Electronics and Drones, +deals half damage as Matrix damage) Secondary effects for characters injured by Electricity damage include a –1 dice pool penalty on all actions and Defense Tests, but not Damage Resistance Tests, for 1 Combat Turn and an immediate Initiative Score reduction of 5. The dice pool penalty and Initiative Score reduction do not accumulate with multiple attacks, but the length of the penalty is extended by 1 Combat Turn for each successful damaging attack while a character is affected. If the character’s Initiative Score is reduced to 0 or below, they lose their last action. If they have no Initiative Score left the reduction comes on the start of the next Combat Turn.(Acid)Physical. Also reduces the rating of any Armor it hits by 1. At GM discretion, may also create Light Smoke conditions.(Radiation)Physical. Treat every Radiation attack that hits as a toxin causing Nausea with a DV equal to net hits of the attack (before the Damage Resistance roll). Improved Reflexes Rating: 2Hang Time Rating: 1 SG171Improved Sense (Low-light)Combat Sense Rating: 1Mystic Armor Rating: 2== Lifestyle and Kit ==== Lifestyle ==Tacoma Heights apartment (Medium) 2 Months== Cyberware/Bioware ==Delaware Cranial Bomb - Microbomb (Es's Free)Delaware Sim rig (Es's Free)== Armor ==Ares Victory: Industrious 9 RG64+ Gear Access Urban Explorer Jumpsuit 9+ Chemical Protection 3+ Insulation 3+ Nonconductivity 3+ Biomonitoring: Nightshade/Moon silver 7 RG62+ Custom Fit Basic clothes All RF253Cheap Pants Cheap Pants Cheap Pants Cheap ShirtCheap Shirt Good Pants (Cargo)Good Pants (Sportswear)Good Shirt (Sportswear)Good Shirt (Club wear)Good Skirt (Club wear)Good Undergarments Good Undergarments == Comm link ==Remake Sensei (ATT: 0, SLZ: 0, DP: 3, FWL: 3)+ Comm link Functionality [Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Cred stick Reader, Earbuds 1, GPS Guidance System, Micro Tried-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display]== Gear: Equipped ==Ammo: Regular Ammo (Sniper Rifles) ×30Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Sniper Rifles) ×10Ammo: Tracker Rounds, Stealth Tag (Sniper Rifles) ×10AR Gloves Camera Rating 6+ Vision Enhancement Rating 3+ Vision Magnification+ Flare Compensation+ Image Link Canteen, One Liter RF254Earbuds Rating 3+ Audio Enhancement Rating 1+ Select Sound Filter Rating 2Fake SIN (Irma Prominent, bodyguard) Rating 4+ Fake License (Adept License) Rating 3+ Fake License (Firearms License) Rating 3+ Fake License (Bodyguard License) Rating 3+ Fake License (Surveillance license) Rating 3+ Fake License (Military Ammunition License) Rating 3 Glasses Rating 4+ Smart link+ Flare Compensation+ Vision Enhancement Rating 2 Goggles Rating 1+ Image Link Microphone, Laser Rating 2+ Select Sound Filter Rating 2Tag Eraser== Weapons ==Remington 950+ Imaging Scope+ Silencer/Suppressor+ Smart gun System, Internal Pool: 11 Accuracy: 7 (9) DV: 12P AP: -4 RC: 3Survival Knife+ Survival Knife Bonuses+ Survival Knife Wireless Bonuses Pool: 5 Accuracy: 5 DV: 5P AP: -1 Reach 0Unarmed Attack Pool: 12 Accuracy: 7 DV: 6P AP: - Reach 1Clinch - Gymnastics + Agility [Phys]Pool: 11[7] vs Reaction+Intuition to gain Clinch in the superior position (Which grants +2 dice in following actions). - Restricts movement of either to 2m per action - - reach bonuses become penalties in clinch - Penalty to firearms equal to net successes - A successful Clinch action can lead to a Subdural, Called Shot: Knockdown or Throw. - RG 140 Sidebar may allow Elemental Strike - Electricity to deal damage as a free action during a clinch. ThrowPool: 12 Accuracy: 7 - if Net Success Sgt; Target Physical Limit, throw Net Success meters (max of Thrower Strength - Target Body) for Net Success damage, target is prone. Success without beating physical limit engages Clinch or Subduing Grip. - Can be interrupted after Block (-10 Unit)Sacrifice Throw Pool: 12 Accuracy: 7 - As Throw but add STR+Bod to Net Successes, both thrower and target end prone. - Can be interrupted after Block (-10 Unit)== Martial Arts ==Judo (as Jiujitsu) RG131+Clinch RG119+Strike the Darkness RG141+Throw Person RG123+Sacrificial Throw RG131== Contacts ==Rock Kill frag, Barrens StreetfighterMiddle-aged Or Male Connection 2, Loyalty 3Personal Life: Man of the Squat Can provide: Legwork, support Preferred payment: Service (Free-Labor Jobs)/Barter (Hobby/Vice Items)Hobbies/Vice: Bad Habit (Dream Chips)Angel-Eyes, Barrens Street doc Middle-aged Ghoul Female Connection 3, Loyalty 3Personal life: Duncan provide: Shadow Services Preferred payment: Cash (Cred stick)/Barter (Professional Items)Hobbies/Vice: Gambling (Cards)== Creation notes ==Leftover Nguyen: 250Leftover karma: 5 (Scott aka ‘Myriad’Background:She grew up in what would have been a ‘middle class lifestyle’ the daughter of a corporate manager for Citibank group (her father) and a secretary (her mother). Company sponsored housing, corporate alighted schooling and so on. Till the day the division her dad worked was ‘resized’ and he was ‘let go’. That is, he caught a bullet during an extraction of his boss, who took a lot of secrets with him. Tainted by the boss’ betrayal, the family’s loyalty was questioned, and they were dumped out onto the street. Stacy was 13 when she was given the boot from her comfortable corporate boarding school with a great future as something sociable and persuasive for the company. Now she was fresh meat in the Sinless crowds of the local high school while her mom worked three jobs to keep them fed. Till Stacy was able to indenture with Mr, Stone and he started using her as his ‘stand in’ for a variety of people. Comfort girl, con artist, back up gun, sneak thief, pickpocket and more. A useful Girl Friday. Only Stacey Scott has only existed for a few months, before she had been Scott Stacey a young pup reporter working a media news Corp. He somehow crossed Mr. Stone and instead of killing the young reporter, he made Stacey and made her think she owed him everything. To the point that she’s think’s she is in debt to the man and that he’s relocated her after a screw-up on a job. Personality:An effective woman with the ability to fill in a variety of roles. She could be the blonde starlet wannabe on a target’s arm, the social secretary to a powerful executive, a backup sim sense star or whatever Mr Stone needs her to be. She uses her implants, natural acting ability and persona fix sim sense chips to be whoever she is needed to be.DATATYPE: ELFB3, A5, R5, S3, W3, L4, I5, C7, ESS3.03, EDG1Condition Monitor (P/S): 10 / 10Armor: 0 Limits: Physical 5, Mental 6, Social 7Physical Initiative: 10+1D6Matrix Initiative: 6+3D6Active Skills: Acting Group5, Demolitions3, Disguise5, Etiquette4, Locksmith4, Negotiation4, Palming4, Perception4, Pistols4, Sneaking4, Unarmed Combat4Knowledge Skills: High Fashion4, Kama Sutra, Sim Sense Editing4, Sim Sense Stars3Languages: English, French2, Gaelic1, Japanese1, Sperethiel3Qualities: Analytical Mind, Biocompatibility (Cyberware), Day Job (¥1,000/month, 10 hrs/week), Electronic Witness, In Debt (Borrowed ¥75,000, Owes ¥112,500) (15), Memory Palace, Photographic Memory, Too Pretty to Hit Augmentations:. . Breast Implant 2.0 (Alphaware). . Breast Implant 2.0 (Alphaware). . Chameleon Processor. . Clean Metabolism. . Cortex Bomb (Kink Bomb). . Cyberears (Alphaware) (2)w/ Audio Analyzer, Damper, Select Sound Filter (3), Sound Link. . Cybereyes (Alphaware) (3)w/ Data soft: High Fashion, Data soft: Kama Sutra, Data soft: Sim sense Editing, Data soft: Sim sense Stars, Flare Compensation, Image Link, Low-Light Vision, Smart link, Vision Enhancement (2), Vision Magnification. . Datajack (Alphaware). . Dietware. . Dream Link (Alphaware). . Ethnicity Modification/Sex Change: Sex Change. . False Face. . Fiberoptic Hair (60cm) (Alphaware) (6). . Internal Router (Alphaware). . Simrig (Delaware). . Skin Toner (Alphaware). . Touch Link (Alphaware). . Transys Avalon (Delaware) (Cyber). . Voice Modulator (Alphaware) (3)Gear:. . Actioneer Business Clothes/ AR Fashion, Concealable Holster, Electroceramic Modification. . Autopicker (4). . Aztec Flyx2. . Catsuitw/ AR Fashion, Electroceramic Modification. . Cellular Glove Molder (4). . Certified Cred stick, Standard. . Chem Patchx7. . Concealable Holster. . Keycard Copier (4). . Laésx3. . Leälx4. . Lockpick Set. . Maglock Passkey (5). . Meta Link/ Map soft: Campaign City. . Mona Lisa Wallace (Throw away ID)w/ Fake SIN (1). . Nanopaste Disguise, Small Containerx5. . Personafix Chip. . Personafix Chip. . Plastic Restraintsx20. . Quick-Draw Holster. . Sequencer (5). . Sim Module, Modified for Hot Sim. . Smart Wig (w/ Trade Net)w/ Trades. . Smart Wig (w/ Trade Net)w/ Trades. . Stacy Scott/ (0 months) Day Job, Fake License: Cyberware (4), Fake License: Driver's License (4), Fake License: Escort (4), Fake License: Weapon License (4), Fake SIN (4), (3 months) Middle Lifestyle. . Stella Torres (Throw away ID)w/ Fake SIN (2). . Synergist Business Line/ AR Fashion, Custom Fit, Electroceramic Modification, Holster (concealed). . Tag Eraser. . Tool Kit, Disguise Weapons:. . Colt America L36[Light Pistol, Account 10, DV 7P, AP –, SA, 11 (c)] w/ Personalized Grip, (110x) Regular Ammo, Silencer/Suppressor, Smart gun System, Internal, (2x) Spare Clips. . Colt Government 2066[Heavy Pistol, Account 9, DV 7P, AP -1, SA, 14 (c)] w/ Laser Sight, Personalized Grip, (280x) Regular Ammo, Silencer/Suppressor, Smart gun System, Internal, (3x) Spare Clips. . Stinger Pen Gun[Hold-out, Account 4, DV 6P, AP –, SS, 1 (b)] w/ (10x) Regular Ammo. . Knife[Blade, Account 5, DV 4P, AP -1]. . Lapel Dagger[Blade, Account 4, DV 4P, AP –] w/ Ceramic/Plaster Components (4). . Flash-Bang Minigrenade[Account 0, DV 10S, 10m R, AP -4]. . Thermal Smoke Minigrenade[Account 0, DV The. Smoke, 10m R, AP –]Contacts:BTL Dealer (Connection 4, Loyalty 3)Fixer (Connection 4, Loyalty 3)Street Doc (Connection 4, Loyalty 3) (Sapphire Stella Sapphire was born as Susanne Lind to a wealthy and affluent couple of EVE executives. She was a beautiful elf girl with luscious blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and an unmitigated passion for music and dance. She would sing and dance all day, every day, whenever allowed... and she has sung well. A little bit *too* well, in fact. When she reached puberty, it became Claire Susanne had the natural gift of being awakened -- her singing and gymnastic talent was greatly boosted by her adept powers. Susanne's parents loved and pampered their child, intending to prepare her for a corporate life in their footsteps; but they also believed in the value of freedom and learning to express yourself. Thus, when it came time for Susanne to enter college, her parents decided it was time for her to live on her own. They sponsored her an apartment in a rather high-end area of Seattle and expected Susanne to study hard and gain lots of new experiences. Instead, Susanne, being a young, beautiful girl with newfound freedom, more freely available money than sense, and a thirst for adventure, started spending nights out. Many, many nights out. She loved visiting nightclubs in slightly seedier areas - "they were so exciting" - and she loved hanging around runners. Or, at least, people who Susanne thought looked like runners. She of course didn't know much about real shadow running, nor did she truly care to - it was all just a most exciting adventure to her. And that's when Susanne was "scouted" by Mr. Stone. Mr. Stone noticed her dancing and singing at a club. The blonde elf girl caught his eye for numerous reasons: she was clearly actually very talented and boosted by some sort of adept magic, but she also appeared to be just the right mix of starry-eyed ambition, smoking hot looks, and childish naivety... just the right mix for Mr. Stone, who was not only looking for new hires for his agency, but also girls skillful and stupid enough to get involved in his... other schemes. Mr. Stone had Susanne fitted with a number of cyberware he explained was absolutely necessary to bring out the best in her. Some of it truly was that - a Vocal Range Enhancer and Tailored Pheromones to make sure she would captivate any audience at the Seattle nightclub scene - but the cortex bomb, sim rig, and a careful Sensitive Skin operation to make sure her most sensitive parts would record the best sims when necessary... those he had conveniently forgotten to mention to Susanne. For now, though, Susanne was more than happy with the arrangement. Mr. Stone would have her perform at his nightclub and heavily promote her around the club scene as Stella Sapphire, the new hot singer talent. Tries and a movie star career would be next, he had told Stella; she just needed to build some name first. And, really, it was all the adventure Stella had craved: partying under a fake SIN, spending nights singing and dancing at nightclubs, seeing all the coolest and most exciting sides of Seattle's underbelly, something her parents would never show her -- she loved every bit of it! Surely Mr. Stone wasn't going to have her do anything unseemly, right? Personal Data Name: Susanne Lind Alias: Stella Sapphire Elf, Movement: 12/24 (2m/hit) Swim: 4.5 (1m/hit) 95 lbs, 5'1'' Composure: 11Street Cred: 0 Judge Intentions: 11Notoriety: 0 Lift/Carry: 6 (45 kg/30 kg) Public Awareness: 2 Memory: 5Karma: 0 Nguyen: 8,000¥ (5d6*500 (Age: 18 Skin: Fair Eyes: Blue Hair: Blonde Primary Arm: RightPrioritiesSum to Ten:Metatype: D (Elf 0)Attributes: B (20)Special: C (Adept 4)Skills: B (36/5)Resources: D (50,000¥)Attributes BOD: 3 CIA: 8AGI: 6 INT: 3 REA: 4 LOG: 2STR: 3 WILL: 3EDG: 1 MAG: 3Derived Attributes Essence: 5.30 Initiative: 7 +1d6Physical Damage Track: 10 Rigger Initiative: 7 +1d6Stun Damage Track: 10 Astral Initiative: 6 +3d6Physical: 5 Matrix AR: 7 +1d6Mental: 4 Matrix Cold: 3 + DP +3d6 Vision Enhancement [+1] (Only for Perception (Visual))Social: 11 Matrix Hot: 3 + DP +4d6 Fame: Local [+1] (Limited to Single Sprawl) Vocal Range Enhancer [+1] (Only for test involving speaking) Vocal Range Enhancer [+2] (Only for Performance (Singing)) Zoé: Executive Suite [+1] (Must be visible)Astral: 11Active Skills Con Base:2 + Karma:0 =2 Pool:11Disguise Base:1 + Karma:0 =1 Pool:4Escape Artist Base:4 + Karma:0 =4 Pool:10Etiquette Base:5 + Karma:0 =5 Pool:14Free-Fall Base:4 + Karma:0 =4 Pool:7 Gymnastics Base:6 + Karma:0 =6 Pool:12Impersonation Base:2 + Karma:0 =2 Pool:12Intimidation Base:0 + Karma:1 =1 Pool:10Leadership Base:5 + Karma:0 =5 Pool:14Negotiation Base:5 + Karma:0 =5 Pool:14Perception Base:3 + Karma:0 =3 Pool:6Performance Base:6 + Karma:0 =6 Pool:15 Pistols Base:2 + Karma:0 =2 Pool:8Running Base:1 + Karma:0 =1 Pool:4Sneaking Base:6 + Karma:0 =6 Pool:12Swimming Base:1 + Karma:0 =1 Pool:4Knowledge Skills English Native Club Music Base:5 + Karma:0 =5 Pool:7Corporation: Eve (Seattle Operations) Base:2 + Karma:0 =2 Pool:5(7) Tries Base:2 + Karma:0 =2 Pool:5 Qualities Adept Creature of Comfort (Middle) (RF 153): -1 penalty to all Social and Healing tests per Lifestyle category under Middle Day Job (10 hrs) (Nightclub Entertainer) (RF 154): Obligated to work 10 hours per week. Earn ¥2,000 per month from day job. Fame: Local (Seattle) (RF 146): 1-point increase to Social Limit and a +1 dice pool modifier on all Social Skill tests to positively influence someone who knows of her fame. Anyone from Seattle can identify her with an Intuition + Logic (2) Test.Low-Light Vision Poor Self Control (Attention-Seeking) (CF 58): Unless she succeeds at a Composure (3) Test, the character seeks to be the center of attention whenever possible.Sinner (National)Too Pretty To Hit (RG 127): Can use Charisma instead of Willpower while using Full Defense. Trust Fund III (RF 151): Possesses a trust fund which pays for her High Lifestyle, plus ¥1,000 left over each month. Adept Powers Authoritative Tone - Rating: 2 (SG Errata (+1 die to any Opposed Social Skill Test that she initiates (normal limits apply). Flexibility - Rating: 1 (SG 171): Threshold for moving through cramped corners or getting out of restraints is lowered by one. During unarmed combat, if someone is attempting to subdue her, she gains +1 die. Freefall - Rating: 1 (SG 171): Can fall or jump down 3 additional meters without any adverse effects. Hang Time - Rating: 1 (SG 171): +1 dice pool bonus for all Climbing Tests. Can temporarily adhere to surfaces, such as walls, for approximately five minutes (simple action). Kinesics - Rating: 2 (SR5 310): +2 to resist Social Tests and tests to read your emotions. Light Body - Rating: 1 (SR5 310): Add +1 to Agility before calculating maximum jumping distance, and +1 to your Gymnastics Test when you make your jump. Voice Control - Rating: 1 (SR5 311): You can change your voice’s pitch, modulation and tone at will, as well as increase your volume. You can mask your voice and imitate sounds and mimic the voices of others. LifestyleLind House (High); paid by Trust Fund + Grid Subscription + Cleaning Service (Standard) + Sports Court - Small (Dance Studio) + Swimming Pool Cyberware/BiowareCommlinkSimrigCranial Bomb - MicrobombSensitive Skin (Nips camp; Van) (CF 110): Number of nerve endings increased; all sensations are stronger than before. Silky Skin (CF 110): Silky and soft skin; no body hair growth. Treatment needs to be repeated weekly. Tailored Pheromones (Rating 1) (SR5 460): +1 to skill tests for skills in the Acting and Influence skill groups, but only when the target can smell her. Vocal Range Enhancer (CF 115): Social limit increased by 1 when speaking, or by 2 for any Perform (Singing) test. Can also be used to fool voice recognition systems or imitate animal or artificial noises. Armor Good Pants x 4 0Good Shirt x 8 0Good Skirt x 2 0Good Socks x 10 0Good Undergarments x 10 0Nice Jewelry 0Nice Pants x 2 0Nice Shirt x 4 0Nice Skirt x 3 0Nice Socks x 2 0Nice Undergarments x 3 0Zoé: Nightshade/Moon silver 7 + Custom FitWeaponsAres Light Fire 70 (SR5 425) + Concealed Quick-Draw Holster (inner thigh; part of garter) + Silencer/Suppressor + Smart gun System, Internal + Spare Clip Pool: 8 Accuracy: 7 (9) DV: 6P AP: - RC: 2Tiffani-Defiance Protector (RG 29) + Gecko Grip + Laser Sight Pool: 8 Accuracy: 5 (6) DV: 7S(e) AP: -5 RC: 2Unarmed Attack Pool: 5 Accuracy: 5 DV: 3S AP: - RC: 2GearAmmo: Regular Ammo (Light Pistols) ×60Ammo: Taser Dart (Tasers) ×30AR Gloves Contacts (Rating 2) + Vision Enhancement (Rating 1) + SmartlinkFake SIN (Stella Sapphire) (Rating 4) + Fake License (Concealed Carry Permit) (Rating 4) + Fake License (Weapon License) (Rating 4)Contacts Melody Moore (Club Hopper), (Connection: 3,Loyalty: 4) Female human, 19yo, Stella's college friend, socialite and well-connected clubber Minerva Duarte (Entertainment Journalist), (Connection: 4,Loyalty: 3) Female human, 28yo, has recently interviewed Stella, they often share rumors and gossip Oskar Schultz (Tailor / Clothes Importer), (Connection: 2,Loyalty: 2) Male elf, 30yo, Stella's go-to tailor for new dresses and outfits Ramon Santiago (Taxi Driver), (Connection: 3,Loyalty: 1) Male dwarf, middle-aged, contract taxi of her apartment complex; often drives Stella to and from her high-end apartment UNO (ID Manufacturer), (Connection: 2,Loyalty: 1) Male or, somewhere between 35 and 55, sells fake Sins and other documents for college kids Marie: Alias Nadia Night. Nadia Night never worked for anything she had; it was all purchase and favors. If that sounds like a bad rep to be cultivating, you didn't grow up emerging in the literal shadow of a large MCT enclave with two paranoid ex-Take parents (one re-emerged) and their own swords over their necks. Somehow, the parting advice of "live unlike" lead to a kind of contradictory assumed persona. Money (or the mysterious 'favors') were almost everything for this shabby young street person/proto-runner. The grudge was real enough that though the act never quite really matured, it probably helped sell at least a few ideas that people got in their heads about "Nadia Night" and her doings. The first time she had to abandon things, Marie (named for the heroine of her parent's favorite classic game remake) counted amongst her favorite big scores a fake repeater drone and a nice van, by the standards she was raised in. Turned out that some people really went too far in their pursuit of insurance fraud. Still, she always thought that bouncing back, slightly different look and some 'upgraded' stuff sold things. When biosculpting became a did(er)spread thing, Marie leapt on it to 'sell' the persona of Nadia Night, and certainly not for any other kind of safety. Funnily, it wasn't the shady, possibly Yak run biosculptors that got her into trouble. It was the 'reopening' of a chop shop by what she thought were good and skilled chop-shoppers. If not for the likely Stone arranged 'accident' that left most of the chop-docs dead happening after a good bit too long, Marie is sure that the illusion of Nadia Night and her crew would probably be entirely intact. Things had to get out, it was impossible for nothing to get out with that kind of avoidant and mechanistic personality that she had without 'her' being loaded up, but thankfully the damning spread seems to be (mostly) contained to her current group of ... hummers and associates. Less fortunately, that seems to include the effects if not the specifics of her current predicament. And that has lead to her current situation, far less free than she'd ever want, but also not experimented on. So there's something to be ... not angry about. At least when she's in control. The feeling of getting memories added in abstract is just another thing makes her want to stay in control, but the risk of burning her brain out and the frankly unnerving way that the thought and memory patterns of the more often available (and sometimes run-necessary) BTL chips that she goes through like candy demand a lot of downtime to mentally prepare for (in her opinion). So at least on runs with this crew, she's less boisterous, cocky, fallen rich-bitch Nadia Night and more Marie, boisterous but more reasonable about her now diminished abilities. Even if she's still using the Nadia Night name. Current Look (NSFW): because I like to source when I can (also NSFW): because she doesn't want to let on her worries about mental degeneration (one 'advantage' of the Flashback System is being able to perfectly relive the past for 'comparison') or show the extent of her new vulnerability, Marie has become rasher and more willing to do stuff other than her usual semi-back-seated hacking to get money. This is mostly because she can't whistle up powerful sprites quite as easily and so sometimes needs to get in the place on her own and then call up the resonance entity. And yes, this means that her real first name would probably be Male. But it might not. Parents were strange folk. Literally parting ways and telling her to not look for them for a few years was not even the strangest thing they'd done. That is probably the City speak primary home that they raised her in for most of her life. Current Paragon: Delphi - +1 dice and limit for threading Complex Forms, -2 Initiative. Favor Status: Maintained. Nadia Night .99== Personal Data == Street Name: Nadia Night Name: Kiddo Movement:4/8 (2m/hit)Swim:1.5 (1m/hit)Karma: 0Street Cred: 0Notoriety: 0Public Awareness: 0Human (None)F Age 20-somethingHeight 5' Weight Mystery Composure: 10Judge Intentions: 9Lift/Carry: 4 (15 kg/10 kg) Memory: 11Nuyen:140¥== Priorities == Metatype: D,1Attributes: B,3Special: B,3 Skills: D,1Resources: C,2== Attributes == BOD: 3AGI: 2REA: 2STR: 1CHA: 4INT: 5LOG: 5WIL: 6EDG: 3RES: 4== Derived Attributes == Essence: 4.04Initiative: 7 +1d6Rigger Initiative: 7 +1d6Astral Initiative: Matrix AR: 7 +1d6Matrix Cold: 10 +3d6Matrix Hot: 10 +4d6Physical Damage Track: 10Stun Damage Track: 11== Limits == Physical: 3Mental: 7 Audio Enhancement [+2] (Only for Perception (Hearing)) Med kit [+1] (Only for First Aid and Medicine) Vision Enhancement [+1] (Only for Perception (Visual))Social: 6Astral: 7== Active Skills == Automatics (Machine Pistols) Base:4 Pool:6(8) Compiling (Companion Sprite) Base:4 Pool:8(10) Computer Base:0 Pool:6Con Base:2 Pool:6Cybercombat Base:2 Pool:7Disguise Base:0 Pool:6Electronic Warfare Base:0 Pool:6Etiquette Base:0 Pool:5Hacking Base:2 Pool:7Hardware Base:3 Pool:8Negotiation Base:0 Pool:5Perception Base:2 Pool:7Pilot Ground Craft Base:1 Pool:3Registering (Machine Sprite) Base:4 Pool:8(10) Software (Puppeteer) Base:6 Pool:11(13) == Knowledge Skills == City Speak Native English Base:4 Pool:9Russian Base:2 Pool:7BTLs Base:1 Pool:6 Codes Base:1 Pool:6Corporation: Matsubara Computer Technologies Base:2 Pool:7High Class Imitation Base:2 Pool:7Magical Threats Base:3 Pool:8 Mathematics Base:2 Pool:7Pre 2.0 Computer Base:3 Pool:8== Contacts == H, B.S.;The Rufus Room;Fence(5, 1) Overseen;The C. Canyon;Dealer(3, 3) == Qualities == Blank Slate Focused Concentration Frostbite (Electronic Warfare)Resonant Stream: CyberadeptTechnomancer== Complex Forms == (Tradition: Default, Resist Fading with WILL + RES = 10) EditorOverdrivePuppeteerStatic Veil Target:, Duration:, Fading Value: == Lifestyle == The Shelf(Low)2 Months + Cramped [-10%] + Grid Subscription (Public Grid) [+50¥]== Cyberware/Bioware == Data Lock Rating 2DatajackDatajackDatajackDream Link Flashback System Implant Medic Rating 1 (Smart skin)Markers Rating 2Nanohive, Hard Rating 2 (Markers and Pageants)Nanowire, Hard Rating 1Nanohive, Soft Rating 2 (Nanowatts)Nanowatts Rating 2Smartskin Rating 1== Armor == Urban Explorer Jumpsuit 11 + Electroceramic Clothing + Urban Explorer Jumpsuit: Helmet + Biomonitor== Weapons == Ares Crusader II + Extended Clip (Large Ammo Machine Pistols) + Gas-Vent 2 System + Smart gun System, Internal Pool: 8 Accuracy: 5 (7) DV: 7P AP: - RC: 4Unarmed Attack Pool: 1 Accuracy: 3 DV: 1S AP: - RC: 2== Comm link == Living Persona(ATT: 4,SLZ: 5,DP: 5,FWL: 6) Radio Shack PCD-500(ATT: 2,SLZ: 2,DP: 1,FWL: 1) + Sim Module, Hot + Universal Connector Cord (Meter) + Comm link Functionality[Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Cred stick Reader, Earbuds 1, GPS Guidance System, Micro Tried-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display] + Wrapper + Virtual Machine + Signal Scrub + Encryption== Gear: Equipped == Ammo: Gel Rounds (Machine Pistols) ×80AR Nails Armor Defeating Rating 3Attack Booster Rating 2 ×2Certified Cred stick, Silver Certified Cred stick, Standard Chill BTL ×2 Contacts Rating 3 + Smart link + Flare Compensation + Vision Enhancement Rating 1Cram ×3Datachip ×30 Earbuds Rating 3 + Audio Enhancement Rating 2 + Select Sound Filter Rating 1Fake SIN (Elle Ragù, USN) Rating 3 + Fake License (Matrix Software License) Rating 3 + Fake License (Pistol License) Rating 3 + Fake License (Projectile License) Rating 3 + Fake License (Restricted Cyberware License) Rating 3 + Fake License (Driver's License) Rating 3 + Fake License (Smart gun License) Rating 3Fortified Rating 3Hard Nanowire Upkeep (6 Months Advance Payment) Rating 2Hard Nanowire Upkeep (6 Months Advance Payment) Rating 1HurlgInfiltrator ×2JazzKamikazeLong Haul ×3Medkit Rating 1 ×3Personafix ×5Sensor Tags ×10SimrigSleaze Booster Rating 2 ×3Slick Willy Rating 3 ×2Stealth Tags ×10Tool Kit (Hardware)== Vehicles == Honda Spirit (Subcompact) + Sensor Array Rating 2The list of non-core stuff is as follows:Cutting Aces: AR Nails. Chrome Flesh: Blank Slate, Dream Link, Flashback System, Implant Medic, Markers, Nanowire - hard, Nanowire - Soft, Nanowatts, Smart skin, Chill BTL, Infiltrator BTL, Hurl. Hard Targets: Extended Clip Data Trails: RadioShack PDC-500Kill Code: Resonance Stream- Cyberadept, Frostbite, Overdrive, Booster Chips, Paragon: Delphi (was born to a pair of Horizon corp wage slaves and lived fairly normal for a corp brat. Raised by the robot-nanny, attended corp approved schools, and turned into a horrible monster when Halley's Comet passed by. The nanny bot alerted her parents, they panicked/were horrified, and she was dumped off in the sprawl. While dealing with having been abandoned and the changes to her body she's picked up by a small gang looking to use her small size to their advantage gaining access to places. When she was eleven she got to watch two magic users dueling each other and later when she was hidden within one of her boltholes she managed to blow it up trying to recreate the mages castings. For the gang the discovery that she could cast spells of her own boosted her from shrimp that fit through small windows to something that actually had useful potential as a whizkid. Over the years a fair bit of effort was put in by herself and the gang to gather spell books and scrolls or watch the few fights that happened within the area letting her gather a vast and random collection of magical knowledge and knowhow. In time, she not only developed a reputation as her areas witch of the alleys, but a voice began speaking to her from the shadows, whispers of stalking prey and gathering secrets. Cat had noticed her or she is. And with Cat's tutelage she grew even further. The gang never grew very big, they had their territories and their parties, but they were very much small fish in a big pond and a few of them wanted otherwise. They made a deal with another group and talked the rest of the gang into going out of their area to harass a few specific businesses in Tacoma. That was the end of the gang as they weren't a match for the shadow runners and guards that they ran into, the last thing she saw that night was the spinning world as the stolen car they'd escaped in spun and crashed. She woke later at the mercy of the orc whose businesses they'd attacked, a Mr Stone. A debt had been accrued by her gang and the effort taken to save her life. As she was the only survivor it fell on her to pay it all back with precautions taken should she try getting out of it. At Mr Stone's prompting that which had belonged to her gang were liquidated, and she moved into an apartment in Tacoma Heights. == Personal Data ==Street Name: JunkcatName: Jessica TelmainMovement:15/30 (3m/hit)Swim:3.5 (1m/hit)Karma: 0Street Cred: 0Notoriety: 1Public Awareness: 0Human Female Age 19Height 4'8 Weight 90lbsComposure: 8Judge Intentions: 9Lift/Carry: 5 (30 kg/20 kg) Memory: 6Nuyen:692¥ == Priorities == Metatype: E,0 Attributes: B,3Special: A,4 Skills: C,2 Resources: D,1 == Attributes == BOD: 3AGI: 5REA: 3(4) STR: 2CHA: 3INT: 6LOG: 1WIL: 5EDG: 3MAG: 6 == Derived Attributes == Essence: 6.00Initiative: 10 +2d6Rigger Initiative: 10 +2d6Astral Initiative: 12 +3d6Matrix AR: 10 +2d6Matrix Cold: 12 +3d6Matrix Hot: 12 +4d6Physical Damage Track: 10Stun Damage Track: 11 == Limits == Autopicker [+6] (Only for picking mechanical locks)Physical: 4 Autopicker [+6] (Only for picking mechanical locks)Mental: 5 Audio Enhancement [+1] (Only for Perception (Hearing)) Audio Enhancement [+3] (Only for Perception (Hearing)) Med kit [+3] (Only for First Aid and Medicine) Spatial Recognizer [+2] (Only for Perception to find the source of a sound) Vision Enhancement [+3] (Only for Perception (Visual))Social: 6 Voice Warner [+1] (Only for Intimidation)Astral: 6 == Active Skills == Arcane Base:1 Pool:2Binding Base:4 Pool:10Etiquette Base:2 Pool:5 Gymnastics Base:5 Pool:14Leadership Base:2 Pool:5Locksmith Base:5 Pool:10Negotiation Base:2 Pool:5Perception Base:3 Pool:9 Pistols Base:5 Pool:10Sneaking Base:5 Pool:10Spellcasting Base:5 Pool:11Summoning Base:5 Pool:11 == Knowledge Skills == English Native Club Music Base:1 Pool:7Corporation: Horizon Group Base:1 Pool:2 Firearms (Pistols) Base:1 Pool:2(4) Gangs Base:2 Pool:8Magic Traditions Base:2 Pool:3Magical Theory (Street) (Sorcery) Base:3 Pool:9(11) Sprawl Life Base:2 Pool:8 == Contacts == Johnny;Street Doc(1, 3) Little Bull;Talismonger(2, 3) == Qualities ==Positive Mentor Spirit (Cat)Mystic AdeptNegativeAccident Prone (R5 33)Faraday Himself (DT 48)Gremlins Lightweight (CF 58)Poor Self Control (Thrill Seeker)Changeling (Class III SURGE) [25/25] (RF)Positive Balance Receptor Bicardiac Celerity Functional Tail (Balance)Vomeronasal OrganNegativeBioluminescence Critter Spook Mood HairNocturnalSlow Healer Striking Skin Pigmentation == Tradition == Chaos Magic, Resist Drain with:11 == Spells == Ball Lightning DV: F-1Bugs DV: F-3Chaotic World DV: Claw (FA 50) DV: Heal DV: F-4Improved Invisibility DV: F-1Opium Den (SG 111) DV: F-1Physical Barrier DV: F-1Stunball DV: FTRD Phantasm DV: F == Powers == Combat Sense Rating: 1Danger Sense Rating: 2Flexibility (SG 171) Rating: 1 Improved Reflexes Rating: 1Sustenance (SG 174) == Cyberware ==Null essence loss via GM ruling Cortex Bomb (Microbomb)Delaware Implanted Comm link (Transit Avalon)Delaware Sim rig == Lifestyle == Tacoma Heights Apartment(Medium)2 Months (Rooming with Butterfly) + Grid Subscription (Local Grid) + Grid Subscription (Public Grid) == Armor == Armor Clothing 6Cheap Pants (RF 23) 0Cheap Shirt (RF 23) 0Cheap Shirt (RF 23) 0Cheap Shoes (RF 23) 0Cheap Skirt (RF 23) 0Cheap Socks (RF 23) 0 Coveralls (RF 23) 0Forearm Guards (RG 73) +1 + Autopicker Rating 6Urban Explorer Jumpsuit 9 + Chemical Protection 4 + Nonconductivity 5 + Urban Explorer Jumpsuit: Helmet + Biomonitor == Weapons == Ares Predator V + Concealed Quick-Draw Holster (RG 51) + Silencer/Suppressor + Smart gun System, Internal + Spare Clip + Spare Clip + Spare Clip Pool: 10 Accuracy: 5 (7) DV: 8P AP: -1 RC: 2Defiance EX Shocker Pool: 10 Accuracy: 4 DV: 9S(e) AP: -5 RC: 2Hold-Fast Sprayer Pool: 0 Accuracy: 2 DV: Special AP: -2 RC: 2Knife (Survival Kit) Pool: 4 Accuracy: 5 DV: 3P AP: -1 RC: 2Survival Knife + Survival Knife Bonuses + Survival Knife Wireless Bonuses Pool: 4 Accuracy: 5 DV: 4P AP: -1 RC: 2Unarmed Attack Pool: 4 Accuracy: 4 DV: 2S AP: - RC: 2 == Comm link == Meta Link(ATT: 0,SLZ: 0,DP: 1,FWL: 1)×5 + Comm link Functionality[Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Cred stick Reader, Earbuds 1, GPS Guidance System, Micro Tried-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display] Transit Avalon(ATT: 0,SLZ: 0,DP: 6,FWL: 6) + Comm link Functionality[Camera, Micro, Chip Player, Cred stick Reader, Earbuds 1, GPS Guidance System, Micro Tried-Projector, Music Player, RFID Tag Scanner, Shock- and Water-Resistant Case, Touchscreen Display] + Sim Module, Hot + Map soft (Town) == Gear == Ammo: APDS (Heavy Pistols) ×30Ammo: Stick-n-Shock (Heavy Pistols) ×30Ammo: Taser Dart (Tasers) ×30Backpack (Good) (RF 254)Binoculars, Optical + Vision Magnification Can of Spray Paint ×4 (Black/Red/Green/Purple) (RF 254) Certified Cred stick, Standard ×4 Contacts Rating 3 + Flare Compensation + Smart link + Low LightDatachip ×10 Earbuds Rating 3 + Select Sound Filter Rating 1 + Spatial Recognizer + Audio Enhancement Rating 1Fake SIN (Jessica Tel main) Rating 4 + Fake License (Firearms License) Rating 4 + Fake License (Mage License) Rating 4 + Fake License (Driver's License) Rating 4 + Fake License (Courier's License) Rating 4Gecko Tape Gloves Goggles Rating 6 + Thermographic Vision + Vision Enhancement Rating 3 + Vision Magnification Hold-Fast Adhesive Spray ×2 (RG 104)Hammer, Directional Rating 6Lighter (Disposable) ×4 (RF 255)Lock pick Set Magical Lodge Materials (Chaos Magic) Rating 6Medkit Rating 3Micro-TransceiverMiniwelderMiniwelder Fuel Canister ×2 Reagents, per dram (Chaos Magic) ×100Roll of Duct Tape ×2 (RF 254)Slap Patch, Stem Patch Rating 6 ×4Slap Patch, Trans Patch Rating 6 ×2Slap Patch, Trauma Patch ×2Subvocal Mic Survival Kit + Lighter + Compass + Matches + Lightweight Thermal Blanket + Several Days' Worth of Ration Bars + Water Purification Unit Ultra-Glide Industrial Lubricant (liter) ×2 (RG 104)Voice Warner Rating 1 (HT 187)

Shadowrun BTL_ Characters|rating:4.0

-- 都下 Hotel -- Under Construction....

A trip to Tokyo! And the school is paying for it! It's summer break. The high schools and high schools are doing a little program about Tokyo for the Summer. 5 groups of 6 are being sent to Tokyo to observe their cultures and languages. The hotel they're staying in is 都下 Hotel. (都下 means Tokyo)They are all given one high-tech phone for the trip, too! Plus, everything that they buy is on the school! It's for the 40th anniversary. Well, the only bad thing is that you need to learn at least over 200 words in Japanese for only 3 months, and make a project about Tokyo with 5 other people in your group including you! It's not that easy! Rules:((1)) Follow Men Rules!!((2)) Keep ALL Pg-13!((3)) Be a little literate. Have at least 5 sentences per post/paragraph unless you have writer's block. Use proper grammar and spelling, also!((4)) Make sure we know you're using IOC!((5)) You can travel around Tokyo and hangout with friends, if you like!((6)) Please don't change my profile/skeletons. But, you can change the BB code!((7)) Boys are Boys and Girls are girls. Sorry, but like I said, every rule has a reason.((8)) I can change rules anytime, so keep a lookout! Also, have fun!((9)) Post your profiles, then you can start! Groups:The Groups. Pick a group you want to be in, or start a new group! To start a new group, talk to me about it in IOC. Group 1:NoneProfilesUsername:RP name: (Please make it match your character image and personality)Age: (14-17, since the 18 year-olds are in last year, they can't submit their reports in next year and still get a grade)Gender:Personality: (about 5+ sentences. Also, make your personality match with your image. It's odd when you have a peppy personality when it shows a sad-looking picture...) My group:Others:Appearance: (Description, picture, anything) Open! [Is it okay for me to post my profile here? By the way, 都下 does not mean Tokyo, it means underneath the city. Tokyo is 東京.][Username: Mage RP name: In You Age: 16 Gender: Male Personality: In is normally a quiet guy. He likes to observe the situation rather than taking action, and wouldn't rush into an event without examining it closely beforehand. Occasionally, he would rush into a topic of discussion if he is excited about it. This includes topics of art, music, and occasionally anime. Normally, he keeps his emotions in check and does not anger easily. My group: Group 1. Others: In always had a slight obsession with Japan. Being brought up by strict Chinese parents, however, In was raised in an anti-Japanese atmosphere. After learning about the school-hosted trip, he immediately jumped at the opportunity. He figured that since he already knew Chinese, Japanese wouldn't be that hard to learn. Appearance: [x] ((HRM, I guess I'll join. Hopefully more active than the other ones I'm in at the moment. Just to note, everyone can change their gender any time, so there's no point saying girl is girl and boy is boy. XD; Plus, on the internet everyone can lie. =w=;))Username: Sadistic_Lover name: Diana Dang Age: 16Gender: Female Personality: Diana is a shy and happy girl that generally gets along with everyone. She enjoys doing fun things, but it takes awhile to have her do something she is not comfortable with at first. She is a handworker and is considered "the nerd". But in reality, she just does all her work well because her parents are really strict with school. She is actually pretty lazy and rather just spend her time watching Asian dramas and reading mangas. She is also very insecure about her own image, so she tries not to consume so much junk food even though she can not help herself. My group: 1Others: Watching many Japanese anime and dramas, Diana always dreamed about going to Japan. And it being free?? Hell yeah she'll go! Who would be an idiot not to? She could not wait to go to places like Harajuku and buy all those Lolita items that she could not afford online. Appearance: ((I'll move this to the Modern and Schools subforum, since this seems to fit that with its Modern/Hotel setting.)) ((I might join. I'll think about it)) Quote: Originally Posted by Sadistic_Love Just to note, everyone can change their gender any time, so there's no point saying girl is girl and boy is boy. XD; Plus, on the internet everyone can lie. =w=;)) ((I more think She meant something like cross dressers! Not that if you are a girl you can not play a boy!)) Username:Dana Little Flame RP name: Anthem Age: 16 Gender:Male Personality: He is a class clown and loves to annoy the people around him. He is very outgoing and there is hardly a person in School that does not know him. Sure most of the people that know him may not like him but at least he is know...or at least that is the way he sees it. At home his parents are to busy to notice him so he gets no attention from them. He is actually part Japanese and part German. He lived in Japan for a couple of years, so this actually sounds quit easy to do for him. I mean hell he already has the words down, and now a lot about Japan! My group: Umm maybe someone will let him in there's! Others: In truth though Anthem will never tell anyone he did not want to go on the trip for fear that no one would want to pair up with him, but when his mom found out about it, she forced him to go saying that he could finally visit his grandmother again like he had promised her when they moved away. Appearance: ☠ ((Exactly when do we start? o.o;;)) ((That's What I would like to know!)) ((I hope she didn'ty quit all of a sudden x.x;;)) ((That would be been luck, huh?)) ((I PMed her but she never replied. ._.;)) I tried the same thing with the same results! Lol, should we like RP without her consent? OO; I'm bored anyway. XD; Tho I should go study. I was wondering that! I mean maybe something happened to her! Furthermore, I guess we should give her a little more time, but I really don't want to! Furthermore, I know there are more important things I should be doing too! ((Lol! Well we can always give her more time. Maybe something important came up? Px)) ((That's what I was thinking!)) ((If we do RP, I wonder if there'll be a good plot... It's hard to work around normal life. >yeah I was wondering how to get this off the ground in the first place! ((We'll start with the airport, most obvious. XD Darn it! I wanna RP! D: My other thread no one has replied for hours, and I'm out of ideas, so I need something to keep me going. ._. ) ((What other one are you in?)) [(Sorry I'm a little late, I've been real busy,)] Username: Princess Emerald RP name: Dakota Blanc. Age: 16 Gender: Female Personality: Accepts people for who they are, kind, sometimes can hide her emotions, a little sensitive. Usually she would never have a crush on a guy, She's not flirty, but smiles a lot. She's not familiar with the phrase 'Gets too close.' She can trust people easily, but always accepts them for who they are, everyone is good. She's very positive and almost never thinks negative. She can keep secrets. My group: 1 Others: She's been practicing gymnastics since she was very little. It keeps her mind off her parents' death. Appearance: ((I'm active in "Crimson Love" at the moment. XD I signed up for an Duran one, but I haven't posted because there is like one post a day. o.o; And this one I am attempting on.@Princess: Lol no prob! We haven't started so yea... Your character without the ears I presume? Since this seems more like a normal RP than a fantasy one. XD)) ((Without the ears, yeah, sorry. I couldn't find a better picture so yeah.)) ((HRM, I don't think the thread owner will ever come back. @@))][So guys, do you want to start? It's been long enough, and I think we have enough people. ^^][((Okay, I'll go I guess XD; I'm so bored....)) "We will be arriving at Tokyo in 10 minutes. Please prepare to land." A voice on the speakers said, and then it was translated into Japanese. A girl with black hair that was sloppily tied back was suddenly awoken from the sound. A manga slid down from her chest and she caught it before it fell to the ground. "Phew!" She hugged the manga before carefully tucking it into her bag. She adjusted her glasses and blinked a few time to adjust to her surroundings. Furthermore, she put everything away into her bag which had a duct tape with "Diana Dang" written on it. Her mom freaked about things like these. She looked around. Everyone in her school that was there were pretty excited, she couldn't contain her happiness herself. She swayed back and forth in joy, couldn't wait to get off the plane. This was simply amazing! [Sorry about my late reply. I got distracted by the summer event going on. XD][In yawned, glancing through his window. According to the announcement earlier, it was four o'clock in Tokyo at the moment, and the scene outside reflected it. The sun shone into In's eyes, temporarily blinding him. He looked away, pulling down his window cover to prevent the light from coming in again. The airplane was landing in ten minutes. However excited he was about this trip, he found himself wishing that the ride would last a little more. They had flown through the night from the airport near the school to Tokyo. Some students had slept through the whole ride, while others whispered quietly. Trying in vain to blink the sleep out of his eyes, the teen briefly wondered how the other students did it. Did they sneak a whole bottle of caffeine onto the plane? Suddenly, he felt the plane shake, much like the sensation he felt when the plane took off. In front of him, the seatbelt sign flashed on and off. The plane's entering turbulence, he thought. Clipping on his seatbelt, he closed his eyes again, attempting to catch a second's worth of sleep. ((Lol, no prob. XD; At least now I know you are alive. o3o)) Diana pulled out a hairbrush and fixed her hair. It was much neater than it was a second ago. The plane rumbled as it landed. As the minutes passed, everything stopped. The announcement dismissed everyone in English and Japanese. "Yes!!" Diana squealed, jumping up from her seat but unfortunately banged her head against the ceiling because of her height. She rubbed her bruised spot but quickly went back to her excitement. "Can you believe it? Can you believe it??" Diana grabbed onto her best friend, Donna. Donna grinned. "This is wicked!" They made their way out of the plane and both of them were jumping up and down. Pretty much everyone from their school that came were. To be in Japan all for free? Who could not be happy at this point? Once everyone came out of the plane, and they were in the airport, the teacher told everyone to gather for attendance after they have collected their luggage. After, she went over the rules which seemed to go on for ages. Everyone just wanted to quickly leave the place to the hotel. Sightseeing baby! In blindly followed his class out of the plane. They had finally landed, and In didn't feel any different. He had expected something bigger, some feeling of excitement or joy to well up inside him. After all, this was his first time on a plane, and first time going abroad. His parents, poor immigrants from China, had maintained a bread shop near his school for as long as he could remember, his family being too poor to afford any sort of vacation outside the US. He dragged his luggage along, pausing outside the crowd of students listening politely to their teacher's lecture. He listened half-heartedly as she explained the rules, a packet of words that In's parents had him read over and over until he had finally memorized them. To distract himself and keep himself awake, he glanced at the many advertisements and posters donning the walls of the airport, recognizing a few kanji words here and there. "...once we're past the passport checkpoint, please don't go on by yourselves... taking a bus to the hotel... tempura dinner..." Sensing that the students were getting impatient, the teacher ended her speech quickly. The group pulled forward through the different checkpoints of the airport. In procured his documents out of his bookbag and handed everything to the clerk behind the counter. Surprisingly, the man's English was very good. There was no hint of a Japanese accent at all. Afterward, the students boarded a shuttle bus. As the bus pulled through the airport, In glanced out of the window. It was his chance to take a closer look at Tokyo, and he definitely wasn't going to sleep through it. ((I wonder what kind of problem you can have in a RP like this...)) Scooting over on to a seat near the front of the shuttle bus, Diana and her friend immediately swiped out their digital cameras from their bags. Some people were oohing and aching at the foreign country's scenery while others talked with their friends excitedly about their plans for tonight. "Oh my gosh! Did you see that guy?" Diana's finger jabbed against the window in a direction where she saw some Japanese guy in his 20s with an outrageous outfit walking down the street. The camera flash immediately went off. "My Facebook's new album will have over a thousand pictures once we get back!" Donna said, browsing through the pictures she just took. "Ah, maybe I'll find a really cute guy here! And he'll be like from a wealthy family and ask me to live in Japan with him forever." Diana sighed dreamily, lowering her camera as she went off into her own world. She knew inside that would be pretty much impossible, but she always had this small hope inside that she would be swept off in the lives of those manga characters. Even not, at least she was glad to be able to come to Japan while she was still in high school. They reached their hotel about half an hour later and once again, the teacher went over the rules in the lobby. "As everyone already know here, girls are with girls while boys are with boys for their rooms. Four people per a room. Lights out are at 11 o'clock sharp." The teacher reminded her students. She pulled out a piece of paper from the stack that she was holding onto. "For today, since this is our first time here you are allowed to roam the city." Everyone cheered, but the teacher hushed them as she continued, "But I want everyone back before seven back here in the lobby so we can go out and eat at a restaurant." Diana smile seemed to be stretching from one end of her face to another. The teacher handed everyone their keys and gave them their room numbers. People fought for the elevators. Once it was full, whoever couldn't get in rushed up the stairs. Their floor was the fifth and the girls were at the west wing while the boys were at the east wing. Running up the stairs near the end of the crowd, Diana was about to reach the fifth floor when she accidentally lost her footing and tripped backwards. "What....!" ((Harm, i want to join but the character in meh mind is kinda tough to insert XD I want him to be disgruntled and not that happy about the trip, just so he contrasts...but still dunno if he'll work in this situation XD.... I shall ponder out a solution >3>edit: Hamm, I was wondering if meh chart could become cousins with either Dana's or Mage's characters? Preferably Dana's though.)) ((Lol, well I contacted Dana, but she never replied. But the more, the better if you join! >3edit: I have an idea that if he's cousins with mage's chart then he'll have to follow In to Japan because his parents forced him to spend time and watch after his cousin. But actually he didn't want to go to Japan... Mage:may meh character be cousins with yours??? XD))][Sure, why not? ^^ In's parents can be concerned about his behavior in Japan, and decide to tell your parents to send your character along. XD As for plot, it's already mentioned that we have to learn 200 words and finish a project. I guess for now, list the places your character wants to go, and we'll make an itinerary of some sort. Maybe someone can end up lost, or their money stolen, etc.][In followed the rest of the crowd up the stairs. He had no idea where his room was, but he figured that he could always find the teacher later. Bounding up the fifth flight of stairs, he almost reached he's landing when a girl in front of him let out a surprised gasp, falling backwards. Reflexively, the boy reached out, catching the girl and preventing her from falling. "Are you alright?" he asked. ((Lol, well we can always come up with something as we go along. It's better that way. Px))Diana looked up to see who had caught her. She immediately went into a shade of red. She wasn't used to being around guys that often. Furthermore, she had a couple of guy friends but even though, her contact around males were pretty limited due to her parents' overprotective personalities. In was a few guys in her school that she considered cute even though she did not know him very well. And she had a thing for cute guys. "I'm okay! T-thank you for helping me." She flustered and did a small head bow in gratitude. Her friend stuck her head out of the doorway. "What are you doing there? Come on! We have to choose a bed!" Diana quickly waved bye and ran off to see her room for the next three months. Username: AzukiPunkRP name: Jun Age: 17Gender: Male Personality: Jun's a very mild guy, but is usually upset most of the time in school since he'd have to work at his parent's restruant afterward so he barely has time to himself. But underneath his unhappiness he's actually a really caring guy, almost like a big brother to his friends and classmates. My group: group 1Others: Jun's cousins with In You and is forced to go on the trip to Japan with him since both their parents insisted that he keep an eye out on In. It was free anyway. He also helps out at the family's noodle shop. Appearance: ((Nya, cute character. Now go postie! XD; The place is already dying. =3=;)) ((haha oldies, let me see if I can successfully insert him onto the scene XD))Jun was waiting impatiently on the fifth floor with all the luggage near him. He was really restless and really didn't want to be there at all. He had better things to do back at home like try to earn money so he can move out of his parents house when he graduates. Furthermore, he was groggy from the long plane ride and really wanted to sleep in their hotel room. Luckily one of his roommates was his cousin, In. He was still upset about his parents forcing him to go to Japan, he really didn't mind hanging out with his cousin, but what else is he going to do there? He really had no interest in the culture since his father was pretty much Sino-Japanese just like his cousin's parents. So naturally it rubbed off on him. He then tried to look over the crowd coming up the stairs to find his cousin, good thing he was pretty tall for his age. He mumbled to himself and wished he could've been sleeping by now. In her new bedroom, Diana squealed with delight. Clutching onto some manga, she jumped up and down. "Oh my god!! I was looking for the 10th volume of Kuroshio everywhere!! Where the hell did you get it?" Diana just kept jumping up as her roommates stared at here, thinking about giving her some meds. Diana happily placed the book on the bed dresser and looked at it adoringly. Donna grinned, "I have my sources." Everyone was unpacking their things. People were exchanging small talks as they go back and forth from room to room. "Screw it! I'll unpack once we come back!" She threw a few things at the side a picked out an outfit. She rushed to the washroom before anyone else could and came back out with a colorful t-shirt and jeans. "Come Don! We have to start touring... NOW!" Diana grabbed her best friend's hand and her bag that was pinned with anime-related things. She raced down the hallway, nearly bowling over a guy who was waiting for someone. "Sorry Jun!" Diana yelled back at him, not stopping much to see if he was okay or not. Even if the guy and his cousin were cute, it was not stopping her at the moment when she was in Japan.((Lol, so much harder to come up with plots when everything is modern based. XD;)) ((haha XD Japan is a crazy place, so anything could happen...maybe even a special guest encounter by Hard Gay!! *waaahoooo!* XDD that'll be so funny though))Jun was on the brink of nodding off, standing in the hallway when all of a sudden Diana and Don rushed by him and took him by surprise. He gave them a mean look, but then his face softened as Diana apologized. He watched them run out of the hallway so energetically, and excused them since they were so happy. Silly girls... He thought to himself. He then gave a big ol' yawn and wet his lips a bit, rubbed his eyes. Jun was getting cranky, "Hey In! Where are you manning?" Jun then took a look at his watch and all of a sudden his stomach gave a huge growl. Damn, I'm hungry already...? He then asked a roommate of his to open up their room for them so he could drop off the luggage and hopefully go out and find someplace to eat...then he could come back and sleep. ((Lol, her full name is Donna, but Don was a short form. XD;True, Japan is a very crazy place. XD;)) Diana was about to faint on the spot when she was outside. It was crowded with Japanese people bustling everywhere. There were billboards with Japanese artists and the latest fashion behind the glass. It was Japan's New York! Of course, Diana never been to New York, but anyone could relate. They both went to exchange all of their money into Japanese yen at a mall. About a couple of hours later when they came back, both of their hands were full of shopping bags. After unpacking, Diana sprawled everything onto her bed. From clothes to accessories, she would need an extra luggage to haul it all back. "How much did you spend?" Donna asked, folding in her new clothes. Diana counted but then realized it was in yen. "No clue! I have about..." She looked into her wallet and gasped. "About five hundred yen left. That's five dollars..." She fell to the side, couldn't believe she splurges so much on one day. "And I didn't bring my bank card either. It's back at home." She rolled around in the bed, biting into her nail wondering what she was going to do. Donna had to remove the things quickly before she crushed them. "Return them." Donna said bluntly. She picked up a kimono that was mixed with some new style. "You spent like over a hundred on this. That's a week worth of food there." "New!" Diana snatched it away and held onto it tightly. "No, no no! I refuse!" "A job?" A roommate piped up. She and their other roommate didn't buy much except for a couple of things. Diana looked at their bought items and at hers. A small part of her died a little but when she heard of the new idea, she jumped up. "A job! That's brilliant! I just need to go to apply to a couple of places!" Diana started excitedly. "Uh, you know that you barely speak any Japanese nonetheless go look for a job in Japan?" Donna reminded her. Diana slumped onto her bed and threw herself over her bought products. "I'm doomed!!" She sobbed. ((haha no prob take your time :3 and i almost want to call her dona, but don's ok too. Hope you don't mind me calling her either of that? ) ((Lol, not a prob. I edited the post up there. ^ :3)) ((Hamm how to make interaction... I think we need more characters XD plus I'm kinda pooped out XD so much writing today >Jun spent the rest of the day changing his money and going out trying to find a reasonable place to eat. After surfing through the busy streets of Tokyo, which he wasn't enjoying a lot, he then found a sidebar noodle stand on a more shade part of town. A place where less tourist were at. He really wanted some Chinese food, but he had to setting for some side-street noodles. He sat at the bar and tried to order in English, but the cook couldn't understand. The began a series of charades between the cranky Jun and the Japanese cook. Jun even tried to say things in Chinese, but it failed. So then finally Jun gave up and pointed to a random entry on the menu and asked for a drink by gesture. With luck, Jun got a dish of spicy tan-tan ramen and a small shot glass of water...or so he thought it was. When he was done with the ramen he kept ordering more of the small drink. What a selfish place, selling such a small cup of water... Little did he know it was sake, and he couldn't taste it since the spice overwhelmed his tongue. He continued to order 5 or 6 shots of it, and then he cashed out and started to head towards the hotel. Such an expensive place, ID never knew their water cost so much...what a rip-off. Jun then swaggered his way into the hotel, not knowing he was tipsy, since he thought he was exhausted. But then on his way up the stairs to the with floor he tripped on one of the steps and landed onto the hallway. Jun winced in pain and rolled around in agony. He was totally not happy, but soon the sake overwhelmed him and suddenly he blacked out. ((Lol! We seriously should get interaction, let me come up with something. My brain is fried too. Hm, who should I invite to the RP...?)) With a sigh, Diana got up. "I could at least attempt to get a job. I'll just quickly go downstairs and ask the front desk. Good thing they know English." Heading towards the elevators, she saw that both of them were at the top of the hotel. Being impatient, she went towards the stairs. Opening the stairways' door, she saw a body sprawled there. Immediately she jumped into a conclusion that the guy was shot, but there was no blood. "Um, excuse me? Are you okay there?" She flipped the person over to see it was Jun. His face seemed weird and when she leaned closer she could smell his breath. "UK!" She pulled away. She looked down at the hallway, no one was there. Furthermore, she looked back at him. Furthermore, she then turned him over, so his stomach faced upwards and used her arms under his to pull him across the floor. "Damn, why are you so heavy?? You don't even look like it." Diana struggled and managed to pull his body half-way in the hallway. A teacher came out and was totally surprised to see the scene. "Diana! What happened?" He came over to the girl, and she explained how she found Jun dead-drunk near the stairwell. He thanked her got another teacher to help the guy up. Furthermore, he was then taken to his own room. "Mesh! Who would get drunk on the first day?" Diana disregard it and continued on with her plan, to find a job. ((Lol, sorry. That's a crappy interaction. x.x; Ideas... ideas... //headband// So much easier with vampires. XD;)) ((haha silly sadistic XD well it was sum thing so no worries :3 I'm wondering if I should add in another chart, not a student but instead a local from the city. I wonder if that's ok...and ya we do need more players...)) The whole night has past, and it became early morning and finally Jun had woken up from his drugged sleep. Owwww, what the hell? Where am I? Jun obviously had a hang over, but he was clueless about it. He looked around and scanned the area and noticed he was back in the hotel room. He was utterly confused and tried to get up but only stumbled out of bed and fell to the floor. All of the roommates where still including In. Jun wanted to head to the bathroom and probably stay in there for a while, he needed to get over his hangover. ((Lol, you should. XD; Maybe I'll bring in a Japanese character of mine...)) A Japanese, orange-headed girl in front of the hotel was in a heated argument with another girl outside the hotel. Mimi Atari grabbed the collar of the tanned girl with heavy makeup on. Both were speaking rapidly in Japanese. "Listen you, b*TCH. I did not meet up with your boyfriend last night." She snarled at the girl named Yuri. Mimi was just minding her own business, walking down the street when Yuri came out of nowhere with her little Gucci bag and pink heels saying that her friend saw Mimi and the boyfriend together. "Don't lie to me!" Yuri screeched, scratching Mimi on the face with her manicured nails. That set off Mimi big time. "Oh you, f**king we*re!" Mimi immediately gave two painful punches right in Yuri's face. It was a huge commotion and people were trying to tear the two apart. Diana who was at the front desk went to see what was going on. She couldn't help but thought this was an awesome cat fight. If only she understood what they were saying. Both were brought into the hotel, held off by the security guards. When Diana looked at them, Mimi glared meanly back. Whoa, I hope I don't ever get in a mess with her... Diana thought to herself. ((AK! Sorry for not replying for a while Two Hamm maybe shall we recruit new players for this RP?? Well here I go :3 and I'll add in meh Japanese chart when the timing's right for him >:3))While Jun was in the bathroom he forgot to close the door all the way, when all of a sudden one of his roommates burst in through the door, "Jun, OMG! You would never believe it there was this cat fight happening outside the hotel! The girls look outrageous out there come, come you should see!" Harry had caught Jun in the middle of brushing his teeth, but at the sudden burst, Jun almost fell over the toilet bowl. Obviously he was still trying to wake up. But with all the excitement Harry didn't care what was happening he pulled Jun out of the bathroom and dragged him down to the lobby to sneak a peak at the ruckus that happened earlier. Jun had no control of what to do since his motor skills were still slow, for crying out loud he still had his toothbrush in his hand and his pants half on. There was a crowd already at the entrance, most of them tourists and classmates. Jun tried to pry his eyes open to focus, but he noticed a bright orange head-ed girl giving a mean look to Diana. He didn't know what to make of it but what he really needed to know was that he was half dressed in public... ((Lol, it's okay. We can ask the people from Crimson over... = 3 = ; Or make a recruit thread in IOC? Hrm, how should we start up Crimson again...?)) People surrounded the area that were watching the fight slowly dispersed when the two girls got caught. "Now, I need both of you to call a guardian so we can have this dealt with." The guard said, handing Yuri the phone at the front desk first. Diana watched enthusiastically even though she was glared back from earlier. I guess I would be giving people looks too if I am that pissed off. Diana thought to herself, seeing that now Mimi was on the phone with someone. She caught "Kansan" out of the conversation, knowing that Mimi was speaking to her mother at the other end. Diana wanted to linger some more, but it was getting late. She asked earlier about job availability in the hotel, but there was none. She saw Jun who was glancing her way and gave him a meekly smile. Furthermore, she then giggled when she noticed that he was half dressed. Furthermore, she passed by him to use the elevators, "I suggest you go add a couple of layers on." she said. ~~~ Both Mimi and Yuri waited for their guardians in the lobby. It was quieter now and both kept their backs turned to each other. Came in rushing a well-pressed businesswoman. She had her hair up in a bun with an expensive handbag. "Mimi! What happened? I had to get out of a business meeting early!" Both mother and daughter looked nothing alike. Mimi outfit was simply outrageous with chains everywhere along with her bright hair, while her mother had a well-respected appearance. "TCH, this bi--- girl I mean, totally accused me of something I did not do!" Mimi pointed with her thumb at Yuri behind her. "Mrs. Atari, how are you?" Yuri gave her fake sweet smile. "No, no, I saw Mimi did something horrendous with my own eyes! I don't want to blame your daughter so, but it can not be overlooked!" A few seconds later, Yuri's father who was a big man came in a shook Mrs. Atari hand. They exchanged their greetings and looked back at the two who looked down at the floor. "How am I going to deal with you...?" Mrs. Atari said softly in a disappointing tone to Mimi. ((Hamm I has no idea how to start up crimson again XD maybe something evil has happened? Im kinda in a writer's block on that. So that's the reason why I made demos return to the city for a bit ^^;but I think we should go for the IOC recruit thing for this RP :3 ill help support you in that if you'd like :3 asking for semi-lit or lit preferred XD Someone needs to take care of Jun when his cousin isn't around now onto to the story >:3))The show died down and everyone went back to do their own thing. Jun was still standing around trying to make sense of things, while Harry was going on and on about how intense the cat fight was with two totally eccentric looking girls. Diana passed by Jun and gave him a wry smile and said sum thing about layers... Jun took a look down at his clothes and calmly put back his pants on, grabbed Harry by the shirt sleeve and dragged him back up into the room. He was more tired than embarrassed, but he wanted to eat for some reason. On their way to their rooms Jun called out to Diana in the hallway, "Hey Diana, do you know any good places to eat?" He still had toothbrush in hand, but he didn't really care. ((So many people, so little ideas. @@ What should I do with Christie at that point...? Well I can have her pass by the city, but then all vampires try to avoid there because of hunters. XD; How evil can something happen? ._.;I did the thread in the OCC, though I asked for literate people. XD;)) "Hm?" Diana turned around and pointed at herself with a "me?" expression. They didn't know each other that well so she thought it was a bit odd that he asked. "Well, if you forgot. We just came here today. I never lived in Japan, have you?" She asked jokingly. Then Donna came out of the room and grabbed her. "Hey! I heard there was a fight earlier! I had to take a shower, so I missed it, come! Tell me!" She dragged Diana back into their hotel room and Diana waved later to Jun. ~~~ Mimi slammed her hand onto the desk in her mom's home office. It was a spacious and professional room with shelving of books at the back of the big table where her mom always sat at to do her work. "Oh hell no! I'm not going to babysit some kids from America!" "Lower your voice Mimi!" Mimi slumped to her seat. "Listen, why do I have to go teach these people about Japan? They can clearly just do it themselves, the computers these days have loads of information!" Mrs. Atari was patient and waited for her daughter finish complaining before she continued to speak. "One of their teacher is a good old friend of mine. You lived in New York for five years now and your English is perfect. Plus, you know how much you hate working at your dad's hospital. A bit from the students' fare would go into your pocket you would collect about $200 by the end of the month. I'm just requesting that you stay with them for one month, like a couple or so days each week. Is that so hard?" Mimi paused, obviously giving it some thought. "Well, it's summer vacation and I have nothing better to do... Fine." She sighed and pushed herself off the chair. "But, if something happens, I'm quitting." Mrs. Atari just smiled as Mimi when she went out and slammed the door behind her. Username: Rainbow Core RP name: Yuzuki Marlin Age: 16 Gender: Female Personality: Yew likes to keep her distance between others and herself. She's shy in the sense she won't speak much, but she won't turn crimson red on you unless something's really got to her which doesn't happen very often. She doesn't like loud, rude, and/or stuck up kids, and she doesn't try to interact with them either. Though she might seem rude at times, it's just her being her quiet self, minding her own business. There's much more to her and most know about. My group: 1 Others: She loves literature, has a great voice, and can cook fairly well. Appearance: ((The last RP I signed up for said this picture wasn't appropriate, but really, it's only not appropriate when you're thinking wrong about it. .___. I hope I don't have to change it. I really like the character. TNT)) This was just great. Yuzuki had been roomed with two stuck up girls who tried getting her to sleep on the pull-out couch so one of them didn't have to. She simply stayed quiet and continued unpacking her things, ignoring their request. One of them walked up to her and started yelling at her to respond and even cursed at her. Then, when one of the teachers who were in charge of this whole trip came in and asked what was wrong, the two girls told said it was nothing, expecting Yuzuki to say the same, but Yew repeated the girl's words, pointing at her with black eyes and they both stared wide-eyed at her, mouths dropped. The teacher scowled them and gave them a lecture then told them to behave before leaving. Yew ended up being kicked out of the room, but she didn't mind. It wasn't like she wanted to stay in there with them. She sighed, rolling her suitcase down the hall, wondering if she could stay with someone else. She started humming which seemed to help until she saw a few guys up away, walking the opposite way though when they saw her, they began walking beside her. "Hey, what's a cutie like you doing out here alone?" One of them said, brushing her arm with the back of his palm. She walked a little faster, her expression unmoved. The guy looking irritated, grabbing her arm to stop her. She glared at him, but he didn't seem to care. "Let. Go." She said, the first two words of the night. "Aah. So she speaks." A different guy said, grabbing a hold of her older arm. "Let go you creeps," she said, struggling to break free. She did manage to kick one of them in the back of their legs and when he let go of her, she bit the other guy holding her then ran down the hallway, her suitcase rolling behind her. Yuzuki heard them chasing her which made her wonder if they'd give up soon or if they'd stalk her until they were satisfied. Since her eyes were shut, focusing on running, she didn't realize there was a boy in the hallway and wound on crashing into him. Her eyes opened, and she noticed he was from her group. She stayed speechless, frozen in place as the guys caught up to her and turned her around. "You think we were finished, huh? Well, you were wrong." Just when they were about to grab her, one of the teachers passed up, asking if there were a problem. Yew pointed to the three men, and she told them to leave before she called security. They left, not wanting to get in trouble then the teacher turned towards her and asked if she was alright. She nodded, and then the teacher left without another word. ((Yay welcome boa :3 I shall post later and see what I can come up with. And I think the pic is fine XD It's gorgeous :3)) ((Thanks. :] I look forward to role-playing with you all. Okay, that's reassuring. Now I don't have to change it. ) ((Haha, I was thinking that I'll never come back here. XD; It was dead for a while. Px I'll post later since I'm really distracted right now...)) ((hey boa, the guy that Yuzuki bumped into in the hallway, could that be just a random student or is that Jun? ) ((I'm so sorry for not replying sooner. TNT I've been busy and school's coming up for me. Err, Whichever. ) ((ok going to make the boy you crashed into the hallway be Jun since it'll be interesting.)) Jun was about to enter his room when all of a sudden some girl crashed into him without any warning as he was just coming to from his accidental hangover. He feels to the floor with a thud until he realized the girl who bumped into him was Yew. She was a quiet girl in class although he wouldn't know much about the girl since she keeps to herself a lot. Then Jun heard voices of men, and they didn't sound too friendly. That's when he realized these men where stalking the poor girl. Just when he was about to teach them a thing or two about harassing girls, a reach came up behind him and resolved the whole incident. He carefully saw them exit the hallway, but he had qualms about seeing them again. Yew was a pretty girl anyway, but being the guy he is, he always wanted to seek out justice for others." I see that was a close one, eh?" Jun said as he helped Yew with her tossed luggage. [[Nyah ! I'm always having trouble remembering to post. Sorry guys. TNT]] Yuzuki didn't respond, not knowing what to say besides the obvious words and even those two hadn't come out of her mouth. She wasn't used to all this in just one night. She had been bullied, harassed, and helped by one of the boys from her school. Though they weren't exactly the closest of friends, she had admired him from afar. It wasn't as if she stalked him, but he just seemed different from the other boys who were sometimes rowdy and shallow. Finally, after realizing she must've been making herself look like a fool, she spoke up as she took her suitcase from him. "Thank you. Jun." She said, her voice gentle and her eyes quite sentimental. She remembered why she was out in the hallway in the first place. Furthermore, she had been kicked out of her room and needed some other place to stay. "You wouldn't happen to know a room that I could stay in, would you? Most rooms seem to be full and unwelcome. Like mine." If she were to use a tone so tender with her eyes looking so pathetically vulnerable, another would so as take advantage of her, but she doubted Jun would. From what she heard and seen, he was kind and understanding. Still, looks can be deceiving. She had learned that the hard way. A memory popped into Yew's head, and she winced, not liking what she remembered. A few girls had pretended to be her friend, only to fuck her in the end. When they were finished using her as a bellhop, they abandoned her downtown. She had to walk all the way back to her house. It was a brutal walk, and she had blisters and a headache when she got there. Why hadn't she just taken a bus or a cab? Oh, because the girls had faked having no money left so Yuzuki had paid for dinner. Only to be left alone like always. When she grabbed a hold of the present, she looked up at Jun, waiting for an answer. Jun thought for a while thinking about Yew's question, but as his mind trailed off for a moment he saw there was a sadness in her eyes. He quickly gazed past her before she could see him watch her. He cleared his throat quietly, "Hamm well it seems that there's this really friendly girl in our class that I bumped in several times already. If I could remember her name..." He fell silent, but then he beamed, "Diana! I think I know where her room is, it's probably this way." He then gestured to the right side of the hallway hoping Yew wouldn't mind his suggestion. ((Haha, drag me into this now eh? XD FFU, let's see >3>;))Diana was sitting cross-legged in her room, sorting out the things she had bought earlier that day. Her friend Donna was flipping through the TV channels, complaining that everything was in Japanese and Diana kindly reminded her that they were in Japan. Looking around their spacious room, Diana noticed something was missing. "Hey, where are our other two roommates?" "BEH, they ran to their boyfriend's dorm for tonight." Donna rolled her eyes, going through the channels all over again for the third time. "I think they will stay there until tomorrow morning." Diana made a face as she cleared the space on her bed. She was extra careful when she was putting away the merchandises into the table drawers. They will be there for a couple of months, may as well use everything. "Really, let's see how long until they get caught." Donna held up a huge box of Mousse Rockies with a sheepish grin. "They bribed me to say that they are in the washroom if the teacher comes in." "Food? Honestly, Don?" Diana laughed and tackled her friend for a bag. She was munching on a Rocky stick when Donna passed a channel. She shrieked and told her friend to flip back the channel. When she missed, Diana snatched the remote away and quickly went to the right one. "Oh my god, it's Aruba from the Knights!!" Diana jumped up and down squealing like a sick puppy. "He is so hot!" She kissed the TV screen like the celebrity was really there. Donna threw a pillow at the fangirl. "Ew, don't slobber on the screen! If people know that you are like this all the time with your favorite Asian celebrities, they would send you to a mental hospital." Diana turned around slowly, giving her friend a puppy face. "But are like that too." She pouted, trying to wrap her arms around the TV which was impossible because of it's size. Donna rolled her eyes and gave up as Diana continued to croon at the figure behind the screen. ((I stole the celeb from a manga called Honey Hunt XD;; Therefore don't look him up >3>;)) [[I hope you don't mind Yuzuki and Diana having a past friendship, six. ] Diana? Why did that name seem so familiar? Diana... She stood there, oblivious to the fact that he was waiting for her. This wasn't the first time that she spaced out. Her past was always full of vague memories when she tried remembering. Wait... Diana. That's it! They were best friends when they were little kids. She used to call her Dee, and they would sleep over each other's houses and were practically inseparable. But that had changed over the years, and they gradually grew apart. She frowned and looked up at Jun. "I don't know...," she said, her voice ridiculously quiet. Yew didn't know what to say, but she couldn't let him think she was unappreciative towards his effort. She'd just have to bear being in the same room with her old friend. No matter how much it hurt. "I guess that's fine. Where again?" She sounded distant and unsure, looking down at her feet as she spoke. ((Not a prob ^^ I'll just wait for Audi's post))

-- 都下 Hotel -- Under Construction....|rating:2.0

1 38 [Chronoclasm & Spinky]

Ensly made her way through tight concrete corridors, stepping over small rubble pieces and jutting metal remnants. She soon came to a clearing and nearly tripped over herself in surprise, a ramshackle of a trade port loomed before her, tucked away in darkness and dim lights. She looked around in confusion, unsure how she had managed to miss this place. There were no signs of civilization before but presented before her was a modicum of refinement. The (presumed) owner stood at a stall, his imposing gaze follows her every movement as she warily approached the interior of the station. It was a canopy of rusted metal tucked away in a hollow. Metal frames were tinged with rust and even the concrete was stained orange. Some kind of corrosion had started to consume the ground leaving the floor smooth and in a greenish hue that crept along the base of the walls. There was a hole in the wall that carefully fit the single wooden stall. Several meats of unknown origin hung at the front and supplies were on display along the back wall. There was a table at its side with what seemed to be a makeshift kitchen: cutting board, a portable stove top, and simple utensils. The trade station seemed to duel as a restaurant (the strangest one she'd ever seen but a restaurant nonetheless). A neon sign was placed in perfect alignment above stall, reading "Trade & Food". Despite the decrepit and cave-like surroundings, the sign was functioning and seemed to be well taken care of given its vibrant glow and uncracked features. Several feet above the stall and following along the piping was a balcony; slung over the bars were a few pieces of clothing implying its livability. The two windows on either side of a slightly ajar door where one was boarded up, the other covered by a curtain from the inside but sans glass, hid the contents of the dwelling. The surrounding area was dim, between tall buildings casting a permanent shadow and the makeshift canopy, the only immediate light source was between the neon sign and a floor lamp that stood crooked between the stall and makeshift kitchen. Calling it an "open space" would be generous, it wasn't particularly spacious and allowed only enough room for the three small tables and chairs that were loosely scattered around. To the farthest table was a man whose head rested in his arms hiding his face. Ensly vaguely wondered if he was dead and the owner had neglected to notice but more likely, he was just sleeping. The only other person was the owner/trader. He had an intense look to him with a constant glower, unblinking eyes, and features heavily marked by black ink. He was a magic user and made no effort to hide it.“Er, h-hello…” he didn’t respond to Ensly’s awkward greeting, and she fidgeted in discomfort. It wasn’t his lack of response that perturbed her or his build or heavy stare even, there was something strong, deadly even, in the way he presented himself. She ordered and sat down silently... She had no way to pay for the meal, and she’d just have to figure something out when the time came. The owner had probably already noticed that she didn't carry any bags, in fact, her supplies had been stolen earlier, but she tried to avoid suspicion by ordering very little--water and a slosh only labeled "soup" on the board (it was pretty awful tasting, but she'd had far worse before). She had to wonderwhythe owner set up trade at such a seemingly random and abandoned location. She dreaded to think that he made his business off the locals because the few she had run into in this region had all been hunters, killers, and/or thieves. It wouldn't do her any good if those that stole her supplies found her here, and they'd probably attempt to take her life given the condition she had left them in. "What a depressing place!" The male voice came out of nowhere -- deep in its tone, and a touch raspy in texture, but cheerful. The voice was followed only a couple of seconds later by its owner. The man that let himself into the open-air shop-and-slop cut a tall, rugged figure, draped in layers of worn clothing and a tattered brown trench coat, currently unbuttoned. Casually slung around his left shoulder was a strung bow and a quiver of arrows, and in his right hand was a carved and polished wooden walking staff. Hanging around his waist was a long knife in a leather holster, a few stuffed pouches, and three fat little rodents tied about one belt loop by their scaly tails. Completing the ensemble was an old, repeatedly-patched brown pack at his back. The newcomer made his way straight to the owner at his stall, sparing Ensly and the drunk only a momentary glance each. He seemed to be in his early thirties, but his age might have been artificially advanced some by the three days worth of stubble that he wore about his jaw and throat. His hair was dark, nearly black. His eyes couldn't be seen too well in the dim light." You should really get a musician in here to liven things up a little." The owner grunted tersely in response, and the newcomer broadly smiled at him. Although the two men seemed to recognize each other, it wasn't as friends. "Fine," the newcomer finally said, abandoning his efforts to turn the little oasis into something more. "How many juicers can I get for these?" The man set the rats up upon the stall's counter. "Fresh as this morning. Good furs and meat alike."" Not much," was the owner's gruff response, but he accepted them anyway, turning back into the stall. A few moments later he returned, handing the bowman a small bunch of batteries in assorted sizes. Lifting each battery to his lips, one after the other, the man tested their power with his tongue, pressing it to the contact of each battery to ensure that they all had juice yet to give. The owner didn't seem insulted by the skeptical show put on by his customer; but then, in the world they all lived in it was sometimes too easy to cheat people out of things. It paid to be a little bit cautious. Once satisfied with his purchase, the stranger shoved the batteries into one of the pouches at his belt and then placed a bunch of yellow flowers on the counter instead. "I'll also have what she's having," he tossed his head back in Ensly's direction. "That's enough goat weed for a bowl and a glass." The owner seemed to agree, taking the medicinal plants with another growl, and exchanging it for a bowl of the mystery stew and some boiled water. That seemed to end the two men's engagement for the time being, as the stranger pulled away from the stall and joined Ensly -- uninvited -- at her table. "Hey-a." He opened, smiling at her. This is close, it turned out that his eyes were blue. Setting the bowl down, the man took a sip of his water and then set that down as well. "The name's Declared." He hunched forward over his bowl of soup, conspiratorially, as though he were about to talk secrets. "I don't think I've seen you before. You have seen anything weird around these parts lately, kiddo?" Ensly turned her attention to the noise immediately but looked back to the tabletop when the owner of the voice followed suit only sparing him a glance. It wasn't until his back was to her, and he was talking to the owner that she bothered to look up again. She listened to their conversation absently,'They seem friendly...'. The newcomer was...active, to say the least. If she were to be honest with herself, it put her on edge more than any degenerate or criminal-mind could. There was something about his almost cheery demeanor (and those like him) that involuntarily made her cautious. Either way, she was under the impression he was a local of some kind given his familiarity with the owner. Hopefully not someone she had indirectly offended given her recent squabbles with some of the other surrounding residents. Ensly stared off into space, too lost in her thoughts and almost jumped out of her skin when he sat down at her table. She accidentally hit the table, fumbling to stop the soup from spilling over and gave him a wild-eyed look like a startled animal for only a brief moment before (somewhat) relaxing. She didn’t respond readily, giving him a wary look until she glanced down at the cup of water in front of her, focusing her attention on the unassuming object, “Um, Ensly…” her voice was quiet but not unwelcoming. Furthermore, she had an air of timidity to her and responded to his advances by subtly scooting her chair back a step. She wasn’t from this particular region of the Outer Limits so it was no surprise they hadn’t met, but what she found more pressing than that was...“” Kiddo”...?” She didn’t realize she echoed him aloud. Furthermore, she couldn’t imagine their ages werethatdifferent (albeit she hadn’t been keeping track lately), especially in an environment where most people didn’t live past fifty, magic ability be damned. Furthermore, she thought on his question; nothing in particular came to mind, well, except maybe for him, but she doubted that’s what he meant--and she wasn’t looking to start a fight.“... Weird how?” She finally asked. The man, now introduced as Declared, tilted his head slightly at her antics. But he seemed more amused by her agitation than insulted by it. And while she struggled with the apparently uncomfortable amounts of attention he was heaping on top of her, he used the opportunity to eat a few spoonfuls of his stew, watching her thoughtfully as she sought a way to respond to him.... Weird how? Deckard made a sour-looking face, grimacing quite visibly -- but after a moment it was apparent that it was the stew that he found distasteful. Not her question. "Ensly, this is terrible." He whispered at her, with a touch of accusation in his tone. "Why on Earth would you order it?" The man lifted his eyebrows at her, obviously expecting an answer to his second question before he provided additional details on the first. It wasn't clear where his priorities laid, but he was a bit strange, that much was true. Most people weren't social, not in this environment. It was dangerous to be social. If you saw someone in the distance, and you were smart, you hid until they went away, or you changed course to avoid them. Declared obviously lacked this survival mechanism. Either that, or maybe he was planning to turn the poor girl into a victim of some con or trick? The owner gave no indication either way, having briefly disappeared back into his make-shift store to put away the food and medicine he'd been traded. And the apparently unconscious man a table away from them still hadn't budged. A murmur of quiet voices soon grew close to the establishment. Entering through the single passage of a narrow concrete hallway were three individuals. Two men and a woman all clad in various worn garments of black. The lankier of the two men wore a fur of some kind at his hip, the woman donned several rings and jewelries, and the taller (considerably more muscular) male was unassuming by comparison, but his eyes gave off a very faint glow. They whispered to each other but stopped short when the lankier male hesitated, making eye contact with Ensly for only a moment before moving to the stall--the owner seemed to have mysteriously vanished in the short time they weren’t looking. The trio waited in silence for him to return, they had a foul presence to them. To her credit, she didn’t flinch. Ensly and the lanky man had recognized each other instantly, their unpleasant encounter only a day ago. He had attempted to subdue her and in retaliation she had left him curled up in a dry-heaving ball. Lucky for him, she didn’t have any energy to do much more than that. She wouldn’t have killed him, but she would have made his life that much more unpleasant had she been in top form at the time. Regardless, Ensly entirely blamed him for his own over-confidence (or maybe it was straight up ignorance). He had seemed to assume she wouldn’t be able to fight back and took almost no precautions to prevent any magical afflictions. That was one of the primary reasons she personally didn’t engage anyone; there were too many organists with different abilities and spells and no way to account for them all. People were unpredictable and more often than naught, dangerous. The lanky male didn't seem particularly intelligent to begin with, let alone when compared to the other two who seemed to be more clever and astute as they didn’t bring attention to themselves and fiddled with their hands in an unassuming manner, perhaps preparing a trap or curse of some kind. Ensly vaguely wondered if he had figured out how her magic worked, if that was the case, she was at a severe disadvantage. Ensly didn’t turn her head to look at them, painfully aware that they were staring at her with sideways glances. They spoke in low voices that were somewhere between a whisper and a threat even if they didn’t make any advances. They seemed to know the owner and knew he wouldn’t tolerate any damages to his station which kept them from acting out whatever they were planning. She glanced around the table and quickly turned her gaze to “Declared”, blinking at him as if she were surprised he was still there.”It’s... It’s not so bad once you get used to it…” her voice betrayed nothing, despite the eminent danger, she managed to appear calm and unperturbed, but there was an edge in her voice, a shakiness that wasn't immediately noticeable. She was in a predicament, she realized. She had no way to knowwhoher table-companion was or who he worked for (if anyone). He could even be more dangerous than the scheming trio. Without much other choice, she took the spoon from the soup and started to carve something into the table with as little movement and noise as possible. She set the utensil down revealing a small circular rune, a spell of some kind, before moving the bowl to conceal it in the guise of eating. Her brown eyes were kept downcast, only occasionally glancing to Declared. Deck turned when the three newcomers entered the way station, appraising them more openly than Ensly had. While she snuck her glances in, he stared right at them -- his blue eyes tracing them up and down, one after the other in order to take a full account of what they wore, who they were, and whether they were armed. This attention, particularly when combined with Ensly's presence at the same table, did not seem to sit especially well with the trio. And they reacted, as noted, by lowering their voices and huddling up in front of the shopkeeper's stall. Whatever they were scheming, he couldn't hear it from so far away. Instead, it was Ensly's voice that drew Declared's focus, and he turned back around towards her. He looked amused, an easy smile splitting his face. "You're really going to defend it?" He asked, and then motioned towards the watery stew in front of her to clarify his meaning. It was then that he noticed her etching a symbol into the table with her spoon. She had nearly finished, and almost seemed to pull the bowl over it defensively once he saw her at her work. He lifted an eyebrow at her. Normally it was a red flag when someone you did not know began preparing a spell right in front of you. There was rarely any way of telling what they were about to do, unless you just so happened to know the same spell they were preparing. With as much magic as there was in the world, and with as many disciplines for wielding it as there were, recognizing a specific spell, anda specific way of casting it, was definitely not something to be counted on. In almost all cases, the average person, even the average spell caster, wouldn't know what was about to be cast until it was cast. It could be harmless, it could be helpful -- it could set your whole world on fire. But rather than startle at the realization that the timid girl in front of him was preparing to do magic, Declared just looked back over his shoulder at the trio by the stall, and then again to her." Friends of yours?" The onlyslightlyolder, but much taller, man had the decency to keep his voice low as he leaned towards her and asked -- apparently piecing together that the three strangers were the source of Ensly's latest layer of discomfort. "Did I pick a bad table, Ensly?" His voice still held humor, even at a whisper. "Are you going to get me killed today?" Even as he questioned their chances in a three-against-two fight, he seemed to be suggesting that he stood with her. Or, at least, that he did not know or stand with the newcomers. She was flabbergasted, to say the least. Ensly found it baffling how Declared was so unconcerned with the present situation. Of course, she reasoned, he didn’t actually have anything to do with any of this. He could theoretically walk away, and the trio probably wouldn’t pursue him, but he seemed to be aware of the danger, at least to some extent. It once again made her think that perhaps he was the most dangerous of the present company. Maybe he was a powerful magic user who got his kicks from hanging around the weaklings and vagabonds in the Outer Limits (it wasn’t entirely unheard of). It wasn’t exactly the most appropriate time to ask, but she wanted to know, “Are you…?” She trailed off, not entirely sure how to phrase her question without provoking or offending him. The sound of glass shattering on the concrete ground was enough to break her from her reverie. Instinctively she had moved into a half-sitting/half-standing position, her eyes shooting the trio a wild glance. The tallest of the three stood over a broken a bottle, quietly mumbling an apology before kneeling down and beginning to pick up the shattered glass. Even though she sat back down, she didn’t trust his seemingly innocent actions, and it didn’t go above her notice that he appeared to be sifting through the broken pieces rather than cleaning them from the floor. Or maybe she was being paranoid. The lanky man removed the fur from his waist and pulled out a hair quickly, whispering to it. The woman flattened her hand revealing several small crystals and the man suddenly swiped his hand across the broken glass. It was obvious that they were done planning and were ready for action. Having already experienced the lanky man’s magics first hand, Ensly reacted with equal haste offering Declared an apologetic look in response, “Sorry,” she whispered, because it was very likely he was about to be injured (inadvertently) by her oncoming spell.LSA met UK AKJ. The (seeming) nonsense left her mouth and she knocked the bowl to the ground pressing a hand to the sigil. In an instant, the tabletop splintered, shooting pieces of wood out in every direction. The crouching man was unfortunately at a perfect level to get his face speared by several small splints of wood--he fell down and cussed harshly, “Fuck!”. The woman and the lanky male had more time to react; the woman had raised her arms, now left bloodied and shaking fists dropped the crystals, the lanky man however was unharmed and before him stood a knee-high creature that resembled a fox or dog. Being at close range had its disadvantage, Ensly’s hands were a bloodied mess and her coat was slightly torn. She didn’t have much control over the trajectory of this particular spell, but she tried to avoid severely injuring herself and Declared. Either way, the taller man seemed to be out of the fight as he covered his bloody face, the woman was slightly disabled, and in the least, Ensly already knew the lankier man was a summoner. Unfortunately for Ensly, the woman grabbed her arms and her rings glowed, the wounds on her arms closing up quickly. It also took her no time to reach for the taller male to start to do the same. A crystal healer. It was then that Ensly considered running... Or groveling for her life. Declared at least had sense enough to tense up at the sound of breaking glass, turning back towards the group at the merchant's stall as they surreptitiously prepared their assault. Whatever Ensly had been about to ask him was forgotten -- by them both it seemed -- as the newcomers made it abundantly clear that all three of them were magic users. The next thing Deck heard was his seated companion's hastily whispered apology, followed by an incantation. Then the table exploded. Deckard had only fractions of a second to react, throwing his arms over his face to protect himself from the flying debris while simultaneously hurling himself backwards. He rolled noisily, but acrobatically, across the hard-packed floor and up again onto his feet a few meters away. In the process of falling and regaining his feet, the man had somehow armed himself with his bow, and now -- with his legs resolutely beneath him once more -- he stood in a slight, predatory crouch, quickly taking in the results of Ensly's magic and preparing himself for action. Behind him, the hereto forgotten sleeping man had startled awake, crashing out of his own chair with a cry of surprise. He was already fleeing the café by the time Declared had knocked his first arrow. Smart man. The crystal healer repaired her shredded flesh swiftly, and then began to stoop towards her companion. In the same breath, Declared loosed his arrow. There was a high-pitched yelp of surprise as the projectile caught the summoned fox demon in its throat, turning it into a whirling cloud of embers and ash with naught, but a burnt hair left behind it. The killing of the summoned companion was enough to get everyone's attention, and that was good." Enough!" The man boomed, to seal the deal and draw all eyes. He wore none of the humor that Ensly had seen earlier: Now, he just looked like death in a trench coat. He had already loaded three more arrows onto his longbow and had them all drawn back to his shoulder by the time everyone was facing him. Furthermore, he wore a mean scowl, and a huge splinter of broken wood hung out of his left arm, just below the elbow, where he dripped blood. But his injury did not seem to sap him of his strength. His arms weren't even shaking as he held his bow at full draw. "At this range? I will hit whoever I am aiming at. But I don't need to hit any of you to kill all three. The girl has marked each of these arrows with her runes, and, as you've seen, it won't take much for her to explode them." The man's voice held as steady as his arms, and there was no indication that he was actually bluffing." Are your lives so worthless that you'll throw them away here? Today?" Declared half-growled, half-spat the words at the three rogues, arrows still ready to lose. "If so, I'llgladlytake them. If not? You will turn, right now, and start walking away from this place. And you will not stop walking until the sun's gone down and your feet are sore." Deckard let their options hang there in the air between them. Without their summon, and with their offensive caster still bleeding from his face, they were in a disadvantaged position. Deck hoped they were at least smart enough to realize this." You're not moving. You have ten seconds to decide your fate, before I decide it for you." He made a show of leveling the bow at the already injured man, who the woman had already shown some concern for." Ten. Nine. Eight. . ." Ensly hadn’t expected him to take out to summon with a single arrow, she also hadn’t expected him to raise his voice and responded with a wary glance. Ten… Nine… Eight... The summoner and healer looked at each other. Six… Five... They soon moved quickly but cautiously around Declared and Ensly; the healer leading the injured man carefully with the summoner in tow. Their eyes never left the pair as they exited the station. They were seething. The rage showed clearly in their expressions, and although they didn’t make any empty threats, no “you’ll regret this” or the like, the looks they gave were somewhere between skittishness and positively murderous. Ensly could feel her heart beat increase half expecting them to try something, but they left without incident. Even after their hasty exit it took her a minute to relax. She didn’t think it would so any good--their leaving. They would probably be back later if their unspoken threat was anything to go by. It was the environment they feared, not Ensly or Declared. The closed walls, the lack of movement and the fact that they didn’t fully understand either her nor his abilities (that made two of them frankly). While Ensly didn’t like to kill, usually didn’t have the opportunity or need to, she had intended to even the playing field by getting rid of one of them. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise; there was a possibility that they would be more hesitant (more angry) to leave the situation as it was if one of them had been killed in combat. She hoped they weren’t waiting nearby, although she doubted it. She didn’t have the supplies or means to defend herself in the open. Furthermore, she’d definitely have to leave the area, hopefully in the opposite direction of the trio. It was quiet again and in the back of her mind she realized the owner still wasn’t present despite the commotion. She didn’t make eye contact with Declared, removing the now-torn winter coat revealing her tiny figure. She shook her head slightly, letting a loose ponytail free from the confines of her shirt, it had been tucked away mostly to avoid getting caught on anything while traveling or scavenging. Furthermore, she threw the coat over a fallen chair and looked to the wound on Declared’s arm, vaguely wondering if it hurt (she didn’t notice her own injuries). Furthermore, she opened her mouth but snapped it shut. Ensly was always terrible with words, “May I…?” She reached her hands out to him awkwardly.“Boo. I expected a bloodbath,” came a very sudden and disheartened voice. Ensly instinctively jumped towards Declared with her hands up ready for another fight. She looked around wildly but saw nobody until she looked up and saw a man leaning against the balcony overhead. His face was painted in the imagery of a skull, and she slightly recoiled at what looked like a necklace of human fingers dangling around his neck. His clothing was surprisingly plain, a simple brown coat and black pants, but it was obvious that under black painted skin his features were heavily scarred, stitches across his neck and arms. It was also obvious just by looking at him that he used some very archaic magics. What caught Ensly’s attention the most however, was that in his right hand was, dangling over the rails, was a bloody sack that clattered (like teeth or bones, she grimaced) when he shifted. Despite this, he made no indication that he was looking for a fight.“I thought,” he made a grand motion with his free hand, “You’d all kill each other and I could pick up the remains,” he looked to Ensly, and she would later be proud of herself for not flinching, “Sell me your hair,” he barked with laughter almost immediately, giving her no time to respond, “I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” his voice grew dark but kept an almost lightheartedness, “I need the whole scalp, but you don’t have to worry, I know the perfect place to get that,” he waved at them and turned around abruptly, comically tripping over something in the process before entering the door on the balcony. It wasn’t until he was gone that Ensly realized that blood was beginning to drip over the side of the balcony and onto the neon sign and stall below. The place suddenly reeked of death. Declared cautiously watched the three magic users as they made their exit, following them with his bow -- his arrows trained on them until they were beyond his range and disappeared behind a pile of rubble and a half-collapsed building. By that time, Ensly had finally started to relax a little, and his own breathing had also leveled out. He lowered his bow and returned all but one of his arrows to the quiver at his shoulder. With his adrenaline rush dying down, Deck started to feel the throbbing pain in his left arm where Ensly's exploding table had seen fit to impale him with wood." Great." Declared observed, glowering down at his injury and frowning with dissatisfaction. The moment of self-indulgent self-pity did not last. He noticed movement, and turned his gaze back on his new companion as she shrugged out of her coat and shook her hair loose. He stared at her openly, blinking when she looked towards him. Even dirty and covered in blood and bits of debris, he realized that he found her attractive. Well, you know, he thought she was kind of cute anyway. It was a somewhat uncomfortable and awkwardly-timed realization, though, with the both of them still injured and not entirely out of danger. May I...? Deckard realized he was staring at the girl, and turned away with a slightly awkward laugh. "What? This? It's nothing, really--" He began, but cut himself off suddenly at the unexpected voice from above. While Ensly was left looking around for its source, lost for a moment, Declared's ears and eyes moved straight to the gruesomely-appointed new arrival, his bow drawn once more with a fresh arrow ready. The heavily-scarred and macabre-looking man didn't seem at all intimidated by the weapon." I thought you'd all kill each other and I could pick up the remains," the necromancer or death priest or whatever the hell he was leisurely mused, ignoring the drawn weapon as he clattered about on the balcony above them. Then, in a lightning fast shift in attention, the unnervingly disturbed man seemed to suddenly share Declared's new-found appreciation for Ensly's appearance. Except that he seemed more interested in taking her body apart, or buying it off of her piece by piece. Declared instinctively stepped in front of Ensly, watching the man with a stern expression, as though to silently indicate that getting to Ensly meant going through him. The man laughed at his bravado, and seemed to lose interest in them both, disappearing back into the building.". . ." Declared frowned, lowering his bow, and turned back to Ensly. "Hurry. Get your things. We're leaving." He stated, ordered really, as he gathered a couple of the arrows that had fallen from him earlier when he'd rolled away from the table. "Quickly now, Ensly, those three are probably going to double back once they regroup, and it's not going to take that circus freak long to make his way back down here either." Declared scooped up the crystal healer's forgotten crystals, partly for their worth and partly to rob her of their use if she did return. But as much as Declared might have liked to loot the shopkeeper's stall? With both Ensly and himself freshly wounded, he did not like the odds of their being caught between the necromancer and the scavengers. With what little he could collect in a couple of seconds in hand now, Declared looked back again towards Ensly. "Ready? Come on, Ens." He nodded her to follow him, apparently giving her a nickname in the process, and began to move away from the building. He walked in a direction opposite the one the three from before had gone. And while it wouldn't be hard for the man with the bloody sack to catch up with them, he simply hoped that the creature would be too busy savoring his fresh kill and picking the place over to bother chasing after the two of them. Her things…? She grabbed the half-torn coat before looking at him blankly. Not having any other personal belongings, she followed behind at a reasonable distance and tried to look as inconspicuous as possible. It wasn’t that she had any reasonnotto look inconspicuous, but it struck her as odd that Declared was so willing to make her a traveling companion. She had technically assaulted him, and he would be entirely justified in attacking her back (or so she thought) or in the least not trusting her. But Ensly supposed that between the hellish mage and the trio with a grudge, it would be considerably safer to move as a pair. Especially if that’s how they were perceived by outsiders, both parties had seemed to make an assumption that they were together and if people wanted to believe they had any semblance of teamwork and cooperation, then it was to their benefit. It was still relatively early in the day with plenty of time to move, and she just hoped they would be headed to the next pretense of civilization--one with actual trade and more importantly, jobs. The path they walked wasn’t all that different from anywhere else in the Outer Limits. There were no noticeable landmarks, no hints of life, rust and debris were predominant. Buildings were spaced just enough to allow them to slip through alleyways and bypass dauntingly amassed rubble. In fact, the streets were in particularly bad condition--some of the buildings had collapsed under their own decay, blocking open spaces and breaking roads to create dark crevasses in the earth that lead to the underground. The sewers and subways were notorious for their instability and most people avoided them. During this time Ensly had tucked her hair back into her shirt and had carefully discarded the coat in a nondescript location which she found to be more of a liability than a help. The last thing she would need was for the ragged ends to get caught on something in an emergency situation. Although, it did make her feel vulnerable sans coat, especially with Declared present which she refused to acknowledge any further. As far as Ensly could tell, he was a good guy.… A good guy... A natural gracelessness coupled with sudden realization made Ensly stumble over herself. She somehow managed not to trip and gave Declared a worried look hoping he hadn’t noticed her almost-blunder. Despite her wariness, she took a few steps closer to him and began to look him over as if for the first time. Ensly had spent the entirety of their introduction trying to figure out his motives but what if he was just, well, a nice person. It was near inconceivable. It wasn’t that Ensly had been abused growing up nor were her encounters with miscreants particularly numerous or traumatizing (when compared to any other Outer Limit residence), her paranoia stemmed from the natural environment but being kind for the sake of it almost seemed nonsensical. Given, she wasn’t very malevolent herself, she didn’t like fighting, and when prompted would be as polite as she was able to in the circumstances, but going out of one’s way for the sake of another, especially a stranger? And it wasn’t just her, she could safely assume that a disproportionate amount of the Outer Limit residences felt the same way. Ensly suddenly got a chill and looked over her shoulder, was there something there? Perhaps it was a small animal of some kind. Still, she strode closer to Declared and fidgeted, “Um, do you, er, I mean, if it would be alright…” however, her interactions with people in a non-professional, non-life threatening situation were far and few between, “Where are you from?” Her question was immediately followed by a worried, “You don’t have to answer.”…”If... If you don’t want to I mean,” she wiped her hands on her shirt in a nervous gesture. Declared looked a little surprised when Ensly grabbed only her torn coat, and he arched one of his eyebrows at her. That was everything she had? He shook his head, and decided not to comment on it. He had to focus on getting them out of immediate danger before he allowed himself to get distracted by less necessary observations. If she was traveling light, he was sure that she had a reason for it. Good or bad. Deckard started to move. The way station gradually disappeared behind them as they trekked over uneven concrete, slopes of dirt and debris, and what remained of once busy roads and walkways. Buildings, some standing, some half-collapsed, soon stood between them and where they'd started, but Declared continued to push them hard. If Ensly were observant, it would quickly become clear that he was going out of his way to ensure that they weren't followed. He wrenched the splinter of wood out of his arm and threw it in a direction opposite the one they eventually took. He had them march directly through a shallow rivulet of dirty water for nearly twenty minutes before finally crossing it upstream. When Ensly eventually discarded her coat, he made sure she left the sleeve peeking up for anyone who might see it -- and then had them double-back and take a different route. Wherever he was going, it was clear that Declared had a destination in mind. And it was also clear that he didn't want them being followed. Whether that brought Ensly any comfort? Hard to say. And he didn't ask. More than an hour had passed, and passed quickly, before Ensly suddenly stumbled behind him at her private realization that Declared might actually be a good guy. He glanced back towards her at the sound of her boots scraping on earth, but didn't comment on her misplaced footing. He did noticeably slow down, however, likely mistaking her tripping for fatigue. The change in pace allowed her to catch up to him more easily, and it gave her the opportunity to look him over from outside his immediate range of view. She'd notice that he was a tall man, maybe approaching six feet in height, with an athletic build that suggested he had few troubles finding enough food for himself to develop a little bit of muscle mass. He wore a brown trench coat, the left sleeve now ripped and soaked in rust-colored blood, but he hadn't lost much beyond that. He still had his bow, his quiver, his walking stick, all from before." Um, do you, her, I mean, if it would be alright…" As the girl began to awkwardly address him, finally breaking the determined silence that had fallen over them, he looked back towards her and offered her an encouraging smile. Declared had a symmetrical face, with straight teeth and a Greek nose. His blue eyes held uncommon kindness, or at least empathy, and his smile seemed genuine. Most people would describe him as handsome without having to flatter him, even though he presently needed a shave and his dark, brown hair had been tousled by their fight and subsequent travel." Wh-where are you from? You don’t have to answer. If... If you don’t want to I mean." Deckard laughed, charmed by her timidity and her uncertain manner of speaking. "Oh wow. You'readorable. Anyone ever tells you that?" He wondered aloud, grinning broadly even after the laughter had faded. Turning his eyes forward again, he considered her question for a few moments and then shrugged. "If I told you the name of the place, it wouldn't mean anything to you. I'm from far outsidethiscity. But the place where I am from is, well. . . It's no longer there." He let his words hang in the air. It wasn't uncommon for settlements to disappear from one day to another. Violence was part of the world they lived in; indeed, they'd both seen just hours ago that even a way station guarded by a powerful spell caster could be taken down the minute a more powerful magic user came along." Suffice it to say, I'm here now. And with fine company. What about you, kiddo? Are you from around here?" Declared seemed to suddenly realize something. "I'm not taking you away from your family or anything, am I?" He had never thought to ask her what she was doing at that way station, or where she was going, or whether shewantedto tag along with him in the first place. He stopped walking and turned towards her to clarify the situation. Ensly chose not to respond, but her face flushed, and she tried to fight away the sensation. Outside? Ensly didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t that, and it showed on her face. The Outer Limits weren’t exactly safe, but it was mostly because of other organists and magic users. She hadn’t ever been outside the city, in fact, she hadn’t ever met anyone who had either (until now apparently), however, from what she heard in rumors, it was near uninhabitable. And the threat outside the city took form in the demons who roamed rather than the people. Perhaps that would explain his unusual behavior, maybe that’s just how people were on the outside. Her brows furrowed slightly as her focus was brought to the ground in thought. She only vaguely heard him and looked up just in time to almost bump into him, having not realized he had stopped moving. She put her hands up and took a quick step back, staring at him blankly before dropping her arms after a moment, “Um, no,” she rubbed her hands together, uncertain if she should elaborate, “Yes! Yes I mean! I’m from the city. East I think…! I just meant, no, no family,” she cursed her lack of social skills and tried to speak calmly, “I do have family, uh, sisters, but it’s not like that,” very people had asked her about her family situation, but it was always hard to explain to outsiders so she left it at that. Already on edge she flinched when she heard the creak of rusted metal behind her and looked over her shoulder worriedly. Nothing felt out of place, and she quickly wrote off the nervousness as her own paranoia. Looking to Declared, she swallowed hard, “We should keep moving,” she didn’t mean to be curt, but she still had a distinct sense of unease. If Declared was at all affected by Ensly's surprise on her learning that he was from the outside? He didn't show it. It just didn't seem to occur to the man that his origins were unusual. But then again, in the few hours that Ensly had known him, Declared hadn't seemed to findanythinghe did inherently strange -- no matter how strange it was to her. That being so, though, with the fact that he'd survived the wastelands outside the city (assuming he was telling her the truth about where he came from), all signs did seem at least to suggest that therewasmore to the wanderer than a quick smile and a good aim. But what manner of man could he be then? Caught up in the perplexity of her new companion, Ensly nearly walked right into him after he stopped and turned around to face her. His own hands moved up to catch her, should she lose her footing, but Ensly recovered her balance without him and held her hands up to fend his off. He didn't pursue her. He just watched as she took a step back, reestablishing her personal space. Yet something had made him frown. Her hands. He hadn't noticed that she'd hurt them. While Ensly rambled in a manner that only continued to endear her to Declared, he dug around in one of the pouches around his waist. Eventually retrieving a small, lidded jar and some bandages." I do have family, uh, sisters, but it's not like that." Deckard nodded thoughtfully as she seemed to conclude. In between the anxious chatter, he had heard what he needed to hear: He wasn't kidnapping her. She was with him because she wanted to be. Or because she had nowhere else to go, anyway. When Ensly flinched, looking back over her shoulder at the sound of metal creaking, he gently took her left hand into his. By the time she looked back towards him, he was smearing a clear, cold gel into her palm." We will keep moving then." He assured her, but then just smeared more of the goop into her other palm as well. It smelled like vegetables, almost like celery. "Put these on while we walk?" He half-instructed, half-asked, pushing the bandages into her now slippery hands. The bandages were clean, but faded, like they had been used and washed many times before. Almost more gray than white. But they would protect the cuts on her hands for a couple of days while they healed over. Once he'd fixed her hands up, Declared started walking again, screwing the lid back on the jar of whatever he'd just smeared all over her hands. The jar went back into his pouch, and he swung his bow back around off his shoulder. Ensly might have just been paranoid -- but there could just as easily be someone, or something, following them. And if so, it would either make a move soon, or in the evening once they'd reached his camp. He would prefer now, but, alas, he was in no position to make demands of fate. So he kept himself ready, and continued leading Ensly towards his temporary home away from home.

1 38 [Chronoclasm & Spinky]|rating:4.0

The Red Hand Whimsical_Flassche

A blood oath We follow the story of a tortured assassin on his quest for retribution, determined to carve out the black heart that has infested the realm, using everything that he is and can produce at his disposal. Armed with a creative engineering and precise mind the devices a plan that will do just this, although at a terrible price as well. One man’s quest for retribution would set in motion several events, ending in a brutal ending at the cost of everything. This would be a RP between Whimsical and Flash. Guests, please do not post within this thread. List of in game characters and statistics Portrayed by FlasscheLance(name: Calls himself Lance Gender: Male Ethnicity: Human Age: Guessed at 27–28 years of age Sexuality: Straight Height: 190cm/6"3Weight: 82kg/180 pounds Hair color: Light brown hair, cut short Skin color: Pale Eye color: Yellow Profession: Assassin/revengerMale phallus size: 20cm/8" (uncut)Phallus virgin: Yes Anal virgin: Yes Children: None Relationship: Single Bio:: Although somewhat hazy, Lance remembers a time before all of this hatred, this malaise inside of him. He grew up in a tough, yet warm family, pitching in as soon as he was able, tilling the land and looking after his younger siblings. He remembers having learned a few tricks from his father after sloughing the land, using a shovel to create the illusion of a lance, watching how his father moved from left to right, fending of imaginary assailants left and right. The boy before all the pain was kind, gullible and simply infatuated by his father’s former career as an imperial Lancer before he had gotten himself hurt in some minor border dispute. He remembers not the faces of his family, not anymore, yet he still remembers the way his father moved, slicing the specters of his imagination and basking in the security and love his father had for him and his siblings. Now as a man, Lance is colder, mature and more withdrawn from society as a whole. He carried the hatred and loss of his past for years before hammering it in a weapon; a new name, a new life. He started to call himself Lance, a courtesy towards his father and the last connection he has left to those blissful few years. Lance was born with an above average cognitive skill set and memory that was easy to digest the large input of data. At his best he is in control of the situation, knows exactly what he needs to do and where he is to expect things to happen. At his worst he is somewhat aloof, lost in numbers or captivated by new experiences. He has a love for mathematics, riddles and puzzles that, at first glance, are hard to solve. The experiments done to him and several other subjects, -although he was the only survivor-, left him with a few gifts and curses. His eyes were sharper than ever, even in complete darkness he could see a bit easier, as if his eyes adapted to situations that much clearer. Other gifts were increased reflexes, stamina and a somewhat diminished sense of pain. All of these things came at a price, besides to obviously torturous implementation of. Sudden bright lights would sting more than before; a toxic reaction towards alcohol, rendering him quite ill; his heart rate was constantly a few strikes faster than normal, leaving him frequently uneasy; and a lack taste in his mouth. Overall Lance can be summed up as morally ‘gray’, aiming to achieve something good, yet knowing collateral damage was unavoidable. He can be quite reasonable and understanding when the situation presents itself, and he has time to spend, yet under pressure he tends to be more brutal in his choices, seeing things as either black or white, right and wrong. Portrayed by WhimsicalNuell (name: Null Louise Saunders Gender: Female Ethnicity: Human Age: 32Sexuality: Straight Height: ? Five feet Weight: 47.7Kg/105 pounds Hair color: Light brown Skin color: Olive complexion Eye color: Blue/redbreast size: 32BVaginal depth: 14cm/5.5"Vaginal diameter: 1.5cm/0.6"Vaginal virgin: No Anal virgin: Yes Children: None Relationship: Single Bio:: Unrevealed yet. (zero: The Prologue(‘The shadow choir sings a silent song, Of screams and cries now long gone. The shadows remember, and tell their tale, Where swords and bows and daggers fail. Perhaps when the hidden song is free. Will the red hand burn and come for thee.’-“You illiterate, inbred sack of SHIT! Get your FUCKING HANDS OFF ME!!!!” A youth roared, ignoring the pain in his chained writs, still hammering against the cold metal, opening up his flesh even further. “You hearing this, boys? This little shit thinks he can order us around, as if he is in any position to.” He feinted a mock surprise whilst a fist grabbed the boy’s hair in a strong grip, holding him in place for his co-workers to laugh at, his free hand slowly raising a wooden stick above his head, bringing it down like lightning. “DON’T…YOU….EVER….TALK…BACK…YOU…FUCKING…SLAVE…” Each word was punctuated with a body blow, leaving the boy’s already scarred flesh open like a torn sack that was spilling its contents, letting blood flow from the wounds. One of the other guards grabbed the boy by the arms and pulled him along, laughing at the scene that had just happened right in front of him. “Move that worthless ass into the room. The doc doesn’t have all day....” Beatings were common, but a subject soliciting a beating through stubborn defiance was not. The other subjects fidgeted in their cells, trying to watch the drama unfold without raising their eyes beyond shin-level. Although their eyes were not watching the scene, their ears had no choice but to listen, listen as a young boy was fighting against his oppressors and howling like a banshee, shouting curses that would offend even the roughest sailor. They did not react to it, nor would they ever. They knew how quickly that roar of defiance would turn to weeping and howling. Furthermore, they knew because it had happened to them as well, as it would again in the future. Several shivered when the howling began, remembering their own pain and feeling it as well. Some even howled with the youth, feeling his pain and experiencing in person as their last hope in humanity left their souls, leaving them vacant.Sometimes later Two grueling hours had been spent, or had it been three? The youth was still panting hard, unsure whether it was because of the pain or the uncertainty if there was to be more administered. He forced himself to remember that little question, knowing it would keep himself sane in this place, or at least as sane as possible. There were two guards staring at him, occasionally whipping blood of their boots and gloves, seeing as they happily joined in with the ‘doctor’. A lock of the doctor’s gray hair fell free from its pomade slick and flopped into his face as he stood looking down at him. The doctor’s perfect black silhouette towered over the youth’s bruised carcass now displayed in spread out features on the cold steel table. The man glanced over to a young female who sat in a corner of the room, making notes of anything the doctor was saying. She looked relaxed and at ease, no doubt picked to work in this hellhole because of those exact traits. Her hand moved the quill on paper, delicately, as if she was an artesian that needed to prove herself.“CASE SUMMARY: Subject 529-a, male, appears to be of human heritage and guessed to be roughly thirteen years of a-“ He stopped when the fresh spittle and blood marked his face, originating from the boy’s lips that were now drawn in a sneer. “Twelve you phallus craving, necrotic leper’s ass!” He barked, preparing another dose of spit before he was silence by a gloved fist against his temple, courtesy from one of the guards. “Twelve years of age, and survived the first ten sessions. Based on the results of the HIP-IIV, Subject 529-a possesses cognitive ability that falls within the superior range, scoring at 249-IPS instead of the earlier 121-IPS. This single score, however, does not accurately reflect his abilities because of the significant variability among his test scores. There is a statistically significant 23-point difference between sessions six to ten, hinting at several unknown factors. Further study of the subject demonstrated that he exhibits developmentally above appropriate levels of attention and concentration throughout the several evaluations. He did, however, report difficulties in maintaining his concentration and becoming distracted by unrelated thoughts during the evaluation. This demo-“ Another droplet of spit hit the doctor, this one even redder than the other one. “YOU TRY YOUR MEMORY WHEN YOU HAVE CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE CAUSED BY A PRICK WIELDING A FUN-“ He was cut off abruptly once more, this time by a rounded wooden object that slammed into his stomach, stealing any breath he might have contained in his lungs. The doctor calmly cleaned his cheeks with a piece of cloth, swabbing away the droplets of blood and saliva before he continued with his little summary. ”Subject is appeared to have multiple lacerations, fractures in his right hand, and a small head injury when he was brought in. His external injuries were noted by the staff and a brief description was also provided. Remarkable was the fact that the pupils were dilated and somewhat over responsive, carrying a yellow hue around the pupil. In former records it was shown that the subject originally had blue eyes, as did his forefathers before him. This indicates that recent injections have taken effect and are currently holding, even without further tissue injections. Side effects are near to non-existent compared to the other subjects who have made it through the first nine sessions. These are surprising discoveries, seeing as the subject had been seen earlier as a lesser individual. I have extracted several vials of marrow from within the subj-“ He stopped talking when the boy began to chuckle, softly, almost as if he was the only one in on a large joke. The nearest guard quickly stepped closer, hand already wielding the wooden mace, holding it up above his head. He stopped when the Doctor raised a hand, too interested in this new development. The scene struck the doctor as an unforgettable vignette. A power transfer was beginning, and the boy’s scarred laughter echoed it, sending ripples of uncertainty to all the other individuals in the room. “I’m lesser? You are even beyond nothing to me. You’re bags of scarlet dribble that I will slice open and channel your effluvium onto the dry ground, letting you bathe in it. Maybe not you – maybe him, or him, or even her.” He said calmly, using his voice to point at all in the room, all the participants of these vile experiments. “Maybe all of you, even the ones pulling your strings, it’s not important now. This I swear; I will never forgive, not even the slightest of offense. Yes, some things will fade and disappear from my memories, yet I will never forgive it. Every offense here is burned into my soul; my very essence will be a list of all of your atrocities. And I swear, if I survive this place and you, I will send you all to hell before me. I am your damnation and I am NOT LESSER! I am above you in all things. Now grow provoked by your shortcomings and set lose these inbred cretins, letting them bless me with sweet stupor.” He then stared defiantly at the doctor before his eyes went wide, and his body went limp, another cranial wound clearly visible. Thirteen years later. The cold rain lashed against the windows, seemingly never ending, creating muddy pools along the streets of Morale. It had been raining most of the day, and rain had continued almost non-stop within these two weeks. The rain did not fit the mood inside the room, inside the mansion. Many of the gathered nobility and figures of state were up and about, chatting with one another and enjoying the pleasantries of this evening. A group of exotic dancers were lined up on the right, a fire-eater from the black lands was displaying his tricks on the left and in the center was an intricate color combination, expensive fabrics swirling around as people danced to the best of their abilities to match those fiery colors they so proudly displayed. Tonight was a night of pleasantries, seeing as a treaty had been made between the human kingdom of Coriolis and the Organism empire. Several Organism delegate were gathered here as well, gathered mostly among themselves, yet occasionally chattering with human figures of state. Unbeknownst to them was a figured shrouded in darkness, occasionally gazing at them from the shadows. The unquiet mind studied the starlit sky in its demise. To the east, planets and constellations dimmed. He revealed in the barrage of equations his mind was producing, threatening to overwhelm him before he reined it all in, keeping it in check, keeping it focused on what was important. He inhaled deeply before he spoke, voice deep and commanding, as if the entirety of life and the universe had waited eons for this one moment to come to fruition.“Ruinous Orcas….” A voice from the shadows said suddenly, drawing the ears of every soul in the room. Some had heard the voice before, during a similar situation, now burned into their hearts. Those that recognized the voice were quickest to leave the dance floor, followed later by those that did not. The man known as Ruinous simply stood frozen in place, unsure what was happening, slick gray hairs frozen in place. His brethren stood beside him, all warriors in the Organism empire despite being delegates. From several directions doors could be heard opening, followed by the sounds of metal armor clattering, signalling that the household guards had entered the room. Their eyes quickly scanned the room, all trained warriors in their own right, although some more tested than others. The household guards screened the room and spread out whilst the Organism warriors simply held their position, producing hidden blades that were illegal to carry to such an event. Apparently some of them had been informed of the recent rumors in this land, hearing of some shadowy assassin that commoners had named ‘the red hand’. The room held its breath, silence wrapping around them except the occasional mutter from guards or the clanking of their metal garments. That all changed when shadow themselves suddenly descended from above, landing in the center of the ballroom in a swirling motion. The presence before them appeared to be more specter than living, large tattered cloak swirling around him, ending in strips that flowed almost lifelike in the air, like tendrils from some hellish plain. The movement eventually stopped as the creature rose upwards, no longer crouched, displaying an impressive height for the average human, yet slightly shorter than an Organism warrior. Its features were mostly hiding thanks to his cloak, yet underneath it, they could see a strange metal armor that looked somewhat bronze, although he moved much to light-footed for it to be made out of that.“Ruinous Orcas….” He said suddenly, mouth hidden by fabric, yet the sheer intensity of his eyes betrayed the feral expression of his lips. He gazed straight at his mark, not needing more than a second to find him in the crowd. There were several spears pointed at him now, although from a fair distance and close enough to the two guards who had brought a crossbow with them. They looked hesitant, no doubt having heard what had happened at the last sighting of the Red hand.“A myriad of souls cries out in anguish at your continued existence, demanding the same fate that you bestowed upon them. Before this night has come to pass, so shall your judgement be. I am your fated judge and executioner, the living embodiment of the six hundred and twenty-four, the souls you used as a stepping stone to achieve something that wasn’t meant to be grasped. I am the harvester that lays claim on your unholy actions, I am the red hand that will tear you from this world.” Ruyinius Orcas was forced a step backwards, somewhat unsure what had driven him to do so, either the man's deep and threatening voice or the fact that he had used the number six hundred and twenty-four. It chilled him to the bone to hear that number, having barred it from his mind a long, long time ago. He was still considering his options; fight or flight, yet his discussion was made for him when the shadowy man slowly cocked his head upwards, allowing Ruinous to peer beyond the tip of his hood, letting him see that the assassin carried aureate eyes, eyes that took in nothing, but it’s mark. The second Ruin noticed those eyes was the second he ran, dragging with him his armed companions and shouting for the guards to kill the assassin. In the back of his mind he knew that he had lost right here and there. He knew it because he was one of the few people still alive that knew the full extent of what this assassin could do. He rushed with his companions to the door and kicked it open, noticing in the corner of his eyes how the red hand moved, swirling left and right, dodging the first two bolts as if he knew where their trajectories would be and returning with bolts of his own, fired from some mechanical slot on his arms. The men who dared to move closer were sliced to ribbons when the assassin pivoted on his feet, sending his cloak outwards and letting the edges of it cut open exposed flesh and veins. In the few seconds it had taken for Ruinous to reach the door the assassin had already taken down four armed and trained men. Fifteen minutes later The man rushed as fast as he could, one hand clutching his wounded leg, feeling the small metal bolt bite into his rectus femoris, causing excruciating pain. He ignored it to the best of his ability to do so, eyes just focused on the large structure in front of him, a shy three minutes jog. The building would be his salvation; the Organism embassy. Within it were more soldiers and a sense of security within its strong stone walls. He was the last of the group that had been at the party; the six companions he had brought with him were now all bleeding out or already succumbed to eternal stillness. The first two had died the minute they had decided to stop and face the assassin, thinking their natural strength and athletic build would tip the tide in their favor. They had not even had time to register the throwing knives, nor the acidic liquid that followed afterward, turning them into screaming figures that had little purpose in live beyond howling and screaming. Ruyinius wasn’t sure how the other four had died, seeing as he had kept his mind on nothing but running, occasionally hearing someone fall behind him or the screams and pleads for help as someone was dragged into the shadows. He forced himself to move faster, yet his leg felt like dead weight, slowing his movements and making his breathing slower and slower. Finally, he fell to his knees to gasp for air, eyes widening when he noticed a pair of boots slowly moving up to him, coming from the direction he had been running at. He didn’t need to see the bronze like metal trims to know it was the assassin, his whole soul was screaming it. He forced himself to straighten his back, at least stare defiantly at the creature who would kill him shortly. Furthermore, he wasn’t going to let someone break his will, his own hardness that had allowed him to slaughter innocents, experiment on the living and poison his competitors to archive what he wanted. Furthermore, he was a commoner who had fought his way to a position of power the nobility only dreamed of. Furthermore, he would not break, not now. So he whipped his gaze upwards and dared to gaze at the assassin. And break he did.(predatory eyes gazed back at him, making his figure seem taller than was possible and ethereal in a sense. They slammed down so harshly, so overwhelmingly, that any strength of will that Ruinous possessed was shattered on the spot. The pain in his leg increased tenfold, the fatigue doubled and any hope of a quick death had left him at that second, leaving only despair in its wake. “So… this is it… this is where I die?” He inquired, yet truthfully already knowing the answer. There was an instinctual way to go about this sort of things, some primal code that told you how to behave in your final minutes, if he even had so long. “You are here to kill me, are you not, boy.” He said, shaking from the sudden cold as the assassin drew near, cloak flapping in the wind, making his appearance almost ghostly and terrifying, even with the knowledge that the man before him was flesh and blood.“No.” The assassin said calmly, watching, observing. “I killed you a few minutes ago when my bolt embedded itself in you rectus femoris and tore open your femoral artery. Guessing from the lack of color on your face, the loss of mobility in your wounded leg and the tremors in your other limbs, I estimate that you have roughly two minutes before you bleed out completely.” He stated calmly, continuing his observations of the bleeding man in front of him. Ruinous felt his body shivering, yet at the same time also noticed the shouting and sounds of movement. A few people had opened their windows to stare at the commotion in the street and from the embassy came several Organism soldiers, sprinting as fast as they could. “A painless death?” Ruinous asked, not sure why he had earned such a thing considering what he had done to the other man. He was about to ask more when he heard the assassin speaking again. “No… The bolt had embedded itself in your muscle, yet you tore open the vein by continuing to use it. You killed yourself. I am merely here to observe and wait, wait for the final few seconds of your life and then act, sending you down to hell in an orchestra of violent screaming and flailing of limbs.” The assassin then slowly moved his right hand towards the wounded and kneeling male, spreading out his gauntleted palm and fingers whilst the left hand pulled on a string on the gauntlet, creating a ticking sound before suddenly an immense heat began to rise. The once cold metal of the gauntlet was now the temperature of a roaring hot fire, basking the palm side of the gauntlet in a red hue, like some demonic hand that had suddenly revealed its true nature, at the same time the surrounding wind picked up, slamming cold air at them, making the wraithlike cloak of the man truly come to life, letting it dance in the wind like it was possessed, whilst the cold air hissed against the flaming gauntlet, creating a thick steamy cloud. Ruinous knew at that moment why the creature he had created was called the Red hand. He knew it perfectly and cried honestly, before tears turned into soul wrenching screams as he burned his hands trying to get the fiery gauntlet from his burning face. A few hours later The man turned his gaze away from the scene, not wanting to look at the body any longer. It was still in a kneeling position, permanently now that rigor mortis had set in, keeping the body in this state for a while. The face still gave of some faint traces of heat, producing small clouds of heated air now and again, as if the soul itself was still screaming. The civilian witness reports he had collected for his supervisor were…. Sketchy at best, seeing as most of them claimed to have seen a specter, even a local guild master had seen the event and had described it -‘A demon appeared from the shadows, features so abhorrently spectral that it was nothing shy of a wraith. The mere sight of this creature from hell was enough to sap the strength and life out of the murdered man, leaving him weak and bound to that place by some supernatural force. Then, something happened that no man should ever have to see, let alone be faced to endure. His hand became hell itself, cloaked in fire as it charred the man’s soul within his body, boiling him from the inside and leaving just the red hand mark upon his visage.’- Along with other vague descriptions. He shook his head and walked away from the scene, heading towards his companions and comparing notes. Sixteen people had been killed this night, all within half an hour, if witness reports were at least accurate on this part. He wasn’t surprised to hear that a task force was set up to counter this assassin, nor that several Organism inquisitors had demanded they be a part of this as well. After all, one of their senators had just been brutally killed in the middle of a crowded street, although reports claimed he was ‘reaped’. Location Dresden, 12:30(male sidestepped a couple walking past him, wearing the latest Sitar fashion and simply reeking of sweet perfume. He held his arms close to his body, holding the flaps of his coat close to his body, preventing any more rain from dripping down his neck, soaking his shirt underneath. He quickly stepped into city hall, rubbing his arms a few times before shaking his head, letting his short hair flow from left to right, the blond dyed strands dancing in some intricate fashion before they stopped moving and simply hugged his cranium again, determined to make his appearance be that of a drowned cat. As he shook most of the rain of his coat before taking it of completely, he caught the ending of a conversation from some noblewoman with her husband, talking about the brutal assassination of senator Ruinous, just a month ago. Trade and negotiations had begun once more between the two nations, yet it was a fragile one at best, both sides not fully trusting one another. The conversation quickly turned into petty gossip after that, quickly ignored by the blond haired male. He stopped at a local vendor and purchased a dark drink that was quite foul to the taste at first, yet overtime it turned sweet and soothing, not to mention cleared away any morning fatigue you might have at the time. The man that called himself Lance wasn’t fully trusting of this concoction, yet it allowed him to blend in, seeing as practically everyone was drinking the black sludge in the morning. The next vendor he visited rewarded him with a parcel filled with papers; all documents about different subjects. Lance pulled out a sheet about the recent pharmacy sales action, searching for anything that might be helpful to him. A minute later he was sitting behind a small desk, reading the article in depth, whilst occasionally scanning the crowds and the building in front of him; the administration office. He had been inside a few time, depositing a few coins here and there, withdrawing this and that; enough to gain a feel for the place, yet not enough to be remembered by anyone. He would make his move in a few days, taking out his next mark; the brothers Videos, the financial backers to a certain project a few years ago.(had made a remarkable rise in power over the last ten years, starting out as simply coin exchangers, yet now among one of the leading three banks in Dresden. They allowed to population to save their coins for a rainy day, borrow coin at a certain rate and have the security of knowing your coins were guarded. What the populace did not know was the fact that they were dealing with blood money. Lance took another sip of the black liquid and shuddered, almost wishing he could do away with the foul substance and also remove the dye from his hair, returning to his brown hair. Blending in was important, yet he would be damned if he were to die with blond hair, looking like some stately clerk boy from the city. He eyed the crowd again, digits moving the pencil on his paper as he made notes of who were entering, making rough sketches of their physical traits. His eyes widened when he noticed the woman again, widened briefly before they narrowed, carefully hidden behind spectacles with dark lenses, as was the latest fashion. Some considered Null to be pampered while others believed her to be too loose with her opinions. There were times when her own father wished he hadn't given her the education she received because Null could match wits with anyone and almost always came out the winner. Far from shy, Null could be quite outspoken when the situation warranted such; yet she was a woman that also knew when it was best to hold her tongue. There were other, less obvious ways, to get one's point across, and she wasn't afraid of utilizing whatever was at her disposal. Such were the perks of working for not one man, but three, that more often than not, could help benefit any number of people. It was all in how you asked, of course. Those that came blustering in and making demands were kindly, but firmly, shown the door. Those that came in and were less than confident were given another avenue that would help them in their time of need. And then there were those that came in with that air of confidence; somewhat arrogant and believed that everyone within their sight was for their benefit alone. Such people were, of course, shown otherwise. Oh, the monies almost invariably exchanged hands, and the contracts were hardly read, especially the clause that detailed what would happen should they be late with their payment. That was how the financial institution in which Null was employed, was able to come to such power. More power than what they should rightfully have. As an accountant, she kept accurate records of each and every transaction that took place within the walls. Actually, she kept two sets of books. Each transaction was painstakingly placed in the correct column. No one knew of the other set of books, only Null, and by keeping them at her home, was at great risk to her personal well-being. Not to mention that of her family. Her father, one of the better known politicians in the city, was often called upon for mediation. As an Zirconium citizen, he often helped in negotiations with the emissary from Dresden. Null, of course, kept away from politics. However, that didn't mean she didn't mind voicing her own views when asked. So most didn't, preferring not to hear what that nice lady had to say. And her employers, the brothers Videos, distant relation of the slain senator Ruinous, were now in a dither because surely, with that man’s death, certain secrets had to be kept safe and out of the way. Null, of course, believed the three to be bumbling idiots, in spite of their intelligence and knack {Null was well aware that said ‘knack’ was more often than not, quite nefarious} for making money. Rumors did much to enhance the imagination of people. Coupled with those that were known to embellish, as well as add an untruth, had most gasping and outraged that such should occur. Null, however, paid no attention to the stories or the rumors and refused to be drawn into any conversation where the topic was the death of the late Senator. As far as she was concerned, his demise was a blessing in disguise, allowing, she hoped, for the individual that was slated to take his place to actuallydosomething, rather than talk about doing something. Part of her duties entailed running errands now and then for the three Videos’. As much as she loathed having to do anything for them, she secretly enjoyed being able to get away from everyone, making sure that before she left that one set of books were always available while the other set of books were hidden and kept under lock and key. There were many places on the third floor offering a cornucopia of hiding places, and since she utilized most of the third floor for her work and kept the files, no one was the wiser. So it was on this particular day that Null Louise Sanders, who had an oft-times bad habit of conversing with herself, was out and about in the city. It was her misfortune to have to listen to the ‘talk’; the assumptions; the rumors; the conjectures and over-all outrageous guesses of those she passed by as to whom the culprit could be that had murdered the late Senator. She chose to keep her opinions quiet this day, giving certain people stern looks; others a look that indicated that surely they had something better to do with their time than talk about the deceased. In one shop and out again, dropping off the billets that Markham had her deliver on a weekly basis. Nothing seemed to change, though a glance in certain directions a time or two clearly told her that she was not alone in this endeavor in doing her employer’s request. For certain she had glimpsed the same man twice now. Once on the street as she walked in the opposite direction; and then a few streets later when she exited one of the shops. Standing there at the corner, looking at nothing in particular, yet at the same time, to Null, it appeared as if he were taking every-thingin at a glance. That struck her as odd. It was normal, of course, to see the same people when one was out and about, but usually not this frequently, and she wondered, idly, if perhaps she should mention such to her father and just as quickly discounted the idea as ludicrous, considering that he believed his own daughter often saw more than what met the eye at first glance. Who’s to say if it was coincidental that she would choose that particular ‘shop’ to enjoy a hot drink, the dark liquid would be soothing, not to mention warming due to the inclement weather. Nuell veered away from the Administration Building where she worked, and entered the shop. Nodding now and then in greeting to people she knew, as she moved through those gathered at tables and desks. It was as she turned toward the lone empty table, that she looked to her left and there he was. Again. The same man she had seen throughout the day while she was running her errands for the Videos Brothers. As his eyes widened, so too, did hers. When his eyes narrowed, hers did as well, before she attained a normal look as possible and merely arched a brow. Abruptly she changed her mind, and with an arched brow to the man that sat at a desk, a pad of paper and a pencil in hand, Null nodded her head in silent greeting, turned and left the shop. She made quick work in crossing the street, and at the double-doors that would lead her inside, she paused, looked back the way she had come, as if seeking the man, and with furrowed brows, pushed open the doors and disappeared inside. Everything about her seemed to draw his senses, despite him doing his utmost to scan the crowds and look for certain assets or threats in his plans. Was it that she had noticed him and singled him out, making eye contact with him, or was it the fact that she changed her plans right there and then. A part of him wanted to leave right there and then, afraid that she might be on to something, yet quickly squashing those thoughts the moment they entered his mind. There was absolutely no way to draw a link to him and the events that had happened to all the recent killings. The man had no recorded background, besides his initial birth records and 'purchase record' that the facility had kept. He was but one of thousands of orphans and beggars, destined to be forgotten and trampled on. The person he was now, or rather the identity he was at this point in time, was different from a few months ago; his hair, clothing-style, beard and even accent all changed to suit a different persona. He glanced downwards and let his eyes run over the many sketches he had made, drawing a displeased sneer on his face when he noticed that at least six were sketches of the woman who had spotted him. It wasn't rare for him to draw a second one, taking in account how a person looked in uniform, or simply to mark out a target and have factor in every tiny detail about him. The senator had four sketches, one of his younger years and three showing him in different, yet frequently worn styles of clothing. The sneer deepened before he took control over his emotions and quickly slid all the sketches in a leather parcel, using strips to bind it in place. He finished the disgusting black substance, enjoying only the warmth that it brought and nearly chocking on the aftertaste. It was truly beyond him why these people enjoyed these bitter substances, even factoring in that it sharpened the senses for a few hours. He left the store after paying for his drink, making his way past the bank one last time before leaving the location, making his way back to his base of operations." Girl, downstairs! Now!" Victor said, howling from downstairs, summoning Null Louise Saunders. When she finally was within eyesight, having went from the third floor down to the first floor, she would notice Victor and Philippe Videos huddling together, whispering to one another. "Good. Good. Took you long enough." Victor said, giving the girl a calculating glance and staring at her female attributes. "We need you to suck the wealth out of this client like a starving prosti-" "What my esteemed brother is trying to say is this; We have a foreign client that is most likely of Dresden origins. It has been far too long since we have last had trade with these people and this might be just the spark we need to get the financial wheel back in running." Philippe said, interrupting his brother and calmly stepping aside so that the girl could make her way downstairs properly. Victor had always been the more... 'basic' of the three brothers, preferring to scold and kick at his staff, or fondle and grope them if they were either female or young and gullible enough. He lacked the finesse that Philippe had, yet he made it up with how he could juggle numbers in his mind. He was a blunt instrument that was best left upstairs behind documents or simply counting coins. Philippe was the more charismatic of the three brothers, always having a trademark pristine white smile at his disposal and usually seen with his inviting folded hands posture. People tended to like him, seeing as he was polite and did not touch any of the staff. What people did not know was that he frequently sold people loans that they could never pay back to siphon coin from them for the rest of their lives, or simply send 'collectors' to fetch their wives and daughters to sell to less know 'markets'." He might not have the biggest pockets, yet we care little about that. Make sure he spreads the word, girl." Victor said, pressing a digit against the girl's shoulder, as if to help her remember the order she had just received. Seconds later Victor stormed off, making his way back into the main lobby to chat with customers." I'd like you to give him the tour of the building, show him the safes in the cellar and give him the parchment that contains the information about our loans and whatnot. I doubt he will bite right away, yet we want him to feel at home here. A refreshment here, a leisurely stole through our office and a respectful answer to some questions he might have. I am sure you will do wonderful." Philippe commented, flashing an innocent smile before joining his brother and waiting for Null to join them in the main lobby. Victor might try and treat certain employees as whores and even call them by such names, yet Philippe made you feel like one if you were sharp enough to catch on to his subtle and polite suggestions." Mister Regions, I would like you to met miss Sanders, head of accounting and your attendant for today. I refer to her for any lingering questions you might have off our facilities and offers. Feel free to take your time to read up on the information collected in the parchment you will receive shortly. We at Videos banking hope you will find things to your satisfaction." Philippe said, stepping to the side to introduce Null to the man. If there was any shock registered on Null's face when she found out that the 'client' had been the same person that she had seen a few days back in the shop, it would be quickly suppressed by a cough from Philippe or a sneer from Victor. The client simply raised an eyebrow before collecting himself, although his hand on his leather parcel was showing signs of applying great pleasure for a few seconds. Philippe then opened the door for the two of them to pass and closed it behind them, allowing Null to begin the tour. She had assumed that as soon as she entered the building that the man's visage she had seen at the café would be but a distant memory, but it did not. Questions arose that were unattainable as well as disconcerting as to why she should even be concerned as to who he was. Why was finding out his identity so important? It wasn't a priority to discover who he was. But there had been something about him that had sent a multitude of signals that were a combination of warning and encouragement. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she had encountered him at various times throughout the day. Then, upon seeing each other at the shop, their actions seemed to have been choreographed with the widening and then narrowing of their eyes toward the other. So what had prompted her to leave and return to the Videos Brothers' across the street? Why had she not chosen to remain and at least confront the man, or at the very least, perhaps offer to sit with him? Entering the building, Null had immediately proceeded to her own office and set to work, which allowed some peace of mind and pushed the stranger from her thoughts. A few days later as she was transferring numbers from one set of books to the other, Null heard Victor bellowing from below-stairs for her to come downstairs. The man, most assuredly, was a genuine cad. Rude, obtuse at times, extremely unpretentious when it came to his appearance and familial line (after-all, who hadn't heard of the Videos Brothers?) because he believed that his importance was a given. All things considered, of course! Grumbling under her breath as she descended, it was no surprise to find Victor and Philippe, with their heads close together, conjuring up some conspiracy or plot in hushed whispers when the former acknowledged her presence with a grumble of his own. At his cool and calculating glance over her figure, Null arched a brow mockingly in his direction. The speech, if one could call it that, began as it usually did,"We need you to suck the wealth out of this client like a starving prosti-"And Philippe to the rescue, Null thought, turning her attention to the other immediately as she finally descended the stairs. At least of the three, this particular sibling was much more tactful, not to mention easier to deal with. Of the three, should a choice have been given, Philippe would win, hands down, every time. Plus, she didn't have to contend with wolfish looks or eyes that roamed over her body as if they were undressing her where she stood." What my esteemed brother is trying to say is this; We have a foreign client that is most likely of Dresden origins. It has been far too long since we have last had trade with these people and this might be just the spark we need to get the financial wheel back in running." A small smile touched Null's lips, replaced with a quick grimace as Victor pressed a finger into her shoulder,"He might not have the biggest pockets, yet we care little about that. Make sure he spreads the word, girl." She heard him say before he took his leave, Null's own gaze shooting daggers into his retreating back." I'd like you to give him the tour of the building, show him the safes in the cellar and give him the parchment that contains the information about our loans and whatnot. I doubt he will bite right away, yet we want him to feel at him here. A refreshment here, a leisurely stroll through our office and a respectful answer to some questions he might have. I am sure you will do wonderful." Nuell's attention had returned to Philippe as he spoke; but she was not fooled by the innocent smile he flashed at her before he, too, sauntered away to join Victor. The request was highly unusual insomuch that she was only called upon for such duties when a potential client appeared that had something the Brothers wanted. As much as she disliked the three, she could hardly say no for doing so would result in her abrupt termination with an escort off the property. That, of course, would not do. The extra set of books Null had needed to be protected and kept secret from everyone, most especially the Brothers. She disliked all three of them, immensely; but had to keep reminding herself that she needed the work and swallowing her pride now and then was a fair enough trade to ensure she kept her employment. Never mind the fact that the one treated some of the women as if they were common whores and would go so far as to call them such as well. And the other, glib tongued as he was, would often make lewd suggestions, albeit in a subtle and polite manner. Combined, the three of them were nothing more than legitimate criminals, given carte blanche to hand out money at ridiculous interest rates. And if payments were not received in a timely manner... well, some people seen one day were ironically gone the next, some never to be seen again. There were rumors, of course, and some of the proof was being kept in the second set of books. Smoothing the skirt worn, Null elevated her chin as she had seen the Brothers do on occasion, took a deep breath and joined the small group of customers Victor and Philippe were chatting with. Prior to approaching, she placed a fixed smile upon her features in time to hear Philippe announce,"Mister Regions, I would like you to meet Miss Sanders, head of accounting and your attendant for today. I refer to her for any lingering questions you might have of our facilities and offers. Feel free to take your time to read up on the information collected in the parchment you will receive shortly. We at Videos Banking hope you will find things to your satisfaction." Of course, she hadn't seen the man from a few days ago in her comings and goings, though she had been looking for him in an obscure way. Paying closer attention to those she passed to and from work or out running errands. But to have him appear right in front of her as a potential client? The fixed smile slightly faltered as Null greeted the man, her voice strong and true, as if nothing out of the ordinary were amiss,"Mister Regions, a pleasure to meet you. If you'll follow me?" Stepping back and away from the others, she extended her arm that would lead to the safes that were kept in the cellars. Questions she wanted to ask immediately began to form, but she wanted to make sure that were not within hearing of the others before she spoke. The door that lead to the cellars was always kept closed and locked, and she had to wait for Philippe to unlock, open and then close the door behind them." Please, watch your step on descending as the building is rather old. Not quite in disrepair, though there have been accidents upon the stones..." A few more steps further, she stepped off the last step and entered a wide chamber. One wall lined with rows upon rows of small to medium-sized safes; the wall to their right contained filing cabinets; the wall to their right had three massive safes that had been directly built and embedded into the rock. Yet it wasn't the tour that she was interested in giving him, turning quickly to face him, long skirts whirling about her ankles, Null placed her hands on her hips and with an arched brow, asked mockingly,"Quite different attire from the other day, Mister Regions. Though I doubt that's your given name!" Brows were drawn together as she scowled up at him,"What are you really doing here? I doubt it has anything to do with applying or receiving any type of loan or business transaction!" She was, to say the least, a bit indignant at his sudden appearance. Not that she knew the man. Still, when he had done nothing but invade her thoughts the past few days, she was hoping that he would offer some plausible explanation! The innards were spectacular compared to the upper area, the numerous vaults all chiseled into the stone itself. True, the upstairs area that held most of the building consisted of impressive architecture, decorated with numerous pieces of art and adorned with silver and gold where ever it could and did not clash. In terms of wealth the lower area could not compete, safe for what was kept behind these thick vault doors. No, what intrigued the man was how perfect this place was. He could silence a dozen people here, and he doubted anyone upstairs would even notice, safe for when someone went in to check on him. The walls were too thick to let sound waves travel, making this place the perfect kill room. Thoughts like these had popped in his mind the second he noticed that the woman that would show him around was none other than the woman he had encountered in the little restaurant. She had behaved at first but was now displaying her true thoughts now that the door had been closed behind them. The fact that the woman had even noticed him was one thing, yet not voicing such concerns with her own employer was quite suspicious in itself." A name can change over time and per location, can it not?" He asked playfully, taking a relaxed posture by leaning against one of the pillars that held an oil lamp above his head, making it easier for him to establish his night vision, not staring directly at the source of the light. "The liquid you dub as 'Coffee' is called 'Cake' in my native land, although the beverage remains the same. Can I not have a different name here than the one I was gifted at birth in my home country?" He asked of her, doing his very best to come off as relaxed as possible, not gazing at her as a threatening beast." As for my attire, lady Sanders, I have more than one set of clothing at my disposal, so a change in attire is no that uncommon for me. Although if you prefer me to wear my previous set I shall endeavor to... 'dress to your preference' next time we meet." He gave her a weak smile that hopefully projected his thoughts about easing any anger between the two of them. He wanted to come off as if this was but a chance encounter, seeing as if things went sour he would have to step up his schedule quite drastically." Still, I applaud your deductive skills and your shrewd logical clarity your mind possesses, yet I find it quite overwhelming to be cornered like this. Any ideas about me coming here for a loan or business transactions have been conjured up by your employees, not mine. I am merely here to take advantage of the facilities you have at your disposal here; the storing of items in a highly secure enclosure." He told her, slowly pulling a thick parcel from a leather bag he had been carrying, letting it rest on his open palms, allowing her to inspect the size of it. "I am a bit of a tinkerer, even have a bit of success in my creative arts here and there. The thing I want to store here is a prototype I need to keep safe until it is time for me to show it."(he began unfolding the leather parcel, exposing a thick and heavy object that just barely fit in the space of two open hands. It had a glowing orange center and had a steel and bronze shell that kept the intricate system inside of it safely tucked away. He took a few steps closer towards her and allowed her to see it, yet not touch it. "This is the project I am working on. If I am right it will shake the foundations of this society, brining forwards new light of a brighter future. I'd rather keep private what it does and doesn't do considering cooperate espionage and what not, yet the device is not meant for military use or something as silly as that. This is designed to be used by your average civilian in order to brighten up their day." He let her check it out for a while longer before he closed the leather parcel again, carefully wrapping it in such a way that it covered the entirety of it all." Would you be so kind as to facilitate me in this little matter, picking out a small but secure safe for me to use, or should I go back and ask your employers? I doubt they would have any problems with a Dresden born and bred civilian using their bank and becoming a client of theirs. Still, I could no doubt ask them about it, even discussing with them your hesitation and -excuse me for being so blunt in saying this-, your fixation on my identity, attire and recent stalking behavior in a local shop. I can understand sudden infatuations, yet this is highly unusual for me." He gave her a coy grin before he subdued it again, letting her know for a brief second that he was enjoying this little back and forth. In reality, he had been almost itching to draw a hidden blade from his sleeve and slice her jugular, holding her down until bubbles no longer appeared in the fresh blood. He wanted her removed and to stop being a distraction to him. Her presence here was not calculated in the plan, and it unnerved him quite a bit. He only needed the package to be stored down below, nothing more. Was she going to be a problem that he needed to fix right now? His plans on returning here later this night, this time as his true and deadly self, were dangling at a cliffs edge. He was rather blasé; if not outright calm. But Null wasn't going to allow herself to be persuaded nor have her thoughts pushed aside. Something was amiss here; she just didn't know what it was. He was relaxed to the point that, in some odd way, calmed her nerves. His voice was playful when he spoke, leaning against one of the pillars as if he owned the place,"A name can change over time and per location, can it not?" Nuell blinked as if to gauge her surroundings and drew a deep breath as he continued to speak. The sound and tone of his voice somewhat mesmerizing, and she had to remind herself that she had to be on her guard. That men like this, though to put a label as to what 'type' of man he was, was beyond her reach, needed to be watched. The liquid you dub as 'Coffee' is called 'Cake' in my native land, although the beverage remains the same. Can I not have a different name than the one I was gifted at birth in my home country?" Interesting question, Null thought, merely arching a brow as she watched him. She doubted that he even wanted her to answer to begin with, and it was, at least for now, best to remain silent. What better way to 'find' out the little things about people you didn't know? Of course doing so didn't always reveal much. But there were times when watching another allowed small insight into their psyche." As for my attire, Lady Sanders, I have more than one set of clothing at my disposal, so a change in attire is not that uncommon for me. Although if you prefer me to wear my previous set I shall endeavor to... 'dress to your preference' next time we meet." The smile he offered at that last statement seemed almost forced in Null's opinion, and she airily waved at hand in dismissal to the notion. And when was the last time anyone had spoken to her in such a tone of voice? Hadn't she earlier thought that his very tone was somewhat calming? His smile lingered, and Null wanted to slap it away." Still, I applaud your deductive skills and your shrewd logical clarity your mind possesses, yet I find it quite overwhelming to be cornered like this. Any ideas about me coming here for a loan or business transactions have been conjured up by your employees, not mine. I am merely here to take advantage of the facilities you have at your disposal here; the storing of items in a highly secure enclosure." He said, while at the same time withdrawing a parcel, thick, from the leather bag that he had been carrying. It rested on his open palms, and she took a minute step forward to get a better look at the object, as well as the size, as he explained,"I am a bit of a tinkerer, even have a bit of success in my creative arts here and there. The thing I want to store here is a prototype I need to keep safe until it is time for me to show it." Nuell had never seen such an instrument as this before. The coil at one end seemed to be glowing, though it was hard to tell as she wasn't really that close to it, or him, for that matter. But close enough to at least get a quick look. One end looked as if it had been taken from one gadget or another. She could see the white wires that curled from one end and seemed to be looped through an attachment that appeared as if it were some arm, or an extension of some sort. And the center was a glowing orange. His approach allowed her a better view of the object; the way he was holding it indicated that she could look, but not touch. He needn't have worried about that." This is the project I am working on. If I am right, it will shake the foundations of this society, bringing forwards a new light of a brighter future. I'd rather keep private what it does and doesn't do considering cooperate espionage and what not, yet the device is not meant for military use or something as silly as that. This is designed to be used by your average civilian in order to brighten up their day." Unconsciously, she took a step back and away from him as he began to rewrap 'the project',"Would you be so kind as to facilitate me in this little matter, picking out a small but secure safe for me to use, or should I go back and ask your employers? I doubt they would have any problems with a Dresden born and bred civilian using their bank and becoming a client of theirs. Still, I could no doubt ask them about it, even discussing with them your hesitation and -excuse me for being so blunt in saying this, your fixation on my identity, attire and recent stalking behavior in a local shop. I can understand sudden infatuations, yet this is highly unusual for me." The grin he provided was gone as quickly as it appeared and Null blushed as she realized that perhaps he truly was who he said he was, "My apologies, Mister Rigid as. There are times when my imagination does get away from me," Null murmured by way of an excuse. Still, she didn't know whether to believe him or not. When she had seen him at the store a few days ago, he hadn't struck her as the 'tinkerer' type. Not then and most certainly not now. To her, he struck her as someone that took care of business that no one else wanted to do. Nuell took another moment to watch him before clearing her throat and moving to a safe that he would easily be able to reach, "I believe this particular safe might be suitable for your needs, Mister Rigid as," she said, turning to look at him over her shoulder, "Unless you prefer a different location, of course." While waiting for him to either approach the opened safe or store 'the project' within, or choose another, Null withdrew a key-ring that contained four sets of keys, one of which belonged to the safe in which she stood. She wanted to know more about this man. There was no rhyme or reason to wanting this; perhaps it was because he was mysterious. Or perhaps it was because she didn't believe him to be who he claimed to be. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, bluish-Grey eyes turning a stormy color as she began to make plans for the evening. He gave her another smile as he passed her, standing before the safe and eying it intently. The second he gazed at the safe was the second his personality changed, as if this person was truly just a collection of fragmented personalities and traits. Still, the way that he glanced at the metal safe right now was the truest he had even been around her. He crouched before it and stuck both hands inside the safe, measuring the height, depth and other measurements in his own unique way. The walls were knocked upon, each side receiving a dozen knocks, although some spots received a second one, occasionally receiving a cocked eyebrow because of the sound it gave of. Nearly two minutes had passed before the man finally nodded, placing the wrapped device within the safe, unwrapping it there and stepping backwards, allowing his companion for today to close the safe and store the device. "The safe will do just fine for now. I'll collect my device at some later date. If you could keep it secure until then?" He ended with a question, fully aware that it would be answered with a yes of sorts, yet still asking out of courtesy. It amused him sometimes how frequently people did this; asking obvious questions for the sake of protocol or decorum. 'Can I buy a pinch of salt' or 'Can you send this letter to this address', all frequently used, yet never looked at in a strange way. He watched her eyes more than he watched her as a person, wondering what went on in her mind and what secrets her eyes could unravel in such a short time. The girl was sharp and her tongue sharper. A part of him hoped she would not be on duty this evening, seeing as the causality ratings would be severe, possibly even civilian if things got out of hand. He followed her when she was done with the vaults, calmly making his way up the stairs and waiting for her to give the signal to open the larger vault door that would allow him to enter the upper building again." Sorry for any discomfort in advance." He breathed at her, taking a few steps to the side as he bit down on his lip hard, seconds later undoing the first two buttons on his shirt and running a hand through his hair in a messy way. By the time the large vault door was opened they would see 'mister Rigid as' in a messy state, his clothing appearing as hastily put back in place, his hair out of any proper style and his lower lip showing a droplet of blood as if someone had given him a playful nibble there. He managed a surprised expression when one of the triplets gazed at him with an even greater display of surprise. "What in the blog-" Victor stammered, only his greed keeping him from boiling over and fuming. "I must say, mister Videos, your bank is quite impressive, yet the 'service' you allow your customers is even more impressive. I do think you have just gotten a regular client on your hands, if you get my drift." He said, tapping the man playfully on his shoulder and moving away from him, making a straight line towards the exit, only stopping to thank the other Videos brother and quickly making himself more 'respectable' in terms of hairstyle and the way his clothing was presented. He grinned when the door closed, hearing Victor Videos howl out a set of curses whilst Philippe quickly rushed towards his brother and miss Saunders. Was it cruel what he had just done; dropping a heap of troubles on the young woman? Perhaps, perhaps not. The woman was a bit to sharp for him to just ignore, and she had a certain way of distracting him. She was a civilian as far as he could tell, and he preferred if she was out of his way, allowing him more 'room' to act later this night. If the girl was fired it would be a small setback for her, her intellect would help her find a new job. Besides, what was unemployment compared to getting killed in a bloody assault? Still, his intentions were good, yet he had not expected her to still be there that evening when he came back, this time dressed to the occasion. There was something about Mister Regions that didn't set well with Null. The smile he gave appeared forced; fake. His interest in the stowing his 'device' appeared as if it was something he'd rather not do, but had resigned himself to the job. Still, he piqued her interest unlike any other she had ever met or encountered during her time at the Videos'; that in and of itself rattled her nerves endlessly. She watched, hopefully displaying a rather bored expression on her features, as he gave another smile in passing, moving to stand before the safe she was showing him. With his back to her for the time, Null scrutinized him as intently as she could. Taking note of his clothing, trying to decipher if there weren't something hidden in the woven and threaded fabric that adorned his person. A brow arched in amusement as he crouched, sticking both hands within the safe; he then knocked on the walls. This type of 'inspection' had never been administered from any of the current clients. Null would have laughed outright if she didn't find this to be quite out of the ordinary. However, she remained stoically silent, observing him in an inconspicuous way as possible while at the same time trying to be accommodating to his needs." The safe will do just fine for now. I'll collect my device at some later date. If you could keep it secure until then?"" Of course, Mister Regions." Null replied, perhaps a bit more curtly than she should have, due to his own scrutinizing he was doing of her. Or so she surmised. His gaze was intense, and that too, seemed to rattle her nerves to the point that she pressed her lips tightly together, moving away from him to ensure his safe was adequately locked. That done, she began making her way back the way they had come. Her thoughts were going in different directions, unwilling, or perhaps it was that they were unable at this point, to settle on any one thing that stood out about this man. But when she heard,"Sorry for any discomfort in advance." Nuell could only look at him with a blank expression, not understanding his words until the vault door was open. Victor, of all the brothers to be present, was the one that had to notice their guest’s state of disarray. But it was his words that had Null gritting her teeth and balling her hands into fists,"I must say, mister Videos, your bank is quite impressive, yet the 'service' you allow your customers is even more impressive. I do think you have just gotten a regular client on your hands, if you get my drift." Hearing that, Null's mouth dropped open, forming a wide "O". She felt her cheeks burn, and all eyes seemed to turn toward her at the same time. Her vocal cords fled, leaving her tongue-tied in a most uncharacteristic way. And the curses that were being levied against her as the man took his leave and Philippe Videos rushed forward to protect her from Victor and prevent him from assaulting her was the final straw. No amount of apologies seemed to work. And though she was, more or less, still somewhat of a prize at their establishment, they were making her work the evening shift and every evening shift from now on, citing that they didn't want a repeat of today's events to ever take place again. Not that she blamed them, of course, but it hadn't been her fault, and she most certainly hadn't done anything to that man, Mister Regions, to warrant such a display! Pacing back and forth in the vast lobby, Null would stop at double doors, raise her fists and mutter,"Should I see you administer REGIONS, I will most definitely give you my opinion whether you want it!" The stars blinked and winked at her through the tall windows, and Null sighed, almost in resignation. Squaring her shoulders however, she continued pacing the vast lobby. The books had been completed hours ago, but the brothers had been adamant that she remain on the premises until the doors were unlocked for business the following day.

The Red Hand Whimsical_Flassche|rating:3.0

Welcome to the Processing Center_ Esoterica and Rianue

Gabriel Holden woke up with a splitting headache. The artificial lights in the overly bright room were hard on his eyes, and as he looked around the room, he tried to remember what had happened and tried to figure out where the hell he was. The first thing he noticed was that he was lying in a hospital bed. The sheets were impeccably clean, and the place smelled as sterile as any hospital had a right to be. So far, little seemed unusual about anything except for the fact he did not remember coming here immediately as one would expect he should have." This is peculiar." Gabriel thought to himself. "I don't feel sick. So what the hell am I doing in a hospital?" Gabriel struggled to his feet, feeling a little dizzy but trying to orient himself and remember what had happened. He remembered being hit in the back of the head with something. He remembered darkness. What he did not remember was any supernatural creatures. No vampires, no werewolves, no demons, not even the smallest imp. What he did not remember so far seemed promising. It meant he probably was only dealing with being hospitalized because he was sick. Maybe he had contracted the flu. It was the flu season and that would make sense. Gabriel started searching for a call light in the room, but he did not find one. He started towards the door, making his way to the nursing station, when he realized that the ward was basically a ghost town. There were no nurses occupying it. There was only a small office with a laptop computer, and a couple of chairs." This is getting weirder and weirder." Gabriel said to himself, as he glanced at the laptop, but did not try and access it at the moment. He shook his head slightly and said. "Where the hell are all the nurses?" That was when he started up and down the halls of the ward, wondering right away if this was some kind of low occupancy psychiatric ward or if he was the only patient here. He made his way up and down the halls of the place, which he was starting to gather was part of some kind of Asylum based on the schedule for Psychotherapy that he found on the wall near a common room. Or at least, it was an Asylum at one point. Now, it was just empty, or nearly empty, and starting to weird him out. Gabriel walked up and down the halls of the place, calling out. "Hello, is anyone else here?" He went down to the door at the end of the hall which appeared to be the exit only to find it locked. Next he started to search the other rooms. That was when he found that all of them, except for the one at the far end of the hall, were totally and completely vacant. Gabriel entered room number six, opening it, and immediately found out that he was not alone. He recognized the vampire laying on other hospital bed immediately. He let out a bit of a laugh as he realized that he was locked in some kind of mental hospital with a vampire. Given he was a well known vampire hunter, this was not a good thing. Not a good thing by any stretch of the imagination." You have got to be fucking kidding me..." Gabriel said, as he stood there, realizing that he had to engage with this other man if he hoped to figure out what was going on. He also realized something else. He was the only source of potential blood at this moment, and eventually the vampire was going to get hungry and this was going to be a problem. "Hello Mr. Vampire. Fancy meeting you in this place. I take it you aren't the one who brought me here? Wherever the hell here is? Do you have any idea what the fuck is going on?" Park Called looked up from the bed he was sitting on and frowned as the human swore, then asked a series of questions. He was in just as much of a confusion as the young man was though, and shook his head slowly, wincing as the gash on the side of his head tugged slightly and sent a shot of pain through his brain. He had been on his way to a local home where a visiting warlock had borrowed a book on ancient techniques for breathing underwater when something had smashed into him. A few someone's as it turned out. They had both fallen to the ground and the struggle, though brief, had been pretty vicious for a vampire who hadn't fought any opponents in close to 50 years. Well, or so Park thought at least, he wasn't much of a fighter nowadays what with being a librarian after all. He knew he had managed to rip into one person's shoulder with his teeth before the sharp edge of something hard and stone-like had smashed into his head, followed by his seeing stars and temporarily losing control over his strength. Going limp, he hadn't been able to fight back as a third person'Or was it the second?'had kicked him from behind in the kidneys, and the first one he had sunk his teeth into had hit him with the stone again...and then it was lights out for an unknown amount of time. When he had woken up, he had known instantly he'd been kidnapped, but just the act of sitting up had been a trial of agony as his healing tissues were still very much raw.' So not a very long period of being unconscious then...the question is...where the hell am I now...' The sterile smell hurt his nose, normally fairly sensitive anyway, and the room itself looked like one of those he had seen on television before; something called a Hospital that humans and other mortals frequented. Though Park wasn't a mortal, he had been caught up in a few of those shows in the past before those damned Clans had decided to make the Other existence known publicly to the world. As a reclusive man, and owner to a very ancient, very magical, library for mages and other magic-users Park wasn't really a part of this whole 'supernatural uprising' gig and simply did what he needed to do, when he needed to when it came to dealing with others of the Other kind and Mortal alike. He had been just sitting up on the bed when his door had opened.'... Kidnapping...? No way....ow...damn, was it a brick? It crushed my skull at least...the thirst isn't rearing its head though, I should be fine for a while still. I hope.' Reaching up to touch the gash partially hidden under his waist-length black hair, out of its braid and covering most of his face now thanks to rough handling, the vampire looked at the man in the doorway with squinted bright green eyes at the human for a long moment before responding in a voice that was rough from the fight and unconsciousness that had followed." No I am not the one to have brought you here, I have no idea about that, and I am just as clueless as you are." Unsure if he was supposed to give his name in this kind of situation, the vampire shoved his hair out of the way, spotting a mirror to the side of the hospital bed. He was still in his street clothing, a dark blue business suit (now dirty and with one sleeve partially torn) and black leather shoes, now scuffed and dirty. Spotting the silver metal clasps that had been in his hair set on the small table beside the bed under the mirror, Park got to his feet slowly, a small drop of blood sliding down the side of his face slowly as he reached for the clasps, tucking them into his pants pocket before grabbing an edge of the pillow case, removing it from the pillow, and using the case to wipe up the already clotting wound so he wouldn't walk around looking like some Halloween mistake. As an Immortal, a slightly different version of the world's more common 'Vampire' he was used to being called such by others, most not knowing that his kind actually did exist, but the way this man spoke was...well, slightly irritating. "My name is Park. What do you know of this place, since it appears you have been awake longer than I have." Gabriel had no idea if Park knew that he was a vampire hunter or not, but he thought he would run under the assumption that if Park did not know that he was a hunter, he could possibly read his mind and figure it out. The human wanted to get the awkwardness out in the open immediately and that was why he had introduced himself in the way that he had. He did not want to pretend that he had no idea. It seemed stupid to waste energy trying to pretend that he did not know the other man was a vampire when he could use that energy to figure out how to get out of this situation alive." My name is Gabriel, but you can call me Gabe if you like. I cannot tell you much about this place. It is a psychiatric hospital, that much I was able to figure out right away. But we are the only 'patients' here in this ward. There are no nurses at the nurses station, and I distinctly remember being hit in the back of the head and that is not how they normally ship someone off to the mental hospital. So my thought is, we are imprisoned, and I have no idea why. I did see a laptop computer at the nurses station. I suppose the next logical step, given that the ward is obviously on lockdown, is to check out the computer, and to maybe take a closer look around this place. Furthermore, I may have missed something when I looked briefly up and down the hallway after all. Furthermore, I don't suppose there is any food or water anywhere in this hall. Unless you are going to count me, and the intention was, to feed me to you. Which occurred to me immediately. I don't know if it occurred to you or not."" Well nice to meet you, Park." The human hunter said, regarding the vampire carefully, drinking in his appearance and feeling relieved that the first thing the vampire did was introduce himself, not kill him. It meant that he had a chance of getting out of this place alive, and that was always a good thing. "I think it would make sense for us to work together to figure out how the hell to get out of here. If we are going to try and kill each other could we kindly hold off until we get the hell out of here? This situation is complex enough as it is. I would rather focus my intention on getting out and not staying alive." The news of what the human had as a profession was somewhat slow in coming to the vampire, who had finished mopping up the blood on his face. "That sounds like a good idea, killing people isn't generally something I enjoy doing anyway, and you can call me Kay I suppose. Most of my employees seem to enjoy calling me that." Watching the wound on his face seal over was something that was both disgusting, and somewhat horrifying, so Park turned away from the mirror to get a better -less pain filled-look at Gabe. He liked what he saw to be honest, this fellow kept in shape, and he was quite easy on the eyes. If he wasn't currently a kidnapping victim being held in a bizarrely well-kept and seemingly empty psychiatric hospital for reasons unknown, he would have been interested in possibly creating a relationship during one of his Heats. And then it clicked. The human was a hunter.' No eyeing the mortal then, I'm not liking where this is going.' His expression turning to it's normally cool mask, Park shook his head slowly and started to move over to the doorway where the human was, being very careful to not move in a way that would startle the fellow. The stink of the hospital disinfectant was becoming a background scent as he got used to it, so he was quickly becoming aware of other scents underneath the smell. Old blood was foremost, not from the human or himself of course, but from the surrounding air. "You're a hunter then, of vampires." His tone was cool, though not so much because he took offense to the others' choice of profession, but because he was internally trying to figure out what all was actually happening beyond this rather strange turn of events. Perhaps a madman had kidnapped them? Stopping a few feet away from the human, he looked at the man intently for a long moment before putting out his hand for a handshake. He felt fine now that his wound was healing, though the gash was just now finishing its clotting process, the scab would remain for around twenty minutes or so as the skin, bone and tissues healed further, before falling off. Until then, he shouldn't remove it...even though the wound was already starting to itch as the magic and technology within his blood hurried the healing process. His skin was warm still, he had fed from a fellow Immortal voluntarily only three days before so he had almost another 3 or 4 days before he would need to feed again, so felt it appropriate to be able to give a handshake with the wary male in front of him. "I won't feed from the unwilling Gabriel, it is not something I find enjoyable and is quite often a pain in the ass to deal with if the hypnosis wears off. And since we are attempting some honesty here, I am not the modern day version of a Vampire. I am Immortal, yes, and yes I do require additional blood to survive, but there are a few very key things that make me different from those out in the public eye. I won't harm you without due cause, although if, once we escape, you decide I must die for whatever reason, then I will defend myself." He wouldn't explain more about his strengths or weaknesses to this stranger, it would be a truly stupid thing to do, but he didn't want an unarmed Hunter jumping every time he looked sideways. Especially if said Hunter found a weapon of some sort. "You mentioned a computer system? I'm not too shabby at hacking a computer if necessary." Gabriel heard the nearby door open to the outside hall. A woman was pushing a cart inside the psychiatric ward with plenty of fresh food, while accompanied by two very buff looking guards dressed in orderly outfits. The human hunter immediately made a dash for the door only to be grabbed by the orderlies. "You are not authorized to leave the Processing Center at this time..." The nurse said gently, in an almost hypnotic tone as Gabriel was dragged back away from the door into the nearby dining area. "Now if you are not good, we will have to sedate you again." A bit slower on the uptake, even with his hearing being superior compared to a normal humans' ears, Park stepped out of his room in time to see Gabriel getting grabbed and hauled back nearer the nursing station as the nurse tutted at him.' Sedation...? Seriously? If THAT was sedation then I don't know what they mean by 'drugged'.' His expression blank in an effort to see if these...people, would be able to speak rationally, the immortal waited for the initial chaos to settle somewhat before he spoke "So then...this is an interesting space for a kidnapping, miss...?" His eyes had already scanned the surroundings, and as he approached, passing by the food cart as the woman pushed it further into the room and then was distracted by Gabriel's' escape attempt, the vampire snatched an apple from the tray on top of it. "I do believe there must be some mistake in this detention, after all, a psychward is meant for humans with mental problems, correct? As an immortal I hardly see the need to have been brought here. Unless of course...you would care to drop this false kindness you appear to present, and simply tell us where we are and why we are currently being held captive." Looking the apple over for any signs of bruising or tampering, the man appeared to be entirely calm, though of course with most of his kind, looks were very deceiving. To be brutally honest, if Park had been a more brash sort of vampire he could have easily snapped the women' neck and possibly one of the other guards; but since the situation was so uncertain, and he literally had only the information of this place from a fellow inmate to work with...well. It was better to suss out a situation before action, or so he often felt was the best way to go about things when met with the unexpected. "I know you likely expect me to keep up a pretense that this is some kind of normal psychiatric hospital you two...." The pretty, busty blonde nurse began with a smile, speaking so pleasantly it was almost creepy. "But this is not a typical hospital. It is a Processing Center."" You two have been specially chosen to feed Xerxes. It is a great honor, being chosen. Until the time of feeding on the Full Moon comes around, you will be given almost anything that your heart can desire."" Fine food. Sex, clothes, jewels. After all, you are helping to ensure that one of the ancient demons does not rise and destroy the earth. You are making a sacrifice, and your sacrifice is duly noted and much appreciated. You will be ended before you are Processed." We are a humane facility, after all, so there need to be no worries about suffering." The nurse said. "So is there anything I can get for you to make the next month here more comfortable? Any special meal requests? Prostitutes? A massage. Movies, alcohol, drugs?"" Woman you are the one who is on drugs if you think we are going to go along with this. Because I assure you. We will not." Gabriel promised. "Before this is over I am going to snap your pretty little neck. That much I can promise you. It will be far sooner than a month from now."" You really need to relax. Get laid. I will have some prostitutes brought up for your enjoyment as soon as possible." The nurse said as she pointed to the food trays. "There is blood for you as well, you do not have to eat the human. Though we do not really care if you do, it is preferable that you do not do so. 'Feed. Xerxes? And a full moon-they have a DEMON here?! Fuck.' His lips twisting into a scowl, Park snorted at the idea that this place was 'humane' and then blanked his expression again. "Well that is...unfortunate. An entire month, and during that time you, what, wish us to keep each other company? A vampire creature like me and a mortal Hunter of all people." Crossing his arms, the vampire raised an eyebrow at Gabriel's' threats "Oh, truly a brilliant retort there, and perhaps she is not entirely as she seems and that makes her mad. Although I will admit...for someone with no soul, she certainly does appear pretty." His words sounding rather laconic, Park looked at the bagged blood on the cart and then shrugged. He wouldn't drink anything that these...staff members – cultists – offered. The whole situation was insane, but what the owner of the Library knew was something most did not: How to tell if someone has sold their soul.' I could use that as a book title...good grief. It's no wonder this place is eerily clean....anything demonic necessitates OCD levels of cleanliness to make sue their rites and such don't somehow fail.... I probably shouldn't consider how my uniqueness will affect everything...' Grabbing an apple from the cart, he looked down at it calmly for a moment or two; it was a nearly perfect ball shape and fit well into his hands. Instead of taking a bite out of it – and was the 'vampire' ever tempted to do it just to throw off all of these people in the room since most known vampires did not eat – he instead drew back and threw it against the far wall. As it exploded into little more than juice and pulp, the immortal turned back and tilted his head "We'll need some cleaning supplies rather than a whore. Perhaps you'd like to get on that now, since it seems we'll be here for a while longer." As the woman's smile turned a slight bit forced at his imperious tone Park offered her a calm one of his own, not showing any teeth. In some, the physical expression would have been calming, almost seeming gentle, but with the glacial coolness in his expression and the preternatural stillness he could exhibit when he liked, the expression was more unnerving than anything, and he could hear the heart rates of each of the kidnappers' pulses speed up at it." Do be quick about it." His tone now somewhat testy, the vampire turned a look on the guards who had hold of Gabriel, who let him go as though he was burning them...or they didn't want to touch him anyway and had decided now was a good time to do so. The nurse and guards left quickly after that, and the immortal snorted. "Filthy creatures. Not many can pull off an appearance like that without some form of demonic entity behind them." After that, he stood back to let Gabriel calm down, offering a word or two as the night sped on. A janitor came in a few minutes after that - with guards of course - and cleaned up the mess, and the food was apparently decent enough to eat, though Park had absolutely no appetite and left the blood alone. He was still more or less alright, though his wound was truly bothering him as it healed, itching horrendously. As the night wore on, the two men went to their own rooms, and it would not have surprised Park any if the human had locked and barricaded said room of his just in case. He himself just closed the door and locked it. Come morning, or an approximation of it since the windows in his room were covered, the immortal found himself yet again facing a cart of food and blood bags and the retreating backs of a new nurse and guards. "Well...this is certainly a boring space. Shall we make that computer attempt now that our audience has left?" Gabriel nodded at the vampire, deciding that he had a point, and that now that they were alone, they should get on that computer, check it out, and see what they could discover and if they could contact anyone on the device." I don't suppose we could FaceTime someone if the computer goes online? Get a rescue crew here? Since we have no idea how many of these Froot Loops are in the Hospital. Although we know what they want. To feed us to Xerxes for shits and giggles. I wonder what kind of demon Xerxes is? I have never heard of him before. But apparently he also finds vampires tasty, because you were chosen to feed him too. We are supposed to be honored by this. Seriously? Honored? To be butchered and fed to a demon. Do we look brainwashed to them? I know you look a little hungry, but you do not look brainwashed. That woman was creepy though, wasn't she? Like a souless automan. I have heard of people like that. Who have sold their souls for power or immortality, or for a favor? I suppose she is one of them? I am talking too much. Let's see if we can surf the web shall we?" Gabriel found himself totally stunned to get on the computer, find it was online, and to discover that Discord was downloaded onto the computer and that it automatically loaded up signed in to someone named Destroyer#1927's friend list." Well if we want to go on YouTube, watch movies, play World of Warcraft, or jump on Discord, The Processing Center has us covered." Gabriel said, rolling his eyes at the stupidity of his captors. "........ And I do not know what we would actually do with the games, movies, or YouTube that they have allowed us to use." Sounding vaguely annoyed at the 'helpful' internet options available to them, the vampire frowned and looked over the username of the person signed in to the account. "1927...if that goes by a birthdate of some kind, then they either bring in anyone from elderly to young, though perhaps not small children...these people are sickening." His eyes narrowing slightly, the male immortal was about to suggest something to try in order to see if they could contact outside sources beyond the limited programs already on the computer when the faintest of sounds caught his attention. Closing his mouth and stiffening, Park straightened up from having been leaning into the edge of the desk to see the computer screen and looked to the door. "Company again...?" Within a moment, the vampire was by the doors to the ward and peering into the small, heavily barred and meshed window that was set into the metal. ".... I don't see anything yet but there seems to be some kind of commotion going on down the hallway...you should be able to hear it in a moment..." Frowning, Park tested the door again and cursed when - of course - it proved to be locked. Moments after the vampire pointed out that there was a commotion going on down the hallway, something with Gabriel would not know because he could not hear what was going on, and seconds before the hunter was about to make a comment about how the next time there was food brought to them, they could make a run for it, the door to the ward opened again. This time it was an orderly, apparently checking up on the prisoners. Gabriel did not wait a moment longer, but immediately charged the middle-aged somewhat thin-looking orderly, kicking him in the crotch and stunning him long enough to give Park and Gabriel the chance to escape." Come on what are you waiting for your bloodsucker, an invitation?" Gabriel asked as he paused for a moment, and then started running down the hall at top speed. A few of the staff were fighting amongst themselves, and they did not even seem to notice that one of the prisoners had escaped. It was time to get the lead in time, Gabriel thought as he made his way down the hall, opened the unlocked door, and headed out into the night. He did not make it very far though before he was shot in the abdomen. Gabriel collapsed, grabbing his side. "Well, fuck.... This is not happening." He said as he clutched his side. He was bleeding heavily. Furthermore, he did not know how badly hurt he was, but he did know that it hurt badly. Furthermore, he was going to need the vampires help to get the hell out of there alive. Furthermore, he only hoped the vampire would offer it. "I rarely indulge in invitation-only events, let's go!" Flashing a grin that showed no sign of fangs, Park chuckled as he ran past the groaning orderly and raced the human. They had almost made it out...nearly made it to freedom when a glint of metal and a simultaneous sound of a shotgun ricocheted into the air and Gabriel collapsed. Cursing in very, very fluent old Latin, the immortal didn't even slow his own pace down. Almost at the same time that he bent over enough to grab the human and scoop him into what was most likely an embarrassing princess-style carry (but how the hell else was Park to keep him from leaving a blood trail, keep a tight grip on the wound AND have a hand left to beat the shit out of anyone who dared try to approach?) to continue towards the fences surrounding the asylum, what could only feel like a detonation of air behind him made the immortal stumble. "What the f-?!" Whipping his head around in time to see what could only be a chunk of roof ripping off, and a...nearly familiar sensation of dread skitter up his spine, the immortal cursed again, this time in English and sprinted for the fences even as guards began to race out of the building like a nest of pissed off ants." How bad is it Gabriel? Can you tell? Do you know where the hell we are in correlation to a hospital? We didn't have time to check any maps or the Google..." His expression grim as the scent of blood, and a lot of it, began to come from his mortal partner, the dark-haired man almost danced around a guard dog that had been let off its leash to go after them, a swift kick to a hind leg sending the beast flying with a yelp while multiple gunshots pinged into the surrounding dirt. "It's pretty bad," Gabriel said, grunting loudly as the vampire sidestepped the dog, giving it a swift kick as he carried him away from danger, cradling him like one would a child. "And I have no idea whatsoever...." Gabriel looked near them and saw a taxi by the gate of the Asylum. The man in the car was honking the horn impatiently. "Let me guess, you did not call for a ride?" It was convenient, but way too convenient. Maybe though, just maybe they could take the taxi back to town. Perhaps it was a bad idea, but it might be his only shot right about now. "Sorry, can't move much smoother in this damned grass-is that a taxi? Not a chance, I know better transport options." Nearly skidding to a stop as they reached the gated entrance to the place, Park scowled, baring teeth that were very much human-looking in appearance, although his expression was one that could be mistaken for a beast nonetheless considering the aggression he was currently feeling. While bullets and the sounds that the guns made shattered the still air around them, the immortal bent his legs, muttered "Sorry in advance, hang on." then jumped, sheer strength from supernatural legs taking them just barely past the barbed-wire and iron fence that closed off the driveway to the institution. By this time, only some of the folks racing out of the compound were after them, with one of the leading creatures waving around a handgun that fired off into the empty air for no apparent reason. The man didn't even bother to aim at the fleeing 'prey'. Landing on the ground as carefully as he could, the black-haired man hissed in a breath as one of the bullets shot from someone actually trying to aim sliced into his bicep, drawing blood and making him curse. They didn't have much of a choice in escape options now, so he did the only thing he could think of and opened the door of the taxi with one hand, and as carefully as possible while bullets whizzed around them, guard dogs barked and snarled and men tried to get the gate open to retrieve their captives, helped get his human companion into the back of the vehicle before he opened the passenger front seat and slid in, looking at the driver of said suspicious taxi. Now his teeth shot down, the small, needle-like fangs that weren't actually canines, but a separate pair of teeth located just to the sides of the canine teeth, shot down like those of a snake or hypodermic needle. Normally they wouldn't be too frightening to see until one combined them with the metallic shine of irises an impossible color of silver, and strength that bordered on steel in a hand that wrapped around the men' throat while Park snarled "Get us OUT of here, or I'll snap your neck and do it myself." The man in the drivers' seat...was disturbingly not frightened. His eyes were dull, as though he were sleep-driving, a slack smile on his face even as he put the vehicle into gear and pulled out towards whatever road was closest. Park didn't take taxis often, so he didn't know if this was normal, but it was certainly creepy, so he kept his grip on the men' neck a bit longer before looking at the back seat to see how his companion was doing "You hanging in there Gabriel? We'll get to a hospital soon." He really....really, really, REALLY didn't want to resort to the alternative of Turning his co-captive into an Immortal like himself. It was a pain, literally and figuratively, to do so, and then training afterward was just...he was busy enough in life as it was, and this fellow was a freaking vampire hunter to top everything off. "This shit fucking hurts, can't you do some heebie-jeebies magic trick and put me to sleep or something?" Gabriel said sarcastically to Park as he struggled to become more comfortable as he laid in the back seat of the car, bleeding all over the place. He glanced at the driver, and said. "Is anyone home in there? Or are you just totally oblivious to the man bleeding to death in your back seat? The man ignored Gabriel's words and kept driving until he got to the gate at the end of the driveway of the Asylum, where Gabriel soon saw as he glanced out of the window, 6 members of the vampire council were standing, waiting for them. "Well this is awkward....and convenient all at the same time." "I'm an Immortal, not a mage Gabriel. If you want magic you need to find Risen, I'm just a librarian." His expression dark as he looked back at his mortal companion, the immortal gritted his teeth as the attitude of the driver finally clicked.".... Ifreann Na Foley." The Gaelic words for bloody hell were something that Park didn't often say, but when he did, there was generally a good reason...and this was one of them on seeing the council members outside the gates. That explained the creepy guy in the taxi; he was a Clapham. A slave that literally had no minds of their own aside from what their masters' bade them have. Most of the drivers for the Council, for example, were this creature, though more often than not nowadays, newer vampires were calling them Enfield, after the fictional character. His mouth turned down in disgust, displeasure, and calculating how in hell he was going to get himself out of this debt, the Immortal scowled as the taxi literally rammed itself past the gate. The thick metal slammed open easily, breaking the lock and chains that had held it shut with one quick press of a foot to the accelerator. Cursing a blue streak, the long-haired Immortal didn't even wait for the vehicle to come to a full stop before he was opening his doorstop, pausing a moment to say to Gabe "Don't try and take them on with your wound Gabriel. You can't move properly." As he got out of the vehicle, his hand snapped out to the driver and snapped his neck, not caring that he'd just killed what was still technically a human in front of the hunter. Feeding was one thing, but self-defense was another entirely. Getting out of the car as it rolled to a stop, Park straightened up as the Third Seat approached him bearing a disapproving frown on his pale face. ("Park, that was a very good driver of mine you just murdered~ Honestly, you seem to be having some issues, do we step in to help?" The words were coy, invitational and sly and greasy all at the same time." You keep sending Enfield after me Jordan, how else am I supposed to deal with your stupidity." The words were blunt, tinged with anger even as he side-stepped a flying chunk of the roof from way up on the hill to the hospital. It hit the ground and bounced, smacking the side of the taxi near the hood and drew Park's eyes up towards the asylum, where enormous...flailing...tentacles? They may be tentacles or may be limbs with way, way too many joints, flailed away. Something was trying to escape whatever domain it had been summoned from or held captive in, and as one the vampires scowled. If there was one thing the Council all agreed on - and it was insanely difficult to get all of them to agree on one thing - it was that intrusions on a conversation were incredibly rude and unwelcomed. Turning back to Park, Jordan offered a placating smile before snapping his fingers. "I'll just go and deal with that annoyance first then, do wait here for me lover."" I'm not your lover, you mac south." Calling someone who'd come to help a son of a bitch wasn't generally the best way to keep them helping you, but Park wasn't even remotely prepared to deal with a demonic being, he was stressed, and above all, he was concerned over his fellow captives' life at the moment, so his words were more caustic than intended. The vampire was already on his way through, alongside four others that had also summoned their minions from the trees surrounding the property. As fifteen more vampires surged out of the forest, Park crossed his arms over his chest and eyed the last vampire remaining. As the sounds of battle and screaming began to ride on the winds, the vampire and the immortal watched each other carefully, a mere glance to the taxi behind him letting Park know that Debris was aware of the injured human within it. Dupris was...old. Almost an Ancient, and Third Seat in the Council of vampires for the country. He'd been dead for so long that his skin and hair had bleached out to a paper white, something that didn't often happen to the Old Ones, but when it did was a sign that their power was immense. "... Jordain is a foolish one Park....you must be warier of him in the future, and more aware of how you use your tongue. Will you rescue that little mongrel?"" The human is no mongrel Debris, and I will thank you kindly for the advice, though it means nothing to me that I already know it." His words less heated as he watched the older vampire, Park could feel his eyes turning a delicate, metallic-y liquid silver in response to his own high emotions at the moment. Wariness, anger, the frustration that he couldn't deal with this situation on his own, concern for Gabriel and his rather large wound currently, and other, smaller emotions. A difference to a vampire's normal blood-red or crimson shade, his eyes were the direct result of the thing that had changed him so many years before, a thing that had proven him to be not 'vampire' but 'immortal'...well, until he was killed at least. A bright flash of yellow light and fire began to burn in the hospital, the screams from those worshipers...cultists...whatever, beginning to die out even as a few of the vampires began to come back slowly. The demon was dealt with quickly and simply vanished out of existence without any real fanfare. The fire had already destroyed the vigils and spell-circles that had trapped it in this plane of existence, so it was no wonder to Park when more and more vampires started to come back to the taxi and him...with his wounded...bleeding...companion. The entire debacle with the demon that had - quite frankly - scared the shit out Park was over within a minute or so thanks to the enhanced movement ability of the vampire mini-horde. It was something that the immortal would have had to spend at least an hour doing if he were t top fighting ability and without a mortal to look out for. Spotting a few of the undead with red staining their previously pristine suits (all had been dressed like businessmen...or clones of each other clothing-wise at least), Park stepped back towards the door of the taxi, reaching in to drag the dead driver out and let him go unceremoniously on the ground. Silver eyes looking at Debris, he growled "Make sure this fellow gets a decent burial at least...it's the least the Council can do for his services." Debris stiffened at the curt wording, then nodded once, his own dark eyes tinting red in angry response though he spoke no other words. Within a few seconds of the command from Park, Jordan literally skidded to a halt beside Debris, who took a single step sideways in disgust at the dust that the other male vampire kicked up in the dirt. "So! We did you a nice little favor Park, you owe us now. When can we expect your visit?" He grinned then, showing off a bloody mouth and fangs fully extended. In the Council that was...well, like someone walking around waving their dick in the air, or not wiping their mouths with a napkin after eating if one were to be more hoity-toity." You will hear from me in the next few days. Is there a door nearby that has not been destroyed?"" There's an old cabin about a half-mile down the road, think it might be a place with a doorway..." One of the underlings spoke up, a young woman without a drop of blood on her, though her eyes were a bright crimson that glowed in the setting sunlight." Thank you." Ignoring the sputtering Jordan and the ominously silent Debris, all eyes on them, Park shut the passenger door and slid into the drivers' seat quickly, looking back at Gabriel before starting the car "Can you hold out about five minutes?" Gabriel looked up at Park as he asked him if he would be ok, as he inquired whether there was a place he could take him, where they could be alone. Gabriel was not sure why that sounded as sexy as it did. Maybe because he was delirious from lack of blood it was hard to say. He let out a cute little laugh at the idea of it, holding his side. Damn the wound hurt. He wanted it to be healed and taken care of, an hour ago already." Don't mind the guy dying in the back seat now. I have plenty of time for you to bullshit around. I'll be just fine. No big loss to the vampire world, one dead hunter. Wait a minute did you just say you wanted to go to a cabin? The fuck?" Gabriel was beginning to have it finally click in his brain. Park was not going to let him die. He did not know exactly how that was going to come about, but, the fact he might be a vampire before this was all done finally hit him. He was not thrilled about the prospect, but he was not as upset by it as he expected. That and he was kind of starting to like Park."Oh, shit--Are you---are we?" Gabriel began not finishing the sentence. His unspoken words were summed up by the realization in his eyes. Theodan Feldman, the man who took Council Seat Number Four, moved silently from the back of the gathered immortals. He looked down at the dying hunter, and back at the other council members, in silent unspoken communication with the group of them before speaking his piece out loud." Kerek appears to have claimed this one. Which is unfortunate, I would have had fun with him..." Theodor made a KKK sound, quirked a brow, and said to Park. "If you want the amusement fine, I, for one, will not stand in your way, but I speak alone, not for the Council."" I would just as soon kill him...." Council Seat number One, the Lady Malaria said, giving him a look that was dark and dangerous and suggested she might just do so anyway, if given the chance. "But I think anyone here with half a brain would agree, it is not worth pissing Park off. He might not be able to take us all, but a few of us would in all likelihood not survive an encounter with this one, especially seeing as each of us is basically wounded as it is. "Have your toy, I will not stand in your way."" Nor I...." Council Seat number Three agreed although obviously his agreement was something he was offering rather reluctantly. As the logical pragmatic one, he was speaking the best decision for the group, not the one that aligned with his true feelings of hatred for the hunter." What about you, Two? Six?" Malaria inquired. She was curious what her contemporaries would have to say about this." Take him, Park...." Seat Number Two offered agreement, speaking with a devious smirk on his face. "I think it would be poetic justice. It would definitely be amusing to me. Likely to all of us." Council Woman Veronika Harper, possessor of seat number five, rolled her eyes in disbelief at how easily the others were accepting this. "Listen to you all, have you lost your ever loving god-damned minds. He is a vampire hunter, not a kitten, and you just want to let Park take him home, make him a pet. You can't just get him a litter box and expect him not to shit all over everything. He is a fucking hunter.... If you do this, Park, and it goes wrong, it is your fucking funeral. I just hope we do not have to bury anyone else in the process of saying goodbye to you." Standing back in the shadows, was Number Six, Councilman Damon Ruthie. He was likely amongst the most powerful elders period, let alone the most powerful member of the council of elders. He did not look amused, nor did he agree." I will not do it here." Ruthie said. "Only because I am too fucking tired to deal with this piece of shit hunter now, but Park, before this is over, I promise I am going to kill that cocky little shit." Damon offered Gabriel a toothy smile. "No one is going to come between us." Damon added quietly in Park's mind, where none but the other vampire could hear. Theodan saw the threat of violence, as he had grabbed and stayed Damon's hand. He moved to hand Park the keys to his cabin. "You know where my cabin is, take him there. Heal him, kill him, it does not matter to me. It does not seem to really matter to any of us, save him...." Theodor said eyeing Damon in understanding of the unspoken threat. Theodor would back Park up, Theodor would protect the hunter, he had made that much obvious. If only because he respected the Rite of Claiming, the fact that this one had obviously staked a claim to the hunter, one he was not about to challenge. Listening to the conversation and 'vote' between the vampires, Park nearly laughed. His mouth even turned up just the slightest bit in derision until he felt that oily slide of a thought into his head. Eyes jerking over to Damon, his expression glacial. That male had taken an....unusual interest in the Immortal a while back, and for what reason he had yet to fathom, the vampire thought they were meant for each other or some other silly nonsense. Park rarely put any stock into those kinds of things, and with just a glare he dismissed the notion, turning back to look at the rest of the Council. Glancing back at Gabriel, he shook his head slightly, muttering "Keep quiet, or you'll just die faster." In an effort to keep the human from wasting more blood than he already had. Looking at Theodor, he shook his head "I do not abide by your species' rules Theo, you know this, and we all know why you abide my choices. Malaria, you know your own rules better than the rest, especially after that little...prank...one of your seat pulled five years ago. If you think I am not willing to keep you and yours out of Alexandria, you will abide my own decisions. Out of professional courtesy at least. He is an interesting enough fellow to have as a...curiosity." His eyes flared silver slightly, and then the immortal turned to the rest, addressing each in turn...and blatantly avoiding Damon, Jordan and Debris as he'd already spoken to them before." Veronica, your opinions are as always pragmatic...if hasty." Noting how easily Damon Ruthie almost resorted to violence when his turn to speak had come up...the immortal finally looked at the vampire with narrowed eyes, even as he took the keys from Theodor and got into the car. Looking at the others from here they stood, the immortal simply turned his head and got the car moving quickly, heading at a top speed that was rather dangerous on the darkening roads. He didn't thank anyone really, though he had managed to be civil with the First Seat, Malaria, as she was the one with the most power out of the vampires politically. Theo and Debris were real powerhouses, and the rest were....tricky. For now, though, he had more pressing matters. "Gabriel. You alright? Obviously not, but figured I should ask." Stupid question. A really, really stupid question, and one that Park regretted asking instantly." You're choice, do you want to live or do you want to die? I won't make you into a vampire, not like those creatures behind us, but you won't be human anymore if you choose life." The scent of blood in the taxi was...overpowering to his sensitive nose, and as the car nearly slid onto the highway, and he sped up towards the cabin that Theodor had given him the keys to, the immortal glanced in the rearview mirror. They wouldn't have time to get to a hospital, even if a chopper was ordered. It was dark out now and rescue helicopters wouldn't fly in densely wooden areas, not only that, but now he knew where they were and...they were hours away from any form of medical service for humans. 'God fucking dammit. This is the last thing I expected to happen' Gabriel thought sullenly to himself. He mused over it quickly. Live or die. Become, something, other than human. Not like those he despised, yet not human either. He did not care about hell. He did not hunt because he was one of those religious fanatics who wanted to cleanse the earth of all unrighteousness. Supernaturals killed those he cared about however, becoming any kind of supernatural should have been out of the question. However, he did not want to die." I don't want to die." Gabriel decided, speaking definitely in what was probably his last opportunity to make this decision, and he was starting to realize that, as he spoke his last wish to this man, to this immortal. What would it mean? What was he getting himself into. He had no idea whatsoever. But, he was willing to face whatever obstacles were about to come his way now. "Please.....do it." He had no idea what the process involved. He figured it was probably going to be painful, however. Things like this tended to hurt, it was just a part of the price someone had to pay to become something else entirely. He did not look forward to any more pain, but he knew that it would not last forever. He would just endure it and then they both could go from there. Park gritted his teeth, knowing that the answer in several ways was inevitable, yet hating that he'd had to even offer it in the first place. This meant so many new things to the old immortal, so much would have to change in his daily life and Gabriel's as well. But first, they needed to get to the door. That would take Park and his new...something...to the safest place the immortal could think of: His own home. "...... I'm sorry for this, if that's any consolation to you Gabriel..." He wouldn't say anything more for the duration of the trip, focusing instead on the drive. It wasn't much more than ten minutes, going very much over the speed limit and then some, before Park skid the car to a halt in front of an older style log cabin. "We don't have much time." Getting out of the car, he nearly ripped the passenger door off its hinges in a hurry to get it open and see to his mortal passenger. "Are you still awake? Can you stand or do I carry you?" Gabriel figured it must have been the pressure of the moment, but surely Park knew that he was dying, he couldn't walk at this point? He did not have the energy to come right out and say as much. He just said plainly and simply the only answer that he could give right now. "No..." He was hanging on by a thread now, he hoped that he made it back to the house. He hoped he had a somewhat dignified turning. The last thing he really wanted was to be turned in the backseat of a car like some cheap date. He was better than that. 'Please, God. He thought. Let me make it to the house, first.' Cussing now in very fluent old Latin, Park picked up his companion, almost feeling the weight of the blood leaving his slightly smaller frame even as he carried him up the steps and to the front door. "Close you eyes, or you'll go blind." Reaching into his pocket, a fluid, liquid sounding note escaped the immortals' lips for a split second before he removed a key that would obviously not fit into the keyhole of the cabin door. Instead, when he went to put it into the hole, the key vanished as though disappearing into an invisible lock just in front of the cabin door. Gritting his teeth, fangs visibly lengthening as pain began to radiate up his arm, Park turned the key, and a brilliant white line of light began to outline a door. In the dark the effect was even more amazing to see, but for a human the sudden difference in light and darkness wouldn't be such a good thing for the retinas. The pain of Creating a Door too was hideous. Very quickly, it first felt like ants biting all up and down Park's arm, from the inside out, followed by the sensation of flames scorching through bones and muscle, focusing in on every little nerve ending her hand from his fingertips to his chest. Nothing was happening outwards, except that he went rigid while that light finished its outline of the door, and then he took his hand off the key and shoved in, pushing aside air. Like some kind of weird mirror, the view of the door of the cabin vanished, opening up to show an enormous entryway. Marble floors and pillars in an old style impossible to pinpoint, the roof overhead was a skylight showing blue skies at midday, and once Park hauled his burden inside, the door slammed shut with a click, and then the immortal was moving. Faster than he perhaps should with an arm that now hung limp as his side, entirely numb and feeling like little more than dead weight, the immortal headed up the stairs with Gabriel, neatly carrying the mortal until they reached an empty bedroom just down a hallway brightly lit with lanterns which produced no smoke or scent. Setting the weak form on the bed - clean thankfully - the immortal began to strip off his shirt. "Hold on just a bit more Gabriel...this is going to hurt us both a hell of a lot." Then...he wasn't very ceremonious in the slightest as he ripped into his wrist. "You have to drink this, or I'll force it down your throat." Holding it to the other men' lips, Park gritted his teeth, feeling the fan ache at the idea of his blood leaving his body with the tiny, interesting little things within it that had given him his extended life. He would need to make the other male drink at least a quarter of his own blood in order to give some kind of ease to the Change process...but it would still be very unpleasant for the other man. While he held his wrist to the others' mouth, almost shoving the spurting wound into it, he started to talk. "This will hurt you in about thirty seconds once you have the first swallow. It'll feel like your bones are on fire, and your organs will be shifting, physically changing as the technology begins to work. I will at some point have to chain you, or you'll hurt yourself in the grip of the pain and will just make everything harder, but I'll take them off before you wake up from the final fit. I promise. It's going to last a day or so, maybe up to 3, but I'll keep you safe until you get through it, okay? You're not dying...but you'll wish you were." Audit would hurt. Park had drugs he could use to help dull some of the pain, but those that remembered their Changes described it as someone doing surgery on every organ, every bone, muscle and skin, every tissue and hair, all at the same time and without anesthetic. The pain would come in waves, slowly at first, then, like a parent giving birth the waves would get stronger in shorter intervals over time until the final wave would be all-encompassing. The relief afterward would always render the new Immortal senseless, completely, for around 12–24 hours after that, and then they'd wake up changed. Their bodies would be changed to someone in a prime state. Usually, older people would revert to looking like they were the epitome of fitness, around the age of 25-30. All toxins within their bodies would be expelled as well, which was rather disgusting afterward, but no one cared about that during the event...hot showers were much appreciated afterward, however, and skin sensitivity would be a real thing to deal with until the first few feedings of blood were dealt with. Many mortals went insane during the Change...and stayed that way afterward. Park's people had a way to police their own kind, and it was much harsher than the undead vampires out there but very, very effective. It was half the reason why Park didn't like the idea of Changing someone, well, besides the fact that he had absolutely zero desire to have to train a Change-ling afterwords...but he'd made the offer anyway. Something to think about later.' I'll need to get him blood during the process too...shit I hope I have enough donations in storage...' Pain....there was nothing but pain except for the blood. He was consumed by it. Enveloped by it. Pain was the world. Pain was his experience, and it seemed like it would never end. Gabriel focused on the blood initially....until Park pulled away signaling he had finally drank enough of it. It was nothing special...and he was nauseated from the idea he was drinking blood. No second thoughts. Without this he was doomed to a mortal death. With it, he would become something else entirely. Immortal...and the protégée of this man. A vampire, but not undead? Well he wasn't sure what the hell that meant. Not undead. Still a beating heart? A man in his prime. Someone, something that would live forever. A monster, a demon, a man? Whatever the case he was embracing it because he was a scared mess. He had no choice. Gabriel was not one to pray. He was an agnostic at best, an atheist at worst. The only god he knew right now at this moment was this man who was giving him a second chance at life. But this pain was the cost, and the only comfort that it would not last forever." Make it stop..." He heard a voice say over and over. His voice springing forth like a fountain of its own accord. He was being reborn but at a price. At some point he ended up chained, and he was too mad from the pain to realize it. This went on for three days. His body reforming into something else entirely. The sensation like every one of his organs was being operated on all at once. The pain reaching a crescendo. His body expelling toxins. Him finally ending up in merciful darkness, before waking up again an exhausted mess. Looking instinctively for Park. It was....a very rough 3 days. Park had been witness to several Changing in the centuries that he'd spent alive, and this one was one of the worst if he were to be brutally honest. The screaming that Gabriel had let loose with during some of his pain sequences had been almost enough to make his ears bleed, and the thrashing that had accompanied it near the end would have been enough to damage even the Immortal. He had been tempted to call a sorcerer friend of his to put the male into a cryogenic state, at least mentally, but knew that doing so would only lengthen the time it took for the technology now replicating continuously within his body to finish its work and settle to a maintainable level. Still. Three days, with constant feeding of regular human blood (from bags and an IV line, of course, Park wasn't a savage), and a continual watch over his vitals had been taxing. Once the final wave had passed through and Gabriel had entered into the coma-like sleep that followed such extreme agony, the immortal had found it to be safe enough to go and grab a shower, change, and feed himself. Stripping out of clothing that was spattered with the oily toxins that a body emitted during a change in it's bid to achieve the highest form of physical perfection; the immortal stepped into the hot water of the shower and sighed, tilting his head up into the spray while an exhausted mind whirled. 'I need to get him clothing...he's smaller than I in a few areas...and he's need to feed more often... I won't have to teach him to use his fangs though, at least at first...though he'll need to learn to control them in a crowd....shit. He won't be able to be around humans until he gets used to his new senses...what else...' It wasn't enough. He had never been the mentor to a new Changed Immortal, and as he stepped out of the shower once clean, the dark-haired man sighed and frowned.' Sleep first... I'll figure this out tomorrow.' The next morning, he was in the room and tidying up when Gabriel finally woke up. A feeling of sorts prickled along the immortals' neck and the male turned to see his new.....mentored? Pupil? Student? He'd no idea what to call him, as his kind really had no name for new Changes as vampires did, and there was no way Park would call Gabriel a fledgling.' He's not a baby bird for Pete's Sake.'" How are you feeling Gabriel, aside from probably in desperate need of a shower..." His tone was calm, quieter than he normally spoke, with some amount of hesitation that he prayed didn't show his newest guest. The new senses that he had would probably not show themselves for the first day or so, as it still took the technology within his newly changed body to adjust things such as sight, hearing, and taste. His strength and speed were still very much developing as well, and he would most likely require a considerable amount of blood more to become as strong as Park was, but all of that would happen eventually and over time. "I feel like someone ran me through a meet grinder...." Gabriel replied, looking at his grimy messed up body. He looked a lot worse than he felt, that was for sure. "And turned me into some kind of cheap processed food."" Speaking of food. Can I get some blood, and a shower please? And can you unchain me from this fucking wall already? I'm no longer dangerous. But I will be if you keep me half starved." He was joking of course, not threatening, and hoped that his maker would be able to tell the difference between the two. "That's normal, and you'll feel sensitized to many things for the next day or so." Moving to remove the chains, as he'd been too exhausted to remove them fully from the male the night before, Park undid them from where they had simply been hanging on the hook on the wall and then removed the softer cuffs from around his new...protegees wrists and ankles. Once that was done, he simply dropped them on the floor and then looked at Gabriel carefully." Blood is fine, but unlike how I'm sure you've seen vampires drink, our way is considerably neater. Stay put, you can get a shower once you've had a bag." Backing up a pace, and controlling his expression as the smell on the other male made itself known to his sinuses, the Immortal headed for a small mini-fridge that was plugged into the wall near the door of the room. Opening it, he snagged two bags of donated O Negative blood and brought them back. "Your fangs should be down already by now, but if they aren't the sight and/or scent of blood will trigger them for you until you get older and more used to your body's new quirks. Watch, and don't remove the bag until it's empty please, we don't need the room to look like a murder happened..." It was also an enormous pain in the rear end to have to clean up blood spatter from an exploding bag of blood if one were to remove their fangs too early. Crouching in front of the new immortal, Park was then shorter than him and had to turn his face up to show him what he was doing properly. Opening his mouth, the immortal concentrated in the same manner he'd done for years upon years, and the familiar slide of his fangs descended alongside his actual canine teeth. Unlike a 'vampire' or other undead, Park's kind had teeth similar to hypodermic needles or snake fangs. They were thin, hollow-tipped, and acted like straws when inserted into a bag of blood (or a human of course) as Park demonstrated in front of Gabriel. Unlike a vampire' teeth, whose solid canine construction tended to make holes large enough for free-flowing blood. The saliva of the immortals versus the vampires was also incredibly different, but that was a lesson for another time. Popping the bag of blood onto his teeth without any real ceremony, it took maybe thirty seconds before the bag was empty enough for him to remove his mouth. There were two neat little holes in the bag that he showed his new charge, his fangs retreated, and that was that. "I won't teach you how to hunt humans yet, you'll need to get control over the nanites before I bring you back out into society. You won't go insane without a lot of company, I hope?" HIATUS due to Reasons We have NOT quit it, just taking a break for a little bit thanks to burnout...

Welcome to the Processing Center_ Esoterica and Rianue|rating:4.0

Malchior's Spellbook [[ backlash84 x Mnemosyne ]]

It had been a long time since Raven had gotten her hands on a new piece of literature. That is to say, one that was exclusive and couldn't be located in any of the older archives. She had read through plenty of both private and public collections, but there were some books that were secreted away much like the tricks behind the work of illusionists. There was some knowledge that others did not want to share until they were dead and gone, even then they often times protected their work or left a challenge for any who sought after it. Then there were other sources that could only be read if someone deemed you worthy enough to pass it on. Like a secret book club if you will. When she was given one such book, she was eager to get into it. She whisked away into her room, setting it down on her ornate stone podium that was dedicated to such occasions when she wanted to keep a book in mint condition. Running her fingers over the cover of the book, she traced every detail. Somewhat aroused by the feeling of leather along with the accents of metal that kept it together, her chest swelled with pride as it lay beneath her hand. With a deep breath, she lowered her hood to ensure she wasn't taking away from the light she needed to read. Lifting the cover slowly, she let out a sigh for the pleasant scent it brought with it. Some might have liked a well age wine but to her, there was nothing better than well aged book. The older books also had thicker pages than newer ones did, meaning they were much more sturdy in the long run. She delighted in turning the pages one by one as it unfolded an intense tale that had her eager to follow where it leads. As it detailed how a wizard named Melchior took on dreaded dragon by the name of More. A dragon so mighty that it overtook even he, himself! Raven could hardly breathe for how her heart raced with anticipation as she read the story aloud, but it seemed that the titans had other plans for her. As irritated as she was by this unpleasant interruption, she kept a level head and responded to their call for aid. As she fought however, she found her irritation lingering. She was growing tired of how tedious fighting was, when the conclusion was bound to be the same as most others. Which is why she rushed to end it herself, putting all her energy into a full-blown attack. She excused herself from her friends, if you could call them that, and rushed to the side of her book. Some of the pages blowing due to her haste, she corrected this before returning to her reading. Relieved she had not spoiled anything for herself. She read only a few words before she was disrupted again. Raven was the sort who preferred absolute silence to keep her calm and concentration. She needed it in order to maintain control over her powers. Dismissing one of the titans at the door after kindly taking the time to answer, Raven took a long breath inwards and started again. The Titans continued to pester her. As if one had told the next to go her way. Did they have nothing better to do? What got on her nerves the most were the boys when they believed her to beat all interested in what they had to offer. More so because theyalreadyhad one another. What made them insist on dragging her into things? Giving the last of them her declaration of wanting solidarity, Ravenhopedshe would baronet last such that she could get further than a few lines of text. There was so much more left in the book to unfold, and she was treasuring every word along with the stunning illustrations that went along with them that helped bring the book to life. This time as she looked at her book, she overheard her friends speaking about her in ways that made her cling her book tighter. By this time she had been trying to take to the comforts of her bed to read so she had carried it to the door, but as she held it she almost felt like dropping it. How could her friends say things like that about her? Whether they believed she could hear it or not... their words were cruel. She had no idea they everthoughtabout her like that. Was she really that different from them.? Perhaps at another point and time she might have taken what they said as a compliment but... she felt vulnerable with the way they phrased what they said. She was 'creepy.' They had not only verbally attackedherbut her belongings as well. Denoting them as'nasty.' Raven crawled onto her bed and leaned herself against her headboard for security before reopening her book. The pages heavier than they were before in her sadness. As she read toward the end of the tale of Melchior and More, she found herself holding back tears. Despite how Melchior was weaker than More, he managed to defeat him. As tight as her chest was, she continued to take deep breaths to try to work her way to discovering justhowMalchior of Now as able to conquer the dreaded More. As she believed it would help in her own self discovery to learn of someonelike her." And as the loathsome dragon unleashed a mighty flame, I conjured the forces of my enchanted book..." She read aloud slowly to not rush what was bound to be a rewarding ending. As Raven read from the book, she would be completely unaware that the book was looking back at her, studying her to a certain extent without her knowledge. The paged held residual magic of course, however the curse that held him inside the book was delicate, subtle... and it wasn't uncommon for texts on magic to have some lingering energy to them, absorbing some of the magic mages who had read the book in the past gave off simply by existing... Everything in Raven's room had such an energy, something subtle and uniquely her... The being inside the book stayed silent, watching her as she made her way through the book, page after page... wanting her to understand the story as it was written before breaking his silence, knowing it would be much easier to make her listen and believe him if she did so of her own accord, rather than hearing it from a stranger in a book. However, as she grew close to the end, Melchior felt that now was the perfect time to reveal himself... the young woman was hurt, vulnerable... and being the predator that he was, instincts told him that now was the time to strike." I am sorry for interrupting, but I must say that what those young men said was rather rude..." A voice said, seeming to come from thin air, with no mouth to give it an origin it just seemed to float around her. "From what I have seen you've been more than tolerant of their pestering... yet they return your kindness with insults... that hardly seems appropriate to me." The inflection in her voice was constantly changing as she read the book with passion, such that for a moment she thought all she was hearing was herself speaking. With a furrow of her brow and a bit of hovering from her cloak in anger, Raven glared at the door once she realized there was another voice present other than her own. Believing it might be anintrudergiven how bothersome the titans had been that day. She was ready to start hurdling things in their direction, several of her disposable belongings floating around her. The more the voice spoke, the more she realized it was saying something ratherunlikeher friends. Lowering her guard in her curiosity, Raven searched her room to try to locate the source of the voice. All the while trying to calm her beating heart. She agreed with what the voice was saying, but she didn't know how to feel about it. It was rare to have anyone truly sympathize for her, given how closed off she was about her emotions. Raven stood up in her bed, letting the book tumble from her lap to lay open beside her." Who said that?" She said in an earnest desire to know. With the book closed the voice sounded a bit muffled, but it could still be clearly understood in the relatively silent room. "Ah, yes... I do sometimes forget that my appearance... or lack there of tends to confuse people at times." He said, the voice remaining calm and polite. "My name is Melchior, and I am currently residing inside the book you were reading. I had not originally intended to make myself known until after you had finished reading, as it was my belief that you would be more receptive to hearing what I had to say after having completed my tale." He explained, thinking of how to proceed. "I was doing battle with the Dragon More, as you were reading, and managed to weaken him to the point where I believed I could bind him in this very book. Unfortunately, the beast had enough power left to deflect the spell back at me... since casting the spell took up most of my remaining strength, there was little I could do to fight it. That was... over a thousand years ago now, and I have been trapped inside this tome ever since." He said, thinking he summed things up rather eloquently. "It was my fear that if I told you this before you read the book that you would simply throw me away... it was my hope that after reading what had happened you would be more willing to listen to what I had to say. I do apologize for not informing you of my presence until now... I felt it was necessary, for my own protection." He explained, hoping she understood. Raven walked over her bed with an elegant stride as she continued to listen for the voice. Furrowing her brows as she heard it go on.' Lack thereof?' Had some spirit entered her room unbeknownst her? Her shoulders tensed as she worried it could be even worse than that. Then she heard his name, Malchior. Her eyes widened, and she immediately turned to the book, looking down to it in disbelief. As the voice went on to elaborate, Raven knelt down beside the book in cautious wonder. She wasn't perfectly pleased to have someone who had infiltrated her room, but given the circumstances... she was willing to perhaps make an exception. What other chance would she be able to have an experience like unto this one? As he included his story in his explanation, Raven was drawn in even further. As she hoped that the wizard himself would be able to tell her how his story ended. Opening the pages eagerly, she held the book closely to her as she made herself comfortable again on her bed. Her heart ran ever faster as she bit her lip for how intense the battle seemed to have turned, but that delight turned to dismay as she heard how things took a turn for the worst. Raven looked down upon the pages as her heart sank within her much like it had before when her friends had spoken choice words about her. Shefeltfor him, and how he was trapped away like this. Much like she feltshewas isolated from the world. She frowned as he spoke of his belief that she would have tossed the book aside had he said anything sooner. Of course, she likely would have. A fallen wizard was not as nearly as promising a tale as one who had come out on top. Having invested herself into his story as much as she had, she definitely had a strong connection to him than she would have before. One that allowed her to feel sympathy for him." A thousand years... alone..." She said as she thought aloud." And you spoke to me of all people.? You don't think I'm... creepy?" She asked, as she lowered the book nervously. Knowing that he had heard everything. She thought what her friends had said had to have surely given him a poor image of her. Yet... he had spoken as if theboyswere in the wrong. Melchior considered her question for a moment. "Well, from what I've seen you are a woman who enjoys a good book and her personal space... to me, creepy implies fear, people usually fear that which they do not understand... but I understand you, you and I are a lot alike. We have dedicated our lives to the study of the magical arts... to people on the outside magic can often seem frightening, like the sound of thunder to cavemen... it isn't their fault, they simply don't understand our world." He explained, thinking that was the only logical reason they'd think she was creepy. "People have feared magic users for countless generations... if anything, I would say their ignorance reflects poorly on them, not you..." He said, seemingly very sympathetic towards her situation. The more the book explained at length the way he had come to view her along with her friends, the more Raven found herself glancing toward her door. Disappointed that her friends could not wrap their head around what Melchior was making sound so simple. So she wasn't associates Beast Boy... Did he really have to react the way he had to her hiding away and studying? Cyborg did it all the time when he was investing in one of his bigger projects... but the two were thick as thieves. Perhaps she had dedicatedtoomuch time to studying... Raven began to rationalize and take sympathy for her friends because shemissedthem. She didn'twant lose them, and she was afraid she already had with the way Beast Boy was speaking. The way Melchior was leading her thoughts wasn't exactly helping her'cheery'disposition either. Raven furrowed her brows as she looked upon the book, contemplating closing it and ignoring what it said. However, it was in his last sentence he convinced her to remain.' Reflects poorly on them...' The words echoed through her head as she took on a more somber look. He was right, even if Raven wanted to deny it and instead blame herself. Of course Raven had never really given any of them the chance to become educated on her practices due to a severe lack of trust which only enhanced their ignorance, but that was on them as well. More often than not, the crew was haphazardly at best when they were in the Titan Tower. They had far too much time on their hands, she thought. Which was part of why she took to her room, to try to make the most of her own time." I've never really taken the time to consider it that way... Thank you Melchior." She said rather calmly as she ran her fingers over the pages. Raven nearly smiled in saying this, but she held it back." A thousand years is a long time... I would say that reflects well on your own magic if you have been bound for this long and still kept intact." She said as she thought on his tale." If this curse was meant for More... your power would have been bound off from you as well wouldn't it?" Raven frowned slightly at this notion." Has no one tried to help you? Is there nothing that can be done?" She asked anxiously, pondering the past owners of the book. Perhaps he had not been able to gain the trust of anyone else before her... why else would he be socautiousas he was? Although he couldn't smile, Raven could still hear the pleased sound in Melchior's voice when she praised his magical abilities. "I have to admit, it was one of my more elaborate spells... although in this case I may have made it too well..." He said with a sigh. "I have been able to find some wiggle room... it took me a few decades, but I eventually managed to be able to control my own pages, then, a hundred or so years more to learn to speak, and then to be able to write...." He flipped the pages to the end of the book where a blank page was, a drawing of her in black in appearing on the page, highly detailed and very flattering... she looked stunning, beautiful in a unique and mysterious sort of way. "Luckily I've had plenty of time on my hands, and an interesting little side effect of the spell allowed me to travel through the realm of the written word... to read books from far and wide... which was probably the only thing that kept me sane all this time." When she asked him if anyone had tried to help him escape he sighed. "A few have tried... but only a handful or so. I had a bad experience, one mage trying to bind my spirit to his service, intending on using me as his own personal magical directory... since then I have been much more cautious about who I speak to. You seemed... kind, trustworthy..." He said, seeming genuine in his praise. "I am unsure if I can ever be freed... but it is nice to talk to someone again, even if it is while I'm trapped inside this book. Reading has been what has kept me going all these years, but speaking to another person... that is something I truly treasure." Raven sighed with him and bit her lip while she gave a little nod in agreement. He had gone overboard, but such would not be the case had More been captured instead. It would have been fitting, but now... With Melchior trapped inside this book, the world was one wizard short. Raven pondered how the world might have progressed had Melchior gone free a thousand years ago. With the way Melchior detailed the evolution of his life as a book, Raven was surprised he had not revealed such things to him before while she was reading him. He could have easily turned the pages or cried out for help in this manner, she thought. Then again... she likely would have thought that the book was possessed by an evil spirit rather than a good one like Melchior. No, this was the only way it could have gone. She told herself before finding her heart fluttering as Melchior brought the book to life just as he was telling her he could. Raven sat back and watched in awe at a book becoming even more lively than it had been before when she was reading it for it's content. As she saw the page he revealed to her, Raven blushed and her eyes fluttered wildly for how flattered she was by the depiction." You're an artist as well?" She asked with a bit of a quiet chuckle, a sound rarely ever pulled from her lips. It was a nervous reaction really, she hadn't expected Melchior to do such a thing to prove himself to her.' Travel through the realm of the written word...'Oh, how Raven's heart leaped at this description. She would have loved to have taken the same journey, although she wasn't certain she was willing to sacrifice her present form to do so. Just hearing about it excited her. All the more so when she learned that it was what kept Melchior sane." I hope you'll tell me more of your travels one day." Raven said rather timidly as she hoped she might have such an honor to hear more tails of the wizard Melchior, ones that would likely be exceedingly educational. As he went on to explain to her how his past unfolded with other owners of the book, Raven caressed the pages of the book as if she were comforting him as silly as that was. If she ever got the name of that other disgusting fool who tried to enslave Melchior... Raven took on a cold look with her anger, her cape floating a little as it was starting to build up inside of her before Melchior spoke of her again. Raven wasn't sure how much more of the gentle vocabulary she could take from this book with the way it was tormenting her skin with red hues. Her chest swelled as he spoke of how he was pleased merely to be speaking to someone again. Raven felt similarly. She hadn't gotten to have an intelligent conversation with someone in a long time..." I'll do it. I'll get you out of there Melchior. There must be a way. Has it been too long for you to recall anything about the origin of the original spell you attempted to cast on More? Perhaps there were elements there I could not replicate to reverse it..." Raven spoke in a very serious tone as she tried to analyze what she could have the situation." In all your travels were you never able to locate any form of spell or concoction to release you from this state? A lesser spell? It might not be so fitting for the wizard Melchior, but it would be an improvement?" Raven asked hopefully before standing up to try to fetch several other books that she might scan through for a solution. Relieved that for the time, her friends had not bothered her again. She was having an intimate moment with another of her kind, if they had interrupted her now... there was no tell what she might do. When Raven mentioned his artistic talents he seemed pleased. “I have had plenty of time to practice... that said, I did always enjoy art, and would do some sketches in my books, diagrams and such... it was only after becoming trapped in this book however that I had the time to really hone my skill. I can’t take all the credit though... a portrait can only be as beautiful as its subject, and I find you to be quite... inspiring.” Malchior listened to her intently, considering her questions about undoing the spell. “Oh I know exactly how to undo the spell, however with my magic as limited as it is by the binding spell I simply don’t have the strength to break free of it... trust me, I have tried...” He said, a sad tone to his voice. “If you really do desire to help me though... I could teach you how to release me. It wouldn’t be easy... it would require practicing very old methods of spell craft, as well as gathering a few ingredients... but if you would be willing to try I would be forever grateful.” He considered how they might start the process. “For now however, perhaps we can focus on giving me a human form... I would still be bound to the book, but it has been a very long time since I have seen the world through my own eyes, felt another’s touch...” He had been able to feel her touch the book, however it wasn’t nearly the same as touching someone with a body of flesh and blood. “If you were to copy these tunes and channel your energy through them and into the book, I feel that I may be able to access enough of my power to create a temporary form.” He said, a few pages of the book filling with detailed instructions on how to increase his power. In hearing about how he had been practicing, Raven felt somewhat relieved. It was just another drawing, like any other. She told herself as she breathed easier, her shoulders relaxing as her blush faded. Why was it she had felt so flattered by a book anyway? Raven's eyes lowered as she pondered if it was because that book contained a wizard far older and greater than she believed she was. Even so... It seemed absurd to allow herself to be moved in such a way by someone who would otherwise be dead were it not for said book. Was she... getting attached.? Bonding with Raven was something that tookagesto accomplish, but... Melchior was different. She felt like she already knew him. After having read his tail. She felt she could trust him because, quite literally, he was an open book. He did it again. Raven slammed the book shut after he implied that she was not only beautiful but inspiring. Completely flustered by the way he spoke. She couldn't handle taking on another compliment. She really couldn't. She hated how...girly it made her feel, in that way she often felt Star fire exemplify. She didn't want to be that. She always hid that part of her deep, deep down. Having this stranger invade that part of her mind and draw it out made her heart race for how much she felt threatened by it. Threatened by the thought that someone mightseeall of that...femininity in her. Exposeit. Raven paced the floor around her bed for a minute as she tried to breathe calmly and find her inner peace once more before she tore the pages of the book back open. She did not explain herself or apologize as she did, instead she simply returned to listening to him to discover that he had in fact attempted to escape his confinement before. Feeling sympathy for him, Raven sat beside the book and looked to it in her gloom. There was a spark of hope among his words, for he said he knew how to restore himself to his full glory. Yet, ifhecould not do it... Was it really possible for her to be able to accomplish such a thing? In hearing that he was willing to tell her how to do it, Raven felt honored that he would bestow such trust in her. She bit her lip as he said it wouldn't be easy. Practicing old magic and gathering ingredients sounded simple enough on the surface. However, it was dependent on how much effort the magic took, how much energy. Along withwhatform of ingredients were needed and how rare they could have been. Raven pressed her lips together in her frustration, the books she had brought over to his side were likely to give her no real aid unless they had some form of shortcut to having the power needed for whatever incantation Melchior had in mind. Which made her feel her book collection truly was in need of further additions. She felt like an amateur next to Melchior." How long do you think it would take to train and prepare in order to release you.?" She asked anxiously, as she now was wondering if this was going to takeyearsof practice. She was willing to put in the effort, certainly, but the thought weighed heavily in her heart. He had been trapped for over a thousand years...he didn't deserve to be trapped for a thousand more.' A human form?' Could they really do that? She shifted about on the bed beside him in excitement, leaning in further in her interest in such a prospect. Even if he was still bound to the book, it sounded like a very large improvement. Especially if he had not experienced such a feeling at all in his many years. Raven couldn't imagine what it would be like to be tormented by a world so close and yet so far. She had to give this to him. As she thought on it, she took no consideration for how the Titans might feel about it or what other consequences it might bring. Her main concern was giving comfort to this new ally of hers. If for no other reason than to thank him for being there for her when the others were... being disagreeable. As someone who did not really enjoy beingtouchedbyanyone, this was the only desire she could not relate to of Melchior's. Although she supposed she would misstouchingthings like feeling the texture of the pages beneath her fingers, her cape around her, the relief of being in her bed. Once Melchior began getting into actual details on how to extract him in a more temporary way, Raven curled her legs up onto the bed and held her breath. Eager to learn. Hoping that whatever it was would not take too much, for how much anticipation was building up inside of her. She'd already met a wizard that day and truly that would have been enough for her but... meeting a wizard in books not nearly as enticing as standing there with him in person. Almost as if she had summoned him from the past. Raven scanned over the runes while tracing over them with her fingers. As she took the time to replicate the runes, Raven slowed her work. Concerned that what she was doing might somehow go wrong, and she might accidentally tear all the pages out of the book, or something worse. His book had withstood the strain of time, butmagiccould be unpredictable at times. Taking a deep breath, Raven carried the book along with the copied runes over to her book stand so she could perform in a more open space rather than atop her bed." If at any point things become unstable... tell me, and I will stop." Raven said as she hoped that her emotions would not somehow disrupt the connection between them. Raven closed her eyes and repeatedly breathed in slowly. She contemplated meditating before going through with it, but she couldn't wait. She concentrated on the runes, and in turn on the book. Doing her best to essentially transfer her own energy into Melchior in order to give him the jump start he needed to emerge from the book. Her eyes glowed intensely for how much she was concentrating on her hair floating about her along with her cape. Melchior let out an of sound when she slammed the book shut, still able to feel sensations like blunt force... he didn't mention it though, not wanting to upset her further... it seemed she had difficult in taking a complement, and he doubted focusing on the issue would make her feel any better. Instead, he focused on the task at hand, of getting him some freedom from the confines of his book. He showed her highly complex and detailed runes that she would need to copy, showing her a diagram once she was finished where she needed to place said runes in a circle around the book. He then had her burn some common incense in a bowl, sprinkling a little salt over the flame and chanting in an ancient language. White light started to emanate from the text. Black ink started to flow from the pages, swirling through the air and forming a shimmering sphere. As the sphere grew it started to sprout arms and legs, before eventually the silhouette of a man stood before her. The inky surface than started to retreat, exposing pale skin and silver hair. Malchior stood at about six feet tall, wearing some simple black mages robes with silver armored cuffs that displayed runic enchantments. As his eyes met hers she could see they had a silvery metallic sheen to them, rather distinctive and unique. "This feels... strange..." He said, flexing his fingers as he got used to the feeling of having a body again. He smiled slightly, taking a few steps towards her. As he moved a few feet away from the book however it was like he walked into a force field, an invisible wall that he just couldn't pass. "It seems that I have a five-foot range or so... but I suppose if I carry the book I could be very mobile." He said, a confident smile on his face. "Thank you, Raven... I never thought I would feel what it was like to have a body again... it will take some getting used to, but I think we can consider this spell a success." The sound he made when she slammed his book did make her feel bad for the way she likely overreacted, but she still did not apologize for her rudeness. In her mind, things equaled out. He had upset her, and she had possibly hurt him. Fair is fair. Such was her rationalization of her behavior. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Yes this sort of excuses was endless as her mind reeled through them to make herself feel better. The fact that Melchior did not press her on it was probably for the best if he wanted to keep her on his side. The process of extracting Melchior from the book even in a temporary state was much more elaborate than she had believed. Requiring her to decorate her room with the runes along with incense. The incense she didn't mind so much, but spreading the runes about was beginning to feel as though it was cluttering up her well organized room. Not to mention the other books she had taken out earlier were still on her bed. Melchior really was making it difficult for her mind to not become more chaotic in the same way her room was now. As she started seeing results from her chanting however, she believed shemightbe able to forgive him. He had not led her astray with his instructions. The further the surrounding energy seemed to develop a form, the more Raven concentrated her energy into him and the book. Doing her best to guarantee that he made it out in one whole piece rather than falling apart as soon as she was done. When Raven started to see the ink draw away from his form to reveal skin, Raven looked away rather shyly. Worried that he might have come throughindecentand would have to find him clothing. Raven breathed much easier when she saw his robes. She took a step closer to him in want to observe all the details that were unfolding. Her hand moving out towards his wrists as she saw the cuffs he bore. She stepped back again and pulled her hand into her chest when she saw his fingers moving. Hearing his voice shift from the book to this new body he had taken on, Raven felt a combination of proud and a touch frightened. Meeting Melchior personas much different than sitting with a book. Raven's breath hitched as he stepped towards her as she took a half step back nervously when he did before seeing that he could come no further and returning to her previous stance. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? Raven wasn't as convinced as she now saw just how much Melchior towered over her since she stood at a easily five feet four inches. She had always been relatively a decent height among the titans, with Beast Boy being shorter than her and Robin being around her same height. Cyborg of course was a giant, but he had engineering on his side. Then there was Star fire... Raven puffed up her chest as she thought about Star fire. More often than not Raven felt superior to Star fire because what Star fire lacked in many areas, Raven made up for tenfold. Intelligencewas more important to Raven than appearances but. There were those times Raven felt a touch of jealousy whenever Robin looked at Star fire a certain way. Raven knew full well both Star fire and Robin had strong feelings for one another but had yet to actually do anything about it. The only thing that gave her peace in knowing what she did was that very fact. They'd never act on their feelings. She'd never have to deal with their...mushiness. Learning that Melchior was considering carrying about his book to give him more range for movement made Raven's heart skip several beats as she blushed lightly. That was the moment when Raven realized, there was a man in her room. This realization was brushed aside however as Melchior thanked her. Raven blushed even further as she was being appreciated by a wizard far beyond her years. Raven hardly ever heard such praise." You've hardly broken it in. I'd ask that you hold all judgement until we really know that everything is in order." She said, trying to tell him how she didn't feel she should be complimented so soon." Will you need to eat and drink now that you are in this form?" Raven asked worriedly, her eyes straying to the door. She didn't really want to take him out there just yet, but perhaps she could sneak some food away without the others catching her. She could feel her stomach rumbling, probably a side effect of having expended so much of her energy into bringing Melchior alive." I hope you'll forgive the state of things." She said anxiously, moving closer to him before realizing she couldn't actually block his vision at all standing there." If you'll excuse me for a moment." Raven took a deep breath before moving to her bed to collect up the books she had taken from her private library, attempting to return them by hand to not push herself any harder with her powers. Melchior listened to her with a slight shrug. "I do suppose there could be some flaws I am not aware of at the moment... however things do seem promising thus far." He said, able to preform a basic diagnostic test with his magical senses. "As for food and drink, although I won't require any nutrients to maintain my physical form, I would enjoy being able to have a nice meal again... it is strange what you miss when you don't have a body." He said, raking his fingers through his silvery hair as he watched her move around the room, starting to return books to their shelves." You really don't need to bother putting things away on my account... compared to the countless dank dungeons I have spent my life in this place is a paradise." He said with a smile, finding it quite cute that she seemed so nervous about having a man in her room. "At the very least you should allow me to assist you... after what you have done for me, I am in your debt." He said, raising his hand and causing a few books to soar through the air back to where they belonged on her shelves, remembering where they belonged from having watched her remove them over the past few days as she switched between books. "You seem a bit flustered.... have I done something to upset you?" He asked, taking a few steps closer to her, having noticed her reluctance to be close to him. Raven took a long deep inhale as Melchior seemed rather insistent on telling her how well she had done. As nice as it was... the consistent level of kindness he was offering to her was wearing on her. To the point she wasn't sure if he was beingsincereanymore." You're not going to keep that up are you.?" She asked rather softly as her eyes fell to the floor while she tucked her hair behind her ear on one side. She didn't want to complain too much, but saying nothing at all seemed unwise if she wanted him to tone it down." I'm not sure how people spoke to one another in your time, but it really is unnecessary to address me like that. As grateful as you might be of me lending my energy to you, your thanks were truly enough." Raven stood a while longer near him as she was actually curious to find out more about the time he had come from, her eyes looking to him in her intrigue. When he told her that he wouldn't mind a meal despite notneedingone, Raven turned away to her books with a look of dismay. She did want to offer him something, but she was dreading going back out there." Is there something in particular you've been craving?" She asked in a dull tone before giving him a bright glance of her eyes, showing that although she wasn't excited about what she might have to do to fetch food she was eager to therefrom him. Raven scoffed as he called her room a paradise, holding her books tightly to her chest before lifting one up to put on the shelf. She was glad her back was turned to him as her cheeks tingled with color again. Raven frowned however to find him using his own magic to place her books back where they belonged, even if she was shocked that he managed to get them in the correct positions. Setting the rest of the books she held on the shelf temporarily without sorting them out, Raven looked back to him with a glare. With no hesitation, Raven used her telekinesis to toss one of the books he had put away roughly towards him. He could have likely stopped it, but it would not change the way Raven felt about what he did." I feel it is unwise for you to expend yourself so soon after adopting this form. I'm fully capable of taking care of a few books on my own." She said to him with a bit of a growl, her eyes flashing red for a second before she tore her hood up around her head to conceal herself and the emotions she was experiencing. The fact that he was aware of how flustered she was just made her feel worse. The color disappeared from her cheeks as she walked towards the door." I'm going to get us some food. Don't answer the door while I'm gone." She said harshly. This was not the same kind girl he had complimented earlier. Raven felt more comfortable being enraged. Herragekept her safe. If she had lingered any longer it would have meant opening up to Jimin ways she did not do even with the Titans. She believed that Melchior was very similar to her but...perhaps she'd let herself become too familiar with him. Hewaspleasant company... compared to the rest of them. Raven sighed, knowing she would have to figure out a way to make it up to him without seeming sappy. Melchior did notice her change in demeanor, apparently not comfortable having someone touch her things... it was something he could respect, although he did find himself a bit annoyed at her when she tossed the book at him, catching it with his own energy before it got the chance to hit him. "Expending myself is the only way I can understand the limitations of my new form, to understand my new body... I designed it to look like my original form, however it isn't exactly the same... as it isn't made of flesh and bone, just energy..." He said, he kept calm during her small outburst, not about to escalate things with her... he did intend to use her to get out of his book after all, and what he had now was only a temporary fix, something to give him limited freedom that would also allow him to teach her the magic necessary to truly free him." I have no desire to wonder just yet, and shall await your return...." He said, deciding he would spend the time she was gone by looking over her collection of books more closely, interested in what she had beyond the few books he had seen her reading... he was a mage after all, and his nature was naturally a curious one. Rolling her eyes when he managed to catch the book in time to evade being hit, Raven was tempted to toss another one but refrained as he spoke up. She sighed at his explanation that to her was just an excuse." I can't promise I'll attempt to help you return to this form if you overexert yourself within the first day of gaining it." She said dryly." I can only imagine how thrilling it must be to be able to move about after a thousand years, but I would hope that you've managed to retain some form of common sense in that time." Raven added as she gave him a look of concern. Worrying that he might be a little too trigger happy for his own good. The fact that Raven trusted him alone in her room meant a lot more than he probably was aware of. Although Ravenwastempted to make a large blockade outside of her room in want to keepothersout and Melchior. Raven groaned as she looked at her door before abandoning her post. Hovering along the hallways until she heard Star fire coming along to the nearest corner. Raven immediately opened a portal for herself and dove in. Finding that in her panic she had ended up thinking of a local diner. Raven raised her brow as she looked about her new surroundings. She was outside the diner that had the Titan Tower distantly in its view. Shaking her head, Raven decided this food was probably better than whatever junk the Titans had stored away messily. Ordering several meals with extra fries and some shakes, Raven carried the fresh food out on her tray before opening another portal that lead directly to her door again. It had taken her around a half hour to wait on her food before she arrived back at the tower. Lifting the tray up with her telekinesis so it would be out of the way, Raven knocked on the door before letting herself back in." This may just make you sick... even if you don't have your insides yet, but it was the best I could find on short notice." She said as she used her telekinesis once more to draw over two chairs that didn't match along with a table with a fine black tablecloth on it. Setting the food down on the table, Raven waited for him to sit first since she was her guest." I want to apologize about before... I don't really entertain guests." She said as she tried to tug at her hood to pull it even further around her as she worried she might blush again." Is there anything I can do to make you feel more at home?" She offered as she traced the back of the chair nearest to her. Melchior waited patiently until she returned, one benefit of being locked away in a book for so long is his patience was unmatched. When she returned he was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking through one of her books on magic, an old tome that focused on runic magic and ancient rituals. "I am sure it will be just fine." He said, looking over the food with interest. He picked up a french fry putting it into his mouth and chewing with a sigh. He was pleasantly surprised by her apology, understanding that some people were more... independent, preferring to be alone most of the time, needing their personal space. "I don't really require much... I do not want to impose on you during my stay. That said, if you are interested in my teaching you some advanced magic, I may need some supplies, especially if you do intend to help free me from this book..." He said, taking a break from his meal to move a little bit closer to her. "I have managed to gather that you use your magical abilities to help others, to fight crime... I am certain I could teach you a few things that would assist you in this endeavor... magic lost to the sands of time long ago. You seem to have a lot of raw power to work with, but I can teach you ways to channel that power that would make you much more effective in spell casting." Catching him on her bed, Raven let out a little groan. It wasn't where shepreferredhe would have sat while she was gone, she thought to herself as she blushed. She supposed it was however the mostcomfortableplace to sit in comparison to everything else in the room. Her chairs were alwaysslightlyuncomfortable to ensure that she concentrated on her studies, but of course that usually ended up with her moving to her bed more often than not. Whatever the case, she decided to forgive him for his choice this time. Since she had likely kept him waiting for longer than she should have. Hearing he thought that what she had brought would be just fine, Raven bit the inside of her lip unconvinced. She had been around and secretly gone to renaissance festivals, not to mention all the strange feasts she had with allies of hers that she would have thought similar to Melchior's time. None of their food really compared to what he might have been used to. She stopped breathing as she saw him casually take up a fry, her eyes widening in suspense as she waited for his body to reject it entirely, but she instead received Asif. She wondered just how much he could actuallytastewhat he was putting into his mouth. Was he faking it just to spare her feelings? She wouldn't have put it past him for the way he seemed to compliment everything. Raven had relaxed to a certain extent before he said'my stay.' He was staying. Well of course he was! She told herself before her eye twitched because she wasn't completely sure she liked that idea. Somewhere in her head Raven had thought if she helped him do this, then he would just come out much like a hologram to tutor her from time to time but... it was starting to sound like his plans were different from her own. Could he even go back into his book now that he was in this form.? Sitting herself down before the table in her mild discontent, Raven glared at her food as he kept talking. She couldn't eat in front of him! Not this! Having a male here was much more troubling than Raven had anticipated. Nothing the way he drew closer to her, Raven's entire body froze before he said that he had somehow come to understand that she fought crime much like he had fought More. Her eyes darted to him in a way that was harsher than she meant to before she gradually relaxed into her chair." I'm sure I can find a way to get whatever supplies you might need." She said rather softly before clearing her throat, confused why her voice was behaving that way." Training me in other methods of magic use would be a fair exchange for me working towards your release, if it won't put too much stress on you and your form?" She said, when really what she meant to say was that she didn't want tobotherhim." If you're going to be staying here however, I would ask that you don't wander while I am away. There are some more... sensitive materials here than even you may be aware of Melchior." As she said this, Raven was thinking more of her journals along with a certain mirror she possessed, but there were of course plenty of magical relics and potions she had stored away that untrained hands shouldn't tamper with. Not to mention the few creatures she had in cages. With a long breath, Raven waited to see how he would react before opening a portal beside her." Wait here." She said with a groan before passing through only to collect a fork and knife in want to use on her food before attempting to return through her portal in hopes that he wouldn't have followed her. Over the next few weeks Melchior played his role as her new roommate perfectly, keeping to himself most of the time, and teaching her a few spells when she was in the mood for it. He was actually quite the teacher, very detailed in his explanations and always patient with her, adjusting his teaching methods to suit her style of learning. It became clear that Melchior had a strong passion for magic, and seemed to enjoy teaching her. Under his guidance she soon found herself able to cast new and interesting spells, using her powers in ways she never had before. As her education progressed, so did their relationship, to the point where they could be comfortable talking with one another casually from time to time. Melchior did have quite a few interesting stories from his old life, fables that were lost to the written word long ago, all of which he seemed to enjoy sharing with her. In Raven Melchior found a companion of sorts, someone like himself, who could understand his thoughts and shared his interests. Things were going fairly well, that is, until one night when the alarm in the tower went off, signalling that they were needed. It seemed like a regular job at first, some thugs had gotten their hands on some advanced weapons and body armor, and they were using it to cause trouble in the city. At first, it seemed like small-time stuff, some property damage, but no major crimes... just some idiots playing around with stuff that they shouldn’t, something the police could handle. However tonight they had decided to put their newfound equipment to work, attempting to rob a bank. This was the point where they stopped being a bunch of drunk idiots, and became a real threat... one the Titans would have to deal with.

Malchior's Spellbook [[ backlash84 x Mnemosyne ]]|rating:4.0

Staying On Top ○[Pastel Kitkat & Urbanzorro]○

(Demarcate:17, Junior at Maple wood Academy Persona:Serious, determined, anxious, cunning, honest. Ambition:Destroy William Gruber... academically. There were about a dozen students standing in that particular hallway between classes; some rummaging through their lockers, some talking with friends, others sitting on the floor studying dutifully. Whatever they happened to be doing, every single pair of eyes turned to attention when another student hollered. Everyone saw the way he was tackled into a nearby empty classroom by a petite girl that seemed to have shot out from nowhere. If Evangeline Du mark thought she was being secretive or sly, she was sadly mistaken. Even though they were confused, no one bothered to come to the boy's rescue as Evangeline slammed the door behind them. “What did you find out?” She huffed at the boy, brushing her long bangs from her eyes and reaching up to straighten the thick white headband—with its cute large bow on the SID—that decorated her brown tresses. The boy looked like he was just starting to get over the initial horror of thinking he was about to die. He was a very paranoid boy. “Gee Evangeline; do you have to be so brash? The young woman puckered her lips and furrowed her brow irritatedly. “Look here Kenji; I paid you good money to find out William's secrets. If I want to tackle you into a classroom, or pull you under a stairwell, or even send you exploding messages I have every right!” Her tone was dignified as she planted a fist on a shapely hip which poked out to receive it. To all the faculty of the elite Maple wood Academy, Evangeline was known as a quiet, mild-mannered girl. To them, she was utterly sweet and completely proper. To her classmates however, the young woman was known for being quite the little ball of fire. She might have been petite, but she was a force to be reckoned with. Passionate about all she did, and easily annoyed by those who didn't share her enthusiasm for pretty much everything. Not to mention, she had a very scary habit of talking to herself. Namely, mutter obscenities under her breath, but that was only ever at the end of the year when the “Academic Hall of Fame” was posted. When everyone found out who had the best overall GPA in the school. She was high-strung, over exuberant and—to some—even annoying. Kenji was one of those “some”. The boy sighed heavily, straightening the collar of his uniform. The attire worn by the Maple wood student body was simplistic; the boys wore button down shirts (long sleeve in fall and winter, short sleeve in spring and summer) with the school crest on the breast (a maple tree with M and W on either side of it), red ties and brown slacks with matching blazers. The girls uniform was exactly the same, except that they wore skirts with white knee highs. The school discouraged flashy clothing.“I told you before, Gruber doesn't have any secret techniques. He doesn't just act like a slacker, he really slacker. The only books I ever see him reading are comic books and magazines. I even went to his dorm to study with him and that was all he read. He never touched a textbook, not once.” As Kenji explained Evangeline's expression stayed rigidly dignified, her blue eyes hard and her pouting lips stiff. She was a beautiful girl. With the kind of face that made boys hearts melt and a body that made their hearts hammer. She was a swimmer and therefore tone, but her breasts were full, firm and deliciously perky. Her hips formed wide curves that dipped into thick thighs the boys just itched to touch. She was a favorite to watch during swim team meets. However, her personality made her hard to approach, and tended to scare boys off, just like it was doing to poor Kenji. “He's a genius Evangeline, you can't compete.” The kid sighed again and adjusted the strap of his messenger bag on his shoulder.“I'll give you your money back if you want.” He offered in an attempt to be polite, but Evangeline turned her back on him. Her fingers curled to clench into tight fists at her sides and her back went abnormally rigid. Kenji could feel the tension in the air and gulped. “Uh, Eva...” He used her cute little nickname, trying to draw her out of whatever psychotic episode she was about to have. “Eva, don't do anything stupid now.” Too late. Without a word Evangeline burst from the classroom, flying down the halls passed astounded students who watched with mild interest. They'd never seen a girl move so fast. Her skirt whipped wildly around her thighs, showing glimpses of her pink panties to those who passed, as she flew to the other side of the school. Heading straight for the class William was supposed to be in. She knew his entire schedule; of course she did, he was her rival after all and she, well she was more than just a little bit obsessed with him. Everything she did, every academic achievement she made was to show him up. To rub it in his face. Yet she'd never even spoken to him. She threw the door open with an ominousbangthat made the teacher and students jump. “Young lady what do you think-” But she paid the teacher no mind, her focused eyes scanning the class purposefully, but William was not there. [color=lime green]“Bastard!”[/color] She growled, and the teacher gaped as she slammed the door shut before running off. Evangeline knew exactly where that lazy slacker would be skipping class. The delinquent! She found the closest stairwell and mounted the steps in a blurring speed, one flight after another, knocking aside anyone who happened to get in her way. Finally, she reached the top and went running through the doors that lead to the roof, smashing them open to hold them apart with both hands. Her hair was tossed messily around her pretty face, her luminescent eyes mere slits as they roamed the roof. It was a very dramatic entrance. She spotted him, lounging next to the fenced in edge reading—of all things—a comic book and growled viciously under her breath. The bastard, he was mocking her! She pushed from the doors, allowing them to bang shut before stalking over to him. Rage made her insides bubble, and when she stood in front of him—both hands planted on her hips—she glared hatefully. If looks could kill, hers would not only have taken his life, but would have buried him six feet in the ground. Evangeline grit her teeth. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, so many names she wanted to call him, but standing there in front of him her mind went blank. The only thing she could think of was her father. She could see his indifferent face in her mind, feel his hard expectant gaze upon her, but she had nothing to offer him. No matter how hard she tried—oh she had tried so hard for so long—she just couldn't beat William.“It's not fair!” She finally shouted at the boy, offering a childish stomp of her foot, her fists balled up at her sides.“You're an idiot, you're not serious at all! Why then, why is it like this?” She ranted, and as she went on, tears stung her eyes and blurred her vision. “I work so hard but always, ALWAYSyou come out on top! It's not fair!” She sobbed the last part and fell to her knees, scraping them in the gravel that lined the roof. “It's not fair, I work so hard, I have to win.” She hung her head in her hands and sniffled pathetically.“Please, please you have to let me win. P-please just let me be on top!” She raised her head exposing her lovely face, reddened in her sorrow and stained by the tears that ran white rivers down her cheeks. Her blue eyes twinkled beautifully behind the sheen of her tears. “I'll do anything; I'll clean your dorm, I'll do your laundry, I'll pay for your lunch every day. I'll be your servant for the rest of the school year! Just please let me have the top grades in the school this year!” She dropped her hands to her lap to clasp at the hem of her skirt as it lay across her thighs. What was she thinking? It was a crazy notion, it was cheating. Evangeline didn't care though. She needed to win, she'd do anything to be on top, and the desperation in her shimmering eyes made that more than clear. (GruberAge18PersonaRelaxed, Jocular, UnstressedAmbitionUh.... Despite the events which would come later, the day had started like any other for William Gruber. The young man had woken up in his dorm room and started to get himself ready. Despite being a scholarship kid, as opposed to just here on merit of his parent's money, Maple wood had seen fit to give Will his won private room instead of making him have a roommate. Officially it was because Will had just been lucky enough to be the odd man out, though it didn't take a genius to figure out that they wanted to keep him happily attending the academy. Being able to brag that someone with actual genius intellect scores attended your academy did wonders for admissions after all. That was also the reason why most of the staff let Will get away with just about anything he wanted. They either recognized that he was smart enough to learn the materials without the need of extensive study, or they had been instructed by the headmaster to simply let the young man go. All of these thoughts had passed through Will's head as he had gone about brushing his teeth, shaving his face, and putting on his uniform, leaving the tie overly loose as he was often apt to do. From there Will had meandered his way out of the dorm and over to the cafeteria where he'd gotten some breakfast and talked with a few of his friends. Everyone had seemed to be stressing over one class or another, worrying about some paper that was soon to be due, or a test that they were sure they would fail. In all honesty Will found the entire subject more than just a small bit boring. One of Will's closer friends, David, had asked Will how he felt about being at the top of the academy's academic rankings, which had of course gotten little more than an 'eh' from Will. By the time Evangeline was busy grilling Kenji about Will's secrets, Will had already found his way to one of his favored spots at the academy. Namely, the rooftop of the main academic building, which Will used as a place to relax, read whatever comic book currently had his attention, and generally pass the time being unproductive. He'd carried a small chair up to the roof for himself to sit on and was perched there reading the latest issue of Batman when Evangeline stormed through the rooftop's doors. Will's position on the roof gave Evangeline a full view of the young man who she considered her rival. Will's tie was still as loose as ever, with his jacket now off and hanging over the back of the chair. His shirt was untucked, the result of him stretching several times throughout the day and not bothering to re-tuck his shirt. While he wasn't what one would call muscular Will wasn't out of shape either. He enjoyed long distance running and as such his body was well trimmed. He had somewhat broad shoulders giving his frame a slight upside down triangular shape that most men would have to work in a gym to achieve. While his hair wasn't anywhere near being unclean it was obvious that the young man had declined to comb it in any way. When the roof's door slammed shut the noise easily caught Will's attention, causing him to look up from his book and spot Evangeline as she approached him. His gaze narrowed for a second as he tried to place a name with Evangeline's face, only for his features to soften and a light of recognition to enter his eyes once he'd found the answer. He was about to tell Evangeline 'hi' when he noticed the look she was giving him. As Evangeline erupted into her tirade about the unfairness of his abilities the expression on Will's face made several transitions. First there was annoyed defensiveness at the thought of her being just another person who disliked him for what he could do. Then this was followed by amusement at the thought of how seriously Evangeline took the entire academic competitiveness aspect of life. After this came no small amount of compassion at the sight of her falling to tears. Granted, Will could appreciate the eroticism of a beautiful woman in pain and tears, but that was a much different situation from genuine suffering which he took no enjoyment from at all. In fact, he was about to simply tell Evangeline that he'd let up, and she could have the top spot, just to make her feel better, before she cut him off with her offer. The blush on her cheeks from crying, the look of her eyes twinkling with yet to be wept tears, the disheveled state of her hair, all of these things combined to spark a terribly wicked idea in Will's mind. The young man's expression shifted to a grin as if to match what was going on in his head." I don't know." he said, drawing things out just a bit "That's a pretty big request.... I mean there are a lot of rules against that sort of thin..." Will's tone was one of teasing amusement, making it very clear that he wasn't really concerned with the rules as he made a show of pretending to ponder Evangeline's offer, biting his lower lip softly as if deep in consideration. ".... You'd need to do what I say, when I say, no exceptions at all." he said "If you can agree to that then I suppose I might just wind up having a hard time focusing this term. Is that something you could handle?" With all her academic achievements, all her studious prowess, no one could ever accuse Evangeline of being stupid. A tad naïve perhaps, but never stupid. She knew exactly what she was promising, and she knew that it could get her into a heap of trouble. If the school board ever found out they'd certainly be reprimanded, perhaps even expelled. Maple wood had a zero-tolerance policy when it came to cheating, even when it involved their most prominent students. Evangeline didn't care though, if it meant topping the grade rankings and pleasing her father, she'd do it. She had zero pride when it came to winning academically, she'd do whatever it took (sans screwing her professors because they were all old and kinda icky). Getting in trouble with the school board was Evangeline's only prominent concern. The potential of being forced to do humiliating things that'd get her mocked on campus was another, but Evangeline could handle that. She knew that most of the student body was laughing at her anyway. They all found her over-achieving ways ridiculous and frequently made fun of her behind her back, sometimes teased her to her face, and that had never really bothered her. She had far too much work to do to really let anything that didn't involve grades or swimming bother her. The fact that Will was a teenage boy with raging hormones and possible devious tendencies never even crossed her mind. Evangeline didn't have much experience with boys. The few that were willing to overlook her weirdness and ask her out were always turned down. She didn't have time to date. The rare ones brave enough to outright make a pass at her never got very far. Evangeline was incredibly ticklish, and had very violent reactions whenever she felt a strange tingle under her skin. The first boy to ever kiss her she had slapped out of surprise. He never tried again. One boy had managed to get far enough with her—despite her reflexive flailing—to reach a hand into her skirt to brush her thigh. He got kneed in the crotch. After that incident in the middle of Sophomore year, no one else was willing to try. Instead, they lusted from afar and left Evangeline to her academic trials. So if Will's intentions were to take their arrangement down a more erotic road... well he'd certainly have his work cut out for him. The look of pleading determination that had twisted the pretty features of Evangeline's face slowly morphed back into that haughty look of anger. Will was teasing her, and she very clearly did not appreciate it. Here she was knelt before him, pleading for her academic career, and he had the audacity to laugh at her. The bastard! Evangeline was moments away from hoisting herself to her feet and punching him square in his smug face. She was thin and short, but she'd throw all of her weight into it and shatter that long gorgeously defined jaw of his! That intrusive thought gave her pause. Will was no heartbreaker, but there were plenty of girls around Maple wood who gushed over his blue eyes and messy hair. Hearing them go on about the boy she despised always made Evangeline nauseous with rage. How could they admire someone so utterly lazy yet infuriatingly smart? She had to admit though, they weren't wrong. He was easy on the eyes. Evangeline shook such thoughts away from her mind, and had resolved herself to standing up and indeed hitting Will. Thankfully though her intrusive thoughts had given her pause long enough to hear Will agree to her terms. At that, Evangeline instantly perked up. In fact, she actually squealed with girlish excitement and shot upward, straight for him. Her body hit his hard, the momentum more than enough to topple his chair over backward and send them both to the ground. Her arms coiled tightly around his shoulders, squeezing the squishy parts of her young body flush against his own. “Thank you so much!” She exclaimed, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck right beneath his jaw. She curled her back to pull the top of her body back enough to look down on him, consequently bearing her wide hips down on his thighs. “I take back all the bad things I've ever said about you.” She continued, her face broken into a dazzling grin that made her reddened face beam and her blue eyes shine, framed by her tousled brown tresses. Her headband had fallen off when she tackled him. Her arms uncurled from around him and her hands pressed into his shoulders to force her upward. She spread her thighs to straddle his own carelessly, the action hoisting her skirt to bear the very bottom of her pink panties to the air. She sat up comfortably on top of him, quite unaware of the scandal of it all. Evangeline had never had much in terms of physical affection, not even from her parents. So things like physical boundaries were foreign to her.“I promise to do your bidding. As long as it's not a federal crime.” She agreed, going so far as to salute him, her back curved straight to push her perky chest up. Evangeline took everything she did very seriously. Evangeline really was an odd duck, that's what struck Will most about her reaction to his accepting her offer.... Well second most, what really struck him most was Evangeline's body as she quite literally threw herself at him. The whole thing took him so much by surprise that Will was unable to keep from emitting a mild squawk as gravity overcame his position on his chair and he went tumbling to the ground along with Evangeline. The force of both of their bodies hitting the ground made Will grunt as his body withstood it. After a second of recovery Will was more than able to notice just how provocative the position he and Evangeline were in was. She was sitting astride him, with her groin scandalously close to his own and now that she was saluting him her breasts were also on full display. All of these things combined to fill Will with no small amount of lust, in fact he was severely tempted to reach up and kiss Evangeline right then and there. But, despite what his cock was shouting, his brain thankfully remained in control. "Anything I say" Will said "That's a great philosophy to have. Let's see if you can follow through on it." With that said Will shifted a bit and slowly began to pull himself free of Evangeline's unwitting embrace. "I'll give you the rest of the day to think about it and make sure It's what you want to do." He told Evangeline, his eyes focusing on hers. "I wouldn't want you feeling I'd tricked you into anything. If you still want to follow through with our deal after dinner than come to my room and be ready for your first task." After he finished speaking Will bent down to pick up his comic book and sauntered off. Not looking back as he passed through the roof's doors and out of Evangeline's sight. Despite what he hoped had been a calm demeanor Will's mind was in fact running a mile a minute. He was awash with ideas and emotions regarding the young woman who had basically offered herself to him. If he played his cards right Will knew that he could wind up having his way with her in more than just the ways she expected. He wasn't about to force himself on her, but he knew that he could be very seductive when he wanted to be, and there wasn't anything in his moral code that said he couldn't have a bit of fun with Evangeline and also stack the deck in his favor. As the day passed further and further along Will found himself thinking more and more of Evangeline, of her body, of what little he knew about who she was, of ever conceivable detail as to his plans for her. On some level he was becoming a small bit obsessed, the portion of his mind that was so good at acquiring and using knowledge was now bent on analyzing his would be servant and mapping the best course into her pants. So much so that the other details of the day passed by in little more than a blur. When the evening finally arrived Will was waiting in his room. He was seated at his desk with the comic from earlier in his hands and occupying his mind. He'd changed into a simple t-shirt and a set of loose fitting cloth shorts, his typical relaxation wear. Will's room was strewn with used clothing, discarded books, and other items that weren't quite trash but were far from being in their rightful place. His bed was unmade, and most of the room's flat surfaces seemed to have only a nodding acquaintance with a duster. All in all it was a room that spoke of an owner whose mind was somewhere else. On one corner of Will's bed Will had actually taken the time to pull the sheets flat and lay a small outfit that he'd purchased for Evangeline on it. The outfit wasn't anything too scandalous, just a two-piece bathing suit made of black material with a white outline. The fact that Will had purposefully chosen one that was a tad bit too small for Evangeline so that she'd be constantly spilling out of it wasn't something he intended to share with his servant though. To round out the outfit Will had also procured a black and white maid's cap and a feather duster. Now all that was left was for Evangeline to either arrive or not. Evangeline didn't need the rest of the day to think over her offer. She wasn't the type of girl who went back on her word, nor was she the type of girl who fully thought anything through before she did it. Her mind was far too occupied by the need to achieve and the various academics she crammed into her brain during studying. Evangeline was smart, but she wasn't on Will's genius level; there was only so much that could occupy her brain at once. The fact that Will had agreed to her deal, and that she would soon be delivering her top marks to her father's desk was all that she cared to think about. Just what Will had planned for her mattered very little. At least for the time being. She was still saluting the young man when they were both on their feet, and he was walking away from her carelessly. Only once the roof doors shut behind Will, did Evangeline give out another shrill squeal. She jumped and skipped around the length of the roof, retrieving her headband happily from the ground. She ran from the roof, renewed energy coursing through her veins. She was terribly bubbly for the remainder of the day, annoying her classmates much more than usual with her outbursts of energy and constant teacher's-favorite attitude. Evangeline didn't care about their scowls or eye rolls. All that was on her mind was the proud look her father was bound to give her once she told him she had bested an actual genius. She wouldn't share the details just of how she did it, and he was sure to not even ask. He didn't care how she won, so long as she was winning. He was a lawyer after all. With dinner filling her belly and the stars dotting the sky outside the tall windows of the school, Evangeline skipped happily down the steps of the private dorms. The top two floors were occupied by the girls, the bottom two by the boys, and Evangeline was of course one of the girl's from a family rich enough to afford a private dorm. A lone dorm mistress was the only barrier separating the girls and boys from entering the opposite wings, and the old woman was easy enough to avoid if you were careful enough. It was a normal occurrence for boys to enter the girls floors and vice versa; students got a thrill out of hiding each other from the dorm mistress, like a sort of underground railroad for horny teens on their way to their dorm rooms of choice. That's even what they called it, the railroad. Evangeline had only had to duck into a room once to avoid the dorm mistress and her conductor was more than pleased to have her, pressing her for information on where she was headed. Gossip was the toll fair after all. He seemed surprised she was headed for Will's dorm, but Evangeline didn't care enough to inquire as to why before she skipped along her merry way. She hopped up to his door like an eager little rabbit unwittingly entering a fox den and knocked. He hadn't told her which dorm was his, but of course she already knew where he resided. As Kenji would so blatantly put it; Evangeline basically stalked Will. But whatever. She was beaming like the Cheshire cat when he finally opened the door, which was rather fitting considering what she was wearing. It was a pastel pink hoodie, made of thin cotton and fitted to perfection against the swell of her bosom and the dip of her trim stomach. The pockets were trimmed in black lace, the same black lace that trimmed the cat ears adorning the top of the hood that covered Evangeline's head. Black shorts draped across the plumpness of her rear, resting high on her thighs, scrunched in the folds that their chubbiness caused. She was a petite girl and carried most of the fat in her body in her breasts, thighs and butt. Her toes were bare against the hardwood floor, showing off the pink nail polish that painted her toenails as she wiggled the appendages impishly. “I've never used the railroad before.” She giggled excitedly, bouncing on her toes to make her breasts give a slight jiggle against the tight fabric of her hoodie. She tipped forward, pressing herself very suddenly against him, actually shoving her way past him to get into his room, surveying the scene. “Just as I suspected, I'm here to clean, huh? They say geniuses live in horrid clutter.” Evangeline said smartly, finally pulling her hands out of her pockets and reaching up to pull down her hood as she twirled around to face him, swishing the black tail attached to the bottom of her hoodie. Her hair was tied into pigtails under her ears so that her hair swept across her shoulders and framed her breasts tauntingly.“Where should I start?” Whether it was intentional or not, there was a delicious cuteness to Evangeline that Will seemed able to pick up on when around her. Maybe it was something about her personality, or the way she dressed, or just the sheer amount of energy that asked to exude from the young woman. Either way, it was impossible to ignore when Will opened his door to find Evangeline standing before him in her little outfit. Will didn't even have time to invite Evangeline in before she had pushed her way into his room. So much the better though, it wouldn't do to have the dorm mistress spot Evangeline in his doorway. "Was it exciting?" Will asked, an amused grin on his face at his companion's own excitement over the situation. The amusement was quickly followed by a stirring of slight lust as Evangeline's bouncing around presented will with a perfect view of just how well her curves moved." Well the first order of business is for you to get into the uniform I've picked out for you" Will responded. He nodded at the area of his bed where he'd placed the too small two-piece bathing suit along with the marching maid's cap and duster. "It's over on the bed. Once you're properly attired then you can get cleaning." Will watched Evangeline closely eager to drink in and savor her reactions. "The bed needs its sheets changed, most of the flat surfaces need to be dusted, and obviously all the stuff on the floor needs to be put in its proper place... Well really it needs to be given a proper place I'm horrible at organizing, so I'll just let you pick wherever seems best. Any questions?" Evangeline felt her heart give a flutter. It had never really crossed her mind, the scandalous situation she was in; she was alone in the dorm room of a teenage boy. Not just any teenage boy. A very intelligent teenage boy who she had sworn to do the bidding of, had promised to do whatever he asked of her. That thought wasn't what was causing her heart to hum though (in fact she'd never even considered it). Will was smiling at her, and the way that grin made his pale blue eyes glow made Evangeline's heart give a leap. Before she'd accosted him on the roof, Will had never looked directly at her. He'd never spoken to her, or acknowledged that she even existed. Then there he was; smiling at her, amused by her bubbly excitement and bouncy mannerism, not overwhelmed like most of the people who encountered her. For some reason Evangeline felt breathless and felt her cheeks begin to heat. He'd asked her a question, but she'd been too busy rambling to answer. Then with him looking at her like that, Evangeline couldn't seem to get her mind to work out an answer for him. "You're obsessed Even, it's insane. I think you've just got a big giant crush on him." Kenji's voice intruded into her mind, wrenching Evangeline from her stupor. The memory made the young girl blanch and huff and give a quick jerk of her head that tossed one of her pigtails from her right shoulder. Ridiculous! She hated him. Well she didn't hate him quite as much since he'd agreed to help her. She still found Will's genius despite his lazy attitude extremely irksome. Evangeline reached up to rub at her right cheek, as if the circular motion would rid her cheek of it's telling pink hue. She absolutely did not have a crush on Will. She proved it by glaring with concentration into his eyes as he spoke, listening intently to his words and forcing the twisting in her stomach to remain calm. "Uniform?" She inquired, perking up with interest. Evangeline absolutely adored dress up. Cute costumes and Lolita fashion were sort of like a hobby and something of a trademark for her. She had dozens upon dozens of coordinated outfits. She turned and approached his bed, spotting this"uniform"he spoke of. Furthermore, she retrieved the top from the bed and eyed it with a look that spoke of confusion and contempt. "My breasts will hardly fit into this." She turned her head to look at him, suspicion sparking in her blue eyes for a moment. It danced away as quick as it came though as disappointment seized her and Evangeline gave a whimper. She looked back at the bathing suit top and her doll-like nose wrinkled in disdain. "It's not even cute. If I had known you wanted me to dress the part I would have worn the maids outfit I have. It's so much cuter." Her lip jutted out into a juvenile pout, her bottom giving a wiggle as she rubbed her thighs together in frustration." You're not going to watch me change are you?" She asked, the thought occurring to her once her mind had gotten over the trauma of having to wear such a not-cute swimsuit. Even in the private dorms the students all used the same washroom. Theirs was larger and much nicer, but you still had to leave your dorm to go to it. Evangeline looked at Will, and once again suspicion gleamed in her blue eyes. She might have been naïve and eager to hold up her end of their bargain, but the young woman wasn't stupid. "That wouldn't be very gentlemanly." She lectured, her eyes slitting into a haughty look as she gave her bottom another wiggle. The sudden racing of her heart made her feel edgy. Would he order her to let him watch? The thought was completely embarrassing. However, it made a strange sort of warmth spread through Evangeline's chest, down her stomach toward the junction of her thighs. Evangeline's reaction did not disappoint! Will once again couldn't help but smile at just how unbelievably cute the young girl's perspective on the world was. Of all the things to complain about it wasn't that she'd be stuck giving Will a free show, or that he was a pervert, it was that the outfit he had picked wasn't cute enough. Will's expression as he watched Evangeline render her protest wasn't a cruel one, even though it was a grin, Will's face and eyes seemed to speak of him being at the same time amused and captivated by Evangeline. At this moment she had Will's complete attention, and that was something that rarely ever happened. "Well It's either that or you go out to the restroom and change." Will said his voice oddly gentile, and playful considering just what he was making Evangeline do. "But I really doubt you want to use the railroad to get back while wearing that outfit." Will's smile faded just a bit as he approached Evangeline, once he was close enough to be well within her personal space he stopped and looked down into her eyes. "Remember, you're here to do what I want." he said, his voice still calm and gentile almost as if he were comforting someone rather than ordering them around. "You can always say 'no' and call the deal off at any time. BUT if you do, I won't make it again." Will's eyes held their gaze into Evangeline's as he spoke. "So, if you still want our deal then that means that you do what I want. And right now, what I want is for you to put on the outfit I've picked for you and then go about doing the task I've given you. If you're too shy to change in front of me then I'll let you get under my blanket and do it." Will then stepped back slightly to make sure he wasn't coming off as threatening. "Now what's it going to be Evangeline?" Will walked toward her and Evangeline's heart seized, her breath hitching in her throat. He came so close to her that their bodies were mere inches apart, his tall frame towering over her to make her feel small and completely at his mercy. Evangeline felt a shiver rock through her spine. She'd been close to him before, up on the roof the entirety of their bodies had come in full contact and Evangeline had thought nothing of it. Yet as he stood before her, his tone calm and soft but still somehow totally commanding; Evangeline felt a strange sort of heat rushing through her body. It made the tips of her toes and fingers tingle, it made her thighs clench around the warmth between them and her chest heave shallow nervous breaths that pressed her bosom up toward him. Maybe it was because he was initiating the closeness. Maybe it was because she was alone with him—not out in the free open space of the roof—but rather in the private confines of his bedroom. Whatever it was making the words he spoke much more suggestive than they had previously sounded to Evangeline. It made her incredibly nervous and oddly excited... and that made her even more nervous. She forced herself to hold Will's gaze. Shy as his closeness and tone was making her feel, she was far too proud to look away. That pride bubbled up from her gut as Will offered her his blanket. He knew she was feeling shy and that made her feel indignant. He thought he was so smart. Everyone thought he was so smart. He was testing her, challenging her. The bastard. Evangeline's pert little mouth puckered in annoyance. Her big blue eyes, which had stared up at him so wide and dewy as he spoke, ignited in a flash of defiance as they shot a glare up at his smuggle handsome face. Shy? Ha! She'd show him!“I am not too shy.” She replied haughtily. To drive her point home she swiftly reached for the hem of her hoodie and yanked it up her body and over her head in one fluid movement. The momentum of her defiant adrenaline propelled her forward, and before her top had hit the floor her shorts were down around her ankles. She stepped out of them, kicking them off to the side before turning her eyes back up to Will, as her fists planted themselves on her bare hips. She stood before him seeming proud of herself, a small self-satisfied smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Evangeline was petite, so although she stayed fit through her swimming, there was a bit of chubbiness to her curves. Her breasts and hips were full, her thighs meaty and her stomach judged out just slightly. Her bra was lacy and pushed her breasts together invitingly, it's powder blue color complimenting the deeper blue shade of her eyes. She wasn't wearing panties however, so Will would get a full view of the plump treasure—shaved bare save a neat patch of soft brown hair on her pubic mound—between her thighs. Only if he looked quickly, however. It took less than a minute for Evangeline's resolve to crumble and give way to bashfulness. She'd never been naked in front of a boy before. Her cheeks turned a feverish scarlet that spread down her neck and kissed the tops of her breasts. Her entire body flushed with the heat of embarrassment as she spun around, turning her back on will so that all he could see was her bare rear end. “See, I'm not shy at all. I just didn't think you were so rude as to peep on a girl like some kind of pervert.” Her tone was high-pitched and frantically nervous, her passive-aggressive words feigning indifference. She retrieved the bottoms of the bathing suit and leaned over slightly, the action pushing her heart-shaped bottom out, and lifted her legs to step into the garment. Her hands were trembling however, and her legs felt weak so she was quite unbalanced and stumbled to the side, hitting her legs against the edge of the bed. Kenji was right, she was crazy. She really needed to think before she acted. The response that Evangeline had to Will's offer to take cover under his ballet was, to say the least, a shock to Will. He knew that Evangeline could be a little high-strung and that she had her own way of viewing things, but he still hadn't expected her to take his offer or mercy as some kind of challenge. Not that he minded the result, but still it wasn't something he saw coming. In a flash the young woman had taken off just about all of her clothing and was standing mostly makes before Will'a gaze. As his good luck would have it Will's eyes were fast enough to catch the glimpse of her sex that Evangeline's lack of underwear provided him. His eyes gravitating towards space between the young woman's legs of their own volition. It took more than a small bit of effort for Will to force himself to adjust his gaze away from Evangeline's pussy. A moment later she was turning around from Will and slinging an offhanded insult. If it had been someone else calling him a pervert Will would probably have taken offense, but he could tell that Evangeline was just trying to keep her own sense of cool about the situation so he just let her words slide off. Then Evangeline bent over, and it was Will's turn to have his breath catch in his throat. Evangeline's was not the first pussy that Will had seen, but it was the first that he'd seen this close and as exposed as Evangeline's position made it. For a moment, the normally detached and quick-witted young man found himself fully at the moment and at a loss for words. The only thing to indicate his reaction to the view he was presented with was the easily visible shape of his erection poking through his shorts. Will watched Evangeline intently as she tried to get the bikini bottoms on, still trying to collect himself. Until Evangeline started to lose her balance and looked about to fall. Will's mother and father were what most would call good people. They had a healthy marriage, loved each other, and were kind. As a result of this, along with Will's own natural tendencies, there were some reactions that were for lack of a better phrase hard-wired into Will's system. On of those being "catch the girl before she falls." When Evangeline began to stumble Will's instincts took over, and he was across the room in a flash. He stepped in behind Evangeline and caught her with his arms and torso, helping to steady her and inadvertently pressing his rock hard manhood against her most intimate areas. "Easy there." Will said "Don't want to see you fall over and get hurt." Even though he knew he should let Evangeline go, or at least stop pressing his body against hers, Will didn't seem to register the action. Instead, simply savoring the electric excitement of being pressed up against such a beautiful woman with so little between his body and her own. Evangeline was poised to catch herself, bracing her knee for the painful impact against the frame of Will's bed. It never came though. Instead of the stabbing pain of smacking her knee against wood, Evangeline was met with the suffocating warmth that came with Will's touch. He steadied her, pressing her back against his torso and Evangeline felt something hard yet pliable press into her bottom and the back of her pussy. She let out a strange sound, a squeaky whimpering cry as her whole body ignited in fire. Metaphorically of course. The electricity was insane, every part of bare skin that Will touched felt like it was engulfed in flame. It didn't hurt the way a burn should though. It tingled, sensation that Evangeline had never experienced before crawling beneath her skin. The tips of her breasts puckered, the sensitive nubs poking into the fabric of her bra making feel squirmy. She trembled against Will, frozen in his grasp as he held her against him. It was the first time that Evangeline hadn't reacted violently to having a boy come so intimately close to her. Evangeline couldn't react though. It was taking every bit of her concentration not to scream. She wasn't scared though. She was nervous and more embarrassed than she had ever been in her entire life, but she wasn't scared. Much as it made her body shake and squirm uncomfortably, there was something strangely pleasant about being locked in Will's arms. She'd only managed to get the bikini bottoms around her knees, so she was still completely exposed to the steadily warming air of Will's room. Evangeline felt too mortified to look at him, yet even as she thought that she felt her torso and neck twist about to cast her wide-eyed gaze back and up toward his face. Her own was a deep shade of pink, her awed expression plainly telling everything she was feeling; even if she didn't completely understand all of it. Embarrassment, curiosity, fear and arousal. They were all plainly there as Evangeline stared up at Will. “T-Thanks. I'm f-fine.” She managed to squeak up at him, her little pink tongue jutting out to moisten her lips. Her hands reached up, folding over his wrists, her long perfectly manicured fingernails biting into the flesh there slightly. “Let go plea-eeze.” Her breath hitched halfway through the words. She pushed weakly at his wrists to try and remove the hold he had on her. Both physically and emotionally.

Staying On Top ○[Pastel Kitkat & Urbanzorro]○|rating:3.0

Neverending Dungeon - 2-Man Madness_ NEDduo01 +

You both arrive in a small, 10x10 curtained off area. There are two torches floating magically at head height. The curtains are thick and opaque, and made of an old, musty fabric. NEDduo01 pokes at his partner to make sure he's still alive. Then, having the guitar properly situated on his back (and looking silly like a standard without a banner), he readies his tower shield and wields his short spear while waiting for his better half to check the curtains.NEDduo01 Hmm a name...... Parker! CharsheetSuggested Procedures (pending VG's agreement)Spoiler Hide In hallways: Parker first, NEDduo01 following at 5 or 10 feet. Parker poking 10 feet in front of him with the 10' ladder, also pressing on each square with as much weight as he can put on the ladder. Before opening a door, take 20 on search (for 27, with trap finding) of the door as well as the square in front of it, then poke the door with the ladder, then drop the ladder and open the door. Any idea how to handle the acid traps that are all over (assuming they are here, as well)? Parker lights a sun rod and sticks it out the top of his pack. Then, sword in hand, he takes his ladder and starts poking around. He'll poke the torches, every visible part of the floor, and then the curtain itself, before poking it open and stepping out. Originally Posted by Holland Hmm a name...... Parker! Char sheet Suggested Procedures (pending VG's agreement) Spoiler Hide In hallways: Parker first, NEDduo01 following at 5 or 10 feet. Parker poking 10 feet in front of him with the 10' ladder, also pressing on each square with as much weight as he can put on the ladder. Before opening a door, take 20 on search (for 27, with trap finding) of the door as well as the square in front of it, then poke the door with the ladder, then drop the ladder and open the door. Any idea how to handle the acid traps that are all over (assuming they are here, as well)? Parker lights a sun rod and sticks it out the top of his pack. Then, sword in hand, he takes his ladder and starts poking around. He'll poke the torches, every visible part of the floor, and then the curtain itself, before poking it open and stepping out. I'm ok with the procedures in general. Are you lightly armored? My stance won't help until I threaten the foe, so you'll be at a slight AC disadvantage for one round. I'll make sure to use the angle and the wall as cover to avoid those pesky WILL save spells (or does the cover from the wall help?). I say we trigger all the acid traps. Furthermore, I can just heal you up with channel touch after each. The pits, we'll have to be more careful about. Luckily, as our divine guide pointed out, I just have to "hold" the shield, and the penalty seems to go away. Otherwise, we'll just toss it across the pit before I jump across. What, you think I'm going to use the same traps as Fanatic? Fools. You open the curtains to reveal a 6x6 room:{table]|A_|B_|C_|D_|E_|F_1||||||2||||||3|||x|x||4|||x|x||5||||||6||||||[/table]Curtains surround the square C3/D4, and the room appears to be only 15' high, with a veritable web of wooden beams for a roof. Make a spot check each please. Spot(1d20-4)[0]Wow...is that clueless or what. You're quite confused, as you fail to see your teammate standing right next to you. I mean, come on...0? Stylish Hmm...make a listen check, too.and can you link your character sheet to me? Spot - (1d20-1)[14]Listen - (1d20-1)[7]Regarding pit traps: don't forget I'm doing all my poking with a 10' ladder. If nothing else, we can lay it down and crawl across Hmm. You see nothing interesting. Let me know which square you decide to step outside the curtains to, and make another spot check each when one of you does. My AC is 16; FF 14; T 12. I do have Stance of Clarity -- TS, can I have that automatically apply to the first enemy I see? Or do I have to wait till I have an action to do that? I'll step (after poking) into B3. Spot - (1d20-1)[13] As you step out of the curtains, you hear a sudden flapping of dozens of tiny wings. A swarm of bats appears through the gaps in the rafters you thought was the ceiling, and flies down towards you.(d6)[3]damage, and you take 1 damage from bleeding at the start of your turns from now on. It is currently in A2/B3. Anyyone within the swarm at the start of their go has to make a DC 11 Fort save vs Nausea. If you fail, you can only take a move action this turn. Now that's just mean. Spending an inspiration point on the save Fort Save - (1d20+6)[12]edit: and a good thing, too. Does Channel Touch work against swarms? OOO I bet breath weapons do. Yes? NEDduo01NEDduo01 yells "fire in the hole!" as he readies his fire breath.initiative(1d20+1)[16]and the listen check:listen [roll]1d20-4[/roll] listen(1d20-4)[14] Sorry, fail on my part:initiative - (d20+2)[17]Swarms can be affected fully by AOE attacks, are dealt 1d3 damage from a torch swung as an improvised weapon, 1d4 from a lantern thrown as a splash weapon, but are immune to normal weapon damage. So breath weapons yes, channel touch no. Man...how I miss that +7 to initiative. Oh yeah, unit. Initiative - (1d20+2)[17] We need a re-roll to decide the tie:initiative tiebreaker - (d20+2)[20] oh that's not good. Initiative - (1d20+2)[15] It looks like swarms/Parker/NEDduo01. Was the swarm attack part of the sequence, or is it now the beginning of the new round? In particular, whose turn is it?NEDduo01 calls out"grab a torch!" Assuming the swarm's move was its turn in the first round, Parker passes his fort save and steps back far enough to grab a torch. NEDduo01 steps to A3, and fires a breath of fire at the swarm at A2. Fire breath attack REF DC 14 for 1/2 (assuming 1/2 HD = 0, otherwise it's DC 15)Damage(1d8)[5]breath attack available in(1d4)[1]round(s) Actually, that was its turn in the surprise round. New round:damage - (d6)[2]damage. For the breath:reflex - (d20+7)[18]Parker could take a 5' step back, grab the torch, and attack, if he wished. "Are you ok Parker?"NEDdie01 asks as he readies himself for another fire breath. Parker shall do that, then. -4 for improvised weapon, yes? Steely Strike attack, plus an inspiration point to the attack roll, and if it hits, another to damage Attack - (1d20+7)[26]Damage - (1d3+3)[6](+3 more if I can apply STR to the damage) hit and damage. The swarm moves to cover both of you, you both take:(d6)[1]damage, and are bleeding, taking 1 damage a turn. It's currently in A3, B3, C3, and B2. NEDdie01 steps to B4, and fires off another breath.damage(1d8)[7]REF DC 14 for 1/2available in(1d4)[4]rounds Commentary: Grr...looks like I'll need that torch now HP 12 Forgot the FORT(1d20+2)[20] Aren't swarm components required to stay in a square? I don't think each 10x10 individual swarm can be shaped (at least, that's how it's been ruled in the Arena). Assuming Stone Bones and Steel Wind are both useless here, Parker takes a swift action to recover maneuvers and then attacks again. Not using inspiration on the attack, but if this hits I'll use one on damage Attack - (1d20)[1]Damage - (1d3+3)[6]edit: voodoo max damage! Monster Manual:"Unlike other creatures with a 10' space, a swarm is shareable. It can occupy any 4 contiguous squares"reflex save - (d20+7)[10]EDIT: It dies. 150 XP each. You're each still bleeding, though. After it dies, you notice a Chest hidden in the rafters in C5, 15' from the ground. NEDdue01 touches Parker and applies channel touch, and then touches self for channel touch.NEDdue01 continues with channel touch until both are fully healed. The bleeding stops after the first touch, and you're both at full. Well, never mind then re: the swarms there anything that says a ladder has to lean on something? Or can I just plant it in the middle of the floor, then climb it and use VG's reach weapon to poke that chest down? Reach includes diagonals, you could do it from C6 and poke it down from there. Though you seem to be correct, and it doesn't need any support to work. Weeeeiiiird. I think that's what we'll try then. Also, I may have an idea for a new Arena tactic haha O_o...that's just mean lol. Anyway. Chest falls from roof. Chest breaks. Inside appears to be a note of some kind. NEDduo01 sighs after seeing the lack of goodies, and waits to see what Parker finds in the note. Parker takes a look-see, reads the note. The chest contained a map of the room, which indicates that something is hidden under the floor at E2. The floor in this room is (luckily) 5'x5' stones, which now you examine them, seem like they might be removable. NEDduo01 waits for Parker to see if he checks for traps, and then removes the stone as indicated on the map. Parker will take 20 (for 27+trap finding) on Search of the indicated square as well as all adjacent square, also poking them all with the ladder. He then drops the ladder and readies an action to attack anything that might pop out of the hole when NEDduo01 opens it. In the words of Admiral Akbar, IT'S A TRAP. You detect a dart-trap, triggered to go off when you lift the flagstone. Want to disarm it? Can one of us hide behind the tower shield (total cover) and still be able to trigger the trap to fire into the shield? No points in Disable Device. Can I lift the flagstone from a distance with the ladder, so I'm not in the line of fire when the trap goes off? *has no idea how to figure out what you know*You don't know where the darts will be aimed when they fire. Meh. It's just a dart trap. Parker triggers the trap from directly west, with the ladder (if it hits him, just heal up) Where is NED duo for this? NEDduo01 is behind him, with the shield protecting them both from the west, giving the two of them total cover from anything firing west to east. Behind Parker, I hope.edit: Ninja with a tower shield! Great minds think alike, I always say. Huh. Poor you. Two darts speed from under the stone as you open it, both towards you:(d20+10)[23](d20+10)[17](1d4+1)[4](1d4+1)[5]The darts are a curious color, a sickly green, and appear to be covered in a sticky liquid of sorts...make a fort save for each that hit. Bah, I guess poor minds think alike too. Who's "you"? Is it Parker or NEDduo01? The one between the other one and the flagstone. Parker. Nice rolls on damage. Never did get an answer on the Stance of Clarity question I had (Can I have it always active against the first attacker in a round, or is it non-active until I have an action to designate who it works on?) If it's always active, only the first dart hits. Edit: though with those fort saves, it doesn't matter much. Fort saves (inspiration on both):Fort 1 - (1d20+6)[25]Fort 2 - (1d20+6)[24] You have to take the action to designate the target of the stance. Anyway, under the flagstone, you find another Chest. It seems to be carved out of the stone the floor is made of though.EDIT: Oh, and while you feel no different currently, I'm going to need another fort save from you in a minute. Nice saves!NEDduo01 heals Parker, if necessary. Does the description mean the chest is built into the ground and cannot be lifted? We'll go with the same procedure (except for the tower shield thingy at the end). NEDdue01 will wait for another trap check, and then open the chest if no traps are found, and it's not locked. Hmm. Take 20 again to search the chest and hole (assuming I can reach it), then poke around a bunch with the ladder. No traps. Opening it reveals a bottle marked 'Antidote', which seems to contain just enough for two mouthfuls. And I need that secondary save, please Ugh, I forgot secondary saves still apply even if you pass the primary. How do Inspiration Points work between encounters? Do they refresh immediately? Fort 1 - (1d20+6)[22]Fort 2 - (1d20+6)[25] 5 minutes seems reasonable... And you still feel no different. Have we seen anything else interesting about the room? Maybe an exit or something? *facepalm*Exits are at A4, A6 West, F4, F6 East. My bad. Aw, VG's offline. Let's head for door number(1d4)[3] And NEDduo01 is back. He is happy with the random choice, although he suggested they look out all four doors first for mapping purposes. ...counting from where exactly? Excellent plan. Speaking of which, how are we handling mapping? (and now I'm going offline for a bit) Assuming the roll matches the order you listed them, we'll head out the door at F4, after looking out the four doors. I'll make an executive decision, and request the descriptions in the order of: F6 East, A4, A6 West, F4. This way, we end up at F4 as the last door checked, and the one we head out. A4: The corridor goes west 25', then turns south.A6: The corridor goes south 10', then turns east.F4: The corridor goes east 10', then turns south.F6: The corridor goes east 10', then turns north. As per your procedures, after Parker turns south after moving 10' east, with Ned duo just behind him, there's a sudden flash, and while you're both trying to recover your vision, you hear a loud grinding noise. In front of Parker, the corridor still goes 10' then turns to the right. However, behind Ned duo, the corridor now extends 25', then turns left. (35' wall-to-wall). There's no sign of the door you just came through. DMs only:Spoiler Hide No, really...DMs only. Spoiler Hide (3d4)[9] minutes til teleported recharges. Egad! This could be a mapping nightmare! Realizing he has no chalk, NEDduo01 cuts his finger with the tip of a short spear, and marks a bloody 01 on the right wall at about knee level. Then, he applies channel touch to himself to heal up, and waits for Parker to proceed.IOC - Mapping is going to be a nightmare, isn't it.OOC2 - I did make the first click on the for DM's spoiler. Very clever. You got me there. I'll stay out now. Parker continues along the path, while Holland tries to find that notebook of graph paper he used to have.... ...and NEDduo01 falls into step behind Parker, as they resume their search and exploration pattern. Ah, the Hansel and Gretel approach. Good choice. You continue on, and turn to the right. The corridor ends after only 10' more, but there's a door on the left-hand side. Let's pop it as per SOP. Opening the door reveals the following room:Spoiler Hide {table]|A_|B_|C_ 1|O|O| 2|O|O| 3||| 4||| 5|||[/table] There is a door at A3 south, which you are just outside. In the room is a large Orc, wielding a shield and long sword, and it appears to have a pair of large horns on its head. Initiative - (d20+1)[7] A3 south? Initiative - (1d20+2)[22] Sorry, bottom. I've got the rooms organized by which way you go in, not by compass direction.NED duo can't beat that initiative, so you go first. I still fail at understanding where we are, but the room is small enough that it shouldn't really matter. Choosing the Orc as target for Stance of Clarity Move within 5' of the orc (Tumble - (1d20+6)[7]to prevent Amos) edit: niiiiiiceSteely Strike attack + inspiration Attack - (1d20+11)[29]Damage - (2d6+7)[12]2/5 Inspiration Points used edit: 3/5 Inspiration Points remaining OK, 3 things:1) You're outside A5 bottom, my bad.2) I'm giving you that INSP point back, he's flatfooted therefore cannot make Amos.3) He's hurt but still alive. And angry. Originally Posted by terminally sick OK, 3 things: 1) You're outside A5 bottom, my bad. OOO I get it Originally Posted by terminally sick 2) I'm giving you that INSP point back, he's flatfooted therefore cannot make Amos. Actually, that tumble roll was sans inspiration - +6 is my normal mod. Originally Posted by terminally sick 3) He's hurt but still alive. And angry. Excellent. For future reference -- can I use a swift action and charge on the same turn? Or does full-round preclude swift actions? So why do you only have 2 left? And yes, you can use swift actions as well as a full-round action. 2/5 used, not remaining. I used one each on attack and damage. That is actually a bit confusing. I'll edit it to show remaining instead of used. NEDduo01 exclaims, a fight!initiative(1d20+1)[21]Wow...wish that was the attack roll. Well, let's see now. Next time, I'll include this with the initiative (the 3 highest are granted):Stone Bones(1d1000)[912]Charging Minotaur(1d1000)[471]Leading the Attack(1d1000)[823]Crusader's Strike(1d1000)[164]Vanguard Strike(1d1000)[312] NEDduo01 moves to C3 (assuming Parker is at A3), with short spear in hand. He strikes at the orc with the short spear, using the Stone Bonesmanuever.attack(1d20+5)[15]damage(1d6+4)[10]Iron Guard Stance: Parker's AC is now +4. If hit, NEDduo01 has DR 5/adamantine until next round AC 19 FF18 T 11HP 14Hmm...that 15 is worrisome...what armor is this orc wearing? This Orc is wearing Chain mail, and has a shield. He decides to swing at the one that is looking at him funny (NED duo):(d20+12)[31]for(2d6+11)[18]And then, not forgetting about the thing that stabbed him, he tries to gore Parker:(d20+7)[11]for(1d8+5)[9] *sigh*...he would go and CRT threat, wouldn't he...confirming - (d20+12)[18]for(2d6+11)[22] Oh, oh, looks like a CRT check is forthcoming. Only the Steely Resolve of NEDduo01 (5 stored, 13 applied) keeps him standing...barely. He feels a sharp pain at the point of strike, and braces himself for the worst. The attack threatened to crush him. Death flashed before his eyes, but he finds himself still standing, somehow. Next maneuver granted:Crusader's Strike [roll]1d1000[/roll]Vanguard Strike [roll]1d1000[/roll] Don't forget your 5 DR. I hope that didn't confirm... I suspect I should just have 2 Orc Barbarians, rather than a half-Minotaur orc barbarian. Or maybe an orc war blade and an orc barbarian. Oops, needed a new post for this. Crusader's Strike(1d1000)[758]Vanguard Strike(1d1000)[896] I thought I only get the 5 DR when the hit connects. Did the 15 hit the orc? *blink* wow, lots of interesting rolls... good thing that CRT didn't confirm (I think)Stone Bones attack of my own. Using InspAttack - (1d20+7)[11]Damage - (2d6+7)[16]edit: 2/5 INSP remaining Ok, NED duo will attack either way (let me know if the first attack landed - it makes a difference whether NED duo will be standing or unconscious after this attack).NEDduo01 strikes with the Vanguard Strike, hoping he will be able to give Parker an advantage the next round...if there is a next round. Furious Counterstrike for +1 hit and damage Stone Power for -1 hit and +2 temp HP attack(1d20+5)[25]damage(1d6+5)[10]If success, +4 to hit for Parker next round. Wow...a CRT threat!attack(1d20+5)[13]damage(1d6+5)[8]HP -2AC 19 FF 18 T 11NEDduo01 collapses after that heroic counterstrike. EDIT: Good point, no the 15 didn't hit. I'm sad. I thought I'd already toned down this encounter enough (first draft had a +14 to hit for 3d6+19, and a +9 for d8+6 as a secondary)Parker obviously misses, and it's NED duo's turn, with one chance to stop the big thing from smacking them around again.EDIT: The ninjas strike again.150XP, Chain mail, long sword, heavy wooden shield. All large. Awesome. I assume I lose that nice +4 to AC? Or the +4 to hit? I sure hope that 10 HP damage is enough to take this beast down. I hope that's 150 XP each, although NEDduo01 is unconscious, and unable to complain really. And I'm hoping really hard you don't roll a 1 on that potion. It'd be sad to waste two potions on this behemoth. Initial thoughts - I think the problem was that we couldn't take it down right away. The big hit was fine. It's the price we pay for not having a way the control the fight. Going toe-to-toe with a half-Minotaur orc is probably not the best tactic available. I'm guessing this beast has WILL save issues, which is what I wish I could've attacked. So, I don't have that potion anymore since we're both now harmed by positive energy. I really should have swapped it for inflict wounds instead of getting rid of it completely, eh? That thought didn't even occur to me.edit: ignore me, I'm stupidedit2: though my point still stands. I should have taken ILL. Parker grabs an ILL potion off NEDduo01 and pours it down his throat. Healing - (1d8+1)[3] Regarding the results: pretty much agreed. I'm still torn on whether Stance of Clarity was a good choice over Punishing Stance. Also, could have taken Rapid Assault instead of one of the Font of Inspiration feats -- those changes would push Parker's damage up to 4d6+7. Still, that's 2 encounters down and we're still (mostly) alive. Every encounter that gives XP gives 150XP each. And yeah, I'll keep him in for now. If he starts randomly banking pairs for no real reason, he might be nerfed down to a pair of CR1 Orcs. Whew. That was one efficient roll.NED duo gets up, and channel touches himself to full health. He then makes sure he has a working stance, and thanks Parker for reviving him. Should we leave the junk or drag it with us? The shifting dungeon might make it difficult for us to come back to retrieve things. Assuming the door at A5 is the only door, NED duo helps Parker with searching the room, and waits for Parker to be ready to resume heading out the door and exploring. Bummer, that equipment would be more useful than this silly one. Parker will grab the loot and XP and toss them into his backpack (puts him into Medium encumbrance -- he'll drop the pack before opening any doors. Other gear should mostly fit in his pockets, so he'll still have it even when pack is dropped). After NEDduo01 heals himself up: Search the whole room, then hit the hallways again if we don't find anything interesting. Commentary Spoiler Hide I'll do it this way to minimize the clutter. The half-Minotaur is hitting 22-23 AC on the average, doing 13-23 HP (more on CRT). I'd say what happened here will be very common. The tank in most parties will likely be down, or close to being down (I was right on the boundary of the two), if they go after damage here and don't take the beast down first round. Out of curiosity, was he close to being down after Parker hit him? I thought about channel touch for 1d8, but wasn't sure if that'd be enough to take him down. On the way out of the room, you walk 10', turn left, walk 10' more, turn left, walk 30', turn left. You see a T-junction north/south at the end of the hall, 60' away. On the way to that, you trigger a pit after 10', make your way over it, and then find a tripwire after another 20'. Do you want to trigger it, or step over it?EDIT: He was on 1 HP after that first attack. I'm considering switching out toughness for weapon focus, make him easier to alpha-strike. I'm in favor of caution (stepping over the wire) I knew I should've gone with the channel touch for the easier attack!NED duo steps over the wire after Parker pointed the way. Edited to add: Or the breath for the guaranteed damage. At the T:To the left, the corridor turns left after 40'. To the right, the corridor turns right after 10'. *sings* to the left! To the left! To the left it is. As you both turn the corner, and find that there's nothing visible within your light, you hear a loud rumbling noise, a stone wall slides up to cover the entrances, and a Huge stone wheel falls from the ceiling, and starts to roll down the corridor.NED duo, make a reflex save, please. Me? Reflex?REF(1d20+1)[4]oh, oh... that can't possibly bode well Ok, that's(3d8)[12]damage as the wheel rolls over you. I'm going to have to split the group for now, especially since the entire corridor seems to suddenly be silent, and neither of you can make a noise. Parker:Spoiler Hide No. Holland only. Spoiler Hide you've got a giant wheel that just crushed your partner, coming down the hall at 20' a round. You think it's big enough that if you get to the end of the hall you can duck, and it'll miss you completely. NED duo:Spoiler Hide No. Goodman only. Spoiler Hide You're now aware that that wheel was an illusion, and moving away from you at 20' a round. You actually took no damage. Since you're on opposite sides, neither of you can contact each other, I'd like you to put all your actions in spoilers. Despoiler Hide Are... I guess that's what I'm going to do, then. Run to the end (still probing with the ladder as best I'm able) and duck. Can I see what the end looks like? IE, are you saying duck to the side if the hall branches, or duck down, so the wheel hits the wall above me and leaves a little empty space for me to cower? Holland:Spoiler Hide I meant the second one. As far as you can see (and run), the corridor has no exits, and you'll just have to hope that the far wall is flat and normal, so you have the corner to cower in. DM only Spoiler Hide Yep, just for the DM. Spoiler Hide What do I see (please note I do not have a sun rod active right now)? If I can see, what's the light source? NED duo:Spoiler Hide You see an illusionary stone wheel, and since you know that it's an illusion, you can see through it, and the light can pass through it from the other side. DM only Spoiler Hide Yep, still just for the DM. Spoiler Hide I step into where the stone wheel illusion is, and poke my head out and about to look around. Is the source of light still coming from Parker's sun rod, or is the dungeon hallway providing some of it via torches or something similar? And, do I see Parker anywhere? And, if I do not see Parker, I call out in a speaking voice to Parker, "Where are you Parker!", loud enough to be heard by someone in a room with me (say, for the voice to carry about 30', give or take). He, ok, spoilers over.NED duo's head pops out of the wheel again, and after being slightly shocked, Parker realizes that the giant rock is just an illusion. The wheel reaches the end of the hallway, and seems to fall through a gap which appears in the floor. The walls that slid up earlier slide back down, leaving the corridor as if nothing had happened. NEDduo01 shakes his head in disbelief. Whoever built this place has a wicked sense of humor, if you ask me.NEDduo01 rejoins Parker, gives him a pat on the back to let him know NED duo's ok, and is now ready to move on. Ha, niiiiice... So, continue down this way? It continues now, right GM? It does indeed. After 150', the corridor turns left, and after 90', there's a split to the left. *sings* to the left! To the left! .both go left... Then let's go for the first left *readies great sword* Out of curiosity, is the Dread Necromancer touch damage 1d8 or 1d8+1 (it says 1d8, +1 per four levels). I'm assuming 1d8 until level 4, when it becomes 1d8+1, but there has been instances where a minimum +1 is in effect, so I thought I'd ask. Until I can recover my stuff from my laptop, I can't continue this. I should have it back within a few days...no promises though. Good luck...NED duo and Parker will be waiting.NED duo sits and starts casting channel touch on the floor. Over. And over. And over. Right, I sort of recall what this path was...it's a simple path, with a couple turnings, and the only traps are a pit trap and a non-poisoned dart trap or two, so I'll say none of them one-shot you, and you reach the next room. There are two doorways here, and whichever one of them you go through leads to a room which is 5x4, and contains a living color spray. If one of you could give me the living spell template somehow (PM), I could use that to re-stat it. My books are at home, my PDFs are on my laptop. You're at A4 bottom, the color spray is at C3. *blink* there's a living spell template?edit: I will try to get it to you (ECS?), but it may be a bit. Emerson, yeah. Basically, it's an ooze that casts a spell whenever it touches you. And it can engulf you. This is probably an encounter I'm worried about being imbalanced, though it is quite squishy. (no pun intended) Ok, you see an ooze that seems to sparkle all the colors of the rainbow as it moves at C3.initiative - (d20-2)[11] Probably time to read that template myself haha Initiative - (1d20+2)[19] You probably wouldn't like it if you did. You can take your turn if you wish, If Goodman beats the ooze we can always say he delayed his action, for the sake of efficiency. Initiative(1d20+1)[14] Are -- that DR 10/magic is ugly. I'll move to A1 (so there's space between me and NEDduo01), drawing an alchemist's fire as I go, then throw it at the spray Using Inspiration on the attack; will the DR affect Inspiration on damage? I'll use it there, too, if it isn't affected. Attack - (1d20+4)[10]Fire Damage - (1d6)[2]+3 if Inspiration can go through DR. Fire Damage - (1d6)[4]on the next turn if it hit Miss Direction - (1d8)[8]if needed NED duo moves to B4 and breathes fire at this thing. Damage(1d8)[1]REF 14 for 1/2Next usable in(1d4)[3]rounds The dread(full) roller is back! Holland, you just manage to hit it with the fire. It attempts to engulf you. Reflex save, or AOO, your choice.EDIT: and the INSP to damage goes through. IOC: Is channel touch consider a magical attack? And, does it do 1d8 or 1d8+1 at level 1? Reflex Save - (1d20+6)[16](using my 3rd point of Inspiration)*crosses fingers* Where is the Spell now? If possible, Parker takes a 5' step away, hoping to put 10' between him and the spell. Either way, he draws and throws another Fire (using Inspiration again)Attack - (1d20+4)[20]Damage - (1d6+4)[6]edit: this should have been +3, not +4Next Turn Damage - (1d6)[2]Miss Direction - (1d8)[3]edit: all Inspiration points have now been used.edit2: entering Punishing Stance Stance of Clarity crap -- really wanted that extra 1d6 damageedit3: can TOB maneuvers be used on an AOO? If channel touch is considered magic, then NED duo steps up and executes the touch on this strange and brilliant creature. Touch attack(1d20+5)[8]AARRRRGGGGHHHHHdamage(1d8)[8](is it 1d8 or 1d8+1 for a first level dread Nero?)breath attack available in 2 rounds. HP 14AC 19 FF 18 T 11Commentary: I sure hope the follow-up damages on those two alchemist fires will polish him off. Hamm. Higher roll on your damage than on your attack Unfortunately, that 1st Fire only got him with splash damage -- don't believe that triggers any follow-up damage Here's hoping I can hit him hard enough to overcome DR...edit: or maybe it did hit? Rereading, now I'm not sure.edit2: Oh sweet, it did hit. The thing's DEX score should be 8. Awesome. Ok, you guys are battering this one. I feel slightly better now. It tries again to engulf Holland, make an AOO, or make a reflex save. Questions: 1d8, 2 hits. Oops. On my previous turn, the spell should have taken another Damage - (1d6)[1]from the first Fire. I'll take an Attack - (1d20+8)[27]Steely Strike (subtract 4 from this attack if I can't use maneuvers)Damage - (2d6+4)[9]edit: ew. Crit confirm coming in next post. Does the damage stack? (IE, enough to bypass DR) CRT Confirm - (1d20+8)[16]Damage - (2d6+4)[12] NED duo sizes the moment and attempts to apply the channel touch on the colorful creature.attack(1d20+5)[15]damage(1d8)[1]whew...glad I got that poor roll out of the way...only a few hundred more poor rolls to get rid of, apparently. Edited to add: oh yeah, round 2 of 3. When it says in three rounds (1d4 result of 3), does that mean two rounds in between where I can't use the breath (so a 1d4 result of 1 would mean I can use it next round, under my interpretation). Ok, if that didn't kill him, then I'm engulfed. Do I get a Will save? Just in case:Will - (1d20+1)[16](no INSP left)If that failed, then I'm unconscious. On my turn, the ooze takes another Damage - (1d6)[1]from the 2nd Fire. Also, I'm now out of Fires. Need to find the vending machines and stock up on Acid Flasks. It squishes. 150XP each. Some treasure, but no idea what it was. And now I DEFINITELY don't know what's next. NEDduo01 hands Parker a flask of alchemist fire. That's the last one. We need a vending machine (and cash)! Well, technically, I think we can throw a potion of ILL at someone. But, I'd rather not... Yep. Need to get some acid... I always forget about acid. Same effect, half the price -- could have started with 4 instead of 2. C'est la vie. After waking up if that last engulfs put me out, we search the room then head back to the hallways, still sticking to the left. Originally Posted by Holland Yep. Need to get some acid... I always forget about acid. Same effect, half the price -- could have started with 4 instead of 2. C'est la vie. After waking up if that last engulfs put me out, we search the room then head back to the hallways, still sticking to the left. But a flask of fire is like attacking a second time with a free action. Hmm, that's a good point. Bump!xxxix Did you just bump me Parker? Thought NEDduo01 as he adjusts his...er...armor.NEDduo01 stares into space as his handler heads over to check out NED duo's character sheet. Ok, after the turning left, you turned left after 10', going past a door at the end of the corridor, then right after 20', you took the door on the right at the end of the corridor, there was also one to the left. You arrived in one corner of a 4x6 room, and directly opposite that entrance is another door. On the way to this room, after you passed the first door, you tripped a tripwire. Make a listen check each. "Parker, do you hear that?" Listen(1d20-4)[16]NED duo listens, and hears... Yay for being out of the house almost all day and then setting my grill on fire (mostly) while cooking dinner Also, we appear to both have negative Listen mods -- that makes things interesting... Listen - (1d20-1)[19]edit: holy crap, and we both got Nat 20s on the check... Now I'm expecting natural 1's on the initiative... Do we still that IOC thread (I'm too lazy to look it up right now)? VingoodmanSpoiler Hide You hear nothing. Holland:Spoiler Hide You hear a loud buzzing noise. You're not able to identify what kind of thing makes the noise. Spoiler Hide Nothing!? That was my best roll! Sigh. Someday, it's just not worth making a roll. Now I really wish I rolled a 1. Well, at least NED duo is happily oblivious. Parker says, "I hear buzzing, do you?" He pulls out a torch and lights it, keeping his great sword in his off-hand. Torch as improvised weapon is one-hand, I presume? "You must be hearing things. I hear nothing. Have you thought to get your ears checked" Yep? Ok, you know where you are, and have 2 doors and a corridor to explore. Treasure is not finished for the encounters so far, I'll run the numbers and figure out what I can give you to maintain WBL. Ok, it looks like there are actually three unexplored rooms. We passed one, there's one opposite the door we went through, and there is one on the other side of the room. I would say let's see what's outside the door on the other side of the room first. If it's a hallway, then let's backtrack and try the other two doors. Ah, good point. Yeah, there's that door too. I kinda forgot about that. Ok, yeah, let's check out this room's door. Parker will start testing the floor with his sword, since he had to put the ladder away to hold the torch (unless NEDduo01 wants to hold onto the torch until/unless it's needed). If it's a hallway, backtrack to the nearest unexplored door. Yeah, it's a hallway. After 5', it turns left, and then goes 30', ending in a door and a turn right. Hmm, another door. What say let's check the two prior door first. Let's go to the door opposite the room we entered (where we entered on the right, there was a door on the left - I suggest that be the one we try). Ugh. That one. Ok, I need to do the treasure adding up now, before we can continue. Opening the door reveals the following room:Spoiler Hide {table]|A_|B_|C_|D_|E_ 1||||| 2||||| 3||||| 4||||| 5||||| 6|||||[/table] There is a door E1 North, which you are outside. The room appears completely empty. Make a spot check. By the way, the last room you were in looked like this:Opening the door reveals the following room:Spoiler Hide {table]|A_|B_|C_|D_|E_|F_ 1|||||| 2||O|||| 3|||||| 4||||||[/table] There are doors at F1 north and F4 south. In the room is a large slimy ooze that appeared to sparkle all the colors of the rainbow. NEDduo01 makes his amazing spot check:(1d20-4)[13] Well, I won't bother to spoiler this one. You note that several of the stones in the wall are fairly loose, and seem like they could be moved. They seem to be scattered around the room. NED duo looks at Parker." What do you think? You move the stones, and I'll heal you if the stones beat you up?"Spoiler Hide Are the loose stones random, or do they exhibit a pattern? Random as far as you can tell. Just on the chance this is still needed:Spot - (1d20-1)[13]Y'know, I'm a bit worried about what's behind these bricks... would rather not encounter another swarm before we have a chance to buy more AF flasks. Listen - (1d20-1)[6]Do I hear the sound of millions of tiny chitinous claws crawling around in dank crevasses just waiting for unwary dungeon spelunkers to come through and then attack, stripping our flesh from our very bones?edit: right, so, moving on Ok, then. Advance to the nearest loose stone and search it (Take 20 for 27; I have trap finding) It's a stone. You hear nothing. You also spot the loose ones, so don't need NED duo to tell you which ones. Ok, I'll try to move it. If nothing happens, I'll move on to the next, following same pattern (take 20 on Search, then move, then continue on if nothing happened). With his guitar at the ready, NED duo keeps a watchful eye to see if there are any effects from Parker's actions. Well, you now a have a lot of rocks. Nothing else seems to happen. Finally, some loot... Ok, for completeness: Take 20 on searches of the rest of the visible wall squares. If nothing is found, back out to the hall. Not a bean to be found. Trust me, there's enough treasure on this floor. You already have some large weapons and armor, which is the double cost. I like this floor better than the solo....might be a bit biased though Push, I bet the stones are intended treasure... I'm sure we could get a few coppers for them... heal bot, you want to carry them around? hahahahahaMaybe we should smash them in case their centers are platinum ingots. Or -- I've got it! We take them to the vending area and convince the loot machine that they're rare prehistoric paperweights that a museum would pay top dollar for.*sigh* back out to the corridor to continue on, then. Ok, so you have the corridor you turned left from (with the illusionary wheel) to continue down, another door in this corridor to check, and another door on the other side of the ooze's room. We'll go for the other one in this hallway. Opening the door reveals the following room:Spoiler Hide {table]|A_|B_|C_ 1||| 2||| 3||| 4||| [/table] There is a door at A4 bottom. In the room, you see a strange humanoid in half-plate, wielding a golden Morningstar. It appears to be glowing softly, and its head is silvery, and hovering over its shoulders. (d20+3)[17] NED duo stares and gawks at the thing, wondering what they're supposed to do to it. Initiative(1d20+1)[14] I hope we can get ahead with this encounter. Initiative - (1d20+2)[8] ... Just for that pun, it glitter dusts you both. Will save or blinded. Using Inspiration:Will - (1d20+4)[22] *pokes VG for a save* "Ow. What was that for Parker? You should be poking that thing instead."WILL Save(1d20+3)[16] Iron Guard Glare active: -4 to attack rolls when attacking Parker while threatened by NED duo. Available maneuvers: 3 highest rolls. Stone Bones (SD, strike)(1d1000)[970]Charging Minotaur (SD, strike)(1d1000)[318]Leading the Attack (WR, strike)(1d1000)[552]Crusader's Strike (DS, strike)(1d1000)[260]Vanguard Strike (DS, strike)(1d1000)[578] You both save. Ah, well. Can you charge with a maneuver? I feel like I've asked this question before. If yes, then +2 on the attack roll and -2 on AC until next round. Otherwise, the rolls are as they are:NED duo moves in swiftly and strikes with the guitar! Leading the Attack maneuver:Attack(1d20+5)[11]Damage(2d4+6)[11]If successful, Parker gets +4 to attack on the creature. HP 14AC 19 Touch 11 FF 18 You can not. The strike barely scratches the creature's armor. "I scratched him! You see that Parker? I scratched him!" Sigh. *pats NEDDuo01's head* Good boy. You did good. Swift: Assign the Headless Wonder as Stance of Clarity target Move: Up to melee range Standard: Attack! Steel Wind + Inspiration Attack - (1d20+11)[18]Damage - (2d6+7)[17]If that hits, 3/5 inspiration points left. 4/5 if it missed.edit: Also, why do I have all these knowledge skills but not knowledge devotion? Am I planning to go Cleric at 2nd level and trade off a domain? My Wis mod is negative, so I'm not sure... Hamm... I suggested either taking a Cleric dip at 2nd, and getting a second cool devotion to use with your TU uses (which can be buffed by the death domain), or just taking Know Dev as a feat at L3. Personally, I'd go with the dip. 4 uses of a TU heavy devotion or 7–8 uses of a TU weak devotion, and Know devotion seems like a good level to me. That's a miss. It will swing back at you:(d20+5)[13]for(d8+1)[4] *pokes?* Are you guys still doing this? VG? You still around? I suggest PMing him, he's still active in the forums, and if he's not interested now, veteran was left hanging by Phoenix being banned, so is looking for a partner. Next Maneuver gained (highest roll)Stone Bones (SD, strike) Available Charging Minotaur (SD, strike)(1d1000)[469]Leading the Attack (WR, strike) Expended Crusader's Strike (DS, strike)(1d1000)[82]Vanguard Strike (DS, strike) Available Double post coming up to make up for not having updated this recently! Vaaanguaaard Strike! Attack(1d20+5)[19]Damage(2d4+6)[10]If successful, Parker gets +4 to attack on the creature (why does it look like the two maneuvers do the same thing?)HP 14AC 19 Touch 11 FF 18 Stone Bones! Inspiration! Attack - (1d20+7)[17]Damage - (2d6+7)[12]2/5 Inspiration Points remaining if this hit. 3/5 if I missed.edit: I really hope NED duo's strike hit, or I just wasted more Inspiration Hit. Hit. Kill.150XP each, MW Morningstar, half-plate armor. We rock! Can you use either one? NED duo can wear the half-plate, but he likes his reach weapon and will probably keep using that for now. Yeah, Parker can swap out his mundane Morningstar for this one. You're certainly welcome to the plate -- I'll keep my not-horrible speed, methinks Taking 20 (27, trap finding) on reachable floor/wall squares, then back out to the corridor to continue on, I suppose. So, taking the other exit from the living rainbow's room, or going to the end of the illusionary wheel's corridor? End of the illusory wheel's path, I do believe. Sorry for my absence, this is turning out to be quite the interesting summer... Boohoo! NED duo cheers as the duo decides to press on! He follows Parker, while wondering what lies ahead of them... Turning left at the end, you see a T-junction after 10'. At the T, you see:To the right, there's a turning left and a door forward after 30'To the left, there's a turning right after 10' Normally, I'd be saying to the left! However, there's a door! Let's go right and check out the door, Parker. Opening the door reveals the following room:Spoiler Hide {table]|A_|B_|C_ 1||| 2||| 3||| 4|||[/table] The door is at A4 bottom. In the wall are embedded 12 alcoves. In 3 of them, small statuettes of the encounters you have met so far are stood. "Weirdness". NED duo studies the statues and the empty alcoves. "Parker, do you think this is some sort of magical map or something?" If the group finds nothing else, NED duo suggests we head back out to where the fork was, and go to the left instead of the right turn they took to get to the door. To the left! Wait hang on, I think there's a statue of one of you there. Who was it going unconscious and needed that potion to live? That would be NEDduo01 - if it were Parker, ND could have healed him. Well, there's a bust of NED Duo's head in one of the larger alcoves. It seems to be better made than the others. NED duo looks at the statue of himself and frowns. He pokes at it gently. It doesn't seem happy to see you either. It rocks slightly when you poke it. Does NED duo rock slightly as well? Regardless, NED duo shrugs as he suggests to Parker,"let's go beat up something and come back here to see if another statue shows up." At his suggestion, they proceed (I hope that's ok Parker) with the earlier plan, going back to the T-intersection and continuing on the other way. Oh, on the way here, you poke a hole in the floor. Seems to have been a pit trap. You got over it fine, you do have a ladder after all. Turning right at the end of that hallway, the corridor goes 40' before turning right again. After 20', though, as you walk over the very central square of the hallway, there's a flash of light, and a bang. You're blinded for 1 round, and you see nothing changed when you open your eyes. NED duo looks to make sure Parker is still with him, and indicates that he's ok. They continue forward (no reason not to, right?). The next corridor is very long, and has a door and a turning or two. However, stone walls slide over both the doors and the turnings, including the one you arrived through, and you hear a loud rumbling, as a trapdoor appears above your heads. There appears to be a huge stone wheel falling through the roof. Reflex saves. REF(1d20+1)[17]"Who's the sadistic creature who concocted this vile place?!"NED duo cried out as he attempts to avoid the trap. Parker's still here Reflex - (1d20+3)[18]Using Inspiration You both move far enough back to avoid the big stone. It's a perfectly circular wheel, as high as the corridor, and as wide as the corridor. It's moving towards you at 20' per round. How close are we to it? If we're 20 feet or more from it where we are, I draw a torch and throw it, looking to see if it passes through or bounces off the wheel. If we're less than 20 feet, I move to 20 feet away, drawing the torch as I go, and then throw it. Is a torch weapon-like enough to be drawn that way? If not, I'll do something else... Ranged attack roll if needed:(1d20+1)[17]Also, my ref save should have been +6, not +3. Forgot about Battle Clarity. Not that it makes a difference... The torch bounces off the wheel. You were right next to it. Hamm thoughts VM? We could try to do what Parker tried with the last wheel - hunker down tiny at the end of the hallway so it hits the wall and not us. Upon rereading the wheel's appearance, I now see we only had about 20' worth of retreating available - did I read that right? Is Parker now up against a dead end with only free actions left? Oh no, there's a huge long corridor to go through next. As you attempt to speak, your words do not come out. The entire corridor is eerily silent. Then I suppose my turn is complete, as I'm out of actions. VM? Back from the traveling, and ready to meet their doom.NED duo screams into the eerie silence...and nothing comes of the screaming! He puts a short spear into the side between the wheel and the wall, hoping to jam the wheel and stop its progress. Hm. Make an int check, and a STR check. Originally Posted by terminally sick Hm. Make an int check, and a STR check. Hey, I made the DM go "Hm."!INT Check(1d20-2)[9]STR Check(1d20+4)[21] Ok. The average of those, 15, is your opposed check to the wheel's STR check.(d20+18)[27]If it wins by 10 or more, it is not slowed at all. If it wins by 5, it slows by 5' a round. If it wins by less than 5, it slows by 10' a round. NED duo cries out as he sees the short spear get swallowed up by the wheel."..."spoiler Hide It was silenced. But, Ned duo cries out as he sees his short spear fail to do its job. "Aaaaaahhhhhhh! We're doomed!" The wheel is moving 20' this round...are you both moving out the way, or being smoothed? If by avoid you mean move back 20', yes. From the description, I am under the impression this is coming toward us with no room to move around it and no nooks/crannies to hide that the wheel wouldn't pass through (walls came down on the turns and doors).NED duo continues moving back, away from the wheel as he looks about frantically for any way out. All correct. You see nothing to use as cover or to hide behind. The wheel is round and very large, though. NED duo has a rare moment of inspiration as he runs to the end of the tunnel and ducks REALLY low, hoping the wall will stop the wheel before it crushes him.

Neverending Dungeon - 2-Man Madness_ NEDduo01 +|rating:3.0

Alien Huntress (CuteEmoGirl&MoonScythe)

I hated jobs that involved having to stop at a bar. I needed it to handle the Alien I was looking for. He was supposedly extremely tough, tall and unfortunately handsome, I hated taking the sexy ones in, it meant someone would mar that perfect face, but ah that was life. My blindfold helped me hide what I was from others, my eyes would give it away, I could still sense heat so I knew where I was going, and not to bump into people, that and the material was a little sheer, so I could see basics. I entered the bar.(look around and not sensing anything, I sit at a stool, my dress hikes up and I shove it down. I blush a little, pushing my soft purple hair behind me, checking all my weapons, which admittedly is like putting on a show for those around me, so that they know I had many weapons, and that I was prepared to use them, it didn't necessarily show them that I was skilled with them, but they wouldn't know unless they tried, and I didn't smell foolish bravery in that bar. Nope, none would touch me, and I WAS skilled in ALL my weapons. The alien as he is was well hidden sitting in the bar. He was a wanted man, and he knew there were hunters all over the place trying to find him and take him in. The bounty on his corpse was only half of what it was alive, and even that was probably enough for someone to settle down for thirty or so years and live comfortably. At the moment he appeared as a tall, strong, white male with pretty blue eyes, the kind that are used to seduce women and such. He had long blonde hair, and he sat at the bar with a Gauss pistol at his side. He was neither brave, nor foolish, but one thing he did know was a lady carrying so many weapons was not normal, and to him that was a challenge. She seemed like the kind of woman that liked to inflict pain on her prey, and he could almost instantly tell she was a huntress of some kind. He had no idea who she was at the moment, most of his communication cut out due to his high profile. The man looked like some sort of western sheriff or something, except he had a clean-shaven baby face, though who knew what other weapons he might have inside his duster. To put it simply he had quite a few tricks up his sleeve. The man gave a devious grin as he looked over to the lady and then shook his head. Should he try now or wait a bit? Why not break the ice..." I am going to be needing that stool here in a moment, woman. I don't know who you think you are being so cocky and showing all your weapons on the get go, but let's play a little game of cards," he said quickly slapping a normal 52 card deck on the counter. If I win you can have the seat. If you win, one less fly bothering you." He crossed his arms quickly noting each of the weapons and figuring counterstrikes and dodges for each, unsure of which ones she favored. It did not really matter at the moment. He was just making idle conversation. I turn around, and he gets a full view of my blindfold.I hate when people, especially men come to me, then get a good look, then think I'm some sort of cripple, blind, weak. So right off the bat I let him no I can see him, "What? No beard there Tex?" I smirk, showing slightly sharp canines, not vampire, but my kind lived off of tough meat. I lick my lips, I turn around in the stool, I cross my legs, flipping my hair slowly behind me, naturally. My eyes glow behind the blindfold as I look the man up and down, and then it came to me, my eyes widen behind the mask. This was my target! But.no...I can't let him no, my facial features, perfectly mask my surprise, see each person has a particular aura, my agency gave me his aura match, since my people had used aura's to sense good and evil, sickness and health, etc. I knew what kind of person he was, and it...surprised me, what kind of man he was that is, not completely bad, but not completely good either. My smirk widens. I look at the cards, caressing them with my long pale fingers, smooth skin, I place them on the cards"Let's play Tex" and with a final feral smile we begin the game, let's see what this wanted man wanted from an obviously weaponed woman. He had no illusions of her being weak, or a cripple. Something about the demeanor and the weapons... maybe the whole 'I am a badass and you better believe it attitude.' He may not have been aware that she knew who he was, but he knew that she was dangerous. His aura showed something of neutrality. He did kill people, a lot of people... people who were good, people who were evil. At the end of the day though, they were all people with power, and that is why his bounty was so high. The next person in power didn't want to die." Alright, sweetheart. Shuffle the deck. I will cut it and deal the cards. It is a simple game. 5 Card Texas Hold 'em. You get two I get two the deck seals our fate. The guy could not help but admire her beauty. Sure he was a monster on the inside, and he really only maintained his current form so as not to upset people. He grins to her and lays seven throwing knives out on the bar. It seemed people had gotten a little wary of the woman and this apparently bold man, backing off, and the bar was starting to clear out, save the bouncers and the bartender. So far, so good. After letting her shuffle, he took the deck back and dealt her a card, then himself, then her again and another for himself." If you want to raise the stakes, babe... just tell this poor little TeX," he said sitting back with an almost smug look on his face. I laugh, chuckling to myself, holding my long fingers against my face to keep the laughter in. "Sure, whoever loses has to lose the clothing, ALL of it", I lick my suddenly dry lips, I had meant it in a completely not sexual way, seeing as it would be humiliating to walk out of the bar naked. But I looked the man/alien/whatever up and down and was taken aback that I was thinking I WANT to see him naked, all that muscled strength, I usually didn't go for blonds but I could tell that what he was projecting was a disguise so I guess it was okay. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! HE WAS A CRIMINAL! I shook my head to clear my thoughts and the game began. Shit!! I was losing? He must have been cheating!! But still, I couldn't prove it, his aura remained unchanged, no guilt, no fear, so I couldn't bring him up on it with good conscious, I could bluff, but I didn't know where that would lead. Eventually I ended up losing, yes again to a CRIMINAL! I scowl as he finally wins me out... He had thought about cheating to get her naked, but decided to play by luck, half wanting to show her his real form and then pounce on her while she was unsuspecting. He gets a devious grin and brushes his shoulder as he gathers his cards up. Furthermore, he waits for her to start stripping, and he takes in her beauty. Yep... she was fair game. He was certain she was dangerous, but a weapon is only as good as the person wielding it and when that person is distracted, weapons aren't nearly as effective. Since almost everyone who mattered seemed to have cleared out of the bar he smiled. Why not show this hunter something new? He still was completely unaware that she knew who he was, and he set his duster on the stool, watching her, and he smiled to her once her breasts were exposed."Want to know a little secret?" he asked while she was fiddling with her panties, "I like strong women." He practically roared, his clothing shredding as his disguise was foiled. He was far from human and before her stood a tall Scala, beast... practically built of pure muscle. Furthermore, he shoved her back against the counter and peered down into her eyes a moment, his long claws around her wrists and his hard body pressed against hers as he watched her. Furthermore, he gave her a big toothy smile and his tail step her weapons away, sending them far off to the side." I think we are going to have some fun, huntress," he growled and licked her cheek almost threateningly.("Bastard!!" I grit my teeth as he crowds me into a corner of the bar, his breath on my throat, he had won fair and square, why was I so upset, probably because he had beat me, and I was most definitely naked, except the blindfold that is. I closed my legs, not showing my shaved and clean crotch, I turn my head away, my fangs bared. "Get away from me criminal, before I tear your balls off, scaly, furry, or shaven" my eyes glowing beneath the blindfold, purple power ablaze in my eyes. I preferred him somewhat human, but I could play this game, "Don't make me do this otherworlder" I was somewhat afraid, but not really, I wanted him sexually, both in human and nonhuman form. "Turn back Otherworlder, turn back, or I'll turn, and you WILL NOT LIKE IT" I snarl.my breasts were straining with each breath as I kept all my weapons in sight, my powers were far beyond his, I reminded myself, and I had access to many other non-physical weapons, so if he thought by sweeping them away, that he was weakening me, he was DEAD WRONG. He stared down at her with yellow eyes ablaze. He was humanoids... and as she seemed to struggle beneath him, he was only turned on by it, and he gripped her wrists harder in his hands. Furthermore, he let up on his pressure a little, and he yanked her right arm down behind her back, and he forced her breasts down against the counter, licking the edge of her ear giving a hot breath against it, his tail slipping up her tight a little." There ya go, babe... turned ya over," he growled and laughed a little. He doubted she had the strength to carry out her threat of ripping his balls off, and he figured she was just a really skilled human of some kind, which meant she could be as rough as she wanted with him. At least that is what he thought. He felt a little more superior as he knocked her weapons away, and he trailed his tonged own her neck. He forced both hands down to her lower back and held her, continuing to lean over her, the tip of his tail teasing her sex a little." Mmm... if you keep that cute attitude up I am going to enjoy this a lot," he growled rubbing his hips against her ass a little. He was not erect yet, but he was getting a little aroused by the situation. "I FUCKING WARNED YOU DRACONIAN!!!" I howl as my whole body turns to Manna, a form of energy, I was still very feminine, had high breasts, full EE's but I glowed bright purple, my blindfold fluttering to the ground as I flex my arms and the dragon man wolf thing goes flying into a wall. (smirked as I looked down at the dragon man rubbing his head, "Now I have your attention, return to normal form or I WILL turn you into a woman, meaning, you will have no balls!" I smile at the thought, I would enjoy it very much indeed, stupid Draconian, should have known Draconian were viscous creatures, known to give into lust and more basic instincts than actually intelligence, "I always knew your kind weren't very intelligent" It wasn't like he had a dossier on the woman, so he had no idea of what she was capable of. Of course, he was caught completely off guard and naturally was easy to throw off. He wasn't exactly what she was expecting either though, and he could swear she counted him out for the count already as he rubbed his head. He growled and summoned up his own energy, his entire body seeming to ripple with orange fire." I am no simple Draconian, huntress. I am a hunter's worst fucking nightmare," he growled loudly leaping from his position directly at her and slamming wildly into her, and forcing her back over the counter and onto the ground behind the bar, "This is my normal form."" You have no idea what you are getting into, woman. You are going to regret that..." he growled the simple contact with her almost overwhelming him with the energy she seemed to hold, despite this he angrily clamped down on her shoulder and tried to absorb it. His tail lashed about behind him trying to give him leverage as he latched on tightly to this odd huntress. I cackle full-heartedly, "I am Life force itself!!" slowly my energy was taking yours, almost to the point of death, your teeth disintegrate, as my energy eats at yours. Wait! I wasn't supposed to kill him just take him in! I give him back his energy and teeth, slowly though, let him feel pain, my eyes narrow as I summon my clothes back on to my body, the blindfold back in place, as well as my weapons, my breasts strain at my dresses material, my nipples perking like tents, that was an after effect of manipulating so much power, our women get wet, it allows a balance between the males and females, if the females go too much power, they would need males, if only to satisfy their desire, not that the males didn't have powers of their own. And now the male Draconian was on top of me, pressing against me, shaking, hopefully not in anger but in increase in power, when we take we also give, if just a little more power then we took, the whole laws of my kind, so we don't get too cocky and too powerful, but now my breathing was accelerating, I was blushing, and I was wet definitely wet, and I bet that knowledge would make this cocky bastard even more cocky. That was an unexpected turn of events. Rarely did bite someone have such a bad effect on the self. Perhaps he had finally met his maker, but even as she was taking his life away he did not yield, trying to crush her shoulder, though his jaws became weak and after a moment he found himself almost completely and utterly die. Agonizing as the life is returned he drops onto the woman and his wings curl out to the sides, tail dipping between their legs submissively more than anything as he finally surrenders to the pain and yowls. Being forced back up he growled, having wanted nothing more than to get away from this incredibly powerful woman, and as the pain subsided he felt his power rising. What the fuck was wrong with this woman? Was she some sort of bipolar sex fiend? His mind was wiped as he took her scent from her arousal, and he shoved her back again with this new-found power, feeling a deep desire to claim her." What the fuck was that?" he growled, and he viciously clamped down against her other shoulder, grasping her wrists again and trying to keep her pinned down, wondering how long he would have the ability to stay over her. He was a little Lara of doing anything to her, but her scent was making his instinct churn and his tail, still between their legs slipped up and brushed against her wet folds again." Horny little level, are you?" he said releasing her shoulder and peering down at her, "Why did you give the advantage back?" Something he could not understand. I look away, even though I didn't have to, thanks to my blindfold, "My people do not believe in unnecessary killing, I kill because I have to live, not because I enjoy it!" I mumbled something under my breath, my soft lips part as I lick them, "I didn't mean to hurt you, that is why I warned you repeatedly to stop, if anyone here is the fiend it is you" I then realized he had called me a sex fiend, "And I am not wet of my own choice, if you had brushed up on any of alien history you would realize what I am, the weaknesses and strengths of my people, the women are cold and unfeeling, unless our powers are used, it is why many women both curse our species yet thank god they are not like us" I said in a half bitter tone, come to think of it, I have never shared this much with ANYONE, male or female. I try to calm myself down, but it's useless, the effects wouldn't die down for a few hours, my kind used to buy ANTI-aphrodisiacs (Anti-Apps) for this kind of situation, and I had a bottle of it in my jacket over there, but I didn't have the mind to use my telekinesis, this is why I usually used only a small amount of my powers, it didn't hold as many consequences as full-blown uses of my powers would." Now if you wouldn't mind, please get off of me so I can get to my Anti-Apps" He wanted to take her so fucking badly... and the only remedy for that was to do it. However, he gritted his teeth, not wanting her to get too awfully pissed. She clearly had a lot more power than she had originally shown, and he was definitely afraid of her other form. Despite his deep lust for her at the moment, he did desire life. Thinking for a moment." Anti Apps... are generally a preventative measure not a corrective one," he says, thinking a moment, realizing she was considerably more calm than she had been before, "Seems like you might actually want some tail..." He gently penetrates her slick passage with his tail, just teasing her with the tip a little as he leans down and runs his tongue up her throat and over her lips. He felt hot, and her scent was driving him absolutely insane. Furthermore, he needed it... it had been too long. Furthermore, he growled and held her shoulders, his claws digging into her a little. She was going to have to force him off of her to get him to stop at this point. His erection had grown, and his cock would have been a terrifying sight for a human female, especially to jam it into her. He was fairly certain that typical women didn't masturbate with baseball bats... not to mention a little surprise at the end of every encounter. He growled and withdrew his tail from her passage, sliding his cock along her wet lips and grinding his hips down against hers. "Oh my!" I cry out as I'm penetrated a little, "I know Draconian legend so I have some clue what you plan on doing with THAT" looking pointedly at his huge erection, "But please, before you stick it in me, allow me to adjust dammit!" I couldn't take it all in without widening myself first, but god did it feel good, the tail I meant, and why didn't he take me in his humanoid form? That would be easier, but then again this turned me on too, many different species could crossbreed with mine, including Draconian, so this wasn't nearly as scary as being raped by someone else, and to be honest, my body was begging for release, any kind of release, and he was purring on top of me, he was EXTREMELY masculine in this form and I guess my Arcadian body reacted positively towards that. My clothes were plastered to my body with all the sweat, my neck arching as I let go a series of moans and mewls as my body writhed beneath his much more massive one. "I am having enough trouble containing myself as it is..." he growled, and gritted his teeth again. He forced his tail back into her. His tail gently prodded against her. It could stretch her out more gradually since it was slimmer around the tip and grew to be a little bigger than his erection. He growled loudly, trying as hard as he could to contain himself wanting to just rip his tail out and start fucking her like a wild animal. Somehow he liked her sudden submissiveness and he was rather pleased by it. She had not directly expressed that she didn't like his form, and all indications told him that she wanted him just the way he was. Slowly he slipped his tail into her, forcing it deeper and deeper, slathering it with her love juices, before drawing it back and forth inside of her aiming to please. He gripped her shoulders roughly and landed down to forcefully take a kiss from the woman, shoving his diatonic tongue into her mouth and ravaging the kiss, sloppily swapping saliva. After he sank his tail in far enough he pulled it back out and sucked her juices off, turning her over onto her back and lifting her hips, digging his claws in as he teased her now, well spread passage with his large cock. "Your lucky I'm an Arcadian and my pussy will tighten back up" I almost pout, almost. He was a very erotic man, turned me on almost of the brink of orgasm. I look back at him, although technically just my face, the blindfold was still there, "Isn't this a little too animal like, taking me from behind?" I quiver and moan a little, just wanting to be fucked. I wanted him inside me, all around me, just in everywhere humanly and inhumanly possible. "Shouldn't we just, um go back to my ship? isn't this a little too public?" I was trying to bring common sense back, that and I had other...toys...back at the ship, but more than likely the Draconian would take me here, and then probably will become aroused again, then take me back to the ship, and will proceed to fuck me, again... god just thinking about my toys was causing me to become aroused, the torture rack I sometimes converted to a sex rack, it could morph into anything, god the little tube could merge into tongues, or dicks, I sometimes wondered if that rack was alive, and I guess in some ways it was, but usually I just used it for masturbation... "Not at all!" he said twice, the first loudly, the second a little less so. There wasn't anyone watching after the two had gotten in the little squabble before. Sure, someone could walk in, like the police, eventually... but for the moment that is not what was on the man's mind. There was no way this woman could take his entire length, without breaking her cervix. He looked down to her, giving her a big toothy smile as he slid his cock into her well lubed hole. He groaned as he forced as much of it as he could into her bottoming out and grunting. There was going to be not knotting this woman. He leaned down over her back and started rocking his hips a little, drawing back, trying not to bash the barrier inside of her. He did not know if it would hurt her or be pleasant for her, since it varied by species. He grasped her large breasts in his hands and slowly cut away the rest her clothing with his claws, his tail having done a mighty fine job of that at her sex. Furthermore, he shredded her clothing from her body and roughly rubbed his scales along her back, probably feeling surprisingly smooth. As he did so his hands grasped back at her exposed breasts, and he fondled them roughly, crushing them a little against her chest and squeezing her nipples as they hardened." Fuck yeah..." he groaned out as he worked his hips against her, his words said directly into her ear while he thrust into her slowly. I moan as he fills me up, little did he know, i also had a trick up my sleeve, many female Arcadian's of royalty could do this, it was called the bottomless pussy, basically I could take any length of penis, it was magic, he just slid all the way in without any problems and I just hear him gasp, that's right fucker, thought you would break me, did you? He was still gripping hard at my tits, stretching them, fondling them, bouncing them, pulling and tugging at my nipples while snarling in my ear, I loved it, the aggression, but I also like one upping him. My pussy gushed its juices and I could feel his tail against my mouth, down my tits, across my belly and then fingering my ass. He was feral in his need for me, and this was strange, most Draconian still had their minds when fucking, but I noticed it too, the overwhelming desire just to fuck the male. It had never been this strong with ANYONE else.it was getting darker out and soon I had to return to my ship. But I also felt the urge to demand he come back with me, so we could have more bouts of fucking, I wondered if he felt the same urges... He enjoys the pleasant surprise that she gives him as she forces herself all the way back onto him. He did not expect her ass to come anywhere near his legs. Since she provided such a thing he decided to get rough. He slammed his hips against her with diatonic strength, and he grunted happily as he continued to work. He grunted several curses as her tight pussy pleasured his solid cock. Since she liked to have surprises he figured he could penetrate her anus with his tail and give her something to moan about, already pumping her pussy with feral passion. Before he could prod her ass too much he feels her pussy gush out its juices and his tail straightens out behind him as he claws at her sides and grasps her hips strongly slamming deep inside of her." Fuck! Yes!" he roars loudly filling that wonderful passage of hers with his burning sticky seed, slathering it all over her walls as if he were trying to get her pregnant. He pulled out of her quickly looking at her gaping hole for a second before roughly tugging her back and pressing her cheek to the head of his dick, slopping some cum against both of her cheeks." Clean it off!" he barked at her, wanting more... he needed more from her, and he wanted to just plow back into her, but he heard the sirens outside, knowing that the police would be in any minute. He growled at the sound, relating the woman and changing back into his human form before donning his duster and getting ready to make an escape. I chuckle at his need for escape, knowing he was in a bind, but still NEEDING him, I lick my lips slowly, the cum on my cheek making me moan, and my eyes to dilate behind the blindfold. "You know, you could just come with me, I will not hand you over to the law, I believe you could serve a much greater purpose to me" I lock my lips, my fangs glistening as slowly, my hole tightens back up again, I look down and caress it again, as it closes up until its original untainted form, I slowly caress it, then lick up the juices as all my clothes leap back on my body, including the weapons, I shift my hair slowly behind me and smile. "My ship is far from here, but I hold the power to teleport if I concentrate really hard, so the question lies with you, would you like to come?" I hope he answered yes, I loved his brutal strength, his rough fucking, somehow I craved it still, even though Arcadian women usually craved thousands of lovers, with different variety, maybe something could be said for an Arcadian and a Draconian couple, or we could try, either way I wanted that dick again, and I wouldn't hand him over to my superiors, I would just have to find other bounty to sustain, there were much more criminals with higher bounties, and I trusted in my skill Despite her lusty look in her eye, he is still untrusting. Going to her ship would be the equivalent of surrendering to her. Not to mention, if he did that she would pretty much have complete control over his destiny. If she wanted to hand him over, it wouldn't be difficult at all. His mind was still crowded with lust, and he wanted her again... badly... and she was offering an escape route. There was no time for logic." Alright. Go!" he shouted moving closer to her awaiting further instruction. I concentrate, as hard as I could have given our current situation, and that he was pressing himself a little to close for comfort. I grab his waist and the white light consumes, the second before the police storm in.I sigh in happiness as we reassemble in the ship, I break free of his grip, and now it was back to business, well what business could be done at this point. "Well, you can now stay here if you so choose, i won't turn you, I don't fuck my usually bounties and I'd say it would be a shame to start, "You can stay here, and if you do, you can earn your keep by helping me hunt" I cross my arms and nod, thinking myself that this was a good choice. "I see that we're matched physically, which is good, not sure emotionally or mentally but I'm sure we can figure in a compromise" I look quickly back at him "And there will be NO touching me without my permission, I have a torture rack who can complete me sexually, so your services are no longer required in that arena" I said the last part mostly to piss him off but I said it with the upmost authority. I actually did want to have sex with him but now that the power had drained from me, I was myself again, and in order for me to be aroused in any way I had to use my powers in excess again, which wasn't going to happen. He was glad to be out of danger... but it really only seemed to be replaced by a different kind of danger. He sighed and he looked to the woman. Furthermore, he listened to what she had said, and he shrugged as she continued. His human form was definitely not intimidating, and all he was wearing at that point was a leather duster coat and a hat. He growls a little at her last statement and gets a little quiet. She had too much power over him at the moment. He did not know if she was good on her word yet, and he knew she was pretty much the boss for the moment." Alright... well, I suppose if I am going to be stating here, I should introduce myself. The name is Passing Blood scale, but you probably already knew that. What is your name, if I may?" he asks, "Don't you fucking dare say master, or mistress or some bulshit..." He crossed his arms, his cock having out for all to see. I laugh "that WOULD be amusing but no, the Name is Eve, short and sweet right?" I laugh again "And trust me my promises ARE my promises" my eyes glitter hard as granite, then eventually lighten back up again, "Fell free to come and go as you please, but please, if you get caught by either bounty hunters or policemen, have the decency to NOT come crawling back to my ship, it'd be bad for my amazingly badass reputation" I smirk but then frown as I see his cock, hard and just OUT there." Please, find some clothes and put them on, I have some male clothes lying around find a nice shirt and some leather pants, if you need me, I'll be in the torture rack chamber, that's the hall behind you, two lefts, and then a sharp right, meaning if you don't slow your step you'll collide with the glass door" I chuckle, and then take off most of my clothes and weapons, folding them and tucking them in a neat pile, but my blindfold still on, I didn't trust him enough to take it off. I mean it was okay that I was naked, he had seen me as such before but the eyes, the eyes were off limits.I proceeded to make my way to the torture rack, building up as much power as I could before entering the glass room with all padded walls, and there was the torture/pleasure rack. "MMM." I placed my clothes and weapons on the floor in the corner and hopped into the chair and sighed as I released my power and the arousal came back. I sigh happily as the tendrils of the machine curl around my body. "Alright, Eve," he said softly. For now, he would have to take her word on what she said, and trust her promise. Watching her get naked again shocked him a little, and he wondered what she meant to do, though she continued to speak so nonchalantly while she stripped. He shrugged it off for a moment, still wanting her from before. Sure, it was true that the cops and the short amount of time during their teleportation had lowered his arousal some, but it was not all gone, and watching her strip was almost erotic. Kassin sighed, and he followed after her once he found some clothing, curious on what she was going to do in the torture rack chamber. Was she setting something up for him or was she planning on masturbating... That would be a blow to the ego... He growled at himself, though he remained in his blonde human form. Was she teasing him? Many thoughts rushed around in Passing's head as he made his way down to the torture chamber, curious of what he was going to find when he got there. Not to any surprise of his it seemed that she was getting ready to pleasure herself, and the sight of it stripped down all of his inhibitions on his arousal He had taken her advice and slowly went around the corner, watching her from the outside for a moment before bringing on the glass door with his fist." Hey, Eve! I need something from you really quick," he said trying to hide the fact that he was ready to go again, yelling loudly through the glass. I gasp as I realize he REALLY was behind the glass and I wasn't seeing things. The long mechanical tubes were inside my pussy, playing with it, rubbing against my clit, small tongues lapping, sucking at me, two were latched to my nipples, two more wrapped themselves tight around my two large tits, one was edging closer to my ass, some sucking on my neck, a rather large one on my neck, others were fondling my hair, and some were right by my hands, receiving hand jobs from me, like I said, it was almost alive. I look up at Passing for a second, still a little shocked that he didn't believe that I was in here pleasuring myself and deciding to come take a look. I roll my eyes, hard when I'm being so honestly pleasure. But with a voice command I let the door slide open and allow him. The tentacles react to the sound of MY voice, but they allow any voice to give it command so I had to make sure the Draconian didn't say anything to risqué"What do you want Passing? I thought I told you I needed a few hours?, I said you're free to do as I please, now as you can see I am rather busy" Passing frowned, as she didn't seem to notice him for a moment, and watching the machine work her body, the mechanical form teasing her dripping pussy and forcing itself deep inside of her, suckling her breasts, and preparing to enter her ass all at once. The machine emulated things far beyond what a single person could ever do. Despite the unnatural sight of her rubbing mechanical tubes and watching the machine suckle against her as if it were alive, Yassine was turned on by the way her body moved." I want to fuck you... that is habitant..." he said with hungry lust in his eyes, watching her continue to get penetrated by the machine. Kassin was hardly ever that direct about it... except when he was deeply aroused like he was at the moment. He stepped into the room approaching her, half concerned that the machine might try to attack him for some reason. Despite that he was ready to shock it into submission anyway. He growled a little, debating on whether he wanted to change back to his normal form, and he approached Eve. He tried to get close enough to plant a wet and sloppy kiss on her lips and force his tongue into her mouth, grasping her hair firmly while pacing his other hand on her opposite shoulder. "Mmm...someone is very frisky, but I thought I told you that you needed permission to touch me, Hamm, oh well, you've suffered enough I suppose, T-rack, position 3 please darling" it almost purred at my pet name and repositioned the machine so that I was spread eagle, the tongues lapping at the back of my knees, I cry out, it was a very sensitive spot for me, something the machine had learned to store in its data, the machines' tentacle smashed my tits together, rubbing them against each other as it jiggled them, almost slapping me in the face. The machine took off Passing's clothes and folded them, such a clever machine and lay them in the opposite corner that I had lain mine, so considerate." You're going to have to be more dominant sweetie, the machines respond to male dominance and female submission with the code I typed in" I look to the tentacles, "Watch... Fuck me please I've been a bad, bad girl" the machine instantly writhed and a huge black and slick cock came out of the rack, playing at my pussy, silently demand I beg for it. "Please, please insert that huge cock in my dirty cunt, please!" and with that, it thrust the huge black thing into my bottomless pussy. Passing watched the machine move, and he stepped back as it positioned her. He could only watch, wanting that body for himself. It was like this woman had some sort of secret mind-altering ability as his body screamed at him to jump on her and fuck her as much as he could. He had never wanted a woman more than he wanted this one. Dominant? He listened, and a grin came across his lips. Oh... he would have no problem with that. He reached forward to yank the fake cock out of her and growled." Get that stupid black dick out of my woman, fucking machine... She is mine," he growled, and he leaned up over her, knowing there was no way he could move every appendage from her body, "I am feeling considerate, since you want me to be all dominant... Do you want a human or a dragon cock?" For the moment his mind didn't care what she chose, and he leaned over her body licking her neck a little and up to her mouth before kissing her lips and drawing back to look down and shaking his head as he noted her blindfold again. He rubbed his rather well-endowed human cock against her hot cunt and threatened to penetrate her with it. The machines took away from his arousal a little but they way they held her made him all the more horny for her. He grasped her shoulders firmly and ground his hips against her forcefully. "It doesn't matter, I just want your cock" I lick my lips, then strain my neck so I can lick at yours, my whole body was flush with need, even as the machines toyed with me, I could tell it was your cock rubbing against me, insistently. "T-rack" the T-rack stilled, "Obey any voice commands given by the male" The T-rack went back to pleasuring me, yet always waiting for a silent command. I could feel Passing's human hands on my shoulders and I moaned. A pretty pink blush spread across my cheeks as my soft lips open, parting as i breath out in small gasps and moans. Sometimes moaning your name, sometimes purring, whimpering. I was writhing in the chair, my hair, gentle on my shoulders or in the arms of the tentacles. The tentacle behind me fucked straight into my ass and I scream in pleasure, it twirled around inside me and I whimper, "I love my toys". They continued to suck at me, leaving little hickeys, then licking at me, some were still around my thighs, near my pussy, lapping up my wet juices, playing with my clit, causing me to writhe more, my whole body to spasm pleasurably. "We'll see about that," Passing growled, and he roughly slammed his hardened cock into her pussy, ravaging her and he squeezing her shoulders. He could feel the machine tentacle in her ass, and it was a unique feeling since he could feel it while he so gloriously fucked her. He grunted and started kissing her neck and suckling against it. After a moment he felt like he was competing futilely with the machine as he slammed his hips against hers, forcing the machine from her breasts and placing his hot hands against them, rubbing and squeezing them passionately. He tweaked her nipples as he peered down at her, sweat starting to build on his human form as he succumbed to the wonderful heat." Gah... fuck... Eve... fuck!" he grunted feeling tension rising in his balls already with the mixture of her hot, gripping funny against him and the other rod moving in her ass. "Oh yes!!! Oh, Fucking yes!!! Passing!!" I push my hips up and cry out, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him passionately, stroking my tongue against his, I cry out every few seconds for I can feel his release coming, I feel the slap of his balls against my ass. I never thought someone could need my body so much. My purple powered eyes glow behind the blindfold, i tilt my neck back, allowing for the raining of kisses and suckling. It made me moan, and buck my hips, the machine was desperately grabbing at my body, as I said it was almost alive, it sought its own release, tugging at my hair, and my nipples, whipping the little tendrils across my breasts.I push up on my hips, my tits bouncing, the tendrils making grabs for them, abusing them, sucking, biting, pinching, tugging. It grabbed at the lips of my sex as well, playing featherlight touches that contradicted the insistent pounding of Passing's dick. I couldn't control the screaming now, I wanted to come! The power inside me wanted to cum!!!" Kassin make me cum!!!" Eve's constant thrashing, arching, moaning, cries and kisses all drive Passing straight down the path to orgasmic bliss. This only makes him rougher for those last glorious moments of thrusting as he picks up his own pace and forces himself as deep as he can be inside of her, dropping his hands to her hips to gain leverage. He groans loudly as and suddenly stops feeling the rush come over him." Fuck! Eve! Take it!" he growled almost viciously, his lust overwhelming him as his seed released full force into her greedy funny. Spurt after spurt of his hot seed seemed to slather her walls with an impossible volume for a human, but not for his breed. He leans over her to engage in a passionate kiss wrapping his arms around the woman. He wanted more of her still, even if she had drained two loads from him that day. Furthermore, he did not even know if he was capable of doing another one, but his whole body wanted him to take her again, his tongue forcing its way all around her mouth and against her tongue, ignoring the fact that the machine was probably still working her. I continue to kiss him even after he takes me over the edge of orgasm, filling me with his seed. The machine takes instant notice and tiny mechanical tentacles open up my pussy lips and I look down as the seed drips from me in endless pools, like a puddle of cum beneath me. The machine chair positions me, so I'm flat against the wall this time, in a kind of da Vinci code stance. I continue the kiss with Passing for a good 5 minutes and then... "Machine drop. End session" it instantly releases me and returns to a torture rack. I smile and get out, my body instantly tightens my pussy again as I take one of the hoses on the wall and wash my cunt with it, can't have semen dripping down my legs as I walk around can I? I walk to my pile of clothing and weapons, and get dressed, and arm myself. "Well, now that that's done" I say in a completely calm voice, the effect of power release and my arousal completely vanished. I take a few steps around Passing and stop, "Your room will be right across the hall from mine Draconian, two halls to your left" I continue down the hall, the click of the heels on my boots the only thing that echoes.I approach my cell, and open the door. I hop right into the room and flop on to my bed, I take my CDD-pad (criminal detection database) and press a button, the whole screen lights up and a bunch of things fly around the room)(think Iron Man gadgets). I scroll down to Passing and just wipe his name clean, a promise was a promise after all and I had promised no dirty business from me and that's what he'd get. My species was such an honorable one. I then turn the pad off, put it on my shelf and take out my other IBR-(instant book reader) and settle down under the ample covers and hold the pad with one hand, hand on my chin with the other against the bookshelf and I begin to read... Passing relishes in the kiss for as long as she will have it curious of her demeanor as she washes herself off and speaks to him. It was a rather sudden change, and he felt a little tired after a moment. He had wanted more of her, but she just seemed to take it all out of him. He made his way to the room she had instructed as his, and he took a seat on his bed. He pulled a PDA from his pocket and scrolled through it curious of several things and taking notes. Furthermore, he noted that his head was no longer wanted on every street corner, and he began to wonder. Furthermore, he was a reasonably skilled assassin, despite his run in with Eve. She was clearly more powerful, but at the same time she was his now. Some sort of since of Diatonic pride made him feel greedy, like she was some sort of treasure to him. He quietly read himself to sleep researching his next victim. Seems like the president of some arms company... He decided he should talk it over with Eve in the morning, but for the moment his body demanded sleep. I fall asleep quickly reading my erotic romances. I awake in the early hours and quickly get up to start my schedule, I begin my exercises, I grab an apple, one of the few the world had left, take a big bite then head to the training room with my weapons. I didn't even bother to check on the Draconian, I had that much faith in myself.I get there and successfully put my blindfold on with my telekinesis then program the protection to battle mode and prepare to disengage it. Even though it wasn't supposed to do what I made it do, it served all my commands, I was an Arcadian after all, I was UNSTOPPABLE!it continues like this for an hour, never stopping, I rev up my engines a little and exert power, I'm in full form eventually, power fizzling all around me, me screaming at the top of my lungs like a true barbarian, and then I reduce my power again until I'm in my humanoid form, sweating, panting, and aroused. Passing wakes up to the loud scream, almost feeling it pulse in his mind, and he flops of the bed in a silly manner as he wakes up. He grumbles to himself and rubs his head before taking on his normal form. He figured there was little reason to wander around in human form since he didn't have to hide. Either way he slowly went to find Eve. He could feel power fading, and had heard the general direction of the scream so... he went that way. Passing's tail dragged on the ground a little, and he had his wings tucked against his back while he walked. After a moment he found the room where she had been, and he knocked on the door, curiously." Eve? What are you doing?" he grumbled, yawning a little before locking his eyes on her, seeing her succulent form sweating and panting, making him feel a little aroused. "Not like it's any of your business but I was practicing combat" I was still in fighting position but as soon as he walks in, I say my piece and relax the position, standing up, I flick back my hair, sweaty tendrils clinging to my face, my purple glowing eyes fade as I reprogram toe protection to protect once again, I grab one of my "gym" towels and dot my face with it, I was clearly panting, sweat pouring off me, I was exhausted, but then again I was also aroused, I sigh, time again for the T-rack.I quickly organize my workout center back to its original form and set off towards the T-rack, brushing quickly past Passing, not even questioning his choice of forms to take. I quickly approach the chamber, scan my hand print in and close the glass door, doing this all calmly as if it was normal routine. "Oh? Enjoying yourself then?" he asks, smiling and trying to be a little friendly. Eve seemed to brush him off entirely, and he tilted his head, following after her. He could tell where she was going... he could smell her arousal, and it only made him want her all that much more. He grunted as she placed her hand on the scanner, and he grabbed her arm firmly, yanking her off of her path and preventing her from going into the room. She told him not to touch her without permission, but he couldn't help it." Eve... I was right there," he growled a little, and he used his overwhelming size and strength to push her back against the glass door, leaning down and lapping up the drops of sweat on her face and neck, "Let me do it." Kassin gives her a devious, toothy smile and grasps her wrists, pulling them up above her head and his tail slips up between her legs, brushing along her thigh and then teases her lower lips a little. He really wanted her again, wondering if she had some sort of effect on him. He had never wanted to take a woman so many times in a short span. His cock started to sprout, not quite getting hard, bot showing his want for her. I could tell that heat, warmth, crimson red had begun to rise to my cheeks, he aroused me even further with my want for him. Already he seemed to be getting possessive with me, and i, ACTUALLY liked it. I shake my head firmly, still blushing, trying to get the thoughts of us as partners let alone life-mates out of my head. Arcadian's were known to be VERY promiscuous unless, combined with the right member of either their species or another, they "Bond for eternity" only a few races were immortal now, maybe 10 of them in the known galaxy, and both Passing and I were a part of those ten, sex with Passing forever? Amazing suggestion, but love? I didn't think I was ready for that. I shook my head again more firmly to get thoughts of heart and flowers out of my head. He was rubbing himself against me, his dick sprouting like some beast from the ocean, it was twitching and a little of his precut was swelling out of the slit of the head. My breathing becomes more rapid, my breasts heaving, perking, pearling until they were making small tents in my dress. Arcadian women didn't need bras unless fighting, seeing as they never age, their breasts never sag. Mine would forever remain EE's of "bounciness" my colleagues would say. And right now they wanted to be fondled, touched, suckled, nipped, tugged, EVERYTHING. And the smug place between my thighs wanted to be touched too. Passing noted her lack of resistance, and he pulled her away from the glass door and backed against the opposite wall instead, rubbing his tail up and down her thighs, gently prodding at her lower lips. He leaned back against the wall, holding her about her stomach, and he slipped his large diatonic hands up over her breasts and fondled them. He administered light squeezes to them, beginning to rub her more furiously and pinch at her nipples. Kassin growled a little on her shoulder and licked at her neck, his tail slipping up and under her clothing, parting her lower lips a little. He rubbed the tip of his tail along her slit, his cock having come to full hardness, and it prodded her in the back as he held her chest to back. He was still surprised that she was an Arcadian, but it didn't make him any less lustful for her." I am going to make you scream, Eve... you will beg me to fill you," he growled and clamped his jaws about her shoulder, putting pressure but nit sinking his teeth in. I was fully aroused at this point. I wanted all of that large cock inside me, I liked the way his tail was working me as well. I wanted to ask him to fuck me like an animal, but my prude wouldn't allow that. I pushed my ass back, rubbing against his cock like a bitch in heat. FUCK ME!!! I wanted to scream. So badly did I want to hear his possessive tone, his dominance, call me an object, HIS, his property, I was such a sucker for dirty talk. Whispering words of taking me, fucking me, filling me with semen, covering my body with it. I craved everything sexual, what with my kind being very sexual beings. I wanted him to puck my large nipples, covering them in seed, just thrusting his dick at my huge breasts was enough to make me orgasm at the thought.I whimpered and moaned, my panties becoming EXTREMELY wet and uncomfortable, I wanted him to tear them off, then maybe thrust his tail in a few times, to show he was in power, then just pound his huge dick inside me like he couldn't live without my pussy, growling, whining, snarling, raging to possess my cunt. Passing could practically feel her want, the heat of her pussy clear on his tail. She was sopping wet and as she pushed her ass back against him, he growled a little. He thrust his tail straight through her panties and into her hot passage, squeezing her breasts and nipples more roughly." You can't have that until I say you can," he snarled into her ear, biting her shoulder, and twisting his hips a little to prevent her from rubbing against his cock." You did okay yesterday, but now I am going to stuff you full of my seed, until you practically bleed white," he growled against her shoulder, forcing his tail up further, and faster, thrusting and pulling his tail out of her wet passage readily. After a moment of teasing her with his tail he twisted her around and pushed her down to the floor on her back. He grinned a little and his tail gently prodded at her anus, covered in her juices. He placed his knees on either side of her and his wings fluttered behind him, his raging cock resting between her breasts. Furthermore, he rubbed his cock between them a little before grabbing her hair and pulling her head up to meet his hard shaft at the top of her breasts, pressing it to her lips gently, but not pushing in, though his tail gently pushed up into her ass, waiting to see her reaction. My eyes clearly said how much I wanted it. I had been deprived of it for too long. I licked at the head of Passing's penis, licking and licking until I tentatively took it into my mouth, the head of it, licking at the engorged mushroom tip, licking at the precut, then suckling harder at the head of it, trying to take more of his penis down my throat. It was rubbing most deliciously against my creamy tits, pushing in and out, the smooth hardness of it, like steel encased in velvet. And his TAIL his wonderful TAIL, was shoving its way in my ass, like I was some kind of animal that he could have his way with. Like my body was his to explore, his to play with or torture..." Please..." I croak out, I wanted to cum so bad, I wanted his seed slathered all over me and inside of me. Passing grinned to her and continued to gently prod his tail just a little further in, before pulling out, repeating this motion a couple of times." Please what?" he growled softly, hiding his pleasure from her licks and that hot mouth over the tip of his solid cock. He may not have moaned or cried, but he was dripping precut like a leaky hose, slow and constant. He gripped tighter into her hair and shoved his cock forward, touching the back of her throat with it, repeating the motion a couple of times, enjoying the feel of her tits and her mouth on his eager erection." Tell me you want me how you want me to fuck you... Tell me you want to swallow my cum," he growled peering down at her while he thrust his cock into her mouth, clutching her hair tightly, his other hand reaching down and pinching her nipple. I nod over and over again, "I want it, I want to be fucked, from behind, the side, on the floor, on the bed, in the kitchen, against the wall, I want your cum everywhere, and anywhere you want it!" I cry out again as it hits the back of my throat repeatedly in a pleasurable way.(sorry it was short, have work soon) Passing growls loudly and forces his cock down her that a little and repeats this motion several times, holding her head in a way that makes it easy. Suddenly, he releases, a load into her mouth, flooding it with his seed and pulling out to spray her in the face and over her tits. He groans with pleasure and shakes his head to regain some semblance of fearsome dominance. Without any rest he simply pulls her up and forces her to her stomach, lifting her hips and lining up his cock with her burning passage the heat making him want her all the more." I hope you're ready," he growls and leans over her forcing her shoulders to the floor making her rest her cheek on the ground as he shoves his rod deep into her waiting funny. He growls in deep pleasure as her walls grip his dragon hood. He keeps his claws on her shoulders, squashing her breasts against the deck as he relentlessly fucks her from behind. Furthermore, he had no idea he could get that horny and moreover he had no idea he could want to take the same woman that many times. Either way he pounded her pussy harder and harder, sinking up to the hilt and clutching her shoulders." Scream, Eve!" he shouted viciously, leaning down over her back and sinking his teeth into her neck a little. "Passing!!!!" I scream as the VERY hot semen sprayed my face and my tits, he liked to thrust his dick against my tits hard and spray it straight into my inverted nipples, the little fetishes he had. I cataloged every one of them, just in case I wanted payback for this little fucking detour to the Torture Rack. He turned around and fucked me from behind growling, and still spurting cum inside me as he renewed his fucking techniques. I screamed again and again, "Stop this Passing, you've had your fun now let me go! you're going to kill me with the sex dammit!" "I get it your powerful!!! Your dick wants me but please!!! I need air!!!" I had a feeling that Passing was going to be the possessive type, so he'll be wanting sex VERY often, and since I had finally figured out I was his mate, he'd be wanting it VERY often. Goodbye freedom, and goodbye threesomes and orgies for THIS girl Passing finally stopped upon her request for air. He may have been horny as fuck, nut he did know when to stop. He had given her a good amount of his seed filling her mouth and funny. Furthermore, he purred like a kitten, overwhelmed with pleasure. Furthermore, he scooped the Arcadian into his arms and smiled to her." How is that, Eve?" he asked with a satisfied grin on his muzzle. He suddenly felt a little tired, but he was happy." Do you like it?" he asked with a devious smirk across his muzzle before forcing a strong tongue into her mouth to steal more of her wanted air, only giving her a moment to catch her breath. I sputter as he tongues fucks my mouth, I give in for a little while and then I nip his tongue as a symbol to let go. I could see the Draconian was getting tired, and now that the arousal was gone I could get down to business, "Why don't you take a nap Passing? I can see you're tuckered out" I chuckle a Little and pet his mane as if he were a dog, then I leap from his arms, put my clothes and weapons on and grab my CDD PAF and head in the opposite direction, I had bad guys to hunt.~~~~~~~once Passing had finally decided to take my advice and sleep I sneak out, such a horrid word, it was MY ship and I was MY own person, i didn't have to sneak out like some teenager from her house. Yet I did anyway. I look to the CDD pad and find that surprisingly there was a group of cons that were in they are, each having a nice bounty on their heads. And sensing their aura they were in a shack, probably playing poker before going on their next hit. If this was going to work I had to do something i didn't want to do...pretend to be a hooker...I knock on their door with a pretty pink smile on my lips, and as they all hungrily drink me in they shut the door behind me, this was going to be tricky... Passing found Eve to be an impressive entity. She could handle a lot more than he could as far as her energy... But then again he had never met a woman who could have so much sex. He obliged her suggestion and went to take a nap. A short time after she left he woke from his nap and he went to take a shower. Why was she o. His mind? She was just supposed to be a pet... A toy... Right? Kassin growled at himself as he thought about it. First he was not being a gentleman, and second felt terrible for using that rationale to fuck her so much. He found himself wanting more... He wanted more of her... body, mind and soul. Kassin didn't know if he was able to leave, and assumed she went out on a bounty. She could handle her own, he figured. In the meantime he decided to show her the next political target he had lined up. Just because she had cleared his name... It didn't mean that his sense of justice was gone. He went to her control room, in hopes of finding a means to contact her after a time had passed unsure of her situation. I wreaked of the smell of those men and their caresses as they were hauled away by space police. I focused on my reward money. It was a lot of money and I patted the scanner card they gave me, a lot of money indeed, I smile as I teleport back up into the ship, I wonder if Passing would be happy to see me? I did wreak of those males though, perhaps I should hit the showers before meeting up with him, I did NOT want to deal with Draconian rage hopefully i didn't bump into him on the way to the showers ... Passing had just gathered his things, worried about her safety, and he started down the passageway, happening to cross by the showers at the time. Since he was free, he figured there was no reason not to wander about in his diatonic form, and he immediately smelled the men on Eve. He growled under his breath, trying to force a smile to her, feeling rather possessive of her. Eve was his, and he really was not fond of that scent on her. Either way, as he seemed to get closer he looked to Eve, smiling to her as best he could, while holding back the fury in his head. He bowed a little and greeted her like a gentleman." Hello, Eve. Did you manage to catch the guy you were going after?" he asked, gritting his teeth, the scent of the others on her driving up his rage. He did not understand why he was so angry. It wasn't like they were committed or anything. They hadn't even really done much more than great sex. However, Passing felt the need to claim her as his own, wanting her more and more to force her against the wall and show her that she was his, but he refrained. Somehow... "Why yes, all three of them" I could feel his hot breath against me, see the way he was trying to hold back his anger, from flashing his teeth and growling, it was kind of cute I had to admit. I blush a little. "You could stop with that look I didn't have intercourse with them if that's what you're thinking" I pause and then look up at him through my blindfold "I just let them rough me up a bit, It's my JOB"I try to sneak past him but he won't let me budge, I guess since he was a Draconian he had a right to feel this way. It was in his instincts, the way of their people when they found their true mate. Possessive, jealous, wanting to claim claim claim every five minutes of the day, some women found it unbearable, I found it kind of funny.I chuckle "Oh Passing" then it turns into a laugh, a laugh that starts in my stomach and spills through my mouth. I apt his head as if he were a child. I bet he hadn't even figured out I was his mate yet... Passing looked back to Eve and sighed, feeling a sense of relief as she spoke. His tail patted the ground gently and he wore a guilty smile. He was still in the dark with her, and he leaned into Eve, scooping her up and squeezing her. He looked down to her and tried to give her a real smile." Good work. Ah... I am sorry..." he said to her and leaned down to nuzzle against her, lapping her cheek. Kassin carried her into the shower room, and he sighed, setting her down. He still did not like the scent even if she had just done a job. He found himself staring, and wanting. Furthermore, he growled a little to himself working on restraining himself." Eve..." he started, unsure of what he wanted to say, then continued after a moment, "Do you want to shower?" "Why yes I would" I smile and caress the cheek he had just licked. He was so adorable when he was jealous, like a lost little puppy instead of an erotic dragon.I pat his head again and turn on the shower heads, getting undressed slowly as to not hit tender spots.I take everything off but I sense he is still behind.I turn around and find him staring, growling, exposing his teeth, his huge cock jutting out in front of e and thrusting ever so slightly in the air rhythmically. I blush but have no hint of arousal, like I said earlier, without using our powers we can not become aroused, so I just stood there awkwardly staring at him, with a pink blush spread across my pale cheeks and underneath my blindfold... Passing grinned at Eve, seeing her blush, and he smiled to her softly. He could tell that she wasn't aroused, she didn't have that scent about her. However, Passing did know how to be sensual when the occasion called for it. Being there with her calmed him significantly, and he couldn't wait to have that scent washed off of her." Mmm... Eve... Can I assist?" he asked her softly, stepping closer and spinning her to press his chest to her back, rubbing her sides and over her stomach a little before lathering his hands with soap and gently stroking it over her body washing the scent off. His raging erection prodded a little between her legs, but he did not make a motion just yet, despite wanting to take her so badly and reclaim her as his own. He smiled to her after a moment and washed her hair for her." Eve... I want you," he growled almost lovingly into her ear, churning a little. I look down to see his huge and long erection thrusting up at my bellybutton, I hear the guttural tone in his voice and chuckle. I take the soap and lather it all over my body, and watch as the dirt and the scent of those men slowly wash down the drain.I whisper to Passing, "You know I cannot become aroused unless I use my powers" my eyes glow purple behind the blindfold, I was so tempted to use my powers, but I wanted to see at what lengths he would go to fuck me. "Is that right?" he said, more than asked, and he gently squeezed at her breasts, massaging them and sliding his diatonic paw smoothly along her body. He was aware of that... but even so, he wanted her. Kassin found himself kneeling before her and he gently lapped up along her inner thigh, looking up to her and squeezing her butt. He grinned up to her and lapped at her slit, dousing it in his diatonic saliva, leaving a somewhat cool trail over her warm lips. Slowly he began to lap against them and up into them trying to force his slick tongue up her passage to arouse her on his own." You don't have to use your powers if you don't want to... but if you don't... I think you will find me a little less agreeable with the way I will take you," he charred into her, withdrawing his tongue and looking up to her with a gleam in his eyes. I gasp and nod, summoning ALL of my powers, things in the showers flew everywhere, my body reverting to its original form in a few minutes, after glowing, finally my eyes dim from the glow of my powers, I smile at Passing. "I am definitely fuckable now" I push him on to the cold wet floor of the shower, knowing his body could handle the change in temperature, my tits were growing slightly and feeling heavy, the nipples perked and elongated. I rub them against his face, the soft mound smashed against his face, I then proceed to rub them along his body." In what way will you have your way with me this time Passing" there was a definite purr in my voice. Passing gasped at the sudden rush of power in the shower, and he smiled to her smelling her arousal after she expended so much energy. He was a little surprisnthat she had done so, but he smiled up to her and rose as she ran her breasts against him." You know what, Eve, I want you to take me in the wildest way you can. I want you to fuck me so hard that my balls ache when you are done. I want to fly in easy," Passing said dropping back down to her now burning slit and forcing his long tongue deep into it, wanting her juices. Kassin's tail slipped up around him and along her thigh prodding at her asshole as he shoved his muzzle roughly against her puffy lips." Cum for me, Eve!" he growled against her flailing his tongue along her inner walls. "Passing, please, stop, I cant take much more, Passing!!!" my legs shake as my scream echoes in the shower, my eyes blaze bright purple in power behind my blindfold. My neon bright light purple hair clinging to my face, river rivulets dripping down my hair and on to my face.my legs shake, I grip his hair, looking up at the ceiling as I spasm, my love juices spilling down his tongue and down his throat, I cry out gains and again as I orgasm, my legs and knees shaking, my knees knocking into each other." Kassin..." I whimper, wanting more, needing him to fill me to the brim, to use me and please me, my people were used to dominating but now I wanted to be dominated... Passing grinned at her words, and he did just as she asked. He quickly rose to his feet licking his maw clean, loving the taste. He was going to be rough. Furthermore, he normally didn't like to be so rough, but she seemed to handle it far too well. Kassin growled and slammed her roughly into the wall, quickly, slamming his rock solid cock deep inside of her well lubricated hole. He growled pumping her hard, his tail ramming up into her asshole as he clenched against her shoulders. His claws dug into the wall a little leaving claw marks, and he gripped her shoulders roughly, wildly slamming his hips against her." Eve..." he growled deeply into her ear suddenly stopping for a moment, his tail still being clutched by her tight ass, "I hope you are ready for this... I am going to mark you as mine..." Kassin's growling deepened as he pulled his tail out from her anus, and he turned to press his chest to her back shoving her hard into the wall. He clamped down hard on her shoulder and suddenly slammed back into her wasting funny. He charred into the bite he held onto her with his eyes rolling back in ecstasy as he felt himself about to break. Furthermore, he took her wrists and put them above her head, clamping around the back of her neck, missing all the vitals and not applying enough pressure to break it, but causing it to bleed from both sides. Kassin roared against the back of her neck, the roaring complementing the large orgasm rocking his cock inside of her greedy pussy. His body seemed to pump more than ever before as he took Eve as his and this time. He was locked into her, sharp barbs gripping inside of her, making her either take all of his load or have a painful time getting off. Either way he spewed for several constant minutes, spilling enough cum to stuff her full, leak out a pull around her, if not even forcing her body to expand a little with the pressure of its release. Kassin whispered some incoherent words against her neck as he felt his energy leave him in the act making him deflate a little, retracting the barbs for mating. She could pull off, but he tried to keep as stroganoff a grip as he could on her, dropping to his bu first and then laying back with the sudden lack of energy, eyes shutting and a large yawn coming from his muzzle. I cried out loudly as his barbs spiked my pussy. I knew what this meant. He wanted to claim me as his. His mate. His Draconian wife. I didn't know if I liked it, or hated it. He had marked me without permission, and some races males would not have me if I was mated, like the males of my kind, they frowned down upon marriage within another species. I orgasmed either way, the pain rocking me into an orgasm. I scream so hard the walls shake with it, with my power. He spilled into me so much, my stomach bloated with it, then deflated back into its muscular form as he pulled out, a sea of semen pouring from between my legs. I purr as its released, my kind's females loved to feel and watch semen escape their cunt." Kassin" I whisper as the blood drips from my open wound. "Passing" my hand reached up and strokes the wound, blood gushing from my wound. It seeps from between my fingers and I don't have enough power to summon a healing spell. I collapse hard and fast to the floor, my hand still clamped on his mark, my eyes wide and showing the whites of my eyes. "Passing..." I whisper. Passing had not meant to harm her so much... But alas that is the result of her request and his passion. He heard here whisper his name a couple of times, and he lapped at her wound, gently caressing her side. He summoned some power to heal her wounds as he charred against her neck." Eve... You make me feel so hot, and I feel lucky to have found you," he said with a light, happy growl. He held her protectively, channeling warm energy through her wounds to close them up and stop the bleeding. He felt even weaker after that and simply fell asleep, holding her close, tail curled about her and he wore a large happy smile. My energy finally sapped I lay back limp in his arms, it probably wasn't good to be using power just to bring arousal, perhaps there was something I could eat or drink? I'd have to research it later because all I wanted to do was sleep. My eyes close behind the blindfold and my soft warm body relaxes in his arms. Passing woke, and he sighed, holding his lover close. It seemed she was a little more sapped than he was. He smiled to her and lapped at her neck lovingly before rising and carrying her to his quarters to lay her down and let her rest more properly. He figured she might want something to eat when she woke so he hurried out to fetch something. It didn't taker him long to return on account of his wings and ability to fly. He brought her back a simple Italian meal, uncertain of what she would like. Either way he searched back at his quarters first to find her. He moved over to her slowly and lovingly nuzzled her neck and lapped against her cheek. He had marked her, and he felt that she was his, though for him that meant that he was more hers." I got you something to eat, Eve..." he whispered softly, churning a little. I awoke with a mass headache, not normal to my kind. I rub at my head and look around. Well at least I could see, that was good right? I look to see Passing lapping at my neck. Which actually made me smile a bit. And he was holding out a dish with apparently food on it. I take it from him, still smiling. "Thanks passing" I take my fork that materialized at take a bite. I moan, it was so delicious. I continue to eat it until I feel like my normal self. Passing smiled to her and apologized for so much trouble in that event. He got a little crazy with passion when he wanted to make love to her. He sighed and smiled to her watching her. Furthermore, he was happy that she seemed happy." Eve I am your dragon..." he said softly sitting and scooting close to her nuzzling against her after she finished eating.

Alien Huntress (CuteEmoGirl&MoonScythe)|rating:3.0

Cave by the Sea 1x1 with War'nak and Isolde

Prologue The first indication Aura had of dawn was the scolding and fussing of the seagulls. She smiled in her twilight sleep, thinking of Lily, whose animal totem was the seagull. She opened her eyes and clutched her own amulet." Are the gulls a sign that the spirit of my sister lingers still in my heart and that this will be enough to sustain me?" Aura asked, using the formal language of the Clan, sign language with no spoken words. "Good morning, sister," she continued in sign toward the darting and diving seabirds. She stepped onto the beach and searched for the path that would take her to the space above her cave. There!, under debris washed in from the ocean and piles of sand, there was the path, faint but there. Aura tugged at the drift wood and the bones from perhaps a whale, but finally she managed to create a space. Her steps were as light as a young girl's as she hurried along the path. She was rewarded to see the spring of fresh water and the overgrown garden spot that Lily had carved out all those seasons ago. The path led inland and Aura followed it. She smiled as she heard the roar of the waterfall. She hoped the hot springs were still flowing. Tears filled her eyes as she rounded the corner through the vegetation to find that nothing had changes other than the ferns were denser. Azura shed the aurochs's cloak and pulled off her stained foot coverings. Her wrap was soiled but she had no other. This she tugged over her head and laid it neatly on a rock. Wading in, Aura went instinctively to the indention where she always had rested in the past. The soap root was growing close the edge as in the old days. She broke off a pieced. Dunking her blonde hair under the water, she proceeded to sluice warm water over her tired, wounded body. How long had she traveled, and how long had she been alone? Aura couldn't even begin to guess, but it didn't matter now. The water revived her body and she gathered her clothes, walking naked back to the beach, thinking. The forest was still to the North and there had always been an abundance of food there. The garden might have some sweet potatoes growing, left from the original plants. Later, she would see about gathering, but for now, she needed to see if any of the rocks would move to allow her entrance. As she stood in the morning sun, she remembered that had been an entry to the cave from on top, by the garden. Later, she would test that. By the time she was at the beach, her skin was dry. She hated to put the worn wrap back on, but the folds held tools which she would need, and the hide would protect her from sharp rocks. From her haversack, Aura pulled 2 hides, the length of her arms, which she wrapped around her hands. And she went to work. One by one, she dug under the small rocks and used a piece of driftwood to pry them loose. Azura's intent was not to dislodge all the stone, Mother knew that would not be possible and would be dangerous, but if she could create a tunnel of sorts that would permit her in, perhaps there was chamber enough to shelter her. She remembered the cave paintings, the history of the people, the hands that were represented on the wall and her small meditation cave within. Her cave where she had painted the excruciating pain of love lost on the walls in her own blood. She stopped, taking a deep breath as memory flooded her with a pain that was not nearly as intense but still present. Shaking her head, Aura fell back to removing stones. Azura worked tirelessly for days on end. From the minute the sun peeked over the silvery pink clouds in the morning until the sun blazed into the sea at night, She moved what rocks she could from the large tunnel leading to the cave. She had checked the top entrance and found that she could go deep enough that a large predator would not be able to follow her, but that was all. Her fingers were raw and bleeding from the stone and the salt water. She had to stop to fish, to eat." This woman hasn't needed to shape-shift for many seasons," she thought as she gutted her catch. "This forgetful woman used to be able to take the form of a dolphin. The next time I need to catch my meal, perhaps this woman will try that. Eating as a dolphin eats would simplify mealtime." Still she worked on moving rock. The task at the mouth of the cave seemed hopeless. When she and Lily had sealed the cave, they had called on great medicine. There were always consequences." Today, this woman will focus on the tunnel from the topside. If only a small safe portion of the cave would open to me, then this woman could live in safety." she clutched her amulet and closed her eyes." Great Spirit, this woman only wants to return home. Help me."_________________Days upon days passed. Aura's fingers constantly bled as the stones dried and roughened her skin. How she wished she had some of that lotion that Lily used to make from bear fat and roses. Her back hurt as she moved a rock, trying not to send the others cascading on top of her. Why, oh, why had she and her sister called on the Sheena to send an earthquake to seal the cave. Aura stood, putting her hand in the small of her back. She knew the answer. They had wanted no one to come and defile their home. If they could not live there, then no one else would. But then, at that season, had been evil ones who would pollute their lives. They were ones of the Clan who despised women and would force Aura and Lily back into subservience. She nodded her blonde head. The labor of removing stone had made a small dent in the rubble. Aura was able to move farther back into the cave but not into a chamber where she felt safe. What if an earthquake came at night, collapsing the surrounding stone? She shuddered. While she worked, she thought of Black Stone, or Saga as his human form was called. Aura missed the shape-shifter who took on the form of a Sabre toothed tiger. She hoped he was happy with his mate. She smiled as she thought of Stone, her foster daughter. How apt was it that Black Stone and Stone would be mated." This woman is tired of working," she signed in the formal language to the seagulls who dove and soared along the beach. "The hot springs call 'Aura'." She had not been to the springs since that first discovery but decided that she deserved a long hot soak. Following the path to the top of the cave, Aura hurried along noting the trees were now fully green and how warm, hot really, the sun was. She was glad. After staying in the North for so long, she thought she would never again be thawed out. Once in the springs, she soaped up with the leftover root and then found a spot to lean her head back. She dozed. The calling of the birds and massive fluttering of wings as multitudes of starlings fled the oaks woke her. Aura was startled, realizing on some level that their exodus was a signal for alarm. Sleep still shrouded her senses and she couldn't quite keep her footing as she tried to wade across the springs. Water sloshed into her face and she lost her grip on the rocky rim. A deep rolling groan resounded in the air, and she glanced nervously at the sky. Rocks tumbled into the springs, and she realized,"Earthquake!"_________________After what seemed an eternity, Aura stretched out on the torn earth, clutching dried grass. Her heart pounded beneath her, and she imagined it echoed the broken heart of the Mother. Occasional tremors shook the ground under her as she leaped to her feet to race to the beach, She hoped the quake had dislodged the stones in her cave as easily as they had once filled it. The air was thick with dust and a bitter smell that rose like the stench from a burp, rotted and fecund. She slid down the last bit of the path, tripping over rocks that had not been there before. Stumbling around the side of the cave's entry, Aura stood in astonishment. All her hard work had been for nothing. If anything, the small gain of space was filled with slabs of stones. Her precious campfire and odd assortments of food and medicine were buried under massive rock. A dust spiral rose from the disaster as if it were a spirit being sent to the Sheena with a message. Sinking down on the sandy beach, Aura stared in disbelief. Why had she thought to come back? She stared at her cracked and bleeding fingers. All that work for nothing, nothing. She was alone and had nothing. The sea was high and roaring in her ears, but the blonde woman did not care. What difference would it make if she died here, drown by angry ocean waves or crushed by monolithic stone or starved to death? No one would know, no one would mourn. She had outlived her people. There was nothing left for her here so the will to live that had brought her back from the Sheena once, picked her up and set her face toward the east. She slowly climbed the path for one final time. From the vantage point at the top, Aura surveyed the sea, the forest to the North, the valley where once the standing stones would sing for them and the east where lay the hot springs and the waterfall. She headed there first. As she passed the opening to the cave, the alternative entrance, she was drawn by the dust that spiraled up from there. As a gesture of farewell, she looked in. Batting away the dust, she lay down, reaching in, as if to pat her old home one last time. Her hand only touched open air. She withdrew it and sat up. Swinging her legs over, she was met with nothing but open air again. She eased in, all the way and began to slid along the gentle slope. She met with no obstacle. Soon the only light came from the now small glowing opening over head and still she met with no resistance. Finally, her feet touched a floor. Feeling her way, Aura found that a small chamber had been created along the back wall, large enough to accommodate her. The earth groaned and pebbles scattered around her." This woman is blessed by Swan and guided by Turtle, and she thanks the Sheena for this gift." she said aloud, in the way of the Others as she clutched her amulet. Good sense overrode her excitement. Aura scrambled back up the slope. She would allow the Earth to settle, and she would be moving into the Cave by the Sea. Despite her enthusiasm there was much to do. Her days and nights melted into each other. Aura lost weight dramatically as she worked hard and had little time to hunt or gather. Finally, more and more days brought rain, and she realized as she rubbed her aching back with sore hands that she must be content with her space. If she waited any longer, she would starve during the winter months. Even though the weather here was milder, plants yielded no fruit in winter, and she was not a great hand at hunting. Today, she laid the first official fire in her cave. She dug out the floor close by the back wall where the fire would absorb into the stone, reflecting heat back to her. Tears sprang to her eyes as she saw the markings of the handprints of her former cave mates. As shaman, she knew the shapes of each hand, every life that had lived with her, within. She missed Lily and she missed Mia. And Toughie and Mist walker. She even missed Marine, arrogant, self-centered leader of the Cave beneath the Sea. She missed Black Stone, the Sabre toothed tiger, in either of his forms, animal or human. Furthermore, she brushed the tears away. Furthermore, she was truly a lone, There was no help for it, What was, was. Azura lashed together the long thin poles to make a drying rack. It would serve double duty when the cold winds blew down the narrow tunnel that led to the top. She could drape hides over it to block the wind. On the far wall, Aura scraped out a trench that she lined pine boughs to serve as a bed. She stock piled dried grasses to give her materials with which to weave when the weather was bad enough that she was shut away underground. The fallen rock that blocked the entrance had pocked areas that she used for shelves. What more could she ask for? Azura shrugged on her aurochs's hide cloak, and made her way up the tunnel. The camp fire that had served her while she had been readying the cave still smoldered. She tossed some wood on it, hoisted a great basket to her shoulder and hurried off to gather. First to the stream where cattails grew and where trout were fat and lazy, then to patch of yams and some late berry patches. Some wild onions and peppers grew in the old garden that Lily had once tended. The next few weeks, if she was lucky, could be spent gathering. One person didn't need that much._________________Tireless work, relentless toil, aching back and loneliness marked the shaman's days. Nights brought exhausted sleep. She lost weight for all the food she brought in to store for the winter, she was too tired to prepare even the smallest fire. Often, she munched a handful of berries and some raw fish, of which she was not particularly fond. Food was too much trouble and tea was a luxury. Azura had learned to use snares and daily her snares proved effective. A small pile of unworked furs were rolled up by the herb rack, waiting to be finished during the days when winter made going out undesirable. Her aurochs's hide was worn in so many places that she was afraid it would not last but one more season, and then what would she do? She was no hunter, not in the real sense of the word. With a shake of her head, she focused on the right now, in this heart beat. She had noticed drag marks on the beach, like those left once upon a time by the skin walkers. Aura couldn't tell if the marks were from shape-shifters or from the actual animals, sea lions. The larger animals seemed to have disappeared from the area, she thought, but then maybe she was so clumsy that her movements alerted them to hide from her. How nice it would be if a clan of sea lions or better yet, skin walkers, lived close by. At least she could observe the animals, especially their funny babies and if it were skin walkers, maybe she would find a friend among them. Today it was raining and Aura had enough food, hides and fibers to occupy her hands. The cave was quite dark since the light from the sun was dimmed by clouds. She took her firestones from their place in a niche and gathered tinder. Soon, with a quick spark from striking the stones, she had a merry fire dancing in the pit. From there, she placed sticks for a spit and cooked some of the trout she had tickled from the river. While the fish cooked, she pulled out a beaver hide and began to scrape the hide side._________________There is only so much work that can be done inside a cave, even if the fire is warm and there is much to occupy hands. Aura tossed the wooden bowl she was working on aside and put on her wrap, frowning at the holes that were growing larger in the aurochs's hide. She would just ignore it because she couldn't imagine life without this cloak and there was no way to get a hide this big when only using tramlines. Out on the overhead plateau, she watched the sea boiling in, crashing, sending up angry spray in the distance against the jetty. She started along the path that led to the beach. She thought she saw black heads surfacing in the surf, but was not going to make the mistake of getting her hopes up. Her world was so isolated that she fervently wished for animal companions, since she did not believe that human ones were a possibility anymore. On the beach, she paced, the wind blowing back her hair and plastering the cloak to her thin body. Hugging herself for warmth, Aura pushed on, paying no attention to the sea at her left side. Finally, she reached the jetty and walked out amidst the violent spray, lifting her face to the wind." Kind of cold day for that isn't it?" said a rusty sounding voice. Azura stiffened, thinking she knew that voice. She turned and stared into amber eyes of a saber toothed tiger." Black Stone?" she signed with an incredulous look on her face. "Am I dreaming?" The big cat who was a man, a shaman, who had become stranded in animal form, leaped to the rocks in one fluid motion. He spoke with the voice of a man from the body of the feline,"I have found you. Did you think to have been rid of me so easily?" he asked, lashing his tail." Rid of you?" she signed, using the formal language of the Clan, "You left me to follow Stone. How is it that you are here?"" She needed me no longer, and I found that I missed you, odd little thing that you are. I have been following your scent for many seasons. The very Earth knows of your existence and the Wind often spoke of you to me. Where do you live, woman of spirits?" Azura bade him follow her. The two of them walked together, Aura with her arm over the back of the tiger, smelling his dusty fur and rubbing her fingers in his stiff tufted mane. Looking out to sea, she knew she saw heads of sea lions, or maybe they were skin walkers. How had life been so lonely on the way out to the jetty and now be so full? She wondered. She showed him the entrance to her cave and the saber toothed tiger bounded down the rocks. He stretched out by her fire and asked,"What is there to eat?"_________________Aura just laughed, relieved to hear that she was still capable of laughter. Black Stone always had the ability to bring joy to her life. He was huge and imposing, but that didn't stop the feline nature from asserting itself." I have some fish leftover and a rabbit that is cooking in the coals. I'm afraid that there really isn't much. You know I'm a poor hunter at best." she said in way of apology and explanation. The saber toothed tiger paced around her, lashing his tail. Finally, he poked at her with a heavy paw and spoke to her, using mind speak to communicate." You are thin. I can see it now that the cloak isn't masking your shape. Your bones are protruding, and even your fingers look like dried up claws. Woman, you are on the road to dying." he reproved her. "It's a good thing that I have come so that you will be taken care of." Azura quietly put hot rocks into the tightly woven cooking basket where they sizzled in the water." You know I can not die again. I guess I will go around and look like a walking skeleton." she laughed, but this time the sound was sad and rueful." If any of the Others would see me, they would run for I would look like an evil spirit walking and not a woman."" Don't be a fool. I will hunt for you and we will be happy. If we do run into any of the Others, I will chase them away for we do not wish to associate with their dried up judgmental ways. Your wrap looks like it has been the plaything of cubs instead of an honorable garment fit for a shaman. I will bring you an aurochs, and you can take his hide for a new wrap. I saw a herd on the way down here. We might have to travel for even I can't drag an aurochs to you. Besides, dragging it would damage the hide. So it is settled. We leave soon to bring you home new clothes." Azure smiled but shook her head. What she had missed in her life since he had been gone and how happy she was that he had returned._________________Chapter 1 Black Stone huffed and curled up by the fire. He knew they were safe, he hadn't scented another predator within a day of this place. But he did worry about the woman before him. When he had last seen her she had had a healthy glow about her. She had been stout, tough not muscled. And now she was a walking skeleton if ever he had seen one. He would hunt for her in the morning. If they were to get to the herd she would need the energy and strength that only meat could provide her. He wondered vaguely why she thought he wouldn't return to her. He had left to be sure, but he wasn't Stones mate. Furthermore, he wouldn't tell her the truth though. Why he had really come for her. Maybe in time, but not until he helped her recover. She needed to be healthy. His instincts were telling him to keep her safe to help her anyway he could. But without being able to shift there was only so much he could do for her." I will hunt for us in the morning. You need more meat. It will help to provide you the energy and strength you need to come with me to the herd." He laid his head down and stared at her as the fire light danced on his dark blackish fur, showing the sheen of his coarse coat. Aura woke early, finding herself curled up close to the big tiger. She lay there listening to the even breathing and taking in his clean dusty scent. How she had missed him came the thought unbidden. Tears filled her eyes, happy tears, tears of remembrance. Once, when he had managed to shift into human form, that one time during ceremony, together they had honored the Mother with their pleasures, their union. She had to admit that he was a handsome man when he was human, but if she was honest, she loved him dearly in his animal form. In his animal form, he was companion, guardian, teasing wit, with none of the complications that men brought into a woman’s life. She enjoyed his human flesh for he was skilled in making a woman feel her oneness with the Mother, but if she had to choose between the man or the tiger, she knew she would choose the tiger. In his animal form, she could lie next to him and not have to take part of her soul to please him. For a heartbeat, Aura was a little confused. She didn’t mean that she didn’t enjoy pleasures, and she didn’t mean that she wished Black Stone to be cursed to animal form, but well, he was her friend, and he was cuddly when he was a beast. She smiled faintly in the dim light of the banked hearth fire. Rubbing her hand over his fine head and round ears, Aura closed her eyes and reveled in the sensation of touching another warm being. She was no longer alone. Great Mother, she was no longer alone. In the distance, she could hear the calling of the seagulls and the roar of the ocean. Maybe soon, they would find the owners of those dark heads in the water. Soon, Black Stone promised to hunt an aurochs for her a new cloak. Today, he would hunt and they would feast. With a trembling hand, she clutched her amulet in prayer,“Sheena, your tests are hard ones. This woman has lost everything and every one she has ever cared for. In her impatience, she longed to return to her people after she had taken her own life and in your wisdom, granted me life. As punishment, this woman had wandered, lost and so alone, sacrificing for others, but you have found this woman worthy and have restored Black Stone to me. When the hunt is successful and this woman had a new cloak to mark a new moon of life, this woman will search out the valley of singing stones to renew a vow to you.” Black Stone slowly opened his eyes as Aura stroked him. He sighed and then slowly stood, stretching as only a cat can while yawning." Good morning Aura. I hope you slept well." He sat and studied her in the dim fire light as the rays of the early dawn streamed into the small entrance of the cave. He was grateful to finally be near his spirit woman once more. It had taken many seasons to find her again. Many hard nights and days. Many fights with predators and other bootleggers. But all the while the wind and earth had spoke to him, urged him on. They told him of her hardships and of how she needed him. He hadn't really believed it until he laid eyes on her last night. He realized she needed him more than he knew. Furthermore, he suspected that The Mother had leaded him to her, though he could not fathom a reason why. As a beast he was only of help as a mere hunter or companion. She needed others to be withered, to help her work on the things bootleggers worked on. He shook his head. His many years as a cat were affecting his thoughts he supposed. After all he used to t one time serve a village and The Mother as a Shaman. The same as his Spirit Woman had done. He could not recollect how he had become stuck in his cat form. But he knew it had been long, long ago. He was a very old cat. And truth be told, he knew not how old he was. He stood and padded towards the cave entrance peeking over his shoulder." I will find us some fresh meat Spirit Woman." With that he exited the cave and stealthily walked back up the path to the top of the cliff-side. Aura admired the great teeth that flashed when Black Stone yawned. These were easily as long as both of her hands put together. He stood eye to eye with her and those teeth snapping shut so close to her face should have been alarming, but it was Black Stone. Her Black Stone. She watched with swelling affection as he bounded up the long tunnel that led to the opening in the top of the cave. Putting her hand on the top of her head in order to contain her excitement, she whirled around to see what she needed to do to make the cave habitable for him. The first thing she would do would be to enlarge her bed so that he would have a measure of comfort. She worked all morning on scraping out a depression in the floor and making several trips to the topside in order to gather pine boughs. Luckily there were many of these not far from the hot springs. Then, using the various hides she had collected and tans, albeit smaller ones, she layered them over the pine boughs. A careful observer would see that it was two separate sleeping places, but they were close enough together that Aura would be able to share body heat with the beast. In her mind, she planned to never allow him to be far from her again, especially at night. Stirring up the fire, she poured fresh water into a cooking basket and added hot rocks to begin the tea making ritual. While the rose hips were steeping, she went through her collection of baskets and mats, to find him a special container for his feeding times. Of course, Tigers didn’t use platters and bowls as did people, but she wanted to give him the luxury of not eating meat from the floor where it would collect dirt, twigs, dried leaves and small pebbles. Aura wished to honor Black Stone as a special guest of high status. Black Stone hunted for some time before coming upon a great antlered beast. It was almost half his own considerable size. It was perfect. And he knew the spirit woman could use the hide and antlers for something. He stayed down wind and slowly got closer. He sensed the perfect time to strike and leaped in the blink of an eye, his long sharp canines sinking into the beasts' throat. It screamed and tried to rear up and kick, but he forced it to the ground and held it there as it struggled. He crushed its neck quickly to end its struggling. He let it go and licked his paw as he stood over it. He knew it would take a little time to get it to the den the woman had made her home in. It seemed to take half the morning to return with his kill. When he entered the den it was much changed it seemed. He placed his kill to the side and sat studying Aura as she busied herself on some task." I have returned spirit woman." His voice was slightly amused, she had jumped as he spoke. He had hoped he would surprise her. Aura jumped at the raspy sound of the voice. She had lived alone so long that she had almost forgotten the sound. A smile lit up her face as she put her hands on either side of the cat’s bloody muzzle and pressed a kiss on his feline mouth.“You were successful with your hunt!” she said in mind speak, her eyes aglow with excitement. Azura came from a people who spoke in sign language and a few selected words of warning. She had learned the way of the Others of using verbal language but with the days of being alone, she had put that skill in the back of her mind. As shaman, she had learned to read minds and to speak to minds and that is a skill that she kept honed. With great ceremony, she sat cross-legged in front of the tiger, and bowed her head as a good woman of the Clan would do to show respect to a man, a hunt leader. With the words of the Others, in verbal language, she said,“This woman would honor you, Hunt Leader, first among those who sustain life. This woman would express her gratitude for her life at your, ahem, paws. A comfortable space has been prepared for you and every need that can be provided will be done for you.” She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and smiled.“This woman has prepared a meal for you and will go to prepare the meat and hide from this worthy kill.” Black stone endured the ceremony. He knew she was one to stick to the painfully slow ways of old. Though he didn't resent it. It reminded him of his time as a man so long ago." Azura. You know I respect the old ways and ceremony's. But there need not be such formality among friends. Let us just treat each other as companions rather than stiff minded clan mates." he tried to portray sincerity in his words. He did not wish to offend her. But his time as a cat had changed his patience. He was only patient at certain times anymore...... He moved to the fire and sat as she went to the slain antlered beast." I have not a clue as to the name of that beast. It is not familiar, I only recently encountered them when trying to find you Aura. Though its blood was sweet, so maybe the cooked meat will be good for you." Aura smiled at his admonition as she brought out the stone knives she used for cutting tough hides.“Sometimes a woman has to have a way for a man to understand the depth of her emotions. You understand how important it is to me when the old ways are used.” She made the belly cut, from the anus through the belly to the breastbone. There was little blood since Black Stone had taken a while to bring it in, so the mess was minimal. She brought in baskets to catch the entrails, sorting out which ones to cook and which ones to wash out to use for storage. The stomach and bladder always made nice water bags. The intestines made fine cordage with which to lash small branches together for drying racks. The hide came away from the meat with ease, only calling for a few swipes of the sharpened flint knife to completely tear it away. Aura rolled up the hide and set it to the side for working with it later. It had been sometime since she had had the opportunity to butcher a whole large animal and then Lily had still been around to help. Soon she was sweating and covered in blood. She didn’t finish until she had carved out a large roast and put it on spitted branches to cook over the fire. Finally, she came to a good stopping place in the work and stood up, easing her back with her hand.“That is enough work for the day.” She said, tossing the knife to the mat. “The hot springs are calling me and the answer is yes. Would you enjoy a soak in the warm birth waters of the Mother? If memory serves me correctly, you used to enjoy it quite well.” Azura gathered her worn cloak and a fresh wrap made from many rabbit furs tied together with small laces and knots. While it wasn’t serviceable as her everyday wrap, she would feel clean and fresh with it on. They would be coming back here after the swim so it would be enough for that and tomorrow, she could put the old one back on to finish cutting thin strips of meat to dry. Black Stone huffed and nodded as he stood. She had remembered him well. He had often enjoyed soaking in the many hot springs they came across in her travels. They relaxed the muscles and allowed one to just lay down and forget their troubles for a short time." I would indeed enjoy such. It has been quite some time since I was able to do so." He moved to her side and stayed there as they left the cave. She had taken to resting a hand on his shoulder. And truth be told, it was comforting in some way. He knew not how to explain it so he said nothing. But he did purr..... A deep satisfied purr he hadn't used in a long span of seasons. He studied her as they moved. He was very unhappy at her condition. But as she had reminded him. She had always been a poor hunter at best. He knew the Mother had brought him to her again just in time. For even though her words had been spoken with humor the night before, he knew better. Even a Shaman had to eat, to sustain their body to continue their existence on this plane. He would hunt as often as he had to help keep her healthy. He knew without a doubt that the Mother had a plan for his Spirit Woman. Though what that was he could not even vague guess. The path to the hot springs lay to the east of the cave. They went through a small meadow strewn with rocks, passed by the remnants of Lily’s garden and soon came to the grove of trees, most pines, that grew close to the springs. The waterfall kept up a constant stream of happy splashing over the edge and onto the boulders. The coolness of the falls, fed into the hot springs keeping it a heat, just above what the body’s natural state of temperature was. Azura felt the contented rumble from Black Stone, a sure sign that he was finding something pleasurable. She loved touching him. He was solid and warm and furry. She ran her fingers through a section of his mane. He was rather dusty. A good soak would do him good. Today the sun had been out and unhindered by clouds so that the stones surrounding the springs radiated some heat as well. Aura flung off her wrap and waded into the springs. She unbound her hair and just for a heartbeat, she was the young woman who had visited these springs so many seasons ago. A smile lit up her face and she turned to splash the tiger.“Coming in? The water feels so good.” She lifted another handful to toss at him. Aura waded to her favorite spot and leaned back on her elbows, lifting her face to the sky. She closed her eyes and listened for splashing which would indicate the big cat had joined her. Her breasts were partly submerged in the water, but the water was so clear that they seemed more on display than covered. Aura gave no thought for her nakedness. She was a shaman and a natural woman, although very much a woman, although too slim now. Her skin was alabaster and help a creamy glow. She ducked her head under the water in preparation for washing her hair. Only her mouth and nose where topside while the rest of her floated in the hot natural spring waters. Her hair spread around her like an ashen mantle. With her eyes still closed, she found her feet and felt around for the soap root but instead encountered a massive soggy fur clad creature.“You decided to join me after all,” she commented with a smile in her voice. “What do you think?” Black Stone sighed. The water felt as good as he had hoped it would. He was long overdue for a bath and the deeper he went, the more dirt and dust washed off of him turning the surrounding water a slight dingy brown before the ripples of the continuous waterfall washed it away. He paddled over to Aura and found purchase for his large paws so he could stand yet soak and relax only a foot or so from her. He heard the amusement in her voice as she reached back into his soggy wet fur." Yes I was long overdue for a good bath. A warm soak is a nice bonus too. Relaxes the muscles and lets me feel free for a short time of stress and fatigue." he said as he sank lower to soak his mane. He took a single breath and quickly dunked his whole head before rising again. It felt so great to rinse his fur with the warm water. Azura retrieved a soap root, and he watched as she lathered her hair. He knew why she did it. For a short time afterward her hair would have a slight sheen to it that would resist dirt and grime. He had never used it, though as a cat he could not if he had even wanted to. But it had a pleasant scent to it. An almost earthy scent, but cleaner and sharper to his sensitive nose. Aura felt impish for the first time in a long time. She lathered her hands and beckoned Black Stone closer.“Come here and bask in this surprise.” She said with a knowing smile. The big cat looked askance but held his ground as she advanced on him. She ran her soapy hands through his short mane, and then splashed water on him to make a better lather. The soap ran through her fingers and the coarse fur was soon slick. Aura’s fingers were finally able to work down to the delicate white skin that she knew lay under the fur. Massaging the soap in released even more of the dirt which floated to the surface and was carried away on the small eddying current that highlighted the pool. Once she was satisfied that Black Stone had enjoyed the experience, she scooped careful handfuls of water over his fur, thoughtfully to not splash soap into his intelligent eyes. She realized she had nearly forgotten how to play. Being with Black Stone brought laughter to her lips and light to her eyes. She leaned across his back as she rinsed the rest of the soap from him.“How long did you say it has been since you found your way to a bathing place? Black Stone, you were positively filthy. “ She said with mock sternness, and then she jabbed a thumb into her own chests.“This woman thinks that, that her dirt and grime was far more than your own. There was no excuse for my own filth for the hot springs are always here for the taking.” Her voice went from joking to serious.“There was no reason to be clean. There was no reason to rise in the morning and no reason to have a care for myself, but now that you are here, the whole world is alive. There is a reason to rise in the morning to play my bird boned flute, I had nearly forgotten how. There is a reason to walk in the sunshine and to rejoice in the moon at night.” Tears sprang up in her eyes. She was emotional and felt weak, the way that one would after a prolonged illness. Life took a great toll on the body of the living. She threw her wet arms around his neck and hugged him, long and hard. Black Stone listened to her words. Hearing more than her words, but the feelings behind them. He was unsure what to do. He had never been good with emotions, he had long ago learned to hide his deep inside. He knew now though, how lonely she had truly been. His Spirit Woman had given up on life. Given up on the world she served and lived in. He endured her hug, standing still and letting her take what she could from his presence. It was all he could do, all he could offer the woman. But he knew that now that he had found her he would not leave again. She needed him just as the world needed the sun. He would be her companion and provide for her what he could to keep her and himself happy and safe. He knew the mother would in time reveal her plan, but until then it was on his shoulders to care for his woman." Azura, I have missed you as well. And now that I am here I won't leave again. But come, we musent soak too long, or we will turn to grapes. Let us go dry ourselves then go eat. Afterward we can share tales of our time apart." He had hoped to get her to be happier or at least to cheer her a little. He only hoped he could help her recover and become healthy once more. For she was in very poor condition. He was afraid of how frail she appeared to his own bulk. At Black Stone’s suggestion, Aura followed him from the hot springs. She noticed some sweet rush which had grown by the springs but were now yellowed and dried; there were also some long spindly teasel. She cut these and carried them to a sunny spot sheltered from the wind to dry. Aura used these to first curry the tiger’s fur and then to comb out his short mane. Once she was satisfied he had been groomed, then she turned her attention to her own thick, blonde hair. Using the tease, she tugged through the tangles and few knots. She was one of the lucky women. Her hair didn’t tangle and knot. Many women had hair that some clans called dreadlocks because they went so long without grooming, but Aura’s hair never did take on that look. While her hair wasn’t the rich golden blonde of her former days, it was still a healthy rich golden brown with streaks of silver and white giving it the look of being kissed by moonlight. She had always been a little vain over her hair and she admired it while running the smooth, wet locks through her fingers. Using her voice in the way of the Others, Aura said,“You can smell the meat cooking from here. It makes my mouth water. When this woman lived here before, there were shifters from the sea. They took the form of sea lions but were actually women, and a few but very few men. They have been gone from here a long time but maybe after all this time, they will have come home too. Traveling with you to hunt will be fun and this woman hasn’t had fun to look forward to for a long time. The anticipation makes my stomach quiver with joy. Now that you are here, we can go explore to the South and see if the sacred singing stones still cry out in longing. Perhaps, even have a ceremony to thank the Sheena for sending you back.” Azura’s speech was varied, jumping from topic to topic as if these thoughts, these words had been built up in her, waiting for the right time of life to spring forward like seeds underground spring to green life when the sun is warm upon them. She clutched her amulet and sent a silent prayer,“This unworthy woman is grateful for the blessings, URSS. Grateful for the presence of the tiger.” With a smile, she poked Black Stone with her toe.“Are you sleeping? Wake up. Let’s go eat.” Black Stone huffed at her and chuckled in his head." Food sounds very good right now. I am sure we are both hungry. Let us go and get some. Then perhaps we can explore along the beach. It has been many moons since I was able to see and smell the sea with time to enjoy it." He leads the way back to the cave, following the trail, but more his nose, back to the woman's den. It was a nice little den. Tucked into the side of a cliff with many rocks around it. He wondered how long it had taken her to find such a place. But he knew it best to just accept that she had and not question how or why. From the path down he could look out over the vast ocean of life. It held many wonders he knew, but he had not often been able to admire its beauty. He kept a slow pace for the woman, as he didn't want her to chance falling or injuring herself. He was hungry true, but she was more important than that hunger. Furthermore, he found it slightly odd in his mind. The fact that he was a massive beast, yet he cared so much for a woman he could easily kill or hurt if he so chose. He shook those thoughts. He would never dream of harming his Spirit Woman. “Just before you met this woman so many seasons ago, before you took the tiger for your mate, before your cub was born, before you lost them both in the horrible earthquake, this woman lived with her people, here at the Cave by the Sea. For many generations our people had lived in the Tourette’s cave, high in the mountain. We only came to the sea for salt once a year during the warm season. It was here that this woman fell under the charm of Marine, leader of the Cave beneath the sea. He wanted us to move here and for this woman to leave her people to be his head woman, but how could that be? These people were my heart. During our last days in the mountains, a horrible war with great winged beasts, destroyed our cave. We had learned to shape-shift by them, or at least some of us had and other great magics, but people cannot live when bad luck visits their cave. We had to leave. Barine had been insistent on having this woman close to him so we set out for the sea. This cave was one we had used during our excursions for salt and so it became our home.” Azura walked alongside Black Stone, arm over his now soft, clean mane. She explained how she had come to live in this place and tried to convey the deep importance of it to her even now, even though nearly a ruin.“ We lived here and were happy. Our numbers were fairly large, for a cave such as we were, a band of misfits and vagabonds. On the back wall, you might have noticed, is where we numbered the members, their hands staining the walls with a flat print of hand and fingers of the right hand, except for Empty, who lived among us, was mated to Lily, our healer, but never vowed his heart to our hearth. His hand is outlined with the blood, rimming his hand’s mark.” Azura absently petted between his ears.“You need to put your paw mark there. It will mean this home will always be a part of you. Perhaps, at the next full moon this will happen. You will number among the Cave by the sea with, Lily, Empty, Mia, Toughie, Methane, Aura, Mist walker, and several more who walk in the spirit world.” At the saying of the names, she went quiet and pressed closer to the tiger.“So many memories, not all of them good, but all of them mine.” She said softly, then brightened, “but the future belongs to us, you and me. We will be happy and have fun and no one can say no to us. We will live and live, free.”“Someday, when this woman can bear to think of it, the story of how death came to claim me and why this woman can never die.” They neared the entry tunnel.“The roast is done, and the smell is mouth watering.” While they ate, Aura was quiet, admiring the leaping of shadows on the wall. The great cat fell asleep but she was restless. Going to the top, she went out into the night and down the path to the sea. The surf was breathing in and out, sending gentle foam on the sand. Aura could hear the deep resonance of a whale somewhere not too far out, and she found a rock to sit on to listen. The moonlight on the ocean made a path that seemed to lead to the sky and Aura looked at the small hearth fires that twinkled there. She wondered what her life would have been like had she been content to stay dead, to leave her people on their own. Life had never quite been the same after she came back. They had all died or been scattered to the four winds anyway. Her presence had truly made no difference. No one was left who knew the pain of heart she had suffered to take such drastic steps to find peace. Although many seasons had come and gone since Mist walker rode out of her life and into that steep crease, she still felt the tang of loss on occasion. Tonight was not one of those nights, however. Since Black Stone had returned, there were so many possibilities for adventure now.

Cave by the Sea 1x1 with War'nak and Isolde|rating:4.0

Daddy's Breeding Cult

OC- another thread inspired by a story I read, looking for the daddy. The just of the story will be released In Character.IC-Tabitha Clarke Red hair Green Eyes Med build Long Legs Full lips20 years old Tabitha was a bit nervous as she cleaned up after the family lunch, it was her 20th birthday, and even though it was her birthday she needed to help the older girls clean up after the two dozen family member. Her family wasn't what anyone would call functional, they lived on a huge plantation in the middle of nowhere, her father, and her 7 natural sister, and herself...along with the 10 names/sisters, and 5 nephews/brothers. Tabitha was the youngest of what they call the first generation, the daughter of her father and her late mother. Her mother had passed away 5 years ago from cancer. Tabitha's oldest nephew was 11 years old, he was the son of her oldest sister Samantha and of course their father. See her mother and father believed that God looked kindly on you, the more children you had. Unfortunately after 8 girls her mother was forced to have a hysterectomy. So when Sam had turned 20 moms told her and dad that they had carry on the growth of the family, and when Sam got pregnant right away and her next sister Katrina turned 20, their father moved onto her and so on down the line, all of her sister's at least had one child, the oldest three each had three and the next two had two and the next youngest, Atlanta had one on the way. Tabitha finished up her cleaning and headed to her room to take a shower. She didn't have to share, the house was big enough, and they were always adding to it. She slipped into her bathroom and took off all her clothes, slipping under the warm spray of water, trying to calm her nerves as tonight she would join her sisters in adding to the growing family. Adding to it Tabitha slipped out of the shower....a few hours later she was slipping the silk red nightie over her buxom frame and splashing some rose water on her neck. She slipped into her big bed and awaited her father Max All throughout then party I looked with pride at the issue I had created. I had to remember my wire, Joyce, with whom I had such a great love affair and produced all these lovely daughters. When Joyce was dying, she told me one night what she planned to do, telling the girls what they must do to prolong her memory. Ever since then I was hard put to keep up with them. As far as I knew, none of them had other lovers except me and perhaps each other, which was fine with me since I couldn't service them all the time. Tonight the youngest of the original daughter turned twenty, and we celebrated with all my children. Someday some of the sons would take over taking care of the ladies needs, but tonight was Tabitha'SAS I slipped into her bedroom after all was quiet, I knew she would be ready, and I had lusted for her for several years patiently waiting for this moment TT Tabitha Tabitha smiled nervously at her father as he entered her room. She FIGlet with the top of the sheet in her hands. "Daddy." she quietly acknowledged his presence. She waited for him to close the door Daddy Max"Hi sweetheart. How're you doing?", I asked and I closed and locked the door. I knew that over time the other sisters would play tricks on us when we made love, as they all did when I was with one of them and the other seven had tar fun too. But it wouldn't happen tonight. It was an unwritten rule that a sister's first night with daddy was hers alone to enjoy and hopefully get pregnant and produce another offspring went over and sat on the side of the bed, with Tabitha under the covers. I looked at her and loved her so much. My last daughter by Joyce, and tonight my lover. I had changed her diapers and washed her all over, and tonight I was going to make her a woman after watching her grow up all these years. I leaned over and gave her a fatherly kiss. Her arms went around my neck, and she kissed me back. Where did she learn to kiss like that? Maybe from one of her older sisters. I looked at her and kissed her again, this time a long slow lover's kiss. With our mouths locked together my tongue slid out and licked her lips, and they opened for me, or maybe for her as her tongue met mine and slid into my mouth too reached over and turned off the light, and removed my slippers and robe, as she slid over to the far sided of her bed Tabitha Kissing her father, Tabitha's mind raced with what he could be thinking about her. She knew some of her sister...well batted for both teams, but she herself could never get herself to act in such a way, it just wasn't in her. As she moved to the other side of the bed she prayed that her father wouldn't be mad when he found out she wasn't a virgin, she was pretty sure her sisters had all been one on their first night with their father, but because she was the youngest and the other's had usually been pregnant, she was the one who was sent into town for the supplies they needed to live. She had struck up a relationship of sorts with the son of the towns grocer and the night before he joined the army she had snuck out and given herself to him, that had been two years ago. Smiling tentatively at her father she eased the straps of her silk nightgown off her shoulders Maxi crawled under the covers as she slipped her nightie does uncovering her pretty breasts. As we snuggled together, she cupped my genitalia in her hand and whispered that Sam had told her I liked to be played with that way. She should know, after all the nights we had slept together. Tabitha fondled me that way as we kissed, and then she told me that had also said that as soon as I got big and hard, she was supposed to kiss it and lick it and suck it, as Daddy liked that too. I first caressed her breasts in a loving way, and then my hand found its way down to her pussy, and she spread her legs for me. My finger entered her, and finding no barrier as I had with most of her sisters, she said that Sam had shown her how to use her vibrator, so I had no idea she wasn't Maximum Have no idea how that happened - sorry...no idea that she wasn't AA virgin. We laid together that way for a while, and my cock got nice and hard for her. I scratched down a bit and sucked her nipples, but i count stop there. I wanted to eat her pussy, so I kept kissing my way down to her tummy and licked her navel Tabitha Tabitha stilled a bit when his fingers entered her, in both pleasure and fear. When he said nothing, she figured he didn't care that she was no longer a virgin or that he thought that like her sisters she used mechanical means to pleasure herself...which she didn't. She gasped slightly when his mouth enclosed over her nipple, it puckered instantly. She sighed and fingered his hair as his tongue dipped into her navel, "Daddy." Max"feel good baby?". I muttered as I kissed my way toward my goal. I licked and kissed all around her tummy, with my fingers playing in her now quite wet pussy. She wiggled and squirmed and moaned and sighed in apparent pleasure as this intimacy approached its peak Tabitha"Yes." Tabitha answered her father with a sigh of pleasure, bucking her hips against his fingers. She waited impatiently for him to make his next move, if there was one thing she learned from her sisters it was not to rush their father. Maxi was so nice to hear her say "yes" when I asked if it felt good when I fingered her cunt and kissed and licked her tummy couldn't wait any longer to taste her, so I did. My face was buried in her pussy in a heartbeat, and my tongue swirled around and probed her inner folds where my cock would soon be. She writhed and squirmed and moaned as I tasted her and just loved her all the more every moment. Her thighs were wrapped tightly around my head, but I had to part them to crawl back up, kiss her and share her tastes, and let my cock find its way home She was so warm and responded with delightful kisses and sounds as I entered her, and we were united as lovers should be, even if they are father and daughter. Right then I made the decision to move her into my bedroom as my wife, as my regular lover, until she was carrying out baby to term, when I would resume fucking her sister on occasion Tabitha Tabitha stilled as his mouth and tongue delved into her moist pussy, taking in the pleasure. When she finally moved, she wrapped her thighs around his head, crushing him against her as she bucked her hips up to meet his probing tongue, "daddy." She sighed in disappointment as he parted her thighs to kiss his way up her body, but her disappointment soon faded as he kissed her, and she could taste herself as his large cock slowly entered her body. When the kiss broke, and he had penetrated her to the full, she studied his face, wondering what he was thinking. Was he wondering about her lost virginity or something else? They stayed like that for a while, staring at each other as his cock lay hard inside her, unmoving, allowing her to adjust fully to his size. Max barely moving I was thrilled with the warm feeling of being engulfed in that sweet pussy. I even became jealous of the son we were going to have because he would get to spend the next nine months in there. I whispered to her how good she felt, and how very much I loved her, and while still in her, I asked her to move into my bedroom and be my wife. As she started to move against me and thrust her pelvis up to take me deeper, she answered "what about the others?" I told her I would service them on occasion, but Atlanta was too far along, and the others were busy with their own children. Tabitha was my lover as long as she would have me.With that I started to thrust in and out, and the movement brought us quickly close to our climax. I was going very slow, but realized her pussy was just perfect. Nice and tight and hot and wet, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life in it, and told her so Tabitha Tabitha didn't know what to think when he said she wanted him to be his wife, but all thoughts quickly left her mind as he started moving inside her, the pleasure was immeasurable as he filled her, she wrapped her legs tightly around him, "OOO DADDY!" Max we moved together, our thrusts with each other until I reached the brink and cried out "I'm cumming", and shot my load deeply within her. Suddenly she came too and shrieked as she reached what I assumed and hoped was her first climax. The instant she cried out loudly, I heard a crash and her door opened and her sisters, all naked, burst into the room. They pulled off our covers and piled on top of us. All in a big pig pile I managed to roll off her. One sister started eating my cum out of her pussy and another was behind her tonguing her pussy and ass in a daisy chain. Another was sucking the juices off my limp cock. Atlana was still clothed and being very pregnant stood aside laughing. Soon we were all laughing, and they confessed they had listened at the door intending to come in just as we reached our orgasms, known how loud I was. Before long. All had a taste of Tabitha's cunt and my cock, and I had eaten all of the pussies too, as had Tabitha Afterward, sitting there quietly, I announced the new living arrangement. It was made clear that one or more would share our bed often, and until Tab was pregnant and missing periods etc., or didn't feel like making love, I would be having sex with one or more of the other sisters whenever we felt like it okay I don't do the same sex thing so if you would like to continue with this thread you may want to re-write the last post John Two years in the army. I was now a corporal, had been to Germany form a going tour in the infantry, and was now headed to the Rangers. Before ranger school I had 30 days leave and went back home While in Germany I had several Fräuleins, and a couple of fraud, one of whom was the wife of the lieutenant in my own outfit We had met while I was on guard duty one night, and she came looking for her husband who was out parked with one of the nurses. I knew it, as he'd told me to keep an eye out when the.y left This attractive blonde came in asking for Lt Aiken, and we started to chat while I stalled her. She seemed upset, and I soon discovered it was because she was horny as hell, and before long we were in the back room of the guardhouse necking, and she went to her knees and unzipped my pants. A blowjob later we were lovers, and it continued on and off until I was transferred. Her husband the Lt knew it all along, and went along with it so he was free to play with his nurse at the same time so we worked in concert. I knew when she was alone and took advantage of iron the plane back to the states I thought of when I left for the army, and the night before when I was with that farm girl who used to come into the store. We had made a date for that night, and when she showed up we were supposed to go to a movie, but we just went out and parked. What was her name? I wasn't sure if I remembered right, but I had called her Tab I thought. We had necked a while and then took a little walk in the moonlight, stopping in a grove of trees on a hill overlooking the cemetery, and before long we were lying together naked. We under up fucking and I was surprised I was getting a virgin, but I guess my line about leaving for the army, and maybe never coming back was all it took, as she gave herself to me, and we had a very nice time and a tearful farewell when I dropped her off at her farm truck to go home. I wondered if her daddy would catch her and discover what she had been doing, but in a letter soon after she told me she got home ok and snuck into the outwith no problem'd have to look her up as soon as I got home' Johnson sorry - that was me - didn't notice the "username" Tabitha Tabitha lay in her tub the next day, soaking away some of the bruising she had got from her father. She wasn't sure where he was right now, he had left soon after their first coupling, presumably to watch some of her sisters pleasure each other, he seemed to like that. He hadn't said anything about her not being a virgin, which surprised her, she smiled softly as she remembers the boy she had given it to who was now probably a man. John arrived home late in the afternoon, after a very long and tiring trip. I went home and showered and cleaned up, and went to the store to see my dad and mom who were bust working. Greeted by hugs and kisses, they were full of comments about how I'd grown up and matured, and they were right. After getting all the latest local news, I asked my dad about that pretty blonde girl that used to come in with a pick-up truck to collect a whole list of groceries for a large family They said "Oh yes, Tabitha. She still comes in every week, but it's been a while. Maybe she will be in tomorrow"I thought to myself that just for old times sake I'd come tomorrow and put in a little work, hoping to see her again Tabitha As far as anyone knew Tabitha wasn't pregnant, of course there Wei no way of know yet, so she was still the only one old enough to drive into town. Pulling her long red hair into a ponytail she grabbed the keys to the pickup and headed to town. It was noon, and she still hadn't seen her father, she was afraid he was angry or disappointed with her. She was mentally conflicted with such thoughts as she pulled up to the General store Johnie was fun going back to old times, helping stock the shelves and changing some lightbulbs and various things just to keep busy, with my eye always open for Tab. Suddenly the front door opened and there, like a vision in my memory, she stood with a smile on her face and a big slip of paper in he hand came around the shelf and said "HI! I'm home on leave for a month. How is everything with you? Nice to see you again." She responded with a grin, and we reached out to each other for a hug. She felt wonderful in my arms, even for a brief instant. One never forgets their first love, and I had fantasized a lot about her those first few months in the army, when I was homesick and tired and sore and no way to let it go during basic training. I used to lay in my bunk at night and imagine her there beside me doing things to my cock I had to do all alone asked her if she was free to go out tonight, hoping she might still be unattached. Tabitha Tabitha was shocked to see him for sure, but happy and glad he was all right. When he asked her if she were free she frowned and shook her head, unless she had somehow upset her father she would be sharing a bed with him tonight, "Sorry I don't think I can get away for a while." John"Why not? Do you have a boyfriend? Here, dad - fill her basket with this list and Tab, and I'll go across the street for a soda"With that, I took her arm and led her out of the store where we could talk privately and not in front of my parents who were standing there Tabitha"Um no not a boyfriend just um...family obligations." She told him as he led her across the street. Even though her family felt what they were doing wasn't wrong, they did know that those outside of the family did and wouldn't understand. Johnie was too early in the day to start drinking. Besides after drinking that good German beer for almost two years, the American sough just didn't stand a chance. So, I couldn't ply her with liquor, and we had to settle for a couple of cold cans of soda pop. I had a root beer, and she had a Dew, while I tried to figure out what she was telling me. I figured she had a little time, so I conned her into going for a little ride. We got into my dad's car and even without a valid driver's license, I drove her out by the cemetery where I had make love to her two years ago. We sat there on a tombstone drinking sure pop, and I asked her right out what she meant by family obligations told her how I had thought of her often after I went away, and really loved getting her letter, and presumed that she had gotten my address from my folks at the store. If she bothered to write, she must have had feelings for me, and right now I wanted to feel her all over, especially having her impaled on my cock again." So when can we be together, Tabitha? I really want to go out with you, especially now that I have some money and can take you out for a good time?" Tabitha Tabitha frowned, she wasn't nave despite what her father or the man sitting next to her thought, "I’m sorry, but I can't... I... I really have to get home." She said hopping down off the cold marble. It was disconcerting being so near the spot she had lost her virginity, when she had been made love to just for the pure pleasure of the acts and not to breed her. OC- another thread inspired by a story I read, looking for the daddy. The just of the story will be released In Character.IC-Tabitha Clarke Red hair Green Eyes Med build Long Legs Full lips20 years old Tabitha was a bit nervous as she cleaned up after the family lunch, it was her 20th birthday, and even though it was her birthday she needed to help the older girls clean up after the two dozen family member. Her family wasn't what anyone would call functional, they lived on a huge plantation in the middle of nowhere, her father, and her 7 natural sister, and herself...along with the 10 names/sisters, and 5 nephews/brothers. Tabitha was the youngest of what they call the first generation, the daughter of her father and her late mother. Her mother had passed away 5 years ago from cancer. Tabitha's oldest nephew was 11 years old, he was the son of her oldest sister Samantha and of course their father. See her mother and father believed that God looked kindly on you, the more children you had. Unfortunately after 8 girls her mother was forced to have a hysterectomy. So when Sam had turned 20 moms told her and dad that they had carry on the growth of the family, and when Sam got pregnant right away and her next sister Katrina turned 20, their father moved onto her and so on down the line, all of her sister's at least had one child, the oldest three each had three and the next two had two and the next youngest, Atlanta had one on the way. Tabitha finished up her cleaning and headed to her room to take a shower. She didn't have to share, the house was big enough, and they were always adding to it. She slipped into her bathroom and took off all her clothes, slipping under the warm spray of water, trying to calm her nerves as tonight she would join her sisters in adding to the growing family. Tabitha slipped out of the shower....a few hours later she was slipping the silk red nightie over her buxom frame and splashing some rose water on her neck. She slipped into her big bed and awaited her father Daddy Marthe party was wonderful. I watched my pretty Tabitha open her presents and enjoy them, while we kept looking at each other knowing the present I was going to give her later, due to our family tradition The other girls clustered around her and fussed over her, and the younger ones all played in the yard after we had our big lunch. Ta varied from 7 down to the latest infant, and they wee quite a crop from my seed. One more was on the way from Tabatha's sister Atlanta, and it was due soon, None of the sisters were married, and took turns in my bed. They did leave the place on occasion, and I had no idea whether they had other partners, or for that matter if Tabitha had, and I didn't care, as long as they stayed here, and we all enjoyed each other Looking at my sons, I knew that some day they would take over the chores of servicing the girls, but right now I was spreading myself really thin taking care of all of them After tonight and all of my daughters having joined the cult, we might have to have a family meeting to make decisions about the future, but right now my thoughts were on lovely Tabitha and tonight. Tabitha Tabitha sat up in the big bed, thinking about the strange looks that had closed her father's face that day. Tabitha played with the thin straps of her red nightie, thinking about the traditional talk she had had with her sisters earlier that day. She pretty much knew all of what they told her, she was a virgin, but she was not naive, she also knew some of her sisters pleasured each other when not with their father, that some of them preferred a night with each other than with their father, but it was not something Tabitha was even curious about. She heard the door open and looked up to smile at her father Daddy Maxi knocked on the door at the agreed upon time, and heard a sweet feminine voice tell me to come on in. There was Tabatha with as smile on her face, and the nicked nightie I had given her as a present, to honor the occasion. I was wearing my pajamas and my robe, which I shredded upon entry and closing the door. I went over and sat on the side of the bed, and leaned over ANF gave my sweet baby a nice kiss. The first kiss was fatherly, but the second wasn't. My hand was on her very shapely breast, fondling it and rubbing her nipple while I kissed her again. My tongue licked her lips, and then gently forced its way into her mouth and I swirled it around tasting her. Pulling away, she looked at me and I softly said "your turn", as I leaned in again. This time she kissed me back the same way and told me how nice that was. I knew Samantha had been giving her a little coaching but I didn't know how specific it was. I looked at Herr and kept fondling her breast, and then laid on the bed and pulled her down next to me, with my hand still on her. we kissed again and again, and my hand started to wander. I caressed her tummy and back up again to her breasts, and then around to the back of her neck as we kept kissing. Then I sat up and removed my pajama top. I asked her if she wanted me to turn off the light or leave it on. She said she didn't care, and I left it on. I wanted to look at her until we were ready for sleep, and that wouldn't be quite yet Laying down again I took her hand in mine, and put it on me, as I resumed fondling her all over her upper body as we kissed. She kissed me back and startedailinbg her fingers up and down my check. My hard cock was pressed against her, and after a little while I again took her hand and put it on my member, telling her it was her toy to play with tonight. She stroked me lightly through the fabric of my pajama bottoms, until I sprung out through the fly, and she had it in her hand. I didn't know if mine was the first one she had played with, but It felt very nice, and I responded by putting my hand down below her waist and exploring her lower regions, which of course I'd seen but not since she was a baby. This lasted a little while, and then I suggested she take off the nightie. I removed my pants and she got naked too. She was beautiful. Even more lovely and tantalizing than I had imagined the last few nights thinking about her and anticipating tonight started kissing her again, but this time I inched down and took one of her lovely nipped in my mouth, lightly sucking it while playing with the other one, as her arms went around me, and she held me close Tabitha Her sister had told her to do certain things, she hadn't shown her, Samantha knew it would be unwanted attention on Tabitha's behalf. She stroked her father, both confidently and shyly right before they removed all their clothes, He still had a magnificent body for his age. She wasn't nervous at all as he laid her back and captured one of her nipples in his mouth, sending the most erotic sensations through her body as she clutched at him. She didn't think it could get any better then her switched over to the other breast, her back arching the tiniest bit off the bed. When he finally stopped and pulled back to look at her, she pushed him on his back and crept down his body until her mouth was over his cock breathing softly. Slowly she took the tip in her mouth, hearing him gasp. She sucked just on the tip, running her hands over his shaft enjoying his moans until she took the whole thing in her mouth, sucking softly up and down. Daddy Maxi wondered where she had learned that. It couldn't be her first time sucking cock she did it so naturally and so well. But, I didn't care. I never minded if my girls had other sex partners and I knew there was activity outside my bed. Maybe Samantha had taught her this little maneuver, but if so, she taught Tabitha well, because she was wonderful. I laid back and enjoyed, but of course couldn't let myself get even close to cumming. We needed my seed to make another baby for the family. I reach down and ran m hands through her long hair, AMD guided her back up lying on top of me wit her full weight on me. The closeness was so nice and so was she. We kissed again, and My hands were up and down her back, as I told her how good that felt. She didn't have to be guided as she started to straddle me, and took my cock in her hand and pointed it at her. She sat down on it NAND tried to get it in her, but it wouldn't go in. I knew she was a virgin now. She raised up and sat back hard and cried out, but it still didn't happen, until the third time. With a scream she broke through, and sank down all the way with me in her to the hilt. I told her to just lay still and let herself adjust to the size and the intrusion into her innermost places. She whispered that now it felt good as she slowly started to move up and down. I pulled her face down to kiss her mouth again and tell her how beautiful this was and how much I loved her. She told me she loved me too and had saved herself for me. I told her thank you, but after tonight she was free to have sex anytime she wanted with anyone she wanted, and she said "it feels so good, I don't know what I will do on the nights you are with one of my sisters"Then she started moving up and down, and I would match her movements to thrust up in her. Several of her sisters reached orgasm every time we made love, but some didn't. I didn't know if she would, but probably not on her first time. She brought me close, and I told her I was close to getting her pregnant with our baby. She smiled and said she wanted that to become a full member of the family, and increased her movements to bring us to that goal Tabitha rocked slowly up and down on her fathers cock, groaning and moaning as she watched the pleasure dance across his face, knowing that a similar look had be dancing across hers as well. She started to pick up the pace, her pussy sliding up and down on his cock, she knew she would be a bit jealous when the time came for him to share his bed with her sisters again, but she would enjoy the time she would get him exclusively until they knew for sure she was pregnant." Tell me how you feel daddy, does it feel good?" daddy Max"You feel wonderful, lover. I can't believe how good you are at this. You're a natural!" I reached up and fondled her breasts while she started to gasp and moan. Suddenly she cried out lurched, increasing her pace until she started to shake and squirm, and then stopped and just laid herself down on me and purred like a kitten. I held her close, and then we rolled over on our sides, kissing like the lovers we were. She said "I never knew it would be so good, Daddy"I ran my fingers up and down her spine and she played with the hairs on my chest while we rested. I was afraid we'd made a big mess with breaking her cherry but didn't want to break away yet, SDO I just kept holding her and kissing her and telling her how much I loved her Tabitha Tabitha closed her eyes resting her head under her father's chin, "MMM." She moaned contently. Then something occurred to her and she pulled back suddenly to look at him her eyes wide, "Oh no daddy you didn't cum." He just smiled at her, she wasn't sure what to make of that." We can't increase the family if you don't daddy." Tabitha reminded him. He just grinned again, his smile sending pleasant shivers down her spine, and rolled them over so she was now prone beneath him and whispered in her ear, "We aren't done yet baby." Daddy Max"you want to get pregnant on your first night? Ok lets give it a try"Now I could take my time. She had tasted the pleasures of the flesh. I could fuck he at my own pace and come in her. First I checked to see TT she hadn't bled too profusely. The bed wasn't all red, and there was just a little bit on my cock. And none on the bed. I was lying on top of her as soon as she rolled us over, like she had been doing this for years. Looked in her eyes and wanted to pleasure her again. So, I kissed her once again, ad started kissing my way down her chest, stopping to suck those very perfect titties. I licked and sucked as she laid with the other one, ad murmured how such she liked it. Then I kissed her tummy and licked the navel where she had been connected to my dear wife twenty years ago Then I started kissing her inner thighs as she spread them wide for me, and I looked into the pretty pussy had just fucked. She looked at me and I thought, probably wondering what I was going to d, UT I knew her older sisters did this with each other all the time and I loved the thought if IRT. I had even watched them more than one and played in threesomes with several of them, especially Samantha who told me how much she liked playing with né of her younger sisters. So, Maybe Samantha had introduced Tabitha to this too, and if not, she would be soon Then kissed her there and put my tongue in her and swirled it around. Her nice large clit protruded, and I licked it ad then started t suck it as she had started to do me. Hearing more moans and sighs, I sucked more and more vigorously, and suddenly Tab came again and shrieked "Oh Daddy"! I softly kiss her again and again all over her lower begins, and then looked up to see a contend happy look on her face, as I cawed back up and kissed her mouth, and we shared her tastes as my cock found its way homes we fucked again, she whispered that she wished we had started doing this a long time ago She never dreamt it could be so good Tabitha Tabitha was in heaven with his mouth working over her pussy, causing her to cum again in exquisite pleasure. She knew that her sisters would do this to each other, hearing them at night, but each time she heard them she always would later dream of a man doing the same to her, and now her father was. Tabitha moaned against his lips as he slipped his cock back inside her tight sheath, "Oh daddy it feels so good." She sighed as he slowly began to move. They didn't speak much as they stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours, him keeping up his slow pace, occasionally whispering, "Baby." Her soft whimpers of pleasure and few groans were the only sound they made as he thrust into her over and over and over Daddy Maxi gently continued fucking her as she moaned and sighed and told me how much she liked this new chapter in her life. From what she said I knew her only regret was that we would sleep together every night, but I could always change the rules and adopt her as my wife, which was tempting, but a couple of the others were this good too. What a dilemma! Maybe the best move was to just have an all-comers (pun intended) orgy every night, but we sure needed more men. I couldn't handle all eight of them! My thoughts being this distracted it was easy to prolong this event, but now it was time, and I concentrated on Tab and the sweet taste of her pussy and the things we would be doing together from now on. I increased the pace, and soon again approached my peak. She sensed it too, and she too became more intense. I started plunging in her again and again, and very quickly reached my goal, but just as it happened, she too screamed again and came with me. How wonderful! How perfect to come together in perfect harmony! I exploded deep in her as her legs were wrapped around me, and she thrust herself at me to match every one of mine. We were both panting and our heartbeats went wild, as I filled her with my seed. As I rolled off her, she whispered that she hoped she was pregnant, but that if not, we'd keep trying until it happened. That gave me an idea. We could just tell the others that Tabitha would stay in my bed until we knew she was with child, and then I could resume servicing the other sisters when time permitted Tabitha Tabitha screamed out her release, "OOOOOOOOO DDDDDDDDDAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDYYYYYYY"She felt him explode inside her, his hot seed sent off to do its job. She breathed deeply as he rolled off her, and she rested her head on his chest, wrapping her hand around his cock and stroking it idly, "Oh daddy you're so wonderful" Daddy Max Completely sated, I rolled over and turned off the light. I hated to, because I loved looking bat her - all of her-especially the parts i wouldn't always see. As we curled up together in bed to sleep, I heard giggles out in the hall. I think the sisters were looking at us through the keyhole, but that was Ok, I liked it too. My mind was on that delicious pussy as I drifted off to sleep, only being awakened some time later by the feel of her playing with my cock, wanting me to fuck her again. I felt around for her, and found her down just getting ready to suck me again and get me hard. So, I asked her to move into a 69, and we ate each other a little bit. We did that for us while until I made her cum again with my tongue, and SGE got me off too. I thought she would gag at the idea but when I came in her mouth she just crawled back up face to face and told me she liked that too. I promised to make love to her again in the morning and begged her to let me sleep until dawn. As it happened, I awoke early as always, and left her bed and her warm body and returned to my room and took a bath. As I got dressed two of the sisters knocked on the door and entered, and asked me how it was. I had to tell them how wonderful Tab was and that I wouldn't be switching off until we knew for sure that she was pregnant. They seemed disappointed, but I knew they were two bi partners and could enjoy each other, so I invited them to use my bed and I would join them, but that their sister had worn me out and all I could do at the moment was watch

Daddy's Breeding Cult|rating:1.0

Queen's Man (Closed for Graybread)

The beginning of a small story of adventure and "swordplay" by Gray bread and me, hope all that read, enjoy Imagine yourself in London of the 1590s Good Queen Bess is on the throne; the Spanish Armada has been defeated. One of Shakespeare’s plays is now at this moment being preformed at the Rose Theatre. If you turn left past the Rose Theatre, down the third narrow, bustling street on your right, you will see a large building some four floors high. The bottom floor is the Inn called the “Royal Anne,” after the Queen’s late mother, second wife to Buff King Hal. This is a meeting place for gentlemen of wit and birth in search of a good evening. The second floor is occupied by rooms used by various “ladies” employed by the innkeeper and his wife. The third and fourth floors are reached by a separate entrance on the side of the building. The third floor overhangs the narrow street. Running its length are large leaded windows, which dabble the smooth wooden expanse of floor of the large single room, with the last of the afternoon sun. This is Hardcastle’s School of Defense. The room is lined with benches and racks of swords, daggers and other weapons, suitable for a gentleman to study. The fourth floor is smaller; it comprises the family quarters and study of the family of the late Sir John Hardcastle, founder of the school and Queen’s man. Here our story begins;A figure is standing by the fireplace a booted foot on the heath, a slender hand on the mantel. Features are finely drawn; hair jet black, shoulder-length tired back by a twist of leather, lowered eyes a deep shade of brown. Lips, red, gently bowed. A small middle-aged gentleman smiles and hands the figure a cup halted rapier and matching long dagger, the designs on the cups of the blades winking in the fading light. Both walk down the twisting stairs and into the teeming school below, pushing through the crowd of expectant on lookers. A duel is about to be fought.“Hardcastle,” Master son bows as the owner and his opponent walks into the light.”Master son, so you have not slunk off on your belly.” Hardcastle replied, slashing the air with the rapier.“I have no reason too?” Master son answers.“Gentle…. Error... Shall we begin?” Lord Tran mere, judge and peer of the realm waves a scrap of lace edged silk.“Let’s have at it.” Hardcastle snapped and took up a guard. Master son nodded and the event began. For nearly 20 minutes they fought. Circling seeking an entrance, warding, lunging, parrying, the wooden floor was getting greasy with sweat and blood from minor wounds both had received. Hardcastle tapped there rapier point on the floor, waving Master son on with their long dagger. Master son lunged; Hardcastle side stepped, sweeping the long dagger in their left hand up; catching Master son’s blade on the quillions of the long dagger before forcing him back. At the same time Hardcastle’s own sword cut in seeking Master son’s heart; but Master son’s own dagger came across deflecting the steel. Hardcastle felt their arm forced back and against their chest. “Shit!” Hardcastle swore underherbreath, what was attached torches, under the linen shirt got in the way of her arm as she sorts to lift and break free. Damn; whose idea was this anyway Katherine Hardcastle thought, mine I think? I must have been drunk. Most likely, I can’t remember how the argument started anyway, only that Master son had annoyed the hell out of me again. Both circled again, Katherine ran her rapier tip round in a gentle circle on the floor, tap, tap; it was her trademark… four taps five… She bounced on her heels; dancing backward, leaving a trail of smeared blood, from a slash on her right thigh, on the floor. Master son’s eyes widened and locked on her chest area as she retreated. So, there was some advantage to being woman, Katherine chuckled to herself and jiggled again, hearing a ripple of laughter run round the audience. For a moment she wondered how many Giles had managed to pack into the school. A half of the gate was hers anyway, if she managed to survive. She charged forward slashing, weaving a web of steel, Master son sort to guard and avoid, slipped on Hardcastle’s blood and went down on one knee. Her sword was in running him through the upper right shoulder. Master son bellowed in pain, Katherine grunted as she twisted the blade and pulled it sharply out. The crowd roared and so did she; at Master son’s second. “Honor settled?” The man blanched and looked first at Katherine’s heaving breasts under her sweat stained shirt then at her dripping sword. Then he nodded. “Good.” Katherine bowed to the prone Master son and walked, now limped to the corner where Giles was standing. She laid her blades down carefully on the bench and shrugged herself into the cloak a grinning Giles was holding. Katherine HardcastleThe morning sun was barely risen; yet the wooden floor of Hardcastle’s school of defense vibrated to the pounding of feet. Katherine Hardcastle was practicing the art of the sword. She shadow fenced, going through the motions, her breathing hard, brow lined with sweat. She winced as the half healed wound in her right thigh pulled in protest at the exercise. The wound slowed her and was taking its time to heal. Katherine was tall 5ft 9in taller in her booted heels. Well-built, with a mane of black hair cut short at the shoulders, brown eyed and tanned. Dressed as she was, in slashed doublet and hose she could be taken as a man; in fact Katherine often wished she was. She was no fashionable pale skinned, doe-eyed lady of the Queen’s court, she was, what she was, raised by her father the same as her two brothers, to be a true Englishman! Now at 20, she, while her surviving brother sailed with Drake, ran their late father’s school of defense in London, teaching Gentleman, the art of the sword. She was known for her skills, her temper, and her boorish manners, though the latter was not mentioned to her face, by any that were wise.“Not bad,” a voice said from the shadows. Katherine spun; her rapier whipping round, pointing at the figure as it emerged from the gloom. The blade lowered as she caught sight of the man’s face. It was Lord Throthmore, her father’s old friend and member of the Queen’s privy-council.“To what do I owe the pleasure sir?” She asked, slipping her sword into its scabbard. Lord Throthmore crossed his arms and smiled. “You were lucky last week.”“You mean Master son was.” Katherine laughed.“No I mean you, if he had not slipped, if you had killed him, if he had killed you.” Lord Throthmore listed the facts coldly.“It was not luck, I would have had him anyway.” Katherine placed her right hand on her hip, cocky and sure.“And most likely killed him, possible, then you would not be in France, exiled, or in the tower, the Queen does not approve of dueling nor the killing of the Gentleman of her court. And if Master son had killed you, his fate would have been the same. A waste; a packet of foolishness over nothing.” Throthmore snapped.“A waste of me, yes, but Master son…” Katherine snorted. “That cold faced, gentleman.” The last word was said with scorn.“He is a gentleman, one of the Queen’s own,” came the Lord’s brittle answer.”And I am not,” Katherine snapped now, she had, had enough of Throthmore’s word games.”A gentleman, no, mores the pity. Can you use that,” Throthmore gestured to the blade at her side? “Wearing a skirt, indeed do you own a decent dress at all?”“I can if I have to, and yes I own one or two dresses.” Katherine’s dark eyes narrowed, what game was Throthmore trying to draw her into?“Good, then get yourself into one; make yourself look like a lady at least and be at my chambers just after noon.” Throthmore faded back into the shadows.“If I say no?” Katherine shouted after his vanishing figure.“It is not to me that you will answer.” Came back the reply. Katherine swore under her breath, the game was afoot all right, the game of politics and the service of the Queen. Devon Master son“Lord Master son,” Master son’s second, John Langston said as he knelt beside Master son, taking him by the shoulder.”Hold,” Master son said through clenched jaw. Slowly Devon Master son pushed himself to a kneeling position, his blood staining the white linen shirt he wore. He stared at Hardcastle’s back, the word ‘foul’ laying on the tip of his tongue. No, that would be accusing her of using some trickery, and she hadn’t. Unless being a woman was trick enough. It was her being a woman that had distracted him, if indeed a woman she could be called. A wench in man’s clothes was a better description. He pushed up to a standing position, turned and walked from the hall, Langston at his heels.“Get me home,” he said once out of sight of the hall, his arm going around Langston’s shoulder, “before I bleed to death.” The carriage ride back to Master son’s residence was excruciatingly painful, it seemed that Langston was prone to hit every missing cobble in the road. Once they arrived Langston got him to his bed and called for clean linen to dress the wound.“Bring me rum also,” Master son demanded.”Sir,” Langston inquired.”For the wound….for both the wounds.” Masterson took the bottle and drank heartily from it before handing it back to Langston.“Wash it with this,” he said looking at the bloody wound, “then lay red-hot iron to it.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Master son woke two days later to the sound of his housemistress going about her duties. His shoulder ached, but he felt no fever in it, the rum, and hot iron had worked.“What day is it,” he asked.”This two days past Sir, and time for you to be eaten sump’thin,” she replied, turning to leave the room. She returned shortly with a bowl of thick broth and a half loaf of dark bread. She sat at the edge of the bed and fed him the bread dipped in the broth, washing it down with weak ale. Wiping his chin clean she rose and placed the empty bowl on the tray.“Aye Devon, how do you feel,” Langston said entering the room.”Like I need a rum and to get out of this bloody bed,” Master son said trying to rise. He collapsed back on the bed, wincing, grasping at his shoulder. Langston poured two rums, handing one to Devon and sitting in the chair vacated by the housemistress.“How goes it at the Palace, John,” Devon inquired.”The usual…. Drake is the hero of the day, with his pirating ….beg pardon sir….privateering,” Langston chuckled.“And Elizabeth?”“Something foul is on the wind, but I fear I have not caught the scent yet.”“Well…keep me informed…., and thanks for stopping in, but I fear I am in need of rest again.”“I shall,” Langston said emptying his glass and rising, “I’ll stop again tomorrow.” For the next few days Master son rested, walked in the courtyard, and exercised his shoulder. Slowly at first, with easy movements, feints, parries, and short jabs. Langston came by daily with no news of the court happenings. On the bright and sunny morning of the sixth day Master son’s housemistress appeared in the courtyard.“Sir, you have a visitor, Lord Throthmore, is here to see you.”“And what does that cunning badger want with me,” he replied, his rapier slashing through the air.”This not this cunning badger that wishes to see you Lord Master son, t’would be the other cunning badger that wishes your presence.” Lord Throthmore said from the doorway.“Lord Throthmore,” Devon said turning, holding his rapier in front of him in salute. “And why does her Majesty request my presence?”“That I am not at large to divulge, Lord Master son….merely that she requires your presence.”“I’ll prepare you clothing sir,” the housemistress said, slinking past Lord Throthmore and back into the house.”Tea, Lord Throthmore, while you wait,” Devon asked eyeing Throthmore.”Thank you, no, Lord Master son…. I am needed at the Palace,” he said, turning and exiting back through the house.“I’ll bet you are Lord Badger,” Devon commented quietly, as he made his way into the house to dress. Katherine Hardcastle. Katherine muttered as Giles fussed with the wide skirts of her dress, checking the drop.“Hold still” The dapper man said as she shifted from one foot to another.”I can’t breathe.” She retorted.“Yes you can, you are not laced that tight.” He replied and checked that the curled and jewel studded wig she was wearing was firmly in place.“Not tight! My bust is overflowing”. Katherine said and looked down at the swell of her breasts half peeking over the low cut lace and silk neckline.“It is the fashion, the neck low cut and the fine stiffened ruff round your neck.” Giles continued with his checking of her apparel.“Which feels like a hangman’s noose, and do I have to have that stuff on my face?” She eyed the white powder sitting on the table with loathing.“Your color is too healthy, too brown.” Giles remarked and picked up the small piece of sheep’s wool and dabbed it in the powder, dusting her face, exposed chest and the top of her breasts. Katherine coughed and spluttered. Giles ignored her and asked her to tighten her lips as he applied a red lip coloring. The man then stepped back to admire his handiwork. Katherine felt like a painted doll. On her head was a jet black wig, curled and pinned with maze of diamond tipped pins linked with fine gold chains. The height of fashion but it was making her head hot already. Her face was whitened, the lips reddened, making her dark eyes look even darker. Round Katherine’s neck was a fine linen ruff. Lying on her chest was a triple row of pearls her brother Richard had brought back from his last adventure aboard the “Golden Hind” with Drake. Her overdress was an emerald green silk run through with a cream pattern. The bodice was tightly laced sleeveless and split open at the front to show her fine cream silk under-dress. The sleeves of which were full, pulled tight at the wrists. She had a fine gold chain belt from which hung a silk fan and a small eating knife in a soft silk sheath.“This is not me...” she said is disgust at her reflection in the long mirror in front of her. Giles sighed and helped her slip on a matching cloak, pulling up the hood, before he escorted her to the carriage waiting outside.~~~~~~~~~“Well,” Lord Throthmore said as he helped her remove her cloak. “You look the part at least.” Katherine narrowed her eyes and fiddled with her fan, feeling very uncomfortable. Her head itched under the wig, she was having to breathe in short gasps and the small court shoes pinched her toes. “Now can you act the part?” Throthmore continued. “The Queen is holding open court this afternoon. She wants to see how you behave in the company of your peers, whether you can hold your tongue and at least try to be a lady, converse with others and play the game of the court. After that she wishes to have speech with you privately.” Katherine swallowed hard and blurted “No…”“No…..” Throthmore repeated as he made to take her arm to escort her down to the formal rooms where the court was being held.“I don’t want to be one of her majesties ladies in waiting, I couldn’t do it. Anything else I am the Queen’s to command.” Lord Throthmore’s eyes hardened. “You, Lady Katherine Hardcastle, will serve the Queen in what ever position she requires of you. Whether it is with your sword, as a scented painted court lady or if needs be on your back. You can leave now; her majesty will understand I am sure. But she is like I had hopes for your future in her service.” Katherine gulped, this is what her father had called the heart of being a “Queen’s man”. It was the game, and it was for the Queen and England. Katherine brought her chin up and laid her hand on Throthmore’s offered arm and allowed him to lead her away. Katherine found herself one of many painted and adorned women, sprinkled among the gentlemen and ambassadors of the court. The group of ladies with which she was placed tittered and blushed as romantic assignments were made, commented about the shape of this or that lord’s leg and his skill as a lover. They sharpened their claws on the backs of their fellow ladies, remarking on dress, skin and hair. After the first hour Katherine felt she had nearly bitten her tongue through in the effort not to comment on the foolishness of her fellows. It was then the Queen arrived, sailing into the room, like a grand ship of the line. Her face pure white, her hair a mass of auburn curls, pinned with jewels of all kind. But it was the Queen’s eyes that drew Katherine’s own gaze. The Queen’s orbs were all seeing and all knowing, full of power, the power to command and know that command would be obeyed. Katherine curtsied as Elizabeth approached her. The Queen merely nodded her head in acknowledgement and moved on; speaking to the gentleman by her right hand. It was Master son. God’s bollocks Katherine swore under her breath hoping he would not recognize her. She would never live it down if he did. It would be like handing him a sword to run her through with. He would take delight in the whole thing. Devon MastersonDevon’s housemistress had laid out his best suit by the time he reentered the house. It consisted of a deep maroon colored doublet, with matching jerkin, worn over his long white linen undershirt. Devon preferred the more natural looking doublet as apposed to the heavily padded, peas cod doublet of the previous years. The sleeves were fitted, with buttons up the back of the arm near the cuff, with a wing at the shoulder junction of the sleeve and body. The basic upper hose were short trunk hose with cannons, or gallygaskins, as they were called, and were the same maroon color. They would be worn with over-the-knee length, pale white stockings, tucked inside the breeches that were held up by simple banded garters. Since Lord Throthmore had been dispatched for him, Devon decided to wear both ruffed and falling band collars together, as it seemed more appropriate for the court style of the day. At his wrists where more ruffs or cuffs made of lace. Devon stood in front of the mirror, adjusting a ruff here or a cuff there before strapping on his sword belt. He jutted out his chin, wondering if he needed to trim his square beard. His eye caught the housemistress in the mirror.“What do you think Agnes,” he asked her.”You look very handsome Sir,” she replied handing him his flat beret, with the large ostrich plume along with matching clock. “The courtesans shall be swooning today Sir,” she added suggestively. Ignoring her comment, he donned the beret before attaching the clock to one shoulder leaving his sword arm free.“Is my carriage waiting,” he asked.”Yes Sir.” Masterson made his way to the carriage and was off to the palace wondering why it was the Queen had called him. He waited outside her antechamber nearly twenty minutes before she appeared.“Master son,” she said as way of acknowledgement coming through the doors.”Your majesty,” he answered going to one knee and bowing his head.”Walk with me,” she said extending her arm. Devon rose and extended his arm for her to lay hers on.“You’re looking very beautiful as usually,” he said, noticing the pox scars under the white lead paint on her face.”Flattery will get you nothing Devon,” she said using his first name. He cringed at the use of the name. She only used it when she wanted him to do something unpleasant or distasteful. He would have to wait and see. The entered the court through the wide double doors and everyone went to one knee automatically. The Queen started down the line of people along the center of the room, nodding to each as they passed.“By all the saints in heaven,” Devon spoke quietly, spying Hardcastle farther down the line.”Master son,” the Queen replied by way of a question.”Nothing you’re majesty, I just noticed the court has added a new whore,” he replied whispering quietly to her.” Even strumpets have there place….and I’ll beg you to watch your words Sir.” She said, the corners of her mouth turning up just a fraction.“Your grace,” he apologized. They made there way down the line and then Devon escorted her to the throne, taking his place among the other lords and ladies. His eyes were riveted on Hardcastle though, but his thoughts calculating, wondering just what the cunning badger had in mind. He smirked at Hardcastle, when he caught her eye. Elizabeth, Queen of England.OCC this post is from Elizabeth I, POV, to help the plot along. Elizabeth sat on her throne, watching her court as they watched her. Ambassadors bent the knee before her, mumbling words, which she acknowledged with a faint smile and an odd word of her own. Plots, within plots, the never ending game. She thought. Sometimes, like now, Elizabeth’s conscience nagged her. In the game of survival for England and herself she would use, abuse, and destroy people in her service. Even those she liked and at such times Elizabeth’s sentimental side would sometimes seek to act. She was after all a woman. A woman with power; a woman that had ruled England alone since 1558. For over 30 years she had steered this country through the dangerous politics of Europe and the now “New world” Kept it safe, even from invasion. The defeat of the Spanish Armada was still fresh in her people’s mind. She was Gloria, the ever young, Virgin Queen. Elizabeth had never married, for to marry was to submit herself to her husband’s authority, which would mean England would be her husband’s to command. Such was Elizabeth’s nature, that she could not trust England in the hands of another. Branded a bastard by her own father before she was 3 years old, imprisoned by her sister in the tower. Then brought by God’s good grace to the throne, Elizabeth knew in her heart to survive, for England to survive, she must rule alone. This, though, had one problem. She had no heir of her own body. Of those of her blood only one did Elizabeth deem suitable, James VI of Scotland. His ascension to her throne after her death would join the two countries at the hip, true the old differences would linger for generations, the love, hate relationship would continue. But together perhaps both would be stronger. It was the only course for England Elizabeth could see. Yet publicly she admitted nothing, she was forever young, Gloria, not a tired woman in her late 50’sit was here her enemies now sort to strike. Elizabeth summoned Lord Throthmore to her side, the man bowed and came and stood close to her, his head bowed as Elizabeth spoke softly to him, her mouth covered by her fan.“Well, at least the girl can wear the clothes and hasn’t challenged anyone to duel all afternoon.” Elizabeth said.“There is still time to choose another, more suitable.” Lord Throthmore replied.“Any woman can lie on her back Throthmore,” The Queen answered her dark eyes sparkling. “But is this we need one that has other skills, one who can watch Master son’s back in a tight corner, not huddle sobbing in a corner.” Elizabeth smiled at her play on words. “Besides they will get along famously we are sure.”“You mean they might not kill each other before they have completed their mission?” Throthmore tartly commented. Elizabeth burst out laughing at this, causing heads to turn and more than one courier to look concerned.“Bring the girl to us,” Elizabeth said and stood, again walking through her court, the picture of serenity Katherine Hardcastle. Katherine put her shoulders back and lifted her head. She had never been frightened of anything in her life, not until now. She had been summoned to the Queen, privately. Her mouth was dry, and she could not get her breath, though that might be more to do with the corset she was wearing. Trothmore showed her into the Queen’s private chambers and Katherine sank to the floor in a low curtsy.“Up, girl, up…” Elizabeth said. “Let us have a good look at you?” Elizabeth strode round Katherine “Passable, passable, can you fight it that?” The question came out of the blue. Katherine gulped and tried not to think of how badly her head itched under her wig and replied “If I have too your majesty.”“Good, Good, you have your mother’s eyes “Elizabeth said as she ended her tour round Katherine right in front of her, "Katherine Hardcastle, for the good of the country and in the service of the Queen, you are going to be married and packed off to Spain.”“What, No, God’s bollocks?” Katherine blurted, totally forgetting to whom she was speaking, she didn’t know which word shocked her more, married or Spain.“What?” Elizabeth repeated then laughed, addressing Throthmore where he lingered in the corner, “By the saints, Troth more, she is a wench after our own heart.” Elizabeth became serious. “Marriage in name only child, We are sending a gentleman of our court to Spain. We have already sown some seeds, spreading rumors of his disliking our policies and his leaning towards the catholic faith. His taking of a wife, without our permission and our temporarily confiscating of some of his lands because of this, will be enough to send him aboard seeking safety in the Spanish court. His new wife would of course go with him.” Elizabeth drew breath, but Katherine found she could not, the thought of what was being asked of her rattled round her head making her dizzy. But what was the reason behind this, why would Elizabeth send this gentleman. Elizabeth continued: “Our enemies seek to strike at us, we, have decided whom out heir shall be, to whom we intend to leave England. Our enemies mean to kill, both my heir and me, leaving England to be torn apart in civil war as those with lesser blood squabble among themselves. But we need proof, names of those here at court that are part of this devil’s brew. The Spanish court is the heart of this plot. This is your task child, aid the gentleman, serve him, and you serve us.” Katherine did not know what to say, how to answer so she merely dropped again into a low curtsy. Elizabeth was entrusting her with so much, she felt humbled. True she was not alone in this, but she felt the gentleman Elizabeth would have chosen was more than equal to the task. Elizabeth accepted the curtsy as a yes and dismissed Katherine. As Katherine reached the door, now being held open Throthmore, Elizabeth spoke again. “You have not asked who the gentleman is child, be assured we are not sending you with a stranger, this Milord Devon Master son.”No….” Katherine gasped as the door shut behind her, “No… No him… anybody but that jumped up popinjay, cockscomb, sycophant” The feeling of pride at being chosen was now sinking amid the horror of having to pretend to actually like the one man who had been a thorn in her side for as long as she could remember. Could she actually do this without cutting his throat? More the point could she actually stand being alone with him in the same room? She would have too, the Queen and England commanded it, but she as hell did not have to like it one bit and if he is so much at tried to touch her? The itch under her wig became unbearable, she tore it from her head and threw it across the small anti-chamber then realized she was not alone, someone else was waiting there. Devon MastersonMasterson had tried to argue with the Queen. He understood the need to infiltrate the Spanish court and root out these spies and would be assassins. The future of England was on the block, the life of his beloved Queen, but wed him to Hardcastle, if in name only. His sensibilities had been wounded. Majesty, she is a strumpet, a common whore. He had tried to argue. Here say, do you know that for fact….or merely personal dislike for the wench? The Queen replied. Devon had no answer, he had no proof Katherine Hardcastle was anything more than what she presented herself to be. It was her arrogance, a woman running a School of Defense that irritated him more than anything did. He had learned much of his skill with the sword from her father, a man he admired, but when he died, and his daughter took over the school he had felt a resentment. It should have been a son. But she is no ‘Lady,’ majesty….how will it look if I am wed to someone beneath my station. Is there no other? The Queens hands were on her chair, gripping the curved arm piece, her eyes steely as she looked at Master son. What was it that Shakespeare fellow said; “Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights: Bond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid. Something, something, something…..” She added with a wave of her hand. Aye my Queen, “Beware the ides of March are come.” Devon replied, bowing to her. I shall do as you command. Treat her as a wife Devon, if only in public. It is her sword I need and yours as well. She is good with her sword I understand. Masterson bowed once more, his hand going to his stiff shoulder, before turning and leaving the Queen. He waited in the antechamber while Hardcastle took audience with Elizabeth. She did not seem pleased when she entered the antechamber where he waited.“It seems are displeasure at our coming marriage is mutual,” he said to her as he leaned against the wall. She started, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him, her hand going to the missing sword at her hip.“If you so much as lay a hand on me, …. I’ll… I’ll…..” She stuttered.“Fear not…my bride, the only thing I wish to touch you with is the tip of my rapier,” he said pushing off the wall and walking to her. “But the wheels are set in motion, and we will do as we are bid…do you understand.”“Yes I understand, but why us…was there no others.”“Because I…we,” he struggled with the word, “are the best. The realm is at stake, the Queens very life, and we must not fail. Now put your wig back on and take my arm, at least act the part of a Lady.” She glared at him again, standing off defiant. Slowly she walked over and picked the wig up, adjusting it on her head. He glared back at her, extending his arm once more. Finally, she took it, wrapping her arm around his and laying her hand on his forearm.“Troth more has had a trousseau prepared for you. It seems this has been in the making for a while…..now smile,” he said as he pushed open the doors to the court. Elizabeth, Queen of England. Well Throthmore, how much is this costing us?” Elizabeth snapped, the two interviews had not only tried her patience, but brought the matter at hand to the forefront of her mind. Here; and only here did Elizabeth let the veil of power slip from her. Here she was just a woman, concerned for the only child she had, England.“It was necessary to provide Lady Hardcastle…” Throthmore began. Elizabeth’s brows shot up and he corrected himself. “Lady Master son with sufficient, the jewels in her trousseau though have a double purpose, easier to use as a bribe, less to carry than gold.”We see…” Elizabeth slapped her fan across her open palm again and again. “A ship as well, waiting at Plymouth we suspect to ferry them to Spain as soon as possible.”“Yes, .” Throthmore coughed.“God’s teeth!” Elizabeth swore. “We best be to our court and make it plain or displeasure at Lord Master son’s choice of bride, perhaps I shall hint that I had promised her elsewhere.” Elizabeth laughed.“But to whom?” Throthmore asked as he bowed to his Queen and prepared to follow.“You,” Queen Elizabeth answered an evil gleam in her eye as she reached the door.”Me…. I… since my wife died I have had no….” Throthmore blathered.“Rubbish, you had a soft spot for her mother and the lass has her looks, pity she has her father’s height, too much of her.” Elizabeth replied as she swept down the corridor.“I think Master son might be thinking the same at this point” Throthmore said, thinking hard on the matter that he might have to play the affronted suitor. Katherine Hardcastle. Katherine ground her teeth as she laid her hand on Master son’s arm. She would rather have both hands round his neck; no she thought a rapier, in her hand, and that through his neck. She ground her teeth more; Master son glared at her out of the corner of his eye as they walked back among the throng of Elizabeth’s court. This whole thing was trying her temper beyond anything. She was a" Queen's man" in her heart, yet having to pretend to be "in love" "married" to the man she would rather see on the end of her blade and he, well Master son had made it plain more than once how he thought her. The manner of their being summoned to see the Queen and their return arm in arm gave credence to the rumors already planted by Throthmore’s agents. The fawning looks, and the knowing smiles made Katherine shake with anger, though perhaps with luck most would think it was fear from having faced the Queen.“Smile” Devon said. Katherine tried and felt sure it was more of a death’s head grin than a happy bride.“I don’t want too.” She hissed, as Devon Master son led her across the polished floor, nodding and exchanging words with the men and women that flocked round them. Katherine clamped her mouth shut, better say nothing, she thought, be the biddable bride. If she opened her mouth now, the Lord knew what she would say, her anger was making her neck and chest red.“This is a disappointment.” A silky female voice said as its owner approached. The woman was small, well-formed and blonde, The hair curled and bejeweled was her own; Katherine could see that.“Disappointment?” Katherine heard herself answer and felt Devon’s other hand close over hers on his arm.“Yes, you blush like an innocent child, not the woman I had heard you to be, perhaps we have all been misled by your now husband's stories of you. Was it a ruse, Devon, my dear? Oh, I am Lady Rothman by the way. Lady Master son, does it sound good to your ears, your new title.”“No different from my old one.” Katherine replied realizing this woman was challenging her. Katherine wished the small eating knife on her belt was her long dagger, better yet her rapier, then she would show this court whore the true meaning of a duel.“Yes, but your position is completely changed now, you will have too…” Lady Rothman said no more. Queen Elizabeth had rejoined her court. Before she had entered, sailing serenely, now she was a privateer, with cannon loaded to bear.“You still grace my court, after what you have done.” Elizabeth rounded on Master son and Katherine. Katherine’s eyes widened, and she took one step back, automatically recoiling at her Queen’s anger. Master son’s grip tightened on her hand and she swore under her breath, he was finding the fact amusing.“Did you say something Madam?” Elizabeth thundered at Katherine.“No your majesty.” Katherine gulped.“No your majesty,” Elizabeth repeated parrot fashion, mocking Katherine. Master son then did something that set the seal on the matter he turned his back of the Queen and led Katherine from the hall. Devon Master son“This is a disappointment.” Devon heard the silky voice say, before he saw her. Let’s see how you handle this dual, my bride, he thought. He placed his free hand over Katherine’s on his arm, not sure why, perhaps to reassure her, perhaps to keep her from ripping Lady Rothman throat out.“Disappointment?” Katherine said in response.“Yes, you blush like an innocent child, not the woman I had heard you to be, perhaps we have all been misled by your now husband’s stories of you. Was it a ruse, Devon, my dear? Oh, I am Lady Rothman by the way. Lady Master son, does it sound good to your ears, your new title.” Devon ignored the statement, this was not his fight, this was Katherine’s, her first encounter with the court, he would see how well she faired in this dual. It would be the first of many and harder ones to come. He also knew he would have to answer to his stories later.“No different from my old one.” Katherine replied, to the comment.“Yes but your position is completely changed now, you will have too…” Lady Rothman said no more. Queen Elizabeth had rejoined her court. Before she had entered, sailing serenely, now she was a privateer, with cannon loaded to bear.“You still grace my court, after what you have done.” Elizabeth rounded on Master son and Katherine. Katherine’s eyes widened, and she took one step back, automatically recoiling at her Queen’s anger. Master son’s grip tightened on her hand and she swore under her breath, he was finding the fact amusing.“Did you say something Madam?” Elizabeth thundered at Katherine.“No your majesty.” Katherine gulped.“No your majesty,” Elizabeth repeated parrot fashion, mocking Katherine. Master son then did something that set the seal on the matter he turned his back of the Queen and led Katherine from the hall. Masterson gave the Queen a look, a twinkle in his eye, and with a slight nod turned his back on her. An audible gasp went up from the court. It was unheard of to turn your back on the Queen.“You did quite well my dear,” he said to Katherine as he led her through the doors at the end of the court, “very well indeed.” He led her down the hall and out the front of the Palace to his awaiting carriage.“So…shall we consummate our marriage my dear,” he said in all seriousness to her. Inside he was laughing, laughing at her discomfort with the Queen, with her dual with Lady Rothman. However, he had to admit, she had handled herself well, maybe, just maybe with a little luck they could pull this entire ruse off. They would need to, for all their sake.“You did well Hardcastle,” he said looking at her, “and I jest about consummating our marriage.” He was somewhere, deep in the back of his mind, disappointed with the last statement. She was after all, a very handsome woman in her gown. He tried to push the gnawing thought away, before it could grow into something he dared not ponder. But still it lingered like a gnat, unseen, buzzing about his head. Katherine Hardcastle. Katherine felt her face flush as Master son led her from the court. She cursed under her breath and tried not to shake his hand free.“You did quite well my dear,” Master son said to Katherine as he led her through the doors at the end of the court, “very well indeed.” Katherine swore even more, Master son’s words were dripping with sarcasm. As they walked down the steps towards the carriage Master son’s tone of voice changed, he was deadly serious. “So…shall we consummate our marriage my dear,” This was too much Katherine’s fears about the court and mission turned to anger. This is what she had feared, fight for the Queen yes, spy yes, even at a pinch wiggle her rear at some Spaniard, but take this popinjay Master son to her bed? It was a marriage in name only, and it was going to stay that way. Katherine stopped and faced him, hissing like a snake. “Do you want the other shoulder pierced? I can oblige your Sirrrrrrr.” She slurred the last word and strode forward as if in her man’s garb and caught her heel on the wide shirt of her under-dress. Her wounded leg gave way, the fabric ripped. “God’s teeth,” Katherine swore. You did well Hardcastle,” Master son said looking at her as his hand steadied her and prevented her falling, “and I jest about consummating our marriage.” Katherine bit back her retort and got in the carriage, struggling to subdue the mound of fabric she was wearing. She tugged first at her wig, then fiddled down the front of her bodice in the vain effort that she could ease the vise of a corset she was wearing. She glanced across at Master son, he was wearing a smirk on his face, then he sighed and shook his head.“I am uncomfortable; I don’t know how those women like Lady Rothman wear these things day in and day out. Furthermore, she has her claws out for you, or me, least she is here not in Spain.” Katherine rambled. Master son’s left eyebrow went up as she said Spain in regard to Lady Rothman. “Oh wonderful, she is one of those that flits between the courts?” Spanish, French, English?” Master son gave a small nod.“I thought we were at war with Spain?” Katherine huffed.“Sort of, matter of opinion, depends on the day and the Queen’s mood.” Master son answered.“Look, why don’t you go to Spain, find out who it is, and I will kill them, a lot simpler.” Katherine sighed. Though she knew it couldn’t be that way. She, in her position would be able to mingle with the ladies of the Spanish court, especially the “English” in residence there. “When do we leave or do we have to brave her majesty again?” Master son gave her a strange look, Katherine winced; she was rambling away like a fool. She tried to arrange her skirts again and the fabric ripped more. The carriage by this time had rolled up outside Master son’s London home. Devon Master son“No, we don’t have traveler majesty again…. As of now, we…you and I, are blacklisted from the English court…. We’re outcasts,” he said, pausing to watch her reaction, “we’re Catholics, Hardcastle… Once the word gets out… Spain will welcome us with open arms…. Well, me anyway… I don’t know how they’ll react to you.” Her eyes narrowed and filled with anger. She reached for the rapier that wasn’t there. He opened the carriage door and stepped out, holding it for her.“We’ll leave for Spain soon, there’s a galleon waiting at Plymouth. Come my lovely bride, we have preparations to make.” Agnes was waiting at the door, beaming with the aspect of serving her masters new intended, but quickly faded as she spied Hardcastle’s face.“Sir, the Queen's guards guards have delivered trunks, for the lady,” she said, her eyes lifting again to Hardcastle.”Thank you, Agnes, I’ll need to make ready to travel as well. We’ll be leaving for Plymouth as soon as all is ready.” He answered her. He held the door as Hardcastle entered his house.“So, when are we to be married Master son,” she snipped as she walked by him.”Expedience is our primary goal right now. We shall be married by the ships captain as we sail to Spain.” His thoughts were, that a marriage preformed at sea, would be easier annulled, rather than a full Catholic Mass. The household bustled with activity as preparations were made for the sea voyage. Master son had one trunk compared to Hardcastle’s six. Devon went to one of Hardcastle’s trunks and opened it, lifting out one of the gowns. It sparkled with rubies around the bodice and down the length of the arm. He handed it to Hardcastle as he lifted out another, this one, blue, was encrusted with sapphires. Katherine’s jaw dropped as she gaped at the gown.“Don’t get attached to them,” he said to her. “How do you think this mission was to be funded,” he smirked, dropping the gown back into the trunk. “Now close your mouth before you catch a fly.”“Well of course,” Katherine said, disgustedly, tossing the ruby gown back to him. Within the hour the trunks were loaded on a covered wagon, Master son and Hardcastle were in the carriage and on the road to Plymouth. They needed to travel fast to make it to Plymouth in time to sail with the morning tide. Katherine dozed, leaning against the inside of the carriage. Devon watched her sleeping in the dimly lit interior of the carriage. So much of this missions success depended on her, her ability to fit. He shook his head as he pondered the rest of his life in a Spanish prison. She might be able to pull it off, he thought. If she could keep her temper under control, she certainly had the beauty to woo the court. He shook his head again, looking out the window at the passing darkness. They arrived at Plymouth just before sunrise, and everything was quickly loaded on the ship. He and Hardcastle were taken to the captains’ quarters, it would be theirs for the duration of the weeklong voyage to the port in Lisbon. The captain wasn’t happy about it, but the orders had come directly from the Queen. He also knew they were to be married aboard ship, a Catholic priest had been summoned from the local church to perform the ceremony before they sailed. He was waiting in the captains’ quarter as well. The captain, being a stouthearted Catholic himself, was not about to allow Master son and Hardcastle to share his bed without the benefit of matrimony. As the ship was made ready to set sail, the priest preformed the ceremony, without the usual mass that occupancies Catholic weddings. It was over in fifteen minutes, and the priest quickly departed the ship, blessing them and the ship for a safe voyage.“Well, I suppose I should kiss the bride,” Devon said looking at Katherine, a devilish grin on his face.”Ha,” she scowled at him, “it’s bad enough I must share a bed with you for the next week, and now you want a kiss?”“We’ll be sharing a bed from this day forward Hardcastle,” he said looking at her seriously. “I don’t like it any better than you, but you better get used to the idea…and yes, it should take us about a week to get to Lisbon, then another three days of overland to Madrid. That should give you time to warm to the idea.” They could hear the men yelling above deck as they felt the movement of the ship moving away from the dock. Devon turned and headed for the cabin door to go above, but paused, turning back to her.“Think of it as an adventure Hardcastle, a deadly one but an adventure nonetheless.” Katherine HardcastleKatherine stood in the cabin trying to take stock of events.“Think of it as an adventure Hardcastle, a deadly one but an adventure nonetheless.” Katherine mimicked Master son’s tones as she rubbed her left hand; it was still warm from his touch, where he had slipped the wedding ring on her finger. She turned the plain gold band and muttered under her breath. She was still in the court dress she had worn the day before. God’s bones she thought. I can’t think laced up in this corset. She forgot she had actually dozed asleep in the thing, as that smacked of weakness, but part of her worried that Master son had been granted the sight of her being so weak, she wasn’t. It had been the lack of breath that had made her sleep nothing more Katherine struggled, unlaced and eventually threw dress and corset onto the floor, standing now only in her linen shift. Her lungs expanded, and she rubbed her chest, sides and breasts, “That feels better.” She rolled her shoulders and began to look through the chests for something suitable to wear on board ship. Lace, velvet, dripping with jewels, jewels that could be removed to bribe and buy information, Katherine knew that, but Master son had lectured her like a child. “Damn him.” He swore and pulled at another case, a familiar looking one, long, and the wooden lid scratched. Katherine smiled. Her rapier and matching long dagger, least Throthmore had, had some sense. Katherine fumbled with the locks and opened the case, revealing the weapons lying on her own clothes, her “male garb” She grinned and reached out for the hilt of the elegant rapier. The blade leapt up, sweeping up and down as Katherine took it out and stepped forward, going through the motions of a hanging guard, then lunge, then cross parry. She smiled, glad to feel the weapon in her hand again. “The other shoulder Master son?” She said as she again lunged and laughed. So wrapped up in finding her weapons, Katherine did not hear the knock on the door and only became aware of someone seeking entrance when it began to open. She swept the sword behind her back and said “yes,” as she sidled away from the opening.”Begging your pardon, milady,” A sailor said as he came in laden with a tray of fruit. “Compliments of the captain.”“Yes, I see, very well. Thank you...” Katherine blathered waving her free hand towards the small table. The sailor paced the fruit down. One apple rolled off, and he caught it, placing it back with its fellow, before he gave a short bow and left. Katherine found herself staring after the man, and then she frowned as it struck her. His hand? His nails? “God’s bones” she swore and grabbed her traveling cloak, pulling it tight around her as she went out on deck. The fresh sea breeze hit her as she began to move across the deck, she fought to keep the cloak shut, perhaps she should have dressed but, no time she thought, Master son must know though it rankled a little she could not deal with it herself, go after… she sighed and muttered as she came alongside her ‘new husband.”“Nice of you to join me, my dear.” Master son said, never taking his eyes of the fast fading coastline of England.“We need to speak…” Katherine hissed softly. Master son turned and caught sight of her shift as the cloak blew open for a second, Katherine cursing as she snapped it shut.“And you madam need to realise you must dress when on deck.” Master son sarcastically answered shaking his head. Katherine began to fume. “A sailor brought fruit to the cabin.”“How nice, and you thought you would come and tell me.” Master son’s words, slashed at her, his eyes were now narrow with anger.“God’s teeth and damn you, his nails, his hands.”“He had both.” Master son quipped, but there was no amusement on his voice as his hand closed on her arm, squeezing it tight, and he began to mover her back towards the cabin.“Listen, you jumped up court fool… A sailor doesn’t have manicured nails; they are blackened by the tar on the ropes and broken.” Katherine hissed as she fought against his hold. “Someone on this ship is either on to us or watching us.” Devon MastersonMasterson stopped as the words sank in. She was right, he had to admit, he quickly scanned the sailors about them.“Why yes, I would enjoy some fruit,” he said, the grip on her arm lessening, turning her back toward their cabin. “Did you get a good look at him,” he asked leaning close to her.”No, I didn’t pay attention to his face, he was just another sailor then,” she answered, pulling her cloak tighter. “But I did get a good look at his hands. ‘They will not be hard to recognise, especially among this rabble.” Masterson lead her down the stairs and back into the cabin.“Speaking of rabble,” he started, a touch of anger in his voice, but curbed by the realization she had gained important information, “you come dressed as a harlot above deck. Are you trying to start a riot? Her dark eyes darted to the rapier lying on the table. He stepped in front of her, stopping her from doing something they would both regret. He took hold of her uppers arms again, more gently this time.“I only mean….it’s probably been a long time since these men,” he paused looking for the right words.”Had a harlot,” she answered for him, her words dripping with disgust. “You think me a harlot Master son?” His thoughts were on the tip of his tongue, but he knew he dared not speak it.“No, of course not…you are…a Lady of the court,” he said trying to soothe her anger. She shook herself free of his grasp stepping away from him.“And what of our well manicured spy Master son?” She asked glaring at him. “Have you a plan to deal with him?” Devon leaned against the table his arms folded across his chest, thinking.“Perhaps,” he said picking up an apple and tossing it to her. “We will be a sea for two weeks, if the weather favors us, before we make port at Lisbon. If we let it be known that you enjoy the fresh fruit, we may be able to lure him back. He will be watching us anyway, but if you can get him back in this cabin, we might be able to glean some information. If not…well, we will simply dispatch him. You should enjoy that. You can always say he attacked you.” His eyes sliding down the front of her open clock. He ducked in time as the apple went sailing past his head, bouncing off the bulkhead.“Hold thy temper Hardcastle,” he said in anger response. “You…we will use whatever is necessary to complete this mission. I will not have the Queens life put in jeopardy because of your childish outbursts. And get used to the idea of using your…charms to gain whatever is needed. A man’s tongue loosens as his eyes ogle the naked breast,” he added stepping closer to her, staring down at her cleavage. “Get used to it Hardcastle, and use it, it may save my life, as well as yours. Now dress appropriately and come to me above deck like the dutiful loving wife.” With that, Devon stepped through the cabin door and went above deck to find the Captain. Her temper will be the death of us all. He thought as he ascended the stairs. His eyes would now be checking the hands of those men about him. His own hand checking the dagger in his belt. Katherine Hardcastle“Harlot! Temper! I don’t have a temper! God’s teeth have I got to drag that lot on again…” Katherine cursed and picked up her corset, after much heaving, cursing, and rummaging through the chests. Katherine was attired in a traveling gown or overdress of fine blue wool, her under title a matching light silk and a jaunty muffin cap on her head secured by a long, long hat pin. Which as she had japed it into her hair she had wished it had been Master son’s rear. She also had on her person something no normal lady would have. Under the wide folds of her overdress suspended from a ribbon was her long dagger. It bulged a little but under her cloak it did not show. Katherine muttered and fiddled with her breasts, they seemed to be higher in this gown or was the front lower; the lace on the top of shift barely seemed to cover the swell of them. She then sighed slipped her cloak and went out again to find her husband. The word rankled. She made her way down the narrow passage. With each step Katherine felt something slipping down her leg. “By our lady!” She swore as the ribbon keeping her right stocking above her knee came adrift and tumbled down. With great difficulty, and swinging her skirts and farthing ale to one side she managed to bend over and pull up the offending garment and retie the ribbon. As Katherine made to lower her skirts she became aware she was being watched. Masterson you….. She thought and opened her mouth to inform him of nature of his parentage. Only it wasn’t Master son it was the sailor, his manicured hands clasped before him.“Good day milady.” He said softly.“Good, day sir…” Katherine replied and made a show of lowering her skirts, lifting them two or three times to the knee again to ensure the drop. Then she let her fingers flutter over the swell of her breasts. The man’s eyes darted from the legs now vanished under the gown to the half exposed breasts.“Is there anything I can get you, me being the captain’s steward an all?” The man said as he licked his lips. Katherine pouted her own lips and swayed towards him.“There you are. Where have you been? I have checked….” Master son’s voice sounded behind the sailor. The sailor tugged at his forelock and pushed past Katherine.“God’s bones, of all the time.” Katherine swore and snatched at the dagger under her overdress. “It’s him.” The last words were screamed as she launched herself at the after now running sailor, her heel caught on the gown, and she fell, as she hit the deck she was aware of Master son, jumping over her. “Damn stupid clothes, why can’t I…..” she heaved herself up looking this way and that, but her husband and the sailor had vanished. Devon MastersonMasterson pursued the steward down the passageway, pulling his dagger as he went.“Wait,” he yelled, “I only want to talk to you.” The steward continued to run, his shoes rapping on the wooden deck boards. Quickly he slid down the stairwell to the gun deck. Master son could hear his heels hit the deck, as he followed him down, catching sight of him as he turned the corner and down the next stairwell. Then there was silence, no sound coming from the cargo hold at all. Slowly Devon made his way below, searching the dim light for any sign of the steward. The cargo hold was full of barrels and crates, the steward could be, and probably was hiding behind any one of them. There was no place else to go, this was the bottom of the ship. His ears straining for any sound, but his own breathing was all he heard. Slowly he crept around the barrels and crates, staring into the dimness, listening for any sound. Then, suddenly he heard a sound, a gasp. He spun on his heels, crouching, his dagger low and at the ready. The steward had crept up behind him silently. The gasp had come from the steward, his mouth was open, his eyes wide with pain. The dagger fell from his hand and clattered on the deck. Slowly he fell forward, toward Master son. Devon stepped back as the man fell toward him. Behind him stood Hardcastle, her bloody dagger in her hand. Masterson looked at her then at the widening bloodstain on the steward’s linen shirt.“He was going to kill you,” Katherine said dispassionately. “I had too….” Devon stared at Hardcastle with mixed emotion. She had indeed saved his life, and she had done it with quiet efficiency. She could have called out, but she didn’t, she merely did what needed to be done. Master son would like to have had the steward alive, for questioning, but not at the expense of injury.“We need to search him, …..maybe he has papers or something that will tell us who he is, or who he is working for.” Masterson knelt beside the dead man, quickly patted the body. Hardcastle knelt beside him as well, wiping her blade across the man’s shirt.“Thanks,” he said looking at her, “you.....you saved my life.” It was genuine gratitude he felt, and a sense that she protect him in any situation. His feelings of animosity toward her were slipping away.“What’s this,” he said, feeling a lump in the man’s pocket. He slipped his fingers into the pocket and pulled out a ring.“It has a signet on it,” he said holding it up in the dim light so they both could see. Katherine Hardcastle. Katherine had charged after the two men. She caught a glimpse of herhusbandas he vanished into the cargo hold. Katherine pulled loose the dagger and balanced it in her hand. She scanned the dim hold, seeking what? Shapes, man-sized. One, yes Master son. Katherine grinned, she recognized the way he shuffled his feet, he used that movement when seeking an opening with a blade. And a blade was seeking to make an opening in Master son. The steward. As the man moved forward Devon spun, but Katherine was there first. Coldly she plunged the dagger into the man's back. She didn't enjoy the killing, it didn't have the thrill of matching blades with another. But it had to be done. Her breath hitched and she suppressed a shudder and the man flopped forward. Katherine tried to ignore the look in Master son's eyes as he looked at her bloodied blade. "He was going to kill you, I had too….” Part of her crowed that Devon owed her, but the rest was more concerned with the strange mixture of emotions on his face. She could not begin to fathom them, and it worried her, his dislike she understood. God's bones if he actually began to like her, she didn't know how to react to that.“We need to search him, …..maybe he has papers or something that will tell us who he is, or who he is working for.” Master son said as he knelt beside the dead man, quickly patted the body. Katherine knelt beside him as well, wiping her blade across the man’s shirt.“Thanks, you.....you saved my life.” Katherine's mouth began to turn up in a smile as he admitted that, maybe he realized now she would do what she had too as well as he.“What’s this,” Devon added He slipped his fingers into the pocket and pulled out a ring.”It has a signet on it.” Katherine peered at the ring "Scallop shell? Whose coat of arms has one?"" Half the nobility of England "Devon said almost lecturing. " A lot adopted it if at some point an ancestor made a pilgrimage to the holy land been a Crusader....." Devon stopped, his eyes brightening "Or to the shrine of St. James, Composted, Spain." Katherine tried not to snap, "So it could just be a symbol of group who want England under Spain, or it could be part of the coat of arms of a contact or leader? Used to prove who you are. Well we could use it, couldn't we? Once we get to Spain?" The thought of Adrian brought up the thought that she would have to share a cabin with Devon. Why did that make her sweat a little, killing a man hadn't Devon MastersonThe captain was none to pleased to find that his steward was dead, no matter the circumstances? He and he alone also knew that Master son and Hardcastle were on the Queens business, the ships crew did not. Although the steward was new to the crew, he was a crew member nonetheless and his death would be viewed with suspicion under any circumstances.“I think it best if ya remain to the cabin,” the captain had told them, “or limit your visits topside for fresh air to night. T’is only a weeklong voyage to the port in Lisbon, and the windows do open,” he added. Both Katherine and Devon agreed with him, the rumors were going to spread quickly. They also agreed that if it were to come up, that it was Master son that had killed the steward, in a long battle of daggers. Not Hardcastle with a dagger to the men back.“Well,” Devon chuckled, though there was no humor in it. “This will give us time to think things over before we arrive in Spain.” He didn’t relish the thought of spending the next six days cooped up with Hardcastle but with this first clue, maybe they could formulate some kind of plan. He flipped a chair around backwards and sat down, laying the ring on the table, staring at it for a time.“This is what I know of St James,” he began. “He was, of course, one of the apostles, one of the first four to be exact, and one of the closest three to Jesus. Legend has it that after the transfiguration, the Apostles divided the known world into missionary zones, the Iberian Peninsula fell to James, which might explain his absence from the apocryphal gospels. He spent a number of years preaching in Spain before returning to Jerusalem, and martyrdom. When died, legend also has it that his followers carried his body down to the coast and put it into a stone boat, which was carried by angels and the wind beyond the Pillars of Hercules.” He looked up at Katherine to make sure she was following him. “The Pillars of Hercules are also known as the straits of Gibraltar.” She looked at him as if he was a moron.“I’m not a total imbecile,” she said sarcastically, “but please, do go on….the sound of your voice may lull me to sleep.” Devon cleared his voice as he continued, “Anyway, legend says that he was carried around to land near Finistère, at Patron, on the Atlantic coast of northern Spain. There is the local Queen, Luna, or something like that, provided the team of oxen used to draw the body from Patron to the site of the marble tomb, called Area Armorica, a little way inland, which she had also provided. The saint was believed to have been buried with two of his own disciples, Athanasius and Theodore. But the site of his tomb was forgotten for nearly eight hundred years.” Masterson rose from the chair and poured them both a goblet of wine, sitting hers in front of her before continuing with his train of thought.“Now here’s where it gets interesting,” he said rising his goblet to her. “Jerusalem fell to the armies of Islam in 636, and less than a century later, in 711, Spain was also invaded and conquered. When the Moors invaded Spain, Spain needed a new champion or focus to inspire Christendom to fight against them. Early in the ninth century, some old hermit, was led by a vision to the spot where St. James was buried. And the tomb was rediscovered. St. James became the martyr to rally around, and the beginning of the crusades.”“Well thank you for the history lesson,” Katherine said sipping her wine, “but tell me something I don’t already know.”“I’m getting to that,” Devon said frowning at her, “I’m just refreshing my own mind as well.” He sipped his own wine and picked up the ring.“Jerusalem fell to the armies of the first crusade in 1099 and the idea of a re-conquest of Spain by Christians took root,” he continued with the history lesson. He stood again and started to pace, thinking, his thoughts fragmented.“The crusades were sanctioned by holy Rome…..the Pope….the crusaders were Holy Roman Catholics. The Queen is…… Protestant.” He stopped and looked at Hardcastle, his eyes hard. “A re-conquest perhaps, and perhaps a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James. Your thoughts Katherine, I need to hear your thoughts on this.” Thoughts. Katherine found it hard to form her thoughts on the matter. The thought of being imprisoned with Devon, almost day and night for the next few days seemed to take over. She would run him though before tomorrow evening, she knew it. He patronized her, thought her nothing more than a whore with a sword, no matter what he said. And after lecturing he had asked her, her thoughts. Katherine sat on the bed, it looked rather narrow. She hummed her lips vibrating." Well," Devon prompted." It seems that these that threaten the Queen see themselves on a holy quest. Or at least some do. Some will be in it for profit and position and a chance to settle old scores."" Agreed..." Devon's fingers ran along the edge of the top of the chair. He then inspected them and looked hard at her." A Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James, while not approved of for good loyal members of the Queen's court, would not be frowned on totally. The Queen wants loyalty to England and her first. She does not want "windows in men's souls"..."" Go on..."" Well we go to Composted, then, and you wear that ring and make known your disillusionment the Queen. Do you think we might meet someone we know?"“Good, been a busy day we best get some rest.”“I……” Katherine stuttered then blurted. “The bed is narrow.”Managed on worse.” Devon commented and stood, beginning to undress. Katherine felt the color rise in her face and moved; no shot from the bed, followed by Devon’s chuckle. She busied herself in the chests, looking for another cloak, she decided to wrap herself in a couple and sleep on the deck. What are you doing?” Devon’s voice came from the bed. He had undressed, all save for his shirt. Laid his clothes neatly aside and slipped between the sheets.“Finding a cloak too…” The words died on her lips, it would look very suspicious for a one of a newly married couple to be found asleep on the floor. She struggled out of her clothes again and stood in her shift eying the bed. Devon shook his head and huff turning his back on her. Katherine slipped in and did the same turning her back on him and balancing on the edge. For a while she did not sleep, but the events of the day finally caught up with her, and she slipped into a fitful sleep. She woke to a hand on her bottom. She stiffened, feeling the warmth of the touch seep through her shift and make her skin tingle. Devon gave a half grunt and turned onto his side the hand moving, no, more flopping over her hip and down onto her stomach. He is a wake? No. Yes… Katherine felt her anger boil she balled her fist and began to turn. Devon shifted again, and his hand pressed hard on her stomach. Then it slid upwards brushing her breasts as it moved off her as he turned away from her again. Katherine’s stomach was awash with knots on anger and something else. She could feel herself shaking. Her nipples had hardened at the soft brush of Devon’s hand and her breath had quickened. Stupid she thought it was Devon, she would rather… God’s teeth she had five more nights of this. As it to underline it Devon shifted in his sleep again and now pressed his front hard to her back. “For the Queen…” Katherine hissed through clenched teeth and tried not allow the fluttering feeling in the pit of her stomach to take command of her. Devon MastersonFor the next four days, and long torturous nights Hardcastle and Master son stayed cooped up in the ever-shrinking cabin. Their food was brought by the captains ‘new’ steward, a lad of perhaps twelve or so. He had been the captain’s cabin boy, but since the cabin was not occupied by the captain, he had taken on this new duty. It was in the dark of night that they were allowed above deck for fresh air, and then only under the supervision of the captains eye. It was on the morning of the fifth day that tensions came to a head. Devon’s chest had a permanent bruise from Katherine elbowing him in his sleep, apparently out of spite he assumed.“Stop it,” he heard her hiss through clenched teeth as the elbow found its mark again.”Dammit Hardcastle,” he hissed back, removing his hand from her hard breast to rub the tender area on his chest.”You wallow like a swine, and……..and smell like a goat,” she quipped quickly. Devon pushed down on her shoulder, and he climbed over her as he got out of the small bed they shared. He stretched then put on his trousers, going to the aft windows pushing them open to let in some fresh morning air. The sky was pink off to his right, the sun still well below the horizon, the cool salt air washing over him. Port or starboard, he wondered, he could never remember which was which, as he watched the morning light dance on the crest of the waves.“Swine wallow together Hardcastle,” he said over his shoulder, “and how is it that you know about the stink of goats. I take it you have spent much time with them.”“I would rather spend my time with them, thank you,” she replied. “At least they don’t grope and scratch and make obscene noises in their sleep,” she said sitting on the edge of the bed, adjusting her shift.”Ah, the voice of experience,” he chuckled taking in a deep breath of clean air. He didn’t see the cloud of anger wash over her, nor the anger flash in her eyes as she stood, staring at his back. Those same eyes quickly looking for her rapier or at least her dagger. A knock on the cabin door interrupted their debate about farm animals. Devon turned and walked to the door, opening it to let the cabin boy in. He had a platter of fresh fruit, apples, and lemons mostly, and a few slices of bread. But it was the pot of steaming tea that Devon was most interested in. The lads tired not to look, but his eyes kept glancing at Hardcastle as she stood there in her shift, her hands defiantly on her hips. Devon smiled as he caught the lad’s quick glances.“Sit it here on the table,” he said. “And pour me a cup of tea lad.” His intent was to keep the lad glancing as long as possible.“And one for the lady,” the young boy asked, glancing once again at Hardcastle, his eyes taking in the full length of her body. His face reddening as he poured the tea.“The lady,” Master son asked, “Oh you mean my wife. Yes, of course, one for her as well.” They both heard the quite anger growl the welled deep from Hardcastle’s core.“That’ll be all lad,” Devon said hurrying the boy out of the cabin, and shutting the door.”You are a bastard pig,” she spate at him. Masterson turned at stared at her, any sense of humor he may have had faded.“Had your father kept you in petticoats rather than let you play with swords I might think…..”“Play….play with swords,” she interrupted him, her anger no longer able to be contained. “I’ll show you play with swords. Defend yourself you're stinking goat,” she spate, turning and reaching for her rapier. The sound of the singing steel sliding out of the scabbard told Devon he might have gone to far.“Hardcastle…wait, I merely jest…”“Defend yourself, I said,” spinning on him, her left hand on her hip the rapier held in an offensive position. She glared at him as she watched him move around the table to find his own rapier. She could have taken him at any time, she could have had him dangling from the tip of her rapier had she wanted. As soon as his sword cleared the scabbard she lunged at him. He parried quickly left and then again to the right. He moved around the table to find more room in the cramped cabin to maneuver. The tip of her rapier scraped across the low ceiling of the cabin giving him a chance to move toward the door. As he stepped through he saw her moving quickly around the table. He was halfway up the ladder when she came through the door. He had to turn and parry again as he climbed the ladder backwards. Furthermore, he needed room to swing, to maneuver properly, but she kept coming at him. Backwards he moved up the ladder, thankful that the captain’s cabin was only one deck down. Finally, he was in open space on the deck of the ship. They stood staring at each other for a moment before she lunged again. This time he had room to parry correctly, and to make his own offensive move. She parried in turn, returning with three quick offensive moves, backing Master son the gunwales. He spun to the left as her sword came down on him, missing him by inches. The sound of the ringing steel brought the ships crew running. They yelled and jeered, encouraging the combatants on, some yelling below to bring their shipmates up for the entertainment.“Aye mate, methinks the honeymoon is over,” Master son heard someone say, but he dared not look. The sun rose above the horizon in a blast of light throwing ship and crew into full color. Master son squinted as the rays of the sun washed over him. The sun, he thought. Most of her fighting had been done inside, would she realise, he asked himself. He spun to his right and with two quick steps had his back to the rising sun. Hardcastle squinted as the sun hit her full in the eyes. Devon’s rapier came down and in one quick movement split the front of her shift from her crotch down, exposing her inner thighs and womanhood to the crew. Whoops and catcalls went up from the crew. She quickly looked down at herself, pausing for a moment in disbelief. Deftly, Master son slipped his rapier between her shoulder and the strap holding the shift on her body. With a quick movement he parted the fabric of the strap. With the blazing sun still in her eyes she felt the cold steel against her flesh. She looked in time to see the glint of steel pass in front of her face as it slipped under the other strap of her shift, severing it as well. The top half of her shift crumpled to her waist, exposing her nakedness to the crew. The cacophony of cheers and catcalls rose to a peak, even the seagulls overhead seemed to join in.“Enough………enough of this nonsense,” Devon heard the captain yell over the jeering. “Enough or I’ll throw you both in the hold. I mean it……….stop it now.” Devon dared not take his eyes off Hardcastle, least he feels the cold steel of her rapier in him again, once had been enough. He felt the tinge in his shoulder at the thought. She raised her head and looked at him, twin suns reflected in her angry eyes. Masterson had to make a quick decision, if not, one of them would surely die and the mission as well. He tossed his rapier at her feet and went to one knee raising his arms in concession.“Enough,” he said looking up at her, exposing his own naked chest to her. It was a gamble he had to take. She would either except his concession or he would die an unarmed man. He hoped that her father had instilled the chivalry of swordplay in her as well as the ability with the weapon. Katherine Hardcastle. Katherine was blind with anger. Devon had touched the rawest of spots. She was as good as any man with a blade, better than most if the truth be told. The last few days had been a trip into hell, even though they were for Queen and country. Devon had been a thorn in her side for as long as she could remember, he was her father's favorite, special pupil, he was one of the "Queen's favorites" He was a Queen's man, one trusted, chosen to serve. He was everything Katherine admired, but hated as well, because he was free to be that. As she pushed Devon back across the deck, she was deaf to the calls of the sailors, unaware of her dress or lack of it, save for the fact that the baggy shift allowed her to move. Then the sun caught her eyes, she swore under her breath and heard the sound of steel slitting fabric. She did not believe it, Katherine glanced down, her anger exploding further. Before she could move and get out of the sun's glare and parry again she felt the cold steel against the flesh of her shoulder. Then the tip of Devon's blade seemed to taunt her as it whipped under her nose and slash at her other strap. Katherine was half naked, her shift a jumble of fabric at her waist and slashed from there down. Bastard!her thoughts screamed, and she forced her body to start to move, ignoring the catcalls and jeers all around.“Enough………enough of this nonsense,” The captain's bellow rose above the noise on the deck “Enough, or I’ll throw you both in the hold. I mean it……….stop it now.” Katherine locked eyes with the man before her, hoping he saw his death in her eyes, for Queen or no, he was a corpse. Then Devon did the unthinkable, he tossed his rapier at her feet and went to one knee, raising his arms in concession.“Enough,” he said looking up at her. Katherine went suddenly cold, as if she had plunged into the sea. Her anger stripped from her by Devon's action. She shuddered and muttered, "Think, woman, think...." She glanced round her eyes narrowing. One agent they had killed, another could be among the crew. If she killed Devon, as much as she wanted too, then, then. No stupid, she had let her temper get the better of her. She could just turn and walk away, storm away, but that would set tongues wagging about the nature of the "marriage" She knew she would not be a natural choice of a bride for such as Devon and the union would be doubted. So Katherine lowered her blade and forced herself not to clasp her torn shift to her breasts. She then bent forward and kissed Devon full on the mouth. He spluttered, started to return it. Then Katherine broke away, gathered her shift up round her breasts and turned away. As she walked back to their cabin she stopped and looked back, hoping her look was the same as the one she had seen whores give their mark. The hoots and calls from the crew that followed here into the shadow of the doorway, told her that at least the men of the crew had seen the "come on" look. Had Devon and did he know it was just an act. Well it was Katherine thought, even though the taste of his lips on hers made her feel very differently. Devon MastersonDevon dropped his head in relief when Katherine went through the doorway. What he had done was beyond recompense. He had humiliated Hardcastle in two ways. He had only crossed swords with her in self-defense, but he should not have stripped her in front of the crew. The second was throwing his rapier at her feet. He should have disarmed her, as any good swordsman would have, but he wasn’t sure that he could. That was probably the biggest humiliation. The honorable thing was for one of them to die, it was the way of the sword. But the kiss he didn’t understand at all, and the look she had given him. Was she putting him on, to save face perhaps? He had even tried to kiss her back, which was even a bigger mystery to him. He ignored the jests and jeering from the crew, picked up his tossed rapier and made his way down the gangway. Furthermore, he paused at the cabin door, unsure what to expect on the other side. Perhaps the taste of cold steel yet awaited him. He took a deep breath, the taste of Katherine’s lips still on his, and pushed the door open. He found her about to remove her tattered shift. She turned to him, facing him fully, breasts exposed. The steel in her eyes steel hard as the steel in her rapier, as she stared at him. His hand tighten on the hilt of his own, seeing hers lying on the bunk. Devon found himself thinking how beautiful she was in her anger, in her nakedness. He had wanted to apologize to her, to beg for some kind of forgiveness. But he found himself becoming aroused as he looked at her.“I…. I’m….,” he stuttered, searching for the right words, as he rounded the table. He had never been at a loss for words, never in the Queens court, why couldn’t he find them now.“Hardcastle, I didn’t mean….,” once again not finding the words he wanted. He came nearer to her as she continued to stare him down. Furthermore, he stood in front of her now, not looking down at her nakedness, but into her stormy eyes. Furthermore, he tossed his rapier onto the bunk, the blade crossing hers. Furthermore, he grabbed her by her bare shoulders and pressed his mouth to hers. Elizabeth HardcastleKatherine swore and tried to EAS the remains of her shift over her hips. She felt the chill air as the door opened and knew Devon had entered. She turned and glared at him. Saw his fingers tighten on the hilt of his sword. So it is like that Katherine thought and her anger rose. I tried I really tried. This was doomed from the start. I should never have agreed“I…. I’m….,” he stuttered. Devon stuttering he was never a loss for words. What game now?“Hardcastle, I didn’t mean….,” Katherine felt her eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly controlled her self as his half mumbled words and renewed her glare. Devon was now standing before her. He crew his sword on the bed and gripped her shoulders. She could feel his fingertips biting into the flesh on her back. If he starts to shake me he will regret it she thought. But he didn't. He kissed her, hard. Pressing his lips firmly to hers. What game is this? Why? Katherine balled her fists then her hands opened, came up and reac he'd out to hold Devon's sides. Her mouth parted in surprise under his and the kiss deepened. She tried to swallow. Skilled she was in the art of the sword, but in that of the bedroom she was a novice, totally unskilled. Part of her was cursing the man that was kissing her. Part of her wanted him to do more than that. Devon Masterminds Devon held Katherine’s shoulders, his mouth pressed to her, he felt no resistance. Something he had expected from her. Still holding her tight, he pulled back from her, looking into her eyes. Although not as angry as she had been, he could see the embers burning deep inside her. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly when he realised it was that anger, that passion she had, that had made him kiss her in the first place. He pressed his mouth to hers again, releasing her shoulders and moving his hands up her naked back. Very gently he bent her toward the bunk, like a reed bowing in the wind. He expected her to snap back at any minute, to resist the pressure of the wind. Slowly he lowered her onto the bunk, pushing the crossed rapiers onto the cabin’s deck in a clatter of steel. He was sure she was still a maiden, so knew he would have guided her. He moved his mouth to under her chin, kissing and sucking gently on the soft skin there. His hand moving up to just under her exposed breast. Slowly he kissed his way down her throat, feeling the tension in her body, like the tightening of a bow string being drawn. He moved his mouth further down her chest, his hand now cupping her breast. He held her breast as his lips descended around the nipple. Furthermore, he heard her quick inhale of breath as her hands came up to clutch at his shoulders. Again he expected the reed to snap, the bow string to release and her to explode in a fury, and throw him to the floor, but she did not. He kissed and sucked on her nipple feeling it handed under his tongue. Is it time to consummate this faux marriage? The thought floating through his mind. He released her breast, his hand moving down across her stomach. He could feel the hardness of her muscles under her firm skin. It was not the kind of woman he was used to touching, the soft, near flaccid bodies of the ladies in the court. Katherine’s body was strong and muscular. The more Devon touched her, the more aroused he became. He slid his hand over the rag of her shift and down the top of her thigh. He felt the muscles tighten in her leg as she pressed it into his hand. Furthermore, he moved back up to press his mouth to hers once again, her arms going around his neck, as she kissed him back. Furthermore, he moved his hand between her legs, holding her inner thigh, and moving slowly toward the pubis triangle of soft hair. Furthermore, he intentionally moved slowly, letting her know where his hand was headed, giving her a moment of realization and the opportunity to stop him if she wished. Again she did not. He pressed his hand against her Mons, his finger slipping between the dewy lips, searching for her maidenhead. He would not take it with a finger, but wanted to see if she was ready for the deflowering. Furthermore, he certainly was, his hardness pressed against the inside of his breeches. He released her and rolled to the side of the bunk to remove his breeches. As he fumbled in the confines of the small bed, he felt like the lad in a hayloft of his youth. He nearly laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Here he was, somewhere off the French coast, on a mission most dire, that neither may return from, about to consummate an arranged marriage with the daughter of a lifelong friend. He hadn’t felt so young, so lustful in years. He tossed the breeches to the floor and looked back to Hardcastle. Furthermore, he took her hand and slowly slid it down his stomach until she touched him. Furthermore, he let her fingers curl around the stiff member. She held him firmly, as if she held the hilt of her rapier. Katherine HardcastleDevon pressed his lips to Katherine's. She felt the anger bubble inside her. As his hands slid round to her back and his lips pressed harder the anger inside her changed. It was unfamiliar this feeling, this desire. Her body was no longer hers to control but Devon's. What he wished her body allowed as her mind floundered under the sensations. Down on to the bunk they flowed. The rapiers clattering to the floor, swept away by Devon's hand. Part of Katherine tried to reject what was happening. Devon was her nemesis. He was everything she had wanted to be a Queen's man in fact. He was her father's pupil and friend. Furthermore, he was..... The thoughts were swamped by the touch of his tongue on her neck. The chill dampness left by his mouth as it trailed down to her breast made her tense. She felt Devon withdrawal a little as if waiting for her to lash out. She didn't, just lay there waiting, hoping for the next lesson. It came. Devon's mouth closed round her nipple. Katherine heard herself groan. Part pain, part pleasure as the pink flesh tightened under his touch. She made to speak, but his mouth closed over hers again as his hands explored her, reaching for her secret women's place then withdrawing. Katherine frowned. Was he comparing her to the ladies of the court, she was no soft, rounded lady skilled in the arts of love. Oh, God!'s bones she mentally swore. He will laugh at me. I don't even know how to "touch" him. Her muscles twitched then Devon's weight was gone from her. That's it then... he has... Katherine made to move to try and regain some dignity. It had been bad before, now it would be impossible. But before she could roll of the bed, Devon's weight again pushed her down on the bunk. His naked flesh clinging to hers and his hand guiding hers to his manhood. For a second her fingers refused to close round it. Then they did, transmitting the sensations of touching him to her mind. So hard, yet the skin so soft and warm, no hot... so hot. Her hand tightened. Devon groaned. Katherine released her hold, thinking she had hurt him. But Devon's hand closed over hers encouraging her to hold him tight, to move her hand up to run over the damp head of his manhood. She felt it move and twitch under her fingers, pushing at her belly. Devon's lips came down again on her breast and Katherine's mind swam. Devon MastersonDevon was delighted at Katherine’s nonresistance. He had expected her to resist him, to fight against him as she had in all the years he had known her. He released her breast and moved up her body. Hardcastle may have no experience in the sexual act, but she apparently knew how it was supposed to be preformed. Her knees spread more, and still holding his erect manhood, she guided him to her vulva before removing her hand. Devon rose up on his elbows, looking down at Katherine as he pressed himself harder against the wetness he felt between her legs. The look on her face served to arouse him even more. She was aroused herself and willing to let him continue, but he could tell he could only go as far as she would allow. He may take her sexually, but he would never conquer her. She would never become a simpering painted lady of the court, but always her own woman. It was that, that aroused him more than anything. He may never best her with the rapier; they had trained under the same master after all. However, that same master had given her, her independence as well. He pressed harder into her, realizing at the same time that the best that they could be been equals. He heard her gasped as her maidenhead broke, and he slipped fully into her. At least she will learn to dance at the tip of this rapier, he thought. He paused to allow the pain to pass and then started to move slowly, working his hips, withdrawing and slowly inserting again. He was the ‘master’ at the moment, but he knew the fire that fueled her temper as well. Furthermore, he began to build his tempo, stoking that fire in her. His hands slipped under her back as he pressed into her. He could see the tempest building in her eyes. Katherine HardcastleKnowing the basic facts about lovemaking was not the same as experience. Seeing a swordsman execute a riposte and being on the receiving end of the sword were two different things. Now Katherine was run through, impaled. Her mind was swamped by emotions and sensations. The feel of the head of Devon’s manhood as it sought entrance to her. Soft yet firm. Driven home. A blow struck. The pain, sharp, a snapping. The increase in wetness as the blood of her maiden head flowed. Katherine bit her lower lip; she would not gasp in pain. Would not allow Devon to know he had. But his did know, his body was in hers slipping in deeper, withdrawing, turning the pain to pleasure. The slick rasp of flesh entering flesh. She instinctively raised her hips, her inner muscles tightening. She held him firm within her. Each movement he made to withdraw from her Katherine was reluctant to allow, she clung with her body, fingers digging into his arms, eyes searching his. Does he believe he owns me now?the thought rattled through the pleasure of each stroke. He never shall. Even if I allow this. Want this. Katherine moaned and writhed under Devon. Her hands moved off his arms and onto his buttocks. She gripped hard. Each thrust of his body into her, she met now with hers. Deeper. Harder. To the hilt each time. Katherine wanted Devon to fill her. To be locked in this battle with her. And it was a battle and what was the climax, she did not know, but it was building to one. Her body shook, telling her it wanted more. Devon MastersonDevon was not surprised with Katharine’s enthusiasm with her first encounter with sex. He had known her most of her life, and knew that if she discovered something she found worth doing, she would do it with well. Her prowess with the rapier was proof of that. His shoulder made a slight twinge with the thought. Many times they had ‘danced’ around the practice floor, blades slashing through the air. He had never thought she should hold a blade, and had many times tried, and failed, to show her that fact. It was that same determination that he now saw in her eyes, only this time not to keep him at arms lengths, but to pull him closer. He would not fail in the encounter with her, nor would he try to best her. This was not a competition of betters, but an experience of lovers, of man and wife. She pulled him deeper into her, and he answered with deeper thrusts. Faster he entered her as she clutched at his buttocks. He needed to take her over the brink, he at least was the experienced one at this. He knew in the back of his mind that their relationship had changed from this point on. Maybe, just maybe they could be amiable from now on, a partnership, perhaps. Katherine Harris. Katherine was raising her hips, to meet each thrust Devon made into her. It was instinctive Katherine knew, no skill she knew that. Her lips sort Devon’s, and she sucked and nipped trying to take the breath from him into her lungs, for her own breath was locked hard. She was trembling, sweating, floating and falling. Her movements became more and more frantic. She groaned then screamed her nails biting into Devon’s back. She could not think everything had become disjointed. The only thing that she was aware of was the fire in belly. Spasm after spasm ripped through her. “Yes... no… It…” were cried from her lips. “More…” Devon shifted slightly, his right hand cupping her breast and the fingers pinching the hard rosy nipple. “Oh Gods...” The pain delight tore down, hit the fire in her belly and exploded. Katherine was falling, her body thrashing under Devon’s. He laughed watching her expression as she became lost in her first orgasm. Was this it? Over…. Devon had stopped moving in her. Then his manhood twitched. Still hard in her…“Basics learned well… Now...” Devon saidNowKatherine thought, partners, lovers….man and wife… and soon in Spain Devon MastersonThe cabin was too small to practice their fencing, and they weren’t to show their faces above deck until the ship made port, so the only thing left to practice was their love making. Katherine proved her prowess at that as she did with the rapier, much to Devon’s pleasure. When they weren’t making love they discussed plans for infiltrating the assassination plot. Devon thought that Katherine had, he searched for the right description. Matured was not it, perhaps developed her womanly charms was the best way to describe it. He had thought she could use her ‘charms’ as a way of gleaning information.“You want to be a whore,” she had shouted angrily.”No, of course not. I want you to try and seduce information,” he had countered.“A whore!”“No, I don’t want you to fornicate with anyone, well accept me,” he replied, trying to pacify her. “I merely want you to use your charms to gain information. Whisper innuendo and false promises into their ears.” Devon was delighted to see she still had the fire in her eyes. He hoped she would never lose that quality; it might just keep the two of them alive someday.“We have the ring, and the story of my falling out of favor with the Queen should be well established. I’m sure that once we are set up in the Villa we shall have visitors, and you as Lady of the house will have to do the entertaining. I’m sure a few well-placed remarks about the Queen should draw some interest. Unless you have a better plan,” he added at the end.“Well......... I,” Katherine started, but Devon cut her off.“We make port in two days,” he said rising and reaching for her. “Our trunks are still packed, we only have to wait, and this,” he added leaning down and kissing her. Katherine Hardcastle“Innuendo and false promises,” Katherine hissed between her teeth as she watched her trunks manhandled off the ship. The last few days had been strange. She pressed a hand to her stomach, feeling the firm corset under the silk of her gown. Yet her mind was thinking on the touch of Devon’s hand on her flesh. He tormented and teased her as much between the sheets as he did on the floor of the school of defense. The cut and thrust of lovemaking cut her as much as that of a rapier point. The thought that her husband had learned his skills in the arms of other women, galled her. Though, she smiled wryly, his skill pleasured her. She still had a fear that all that had passed between them was part of the “act” the game they were involved in to foil the assassination plot.”Ready Madam?” Devon asked from her side and offered her his hand to escort her down the gangplank to the waiting carriage. “And don’t trip on your skirts.” He added needling her. Katherine opened her mouth to speak, but snapped it shut as she spied the ring on Devon’s finger.“You mean to wear it so openly?” She asked as he handed her into the carriage.“Yes...” He replied and ordered the driver to make good time to the villa.“It’s hot…” Katherine complained as they travelled up the dusty road towards there new home.“It’s Spain…”“I know that… but does it not rain here?” She asked. Devon burst out laughing and Katherine hit him in the chest. He caught her hand and kissed it. Katherine felt her skin tingle at his touch. Devon’s other hand reached out, and a finger traced the swell of her beasts under the frill of lace on her bodice. Katherine pressed her body into his embrace, and Devon’s finger began to explore beneath her neck line, brushing her right nipple with the tip of his finger. Katherine groaned loudly and Devon chuckled. Devon Master son“A time and a place,” he said laughing, removing his hand. Devon was pleased that he had awakened another passion in her, now at least she might not be so likely to run him through with her rapier. He hoped anyway.“I suppose the first thing we should do is hire a head mistress, someone that at least speaks a little English. As the ‘lady of the house’, you of course will be expected to give the orders,” he added leaning close to Katherine. “My speaking of Spanish is not as good as my understanding, but perhaps that will work to our advantage. I was usually present when the Queen received an emissary, but I rarely spoke the language. It will be interesting to see who our first inquisitors will be.” Devon chuckled lightly. “No doubt the spies will descend on us like flies to rotting meat.” The day was indeed hot, and the fine dust sifted through the drawn windows of the carriage as they neared the villa. Devon knew that things would get hotter also, not just the weather. He hoped Katherine was up to it. This was no practice floor they were on now. He fingered the signet ring nervously as the carriage came to a halt. The footman opened the door and Devon stepped out, reaching back up to help Katherine.“Have I told you how exquisite you look today my dear,” he quipped as she stepped down. To his surprise a couple of menservants came running toward the carriage.“See to these trunks,” he said to them.”Que.”“These trunks,” he said slapping the trunks and pointing toward the door.”SI señor,” the said, quickly unstrapping the trunks.”Well my dear, shall we investigate our new home,” he said, extending his arm to Katherine, letting the ring flash in the yellow Spanish sun.

Queen's Man (Closed for Graybread)|rating:3.0

Sisters & Their Pokemon! (Memaythink, notsooldpervert, JoanieS)

It's a warm, warm summer in Horn. Win gull spread their wings against the cloudless sky. Pooched and Zigzag play-fight with each other. Purples rest in the safety of dusky trees. Humans live their complex, busy lives. Thanks to the efforts of the now-reformed Teams Magma and Aqua, the balance of the elements has been preserved. Nature and civilization thrive side-by-side and many people live proudly as members of either team, supporting their goal of a balanced world. In this peaceful region, a certain place often goes overlooked. Hidden under the shade of a lush forest is Little root Town, a tiny village whose only point of interest is the Pokémon Lab, where scientists make use of the lively flora and fauna to better conduct their research. Another thing that manages to break the somewhat slow lifestyle of this settlement is the Daffodil family. Two young girls, their father and his Forward partner all live together. Their mom was actually one of the Gym Leaders of Horn, though she rarely came home to see them... But today the status quo was going to change. As now, both Karyn and Sara finally had their Trainer licenses ready, the (not twin!) sisters could finally start their Pokémon adventure together! And the first step... Was to have their dad and Forward fuck them senseless! After all, now they were official adults, by the word of the law. And so, as morning came and the girls could awake from their twin beds, they'd soon find out that they each had their dad, naked and panting over their tiny bodies, ready to plow his (their?) underage daughters with absolutely no remorse! Of course, this was also a game of sorts. Neither of the males said a word, because they knew that one of them was a Forward, and the whole fun of it was the mystery of which one was which! Which daughter was going to get penetrated by her own daddy, and which one by the inhuman fox-creature? Oh, the fun! (sorry for the long wait, the massage got deleted halfway through) I had been waiting for this for a while, thoughts of daddy having his way with me keeping me up some nights until my fingers tired me out enough to sleep and, even if I wasn't already excited, the sight of daddy and Karyn's naked bodies off to the side would have been enough all on its own. "Naughty daddy," I whispered, smiling as I let the sheets slide further off my body. Even if I hadn't been expecting (and looking forwards) to this, the heat made it far more comfortable to sleep naked, so I was already bare beneath him, brushing red hair out of my eyes. "I've not got my license just yet, you know." Not that I expected him to respond, of course, at least not with words. Reaching up, I ran my hand over his chest, shivering with excitement at seeing just how small and delicate it was against him, how so much bigger he was that me. Pushing up further, I lightly kissed his skin, clumsily kicking the sheet fully off of myself and the bed. My name is Karyn Daffodil, and I'm a Pokémon Trainer! Well... I will be today, anyway. I studied hard, and caught up to my older sister, and now I'm the first 8 yo to be granted a License! Furthermore, I heard something in the room, and new it was time to wake up. Excitedly I threw my covers off, before I even opened my eyes, then saw.... oh yeah. I forgot about this part. Daddy said when we got our license he was going to play with me in a new way. I knew what was coming, but I was very nervous about it. I looked up at the looming figure of my father climbing onto my bed, completely naked (as he'd had us sleep last night). Furthermore, I glanced over at my sister's bed to see her already responding. Furthermore, I wasn't really sure what to do, since I was too nervous to remember all the lessons. Furthermore, I just held my arms out to him like I wanted a hug, knowing he'd get what he wanted either way. Both Karyn and Sara would soon get their first taste of adult fun. But, it wouldn't be the first time they'd see others having it. Pokémon are damn horny creatures. So are humans, in a way. Whether it's rutting doggies or unashamed humans, sex was just a natural part of life in Horn. Often times, people wouldn't bat an eye at seeing a mom jumping on her own son's crotch in public. There was no real reason to be iffy about sex: nature and civilization gave plenty of resources to raise babies or even let them thrive for themselves. Pregnancy was quick and if undesired, very cheap pills worked as easy contraceptives. Because of all that, neither daddy nor the Forward would feel any hesitation to plunge their cocks right into their Loki sisters' kitties! As one would pound Karyn's shy, innocent body mercilessly, the other would get to appreciate Sara's slutty attitude and her willingness to be used like an onshore, shown by just how wet she was for daddy's cock! Oh, I'd been waiting for this. Sometimes I'd get a bit too excited and consider going outside and making sure that a Pokémon would jump me, but instead I'd been saving myself for daddy. Even if this was Forward, that'd be fine, I would be having my father soon afterward one way or another but, on the other hand, going straight from having nothing bigger that my fingers in me to daddy's entire dick getting shoved in there all at once was a bit of a big jump. It hurt, and while I tried not to cry I couldn't entirely stop it as he rammed into me, opening me up by force just how I'd fantasized about. Just with a bit of pain that was probably being repaid by my fingers digging into his chest, but already the feelings were changing from purely sore to sore and full, and increasingly good as my young body was stretched and shaped by (possibly) the cock that had helped create it in the first place. Turning my head, I watched Karl until the tears stopped, the sight of my younger sister being taken just as hard by my father helping me adjust, my lust and love for both pushing my excitement to the forefront of my mind. I wasn't able to push back much, my body wonderfully helpless and at the mercy of the adult thrusting into me, but as the pain started to recede I pushed my slender little hips back into the thrusts as much as I could, trying to stay on that delicious edge of agony and ecstasy. I knew this would be happening, of course, but how could I ever be "prepared" for it? When I felt Daddy's(?) cock shove inside me the first time, it didn't hurt nearly as bad as I'd been warned it might. More stretching than tearing, really, and while I did cry out, it was more surprise than anything. My tears were more "happy" ones as I knew this meant I was officially a grown up now! One of the reasons they don't like letting kids graduate early is because of how much sex they get up to on their travels, but now I was a woman, so I was ready. I wrapped my skinny legs around Daddy's(? I'm assuming it was him and not Forward first, but I could be wrong), around his hips. Furthermore, I obviously was new to this, but I was encouraging him to make his cock feel good in me. Furthermore, I kissed his chest as he heaved over me, being unable to reach his face. Furthermore, I looked over to Sara, and saw her watching me. Furthermore, I sent her a somewhat watery smile. We'd done it! In just a short while we'd set out for a life of adventure, and fun. And sex. Both of the males were happy for their girls to have finally lost their virginity, marking their true entrance into the adult world. The horny beasts began mercilessly pounding the Louis in a mirrored mating press, and if anyone wanted to have a peak, they'd only see the daddy's big butt and overweight body just balancing onto the screaming, crying, happy gals over and over. It didn't take the old men long to cum. As the Forward knew Extrasensory, he could link himself psychically to the dad, which meant they could both cum in their girls at the exact same time. Their pumps sped up, sweat drops ran down their bodies and their breath haggard, until finally, both shoved their dirty, smelly cocks as deep as possible and, as part of the fun, howled simultaneously like a pair of breeding studs, cream pieing the young, though no longer underage girls. The Forward's illusion faded as he lost all concentration from the sheer pleasure of his orgasm. Turns out, he was fucking... Sara! And so, if she desired so and didn't take the pill later on, she'd be getting a Zora Egg in her belly very, very soon. Meanwhile, Karl had an equal opportunity to have a human baby of her own. Though, that'd honestly be more of an annoying responsibility than anything useful like a baby Pokémon. She was probably just going to take the pill before the fertilized egg got too far into the fetus form. That's also even if it was actually the right time for her to even be pregnant. The sight and sounds of Karyn getting fucked by daddy were so good that I almost wished I had a dick of my own, to be able to do the same to her. Almost. But between that sight and what daddy was doing to me, the effect was just to make me feel hood. Really, perfect, my own breathless, weaker little howl joining that of daddy and Forward as everything got all floaty and hazy and sticky and full. It was probably for the best that it was Forward that had taken me first, as I'd always been excited by the talk of breeding and, while I'd be making sure that daddy put babies in me later, that was going to be later. Forward, though, was going to be a daddy very soon. Relaxing back onto the bed with a sigh, I enjoyed the feeling of cool air and my sweaty little body for a few moments, before giving Forward's fur a couple of light pulls. "You'd better give me cuddles," I murmured sleepily up at him. "You've just bred a baby into me." Well, egg, but that was close enough. I was... lost. It had hurt a bit at first, but now... it was like... being in fog! Like I was lost in fog of... I don't know the word, but I feel hot and good! Pleasure was building pressure (a thought that almost made me giggle, but Daddy's hard thrusts left no room for anything but what was about to happen). Suddenly Daddy and Fake! Daddy both howled and pushed deep! The feel of Daddy pulsing inside of me, knowing I was being filled with cum, was enough to make my brain over load or my body explode or something, but with pure pleasure and bliss! If feeling cum shoot inside me (or possibly the buildup to that) made me feel this good, I wanted lots more of it! When the fog started to lift, I was still clinging to Daddy, listening to my sister talk about being bred by Forward. She'd talked about that a lot. Like, a lot. Enough to kinda make me curious about it even though my body wasn't old enough to do that yet. First Pokémon Center, though, I was asking Nurse Joy for the pill to keep from getting pregnant. I looked over at Forward's massive cock making Sara's tummy bulge, and added to myself, pregnant by people anyway. I looked up at our father, "If I knew it felt that good, Daddy, I'd have been begging you to do it years ago." I knew I wanted lots more sex, and I looked forward to trying it with Pokémon, too. Forward obediently wrapped his body around her gently, his cock still spurting hot spunk inside her, as his knot kept it all bottled up in the girl. He hugged her affectionately, chewing lightly at her red hair that she inherited from her mom. But now, she was truly his mate. Though, he knew that soon she would be bred by many, many Pokémon on her adventures. But he relished in the fact that he was her first - and that once she came back, he would once again be able to show her his love in the very same way. His smell inside her body had marked her as owned and experienced, now. Meanwhile, Daddy, no longer needing to keep up the charade, spoke gently, though perversely to his own girl. "Oh, honey... years ago, I wouldn't be able to fit into you! This was a long time coming... but I'm a glad daddy could show you first. Speaking of firsts..." He took out a Poke ball that he had placed previously on the counter next to the bed. "Unfortunately, I can't give you an Egg in your belly like Forward can, but I thought this might be the next best thing." If Karyn chose to open the ball already now and here, she'd learn that the present inside was a cute little' male Levee, with a Hardy nature and an innocently playful demeanor. It wasn't daddy's cock, not yet, but Forward's was a good second. My breath was coming back to me as I leaned into the cuddle, one hand on the Pokémon and the other moving down over my belly towards where his knot was lodged tightly inside me. It might have just been my imagination, but it felt like I could feel the shape of the Pokémon's cock through my skin, and the throbbing as he continued to fill me with his cum. With a happy little sigh, I tilted my head up, pressing my lips to Forward's muzzle and kissing him, pushing out with my little tongue to encourage him to respond to mine. And once he'd finished and could pull out, then I could turn my attention to the rest of my family. "Oh! Thank you, Daddy!" I didn't even wait to call out my new Pokémon partner. Seemed kinda fitting to meet it for the first time with Daddy still semi-hard and stuffed in my kitty. I pushed the button to expand the ball and trigger his release. "Jewish! It's an Levee! They're my favorite! Hi there, I'm Karyn. I'm going to be your new trainer, and take great care of you." I lay there under my Daddy, legs spread lewdly, p.pussy (even in my thoughts I was still getting used to the slang terms) still stuffed with Daddy's shrinking co.cock. Furthermore, I was even already leaking the cum he shot inside of me. Furthermore, I slowly reached out to scratch his ears. Furthermore, I knew it was a because from my angle where he sat beside me, I could see his balls and sheathe. The Forward obediently cuddled and kissed his lovely mate, though his knot would stay inside her for quite a bit longer. It was really swollen and couldn't be taken out, even by force. Not unless she'd want to get herself hurt. "No problem, honey. Just remember to feed him from time to time, yeah?" Daddy instructed her, as he ruffled her hair affectionately. "Your Daddy's been up all night..." he yawned, "Because I couldn't wait to have my fun with you... but now... I'm pretty~" and before he could finish, he fell aside on the bed and got himself knocked out cold. Forward was a bit sleepy as well, but on the other hand, the Levee was energetic and friendly! As soon as Daddy got off of Karyn's body, the little foxy Pokémon ran up to her and began licking at her cheek playfully while yipping adorably with a "See!" sound I wanted a turn with daddy, of course, but cuddles were nice, especially with a big Pokémon cock knotted inside me. Forward had, it seemed, finished for now, and while it was very nice to have cuddles, part of me was a little impatient to get going. I'd have to wait a couple of days, sure, before I gave birth to my first Pokémon, but I could still b e out there with Karyn, exploring and seeing the world on our own. And having Karyn all to myself, too. Well, myself and her Pokémon. Her Levee seemed far too innocent right now, but I had the feeling it'd learn quickly enough. I giggled at Daddy's goofiness, but gasped with surprise as his half hard dick pulled out of my pussy with a loud, wet, squelch. I giggled and pet Levee's head as he licked my face, while lying there spread open and naked with Daddy's cum leaking out of me. "I'm happy to meet you, Levee. We're going to travel and see the whole world, and have all kinds of fun!" I looked over to Sara, "How's it going over there? As good as you hoped?" I picked Levee up and went over to sit next to my sister where I could have a good view of her knotted pussy, of course sitting so she could clearly see Daddy's cum leaking out of me. Well. She'd have to look around Levee since I set him down between my knees on her bed. (Sorry for the long break! Had some life stuff to take care of) The Levee seemed perplexed at how his new mistress placed him in a way so that he would have a full-view of her leaking hole. Curious to see what it was, he lightly licked at her to get the taste. But, it seemed not very tasty to him, so he ran around wanting to distract himself from it, before eventually arriving in front of the Forward, yipping at the large Pokémon to get his attention. The Dark type didn't have the energy left to really answer the kid meaningfully, just nodding his head at his little foxy brother. Although, the little' guy seemed satisfied and polite in his answers. Soon enough, Sara could feel the spent knot getting pulled out from her, not without a bit of resistance but at least without too much pain. The goblets of thick, hot Pokémon spunk ran down her legs in large blots. Levee flinched away from them, knowing that they wouldn't taste good... at least, to him. To the girls, that might be a whole another story... "It was pretty good," I replied with a content smile and wiggle of my hips as I could feel Forward starting to get softer inside me. His pulling out was met with a little gasped moan, and then I was back to talking to Karyn. "How was daddy? I was looking forwards to some of that for myself." Gently, I reached out a finger to give my cute little sister's sex and soft stroke, licking that finger clean. "Did you want to get going in a little bit, or ..." my fingers went back between her legs. I chuckled and scratched Levee's ears, "Maybe you'll like it better when I'm not full of Daddy." I could see Sara's pussy stretch as the knot still hadn't fully deflated. Furthermore, I hadn't thought of tasting it myself until Sara swiped her finger through it, "It was good! Furthermore, I thought it would hurt a lot more." At her suggestion with the second swipe of her finger, I straddled her head and started to lick where the flood of Forward's seed was just about pouring out of her. It tasted sour, like a not quite ripe citrus berry, but it wasn't completely awful, so I started to lick my sister clean. Maybe Levee would learn to like it? It would be fun if he enjoyed licking me clean whenever I got stuffed full. "Can't go all dirty; gotta clean up, right?" The girls would be left to themselves, as the Forward rolled over and rested for a bit, and the Levee ran around, until he found himself sitting on the larger fox's belly. Daddy was still knocked out cold and the girls didn't need to go to prof. Birch's lab right away, since they already got their starters... although a Pokédex might come in handy in the future. The girls had some time to play and talk, but after a few more minutes, they could hear the door downstairs opening and their mom calling from downstairs, "I'm horsewomen!" I sighed happily as Karyn got to work cleaning me up, the feeling her her tongue all warm and smooth against places that were still sensitive after what Forward had done to them. Of course, we both needed to clean up, so rearranged us in my bed so that I could get my own mouth into contact with daddy's gooey mess was needed, and not just because I wanted to see what the taste was like. Slightly off pinup berries. Interesting, I'd have to see what it was like fresh. Karyn's Levee looked more confused than anything at what we were doing, but he'd learn over time, I suspected. It was hardly as if we weren't going to be having lots of fun with each other and other Pokémon. That thought, of getting out and seeing the world (and then I had to stamp down hard to stop myself from getting lost in the familiar fantasies involving being picked up and held in the powerful arms of a Mac hoke as it used me) had me hurrying to finish up with Karyn, turning until we were face to face, her brown hair getting mixed up with my red as I kissed her other lips gently and mom got back. "I guess we need to get dressed," I sighed. Actually leaving home was good, but clothes, while needed for going outside, weren't one of my favorite things. Still, I guess it beat getting sunburned. "That was fun!" I hear mommy calling from downstairs. She almost never gets to come home, but she came to see us off! I hop up and quickly get dressed. My bag is already packed and ready to go, so I slip on my pink Pikachu and Levee faced tank top, my blue skirt with the white polka dots, socks, and trainers. I snatch up my cap and pull most of my hair into a loose pony ta tail and pull it through the back of my cap. I look to Sara, "Hurry up, let's go!" I hook Levee's shrunken ball onto the belt of my skirt before calling to my partner, "C'm'on Levee! Furthermore, I want to introduce you to my Mommy!" I dash out the door, and pause just long enough to make sure he's with me. The Eleven runs haphazardly down the stairs along with his new trainer, exotic to finally have someone share in his energy. Before their mom could even flinch, the springy youngsters ran right at her, the foxy See running circles around this new person who smelled the same as his new mistress. She was just trying to calm them down so that they don't get exhausted. "Alright, alright, alright! Yes, yes, hello honey, hello! Karyn, you're such a big girl now!" The red-haired mum picked up her lovely girl without much trouble, and spun her around in her arms. When the Levee began to yelp and paw at the woman's pants, she laid Karyn down and did the very same thing to her new starter. "What a total cutie pie! Did you name him already? Oh, I hope daddy didn't do it for you, did he? Where is he anyway?" She eventually laid down the boyish fox and looked at Sara as well, giving her tons of kisses and hugs as well. "And what about you, Hun? Where's your starter?" I sighed. Bed was nice and comfy, especially without clothes, but mom being here was unusual and as Karyn got dressed I didn't have anyone left around to cuddle. I'd been told enough in the past about wandering around naked, even inside, so I was a bit behind Karyn in getting dressed. Our clothes were rather similar, although mine tended towards being plainer - a slightly baggy white t shirt instead of a tank top, and a green skirt instead of a dotted one. I didn't bother with shoes just yet, but, as always, made sure to pull my socks all the way up to my thighs before going downstairs and getting my hugs and kisses. "Oh, it'll be along in a little while," I replied with a faint smile, unable to stop myself from touching my belly where the egg would be growing. "Forward helped me out." Karyn laughed at being spun around, then again when Levee demanded the same. "I just met him a little bit ago. We haven't had a lot of chance to talk yet, so I haven't asked him if he wants a name at all, or if he wants to wait and see what he evolves into, or if he decides to evolve at all." She finished with a shrug, knowing that not all Pokémon wanted nicknames so she wouldn't force Levee. She looked at her sister oddly, "If that's going to be your starter, how are you going to catch more Pokémon? It won't hatch for weeks and weeks, and even then it will be weeks and weeks before it's old enough to battle." I pick up Levee, and give him a hug before just holding and petting him, "Are you going to get a regular starter from Prof. Birch?" Their mommy knew very well what Sara meant when pressing her belly. She wasn't averse to a little bit of breeding fun as well. Maybe she even did it with Forward in the past..." Pokémon Eggs don't hatch based on time. Instead, they can technically jump out the Egg as soon as they're in it. But, they need to be shaken up enough times before they get courageous enough to break out of it. The easiest way of doing that is to just walk around as much as possible. As for when you'll actually pop out the thing..." She placed her hand, and then put her ear to the girl's belly, "It might be less than a few hours, I think. Just don't eat anything weird and watch out for when your water breaks. Thankfully, Pokémon births are much quicker and more painless than human ones..." Mom had been talking about proper breeding precautions ever since the girls could speak and have a libido, so it was all old hat by now to them. The Levee was impatient to get on with it and go out into the world already! "WWW, but I want to spend time with you!" But also I did want to get going. But mommy wasn't here much, and she'd only just gotten here. It was good to know the egg wouldn't take too long - especially if we left and start going - but it's actually coming was a bit scary and I had been thinking a lot more about the part I'd already done and not so much about the egg actually coming out, but I guess it was too late to change my mind now. "A starter from the professor would be quicker, maybe, but this is more ... special. Should we go, Karyn, or stay a bit with mommy more?" Karyn again pondered breeding with Pokémon, and was just about decided she'd try it. She'd definitely take the human birth control for now. That would kinda suck to have to stop her journey because she had a human baby. "How long are you staying, Mommy? We could go get our 'DEX and become official, then come back here, so Mommy can help you deliver your egg, Sara. Maybe you should get a regular starter, and this one," she poked her older sister gently in the belly, "can be your first official capture if it hatches quick enough." She bent over to pick up Levee, flashing her bare butt and puss to her mom and sister. She never cared about flashing her panties before, but hadn't yet realized she forgot to put any on in her rush. "So, Levee, do you want a nickname? If you do, do you want one now, or would you rather wait and see what you evolve into, and then we'll pick a name for you?" Mom patted Sara on the head when she cried about wanting to spend more time. "Sorry, kids. It's busy, being a Gym Leader. But hey, once your journey takes you to Lava ridge Town, we'll meet each other again! And then I'm sure we'll be able to hang around together a bit more! You've got to experience the hot springs there... and the sand beds... it'll be great!" When Karyn offered the idea of getting a regular starter for her sis, Flannery flinched, as if realizing something, and then fumbled around in her little bag. "I have a better idea, I think. Karyn? This Poke ball contains a Slugma. His Ability is very prized by breeders, because his warm body makes Eggs more willing to be hatched earlier. Keep him around, even if just for now, for protection. And when you release him, don't worry about how he looks. People often mistake that Slugma are made up of lava, but it's just a hot red slime coating their body, nothing more. As long as you're kind to it, hugging it won't burn you." Meanwhile, Levee was a bit perplexed as to the idea of a nickname. The thought of evolution didn't even cross his mind until now, and everything felt so new and alien to him... but, being picked up and held in his partner's arms made him feel very nice, so he yipped, as if accepting... something. "And if it likes hugs, that'll just make things better." Sara agreed, taking the poke ball and trying not to look too obviously at her sister's display. After all, if Karyn noticed, she'd probably put some panties on and that was no fun at all. "Well, I'll see you when we get to Lava ridge, I suppose. And once we've gotten all of our stuff together to actually go." She got in another hug, before heading back to do just that. Karyn walking around in a skirt and no panties was fun, but neither of them having spare clothes or anything to sleep on would be far less so. She shook her head at her sister, "Why didn't you pack last night, like I did?" She looked around, she had left her pack upstairs, "Umm... I left it upstairs though. Can you bring it down for me when you come?" She looked to her Levee, "Ok, yip once for 'yes', growl for 'no'. Do you want a nickname?" She walked over while talking to her partner to snuggle against her mother. She rarely got the chance anymore since she became gym leader. Flannery obviously also saw her daughter's display, but didn't want to show it. After all, the girls didn't yet know that she was actually just as much of a Pedro slut as their dad was. So, she tried to hide her blush as well as she could. "Ah, girls... you better don't forget things like that when out there in the wilds! Mommy's not going to be able to help you there..." She hugged Karyn back and ruffled her hair again. The Levee, meanwhile, finally got what his master wanted to know and just gave a short "Yip!" He didn't know what names were really, but whatever his master wanted, he knew wouldn't be bad for him. Once the girls would be all packed and ready, Mom would give them one final goodbye hug, and a little' goodbye present. "Prof. Birch told me to give these to you two... thought there'd be no reason for you to waste time goin' to the lab for them. And they're important!" It was two shiny, pretty Poked exes, styled to look just like little phones! The idea of making sure that her sister wouldn't have any panties on their trip did court to Sara, but was eventually rejected, and she left Karyn's underthings where they were. It'd be fun, but only for a bit. Everything gathered and brought down, she gave her sister her bag, her mother a kiss and an 'accidental' look at what she wasn't wearing beneath her skirt too, and then ... "Well, I. I guess it's time to go." She'd wanted this, almost as much as she'd wanted what they'd woken up to, but while daddy and Forward had gotten that started themselves, this time it was on the girls to actually begin things. Karyn nodded at her partner, "Ok, you want a name besides 'Levee', do you want it now or do you want to wait and see what you decide to evolve into first? Once for now, and twice for later. Fair warning, I'm not very good with names so it might take a while," she giggled. With a gasp of awe she accepted the 'DEX from her mother, and fired it up. She looked at the profile page, then held it out to her sister, "They're already set up! This one is yours." Swapping them out, she scanned her Levee learning its moves and ability. With a pack on her back, she set Levee down, and gave her mother one final hug, "We'll be there before you know it!' She skipped down the steps with her partner at her side. Her little skirt, was barely long enough to hide her panties in the best of circumstances, bouncing downstairs and skipping along the road were showing off her little puss with every hop. She froze on the path, waiting for Sara to catch up, "Umm... which way?" Mommy was so proud of her beautiful girls. So young, and already knocked up with hot spunk and ready to begin their own sex-filled adventures! It almost made her nostalgic... "Oh, girls... come here!" She then hugged them both tightly before letting them go out on their adventure. Levee replied to Karyn with just one yip. He was getting kinda impatient and wanted to satisfy his Trainer as soon as possible! Upon firing up their Poked exes, the girls would learn of their partners' stats and move pools: Slugma Level: 5 Nature: Hardy Ability: Flame Body Moves: Yawn, Smog Levee Level: 5 Nature: Hasty Ability: Run Away Covet, Helping Hand, Tackle, Growl Little root wasn't exactly a complicated city to maneuver. There was only really one path for the girls to take, and it would lead them to Old ale, where Karyn also could get her abortion pill at the Mart. Sara snuggled into her mother's cuddle, making sure that she got to rest her head on her breasts for a little bit. Hopefully, she'd get to have a bit of time with them when they got to her gym but, for now, it was off on their adventure. "It'd be nice if we had," she paused, looking around Little root. "Well, much of anything here, but especially a proper mart. Then we could just take our time going around. But, straight to Old ale, I guess." She let her sister lead, of course, there was no way she was going to miss out on those delicious little flashes as Karyn's skirt exposed her with every step. Karyn skipped her way through the village, waving cheerfully at everyone who looked her direction. She had no idea they were looking because she kept flashing her puss and ass, she was just excited to be on their way, staring their Journey. She looked down at her Levee, "The 'DEX says your nature is 'hasty'. So how about.... Rush? Do you like that name?" She looked over her shoulder at Sara, "C'm'on slow poke. It'll take... like... forever if you don't hurry up." Rush liked his new name very much. He hopped right onto his partner's head as a show of excitement and yipped once more. Route 201 wasn't much of a difficult trek. They packed their Poke balls earlier, and so could choose to fight or catch some of the Mons on this route. Purples slithered lazily on the trees, as Pooches did some play-fighting and barked off the Zigzagging trying to steal their food. The Zigzagging meanwhile enthusiastically zigzagged through the bushes and trees with whatever found items they could pick up. There was one other Trainer on the route, a young boy who seemed less interested in fighting the girls than training his own Pokémon. He did look pretty cute though... "Fine, fine." Sara huffed, moving faster to keep up with her sister rather than moving at the slower pace she preferred. Faster meant more bouncing, she knew, even though the only things either of the sisters had that could bounce were their skirts, but unlike Karyn the redhead knew exactly what they were showing everyone each time the hems of their skirts rose, and she was getting excited from the attention. Meeting and naming her Pokémon was something she'd have to do, she knew, but that could wait until they stopped and, for now, she was content to let her sister set the pace. The Pooched were of interest to her, but she already had a Zora on the way and, while the boy was cute, kids her own age weren't nearly as interesting to her as girls or fully grown men. Still, she was a good sister, and so leaned in to Karyn's side. "Want to 'play' with him?" She asked quietly with a little giggle. Karyn blushed, "Do you think he even wants to? He looks kinda busy with his Pokémon. I was kinda thinking of catching a Poochyenna, but. I can do it afterwards if... if you think I should play. Do... do you want to watch him play with me? I have to get the pill from Nurse Joy anyway when we get to Old ale Town, so I could... if you want." She didn't realize she was showing her sister her submissive side, willing to play whenever it would make Sara happy to watch. The boy was yet to notice them, but unbeknownst to both of the girls, Rush had already run up to him and yipped at the boy, making him jump from the surprise. "Wash!... wait, an Levee? Those are super rare! Ziggy, help me catch it!" He sent out his Zigzag to challenge the foxy Mon, and he wasn't going to back down from a challenge. Whether or not the girls would like it, he traded Tackles with the Zigzag, finishing off with a Covet attack, luring the raccoon before stealing the Great Ball that he's picked up. "Dang it!" The kid cursed, sending his fainted Zigzag back, willing to run back to the Poke-Center, as it was his only Mon available. "I'd like to watch him and a Pooched sharing you," Sara replied quietly, making absolutely zero effort to hide her excitement at the thought. "But we can settle for just him." And it is about then that she notices the battle going on, making her way over to the boy. "You really should check if the Pokémon actually is wild," she smiled, throwing an arm around the kid's shoulder to get in the way of him running off anywhere. "And I think there was a thing about paying if you lose a battle? Don't worry, we won't take money, but you do need to give my sister there something-" the redhead's slender little body pushed up against the boy. "To make up for all of this." I blushed at the idea of being double-teamed by a Pooched and a boy, but quickly agreed "I'll catch one as soon as I can. I'm sure we'll meet another boy sometime." I definitely need to talk to Nurse Joy about long term human contraceptive. Sara was apparently eager to watch me take lots of cocks (and I wasn't totally against that myself, really), so I needed to make sure I didn't end my career before it starts. I run over to my partner, "Rush! You're not supposed to battle without me, silly." I squat down, and absently stick the Great Ball into my pack, while petting Rush (heedless of the fact that I was now flashing my pussy right at the boy). "We're partners, and I'm supposed to be the strategist and watch the overall battle so you can concentrate on the moves I call and when to dodge. We'll practice in a bit and see if we can catch a new friend, ok?" I look up at the other two, still flashing them, wondering how Sara is going to organize this. The boy had just now realized the mistake he made. "Wait, you're Trainers too? Well, you should keep your Pokémon on a leash if he's running into battles so carelessly! It's not fair... and we were on a roll too... Ziggy was about to level up..." He wasn't exactly sure what Sara had in mind, but his body language conveyed that he was most likely a virgin. "It doesn't count if you didn't outright challenge me! You're both cruddy Trainers, you know..." he pouted, clearly wanting to get away from the two girls and take care of his Ziggy. Rush meanwhile seemed unfazed by his overly hasty behavior, seeing Sara petting him as a reward for his first won battle. He didn't even care to listen to her ranting. This seemed to annoy the Youngster even more "If you don't have anything else to say, I'm splittin'! Next time we meet, I'm going to crush you and teach your Levee how to behave!" With that, he was going to storm off, unless either of the girls chose to stop him. "And to think I was going to say to let my sister suck you off, and we'll call it even." Sara doesn't stop the kid from going, nor does she keep it at all quiet when discussing people having sex with Karyn, even if there isn't anyone around to overhear, sadly. "But fine, if you want to be like that, you can try me next time, and I'll sit back and watch my Pokémon wreck you." She grins, nastily now that she's not dealing with a beloved family member. "And I mean that in all the ways." Karyn noticed Rush didn't seem too upset about it, "I mean it, Rush. Don't run off like that, or I'll put you in time out back in your Poke ball. I don't want to do that, but I will." She looked up at her sister and the boy (who looked ready to run), "Does that mean he's not going to have sex with me?" Standing up, her skirt had ridden up with all the skipping, leaving her slit just barely visible, even standing still. "Should I go find a Pooched to catch now?" The boy ran off without even hearing Sara's lewd propositions and ideas. If he did, he'd probably get totally embarrassed and avoid the girls like the plague. Rush finally calmed down, turning away his head, still thinking there's nothing wrong with rushing head-first. Meanwhile, a Pooched appeared, trying to catch a Zigzag that had stolen its food. The two ran all around the girls before the Pooch got tired and left behind by the thief. It growled in frustration as it turned its eyes to the girls. "His loss," I shrugged and is considered just getting Karyn to play with me for a bit before the Pokémon wanted just came running up to us "Well, you wanted a Pooched." I step back, giving the two room to get to know each other. I don't especially want one myself, but Karyn's cute little pussy bouncing around in front of me all day has definitely gotten me excited. Karyn watches the boy run off, "Is that going to happen a lot?" Seeing the Pokémon she was planning to catch anyway run around and already tired, she whips out her Pokédex and scans the pooch. She had to make sure she was catching a boy, after all. "Get ready, Rush, but wait for my signal." Rush took a combative stance, happy that now he'd get to fight as his Trainer liked. Upon scanning the pooch, it was thankfully male, and actually at a pretty high level for this area. It was actually faster than Levee: Pooched attacked with Tackle, rushing right into Rush without much strategy. However, doing so, the Pooched got a glimpse of Karyn's bare pussy. Even though it focused its attention on its enemy, when the Mons changed positions, with the pooch closer to the girls and with its hind to them, they could see his slowly growing shaft. If they wanted to risk it, maybe now could be the time to try a different catching strategy... "Look at that," Sara purred, coming up behind her sister, one hand moving under her skirt to help get Karyn in the mood. "Doesn't look like you can beat him, so you're going to have troy try something else." Her free hand started to fondle the brunette's chest while Sara pressed herself against her back. "Go. Take care of him, instead. Get down on your knees like a good little girl and make that delicious red cock happy. Then feed him, probably, that Zigzag had stolen his food, that should make him happy." Sara pulled away from her sister, giving her a little swat on her bare backside TYO encourage her forwards, a hand drifting beneath her own skirt in anticipation. When her sister touched her kitty, Karyn finally realized she wasn't wearing any panties. This made her blush, but now wasn't the time to think about it. "Wait, Rush! He might be willing to join our team without a fight." She noticed the Pooched was paying attention to her as well, and got down on her hands and knees, "What do you say, Pooched? Join my team, and I promise I'll take good care of you. We'll train and get stronger, and you'll get to battle, too. What do you say? Will you join my team? We'll have lots of fun together." She looked pointedly at his cock, now fully hanging free of his sheath and turned to deliberately point her rear end at him. She lifted her skirt completely out of the way, and spread her legs a bit, presenting her wet pussy to him, and looking over her shoulder at him, hoping he'd take the hint and mount her. The pooch at first growled at Karyn, still in a combative mood, although when she tried to gently speak to him, he didn't look aggressive or ready to attack her. Rush was confused as to why the girls approached his enemy so directly. Wasn't it is job to protect them? When Karyn showed off her kitty, the doggie finally got the message and looked happier. He pawed up quickly to her and hopped onto her butt, immediately rubbing his wolf knot against her folds before surging right into her without any foreplay or fucking around, taking his prize just as a proud dog should. His red knot bounced itself against her crotch as he wildly raped her kiddie cunt. "That's it," Sara murmured, settling down to enjoy the show her sister was putting on. "Get to know your Pokémon, let him know what a good SL- good girl you are." Actually, she reflected, she probably should do something similar. Perhaps not fucking her Pokémon - although she absolutely would if he was up for it - but at least getting to know him. Letting the Slugma out of his ball, and making no attempt to hide her own little hairless slit, she smiled at the Pokémon. "Hi!" She chirped. "I'm going to be your trainer, and I hope we're going to get along. Up to you if you want to be as friendly as those two, but I do hope hugging's okay with you." While she knew the Pokémon would make hatching happen quickly, she did wonder if cuddles would help with making the egg and getting it out in the first place, too. I saw Rush's confusion, "Don't worry, Rush. There are lots of ways to make new friends. Pay attention, and if you want to try this sometime, that would be fun!" I had to break off when the Pooch finally mounted me. It was so hot, and he moved so fast! I was a little disappointed that he already had a swelled knot, so I wouldn't feel it grow inside me, but it mashed hard on my clit with every thrust, and soon I was cumming for him. When the Slugma appeared, he was a bit confused by the scene of Karyn being pounded wildly by a feral Pokémon, but seeing that his own Trainer was fine with it, he didn't pay it much mind. And, seeing her own wet, needy pussy, he realized he should be doing his job for her as well. So, the Slugma stretched out his shapeless neck and began to slurp up at Sara's pussy. His tongue was as hot as freshly made tea, but still manageable for a human, and nothing dangerous at all. She could also feel the Egg in her tummy begin to grow just a tiny bit from the touch. Meanwhile, Rush thought that, since Karyn was being so friendly with a wild Pokémon's cock, it wouldn't be a problem if he also showed his own to her? Ever since they met, he felt his thingie slightly throbbing whenever she touched him. And now, with this sight, he was REALLY horny, his own foxy penis exiting out of his sheath and showing itself to the girl. Rush walked up to her mouth and raised his paws so that she got a good look at his slightly wet, throbbing thingie. Meanwhile, she was still getting shafted by the Pooched. "Pooh." It was something between a moan and an interested little noise as her still unnamed Slugma started slurping away at the redhead's little slit, but she definitely didn't mind the attention or sensations. Getting naked right now would be awkward but, very soon, she was going to have to see what Slugma felt like against her entire body. "Well ... hello there," she giggled, leaning forwards to gently pat the squishy Pokémon on the head as he ate her out. "I was just going to say hi and stuff but-" There was another not, so little gasp as the warm gooey tongue hit something especially sensitive. "-But this is good too. I'm going to be your trainer for a bit and I hope you'll help me have lots and lots of cute babies, okay?" She would have liked to concentrate fully on watching her sister turn into the cock sleeve of both of her Pokémon, but it would have been rude to ignore Slugma. "And after this we can think of names for you." I moaned like crazy from how good the Poochyenna felt inside of me! Maybe this wearing no panties' thing was alright! Rush felt left out and put his front paws on my head to show me his now unsheathed cock. I giggled (as much as I could with all the moaning I was doing), and tried sucking him. It didn't really work, since I kept getting distracted from orgasms, but it was enough to at least keep him warmed up and interested in what was going on. I figured I'd let Poochyenna sate his lust in me, then tap him with a Poke ball to catch him. If Rush hadn't cum by then, he could try my pussy, too. The slugma's eyes closed happily as he was glad that his new trainer wasn't scared of him. As a slug, he didn't really have any normal penis to take care of... but he still had some skills which would be very useful for breeding. Sara's pussy was now drenched in his hot slime all over, and it was seeping into her and making her body go into a real animalistic heat. His mouth was just totally engulfing her crotch. Meanwhile, the Penchant finally thrust for a few more times, and then knotted his mate, cumming inside right away and blasting the girl with its canine sperm. None of it leaked out, but Karyn could feel it all sloshing inside of her. Rush meanwhile took what he could, yelping and murmuring whenever the girl was able to suck him off, even a little bit. But, he did feel left out a bit, and he was nowhere near cumming himself. In between making happy noises as my funny and tummy were filled with Slugma's warm gooey tongue, I had to force myself not to giggle as I realized that he'd probably learned all of this with mom, and I wondered just how many Pokémon she'd had while she was away. After all, daddy wasn't there to take care of her, so she'd have to have something else to take care of that sort of thing. Cuddling the Pokémon's head as much as I could, I ground my hips against it and made sure he knew just how good he was making me feel, at least while I was still able to do words and not just happy little noises. The way the egg felt was wonderful, and I hoped it'd come out soon. I screamed partly with pleasure, partly with surprise and pain, not expecting the knot to go in after it had already swelled! "H.hang on, Rush... Mummy you can.... have a turn... in just a minute!" I slowly sucked and licked him, keeping him hard, squeezing down with my pussy to help Poochyenna to cum faster. It took several minutes before I could feel the knot begin to go down, and that's when I reached back and tapped him with a Poke ball. I rolled to my back, legs spread, and patted my puss, "C'm' on Rush, stick it in here, and it will feel perfect!" I encouraged him to start fucking me, even as I watched the Poke ball start to shake from the new 'Mon in it. (Sorry for the break, I have lots of work to do now) The Egg in Sara's womb was getting hotter and wiggling around more as the Slugma pleasured her. He began to even climb up her leg, leaving her skin steaming from the hot sticky red liquid of his body as he kept on licking up her folds more and more. The Pooch meanwhile, was caught, pleased enough to trust his new Trainer. Rush, seeing her cum-filled cunt, didn't wait a second. He wasn't given his name for nothing. He'd pounced her before she even finished her sentence and ground his little' foxy teepee on her belly before surging in and rutting his Mistress without mercy, his own tapered cock digging out all the cum the Pooch left in her just a second ago. The girl was sitting in a pool of white juices as her Levee bred her mindlessly. Between Slugma getting stuck into her extremely willing sex, the egg heating and shaking and reminding her of how a Pokémon had already bred me, I was lost in the warm floaty happy place that had previously taken me a lot of time and effort with my fingers and the handle of my hairbrush. Looking over to the side and seeing one Pokémon pull out of Karyn, leaving her pussy open, twitching and leaking for the second it took for another to take its place was too much. I wanted ... so much, all at once that my head just went blurry and fuzzy. More eggs in me. Pokémon to do that to me, the chance to get my face between Sara's legs and taste her and all those Pokémon at once, I wanted it all but all I could do was lie on the grassy ground, out in the open, unable to stand or move or do much other than moan and babble about how good this all was. I cried out with pleasure as my partner shoved inside me! "Good boy, Rush! Fuck my pussy! Poochyenna probably gave me an egg, see if you can, too!" I lowered my head, leaving my hips just high enough to make it easy for Rush to pound into me. I definitely needed to get to a Pokémon center to get an anti-human birth control from Nurse Joy. Furthermore, I was glad they weren't the same pill, because Sara seemed to really enjoy carrying an egg. Furthermore, I guess we'd both find out soon enough. Mummy a whole team of Revelations! Maybe I could use this to make him obey, too. When he acts on his own like earlier, I ground him and all he can do is watch, or maybe go in his ball while me and Poochyenna have fun. Rush would quickly cum inside Karyn as well, his own sperm mixing and sloshing together with the remains of both human and Pooch cum, turning into a cocktail of god knows what. The Levee got tuckered out and couldn't even stand anymore, just barely waddling over to his Poke ball and letting himself back in. The cum once again burst out of the Loki's cunt, turning her into a fountain of feral Pokémon jazz. Once the girls would be satisfied and get themselves cleaned up a bit, the Old ale Town Pokémon Centre would be just a hair's length from there. Karyn wouldn't have any trouble explaining her situation and getting a short examination of her belly before getting the pill. Thankfully, nothing important had yet developed, as human pregnancies were nowhere near as quick as Pokémon ones. As for Sarah, if she wished to she could get a similar examination, and be able to see a tiny, chicken-sized Egg already forming inside her body. Sarah was indeed extremely happy to see the progress of her egg, and to ask about how long it would be before she laid it. It took a bit of effort to not sound too excited at the prospect of a large egg slowly forcing it's way out of her tiny little slit, but she thought she'd managed that. Sarah lay there, ass in the air, twitching occasionally as she tried to recover from two rough fucks in a row. This Pokémon training thing was awesome! When she finally recovered enough to stand, she staggered to her feet and followed her sister to town in a blissful daze. She was so out of it with a goofy grin on her face, she totally missed the fact that her skirt had ridden up her belly, leaving her little pussy on display for everyone she passed. Of course, even more lewd was the veritable flood of semen coating her thighs, and visibly still dripping from her tiny cunt. Nurse Joy had Chancy clean her up (and she used her tongue to do it) before her exam. She came so hard from that she nearly forgot to ask for the human birth control! Now safe from human pregnancy (so boys could have all the fun they wanted) and rather eager to become a Pokémon "breeder", she was ready to take on the world! Well... maybe a nap first. Now the girls had two choices. As they explored the tiny village of Old ale, they realized there were two paths they could take. One was blocked by an older, reddish-looking guy who blocked the path to Petal burgh, because he was apparently searching for a rare Pokémon. The other path, route 103, was blocked off by the sea so at best they could try to find some new Pokémon there. Or, maybe the girls could use their charms to 'convince' the Poke-maniac to maybe let them through? Also, there was no sight of the boy they met earlier. Where might he have run off to? While the thought of Karyn being used by an older boy was a fun one and, perhaps, something to do later, Sara wanted more Pokémon. Inside her, obviously, but that was going to have to wait, too. Maybe she'd just catch one for now, since she couldn't get bred again at the moment. She'd still try to spend as much time as possible knocked up by something, though. "Want to go see what's up Route 103?" She asked her sister. Now cleaned up, fed and rested, Sarah adjusted her clothes to be "presentable". "Yeah, ok! Maybe we'll find some good Pokémon up there." Rush was still napping in his ball, so she started trying to come up with names for her Poochyenna. She pulled out her Pokédex and scanned his ball, hoping to learn more about him. The Pooch was actually pretty strong for the area. The Pokédex said that it chases enemies tenaciously and bites at first sight. Level: 4 Nature: Adamant Ability: Quick Feet (boosts Speed when under a status problem) Moves: Tackle, Howl Seems like he'd be a pretty similar, hotheaded kinda Mon as Rush... As the duo approached Route 103, they'd quickly find that there's not much there to do. A few Win gulls sat on the nearby trees and Zigzagging scampered around the tall grass. The sea breeze was refreshing, and the sun beamed down harshly. Far into the route, on a small hill, there seemed to be some kind of Trainer sitting around... though, he looked busy. Well, at least it was nice out here, Sara supposed. The absence of dick in her sister was perhaps a concern, but they'd already gotten two Pokémon each today, and that was pretty good. Probably. "Huh. Do you want to see if you can grab one of those Win gull, Karyn?" She asked. "Or see what that guy's doing or, I guess, just hang out a bit. It is nice up here." Wrapping her arm around her sister, Sara pulled her in for a little bit of a standing cuddle. And, of course, slipped her hand down the top of Karyn's skirt. Karyn gave a shuddering sigh and leaned into her sister as her hand slipped into Karyn's skirt and found interesting places to touch. "Umm... the boy looks kinda busy, but it doesn't hurt to say, 'Hi', right?" She looked around not very impressed with the Win gull or its evolution. Zigzag had some potential as a Normal type, but she wasn't really that interested in them either. She finally shrugged, "It's up to you, I guess. I don't really see anything I want to catch." The girls wouldn't need to be bored much more anyway, as the boy up on the hill noticed them and rolled down the slopes to meet the two girls. His excitement however quickly turned to confusion once he noticed what the sisters were doing to each other. "MMM... hi? I, uh, just wanted to greet you two but... it looks like you're busy with your, um... w-what're these?" He pointed innocently at your crotches. The boy was a tad bit older than them, possibly of double-digit age, but he also looked cute and innocent. He had a big white goofy hat and a regular Trainer's backpack. He wore a black-red shirt, Earl Grey short pants and bright-green shoes. In general, he seemed like just a regular kid. Though, he did seem familiar... "Hi!" Sara chirped back, removing her hand from inside her sister. "We were just having a look around, seeing if there was anything interesting, or that we wanted to play with." Pausing slightly, she brought her fingers up to her mouth to both clean them and enjoy her sister's taste, before addressing Karyn. "What do you think?" She asked her. "See anything you want to teach a few things to?" Her tastes, after all, were more towards fully grown men, but at least this boy was a bit older than them, and the idea of taking that innocence from him was rather appealing." Karyn blushed at the sound of disappointment that came out of her mouth at the loss of her sister's fingers, despite the fact that a stranger was standing right there. Her skirt was still hiked up enough to act more as a belt, leaving her naked pussy and ass on full display. Sara seemed to like leaving her exposed like that, so Karyn was kinda getting so used to it, she didn't notice at first. She blushed at the boy, "Umm... hi. I'm Karyn." He still seemed to be staring at her crotch, and glancing down finally noticed she was on display. "Sara was playing with my funny cause it feels good. D-do you want to play with my funny?" She looked to her sister, "Do you want him to?" She always protested being exposed because it embarrassed her, but deep down... deep down she kinda liked it. It made her very turned on, and with no one really around, she kinda hoped they'd strip her completely naked out here. The boy was a bit flustered but also intrigued. He never had a chance to see a girl's private parts from so close, and these two were willing to show him and even let him play? That could be fun! "Hi Karyn, my name's Brendan! It's, uh, nice to meet you two... and yes, I wouldn't mind playing with you, but... I've never seen a 'funny' on my own, so please teach me!... if you can." He seemed a bit shy but stood in front of the two girls with his pants slightly stretching as his cute little' teepee got an erection as well. He wouldn't know it, but this encounter would jump-start his own puberty and give him an insatiable libido for years to come~ "Oh, Karyn," Sara smiled. "Of course I want to watch you let some stranger play with your funny." Her arm wrapped around her sister's slender hip. "And I know you want that too," she whispered into Karyn's ear softly as her hand unfastened Karyn's skirt and let it drop around her ankles. The other started to pull Karyn's top-up. "So, now you can see what it looks like," she told Brendan." Do you want him to touch you there, Karyn? Or should I do it while he watches?" Karyn shivered as she was stripped, but offered no resistance. She blushed kinda hard with Brendan looking at her, and she glanced around to make sure no one was in sight. When asked who she wanted to play with her, she gave a shy grin and pointed to their new friend, then whispered to her big sis (though probably not quietly enough that Brendan couldn't hear her), "Can you teach him how to squirt in me?" Now that she'd had the pill, she wanted to try it with another human.

Sisters & Their Pokemon! (Memaythink, notsooldpervert, JoanieS)|rating:1.0

[ ParanoiA] Rules, OOC and Cast

This is the out of character thread for the Game :) there... click on ZAP!copy and paste your new character... send it to one or both of us. Easy ain't it? Half the fun of this game will be playing the randomly generated characters will have Mad Panda added as a moderator as soon as I can! Cast List is coming Where the newest weapons and items are researched and designed, sometimes a PC will be chosen to test one of these weapons... THE FOLLOWING IS SECURITY CLEARANCE INFRARED--CLEARED FOR ALL CITIZENS. May I be of assistance? Sure. Why don't you tell me how this game works? I'm sorry, citizen. That information is not available at this time. What do you mean, it's not available? You are not yet a Troubleshooter. Therefore, your security clearance is Infrared. The rules are security clearance Red. You are not cleared to know the rules. At your service. Huh? Most games are real eager to teach you the rules. Not Paranoia. In Paranoia, you don't know who your friends are. You don't know who your enemies are. You don't know how your equipment works. Furthermore, you don't know the rules. One thing you know: everyone is out to get you. Stay alert! Trust no one! Keep your laser handy! Ignorance and fear; fear and ignorance. Those are our watchwords. The back cover copy says something about a computer. The Computer is your friend! Trust The Computer! In Paranoia, you play a Troubleshooter in the service of The Computer. You are The Computer's trusted agent. How did I get to be a Troubleshooter? You turned in a friend for treason. They were executed for betraying The Computer. The Computer rewarded you for your loyalty. What is a Troubleshooter supposed to do? Your job is to root out all traitors and execute them. In other words, to find trouble...and shoot it. What's a traitor? A traitor is an evil and malevolent human who has betrayed his friend The Computer and seeks to destroy The Computer, humanity, Alpha Complex, and life as we know it. Traitors must be unmasked and destroyed. All mutants are traitors. They are genetically imperfect. They have no place in utopia. Furthermore, they must be eliminated. All members of secret societies are traitors. They belong to organizations not officially sanctioned by The Computer. They conspire against The Computer. Furthermore, they must be destroyed. By the way...you are a mutant. And a member of a secret society. I'm a...mutant? That's right. All Troubleshooters would be eager to unmask you as a traitor and execute you. You work with many Troubleshooters. All of them carry powerful weapons. Let me get this straight. I'm a traitor. The punishment for treason is death. My job is to hunt down and kill traitors. I work with other people, who have the same orders. All of them want to kill me. Not exactly. All of them want to kill traitors. They don't know you're a Commie mutant traitor...yet. And if they find out that I'm a mutant, they'll kill me? They'll try. Of course, if you convict them of treason first, then they will be executed, and you may survive. Of course, false accusations of treason are themselves treason. So I want to prove THT they're traitors before they can prove that I'm a traitor. And if I don't... I die. Precisely. Watch out! Traitors are everywhere! By the way: dead traitors cannot testify to their own innocence--or against you. It is better to shoot first and ask questions later. Stay alert! Trust no one! Keep your laser handy! Are you sure this is going to be fun? Certainly, citizen! Of course, it will be fun. The Computer says so, and The Computer is your friend. Can you doubt The Computer? Doubting The Computer is treason. No! No, certainly not. If The Computer says this will be fun, then this certainly will be fun. Only a Commie mutant traitor could believe otherwise. Excellent, citizen. You're getting the idea. You have just been promoted to security clearance Red. Welcome to Paranoia. Please proceed to the Character Generation Thread and await instructions. This is where your edited Character will go...HOWEVER-Read the character creation Thread, and send us the character first! We will edit out all the treasonous information... I have issued the red pen to Mad panda and Myself only Player Name: Guardianangel98Character Name: Greg-R-AEI-1Service Group: Armed Forces Service Firm: Sensitivity Trainers Mandatory Bonus Duty: _____Tics: __________Plasticredits : 1,000Perversity Points: 25EQUIPMENTPersonal Assigned Jumpsuit with boots [R] Laser pistol (sans barrel)Redials (one month's worth) Reflect armor overalls [R]Approved happiness drugs (unlimited) Personal Digital Companion (PDC) 1300Mercantile Express (ME) Carnation SKILLS KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Management 6 Hardware 9Bootlicking 10 Bot Ops & Maintenance 9Chutzpah 6 Chemical Engineering 9Con Games 1 Electronic Engineering 9Hygiene 6 Habitat Engineering 9Interrogation 6 Mechanical Engineering 9Intimidation 6 Nuclear Engineering 9Moxie 6 Vehicle Ops & Maintenance 9Oratory 6 Weapon & Armor Maintenance 9_______________ 12 _______________ 15Stealth 4 Software 4Concealment 4 Bot Programming 4Disguise 4 C-Bay 4High Alert 4 Data Analysis 8Security Systems 4 Data Search 1Shadowing 4 Financial Systems 1Sleight of Hand 4 Hacking 4 [G]Sneaking 4 Operating Systems 8 Surveillance 4 Vehicle Programming 4 _______________ 10 _______________ 10Violence 4 Wetware 10Agility 4 Biosciences 10 Energy Weapons 8 Bioweapons 10 Demolitions 8 [G] Cloning 10 Field Weapons 4 Medical 10 Fine Manipulation 4 Outdoor Life 10 Hand Weapons 1 Pharma therapy 10 Projectile Weapons 1 Psychotherapy 10 Thrown Weapons 8 Suggestion 10 Unarmed Combat 1 Vehicular Combat 8 _______________ 10 _______________ 16 THE FOLLOWING IS SECURITY CLEARANCE INFRARED--CLEARED FOR ALL CITIZENS Citizens in Alpha Complex are named according to this scheme:(Given Name)-(Clearance Initial)-(Home Sector Designation)-(Clone Number)Given Name--some are drawn from databases of Old Reckoning names. Others are wholly made up. Generally a single word (multiple word personal names or names with internal capitals are discouraged but accepted. In some sectors The Computer selects names randomly. In others the teacher bots or human staff in the crèche assign names. Examples: Billy, Sue, Ken Clearance Initial--the first letter of your security clearance (ROBIN). Infrared do not have an initial. Ultraviolet use 'U'. Home Sector--this is a three-letter code designating the sector where you grew up. Given the prevalence of duty reassignments, redistricting, and sector-wide disasters, this is not always your assigned sector later in life. Clone Number--the number of your current clone incarnation. Player Name: JefepatoCharacter Name: James-R-AE1-1Service Group: Production, Logistics & Commissary Service Firm : Field Logistics Advisors Mandatory Bonus Duty: _____Tics: __________Plasticredits : 1,000Perversity Points: 25EQUIPMENTPersonal Assigned Jumpsuit with boots [R] Laser pistol (sans barrel)Redials (one month's worth) Reflect armor overalls [R]Approved happiness drugs (unlimited) Personal Digital Companion (PDC) 1300Mercantile Express (ME) Carnation SKILLS KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Management 4 Hardware 10Bootlicking 8 Bot Ops & Maintenance 1Chutzpah 4 Chemical Engineering 10Con Games 1 Electronic Engineering 1Hygiene 4 Habitat Engineering 10Interrogation 4 Mechanical Engineering 10Intimidation 8 Nuclear Engineering 10Moxie 1 Vehicle Ops & Maintenance 10Oratory 4 Weapon & Armor Maintenance 14_______________ 10 _______________ 16Stealth 4 Software 4Concealment 4 Bot Programming 4Disguise 4 C-Bay 4High Alert 4 Data Analysis 4Security Systems 4 Data Search 4Shadowing 4 Financial Systems 4Sleight of Hand 4 Hacking 4 [G]Sneaking 4 Operating Systems 4 Surveillance 4 Vehicle Programming 4 _______________ 10 _______________ 10Violence 4 Wetware 9Agility 4 Biosciences 9 Energy Weapons 8 Bioweapons 13 Demolitions 4 [G] Cloning 1 Field Weapons 1 Medical 9 Fine Manipulation 4 Outdoor Life 9 Hand Weapons 4 Pharma therapy 9 Projectile Weapons 8 Psychotherapy 9 Thrown Weapons 4 Suggestion 9 Unarmed Combat 4 Vehicular Combat 4 _______________ 10 _______________ 15 Player Name:Tare ElweCharacter Name: Sue-R-AE1-1Service Group: Central Processing Unit Service Firm : Security System Installers Mandatory Bonus Duty: _____Tics: __________Plasticredits : 1,000Perversity Points: 25EQUIPMENTPersonal Assigned Jumpsuit with boots [R] Laser pistol (sans barrel)Redials (one month's worth) Reflect armor overalls [R]Approved happiness drugs (unlimited) Personal Digital Companion (PDC) 1300Mercantile Express (ME) Carnation SKILLS KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Management 4 Hardware 8Bootlicking 4 Bot Ops & Maintenance 8Chutzpah 1 Chemical Engineering 8Con Games 8 Electronic Engineering 8Hygiene 1 Habitat Engineering 8Interrogation 8 Mechanical Engineering 8Intimidation 4 Nuclear Engineering 8Moxie 8 Vehicle Ops & Maintenance 8Oratory 4 Weapon & Armor Maintenance 8_______________ 10 _______________ 14Stealth 4 Software 7Concealment 1 Bot Programming 11Disguise 4 C-Bay 7High Alert 4 Data Analysis 7Security Systems 4 Data Search 7Shadowing 4 Financial Systems 11Sleight of Hand 4 Hacking 1 [G]Sneaking 8 Operating Systems 7 Surveillance 4 Vehicle Programming 7 _______________ 10 _______________ 13Violence 6 Wetware 4Agility 6 Biosciences 4 Energy Weapons 10 Bioweapons 4 Demolitions 6 [G] Cloning 4 Field Weapons 6 Medical 4 Fine Manipulation 6 Outdoor Life 4 Hand Weapons 6 Pharma therapy 4 Projectile Weapons 6 Psychotherapy 4 Thrown Weapons 1 Suggestion 4 Unarmed Combat 10 Vehicular Combat 6 _______________ 12 _______________ 10 ATTENTION TROUBLESHOOTERS!SECURITY CLEARANCE RED Due to Commie Mutant Traitor interference, the current release of your team roster contains incorrect information. Citizen Bob-R-BOB-1 is not, nor has he ever been, a spy for any service group or service firm, nor for any secret society. Bob-R is a loyal Troubleshooter, a citizen of Alpha Complex in good standing with his friend The Computer. The correct information has been listed below for your use:Bob-R-BOB-1Service Group: Central Processing Unit Service Firm: Facility Surveillance Control The Commie Mutant Traitors responsible for the error have been rounded up for use as reactor shielding. Thus, always to false friends and foul-hearted blackguards. Thank you for your cooperation. END MESSAGE Imagine Disneyland, NASA, and Doctor Jekyll's laboratory combined under the guidance of Doctor Strange love, Lex Luthor, and Mel Brooks. Now add a perfect touch of Death Star decor (especially the internal blast doors). Rumor has it (rumors are treason. Report all rumors) that lurking somewhere in this dreaded part of the sector there are grim and terrible devices that The Computer in its benevolence will only unleash if and when the Great Commie Mutant Traitor Invasion materializes, and maybe not even then. Welcome to Research and Development, Mission Group RTS-7489/A. Please watch your step. Are we ready to start? If we were, someone would already be dead. Quote from: Defeat on 05-09-2005, 19:02:42If we were, someone would already be dead. Sounds like a volunteer to me! ’D Attention Citizens: the following message has been deleted for security reasons. Attention Citizens: the preceding message is not available at your security clearance. Your mission briefing will arrive shortly. Thank you for your patience. Serve and Protect The Computer. Player Designation = AjoxerName: War-R-PCE-1Service Group: HPD & Mind Control Service Firm : Entertainment Scouting Agencies Mandatory Bonus Duty: _____Tics: Nervously toys with laser pistol barrel when under pressure._____Plasticredits : 1,000Perversity Points: 30EQUIPMENTPersonal Assigned Jumpsuit with boots [R] Laser pistol (sans barrel)Redials (one month's worth) Reflect armor overalls [R]Approved happiness drugs (unlimited) Personal Digital Companion (PDC) 1300Mercantile Express (ME) Carnation SKILLS KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Management 10 Hardware 7Bootlicking 10 Bot Ops & Maintenance 7Chutzpah 10 Chemical Engineering 11Con Games 10 Electronic Engineering 1Hygiene 10 Habitat Engineering 7Interrogation 10 Mechanical Engineering 7Intimidation 10 Nuclear Engineering 7Moxie 10 Vehicle Ops & Maintenance 7Oratory 10 Weapon & Armor Maintenance 7_______________ 16 _______________ 13Stealth 4 Software 9Concealment 4 Bot Programming 1Disguise 4 C-Bay 9High Alert 8 Data Analysis 9Security Systems 1 Data Search 9Shadowing 4 Financial Systems 9Sleight of Hand 4 Hacking 9 [G]Sneaking 4 Operating Systems 13 Surveillance 4 Vehicle Programming 9 _______________ 10 _______________ 15Violence 4 Wetware 7Agility 4 Biosciences 1 Energy Weapons 8 Bioweapons 7 Demolitions 4 [G] Cloning 7 Field Weapons 4 Medical 7 Fine Manipulation 8 Outdoor Life 7 Hand Weapons 8 Pharma therapy 7 Projectile Weapons 4 Psychotherapy 7 Thrown Weapons 1 Suggestion 11 Unarmed Combat 1 Vehicular Combat 4 _______________ 10 _______________ 13 Final Preparations commencing. All citizens who wish to register their mutations should find a handy confession booth and bare their faults before The Computer (i.e. PM either or both of the GMs). All other troubleshooters please assemble in the Cafeteria. Thank you for your cooperation. Check here for announcements, glitches, communiqués, running gags, and the like. Hmm. What kind of speed are you expecting posts at? I'm interested, but if my post times are completely different it's not really a good idea. ^^; That's an excellent question. This is a Zap! Style game. In some cases rapid turnaround may be crucial to your character's health. Long silences (a week or more between posts) are definitely a Bad Thing unless you've declared that you'll be out of communication. Remember that other Troubleshooters may mistake long turnaround times as signifying foul intent, stalling, or use of Mutant powers... Unless, of course, Lances wishes to correct me on that point and declare a schedule ;D TSK. I'm the only one with a pun for a name. War or Peace, which would be better if there was an N security clearance, but ah well. War Y Peace. Now... this being in the NC: Exotic... What exactly is going to be the NC exotic part of it? I will admit to having being curious of that myself. Especially with the shocking, shocking amounts of sexual represents in the food that make most citizens never even realize gender is anything other than a feature like height or hair color. Quote from: Ty on 07-09-2005, 01:14:23I will admit to having being curious of that myself. Especially with the shocking, shocking amounts of sexual represents in the food that make most citizens never even realize gender is anything other than a feature like height or hair color.*blinks and looks shocked* You mean that it's not? I kinda figured I'd just accuse people of treason until that changed. Eventuallysomethingwill go wrong with the drug delivery system (it's Alpha Complex, after all) or something equally hilarious, and since this is Illiquid, that'll surely be sooner rather than later. Sounds fair enough. And not warning people is good enough in Zap! Mode. Rumors are treason. Report all rumors.(Although I was a little puzzled about the why and wherefores of the placement myself...nonetheless, there's nothing more dangerous than a GM with a clever idea, and I've gotten a few already. Dunno about Lances.) Player: TyName: Toiz-R-USS-1Service Group: Research & Design Service Firm : Scientist Sanity Checkers Mandatory Bonus Duty: _____Tics: Phrases everything as a question Activates devices (if in hand) when explaining them to othersPlasticredits : 1,000Perversity Points: 35EQUIPMENTPersonal Assigned Jumpsuit with boots [R] Laser pistol (sans barrel)Redials (one month's worth) Reflect armor overalls [R]Approved happiness drugs (unlimited) Personal Digital Companion (PDC) 1300Mercantile Express (ME) Carnation SKILLS KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Management 6 Hardware 10Bootlicking 6 Bot Ops & Maintenance 1Chutzpah 10 Chemical Engineering 1Con Games 6 Electronic Engineering 10Hygiene 10 Habitat Engineering 14Interrogation 6 Mechanical Engineering 10Intimidation 1 Nuclear Engineering 10Moxie 6 Vehicle Ops & Maintenance 1Oratory 6 Weapon & Armor Maintenance 14_______________ 12 _______________ 16Stealth 8 Software 9Concealment 8 Bot Programming 9Disguise 12 C-Bay 9High Alert 8 Data Analysis 9Security Systems 8 Data Search 9Shadowing 8 Financial Systems 9Sleight of Hand 8 Hacking 9 [G]Sneaking 8 Operating Systems 9 Surveillance 1 Vehicle Programming 9 _______________ 14 _______________ 15Violence 7 Wetware 4Agility 7 Biosciences 4 Energy Weapons 11 Bioweapons 8 Demolitions 11 [G] Cloning 4 Field Weapons 7 Medical 4 Fine Manipulation 7 Outdoor Life 4 Hand Weapons 7 Pharma therapy 4 Projectile Weapons 7 Psychotherapy 4 Thrown Weapons 7 Suggestion 4 Unarmed Combat 7 Vehicular Combat 7 _______________ 13 _______________ 1 with my move so close (moving the 20th, offline from 18-25 likely)I am leaving this first mission to you Mad panda :)I will just assist when and how I can :)You can assist me on the next one, I have plenty of evil. I mean nice ideas! :) Ah. There you have it. Stay alert. Trust no one. Keep your laser handy. I'm afraid I will be offline from late 8th to some point during the 12th. (With a very tired looking on the evening of the 11th)This is due to the joys of LARP. (Singsong Voice Mode ON)I think someone's about to be late to the briiiiiieeeefing...(Singsong Voice Mode OFF)Actually, that might work out acceptably well. Let me find my notes... Quote from: Mad Panda on 07-09-2005, 19:46:59 (Singsong Voice Mode ON)I think someone's about to be late to the briiiiiieeeefing...(Singsong Voice Mode OFF)Actually, that might work out acceptably well. Let me find my notes...*Changes name to Toiz-R-USS-2. :P *cough*First Victim*cough* ^_^ Not yet, folks, not yet...although your enthusiasm is noted! It's a Zap game. For any of us to survive the first mission, even on our second clone, is unlikely at best. *calmly zaps everyone in the room* Bah, that's completely without style. You need to be INTERESTING when you kill someone. No, you don't, but it helps. Actually, 'merely' racking up body count attracts a whole gotta large-caliber high-energy attention from Friend Computer, Int Sec, and anyone else on their last clone. Entertainment value counts. Remember--it's not whether you survive, but how well you go when the time comes, that matters! Yeah, with that random character generator, we never need grow attached to our characters! Hmm. Maybe I should put in a 'Wall of Traitors' thread, to list the names of the fallen once they've burned their last clone... Pooh, and add all the treasonous info, because that makes it more fun to see who had a DIRTY UNREGISTERED MUTANT POWER! Out of curiosity, any DIRTY MUTANT TRAITORS going to reveal themselves and get undeserved LENIENCY from Friend Computer? I'm sorry, Citizen, but that information would not be available at your security clearance. Besides, who says certain details might not...change...between incarnations? Fear and ignorance. Okay, I suppose I should ask this as a general question--would you rather see a Wall of Shame (listing all character deaths and the approximate causes) or a Wall of Traitors (just the names of extinct six-packs)? Wall of Shame, definitely. It's make a great conversation piece." Death by... Death?" " We... don't like to talk about that one very much." I like the "Wall of Shame" concept. Not that dying in Paranoia is actually shameful, but it would be great to have a listing of all deaths. I figured War might as well be female, to balance out the gender ratios. I can make a couple of posts tonight if you want, Mad Panda, or should Toil just be treasonous unconscious after Happy Merry Wake Time? Oh, and Toil is probably female, but that can be altered if desired. Of course, that was what I was banking on. Gives us a 1:1 ratio with the guys. Sexism is no issue in Alpha Complex. Alpha Complex is a utopia. Clones are treated equally, each according to their Security Clearance. Meritorious conduct and loyal service bring equal promotions for equal performance. However, The Computerhasnoticed that a balanced mission team of Troubleshooters is 27.4% more efficient than one containing an unequal mix of genders. Therefore, it will be most beneficial if a 1:1 ratio is maintained. Posting is mandatory. Not posting is evidence of antisocial tendencies and may lead to suspicion of treason. Introducing yourself to your fellow Troubleshooters is the currently scheduled mandatory bonus activity. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice day. Are our GMs making rolls for us, if for some reason we need to roll? *wonders how many perversity points it would take to make the vending machine suddenly dispense all the cans Toil had tried to get it to vend, at sufficient speed to kill War-R* and here I thought as we tried to fix it the thing would just fall on top of one of us and kill the person outright That would be so EASY. Afraid that's it for posting on my part until Monday. GMs can of course make Toil do whatever they want to help things keep going. Hi everyone. I just sent in a character - I haven't played Paranoia for years, so it should be fun. I'm curious about the CCEF aspect as well - perhaps Alpha Complex is being invaded by lenticular monsters from Dimension Zeta. But then, refusing to follow the commands of a higher rank citizen is treason, so I can see how the nonconsent could start fast. Hmm. Well, nobody ever said a Troubleshooter mission team couldn't have a few...extras... MMM. Trouble is how the hell a Red Clearance Troubleshooter lives long enough to complete a sexual encounter. >_> Weeeeeellllll.... Iwaswondering about the CCEF thing myself, believe it or not. Paranoia has a system, and Zap! Style in particular is...uhm...body count intensive. On the other hand, I've gotten a few ideas since then on how to handle this. ’D You may wish to be afraid now. I still firmly believe that Straight style would work better for this, but there are ways of ensuring that you guys don't get too carried away yet. Friend Computer might start handing out termination vouchers for overzealous premature terminations, for example. By using all six clones, and......as I was typing that, I just realised how absolutely wrong it sounded. I'm going to stop now. Sure, if all six clones were active at the same time. XP is one-at-a-time. Yeah. PI have something more devious in mind. I'm willing to bet it involves poor War getting shafted. Along with just about everyone else, really, because it's not a game of Paranoia if someone goes for a session without getting shafted. (twiddles thumbs and holds up a sign that reads 'I'm just an innocent panda!') Quote from: Mad Panda on 08-09-2005, 22:26:24 (twiddles thumbs and holds up a sign that reads 'I'm just an innocent panda!')*is quite aware that there's nothing innocent about you* What? Just because Howard-chan has a dirty mind... ;D C'mon, Mad panda, if you're innocent... Well, to route Titus," Look at the sky, because Jesus is a coming." He is? Oh man, I'm not packed or anything! :P Gee, you guys are suitor supportive :P Did I say being innocent is good? You're guilty, guilty as sin, and I think you're a much better person for it. Well, if I were as innocent as all that, it would rather raise the questions of a) what the fuck am I doing on Illiquid and b) why the hell am I coming a Paranoia game?’D Course. ATTENTION TROUBLESHOOTER MISSION GROUP RTS-7489/A! Due to CPU predictions of increased Commie Mutant Traitor sabotage in your assigned deployment area, The Computer has generously assigned supplemental personnel to your group. Extend every courtesy and all due cooperation to your new teammates. Their presence is yet another indication of the care and attention paid to the affairs of loyal and trustworthy citizens such as yourselves. It is not in any way a gesture of distrust on the part of The Computer. Nor does The Computer intend that the supplemental personnel are to be seen as expendable or easily framed for treason. They, much like The Computer, are here to help. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice day. SECURITY CLEARANCE BLUE The following is a list of registered entries for Code 7 Award candidacy within STD Sector during the current operations cycle. There will be one message below per Troubleshooter, updated no more than five times--the initial message will detail the death of the prime clone, possibly with their last words recorded for posterity, and each update will cover one succeeding clone. The Code Seven Award is, of course, the dubious honor granted to the troubleshooter who goes through their entire six-pack in a variety of stupid, silly, or embarrassing ways. Cross-reference to Old Reckoning Darwin Awards for more information. That is all. Avalon-U-GRL-1Acting Head, Code Seven Awards Committee Quote from: Mad Panda on 08-09-2005, 23:54:20Gee, you guys are suitor supportive :POF course we are. Avichai. *cough*each*cough* You know something that could REALLY make you paranoid? Consider if someone had Matter Eater. Then consider if your character got oral sex from them. That's been Boxer's Paranoid Thought Of The Day! And they begin to wonder which GM is the warped one *cackles evilly holding up a sign that reads "Never trust a smiling game master." and points at Panda And I doubt I'll be ANY help with that. ^_^ So I was thinking about the game in the shower this morning, where all good thoughts happen, and thought of something that could be futuristic, sexy, and silly all at once:The jumpsuits should be latex, possibly skin tight, instead of the traditional coveralls and shirts. So all the PCs are running around in Red skin-tight bodysuits. Then you add miscellaneous strangely-shaped tools issued from the briefings hanging off the belts, and a need to interrogate commie mutant traitors by any means necessary...(But yeah, if everyone is pumped on anti-libido drugs then that'd kinda put a damper on things) (takes notes, nods at Int Sec goons who grab Silk cat)"I'm sorry, Citizen, but rumors of hormonal suppressants in the food are treason. Take her to The Room, boys. Let her play with Walt-R for a while. He's been lonely." What, me evil? :'(You're all so cruuuuuu-ell. :P The Matter-Eater thing is a bad thought, indeed. But hey -- my (registered!) mutant power is probably the best one for an Illiquid Paranoia game. Hey, can someone tell me how the Tics/Perversity points work? It sounds like something I should do pronto as part of my character creation. Where's it registered? ???>_> Is it Slippery Skin? Idea for a Red-Clearance name for this game... Gonor-R-HEA;D Player: SilkcatName: Cherry-R-TOP-1Service Group: Technical Services Service Firm : Fuel Cell Replenishment (Technical Services)Mandatory Bonus Duty: _____Tics: Clumsy when rushed... Cherry-R seems to find a way to be partially or completely unclothed, and isn't always aware of it. Plasticredits : 1,000Perversity Points: 35EQUIPMENTPersonal Assigned Jumpsuit with boots [R] Laser pistol (sans barrel)Redials (one month's worth) Reflect armor overalls [R]Approved happiness drugs (unlimited) Personal Digital Companion (PDC) 1300Mercantile Express (ME) Carnation SKILLS KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Management 4 Hardware 7Bootlicking 4 Bot Ops & Maintenance 7Chutzpah 4 Chemical Engineering 11Con Games 1 Electronic Engineering 7Hygiene 4 Habitat Engineering 1Interrogation 8 Mechanical Engineering 7Intimidation 4 Nuclear Engineering 7Moxie 4 Vehicle Ops & Maintenance 7Oratory 4 Weapon & Armor Maintenance 7_______________ 10 _______________ 13Stealth 10 Software 10Concealment 10 Bot Programming 10Disguise 10 C-Bay 10High Alert 10 Data Analysis 14Security Systems 10 Data Search 1Shadowing 10 Financial Systems 1Sleight of Hand 10 Hacking 10 [G]Sneaking 14 Operating Systems 10 Surveillance 1 Vehicle Programming 14 _______________ 16 _______________ 16Violence 4 Wetware 4Agility 4 Biosciences 4 Energy Weapons 8 Bioweapons 4 Demolitions 4 [G] Cloning 4 Field Weapons 1 Medical 4 Fine Manipulation 4 Outdoor Life 4 Hand Weapons 4 Pharma therapy 4 Projectile Weapons 4 Psychotherapy 4 Thrown Weapons 4 Suggestion 4 Unarmed Combat 8 Vehicular Combat 4 _______________ 10 _______________ 10 Quote from: Boxer on 09-09-2005, 21:33:09Idea for a Red-Clearance name for this game... Gonor-R-HEA ;Now that is a seriously cheesy pun. Do you expect anything less than cheesy puns around here? LOL Official Paranoia Song? Wierd Al Markovic's "I think I'm a clone now." Isn't it strange? Feels like I'm looking in the mirror What would people say if only they knew that I was Part of some geneticist's plan Born to be a carbon copy man There in a Petra dish late one night They took a donor's body cell and fertilized a human egg, and so I say:I think I'm a clone nowhere's always two of me just a hangin' around think I'm a clone now'Because every chromosome is a hand me down Look at the way we go out walking close together guess you could say I'm really beside myself still remember how it began They produced a carbon copy man Born in a science lab late one night Without a mother or a father Just a test tube and a womb with a view think I'm a clone nowhere's always two of me just a hangin' around think I'm a clone now'Because every chromosome is a hand me down think I'm a clone now And I can stay at home while I'm out of town think I'm a clone now'Because every pair of genes is a hand me down Look at the way we go out walking close together guess you could say I'm really beside myself still remember how it began They produced a carbon copy man Born in a science lab late one night Without a mother or a father Just a test tube and a womb with a view think I'm a clone nowhere's always two of me just a hangin' around think I'm a clone now'Because every chromosome is a hand me down think I'm a clone now've been on Oprah Winfrey I'm world renowned think I'm a clone now'Because every pair of genes is a hand me down think I'm a clone now That's my genes twin always hangin' around think I'm a clone now'Because every chromosome is a hand me down All righty. Six of our seven have now completed their Mandatory Morning Socialization Ritual. As soon as our last little friend arrives, there might be a Mission Briefing... Quote from: lances on 10-09-2005, 08:20:51Official Paranoia Song? Wierd Al Markovic's "I think I'm a clone now." I think I'm a clone nowhere's always two of me just a hangin' around think I'm a clone now'Because every chromosome is a hand me down::Shoots her Computer Approved Homogenized Sanitized Almost Milk out of her nose:: Possible idea for the Illiquid tendency towards" Sex, not death." Laser malfunctions, due to Commie Mutant Traitors, that act as being hit with an Empathy with high margin of success, inflicting lust. MISSION ALERT! MISSION ALERT! MISSION ALERT!ATTENTION MISSION GROUP RTS-7489/A! Your presence is requested sooner than immediately at Guard post 33-J. Report to Larry-B-GUN for an immediate and exciting opportunity to serve The Computer and Alpha Complex. Failure to respond in a timely fashion will be noted in your permanent files. Why are you still sitting there? Get moving!MISSION ALERT! MISSION ALERT! MISSION ALERT! Well, since Silk has an Unarmed Combat of 8, and I have one of 1... I think War'll take a short, sharp fall. So, if any commie mutant traitors were to exercise powers on faithful and loyal citizens, should it be done via PMs or just by IOC lines in a post? I vote PMs. It's Paranoia- It'd go against the spirit of the game to not use IOC unfairly. Fear and Ignorance, citizens. Fear and Ignorance. Private notes to the GM are a Paranoia Tradition. On a more immediately vital topic, I should mention what Perversity Points may be used for. Normally, Paranoia is not free-form. It has died rolls and stuff. And that's how I'm doing this--the occasional die roll will happen, off the table where none of you can see it. Your immediate chance of success is your attribute or skill total or less on a d20. Sucks to be you, doesn't it? But wait, there's more... Perversity Points may be used for two things. You may spend them to add to a roll or subtract from a roll...yours or anybody else's. Just PM me with how many points you want to spend, and which direction you wish to adjust the roll. You may also wish to suggest a reason for the modification...depending on what you want to do. Or you may just let me get creative. Doesn't this sound like fun? The Computer certainly thinks so. Go nuts, Troubleshooters. So, we may wish to only let you get creative when we're trying to damage other's rolls? Not necessarily. Perversity points work a bit like improvised, conditional modifiers to a roll. You may suggest a reason for that +1 to your boot licking skill, or if you don't have any ideas, you can leave it to Yours Truly to come up with one instead. There is no penalty imposed for letting the GM do all the work. Honest. The GM is your friend, second only in importance to The Computer. He would never, ever dream of causing a positive result to backfire in retaliation for such lapses in discipline. No, the GM is always fair and impartial. Trust the GM as you would The Computer. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice day cycle. * sniffles.* But I'm scared of the GM. fearing the GMS is well advised :) (makes notes)Boys, I think we have our Happiness Officer... Not so scared of you, Lances. But I'm VERY scared of Mad panda. (scribbles another note)Maybe our Loyalty Officer. Or Team Leader. That's always a nice, highly visible position well to the front... Oh, of course. You haven't had the chance to fear me..... YET.*INSERT RANDOM EVIL LAUGH #4 HERE* This is true. Next mission ishisturn. Insert Evil Laugh #37 (Extra Sarcasm, Hold the Mayo) Here. So the 'marching order' going across the corridor is War-R, followed by Sue-R and Toiler. Is everyone else staying on the wrong side of the Big Blue Line? Once everyone's declared their actions, I'm resolving matters... Well. Bum. Attention All Citizens of STD Sector! We interrupt your daily business for an important announcement from Friend Computer. Due to sector-wide Commie Sabotage of clothing supplies, uniform requirements are temporarily relaxed. So long as all citizens have on their person a single item of clothing that reflects their clearance, they are not...repeated...to be charged with being out of uniform. This alteration is merely temporary while STD Sector PLC transfers sabotaged clothing from other sectors. Rest assured that the Commie Mutant Traitor Scum responsible have been disposed of fittingly. All hail the Computer. The Computer will be Very, Very Upset if clones are summarily terminated for Out-Of-Uniform status during this time. An announcement will be made when normal restrictions apply once more. Happiness Officers, please be aware of the extra need for sensitivity toward clones traumatized by any sudden lack of uniform. Fines for destruction of valuable Computer property will remain in effect, subject to adjustment by The Computer for prevailing circumstances. That is all. Well Greg is simply going to go across in the safest and most expedient way possible Actually, I think that Bob already left the pile of bodies behind and proceeded down the corridor. Which really just means that Bob-R is standing there, looking at the big Yellow box when the rest of the column shows up. Remember, Citizen, detached operations may be mistaken as potentially treasonous activity by overenthusiastic Int Sec debriefed. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice day cycle. I'll have you all know, I predicted what exactly those two would be doing to make the Blue citizen so happy yesterday. Quote from: Mad Panda on 28-09-2005, 06:07:28Which really just means that Bob-R is standing there, looking at the big Yellow box when the rest of the column shows up. Remember, Citizen, detached operations may be mistaken as potentially treasonous activity by overenthusiastic Int Sec debriefed. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a nice day cycle.*manages to look somehow completely innocent* But They were right behind me a moment before. Maybe They were lagging behind on purpose to perform some treasonous activity... And since my attempt to channel Jeff Bridges isn't coming across too clearly, the Blue clearance citizen is loosely based on one J. Borowski...a movie I have finally gotten to watch all the way through. It is to laugh. :P On of my favorite movies! The Dude ~ "My, my WI-, my wife, Bunny? Do you see a wedding ring? Does this place look like I'm fucking married? The toilet seat's up, man!" I love it that he's based on the dude! :) "Watch it, man! There's a beverage here!" He seemed the perfect model for this particular character. I think it was the expression of stunned pleasure on his face during the Butterball' hallucination sequence (at least up until the running scissors bit...). The Big Lebowski is both big, and clever. ^-^ GM performs Anime-Style Double Blink Of Great Surprise at sudden visual involving body piercing and MBD Badges....Bowie... Pooh. Nasty. *wince* I was thinking belly-button piercing, if that helps all the wincing out there. I don't have any piercings in such sensitive areas myself, so it makes me wince a bit to think about a character doing that too. How big are the badges anyway? They're about the size of your average campaign or novelty button. Probably. Unless Commie Mutant Traitors have sabotaged some of them, making them the size of a Buick. " But-Friend computer-"" Wear it." " It looks like something that'd wear me!" Don't sass the computer. It might spank you. :P Many a Team Leader wouldloveto have a larger badge. Their device, so to speak, is a big ol' bullseye... Oh, don't worry. Other clones make good trap/mine/sniper finders. Okay, folks, data dump coming up real soon: a description of your Mandatory Bonus Duty will be PM'd to you at some point in the next forty-eight hours. It contains vital information that will allow you to carry out your mission with greater effectiveness and efficiency. Really. No, really. Not believing everything the GM tells you is treason, citizen... ;D *reads his mandatory duty bonus then raises his eyebrows as he'll need weapons to deal with the other clones commie mutant traitors.* Not, of course, that there are any Commie Mutant Traitors in this mission group... Of course. We're TROUBLESHOOTERS. This is where we need a suitably violent object, and a suitably weedy bureaucrat. :P Do be careful what you wish for, friend citizen ;D Death, or Posthumous glory. It's the only way. *can arrange the post luminous part easily* :P Darn. Took too long to write my post. *will have to be waiting for instructions from the Computer before he does anything else* Well, if this is a 'private' conversation with The Big C, feel free to PM the GM with your specific question. I'm trying to find the right balance between not going too fast for our infrequent posters and not going too slow for our quick draw McGraw's... ;D *points to his post where he's outline the behavior of the Yellows and asking for instructions* That's general data. Friend Computer likes specific questions, asked IC. :P *will do that then* :P You guys are speedy, as Mad Panda mentioned. There are like three pages of new posts, and I just posted a wee bit over 24 hours ago... ;D Well. I think most things are having a reasonable balance at the moment. Mad Panda seems good at pausing at the things where it matters what more people do. Man, my grammar is so bad in that sentence, I'm sure. (scratches head)Sure you want to split up the party, there, O Leader? See, in Paranoia, giving Troubleshooters private time is often a how do I put this delicately, silly thing to do. Why, who knows what these two fine young clones will get up to while they're not under your watchful yet benevolent eye? Not to mention that if they have any trouble getting your stuff, you'll have to come back over here anyway. Wasting valuable mission time, yes?(smiles innocently)Just thought I'd mention that. Quote from: Ty on 06-10-2005, 04:01:43Welll. I think most things are having a reasonable balance at the moment. Mad Panda seems good at pausing at the things where it matters what more people do. Man, my grammar is so bad in that sentence, I'm sure. I did not mean to imply that the GM'ingress isn't going well. It's really really really good! And, I like the game in all its beautiful Paranoia splendidest. Sorry, shouldn't make idle comments. ’D I'm sure Hunter knows what he's doing. That worries me deeply. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing." Sledgehammer. Everybody caught up to now? Ready for me to drop the other anvil yet?(GM poises one paw over the red button marked 'GO!') Hit it, MP. >_> I suppose we might as well let the other Shoemaker Levy 9 drop. Sure, I'm ready. I can only die what six times? ’D Go for it! Dropping New Anvil's? Go for it! ’D Done, actually. But first, you lot need to get back to the Cafeteria, where your Team Leader suggested you go to await your supplies... Should we just post in there, or go through the corridors? Or attempted to leave the PLC and get cleaned to death by scrubs? I figure since I'm following our trusted, loyal leader, alongside another loyal troubleshooter, then I'll just post wherever he posts next...though being cleaned to death by scrub bots might be interesting in this particular variant of Paranoia... That "EF" part has to show up sooner or later... Besides, if we split up the monster can get us faster that way.*notices everyone staring at him* What? (checks rule book)"Hmm. Mooning the GM is...treason..."(grins evilly) *makes sure that the GM gets a good look at his fat ass then* :P Um... that would mean crossing the checkerboard again, wouldn't it? As far as I know, we would have had to do that to get to the equipment requisition facility. (whistles tunelessly and looks at the ceiling) Ok, now this is Paranoia. Chaos ensues!! :o ;D::whistling with Mad Panda:: *plays golf with live hand grenades* Well, if none of us noticed it, then I guess we're okay....(note to self: pay more attention to mental map of where we've done) By the way, fearless leader, no worries about screwing up. We're EXPECTED to not know this stuff. Oh, indeed. The GM's comment was NOT meant as criticism so much as amused observation. If anything, this makes the next joke somewhat better... *sics Usage on the GM* Which one? Sailor Moon? Usage Jimbo? Some random bunny-girl? Sailor Moon Usage. :P Oh. That's okay, then. She only stops 3 points of damage, unhardened. Quote from: Mad Panda on 07-10-2005, 19:32:47Oh. That's okay, then. She only stops 3 points of damage, unhardened. When in doubt, toss Usage at it. She'll either deal with it or be a sufficiently loud distraction. ’D Mmm. Are we waiting for anything in particular?*hopes it isn't him* We have a few stray lambs about, I think. Just making sure that everyone has a chance to embarrass themselves and/or rejoins the main group before we move on. *takes a nap* I'm still in and caught up I hope... I hope we're not waiting on me. No, I was waiting mostly on Greg-R-AEI-1, who has apparently decided to defect without discussion. So...we're back down to six. There may be a reallocation of Mandatory Bonus Duty in the near future. If it makes you guys feel any better, I promise to tell you where I got the PLC runaround from once you finally manage to get your mission equipment. I shouldn't, really, but it's justsomuch fun to share the pain... ;D Where you got it from? I assumed it was standard operating procedure. It is. I meant thisspecificsequence of bureaucratic runaround. There's a chart and everything... EEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...................................... Yes, that's a good way to describe SSRS Barney and Castilian, who designed Paranoia... Bob feels much better now that he's beating someone up (has planned this for a while) ::) Just a moment. I'm noting all the treason codes involved. Hmm. Assaulting a citizen of higher clearance, failing to defer to a citizen of higher clearance, framing a citizen of higher clearance, threatening the physical and/or financial safety of a citizen of higher clearance, blocking traffic, failure to apply deodorant as per CPU Municipal Zoning Preference Schedule 43 rev 214.2... Ah, but it's for the good of the Computer after all. Of course, it is. But now we have to wait and see how your teammates react to this situation. Aren't you glad you don't have weapons issued yet? You mean besides the shock and disbelief? ’D :P :o Quote from: Mad Panda on 16-10-2005, 21:39:22Of course it is. But now we have to wait and see how your teammates react to this situation. Aren't you glad you don't have weapons issued yet? Yeah, I'd probably kill the Blue guy by missing. " Get the mission equipment"? You must be kidding me. Sooner or later, you will. The question is how many clones you go through first. Most Zap! Games take 50 percent casualties before they even reach the Briefing Room.... Only 50%? The amateurs. Well, it would be higher except that it IS still considered inappropriate to zap a replacement clone for something his or her predecessor did. Just because Dumb-R-GUY-1 was a mutant is no reason to suspect that Dumb-R-GUY-2 is one as well, nor does Dumb-R-GUY-2 know any treasonous stuff Dumb-R-GUY-1 observed before getting Zapped. If those two rules were not in place, no Zap! Mission group would ever reach Briefing. Come on now, I'm trying to get the first fatality in here. But odds are that it's not going to be a team member. ’D :o Let's see if comedy is in repetition, in repetition, in repetition. Just depends on what kind of repetition. ^_~And that was some mighty fancy shooting from Friend Computer. Well, that was... pointless. ??? Thanks for letting me play. :) You said you wanted the first death. Besides, you still have five clones left. What are you think 'clone backup' means? Bob-R-BOB-1, terminated by security laser cannon crossfire in PLC for multiple counts of treason including assault on a higher ranking clone, failing to defer to a higher ranking clone, and falsely accusing a higher ranking clone of treason. He was also out of uniform at the time, but that is not currently a treasonable offense through the wisdom and mercy of The Computer. Bob-R-BOB-2throughBob-R-BOB-6summarily self-terminated. I meant the entire game concept. Like rats in a maze. :P Ah. Well, that's Paranoia for you. Just wait'll we get to your service. (Experimental testing for Research and Development is, alas, no longer a key feature of Paranoia XP. Instead, you get to perform mandatory bonus duty for other service groups since you just happen to be going in the right direction...) And Hunter hits the chicken switch. We need a new team leader. WWW... Hunter, don't leave. * sad eyes.* His choice, not mine. * sniff.* Well, we have had quite a casualty rate, eh? I think it might be easier to keep the rapid-fire ridiculousness funny and flowing in face-to-face games. Maybe if we as players pick up more of the off-plot interaction ... though I'm Jones to go see where the real plot is too, presumably the infrared dorm teaser we had earlier. Well, if it'll get the game back running, War will grudgingly take on the vast responsibility of being a team leader. Actually, I was thinking of offering that dubious honor to Lances, who has only a slightly less vague idea of what's happening than you guys do...(evil laugh goes here)Or we can proceed as normal. ’D Your funeral...er, I mean... :P I know my last post is kind of a one-line nothing, but just wanted to be clear the Cherry is still there, and I'm still playing and all that. No sweat ;And yes, it is a bit...challenging...to maintain the sort of high octane hi jinks one normally associates with Zap! Games in play by post, but so far everyone's doing pretty well (in my humble opinion). Don't be ridiculous, Mad Panda. We got to our briefing (sort of) without anyone dying. That's practically Straight-style. (note: the above should be taken as a humorous comment, not as a potentially offensive criticism. I didn't realise how it might sound when I first posted it.) That was sort of the point ;D Just wait 'til you finally get your mission equipment. I have some wonderful surprises in store for you. Your placement of speech marks could do with a little more care, dear Computer. Did you ever see the 'Nudge, Nudge' skit by Monty Python? Those quotes are exactly where they are supposed to be. I think there'll be at least two things wrong with his claim of" tender lovin' care." And if anyone noticed, I'm volunteering War to be the second to die, and to have the most interesting death thus far. It's easy to die a traitor, it's more fun to die from having molecular acid injected into your bloodstream. From the point of view of the one who isn't dying, anyway. You can generally assume I've seen more British comedy than you. Actually getting any particular reference is more difficult though. Needle, Haystack. :P I see what you mean though. Amusing. Twisted Bot. Poor War. It'll be even more unfortunate if she dies, but that was fairly damn embarrassing, you must admit. To be clear, the doc bot is repeating some of Eric Idle's part of that skit, nudge, wink wink. ’D Say, are there any Romantics in the Mission Group?(looks innocent while waiting for someone naive enough to volunteer their secret society affiliation) Quote from: Boxer on 20-10-2005, 21:34:09I think there'll be at least two things wrong with his claim of" tender lovin' care." And if anyone noticed, I'm volunteering War to be the second to die, and to have the most interesting death thus far. It's easy to die a traitor, it's more fun to die from having molecular acid injected into your bloodstream. From the point of view of the one who isn't dying, anyway. Dead? Yeah, as if. I have something much moreamusingin mind than mere body count. Ah, Paranoia, where there's a chapter of the book named" There are worse things than death." Oh, and if he does actually tell us what chemicals he's using, me and Silk cat actually have the best chance of having any idea what they are. Cellulite, for instance. Or Ritalin- Which apparently has a (one in a thousand) chance of causing chest enlargement in females. Oh, and Mad panda, have you ever watched MST3K? There have been several episodes where Doctor Forrester has done that little" OH JESUS I'M NOT SITTING AGAIN THIS WEEK!" trick to his assistant-Once, as I recall, with a regular needle to Doctor Air heart or whatever his name was, once with a 7-foot tall one to Frank. Bowie. Oh, and let's not forget the tough pills to swallow..." And finally... Turn around, Frank!... Yes, this one will prove VEEEERRRY tough to swallow. It's a life-sized Flintstones chewable tablet!" It's a life-size tablet of Fred-IE, about 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. I got intro'd to MST3K AAAAA back when...ages and ages ago. Haven't seen any recently, though. :(www.torrentspy.com has just about all the episodes available from torrents. I've probably been watching them since I was 4 or so... A friend of the family taped every single episode. They've got the commercials, which is actually an icing on the cake, because commercials were SO much better back then. Camp, even. ^_^ Well, Defeat's turn. Why do I get the feeling that in men the most efficient spot IS in the arm? Now, Citizen, are you suggesting that I might do something like...uhm...favor the boys? For shame. Not on average, certainly. You know, this game is actually rather similar to an immensely high fatality rate Rama 1/2 in Zap mode... In retrospect, we should have found some way to scrap the doc bot and blame the team leader for it. And not get to see what sort of interesting torment would be inflicted on our characters? Paranoia is a game you play to lose. There's a reason you get six clones. Think of this as 'Too with heavy weaponry. So, have you PMed everyone who gets any effect from their shot? Not yet. Some of you will feel the effects sooner than others. ’D You're missing the point, Boxer. You playexpectingto lose, but you don't playhouse. At least not normally. This is Zap, so we're not really supposed to make it anywhere near completing the mission (unless we do so by Wedding everything that might be relevant). Quote from: Mad Panda on 21-10-2005, 15:34:46Not yet. Some of you will feel the effects sooner than others. DSO we should just assume massive butt pain until further notice? Gotcha. ’D Something like that, yes. I am NOT ignoring you guys, by the by. I'm just enjoying the hi jinks. ’D Keeping in mind that the mysterious female voice can and will kick in at any point to, her, encourage things to move along, in this case I'm perfectly willing to let things develop. Besides, it's funny. Are we kinda slow due to Tare Else being from Fla with power out? Should we push on anyway? I mean, if nothing else our leader and War can keep going... Been waiting for folks to catch up and post, yes. :P Rats, there goes my idea to have the whole team bed down together while still under the effect of the shots. :) Well. Toil is still waiting for them to kick in. So I'm betting some people might have a rude (lewd?) awakening LOOPS!! Who else'd I forget? Oh, I should note I'm going to be on vacation for the next three weeks. Whilst I should be available for posting and stuff, as I'm borrowing a laptop for the trip and won't be in my own house my posting may be less. Though I now realize I haven't posted in the last few days. My bad. In any case, PMs and directed post may have a 24hr turnaround time, depending on how much stuff I'm doing. Since normally clones are all hormone suppressed, are the dorms co-ed or sex segregated? Co-Ed, since there's no reason not to do so. There is no sexism in Alpha Complex. None whatsoever. The very idea of discriminating in favor of one gender is, frankly, just not going to occur to most clones. Should I just move over to posting in the Dorm thread? That is correct, Citizen. Report to Dormitories for continued...experimentation. Should we expect that bed check means someone physically checking on us or anything? Nope. It's more of a general 'lights out, go to sleep' thing. Sorry for the stall in posting from me. People were round for the weekend, and I didn't get a free hour or so to do web stuff as I had intended. Will make a post in the morning when less tired. So, are the happy drugs all worn off then? That's for me to know and you to worry about. ’D But if you're worried about the immediate signs, then yes, they've settled down a bit. Anybody want to guess what that stuff really was? I assumed it just negated the usual hormonal suppressants -- and after a lifetime of such, simply being at a normal level of hormones would be over-the-top for most clones. Very good, Citizen! For the record, I thought long (heh, heh) and hard (snicker) about doing this, but then lances stuck this game in Exotic Free-form... That's right, Citizens. It's a tentaclemonsterbot. For the record, the remainder of my Perversity Points are going to be dedicated to finding whichever R&D office developed that and bringing swift and painful death thereto. I'll pause from doing much more than that so that War and Toil can jump in and find something to wash. Gosh, poor James... the only male clone on the team. >_> Why do I get the feeling War is going to be aching in interesting places? BTW, mostly just waiting for other PCs and/or the bot to make a move before I jump in again. Patience is a virtue, Citizen. Any second now the Bot is likely to interfere. Hey, we had to get a tentacle scene in this somehow, right? :P @_@Aaaaah. Sorry for disappearing for bit. Things got hectic, and this forum got lost in the rush. Back now. Yale! Hi guys, I'm going to be mad busy at work and home for a little while, so I probably won't post until Wednesday or so. I'm not forgetting you, though. With the incredible speed at which this game moves, that shan't be a problem. ’D Hmm. Anyone still active in here? Indeed, although my participation isn't particularly important for the current scene. This is true... Wow. I'm sorry, guys. I keep spacing this one myself...might have to mothball it, at least until lances comes back from whatever internal exile he's in. 'Tis a wee bit difficult to maintain the proper momentum in play-by-post. On the other hand, if any of you might be interested, I've got a furry semi-Renaissance game over in Light/Weird that needs players ;D I know what do you mean about the momentum. And I've got the same mercurial temperament... >_> I've got less time than I used to, and the collapse of my own game and problems in this one kinda reinforce to me why one-on-ones seem to work a bit better. Or at least the smaller the group the better. I wouldn't mind wrapping up this scene, (Cherry is still trying to pull away from the tentacles while they do their magic), and seeing if it can morph into something that only involves the people currently active, if that makes any sense at all. Paranoia is wacky enough that if someone comes back into active status I'm sure Mad Panda can find away for them to reappear in whatever scene we're in. Thanks for the college try, folks. This and that has happened, but I'm going to mothball this one. You've been a great bunch of players, and if this was table-top we would have had a blast. Time to free up a few extra cycles on the server and let everyone get on with it. AAAA, c'est la vie...

[ ParanoiA] Rules, OOC and Cast|rating:4.0

Red☣Alert OOC Thread

Red☣Alert☠______☠______☠__Escaping death...[LEFT]"Consumed by waste and fueled by hate, This is the fate of the land we live in. War ton and brought to its foreseen doom By the hands of the unwary and unwise. The times we live in are harsh, And sadly need your help if we wish to win. The enemy is drawing near as we sink into fear...."✘✘ Welcome to Jupiter. The year is 4173. Due to our irrefutable knowledge and sheer determination to move life to another planet, we have come to live here. With Earth and Mars, our past homes, destroyed we have to seek out a life here on Jupiter. We came here to harness the planet's power, but when we arrived we soon found out we weren't alone. A full-fledged battle began, and we lost countless amounts of lives. The enemy? Not aliens, but humans from our home planet - Earth. Sent here years ago but left to die, these prisoners of war are now wrecking havoc on us. We have no place else to live but here. Now we're being punished for punishing them to live. How can life be so cruel? ✘✘ Any questions...?__☠______☠______☠ Redolent Link~ ------------☣------------ Team Biohazard Banner Code: HTML Code: [URL="#post1767704582"][IMG] Team Radiation Banner Code: HTML Code: [URL="#post1767704582"][IMG] Team Bioration Banner Code: HTML Code: [URL="#post1767704582"][IMG] Jewish me! I do! I do! Which team would be the ones sent there to be imprisoned? I want to guess Radiation seeing as the two characters so far have no story on it and because they fight for 'justice' Suppers. Radiation = prisoners/bad guys. Biohazard = good guys. Oo; I really should have picked a less threatening name for the good guys. XD Hmm. We have no radiation characters. I might just go make one. ooh, I'll make a radiation character ^^ but UIMM...you'll have to wait a little longer for me to come up with a crazy deranged character >.> I'm technically not online if anyone asks 'Kay? >.> I'll send a profile in later when I'm "officially" allowed to be on the computer Waving ^^ Strawberry Kitkat, if you'd like to make a Radiated person, feel free to. :)Ha ha. That's fine AOI Katya. I can't wait to meet the first psycho... I mean convict. XD ---------- XD I think I might make one now. >=P haha, I'm making one, but I'm debating on how lazy I am. My choices are go rooting around for a picture somewhere or draw one.... and both take a lot of time. ---------- Ooh, are we allowed to post now? Ha ha. If you have a description, I might be able to help you find a picture. I see to have a knack for finding images. Oh, and yes, you can all post now. X3 Hurrrrrm. I'm looking for a boy with orange hair and bright cyan blue eyes. And maybe freckles :3 (I'm picky Sgt;.Sgt;) Oh. Wow, that is a hard combo. So far I'm only finding...--X--and--X-- D: I LOVE THE SECOND ONE Ha ha ha. I believe that's Lava from D. Gray-Man. :P So you'll have plenty of pictures to use with him. X3 okay :D I'll make the profile once I get back from soccer practice X3 Hamm, is coming up with ideas now IPO. O I voted in your thread, and it says 60% for one and 60% for the other!hhhhahahaa OMFG! That is epic fail! We're up to 120% folks! XD Haha and we're still like that, at least according to my screen XD Yup. It's weird. Maybe it's got something to do with being able to vote multiple times. DAMMIT I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED ALL SEVEN![email protected]XD O. O Now wouldn't that be something. I thought about doing that, but then I was like, Jewish I like this one XD And I finally got blacklisted O. O WHO! Just wait, I'll get you to do it again XP What?!!? NO! XD I might just have to blacklist you 3 times! XP Push, I'm not worried XD This is going to be epic though, just you wait and see XD T_T So long as there isn't a new thread called "Project Blacklist Waving" I'll be good. XD O. O Hamm, time to think of a new role-play XD >.> So cruel. XD But you still UV me XD Oh yes. Yes I do. Well, sometimes. XD Only sometimes T_Thicko's involved in this isn't he?! Seeing as he hates Eleanor right now T_T Holy crow, we got so many new people XD Nil almost feels obsolete now. I know! Vietnam feels the same. Now the Biohazard are out numbered! Oh, the noes! And yes Ramekins, Diego's in on this. Although, he still suffer you. You, not Eleanor. XD Oh darn! Why did everyone suddenly want to be the bad guy....? XD But she didn't do anything TDI was thinking about making Riley's brother for the Biohazards, but you'd yell at me since his name is Aidan XD Yeah that's the weird thing! People usually don't want to be the bad guy! I know I don't so who knows why I did this time XD It's the name. Radiated. Radiation. It sounds cool. Besides, everyone loves to play a psycho, right? XD Zeke:Way to make the odds be against the Bios. Way to RUIN MY LIFE! Oo; Oh, he's got issues. I think all your characters do in some way, but it's a good thing XD Hash, I guess it is the name, huh? Biohazard sounds so diseased XD then again, I guess both do, but Radiation sounds cooler... or something... yeah, I'll just stop talking now. And I'm pretty sure everyone has problems.... I mean, they all live on Jupiter Two LMAO! True. They do live on Jupiter. I actually had to research the planet some. ^^; And the Bios do sound diseased. XP The name Biohazard makes me think of Resident Evil XD And you know the rhyme, boys go to Jupiter to get stupider.... But in this case it seems like everyone's jumping on the wagon Two And I'm seriously just winging it :sweat: I have no idea how this plant realistically works. LMAO! XD You really need to stop making me laugh while I'm working! It's not fair! I'm dying here, but I can't actually laugh. T_T ---------- I'm winging it some too. But I made sure I had the 'surface' and day length right. But the year was killing me! 12 Earth years = 1 Jupiter year. X_x Well Jen, I think that you are really pushing everyone on this one XD And nice Kitkat XD Ha aah, I'm sorry :sweat: *tries to reign in humor* And holy gee, everyone must be ancient XD And thank you, Miss, thank you very much *bows* XD I just turned twelve in one year! OO; That sounds so weird. I think they'll follow the Earth scale, but the days mess everything up. WHY JUPITER, WHY?! You're the one that picked the planet XD SMG has a point :3 Harm, depending on how much longer Jupiter days are to Earth days, we could make it that one year on Jupiter for us is, like, half as many days as it is on Earth? Jupiter... 9.9 hours = 1 day and 12 Earth years = 1 year. I was thinking about making every two days on Jupiter be equal to 1 Earth day. But we'll see. If we don't talk about the planet's rotation or anything, I won't need to discuss the complicated year/day idea. ’D hmm... I find Biohazard's tattoo thingy looks cooler than radiation's though XD I only made one because I said I would ^^ Yeah, the tattoo thing is true XD And yes, let's leave out the whole complicated thing XD I agree! Biohazard looks cooler than radiation. I was originally going to do radiation and fire, but then I found biohazard and just had to change fire to biohazard. X3 Besides, I love how there are face masks and goggles with the symbol as well as clothing. ’D Well yeah! They're popular symbols! Oh, so about the poll, I was thinking about making stuff for signatures. Not sure if anyone would be interested in sporting off their team, so I left it open for you all to vote on. :) Push heck yeah XD Though it'd be weird if you're on both huh XD True.... I forgot about that. XD I got it! Team ☠ Over. :P Nah, I'd probably just do "I support Biohazard and Radiation!" OO; Oh, I could make funny banners and such. "I'm a Biohazard" or "I fight for Radiation." XD Hahahahahahah nice XD sounds fun ^^ Dump. I kind of checked everything Sgt;.Sgt;;; lol good job KitKat XD mm...what would the icons look like? Here ^.^ Well, you know at least one vote on each thing is mind, so..... Sgt;.Sgt; Ho crap, I didn't know it was possible to be on the white list AND the pseudo-black list Two Glad I made you laugh though. I feel like my day had some purpose to it now. The pseudo-black list is a joke one, just like my faux black list XP I believe it had to be invented during Operation Salvation when Waving kept making everyone cry XD raw! Hii guys! I'm a newbie Radiation.can someone give me a quick rundown on what's happening???LOL I sent in my character yesterday and then went to bed ND when I got on this morning POOF! Lotsof people and huge posts! I read all the posts, but now I feel intimidated, everyone's typing such long posts I kinda feel like waiting for a little bit before posting >.>as for what's happening. A few of the Biohazards are going out on missions. UIMM... Aysel and Stone offered to go with Zeke on his mission since the two of them only had scouting missions. Riley of team Radiation is in a secret lab after entering some really sophisticated sounding codes and stuff. Vietnam and Nil are talking to each other. Oh, and Angel had a flashback about killing her brother ^^ I think that covers it ^^ okay... Hamm, how to introduce Nina........ Haha yes, sophisticated codes that she can bypass to let Vitamin and Nil in from a push of single button XD lol very sophisticated miss_SMG that's why she needs to push only a single button, anyone else would be lost and press a ton of buttons XD From the inside she only needs to push one button, but multiple are needed from the outside to keep out intruders XP She also has AC and air though I kind of left that out XD Temp. Sensitive stuff she has XD ---------- Oh and Riley is by herself if you want your character to interact with someone, though she's at Snipes Cove XP I hope you don't mind I'm talking to your character AOI >.sorry SMG! I only just read this posts as I finished posting hahaha That's ok XP I just figured that since Riley wasn't talking anyone, she was available for anyone who wanted to XP LOL I feel bad now haha haha Oh, no don't XD haha hahaha... okay. Hmm, now to wait and see what happens! Push, we could always say that Riley's 'lab' has tunnels all over the place with secret entrance ways XD Pooh we could! Hahahahahahawe'll see what AOI says than I'll try and ditch in a non-mean way and talk to you LOL hahaha sorry AOI if you take offense! Hahaha ok TDI mean it could make sense seeing as these people have been here for a long while so why wouldn't they have tunnels to avoid the sun? yeah, that's actually pretty god! AOI, I loved your post Two You feel intimidated? I think I've got the shortest posts here... Sgt;.Sgt; *cough cough* Ayah, gotta step up my game. And ooh, okay :3 I like the pseudo-black list then XD But a sneeze? Really? Does that make Zeke allergic to Stone? We might have problems here.... Stone: Keep that gas mask on, buddy. And welcome, Sweet! [[Okay, that was my catching up for the day ^.^]] hmm well...is sweet really wants to go talk to Riley then maybe as a compromise Fact could bring Nina into the base from one of the "secret" entrances?and thank you KitKat ^^ XD Wow guy, wow. PSO it looks like team banners might be it. As far as icons, they'll be the typical MSN style size. Buttons are... buttons. X] Yup, I'm using my adjectives. And now to read the posts! ---------- musikfreakx:Mason does sound like an interesting character, but I'm trying to make this more realistic like (ha ha, minus the Jupiter part), so the dead can't come back. If you'd like to make a robotic person that has a chip that replicates Mason's thoughts and mind, you can do that. But he himself cannot physically come back. ---------- @[email protected]Oi, I should have picked Saturn to be the planet. Heck, Uranus. Why oh why did I pick Jupiter? XD Haha planet choice coming back to bit ya Waving? XD Yes. T_T Although I think I've figured it out. I'm still no Jupiter expert, but I'm getting better. Thank god not much is known about it, so I can create some of my own thoughts. XD ---------- --59--Would this be that post you were speaking about? Haha, yeah for not knowing stuff XD I don't know, I'm not having any real troubles with the planet yet Expand yup, that would be the post XP I shall try and figure Jupiter out more. But hopefully what I have written about it will be good enough. XD Hey guys! I did some shameless advertising here. If you want me to take it down, just say the word and It's down faster than you can say Alabama ^.^ Wrote! That's fine! I should have some banners started this weekend... maybe... if I don't get mobbed by the graduation party I'm throwing for my Bro Bro... XD *shakes head at Wave* Attacking Kitkat in her own thread now, are we? XD What?! No, me? Never. XD I saw it Wave! Don't make me go over there a quote it XD :P So do you have a hangout thread? I want to visit it. X3 O.o Me have a hang-out thread? Now that's an odd little concept XD Oh, that's right. You spam up my places. :P Heck yeah I do XD But you love it XP This is true. Luckily my Facebook is still Spam less. :P Spam referring to you. XD Hamm, that's right. I've been meaning to attack you again too XD Funny, my sister calls me Sam XD Waving, Fact and Nina aren't at Snipe's cove >.> No, but they are around Vietnam's area, so she picked them up. Eventually got close enough to it, and they are now walking there. IF you don't want your characters going there, they can always leave. Blare, I can't find pictures for Vietnam and Zeke except the ones I originally found. Poppy... I might actually have to draw them. X_x MWAHAHAHAHA XD >.> Oh shush! You stole a Code Glass character! XP Heck yeah I did! C2 is awesome, you're just jealous XD I am. I should have picked Lulu! XD Lulu as in from??? Code Glass - Slouch = Lulu. XD Louis haha haha you should have! You should switch Zeke with him and then if he and 'Riley' get together it would be perfect Dutch, I swear one day we shall have a road trip to meet though I don't think the world could take our minds meeting XD And Pooh man, I got the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers movie on DVD, soon know what I'm going to be for Halloween! Team Biohazard Banner Code: HTML Code: [URL="#post1767704582"][IMG] Push, who cares about biohazard XD Team Radiation Banner Code: HTML Code: [URL="#post1767704582"][IMG] Better? XP Yes, much ^^ Expand you have no idea how ready we are for that makeover XD Riley: *preps pretty pink ribbon* XD >.> XD ---------- Oh, and I'm working on the crossover banner XD O.o Crossover? You'll see! XP Oh boy, I'm excited about this one XD Team Bioration Banner Code: HTML Code: [URL="#post1767704582"][IMG] I picked the team I liked most. Although, Radiation's banner is cool.... Hmm mm. XD Hamm, interesting XP Meh, I converted. XD But when you know what happens, I shall convert! XP Ha hahaha nice XD ---------- But then again it makes sense seeing as you have someone on both sides ^.~ I was going to put in fine print "For those of us that wanted to be difficult" Hahaha, but you do have one on each side XD But, but, but... I don't count! XD I'm just taking away your ability to be difficult on this one XP Push, please. I... MMM... look Zeke and pretty pink ribbons! *runs and hides* Haha you can't run! You just know I'm right XD >.> I REFUSE! XD Oh, and did you like how he failed to say kill? ’D Haha yeah XD You seemed to enjoy that post some XD Now we can only hope the others post again soon... I've already e-mailed them with the banners, so hopefully they'll get the hint to post too. XD FOOT! That would be exiting >. Melik: *nods* And they think I'm all over the place. XD Oh gee, you aren't bringing him into this are you?! XD I should! Melik: *hides* It's too scary here!>.> Haha see he doesn't want to XP Hey guys, sorry for taking forever to post! I'm in the Philippines, so I have limited internet XP That's fine! There isn't any real hurry. X] Durer. Lol I guess you are right X3 Although, my post was crap. LOL fail. No, it was good seeing as you had quite the issue to post about XD I thought it was a great response too! Especially in a situation like this. XP Haha yeah XD And I had to edit my post, I forgot how I had wanted to do it before XD Le gasp! XD. . .OMFG MY FOOT ITCHES! Oh, I hate when that happens! Mainly cause my feet are Uber ticklish and having to itch them is a losing battle XD Mine's a mosquito bite. T____________T How did you get that? XD Walking. >.> Damn bugger bite me. Barefoot I'm guessing then? Maybe! *rolls eyes and whistles* Haha that's the only way to go XD And, so I feel bad in R2 because I wanted Shirley to die so bad ^^;; Now I'm upset because of C2 and her memory T_T LMAO! I hate Shirley too. XP And Connally. Ugh, she's a bitch. ---------- :P -wants to join...- *clomps dmitriblair* HI! DOH oh, oh, and check this out! If I make Vietnam become Fallen, we get... Zeke (Zero) the pimp ---------- Also, C2 is pretty! All 3 again! -Juggles waving- hellloooo. (: i want to join your RP, dear one. Lt;3 Then join silly XD Yeah, I don't care for her either ^^;; I like the first pic, so cute Expand haha yeah, make her Fallen XD Zero's always been a pimp though XD YAY! You are more than welcome to!--X--That's the link to the team skeletons. You can create up to two characters. Can be same side or split. If you have any questions, let me know. And yes, I shall get to work on the update! ---------- And remember, Riley's the pimp. Zeke is submissive to her... or he will be. XDDDDDDDDDD Making my profile now(: Oxxo >. ---------- I really did turn her into C2 in this one didn't I XD Yup. Way to go. Controlling poor Zeke's life. Are you going to make him promise something too? XDOhhhhh, I can't wait to see your character(s)! ’D Hahaha I should! That would be epic XD Segment(: I hope you like them. They are my new babies(: They are sick! And I love the image you used for them. X3, Thanks! The image is of a character named Gemini from Starry Sky. XD Why didn't you use this one? :P Suitor cute!Lt;3 *runs to go looks* XD Ramekins! You cannot have C2 with anyone other than Lulu! XP Hahaha do you think I would have her go after one of the twins? XD Never know. You could. :P ---------- OMFG! I just realized we don't have anyone that's just a Biohazard! I guess the Biohazards are going to lose. XD We don't have any that are just biohazards? Nope. XD Everyone wanted to be a villain. Sounds like the people of Men... Lol. If I were not already playing my twins, I'd be a biohazard. I'm hoping some of the people that voted "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS" in the poll on the actual thread's page will join as Bios. If not, I was allowed a few people the option of adding a third character. XD ---------- Any thoughts for what a team button might look like or say? Yeah. Sucks. If I can think of something good for a Bio, I'll make one. I will think of a good button. Hopefully. Meh, Riley's simple misunderstood and pushed to insanity XD And buttons for what? Holy crow, we do have a lot of Radio-heads Two If you want, you can just... kill of my boy or something :sweat: He's kind of just sitting there.... useless. I can't figure out how to bring him back in D: *smacks self* I'm a AAAAA mama. Wait, Kitkat, maybe ours can find a way to interact so no one has to be killed off right away. Gee, people are already talking about dying? XD I know right. It's just because we are lacking biohazards. Yeah... That is true, and it didn't help that I stole one of them XD Ha, nope. But oh well. More fun for us radio-heads. Hahaha yes indeed XD -yawns- I'm tired, cold, and my tummy hurts... I'm with you on the tired part, but why does your tummy hurt? O.o =shrug- I don't know. It just does// Oh I am sorry >. Well, I was talking about killing him because he was just uselessly taking up space :sweat: But we could do that too, Dmitri :) sorry for not being online a lot!! Things got busy... crazy busy. Gogh, tell me about it! *waves nervously* uhh...hi? >.> I haven't actually updated since...the third page I think...should I try to jump back in or something? I think you should go for it, AOI. Bring us back to life XD bring life back into the RP! Uhmm...what page are you guys on exactly? The last one? IDK. I think the one before the last, maybe as in number...? Uhm... IDK I think we're on on page 2, AOI dear There should be a link on the first page of this thread to the IC one ^^ Okay, I'm back. XD Miss me? :P YES SSS WE MISSED YOUUUUUUU I always miss you wave!(:I'm going to be back in commission soon. I was sick again. O. O My Wave XD *clomps* Week married XD Yes, yes we are. XP ---------- And WWW, I love you guys too! X3Le gasp! I'm glad you're feeling better now! :] YA AAY we're all getting back! *keeps waiting impatiently for everyone else* Ha ha. Same. XP Right, I had to post now didn't I XP LMAO! He's like a little kitty. X3 Haha yeah XD It's so adorable though XD I must say, I love what's going on here. And Love blew me out of the water with that post. Loooooooved it. I'mm ago see if my brain is okay enough for me to post XD stupid humidity! I'm considering dropping out since I don't seem to be posting much in this role-play...>.> Okay, that's fine if you feel it's necessary. Whatever floats your boat. We'll understand either way. Gfkdonhgvm rkjdfvnhbvimokdfslnvmbklnogkbv dfcogkhbngfthat's what my life is right now. Be back on Sunday. Mmm, sounds like my life at this point... I'm back. Things ran over for me. Sorry. WHAT?!?! You got run over?!?! *Clomps you* Glad you're back. :] *whines like a puppy* I'm missing this RP :Lt; Maybe I should go randomly post for Nil? Ill post in a few. I just gotta respond to like. 10 other rps Ha ha. I know the feeling. X_x Man. I'm just sitting here waiting uselessly Sgt;.Lt; I'm hardly ever on when any of my partners are, so I usually end up doing one reply a day on any given RP.... :sweat: poor KitKat. If I was more reliable, id RP with you. But I'm like. The least actively online person sometimes. D'WWW. That sucks! I hate waiting too! Only, usually everyone's waiting on me. Maybe I really am a terrible role player. T_T no, no wave. Not terrible. Oh, and nice cosplay AVI. (: LMAO! XD PRUSSIA! *Clomps AVI*When I get enough Munch, I'm going to make it into Neal Camera. Mmmmmmmm And IDK, I'm in about a million RP's. I really should stop joining some. ^^; I guess I'm an RP whore. 'Thankfully' most of them die. XD ---------- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Team icons are gaining! I guess I should make those!XD Better safe than sorry. Wow, suddenly just got busy XD I have an advice thread up in av vie chat and I just realized that thing takes up a lot of time for ONE reply D: Dmitri-aww, that's too bad D: Oh well, though, at least we can RP here :) And Wave- No, you're a perfectly finer per. No shame in making everyone wait on you :) And is okay, I'm a RP-whorelett too :D p.s. PRUSSIA :heart: :heart: :heart: I'm a major RP whore. Gosh. Its bad I shall try to get a post up soon. I've been rather blew lately, and haven't to much into ring. It's okay. I'm in the same slump. T_T Well, kinda. I have one character I LOVE playing, but he's hardly in any RP's so yeah... his awesomeness just suppresses the others and makes me go - meh. XD WWW. : Well, I'MMA going to go post and see if I can rally everyone's moods back up :) Time for Nil and his comic relief! Dan git. My brain decided to fail me Sgt;:[sad face. But it's okay. We can figure something out, I swear it! Want to plot something with our boys? I think some shenanigans are sorely needed. I agree. Plotting some mischievous things is my favorite thing to do. (: Yay! And it looks like we're actually on at the same time! XD WIN!I'll be leaving a little while, but I have time to plot a little before I go away :drool: (Lol I love this emote, even if the drool makes it look creepy in this context O. O) A little plotting goes a long way anyway :) What we going to do tonight, Brain? Lol. What we do every night pinky, try to take over the world. (:That emote is epic. (:Plotplotplotplotplot :DDDD THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY RIGHT HARRY (that you knew what I was talking about) Anyway, on to plotting. First off, where should we meet up, and do we want to blow things up? Lol. I hope how you two are scheming. Please feel free to start some drama. XD Hahaha and for once it won't be Wave or myself plotting XD We should really plot for this. We need add some SUSPENSE and DRAMA My plot buddy went away D: D'WWW. I'm sure he'll be back! D'aww, Kay :) I'm just complaining. OMG so I've become so addicted to Dynasty Warriors :drool: *random topic FTW* Ohhhhh, I love that game, but Samurai Warriors is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy better. X3 Samurai warriors? Horror. I may have to check this out X3 I must say, for a PS2 game it has lovely graphics. I love how flowery some of the guys are, too XD Trust me, Samurai Warriors is better. XD Or at least it is to me because I played that series first. See~ The link didn't work D: Lame. Just google Samurai Warriors 2 and you'll find characters. :] Links just are not liking you today Wave XD No, no they are not. T_T It's ok, they'll get over you soon XD I'm sorry for going away!! Yay, your back! *Clomps* is okay, some of us actually have lives away from men *is.... not one of those people Sgt;.Sgt;* I have too much of a life, sometimes. It isn't that great. I work a lot though. Oh, just a heads-up... miss_SMG won't be on as often so if you were planning on doing something with Riley you might want to reconsider. ^^ thanks hon. Kitkat, let's have two of our carries meet up and do something fun? We really need a good new post in here. Okay, I can do that, but I currently have a headache from overeating so we'll have to do some planning beforehand @[email protected] My brain is not up for extremely spontaneous right now D: awash, cutie. (:yeah, I'm too involved in so many other rps. One of which has a terrible illiterate chick. And she drives me off the wall. Heeee =w= I'm in no means fat, but I have a rather unhealthy relationship with food. If it weren't for the fact that I'm active, I'd be a cow XD That wouldn't be Wonderland, would it? Anyway, on to planning! *throws one hand into the air* What should we blow up today? You must be pretty, I'm guessing. Wonderland, and a one x one. Let's find a nice place with biohazards to destroy? We need a good fight scene. Well.... lol, I'll show you a picture ^.^ You can be the judge. I can have Stone go out so Nil, and you're two boys can ambush her? I know, it's totally just all our characters, but maybe more biohazards will run out to help So :sweat: I'm a pretty good judge, I think, but I'm very honest. Just a warning. But I have no doubt you are pretty. I hope so. After all, sounds like a good plan. XD I wouldn't help it! I just had to XD at your illiterate RP partner. I have one too. Actually, I have three. *dies* Rather annoying, but I'm doing my best not to snap. ^^; I have two right now, but I just. Ugh. Hate it so much. It's annoying. That's okay, I know I'm not the prettiest girl out there XD I'm such a mean person OZ I had an illiterate partner, and after a while I just stopped replying.... but I didn't want to say anything mean D: And okay! Are you going to post first, or should I try to whip something up? Could you just draw the gal up and then I can post, then you can post with your radiate? I tried just not replying, but she messaged me the other day after 2 months, like. Are you ever going to reply? I was like... gndfjkgnvcdskj FML. I bet you are very pretty. Strawberry Kitkat, ladies and gentlemen (click here). LOL my face is so jacked up in this picture OZ Lulu. I would have freaked so bad. And sure. I'll just have Stone go skip around. Strawberry Kitkat's picture Nice fail. XP I fixed for you though. XD And you're adorable! I want to pinch your cheeks. X3 Oh goodness! Watkins, you gave me your link failure! DX Thanks for the fix, though XD and thank you :3 my eyes usually don't look that funky, but I had a contact malfunction that day and my eyes were still suffering when I took the picture XD SO PRETTY. (: Aww thank you, Dmitri X3 Posting in a moment. Sorry. I'm at work now. Okay X3 Kitty went on a field trip today! We went to go see the Philippine Eagles. I wanted to hug one, but mommy said no ;w; Field trips are very fun! I don't know what that is, but oh well. Cutie. Working on provosts~~ It's this really huge eagle. Like, gigantic huge. It was so curve ajsfktgrndnjf X3 Awash!!! Did you get pictures? Yup :D I'm going to print one out and hang it on my wall :3 So exciting! (: I live in New York, and there is like. Nothing cool like that here, without stopping at Bronx zoo. Well, I actually live in Cali, like, the desert part where there's absolutely nothing fun Sgt;:[I'm only here on vacation (Which ends this Thursday! Oh, no!) Ash. I'm leaving for vacation on Friday, until the 21st, which I never ever do, but I don't know if I will have internet... Sgt;.Lt; Ooh, have fun! Where are you going? And we'll keep your fingers crossed that you do. I go back to school the Monday after next, so that's why we have to leave this Thursday Sgt;:[it sucks, we're going to miss all the big festivals! I'm going to Cape Cod, in MA. Just for time off of everything else. Going with a few people, but it should be fun. I pray we have the net with us. Ooh, Cape Cod! Have fun! And if not, at least we'll know what happened to you XD ha, yeah. I'll probably get eaten by sharks, knowing my luck. Oh, noes! Bad sharpies D: Actually, I don't think there are sharks in Cape Cod? XD I wouldn't know They've been coming north because of the too hot water down south. There have been two sightings in the past like. Month. Crazy. Whoa, insane! Well, if it's any condolence, Kitty has to go to San Diego the weekend she comes back. And knowing me, a shark will nom on me on its way up north D: O_____________o Eaten by sharks. Sounds... fun?XD And do you live in the city? Because I'm in NY too, but I am about... Hamm... 6 hours to the west of the city. Yup. Illiteracy is being meh best friend. XD Two *norms on illiteracy* You're best friend is rather tasty, Wave =W= I'm in the city, yeah. But hopefully not for long. I'm looking for a new place. No!! Kitty! No nom by sharpies! T_T Wave has a nasty headache and she not is chipper. T_T -juggles Wave- I'm sorry brakes. Feel better right NAO! I'll beat them back with my boogie board! Sgt;’D And aww Wavikinnnnnns *juggles* get better soon! Quote: Originally Posted by Waving It's okay. I'm in the same slump. T_T Well, kinda. I have one character I LOVE playing, but he's hardly in any RP's so yeah... his awesomeness just suppresses the others and makes me go - meh. XD Yeah. I've been in that situation before. Recently, actually. But for the most part, I've been looking at rps, and going blew. And drama, and face pain... and job stuff... and weddings... and parties... and I shall be posting between tomorrow night, and Thursday. I'm going to try to post more at my normal rate, but if I disappear on occasions I'm tied in with school. I start courses Monday, then there's my tutoring job, that I still haven't gotten a schedule for. That's fine! We all understand the real world comes first. :] Gas, Wave, that post you made. Beautiful. Ugh. I hope I have internet next week. If I don't, I'll cry. {Not really, but you know.} When she posted that I was all "OMGWTFAWESOME" *dies* And then I laughed for a good while. Because I had NO IDEA how to respond to that. As you can see, I managed to pull something out of my ass, and I even managed to bring Nil in! Yay for crap posting Sgt;.Sgt; And I'll cry if you don't either D: Meh, it wasn't as good as I wanted. I just wanted to help bring Nil in, and I figured kissing Stone would help the slowpoke move faster. XD Lolololol. I'll be back to post in a few hours. Wasn't as good as you wanted? Oh, dear lord. And Nil is rather slow, except for when it comes to picking on biohazards.... Sgt;.Sgt; Yeah, I was hoping it was going to come out a lot better. It didn't meet my desired level of awesomeness. XD Well, personally I loved it, so I think mission accomplished anyway X3 OH, so I've been meaning to tell you this, but I love the new AVI look! ^3^ Really? ’D That makes me happy X3 My vain little self loves hearing people like her navvies X3 And am I correct in saying that's the cosplay you've been promising us of that one dashing chap? Suppers! It's all... Chinese looking. XD I think. Well, at least that's how I see it. ^_^ And mine? It's as close to Neal Camera as I can get, which is surprisingly hard on Men. T_TI was thinking of doing Matt Bomer, but after seeing this video can't. XD Haha, I've been obsessed with Dynasty Warriors lately *cough cough* Sgt;.Sgt; This was the best I could do without using the obviously Chinese items. AND THAT VIDEO. IT WAS WIN. I laughed so hard XD I can see why you changed your mind I'm STILL laughing. He's just so... chipper. I love him. XD And I'm telling you Samurai Warriors is wayyyyyyy better! He's adorable, really XD That looks like fun! *dances like an idiot* You’re.... I'm doing this wrong._. ANYWAY. I know I should check it out, but I love China so much. That, and I've totally got a crush on Zhou You and You Run Sgt;.Sgt; I like.... who is it Ling Long or something like that. XD Zhou You is pretty awesome too!>.> Back off, he is meh man. We're getting married. Shhh. Don't tell him! It's a surprise. And I'm so envious of the kid that got to dance with him. Oh, he's free cool too! I think Zhou You has the coolest man-woman hair EVER. I like that one guy who looks like a chick, too.... oh, what was his name.... anyway, he's awesome. One of his alternate outfits has FAIRY WINGS. He's so manly FFFFFFFFF. He is allele yours. I'm going to marry a cute Korean boy from Super Junior ^.^ I won't tell, promise Sgt;.Sgt; Dammit, I was supposed to go to COMECON this year, too. Was that COMECON SD? Yes! Zhou You! I love this guy too:--x--Oh and Can Pi. Mummy. YES! I'm so jealous. I would have gone had I known he was there. Okay, I still wouldn't have gone, but Wave can dream! OKAY SO I LIED. I have a crush on Lu Run, not You Run XD And that man up there is, in fact, Lu Run, from Dynasty Warriors 6 I think. This is his drool worthy DW5:Legends outfit: YUM DEMIGOD I wouldn't have cancelled the trip if I had known he was going to be doing that. I really don't think anyone knew he was going to be doing that. That and I wasn't actually going. Now I wish I did. T_TYuppers. I only have DW6. ^^ He's so pretty. XD He reminds me ofRanmarufrom Samurai Warriors. X3 I would have used my amazing sense of foresight to foresee it._. LOL. And I didn't know he was going, period. We have DW5: Legends. The story is kind of awkward, but I love it anyway ^.^ And yes, pretty he is. And those Abbas. Why can't real guys have abs like that?!? D: OH GOD. I thought that was a woman at first. The pantless-ness was very distracting. Reinhard is so awesome! He showed up for a battle called 'prettiest woman in the land.' He is special. XD No idea why real guys can't have yummy abs. But his are yummy:--click and drool----more shiftlessness--I didn't know either until I found that video from an article. Then I cried and was like - NOOOOOOO! Meh, man! Oh, my gawd XD that's too funny. X this is Zhang He, the fairy-man I was talking about. While I couldn't find a picture of his alternate costume, I think this one is pretty good too XD And oh. His abs will do nicely. Suppers. He's a fruit cake too. XD And yes. Yes they will. Mummy. Yes he is XD The first time I played as him, my brother and I nearly lost the mission five minute in because we were laughing so hard. That's pretty yummy. Have to admit. I can understand your obsession love for him. My brother refuses to play Lyndon with me. He was like "It's a gayer version of Sam Sam." It was sad to hear, but I do agree. Its now were near as awesome as having ninjas and samurai flip around and fight. Besides, Mago is sexy. Matt is still hotter though. >/////I still love Dynasty Warriors ^.^ Even if it is kinda (A LOT) gay. It's based off a book, I might have to go read it someday if I get bored enough. And that guy. HE HAD A GUN. I like him X3 Suppers. Ago has a gun. He's lovely too. But Tsunami is my favorite (I'll let you google him and his sexy red hair). Oh, and we can't forget Yakima Canada. He's just a piece of ham too. Drawl! I'm glad I'm not the only one that things it's just a little gay. :P We will have internet where I am going!! YES! Lt;3 YAY :D Next two days I may be a bit rare. I'm going on a 12-hour flight and I have school orientation the day after I get back. I should be able to get a few posts in though. Yikes. Well. I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted. Today has been far more stress than it's worth. Yes, oh how I do love going back to school /sarcasm And gooodniiiiiiiiight! 3 You only have a one-day orientation day? Oi. I have a week of training (I help with orientation) and then five days of legit orientation (where I pretty much move the newbies around and get them used to our college). XD Question Time! Okay, so buttons has made it high up on the list. Now what style do you want? The team symbols? Or would you prefer having your character in a button? Or should I come up with spiffy little phrases? I'll post some examples in a few. Other possible titles:I play for both sides! I Lt;3 Radiation Boys to Jupiter to get stupider. Try, convicts go to Jupiter to plot world domination Have you had your dose of Biohazards today? Bioration (noun) For those of us that couldn't pick one side Pick your poison: Biohazard or Radiation HTML Code: [URL=""][IMG] HTML Code: [URL=""][IMG] HTML Code: [URL=""][IMG] (: Mine was on a button, lol. Go me! I like them all. MEH. I had to pick something from each group - symbol, person, quote. I kinda like the quote, but only for the :] guy. Lol Yup, only one day here ^.^ I'm still just in high school. And we're a pretty small school. So, nothing hardcore for us XD AND OMG. THOSE ARE ADORABLE. FFFFFFF. Wait, you have orientation in high school? Damn. I didn't. XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDI was from a small school too. Graduating class size was 63. Lol Wow, that's way smaller than ours O. O And It's not really an orientation. Its more just hear the 5-minute welcome backs peal from the principle, get your schedules and books, buy whatever ASB shit/yearbooks you need, and get the hell out. I think they all look awesome too. XD I'm going to go post now, before something tries to prevent me. :) *cheers* Go Love go! Has to post, but lacks creativity. Give me a few minutes. It's okay Dmitri XD I not only lack creativity, I'm lacking drive too :sweat: it seems like when it comes to my group role-plays my brain just goes "eff you gain" and walks off =.= Thanks Kitkat. :) And I have finally posted, after all these years. XD I know how the lack of creativity goes, been feeling that a lot lately.... Awash. Well, I just posted in our 1x1. (: Your lack of creativity makes me want to cry, Love XD That's, like, my degree of Ring on a good day :sweat: and It's not really a lack of creativity, I think, because I've been having brainwaves for rps like crazy- but I just don't have the words to saw what I want to. And I'm trying to reply, D, I promise XD But I'll start reading it, and then I'll have another page open and see that someone posted in Complicated and go skip off to that XD I'm so scatterbrained OZ No worries, I'm typing a reply now. My brain is filled with magical unicorns that prevent me from doing anything. Hahaha. O.o Well that is special. XD Indeed it is. -unicorn neighs in agreement-Aw. *Tissues* Don't go doing that. I'll feel bad. XD But yeah. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll start a post, and I swear I'm ready to go, and then... nothing, or it all sounds so repetitive. My muse keeps taking a vacation I swear. One moment I'm at the top of my game, and then at the very moment where I need a hand, it ditches me, and leaves me to fall in the pointy rocks below. And then once it gets back, it acts like nothing ever happened.... Sounds like a terrible relationship. I think being a bit scattered brained myself has something to do with it. XD Shiny nickel! ROFL Love. It's okay, I've got the attention span of a goldfish._. I have to have several pages open at once if I want to get anything done, that way, when I lose interest in one post or get stuck, I can work on another and then come back to it. *whichiswhyI'minabout30-someroleplayscoughcough* That and my brain is still frazzled from the humidity back in the Philippines. Oh, I want a unicorn! *unicorn bites her finger* okay I lied! D: Your unicorn is trying to eat me Dmitri! STAND - Breakup Letter, Dramatic reading Watch the above video. LOLOLOL. -whacks unicorn- DON'T BITE. Sorry bbycakes<33 Its AAAAA. He just normed on my finger Sgt;:[I don't think I'll actually be needing it, but you never know. Maybe I'll have to play surrogate mother to an inchworm or something. And I can't watch it till later, but I promise I will as soon as possible. You better. It's hilarious. GAS. I need sleep. I have to get up super early tomorrow. Haha. Nice. I couldn't do that. I'd never get anything done, or could I? Sounds like a slow process, I'd be very bored. I do hope you're exaggerating about the thirty. I'm in a lot, but not thirty (though with all my characters). Anyways. :) And I shall be replying soon, actually, I think I shall make my new chart before I do. I need a guy to balance things out, though I do love Jedi, and I rarely love my female characters. I'm a girl who is better at playing guys. Furthermore, I actually get a lot more done that way, believe it or not ^.^ I think of what I could write while typing up something for another role-play, so that when I come back to something I already have ideas. And nope, I think I'm subscribed to 33 threads as of now. But only about 28 of those are actual role plays. And I usually only ever come back to four or five threads to reply to at a time. And another Love character? This should be exciting LOL. Hamm. Maybe I should try that. :) And 28... well at least your methods work. XD Bahama. Yes. Another character from moi. I must have at least fifty active characters total, and sadly, I don't do short posts well. Haha yeah, it's a bit of an overkill but it keeps me entertained XD And it's a nice challenge, to try and have my brain working at that level constantly. It hardly ever works like that at all XD Wow, I wish I could do that O. O I have a lot of characters that I RP with, but a lot of them tend to have similar qualities so its almost like only playing with a couple characters and just changing names.... I need to change that Sgt;.Sgt; Hmm. I like the way that sounds. To bad the only challenge I'm going to be able to deal with is school. It took me awhile to develop characters that weren't mirror images of each other. It actually held to use them multiple times, and I steal some ideas from the TV, books, and the sort. Jedi is based on Abby from NCIS, but the majority of her personality is her own. I'm only inspired by personalities, I try not to copy them exactly. And a lot of my characters are my own ideas, and seem to in some way link back to me. Ah yes, school. *sigh* all this rps might be my downfall once school starts. AAAAA Chem and Algebra II =.= Knowing me, I'll put the RP's first XD Aww, I love Abby X3 You're characters are always very dynamic. I like them ^.^ My characters used to be a lot like me, but now I'm straying farther from that (I think that started when I joined Marchenhaft, actually XD) and making characters that have very different personalities from me. Like So- she's pretty much my complete opposite. It's a challenge trying to think outside my "box," but it's a nice challenge. So many distractions. Sgt;.Lt; Ditto. Lucky for me most of my classes are involved in art, so at least, or at least I hope, it will hold my interest. I need good grades, and not all these blast C's. Curse you C's. *shakes fist.* To be honest, I don't try to make them like me at all, I just discover it later. But I do try to keep what I would do to a minimum, and get to know my characters, so I can be 'that's how it is'. So yeah, out of the box, I like that. And thanks, I like your characters too. Stone makes me laugh. And I'm glad my RP had some impact. XD Oh gosh. I really hope I can focus. I have all the upper level classes this year, I mean they aren't the advanced classes, but they're still hard. Furthermore, I'm actually really smart, I just never do my work. Furthermore, I hate C's too :C but if we didn't have c's, we'd go from b right to d and that's not very promising o3o Hash, I know without fail all my characters are a bit scatterbrained, like I am X3 the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, after all. And yeah, I'm at the point where I'm thinking "What do you think so-and-so would do" as if it were one of my friends, instead of asking "What would you, as this character, do?" Haha, thanks X3 Stone can be a bit of a ditz sometimes, but I love how she is. Marchenhaft was actually only my second lit. Rp, and my first one on Men XD It opened a lot of possibilities up for me, so it did have a lot of impact. This true. I know I am capable of getting straight A's, but I lack focus, and motivation. Though since I started college things have been better. I actually got an A in French. :) I was super happy, and I am tutoring it this year, so really excited. Yeah. Which kind of scares me when it comes to my psycho characters. There was this freaky chick I played named Lucy, I'm sad I lost her info, her character amused me. Anyway. She fed her victims poison through sweets, the poison she called love. Most of her victims were teenagers, most of which had done something immoral in her eyes. She was one of those types who are super nice, and then snap at you out of nowhere. If she became attached to someone, they were her property, and she'd make sure they stayed that way. She was a real weaker. No problem. And that makes me happy. Haha, congrats on the A! Especially since it was in a second language. I'm proud to say I passed both years of Spanish with flying D's Sgt;.Sgt; I think the only A had at the end of last year was in P.E. :sweat: Ah, gotta love psycho characters *cringe* I think I only have two, one being Nil, and he's kind of run-of-the-mill crazy (what?). Lol this Lucy of yours sounds like quite the character. Pity you lost her info. I always get a little freaked out when I write a post for a crazy character and its perfect, and then I sit back and read it, and I'm all "Wow, that's so freaking messed up.... wait, that came out of my brain?" X3 I'm Galahad. Thanks. And aw. Well at least you passed. Ooh, P.E. I only got an A once, or twice technically, but my teacher was kind of a push over. Yeah. It makes you think, am I that dark? I would have felt like a real failure if I had managed to get anything less than an A in that class o3o The sophomore level p.e. class is a joke. Totally does. You start questioning yourself for a second- but then its just like, whatever it was a damn good post ^.^ It is. A very amusing one which bored me to no end. That's for sure. And I do love my twisted characters too. I get the pleasure of playing three psychos in this one RP I'm in. One is at least a little sane. The other two are just wack. I understand the functions of my character Dr. Hatchet, he merely enjoys experimenting with things. My character Ludovic has no idea what he's doing half the time. He pretended to be a guard at a museum, there was a 'black out,' he tells them there must be a thief inside, allows him to call the police, and then kills him in the middle of a phone call, then casually hangs up. Soon not suspicious, right? And I adore him. So I was totally going to read all four pages of IOC I missed when I realized that these threads total jump around so much XD Anywho, like stated in the IC thread, I am back! At least hopefully for a while XD Though now I've been hanging out with a buddy of mine after work XP Shouldn't have a problem though, just won't be on 24/7. I'm seriously considering signing up to this. Not only is it a freakin' awesome idea. . . It's detailed. ’D What's happening so far ? (: Umm mm. That is a great question. Ha ha. Okay so my character - Zeke - was kidnapped by Riley and was converted to a Radiation member. The Biohazards are currently grieving over his loss (still) and Stone decided she was going to go look for a body. To her dismay she ran into the newly converted Zeke (now known as Zero) as well as the twins and her brother. Meanwhile, back at the Bios' HQ, some of the members are getting inspected and checked by the doctor they have onboard and others are with the scientists getting weapons so they can head out to fight. That is the summary. I think. XD SMG! Glad to see your back :D And hi Rainbow! Wave pretty much summed it up XD that's all the important stuff, anyway. Off, sounds awesome sauce ! I'll see if I can make me a profile ! :yes: Wrote! Sounds good. 3 ---------- It looks like we have 8 Radiations and 6 Bios. And then there is Zeke. XD Lol Zeke's special enough to have his own category. Yup. He's a rare case of Bioration. XD I'll post in a minute. Making dinner. (: I'll try to post when I get back tonight from school. Ugh, school >.Wow, your school is crazy O. O We only go from 7 to 2 five days a week. But then I have play rehearsal from 2 to 4.30 four days a week, and I might be starting Color Guard soon and practices go from five to eight two days a week o3o not to mention, I'm swamped with homework. Haha, this is college XP After you do it for a while it's not so bad XP College scares me ;--; I'm going to college, but I'm also joining the national guard so that should keep me on my feet Sgt;.Sgt; Tuesday and Thursday 8am-10pm. Monday, and Wednesday 5:30-7. XD And I still haven't got my work schedule. Strangely enough I want more classes, though I'm already taking 19 units. My Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays feel way too empty. Gee, you are crazy! XD I'm only taking 13 credits, just so I can be full-time really XP Plus, I don't think work would like if I went over that and had classes almost everyday XD All of you need to stop complaining. I work every day, most of the day. I'm on call 24/7, and I have more than once stayed at the hospital for 48 hrs, on shift at all times. Furthermore, I've done surgeries more than 12 hrs long, standing on my feet, keeping my hands very still. College was a breeze compared to this. Hell, even my residency was. XD No complaints, can't, it's my own fault. But I salute you (cheesiness) on your work Dmitri, I know I wouldn't be able to handle it. :) And you help people. So I'm going to try to reply this weekend. I have made a plan to play catch up, and make out a schedule for things. I'm hoping this RP hasn't died.... Furthermore, I certainly hope it hasn't died. That's for sure. But if it did... I feel very responsible... >..... And oh, I bet kids get hurt a lot during the school year XD Link Lt;-- I really like WTF's role-play setup, so I'm remaking it on this site. In case you didn't know, WTF and Men have the same creator. ’D Anyway, I hope to see you there. If not, that's fine. I understand life gets in the way. Lt;3

Red☣Alert OOC Thread|rating:2.0

An Alpha's Mate (wolventears & Changingsaint)

(( Heidelberg hung her apron up while humming a tune. She looked back over her shoulder at the glass door of the cooler that held the cake she had just finished. It had been a pain in the ass, but there was no way a six tier wedding cake could ever be simple. It was for two couples who were having a joined wedding, and they had insisted they wanted their cakes stacked one on top of the other. Thing was, they still wanted the 12, 9, and 6 inch in that order. For both cakes… So, a 12, 9, 6, then another 12, 9, 6. But she did it, fondant and roses and all. Each tier was separated by 6 to 4 pillars, distributing the weight. It was heavy as hell, but she made it work. And god dammit, she was proud of it and herself. Nodding her head and saluting the masterpiece, she grabbed her purse and turned off the lights. She was the only one left for the evening and looking at her phone as she unlocked the door, it read nearly midnight. That cake had taken all damn day. But the look on the couples’ faces and that big ass check, totally made it worth it. She walked to the side of the building, her eyes down looking at her phone. She grumbled and deleted the multiple texts from her ex. I miss you Sandra. Come back to me. I love you. Let me love you. Yeah, he loved her alright. Was totally thinking about that love when he was fucking her neighbor. Yeah, no, thanks. She had given him too much of her, and she apparently didn't mean that much if he thought she wouldn't find out. Well it was fucking hard to keep that secret when you walk out of her apartment as Sandra's unlocking her door, your shirt draped over your shoulder as you zip up your goddam pants. Idiot. He hadn't even tried to be slick. She slipped her phone in her back pocket as she stuck her key in the lock to her Camry. She was parked behind the building, near the delivery entrance, so the front lot could be for customers. But this late at night, the alley was dark and the light above her was flickering. And with a final pop, the alley was bathed in complete darkness.“Shit,” she said as she heard the click of the lock unlocking. She opened her car door and pulled her purse off her shoulder to toss in the passenger seat when the sound of footsteps could be heard behind her. One moment she was tossing her purse in the car and the next, the barrel of a gun was pressed to her back. She froze as a deep gravelly voice rumbled in her ear.“Give me your money, bitch,” it said. Then she heard the inhale. “You smell perfect. Sweet. Maybe I'll take more than your money, hmm?” She didn't move, couldn't, and before she could even convince herself to do so, he was whipping her around and slamming her against the back door of her car. He pressed against her, his erection pressing into her belly. He was large, tall more so than anything. Furthermore, he was skinny, like he rarely ate, and he definitely didn't bath or brush his teeth. Furthermore, he leaned forward, head dipping down to kiss her. She turned her head, her eyes scrunched shut. She whimpered but that was all. Cry out for help! Scream! Anything!she yelled at herself internally as her hands came up to push him away.“N-no. Stop. STOP!” she finally managed. But he reacted. A fist made contact with her cheek and GW threw her to the ground.“Help!” she managed, but his hand came down hard over her mouth.”Shut up, bitch,” he spat out, spittle flying and hitting her in the face. She began to flail beneath him, her fists hitting his chest. She tried for his face, but he dodged each blow like he had done this before as his hands ripped at her pants. (was not often someone jogged in the city at midnight, especially sans shirt – but for Marcus Fields, it was a liberating hour, and he had no reason to fear anything. Exercise was important, and when you were far more than what met the eye? Well, one could be forgiven for assuming he was just some sort of man focused on keeping in shape. But there was reason for his method. Breathing in and out steadily, his frame shined faintly under the city lights as he passed them by, eyes focused on the streets ahead. Clad simply in a pair of running shoes and pants good for jogging, he was rather handsome between his short dark hair, and piercing green eyes. A bit of stubble covered his face – but he kept himself groomed in the sense that it was stubble and not something overgrown and unkempt. And of course between broad and fit shoulders that led into a rather fit body that was easily described as ‘jacked’. Broad pecs, a hard six-pack, toned and muscular arms – he was no bodybuilder, but he easily could have been if he wanted. And without a shirt on, that body was rather quite on display, though it was more of an unintentional sort of way than anything else. If he needed to step in somewhere he did have a light jacket tied around his waist that could be zipped up, but that was it. Normally these midnight jogs were rather ordinary. At worst, he might pick up something to drink after the end of a long jog before heading back home, but that wouldn’t be the case tonight. As the nearby light of an alley flickered before dying off with an electrical sizzling sound, he normally would have thought nothing of it were it not for the movement that he barely caught from the corner of his eye, someone slipping into the alleyway and down it, definitely not wanting to be seen. That however raised his curiosity even more, and while most wouldn’t dare to see what was going on, Marcus did. Truth was, Marcus wasn’t a human or at least, not an ordinary human. He had the blood of something different in him, perhaps something greater. But he didn’t intend to let anything get in the way. The scent of something foul filled the air, rotten breath or perhaps some foul body odor, something a little more acute for him as he held his breath, eyes adjusting rather easily in the darkness. That was when he was what was going on, the figure he saw lashed out against a woman, fist firmly against her cheek as the woman called out for him to stop and for her to cry out for help. Hundreds if not a thousand different crimes went on in any city and this one was no different... But today, one less crime would be going on. Running into a quick sprint, what happened next was a blur of activity. His hands reaching for the would-be rapist, throwing him off the woman. “Get the fuck off of her!” Marcus’s voice was firm and loud, interposing himself between the woman and the man with his fists raised. He knew enough self-defense to take care of things and even if he didn’t... Well, he had other gifts. This didn’t last long as the man rose, raising and aiming the gun at him before Marcus once again ran, tackling into the man as the gun fired, missing him by barely an inch. The shirtless men fists rained down on the other man, striking against his jaw and head – Marcus wanted to make sure the other man wouldn’t be getting up for a while, and despite the shortness of the fight, that seemed to be the case as his fist struck against the men jaw, sending his head hard against the pavement, cold cocking him. Marcus wasn’t without injury himself, but the worst he got from the brief struggle were bruises and a few scratches, nothing he couldn’t handle later on. Rising, his attention was soon on the woman. “Hey, it’s safe. Are you okay? I’ll call the police ASAP.” This time, his tone was concerned, a hand offered. He was pulling at her pants, but then he was getting yanked off of her and someone was beating the shit out of him. She slid down her car to her bottom, her breath held in her chest as she watched the most gorgeous man save her from being raped. He was shirtless and wearing jogging pants. Why did she notice that, of all things? When her assailant was down and not getting back up, he stood and just damn. She was able to take all of him in now, and he was... He was ripped. The hottest guy had just saved her life. And now he was talking to her. Huh? Oh..." I, uh," she felt her cheeks heat. What the hell?" Thank you for that. I think I'm okay though," she said looking at his outstretched head. She put her hand in his and let him help her to her feet. She touched her cheek though with her other hand." Do I have a mark?" she asked him. The assailant was out cold, and Marcus soon shook his hands, a bit of pain ringing through them via the beat down he just gave the man. Since he wasn’t going anywhere, his attention was focused on other things, such as the woman. When she thanked him and took his hand he had a firm grip, though just firm enough to help her to her feet more properly. “There, you don’t look to hurt aside from a bit of scrapes, those’ll heal fast. Do you have anywhere to go that’s safe while we wait for the cops? I know a coffee shop not far from here that’d be open, if you want to sit down while they come. I’m Marcus, sorry that happened.” She was gorgeous and something else about her just demanded his attention, but he wasn’t sure what it really was. For now, he wanted to make sure she was safe and secure, and not feeling hurt or afraid. He was usually a good Samaritan, so he wanted to treat this as nothing different. She breathed a sigh of relief, but it did hurt to touch her eye. Shed probably have a mark in the morning. When he asked if she wanted coffee while waiting for the cops, she nodded. And something in her told her to stay with this man for as long as possible. She nodded and met his eyes, noticing they were a gorgeous green. She blinked before realizing she wasn't saying anything." Oh, uh, I'm Sandra. Thanks again." Then without thought, and before she could think twice, she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him in thanks. The moment her body pressed against his, it was like everything stood still at that moment. Her body became super aware of the hard and very firm body pressed against hers, heating instantly, but other than that, she felt safe and secure, like nothing could ever get to her in this man's arms. Her arms were tightly wrapped around him, her face buried against his neck for longer than was probably appropriate. But hell, he smelled so damn good! With a sigh, she let him go and stepped back, her hands behind her back. She looked down, her cheeks heating. "Sorry. I just want to say thanks again." She looked back up and met his green eyes. "Thank you." It came out as a whisper. He had taken a shower earlier, but the citrus-y smell of the soap mingled with the sweat of running, breads of it against his forehead and chest. But as the adrenaline in him faded he took some time to breath deeply, giving a more earnest smile as took his hand. When he touched her skin it was almost... He didn’t want to sound sappy, but it almost felt electrifying, as if his hand had just been jolted in a pleasurable way. Giving a light nod, he felt her against his neck and he didn’t really mind, his body was warm, and his scent there was particularly strong. “No, no, it’s okay. Don’t worry.” He gave a smile, teeth showing for a moment as he began to move with her, hearing the whispered thanks. Again, there was that electrical sensation, something relaxing and exciting at the same time. Keeping close to her, he soon threw on the light jacket, zipping it up so that most of his body was covered by the black pants and white jacket, but enough of his chest was visible enough to leave something of a V-shaped bit of exposed flesh around his upper chest. Leading her down a block he led her to a well lit coffee house called ‘Wiseman's’. The older looking male behind the counter gave a wave, and he soon approached. “I’ll just have a black cup and...” he turned, looking to Sandra. “Anything she wants too, I’ll put it on my card.” He turned, looking to Sandra. “They have some good sandwiches too, if you’re hungry. Don’t worry about cost.” He pulled her along to the coffee shop, and she went without a word. All she could do was just stare at him, watching how his body moved and unfortunately, he put a jacket on. Once inside, he asked for a cup of black coffee. She looked at the menu, her hand still in his." I'll have the same, just with a shot of creamer." It was late and she hadn't eaten yet. "And a half roast beef on sour dough, no tomatoes," she said softly. The man behind the counter went to work on their orders, and she kept quiet, unsure of what to say to Marcus. Paying for his drink and her meal, he soon slid out a chair for her, sitting opposite of her. "I'll go ahead and phone the police now, and I'll stay here until they arrive, does that sound alright?" he asked in a more quiet tone, eyes on her as he waited to hear what she thought. "It's an awful thing to deal with, I'm sorry that happened. I'm just glad I was there in time." She looked alright, but he had to ask." Are you hurt?" She took the seat he offered and put her elbows down on the table. She let out a deep breath and touched her left eye, wincing slightly. "I'm pretty sure I'll have a black eye in the morning. But other than that, I'm alright. Might be a little emotional for the next couple of days, but I'll be okay. I'll bounce back. I always do," she said softly. She nodded then about the police. "Thank you." She looked down then back up, looking up at him through her lashes. "I'd appreciate that. I don't want to be alone right now, and I feel safe with you." She tucked her hair back behind her ear as the older man brought them their coffee and her sandwich. She smiled and said thanks before taking a sip of her coffee. Furthermore, she tilted her head in curiosity at her savior. "How come I haven't seen you in town before? Do you live here?" she asked, making conversation. "When you get home put some ice on it asap, it'll help ease the swelling before it starts." he spoke with some concern, but smiled when she said she was alright. "He'll be in jail, whatever happens at least. You're welcome, don't worry about it. Just trying to be a good person is all." And he really did like helping others. When she spoke about being safe around him, he sighed out, though kept a good mood. Looks could be deceiving... But he didn't say that out lout. "Me? I live in the city, yes. Not far from here, actually. I live in a small apartment nearby. I was out jogging when I heard the attack going on. Furthermore, I wasn't expecting it since usually it's quiet around here. Furthermore, I guess ii haven't been out much besides work and exercise, so I might be a bit of a recluse in comparison." She nodded. "You must be quite the recluse. I work at the bakery across the street and decorate cakes. Everyone comes to me when they need a cake." She smiled about that. She enjoyed her work. She took a bite of her sandwich. As she chewed she thought about ways to ask this man out. But women weren't supposed to ask men out, were they? But then again, she hadn't ever really wanted to ask someone out. She took a drink of her coffee and was about to do just that, but then a cop walked in. He looked around before looking at her and walking towards her and Marcus. He stopped at their table and looked to Marcus." You the guy who called in the attempted rape?" he asked him. "Ahhh, is that what it is? I admit I'm more of a night owl, we might just be working on different wave lengths. Maybe I'll order a cake very soon though." he smiled a little, thinking that it would be nice... But before he had much of a chance to ask about it, he gave a nod to the cop who arrived, describing the situation. "When I came across the scene this woman here was being accosted by a man in the nearby alley. I dealt with him and took her here for safety. Last I saw the man was out cold after I knocked him out. I can escort you to where he was." he spoke, rising. The cop gave a nod. "Follow me, both of you." Thankfully - when they arrived the man was only starting to rise, and as Marcus explained the situation and confirmed that was him, the man was soon in cuffs, being escorted to the officer's car for proper incarceration." Hey..." Marcus then turned to Sandra, smiling. "Maybe it's a bit inappropriate but if you wanted my number you know... Talk or anything or if they need me as a witness or stuff." He soon wrote down his number, giving it to her "Don't be afraid to call." He of course wanted her to have his number for other reasons, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She got up and followed the policeman to the alley along with Marcus. In the alley, her assailant was trying to get back up. The officer cuffed him, and soon he was in the back of the cop car. There were a couple more words spoken, and she gave her info to the cop, and he gave her his card as well. When he got in the car, Marcus turned to her and gave her his number. Her cheeks heated. Well that took care of that. She gave him a small smile. "I was kind of wondering if you'd might be interested in going out sometime?" I have tomorrow off, so maybe tomorrow sometime?" she shyly asked. Going out? That was a lot more like it. He gave a small smile and a quick nod before thinking. "Tomorrow night is good, I guess that gives me a good reason to get all dressed up. What time? I can pick you up at your place, I think you wouldn't be in any trouble if you requested the day off, right? I know a few nice places to go for dinner and a drink or two. Do you fancy anything in particular?" That was way easier than he thought it'd be, but hardly something he didn't enjoy! "I'll be free pretty much all day, so any time would be good for me." She nodded. "You can pick me up at my place. I actually live in a house a couple blocks from here. I'm off tomorrow so anytime is good for me as well." She nervously brushed the hair from her face." Anything would be good. I'm not picky. I'm easy like that." Her face turned bright red when she realized what she said. "Uh, I'm not easy. I don't sleep around and do this kind of things." She scrubbed a hand down her face." I'm going to stop talking now." Holy hell. She shook her head." I'm going to go home before I embarrass myself anymore." She looked through her fingers at him." Since you were outrunning, would you like a ride home?" "Great, I'll call tomorrow afternoon and get your address, then." He gave a nod. "Mm, don't worry. I know what you mean. Trust me, I'm not easy either." he winked back at her, leaning back and stretching. "But I do like dinner with a cute lady, trust me. If you don't mind giving me a ride. I can point out where I live, but I also don't mind walking back either." he explained, looking to her. He'd be happy to get a ride home and saving someone felt like enough exercise for one day. She smiled. "Come on, I'll take you home," she said before walking past him and motioning for him to follow. At the passenger door, she let out a sigh of relief to see her purse still there. So much had been going on, she had forgotten to lock the car before they had left for the coffee shop. She opened the moorland grabbed her purse, freeing the seat for him. Then she went and slid behind the wheel. After he got in, she started the car and waited for directions to his apartment. (car and its interior was unharmed at the least, something that even he enjoyed. Taking a moment to reflect he quickly gave a nod, sitting next to her. "It's at 596 Langford Ave, so about three miles away..." he gave the directions, and by all accounts was a home that was rather small, but still quite comfortable for a single or even two people place. The car ride wasn't very long... But it was long enough to make him feel... Different. He'd been around gorgeous women before, but none like her, she was simply stunning. And there was something else, something a bit different about her that he found hard to name, his breath was hitched through at least part of the ride, and he could feel himself getting a little flushed, but he was uncertain as to why. The car ride was odd. She was feeling claustrophobic but at the same time, she wanted to be even closer to Marcus. And once she got to his place, everything got so hot. She parked in the drive and looked over at him. She licked her lips." Well Marcus, thanks again. For coming to my rescue and the coffee." Her cheeks heated slightly. "And for making me feel safe." "It's not a problem at all. I'm glad I could help in any way." As he moved to get out of the car, his hand brushed against hers by accident. Even though it was a mistake, much of it felt... right, in all the wrong ways, his nails dragging softly against her skin, his eyes meeting hers and pausing, as if he wanted to apologize but didn't... Or, as if he wanted more but hesitated, unsure of just what he had done, almost feeling embarrassed if it weren't for the jolt of pleasure he suddenly felt. His warmth radiated out of his hand, still resting on hers. When his hand rested on hers, she felt what could only be described as intense heat flood her, moisture pooling between her legs as thoughts of what that touch would feel like everywhere else on her body flooded her mind. She licked her lips again and leaned toward him." Thank you, Marcus," she said in a soft whisper as she closed the distance and pressed her lips to his. While the man was taken aback by the kiss, his body reacted faster and more eagerly than his thoughts did. Breathing out as his lips firmly embraced hers, he quickly showed himself to be a strong and passionate kisser. One hand soon moved to rest on her hip as he leaned over closer to her seat, teeth biting against her lower lip as he breathed in and out with a steady gait, excitement clear from the way he let the kiss linger as long as it could. Even as he told himself that it was rushing into things too early, his lips were still against hers, though as the teasing bite ended his tongue sought to embrace Sandra's as he breathed out. Sighing as his other hand sought and squeezed against hers, he wasn't sure why his body felt so flush, why this felt so damn exciting and... Right. Right was the best word to describe it, like it was just natural to kiss this woman he barely knew with the passion he'd only reserve for an intimate love. He kissed her back, biting her lower lip before his tongue slid inside her mouth and everything seemed to stop once his kiss deepened. Her free hand went to his chest, sliding up and over the firmness before sliding up his neck and back to slide in the hair at the nape of his neck. She moaned against his lips, his mouth swallowing the sound as she moved to get closer as her hand than slid down and into the v of his open jacket to slide over the hot skin beneath. A jolt of pleasure raced down his spine, causing him to press into her further, hands holding on to her firmly as he let the kiss linger even longer. He couldn't help but moan out more excitedly into the kiss, his chest rising and falling with every quickened breath he took against her exploring her hands. She'd find his muscles were firm, his skin almost feverishly hot under the jacket, spreading out against her palm and digits. Not sure on how long to let the kiss linger, his tongue continued to embrace hers between every excited breath, a growl vibrating from his lips to hers, eyes closed shut as he let things take their course. Still... Even now he was beginning to realize it had to end, but letting it linger for a few more moments if she enjoyed it, that wouldn't hurt either of them, would it? This kiss was like none she had ever experienced before. It was waking things inside her that she hadn't even known were there. But she liked it. Liked how it made her feel. And she wanted more. She let go of his hand and pushed herself up, not breaking the kiss, wanting to get closer, needing to. She made to move over the center console and place herself directly on his lap, needing to know if he was as aroused as she was by this kiss. Letting the kiss continue on would be dangerous, and while so much of him wanted to let it continue he knew it had to stop before long. Letting the kiss end with a sudden gasp of air as he breathed in, and his lips were no longer against hers, his body was flush and hot, the care only making that all the more obvious. "I need to go... I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" He was honest about that, but it just couldn't continue tonight, not unless things were to get even more passionate than they were, and he wasn't sure what would happen if that were so. She was panting but he was right. This wasn't like her. She sat back in her seat and nodded." Yeah, I need to get home." She looked over at him with a smile." I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Marcus," she said softly. Moving to get out of the car, he gave her a smile. "Goodnight Sandra." He knew this wasn't what he was supposed to do - that sort of kiss... not with a normal human, but he couldn't help it. Giving her a smile and nod of his head he soon headed for inside his home, trying to take a deep breath and relax, tomorrow might buy all accounts be a busy day, it seemed. She drove home, trying to get her body to calm and cool down. Yeah, a cold shower was probably needed before going to bed. She got home, did that and went to bed. She woke the next day late, a little after ten, the excitement from the day before having taken it out of her. But she was excited. She was going to see him again. But before she did that, she had errands she needed to get done before she went out. All of which was finished by three in the afternoon. Once home, she pulled out her phone and brought up a text. Hey Marcus. It's Sandra. What time were you thinking tonight? She hit send as she went to her closet and began looking through her clothes for something fancy. The day after, he decided to take a shower, shave, look nice for the date. Was it a date? It more than likely was, but it was not always certain with humans, it may have been a flight of fancy, or perhaps something a tad more serious... Getting her text, he thought for a few moments, 'How about 6? I'll pick you up then and take you to a nice sushi place, the manager owes me something, so I can easily get us on the reserve list.' The manager was a fellow pack member, someone who wouldn't mind him being around a human so that was definitely a boon. He knew exactly the sort of outfit to pick as well, so that would just be a matter of hoping he could properly impress when actually trying to. Sushi sounds amazing. Haven't had that in a while. I'll see you at six. She began picking out her things for that night. This was a date, yes? So she'd treat it as such. She picked out her dress and hung it up on the door then went to do her hair and makeup. Hours later, she was looking at herself in the mirror, happy with what she saw. Then a knock sounded on her door. (see you then!' was his reply. He dressed in something simple, or so he hoped. Soon looking himself over in the mirror. ‘Do I look good?’ he asked himself mentally, his right hand ruffling through his hair, smoothing out the black overshirt he wore. It was a little on the casual side, but still something that looked formal with a light black jacket over a matching black shirt with enough of a see to the top to show off a bit of his chest. His pants were equally dress up as his jacket and shirt, the same color with a contrasting leather belt. Smoothing out the sleeves of the jacket as he paused, he then smiled. ‘Yeah, I think I look great.’ It was just a date, a first one at that, so he looked good without being overly dressed, he thought. Having called up the pack member who owned the sushi place downtown, he made sure they had reservations on a nice looking table that overlooked the park downtown, perfect for a sunset dinner. ‘We’ll call it even if you can do that, I’ll be there around six thirty or so, Kay?’ he asked over the phone, hanging up after with a click. Showing up in a red car – something he helped remodel as a hobby of his, it was clear he took good care of it from the paint job, to the leather seats, to the redone stereo system that was within it. Getting out and knocking at her door, he soon gave a smile. “Hey there. Not too late, am I?” (( smoothed the dress over her belly and walked to the door. She took a deep calming breath and opened the door and what stood there, damn. The man was gorgeous. She gave him a smile." No, you're right on time," she said reaching for her purse. She turned off her lights and stepped outside, locking the door before taking Marcus' arm and walking to his car. Her smile grew even more at the vehicle in front of her house." Did you rebuild this beauty?" she asked. ("Great!" he smiled, looking her over. She looked absolutely stunning once again, and he couldn't help but keep his eyes on her, taking her arm in his. He was strong, though he was rather gentle about that strength as he led her to the vehicle. It was a muscle car, possibly one from the eighties at a glance. "Not by myself." Being a proper gentleman he offered to open the door for her, though if she preferred to do it herself, that was no problem. Getting in the driver's seat himself, he continued as it started. "My friend and I built it, I used to work at a mechanics shop back in college." He answered, giving a nod. It wasn't much longer before they were on the road, soon downtown, and finding a place to park. Once out of the car, he was soon offering her his arm again, a rather soft though firm grip with it. "Also... How are you feeling? Are you still hurting from last night? I'd hope not." but he wanted to ask anyway if nothing else than to just make sure she was okay. He opened the door for her and helped her to get in. He told her about rebuilding the car. There wasn't anything sexier than a man who could work on a car. Once at the restaurant, he helped her from the car and walking up to the front door, she sighed a little in relief. "I'm actually surprised I don't have a huge black eye. It's still a little sore to the touch but nothing else really. You got there in time." Just some scratches here and there but nothing big or anything." The restaurant by all affairs looked rather high class - though the both of them fit in. "I'm glad. Sorry to hear about it being sore though... Did you hear what happened to the asshole who did it? Hopefully he rots for a while and grows a spine." Marcus couldn't stand people who abused or hurt women, it was something of a sore spot on him from old history, and seeing it made him angry all over again. This time he at least had someone to deal with personally over it." Order anything you like, would you enjoy some sake or wine? It's all on me, so go wild." The prices were hardly cheap, but he had the money for it. He wasn't going to be going cheap himself, either! They were sat next to a window, the sun softly setting in the distance, casting orange and violet hues over the downtown park and lake, a rather beautiful sight with their higher view. "I asked for the best seat in the house, so I'm glad they were able to accommodate." She looked down at the menu. It was quite pricey. Well, that was a first for her. But then again, if a guy did this, he expected to get in your pants afterward right? Not that she'd mind that. Her face heated at the direction of her thoughts. Oh my, to unwrap that present... She managed to calm down enough to answer. "Wine sounds great. As for food, want to get a couple rolls and just share? That is if you aren't opposed." The feeling of unwrapping was quite mutual, though her wrapping was a little less subdued than his. "So, anything you'd like to know about me? You know a little bit about my hobbies, that I'm a night person..." Trailing off, he couldn't help but smile. "I'm interested in you as well. You bake a lot, right?" Ordering a few rolls alongside her, he nodded at the thought of sharing some. He didn't mind ordering more, but starting out with a few would be a good enough start. She smiled at that. "Alright, well what kind of things do you like to do at night? Work out, since you were jogging last night?" she asked him." I do like to bake. I bake a lot at home, but decorating, that is my passion." I went to culinary school and I love to cook but when it came down to baking part of it, then the cake decorating, I kind of excelled in it. Furthermore, I knew that once I graduated I'd have to get a job doing it." I didn't want to go to the big city though, so when the spot opened here at the bakery, I jumped on it," she said before taking a sip of her wine. "Work out, I like to read too. It's actually kind of relaxing at night, so I try to do a lot of things that can be hard to do in the day. Though sometimes that might just be working on my car or some housework, I've been doing a bit of renovation inside the home. I find that easier to do at night. Like I said, I'm a bit of a night owl so that might just be me." He listened as she spoke about cake decoration. "Oh? I'm sure you're great at it. I'll need to try one of your cakes and find out then, won't I?" It didn't take long for the wine and food to arrive, the white wine having been paired with the various rolls they got. "Well then, ready to dig in?" She nodded as she listened. He was right. She herself preferred to do certain things at night. That was really the only time she had available to do anything. She laughed at him asking about trying some cake. She nodded." You could come in for a slice. Or if you come over, maybe I'll make you one," she said, her voice a little huskier than she had intended. Soon the food had arrived. She opened her chopsticks and put a couple pieces of sushi on her plate. She brought a piece to her mouth." What do you do during the day then? Like for a living?" she asked before she took a bite. "Think you'll be open tomorrow? A slice sounds good... Or maybe the whole thing." he grinned a little more openly at that. "During the day I help run an auto shop and auto repair place. If your car ever needs some work done on it, I promise I'll have the engine purring." Just like her there was sort of a deeper tone to his voice, flirtatious though since she did it first his was a tad more deliberate to match hers. "It was my dads, then he handed it to me once he felt it was right. So I've got the place running perfectly." He took his chopsticks as well, taking a bite of some eel sushi they got, eating the whole thing after a second bite. 'Mm.... Perfect. I'm not there every day, but I am most days. I should probably stop slacking off and go there tomorrow, I'm afraid I can't lounge around every day and date lovely women." She chuckled and finished chewing. "Oh, so this is a regular thing for you, hmm?" she asked teasingly. But at the same time, that kind of angered her. Which she had no right to be since she had just met the guy after all." I like that though. I think I know which shop you're talking about. Down on Carey and 5th?" "HRM, not a regular thing at all. I've been living the bachelor life for a while. So you're the first and by far the best yet." He gave a grin, trying to ease what sounded like a bit of an edge to her teasing, or perhaps it was just his imagination. "Yeah! That's the one. Feel free to come in any time. But anyway besides cars and stuff I do like music, movies, some games... I think having fun and relaxing is just as important as hard work, though lately it's been hard to find that sort of free time. Glad I'm able to spend it with you." A brow rose. She was the first, huh? She didn't believe that when he looked how he did. When he said he liked music though, got her to wondering. You could learn a lot about a person by what they listen to." What kind of music do you listen to?" She smiled. No one usually got right what she listened to. "Music, HRM... I guess I like almost every kind. But a bit of older rock, some metal, jazz and blues... I've always been called something of a hardworking man, and I guess I like music that keeps me motivated. But hell, I'll listen to anything at least once and see if I like it. What about you? Any music or bands you like?" Just like her, he could tell things from what music people liked... Though he was never one to harshly judge. She smiled at his response. She liked that. "Bands I like? Well, to name a few. Pennywise. The Distillers. Rancid. I do listen to some classic rock and metal when I'm having one of those days." She popped another bite of sushi in her mouth." You said you read. What do you like to read?" "Oh, a few authors - a few of them are kind of hokey like Jim Butcher..." he was a big fan of fiction, it seemed like! But as the meal went on and the night began to draw to a close, it was both a wonderful meal and by all accounts a good time. By the end of it and with the bill paid, he soon rose, smiling. "So... My place or yours? Since it is getting a bit late, I figured it only appropriate to ask, you know?" of course the date could end, and he could take her home, but part of him hoped for and wanted more... The rest of the date went well. It was really enjoyable. She couldn't remember having such a great time. After paying, she was gathering her purse and standing when he asked her place or his. She looked at him, her cheeks turning red. She laughed nervously and tucked her hair behind her ear." Uhm," she looked down then back up at him through her lashes. "You're driving, so you choose?" The walk back to the car, her heart was beating a mile a minute. She was really doing this. Oh, yes she was. Within minutes, he was pulling up to her house. He walked her to her door, and before she thought twice about it, her arms wrapped around his neck, and she was kissing him, hot, hard, and passionately. "Your place then." It wasn't long until he was soon driving her to her place, and while the traffic was light something about the wait just felt unbearable for some reason, a reason he couldn't exactly place. But once there, he got out of the car, helping her to the door with what felt like a pause of trepidation just outside of it. But seconds later his arms were against hers as much as hers were on him. His lips pressed hard into hers, biting her lower lip once more as his hands explored the curves of her body, a hum of pleasure escaping from his lips into hers. All the while he pressed her back against the door, one hand coming to rest at her hip as he lingered and felt uncaring as to who saw them. Kissing her like this, his tongue against hers during the embrace just felt too right to slow, let alone stop. He kissed her back, his hands tracing her curves as he pressed her against the door. But she had to stop it, if only for a moment." Inside. We need to be inside," she said heatedly before turning and unlocking her door. Pushing it open, she pulled him inside and after dropping her purse and keys on the small table just inside, she was pressed against him once more. She stopped the kiss for only a second more. "Bedroom. Is down the hall, last door on the left," she managed before kissing him again. The kiss broke as she spoke with a heated tone to her voice, and as the door was pushed open he soon darted inside after her, listening to the sound of her things dropping and hitting the table, his hand moving from her waist to the small of her back, pressing her against his firmer body. "Lead the way..." his tone was soft but smoldering in tone and temper, his body ached for her like he needed it to survive. Was it just because he had not had passion like this in ages/ Or was there something else? She was human, she was't like him. But as he kissed her and groped her from behind, he began to move with her, ready to carry her into the bedroom if necessary. Luckily she knew her house. She was walking backwards, her mouth still on his as she leads them to the bedroom. With her foot, she pushed the door open and pulled him to the bed when her hands began moving. She pushed his jacket from his shoulders then untucked his shirt before she began unbuttoning it as she stepped from her heals and kicked them out of the way. (inside the room he began to rapidly help with disrobing, Shucking his jacket off with a roll of his shoulders and one hand beginning to quickly undo the buttons to the shirt beneath it, his fit and well cut chest was now quite visible in the light. And by all accounts, Marcus was absolutely well build. Broad shoulders somewhat slimmed down to his toned and fit chest, and even that tapered off to a six-pack of abs, his hair kept neat and trim, and his tanned skin only adding to the muscles underneath. He took his appearance well into care, and every breath made those dense and taut muscles underneath rise and fall with the rhythm of his breathing. His eyes looked to hers, leaning into the kiss as his hands moved to help begin undressing her, hungrily seeking to disrobe Sandra. F (( let him slide the dress from her shoulders as her own hands slid down the well abbey expanse of his belly. She undid his belt then his pants, a finger slipping into the waistband of his boxers as he began pushing the dress down her and over her breasts and hips. Soon it was at her feet and she stood before him in her panties and bra. She stopped the kiss and got back on the bed, urging him to follow. Just as he thought she'd be he was utterly stunning out of the dress and in jut what was underneath. His eyes sauntered over her curvy frame as she undid his belt, letting the leather drop to the ground before soon moving to help let the boxers fall as well, the base of his hardening and thick cock quickly becoming visible before the whole thing was free, his cock briefly rubbing against her thigh as he followed, moving to pin her underneath him, and against the bed. She took in all of him, the strength beneath that tanned skin to the delicious cock that stood at the ready for her. She moaned as he came down after her, pinning her to the bed. Furthermore, she arched beneath him. She was so damn wet. Furthermore, she at that moment needed him like no other. To touch her, to love her. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. Touching her and holding her felt like some sort of strange, pleasantly electrifying and something he hadn't experienced with other women, which was only more alarming. One hand hooked his thumb in her partied, soon pulling them down as the head of his cock brushed against her lips, the hand then moving for her thigh as he then began to kiss her, moaning into the embrace. All the while his hands kept a firm grip on her, beginning to pierce her inner walls with the head of his aching shaft, nails digging firmly into her skin as his body tensed. He pulled off her panties and settled between her legs and kissed her. She arched when he began to press in, his cock stretching her wide. She arched beneath him, moaning into his mouth. Her hands slid up his arms, feeling the muscles of his biceps and triceps, then up over his shoulders and neck, then her hands were burying in his hair as she deepened the kiss. His arms were taut, and her slender and more lithe fingers could easily move from them, down his toned biceps and beyond, even his shoulders had the contour of muscle and strength behind his tanned skin. Leaning into the kiss as her hand ran through his more silky hair he wasted little time in beginning to properly take her, hips rolling against her thighs with a more firm roughness to it. His hands were on her, one keeping a firm and steady grip upon her waist while he started to fuck her and the other moving from her hip to the curve of her stomach, slowly beginning to make its way for one of her breasts as his cock was soon being ground hilt deep into her. She moaned deeply into his mouth as he began to really move. It seemed like his cock was hitting every place in her that would be illicit a response from her, and it was a feeling that she had never had before. The feel of his firm body atop hers and his muscles beneath her hands as he worked her, was, she couldn't even begin to describe it. All she knew was that she doubted anyone else could ever make her feel like this. She arched into his touch as his hand slid up her her belly to her breast. Her legs wrapped around him as he thrust into her, his cock grinding at the end of each thrust and sending shock waves of pleasure through her. Then with one more stroke, her hands clenched around his arms, her back arching as her eyes slammed shut, and she cried out at the orgasm slammed into her, her pussy clenching and spasming around him. Each and every little moan that came from her lips just brought all the more excitement and desire to please her from him. Just the feeling of her body under his, his hands squeezing and gripping against her, one moving for her rich black hair to keep a firm hold of it as the kiss ended. His lips were soon elsewhere against her though, his body shifting slightly so he could lean into her neck, teeth nipping down onto her body as he gave out a firm bite against her skin, a moan of pleasure vibrating onto her while her body arched. And when she came, legs locked against him, it was hard for him to not come. "NNN....." Moaning out as her inner walls helped milk out a heavy orgasm, his seed soon spurted into her pussy with thick and full warmth, the bed only rocking harder from tense and firm thrusts. She didn't know what it was, she had never really been one for biting, but when she felt his teeth on her neck, it only caused the orgasm to continue, pure pleasure shooting through her, the thought of him actually biting hard enough to pierce her flash and leave a mark all the more of an aphrodisiac. Then he was coming as well, his cock throbbing inside her and filling her with warmth. Her arms wrapped around him, holding him close and against her as they both came down. She panted lightly, her hands sliding and massaging his well muscled back." Marcus, just, wow," she managed to get out, her heart beat barely beginning to sow down and relax. He didn't bite to the point of blood, but the mark of his teeth against her skin would linger for a few days, that was how much force he put into it - just the cusp of breaking skin. Riding her through her orgasm, he felt his arms around her, one hand still firmly on her breast as his body continued to tense and slowly recover from the orgasm, breathing out heatedly against her skin. "Mm...." He could feel the adrenaline racing through his lens as he rolled over with her, letting her rest against him. "That was fucking amazing..." he spoke, leaning in for a quick kiss against her lips. He rolled them over, her atop him. She smiled down at him at his words, and she kissed him back when he leaned up. She chuckled." So, how about we do this often, hmm?" She laughed then. "The sex yes, definitely the sex, but also the going and hanging out." "Ah, trust me, if you want to do it quite a lot then... I can do that, I can even go for a round two... But more dates?" he smiled, leaning in to quickly kiss her on the lips while sighing into it. "I think I can happily accommodate that, in fact I might have something rather fun if I can clear my schedule soon..." She lifted a brow at his answer. But then he was saying he could accommodate. She smiled. "Good because I think I want to keep you around." She sat back then, straddling his hips, his cock between her legs lying on his belly. She reached down and stroked him. "So, how about that round two, hmm?" "Mmm, good." His tone had been teasing, but as they got ready for a second go.... The next two or so weeks were certainly a change for Marcus. He was used to being with others like him - other Lycanthropes. Dating a human though? Well she had a flair that the other werewolves didn't and even though she was a human he felt so damn comfortable around her that she may as well have been a wolf for all he cared! One date became two, then a third as he took her out for dinner another time a few days after, and then out to the park for something a lot more casual when he had a bit of time off, and they picked up some lunch. Marcus proved to be a very open man, though so far they had not really been back at each other's house yet since that night. When his place was brought up he did brush it off for the moment saying it needed to be cleaned and look nice... And while that was true he did have another concern. The last thing he wanted was to have other werewolves come up and notice that he had a lover, a human one at that. It would cause... problems, especially since he was meant to be the Alpha of his pack, and that implied he'd wed a woman from the pack or at least of Lyman blood, which she had none. He was not ashamed of her at all, but he had to think on the pack as well. That afternoon though he found himself texting her a message, 'Hey you want to get drinks later? I know a nice place that should have some great drinks for cheap tonight if you wanted to get together and meet up.' He sent the text, heading through the park back to work. Somewhat absent from the pack he had told them he was just taking some time to himself, but... It was unfortunate that Kara was out and about that day. Another from his pack, and a woman with influence. Were his pack the kind who still arranged marriage, that influence would have easily landed her the position of mate for an Alpha... Alas, the pack was more modern, and that included doing away with such primitive notions. Kara was pretty enough, a little short and with dark blonde hair with hazel eyes, and while she had been talking to one of her friends, she caught a familiar scent... One that seemed a little off than it usually had been. Marcus seemed different, and she couldn't help but want to figure out why. As such, it wasn't a big deal when she began to stalk the otherwise preoccupied Marcus.(evening he'd be ready to pick her up, dressed in a black leather jacket and a V-neck underneath. Since meeting her he'd been getting a little more clean cut, though still rough with his stubble and somewhat shaggier hair... Such habits were hard to let go of. "Hey, ready to have fun tonight?" He asked as he knocked on her door, giving a charming smile. "Anand, tonight I think I'd be more than happy to have you at my place, I finally cleaned it up and made it look nice." She was doing some cleaning around her house when her phone buzzed. She checked the text and instantly smiled. Marcus. That man. He all but had her wrapped around his finger. The man was fucking near perfection. Yes, he could use his dick like nobodies business, but just spending time with him, being in his company, she was the happiest she had been in a long time. I am definitely down. Been cleaning and running errands all day. Could use the breather. She got ready in a pair of straight legged jeans that cupped her bottom and a flowing black top that hugged her breasts in just the right way. Her hair waved and curled down around her face and shoulders. She was finishing up her makeup, simple eyeliner and gloss when the knock sounded. She opened the door to the sexiest man alive, even in a simple V-neck and leather jacket, Marcus was damn lickable. Furthermore, she smiled at him." Hey hot stuff." She stepped forward, her purse on her arm and her keys in her hand, pressing against him. She gave him a peck on those delicious lips. "Oh yes, I am definitely ready for some fun." She turned and locked her door before pulling him from her porch to his car. "Hey, good-looking." he spoke, leaning into the press as he gave a short though firm kiss against her lips. "Mm... Good to hear." he spoke, his hand moving around her hips as he took her to his car, and soon they were going off to the western side of the city. Of course, he had no idea he was being stalked - a werewolf would never really expect another werewolf to be stalking them. But Kara had traced Marcus to here, she saw the... outsider, and she began to fume. Marcus should have been kissing her, should have been mating her, they weren't related, she could tell just by how they acted and that made her seethe internally. What better way to vent that rage than to follow them? Before long, Michael was pulling up to a somewhat more posh bar, urbane and far more eclectic looking. Inside the building was something of a lighter atmosphere, decorative lighting and a few people sitting at the bar itself or at various tables, talking amongst the music that radiated from the speakers. "Order any drink, it's on me." Marcus spoke, sitting down opposite of her. "Also... There was something I wanted to talk to you about, if you're interested." He was a little hesitant, time off was rare, and he didn't know if she had it or not.(Sandra looked at the outside of the bar as they parked. "Ooh. I've heard good things about this place but have never been." She went inside with him, her hand tucked in his, and they soon got to a table. It was a nice little place, a speakeasy of sorts. She was looking at the menu and nodded when he said order whatever she'd like, but looked up at him when he said there was something he needed to talk to her about. A brow rose." Should I be worried?" she said. It was meant to be teasing, but it came out more serious. She had had no luck with men before him, and it would happen to her that something was wrong with the one guy she genuinely liked. "Not worried I hope... I actually am getting a bit of free time over the weekend and the holiday, so I wanted to ask..." he thought, thinking on how to best propose. "How would you like to go with me to the nearby beach on the holiday weekend? About four or so days It's still pretty early so we'd have it all to ourselves, don't you think that'd be fun?" For Kara, walking in and having her attuned hearing pick up on that specifically? It left her enraged, biting her cheek in anger at just hearing Marcus proposing something so blatant to a human! She'd approach him about this as she sat in a nearby chair, taking things rather heatedly, quietly... But seething internally, waiting for the proper chance to at least cause a scene, cause... something she could do to at least make Marcus aware that the Pack would know of this. Sandra smiled. To see that hard body all wet and hell, to have him all to herself not in the seclusion of a bedroom, sign her up." I'd love too," she said. "I have some time off that I can use. The week before is going to be pretty hectic, what with the holiday drawing near, so I'll be pretty busy. Probably won't be seeing much of me. I'll be either working or sleeping, but a nice relaxing vacation of sorts with you would be awesome." She reached across and took his hand in hers. "I'll let them know tomorrow that I'll be taking off." “You would? Perfect, then.” He grinned, leaning back. “If you think you’d need some relaxing then, I think we can enjoy it when it’s all over then, how about that?” He asked, his hand holding hers and giving a small squeeze. “Just let me know then, and I can make sure we’ll both be packed and ready for it.” the thought of seeing her in a swimsuit was tantalizing, but it wasn’t just because of that he invited her, he did want to get closer to her, and well... It was one way the pack wouldn’t know.“Though if you excuse me.” he spoke, rising. “I think I need to check and see if our drinks weren’t forgotten.” It had been a bit, and as he rose and moved for the bar, that was when Kara made her move, waiting until he was busy.“Nice looking guy, isn’t he? Pity... you know, he’s nothing but shit.” She spoke firmly, moving to take his seat, her tone firm. “I dated him before, let me guess... He’s trying the wine and dine shit on you? I’m surprised he didn’t see me in this bar.” She wanted to start out in full, no going subtle. She watches as Marcus gets up to go check on their drinks, flipping through the menu, that is, until a woman, a rather good-looking woman, one that could pull off being a fitness model, sits in his chair. A brow rises at the brunettes words and a smile tilts her lips, although it doesn't reach her eyes." Wow. Thank you so much for the info. I was really beginning to worry. It all seemed too good to be true, you know? Looking like that and being a nice guy. What would I have done if I had gotten serious about him? Thank you so much," she replied. But then the smile disappeared, and her brow drew over her eyes." Okay, look, I don't know who the fuck you are but here's what this sounds like. He dumped you, wants nothing to do with you, which I can see why since you are coming off pretty fucking crazy, and so now, while you are out and about, you see him, happily, with another woman and that irks you pretty bad." I don't know you and from the looks of it, I really don't fucking want to, so how about you get your ass out of his chair and leave us to our night, hmm?" What. The. Fuck? Sandra couldn't believe what was happening. This shit didn't happen in real life. She had read about it, seen it in movies, but seriously? What the fuck? (did almost seem like something out of a dramatic soap opera, but Kara was disgustingly persistent and vindictive, if nothing else. "You can joke about it all you want, but I'm trying to save you the time." he knew it wouldn't really work, but she had to do something here and now - and even a slim chance to ruin things when it involved a human made things all the more bearable. "And he's not what you really think he is..." That part was left a little more vaguely, though before much more could be said, Marcus came back, visible confusion in his eyes." Kara, what the fuck are you doing here?" The tone wasn't exactly angered, but confusion was mixed in with what looked to be recognition." Hey there, Mark." She spoke with feigned familiarity, beginning to walk off. "Have fun with your little fucking toy. That's all she is, right?" That's all humans were supposed to be to wars, toys. Nothing more. And then the woman was walking away. Sandra looked at Marcus, a brow raised in question. "Marcus, is that going to be a problem?" she asked. She liked him, but damn. They hadn't been seeing each other for that long and the thought of not seeing him again had sadness clenching her heart, but at the same time, was something like that usually worth it and for as much as she liked him and not to mention the mind-blowing sex they had, she just couldn't see something like that working. But then again, maybe she was reading too much into it. This was the first time that girl had come about. Who was to say that there would be another time? She looked at him expectantly though. She didn't know what to do right now... "That was..." He knew exactly who Kara was, but he tried to think. "She's not a girlfriend or ex or anything. At least not mine. She's something of a friends ex and since I'm his best friend I guess she's made it her mission to try and ruin anything I get into if she seems me. Can't say I've ever had to deal with her before.' He sighed and a bit against his cheek for a moment. "I wasn't expecting her to be here at all. I'd like to say that won't be a problem again. I'm sorry." He couldn't really tell her the truth so he is his best to put out a damn good like and a poker face to go with it. By then Kara was already leaving and going for her car, and calling others. Oh, yes there would be a meeting about this one way or the other and Kara was going to make damn sure that Marcus was going to get into hot water from the others for this. If nothing else, maybe she could deal with the woman later. But for now? She wanted to stew. She made a face but nodded. Furthermore, she'd like to think it was nothing since they were so new to their relationship, but she had a bad feeling. Something was going to happen and something in her wanted to strike out because of it. But the rest of the night went by nice enough between the two of them. As he took her home and walked her to her door, she leaned in close, the liquor having gone to her head a bit." Marcus, come inside, hmm?" she whispered huskily. She wanted to get naked, and she wanted his naked body against her own. Marcus could hardly stand it. What was another of his pack doing here? And so aggressively against what he was doing? He knew Kara, but seeing her like that. Well, he has drunk a little more. Not enough to completely lose himself, but he did want to calm himself. As he then took her back home, he looked to her, leaning in with a smile. “Yeah, of course... I don’t think I could say no even if I wanted to.” he smirked, stepping inside with a hand around her waist. She closed the door softly behind him before walking backwards with him to her bedroom. She kept her eyes on his with each step she took and when the backs of her legs hit the side of her bed, she began to left his shirt up his torso, her hand sliding along the rippling abs of his stomach. Furthermore, she helped him slip it over his head and when she dropped it to the floor, she gave him a sexy grin." Help me undress?" she asked heatedly.

An Alpha's Mate (wolventears & Changingsaint)|rating:4.0

Tiamat's gambit (Lordgriffin & Quinz128 )

Bahamas awakens on his personal “horde” the gems, and precious metals supporting his body’s weight and reflecting his body heat back to him comfortable which is why the dragons covet gold, silver, and precious stones. He can look out at his city from his Palace, a city where humans, griffins, centaurs, even phoenixes, have accepted Bahamas’s benevolent rule after the lance wars where Tiamat was defeated. Bahamas’s palace is the mountain itself. With the city built outside at its base, the streets carved gigantic for the great dragons to walk, with smaller streets on either side so the smaller races do not get inadvertently stepped on by a passing dragon. Bahamut’s human High priestess, Sonia has requested an audience with the great Dragon to introduce her son, on the occasion of his birthday and to get Bahamas’s “Blessing” in the form of three soft licks from the great reptiles forked tongue. Within Bahamas’s chambers, there are 2 pools of flowing water, one, icy cold and pure from the glacier above the other nicely hot from a hot artesian well from below. Like his personal room, the throne room, presently empty, has a floor made of solid marble with veins of diamond, emerald, ruby, silver, gold even platinum running through it. Large enough to hose all his advisors, each of the 12 slots having a couch for the dragon and a chair for between the dragon’s forelegs for the dragons' rider, or for the one-day rider he will have. Bahamas’s currently being vacant. The great doors open and admit Sonia, the priestess wears a platinum close-fitting gown with a plunging neckline, the gown made from the wing membrane of Bahamas himself, a gift. Her full warm breasts show her to be about a 26 “C” with wide hips and a svelte body, she had long flowing red hair that goes down behind her and trails on the floor by about 12 inches, her skin alabaster white. Beside her a young boy, just entering manhood, still slender his muscles just developing, his head comes up only to his mother's breasts as he stands beside her, but he is a striking youth. His skin is alabaster white, his hair shoulder-length and jet black, his lips a striking red, his eyes a bright green, and his own fingernails, are a light pale blue, the colors of each chromatic dragon, but they combine to make the youth handsome and unblemished. The two enter and both go to a knee head bowed before the massive dragon, awaiting his pleasure. The great dragon had many years pass throughout his lifetime, millennia that he had come since his creation and the creation of his rival and sister, Tiamat. Despite them sharing similar origins, they could be no more different. The female of many heads, proud, yet jealous and envious of him. Long ago he had abandoned the hopes of her redemption, especially so when she had created her spawn to cause terror amongst the lesser races of the world. He, in turn, had to craft his own creations to battle her, and it had gone through centuries of rivalry whilst the sons of man had developed and grown to become a greater asset. Bahamas had remembered the first of those that had pledged themselves to him as people within a priesthood, asking for his glory to battle the evils Tiamat had wrought, and how could he refuse? Though the first he allowed to be as his rider had also been his last as he never felt the need to permit such, as he thought only the most noble able to join him in the skies upon his back. And perhaps there would only be one? Not to mention, it had been a long time and many of those in the human priesthood that had passed on to be joined in his home plane as valorous spirits. This new generation had proven especially helpful, seeming to push back the very essence of Tiamat. He had not seen his sister in years, even her spawn seemed to have ceased their evils and it was concerning. She was always patient when she needed to be. Diabolically plotting and waiting for the time she perceived as perfect for her needs. He would just have to wait and see, distracted with these thoughts until the doors were opened by the honor guard that stood before the doors and waited to alert the great dragon-king-god of anything to occur. When the female entered, bringing along a smaller male, the dragon tried to recall this face amongst the thousands of others. It took but seconds to recall all those of import from various years that seemed to blend together as time went on. He recalled when she was a young creature. Delicate and barely able to make coherent sentences. But now, with son, able to speak his word and preach the desires of him to remain honest, valorous and stalwart in all cases and to never wane against the tyranny of the evils of the world. He did have a sense of pride that even those not of his creation would work so hard to appease him and fight a war that needn't be theirs. As they knelt, the dragon had a look of curiosity upon his face. Though he had seen the young male before, he had indeed come to his manhood. He seemed still small, but had a sense about him that he might actually make a fine warrior. He knew it was tradition, now, that they were to come to gain the blessings of their effective god. In admission, he could with the sway of his hand, yet it seemed rather unpopular. They expected something more elaborate, and he had delivered for the sake of ceremony. But he did have to speak with those first, and this one especially." Before I bestow upon you the blessing of mine, I wish for you to rise and speak for yourself, young one." The dragon spoke, having to, practically, whisper as he did not deem the need to shrink his size, as he could. Not to mention, he had to keep his presence as magnificent, though it would be such in a smaller size, it wouldn't be as imposing. Once the male stood, the mighty dragon spoke, keeping his head low as he did and in a quiet voice that still seemed quite loud to those smaller. "Not tell me, do you wish for this blessing? And why? What do you hope to gain by following my rule?" The young lad rides, his silken glossy black hair sweeping back over his shoulders, and Bahamas’s great forked tongue tastes the acrid exciting taste of terror, as all dragons, even the good chromatics, find exciting as an apex predator, and humans are, ultimately, a delicacy s a prey species. The lad stands his ground, the aura and scent given off by all dragons, normally send any “lesser species” fleeing at least until they adapt to the presence of the great saurian predators, benevolent or not. Still the young lad, whose body is only beginning to fill out, still has soft features of a female but not enticed with the beginnings of masculine features. The Lad steps forward between the great forepaws, the needle sharp onyx black talons arching from the toes onto the marble floor, and he looks up into the fang-filled muzzle, daring to offer a hand palm open should the dragon deign to press his platinum muzzle to the palm. The Scent of fear normally stimulates a dragon’s body to be ready for its prey to dine, and when the lad speaks his voice, while a higher pitch, is rich and distinct. “Of course I seek this blessing Sire, I love my mother greatly…” at the mention of his mother, the forked tongue detects another, sweeter scent…lust….for his mother?” “However I make my own decisions of what I shall seek. As to why I seek the blessing, It is pride, and the hope that I may be worthy of such…” The young lad bows his head “You ask what I hope to gain by following your rule, I seek only this, friendship… because there is nothing more that can be asked nor more that can be given…. My mother has always raised me to believe that all decisions that come from there on are based on trust, friendship and respect…. The scent that came from the man had made it obvious that he was frightful. It was to be expected, though he questioned if his mother prepared him appropriately for this meeting. Even a spell could have been done to mark the human as immune to the supernatural aura of his presence that should make a normal man flee. Even one that is large and hardened by adventure. Yet here this young man was, under no mythical protection, coming up so close to him. Though it was obvious the fear remained, it was muted, as if he was naturally attuned to the imposing figure and this seemed curious to the dragon, for even those decedents of the original order had to be steeled for a confrontation as this. With the great maw tilting downwards, the platinum dragon's eyes stared down at the male who offered his hand up, offering, though Bahamas did not deign to lower his head to accept such a showing. Not just yet. He wanted to hear the child's reasons and waited until he began his words. The positioning that this male was had a slight annoyance as the dragon would have preferred to fold his paws and lower his head to listen, but as the child was between him that was not possible. Though Bahamas's tongue did flicker at the curious scent. He let a low, guttural hum before speaking down, "She had brought you up well. Well poised, well-spoken and seeming to understand the honor and respect to be expected. It is with no hesitation I do bestow my blessing upon you." The dragon would then lower himself and allow his tongue out to give the priest-child the three traditional licks. The child, who has not yet given his name, lowers his hand when no press of the platinum muzzle is fourth coming. As the large saurian head lowers, the young man is awash in the breath of the dragon, warm and moist against him. His taste, as your forked tongue caresses him, is exciting, the salty coppery taste of prey but with a sweetness. The human never breaks his gaze with the vertical pupils of the dragon’s eyes, admiring the horns jutting from the back of the dragon’s skill, the membranous crest that sits between those horns As the third caress of the slippery tongue, as is expected a warm golden glow surrounds the human, the spell the marking that will tell other mythical that this one has been marked by the platinum one, weather as friend or foe, predator or prey, would be unknown, but marked. Once marked, having been given no leave to stay, advance or touch his liege he begins to bow and back away, genuflecting to one knee before the great beast expecting to be dismissed. The taste that washed over the dragon's tongue was new, unique... It was unlike anything he had tasted upon flicking his tongue upon others with this blessing ritual. It was also something curious. Something the dragon hadn't experienced before, which was a vast array of things. His breath took in, as he pulled away, Bahamas stared at the youth. His silence was foreboding as the male moved in a worshipful bow, the beast's eyes looking towards the youth's mother, the High Priestess of the order before he decided he must think more before anything." You have accepted and gained the blessing, young one. Before you depart, give your name so that I may remember your name, should your services be recognized in the future." The great platinum dragon said, letting his forepaws cross over one another, he's settling down in a more comfortable position. The boy, his clothing sticking to his lean well-muscled frame, but the now heavy coating of dragon saliva takes his step back, his mother smiling both in mirth and pride “My mother has named me Soren, as it is like saurian” he says gently. He looks up again into the muzzle, though his fear is present, but well controlled. Like most mythical, Bahamas can sense the boy’s virginity, and of course, virginity is powerful component to add to any spell, more so exploited by Tiamat but in times of need and consent can be used by any magic user. Feeling the dragon wishes the encounter to end, he backs toward his mother and the door, his mind racing with dreams ideas and thoughts. The great platinum creature watched as the young man departed with his mother, a brow furrowing in contemplation of the situation. What was that sensation that overcame him upon granting the usual blessing. Nothing before had caused the creature to stir in such a way. His mind was clouded at the time and an unfamiliar wafting crawled up him and seemed to even burrow through his tough scales. It was rather... uncomfortable, and he wished to know why it occurred. Thankfully, it was a patient creature, much like the evil counterpart he vowed to fight against. His sister was more conniving than even he had considered, though. The vile, multiheaded female of dragon kind would titter as a pool of water was rippling with magic that enabled it to be peered into as a window into the very chamber. Thanks to her own spies, creatures of man that had turned their reverence to the Lady of Dragons, rather than the Lord. A hissing occurred as she took delight in knowing with that intimate contact the corruption may set in. "Dear brother, you may have considered yourself safe within the realm of man, but you will soon realize how long you were. Centuries pass for this plan, my perfect raising of followers to pick the perfect one and find your most holy to be violated and bring forth an agent of mine who doesn't even know my voice." All the heads seemed to speak at once, despite there no one to hear her. "And now, you will be touched by the very taint you fought against, in due time." The gloating of the multiheaded female was unheard, though a chill seemed to cover the night in a foreboding way. The Dragon-God-King's rest was restless. A stalwart mind invaded by thoughts that focused on the boy. A strange fixation that had not occurred for years upon years of his rule. His sleep was interrupted by these thoughts, causing his head to lift and his gaze to go forwards, as if he was trying to peer through a solid wall as if it were meant to be a window. What was he to do? Was this a sensation that was to be interpreted as a sign? Was it something more? The great dragon would lift from his lying position, allowing bits of coins that stuck to his scales to fall off and back to a pile in which he lay. An order was barked to one of the stalwart guards the watched as he rested by the entrance to the alcove. "Find me the boy Soren. The recent initiate! I wish for him to be presented in front of me, immediately!" His eyes focused to show that this order was of some amount of urgency. The elite would have moved off, and gone in an attempt to retrieve the boy who was seen not even a day past. After departing, Soren gazes on his mother from behind, though unusually young, he felt the stirring in his loins as the skintight platinum wing membrane that made up his mother’s gown clung to her smooth hips and ass like a second skin. Her red hair swaying like the tail of a fine equine mare, and in his mine he innocently pictures his mother as a mare, him saddling her and placing a wet bit in her mouth, bridle over her face. He was aware of his origins, that she had been “raped” by one of Tiamat’s soldiers, though he was not sure what that meant, who could blame a male as she was quite beautiful. Once released, Soren continued to his chambers, he had taken to art work with different color chalks, and retrieved his sketch binder, neglecting to change from his clothes covered in the Saliva of the dragon God, he enjoys the feel of it against him. Sitting down he begins to draw. He draws whatever is in his mind’s eye… He has many drawings of Bahamas, and the advisors, and of unicorns, griffins, centaurs…but today. Tiamat in hers crying pool see’s he has chosen to draw her. He brown body drawn sleek, deadly, her paws supple with webbing between the toes, her wings magnificently stretched, and each head, raised proudly. It is shocking how accurate his drawing is of her, and at her feet... Draconians, corrupted metallic dragon young into her minions, her lackeys. When the guard enters, Soren quickly places his supplies away and rushes to the presence of the platinum Dragon, who may find that his love of the coin and jewels is growing…something he can covet. The young lad still has Bahamas’s scent upon him, and he comes before the dragon to genuflect, then prostrate himself on his belly before the Platinum paws groveling as he says “how may I serve you Sire?? The dragon's eyes shifted to his hoard while the guard found the boy, his heart growing more covetous as he pushed the loose bits back to the pile, where he would normally let them hang in a small pool around him, not caring if one or two of his small treasures were taken as a souvenir or as a way for actual payment, he had not minded. This time, though, he didn't want anything removed, and he was distracted with quickly counting the coins and gems, making sure nothing was missing, at this time. The sound of the heavy doors being open caused Bahamas to lift his eyes up, staring at the human as he moved forwards, bowing with his arms stretched out and his body low to the ground. A light sniff came from the great dragon-king-god who then spoke out, waving his hand, "Arise, Soren." The great being commanded, allowing his eye to lock to the boy's once he would have rose. "My mind had contemplated your role in this society, dear boy. And it ever comes back to you. You seem to be of sound mind and heart, and it brought more attention. I do believe you will spend more time with me, and continue on the path to emulated Lunar." At the mention of Lunar, the boy may have realized, from the stories, that Lunar was the first, and only, rider of Bahamas himself. A great, strong, burly warrior of a man who had strong convictions and who was a grand Templar, the one who had helped build this very order. Soren enters standing between the fore paws of the dragon and looks stunned. Bahamas’s forked tongue may taste the air and the sweet “taste” of pleasure floods from the young lad. Soren Moves from kneeling onto his stomach to prostrate himself before the great reptile.“Sire… I am honored, I…do not think myself worthy… I…” the boy is completely stunned “I am of course…at your service sire. Though... I admit I am not sure what…you would like from me, how may I better serve you?’ he says sincerely. Soren’s lithe body lays before the dragon, he craves to go up to ouch him, to cress him, but he dare not without being given leave. There is a feeling of security about the lad, this is ONE person who will NOT take the dragon’s horde. "Of course! We need to make sure you are dressed for the part, then. We will need to adorn you in some proper armor, make sure you gain the crest to show you are mine." He lifted his head, forefeet folding over one another as he stared down at Soren. "Tell me, what kind of armor do you wish fashioned? Plates? Splint? Chain? Or simple leather? We must make sure my soon-to-be rider is appropriately representing me." He's slowly offering a grin as his nostrils flared to take in the scent of the thin boy before him. Soren is still stunned at this sudden turn of events. He stands before the great folded paws and chooses to answer the God dragon’s question before posing his own.“Sire…” he swallows hard, the boys scent only intensifying as he stares up into the grinning fang filled muzzle. Bahamas may be a good benevolent dragon God, but he is still a carnivore predator. “I...have a sketch…. I like to draw you see, I have always thought…YOUR rider…should…look as you do. And for protection and lightness….well Sire” he blushes “Would it be possible… I mean…” he struggles with how to say this before blurting out “Nothing is stronger than DRAGON hide armor, and, Sire no hide is stronger than your own, if…is a small amount of your wing membrane...could somehow be donated… I mean you could heal the small amount in an INSTANT, but then…that…could be used to fashion a 1 piece flexible light Platinum armor, that would fit M….um a rider...like a glove. In truth in his sketches the armor would fit so closely as to border on obscene “with some enchantment the Armor could even be made to have…er...openings so it need not be removed for…body function. “The fingers and toes might even have.well.talons? The boy got this idea from Tiamat’s knights though these were fashioned out of dyed animal leather not the real thing. He then looks up “Um Sire… I…had no idea you chose your last rider so…quickly and on a first meeting… May I know how…and why…you think me so worthy? The Dragon-God would have kept his eyes low, watching the boy as he spoke of the ideas he had. It seemed as if he had planned something. And it seemed like a fair idea. Bahamas craned his head upwards, staring down upon Soren. "You figured a good idea for my rider, you say... Perhaps you should go ahead and grab these sketches, and we can see if I can make it appropriately." His foresaw lifted, waving it dismissively, trying to seem nonchalant, though the idea of it being flexible and tight upon the boy to be his rider, with 'easy access'. A low growl would have come in an intriguing fashion as he allowed the boy to run off for the item, however, Soren seemed to pause a moment, just to speak something else. To question. The Dragon-God hummed, staring at the boy before saying, "I will answer all those questions when you come back to show me your armor sketch." Soren bows and hurries to comply with the deities’ order and soon returns with many pages of parchment, some in colored chalks others in oil pigments, there are drawings of every type of dragon known, and that includes the images of Tiamat in his dream and of Bahamas. For the rider there is a person standing covered from toe to neck in 1 piece platinum that seals at the neck, a Dragon helm under his arm. The fingers and toes have onyx black needle sharp “talons” and the membrane is so tight you can see the individual toes, and it clings inward against the cleft of his tailless rump. The help covered the groin, but every muscle can be seen through the thin membrane that stretches at the neck and seems to have no other opening except when enchanted. When the sketches were placed before him, Soren would notice the dragon had seemed to shrink in size, rather than staying the massive platinum form. He would let his finger down and shuffle through the various images, keeping his eyes, which matched his scales in color, upon the parchments. He then lifted his head, speaking out, "These seem possible. A bit of time. And some more work to keep them practical and functional. It will be done." The dragon's head lifted, staring to the boy before letting a foresaw out, "You did have questions, though. Allow me to hear them. And answer." Soren Reiterates the only Question he has had so farm Sire… I…had no idea you chose your last rider so…quickly and on a first meeting… May I know how…and why…you think me so worthy?he stands respectfully amazed at the dragon's "magic' and seeing him shrink down The dragon continued looking at the sketches. The imagination bounding from various things he could modify to help show off this human assets. His mind blurred, though, trying to fight off these odd influences. For once, Bahamut felt as if he was unsure why something was happening. His mind clouded with deities at the human before him. A human male, no less. And it made things all the stranger, since he was considered above such carnal things and had not touched anyone for many years, even his creation shows more of his purity and nobility. The great platinum god-king;'s eyes rose, hearing the boy ask of his first and only rider. "He was a great man... And I admit, I hadn't chosen him quickly. It was a kinship, my boy." The dragon's neck craned, his large eye looking to the lithe one before him. "And for you..." He started, and considered things. Why was he choosing this boy? Why did he think he was so worthy? The dragon was stumped. He had no logical reason why he would. He just... "I felt some greatness in you. Something that stirred me closer. I think you could be an apt pairing for me, Soren." Bahamas let all that out, attempting to sound majestic and as if he truly did know why. Which was easy for him, he was used to speeches and rousing others. But this was new, deceit. He took a deep breath, moving his smaller, but still large, head to the boy's breast, "Why? Are you doubting yourself?" Soren Listens to the deep diatonic voice quietly, respectfully, as you look through the sketches, it almost seems as if Soren himself was thinking of Lewd, some designs showing an actual sheath for his genitals, and hey this is magic, so it could cling to him so tightly as to show the actual pucker of his anus from behind. All this of Bahamas’s WING membrane pressed snugly against the boy’s young body. After Bahamas has spoken, the boy is surprised to feel the large head against his breast, and instinctively reaches out to stroke and caress Bahamas’s horn, his muzzle, his sinuous neck. The boy’s hand feels like warm buttery supple silk against the dragon hide, Human skin is like that to a dragon, his scent is very warm…pleased at the words of praise, and the lad’s breast and nipple rests right beside Bahamas’s smooth Draconian lips, almost like a female’s breast to suckle from. The lad caresses Bahamas’s eye ridges and nods “I do not doubt Sire… I am just...surprised overwhelmed. You work very hard, and you should be entitled to some enjoyment, someone to see to YOUR desires for a chance” his breaking and heartbeat very warm to the dragon, his scent.pleasant, The words of the human male had seemed to ring a bit true, for some odd reason. The dragon God-King had worked very had to oversee others. To prevent influence and corruption from the evils of the world affected by the chromatic dragons of his sister. And yet, many times he acted selflessly. He allowed others to come before him. He had the hoard to settle upon, sure. The servants upon request, but that wasn't really a selfish thing. A ruler needs to tools to rule, even if they are benevolent. And he even did give away his coins as needed for the betterment of the society he had. Why were these things coming to his mind, now? It couldn't be the boy. He was young, innocent. A devotee to his cause. Not to mention, he doubted a human could sway the actual mind of a dragon as himself. His arrogance and lack of caution may cause him to go down the further path as he stared at Soren, imagining what of these clothes might work best for him. Made from his own scale and sinew. "And what kind of enjoyment do you suppose I should be entitled to?" Bahamas decided to question, his head reeled up, eye staring down upon the boy with interest. Soren seems surprised at the question, even...cautious, The ancient dragon is asking him? Is it a test? Or is this simply a lonely ruler that is seeing someone he can converse with. The boy considers “My mother, your High priestess, always told me…that… Leading is a difficult thing. And you lead EVERYONE. I am told it can be very pleasurable for a leader to Surrender power...to let others make decisions…. At least for a while. She has also said…white lies are something we all can live with. So using your magic, or your position to obtain physical pleasure…or let's face it you determine when a beings' death is due…and you’re a predator dragon...what is wrong with…hunting some of your subjects whose time is fated anyway...instead of an arrow or a sword, why not your fang or claw? The Soul will go on anyway will it not? And I am sure there are males or females who would né one the worse for wear if they physically pleased you and had their memories…so that they do not even remember it… Would that be so bad?” he asks innocently. While Soren talked, he seemed to have the full attention of the shrunken dragon-god. His forepaws were crossed, he was laying down on his belly with head settled up, watching down at the boy. And for some reason these words were compelling. He did do much leading, he was locked away from his followers except for the most loyal and the occasional one asking for some kind of blessing. He sat within this room most of his days, delegating with his guards and counsel. When was the last time h just gave time to leave and soar out for the sake of enjoyment? Bahamut would hum, giving a low guttural growl as he stared to the boy. "I could not hunt my own subjects. I must keep my morality, else they may fall apart." He stared the boy before saying, "But if some wish for... assistance... I could do such." He would then think, lowering his head, "HRM... Is there anything I could assistyouwith, my subject?" Soren regards the Platinum dragon, feeling very MUCH the fish out of water, as the dragon God grills him putting him on the spot with question after question. Becoming nervous unsure, having never had a God asking him for advice one after another with seeming no end he trembles some. “Sire, just being able to be with you is all I could ever want or need… I am a little…overwhelmed. He continues to caress the smooth scales and muzzle of the dragon He is after all…but a young man unknowing of the world. He looks around Bahamas's Quarters awkwardly. And can but offer a smile. Despite the dragon opening up something for the boy to grab, he didn't take the bait. Perhaps the little human was much more intimidated than the creature originally though. He would let out a guttural growl before saying, "Well, there is no reason to be, at this point..." He's moving to stand, beginning to circle the boy. "Or perhaps... there is. I forget, at times, that there are those that haven't lived and experienced my life. An issue, I am sure, which could be seen as judgmental, arrogant, but I do my rulings as well as I can." While Bahamas moved, circling around his proposed rider and devout follower, the God-King had his eyes looking all over the man's form. He was lithe. Fit, but flexible, and he started to wonder how flexible the boy was... And how he fully looked. "Disrobe." The dragon said, finally, in a nonchalant fashion, and if questioned, the creature would easily reply in a quick, preplanned phrase, "I can see the dimensions. It is to know how you will be fitted with this armor that you have shown me as ideas. I am sure you rather get it completed as soon as possible?" Soren considers the large Saurian’s direction and begins disrobing; he is, of course, alone in here, and he has heard of the larger “Mythical’ confusion with the human proclivity for clothing. After all, it would take thousands of meters of cloth to cover Bahamas, and it would not respond to his magic when he moved or changed size without extra spells, and most mythical had fur or feathers that clothing would compress not or muss. Soren removes his tunic; his body has not yet hit the maturity to build the muscle, so his form is more, feminine for the moment. His skin is smooth, like a dragon’s and unblemished as he releases his breeches and boots, it is pale white like a white dragons, though the lack of a tail draws the eye to an unobstructed view of his rather muscled, for a dragon, rump. On his front, he has the young nipples of a mammal, were he female they give the milk that tastes so good to the dragon. Soren is well-endowed for his age, with slender legs, his longhair cascading down his back, his hands and feet are those of a herbivore, no claws, but he stands boldly before the dragon rather pleased to stand like a dragon even if on 2 legs, he blushes a little...perhaps humans have a slight chameleon property as he looks a bit more like a red dragon now. Of course Anything on the lad is open for Bahamas’s closer inspection. The dragon couldn't help but watch on at the human disrobing. The articles of clothing falling upon the marble floor. While watching, he rather wished the human did so better, to evoke more emotions from his breast, but he just shook his head and then said, "Good... Now... Let me see..." He's shifting around the human, circling Soren and sniffing at him from all angles. His mind calculated the measurements as he figured he would, but also was clouded with something else. A guttural growl came from the dragon-king as his head shifted upwards, staring at the boy before him. "How does it feel, Soren? To stand before me like this? Is it embarrassment? I can see the red forming along you, despite your posture which shows your pride. What did you expect? Or did you expect anything?" Bahamas was teasing the boy, now, a bit, feeling himself growing accustomed to the sight and thinking on what he could do with this future rider. Soren stands, his smooth skin is unblemished, as the dragon walks around him, he can see the firm tight touch of the muscles. Where Soren’s legs meet his rump, from in front Soren is not currently aroused, however his scrotum nestles nicely between his thighs, his uncircumcised length is small by diatonic standards, but the lack of circumcision gives him the appearance of a sheath like a dragon. His nipples are warmly brown and his chest and groin devoid of any fur, again dragon like. His scent is also warm, slightly masculine, but it has a very strong arousing affect, especially as his clothing had previously masked his scent. Unless magic keeps him from developing the lad will be a very fine well-muscled specimen of a human. When Bahamas speak and asks his question, Soren hesitates only a moment “I do not actually feel embarrassed, and I mean no disrespect when I say I have been naked before a horse when swimming, I do not suppose I thought much of it if it is not my species. I was blushing because…well I have never been looked over before like a Prime race horse. It’s rather flattering. I want to learn all I can. So do I pass inspection? "Hmm, Notice you keep yourself... well groomed." The dragon said idly, letting himself settle before the human. He sat down, staring at the boy, who could see that Bahamas had shrunken down a bit more, about the size of a man, at the time. He took a light sniff before saying, "Comparing your Leader to a horse does seem a bit disrespectful." in admission. There was a long pause, however, when the male asked if he had passed the inspection and various things popped into the dragon's mind of what to say. Eventually it came out to be, "Well, that is still ongoing..." A low growl came from the chest of the creature, his eyes changing to one of lustful desire as he felt himself getting oddly aroused in the presence of this human, "Turn around for me, Soren..." Soren listens to his hero with “stars in his eyes” as the dragon walks around him, the lad seems far more interested in the lithe and beautiful form of the dragon. Show the muscles of his flanks move under the platinum hide, the ‘webbing” between the dragon’s taloned toes, the long forked tongue, even the saurian scent the dragon gave off. When Bahamas mentions “grooming” Soren is aware that the “mythical” view humans as much as another animals as humans tended to do with others not of THEIR species.”I used to groom Horses Sire, in fact Mother and I own a thoroughbred farm to raise and breed horses and in our spare time, we tank Leather and make leather harnesses and clothing. I Groom horses” he blushes a bit again “And I admit, as much as I have seen other dragon riders massaging oils into dragon hide and coping talons. I know the dragon groom their riders as well,” he thinks of the forked tongue and how the dragons lick themselves to spread their own oils, the slippery muscle used on their riders as well. Soren smiles as he turns around as commanded, showing an unobstructed view of his smooth back, the firm tailless cleft of his ass, his talonless feet pressing gently against the marble floor as they take the boys weight. “I think you know there was no disrespect, you are like a beast in many ways just as I am like a prey animal in many ways.” What may pop into Bahamas’s mind is this make has many FEMALE characteristics for some strange reason. While Soren, unknowingly continues to assist Tiamat’s spells upon her thrice-cursed brother. When mentions of horses came up, the dragon gave an odd look to the boy. After all, he was commenting of how he was trimmed, hairless, clean of form. Not that he considered the boy an animal. He considered himself well-groomed after all. Clean scales, shiny and without any shedding or chipping present. Handsome, if no other word would do, perhaps. The dragon-king did allow the human to babble, on, though, half listening and more investigating the human's form more carefully. And something stirred in him. The naked form, the scent, the aloofness of the situation he was in. For something this was causing a rise in the dragon. A low grow came as he spoke, "So, how many ways are you a prey?" Bahamas let out, moving to push the human down onto his belly with two forepaws. The dragon had decided to pin the boy down, his form covering the boy, and grinning wide as he allowed a moment to see what Soren would do in this kind of situation. Sure, at this point, Bahamas was small, but he was still a powerful dragon, if not THE powerful dragon. When Bahamas moves up from behind Soren is unaware, after all he is a dragon a predator who can stalk prey. When Bahamas rears to put his taloned fore paws on the lad shoulders, Soren feels the cool gritty pads on the bottom of his Idol’s paws while Bahamas feels that almost impossible silken skin, which could so easily be sliced by his talons. Soren’s skin is warm and in addition to the feeling of liquid silk, it was so delightfully warm. When Soren feels the paws he is no match for a dragon and is pressed forward easily pinned, weather he thinks this is “playful” like a large dog jumping him from behind he delights the feel of the dragon over him, actually being TOUCHED by a dragon. Dozen has never had an arousal reaction before, but the situation, Bahamas’s scent, overwhelms him and the naked male becomes erect, yet he does something unexpected, thrusting his smooth unblemished ass upwards as a dragons presenting to a dominant mate, his neck arches as if presenting into be grasped in the maw of the male. Soren groans waiting. It is unclear if he learned this from his mother, from watching beasts in the field…or it is insect, but he rubs his cheek against the dominant paw as he is walled on by Bahamas as if he were dirt. The pinning of the boy beneath his powerful body had caused more to stir within the dragon. As Soren had become erect from the touch of the dragon and the pinning of him to the ground, Bahamas, himself, was getting aroused from the human beneath him. For some unknown reason, his mind continued to thrust the thoughts into his mind. Just to take this small man and rut him without consequence. After all, he could. He was strong, willful, no one could match him! And the scent that came forth from the young man's own arousal was hitting the dragon harder. His nostrils cleared, his eyes focused down and breath heaved as his own diatonic dick grew outward and stiffening for an expected mating. Something in the back of Bahamas's mind came, though, asking what he was doing, questioning it, too. His eyes darted around as he tried to decide his action. The human was small, even in his smaller dragon form. He could injure him greatly without any preparation. Maybe even kill him. And that would be no good. He wanted Soren alive, even if he was debating, literally, fucking the boy to death with how aroused he was. The great dragon panted heavily, feeling the human's cheek against his leg and his rear lifting, rubbing at the dragon's crotch. This just egged the creature on, causing him to growl out deeper, chest rumbling before he's lifting his right foresaw. He decided he would dow that he could, modify a spell a bit so he wouldn't be ruining the poor little human's body by allowing his cock to become sickened from a spell meant to slip up foes, but this small modification should help in this more... carnal behavior. After the moment for the spell to apply, Soren would then feel the head of the dragon's great cock pressing against his ass, pressing to penetrate the human's hole. Soren seems a little confused as he feels the smooth belly of the Great Warm slide along his smooth back, the forepaws planted to either side of him as the dragon traps the human in a prison of four legs. Soren feels Bahamas’s flanks squat and feels the pressure of the slender length against his opening, the lad’s arm curling around Bahamas’s right foreleg to hold on. Not knowing what to expect, when the powerful Platinum dragon’s great muscles flex, the tip stretches the young virgin opening. Bahamas feels the intensely powerful magical component of taking another’s virginity, the rush of potential power almost as pleasant as a climax. Normally a Human knight tries to sheath his sword into a dragon, but this time Bahamas begins sheathing HIS sword, within the human. Soren’s head comes up in surprise, the silken mane of hair warm against the area between Bahamas’s forepaws as he is stretched, and he grunts with surprise. Despite being taboo, Bahamas feels the warm body stretched around his exposed member, warm and snug as Soren’s muscles, unused to the intrusion, snug warmly and pleasantly around the dragons shaft. The Carnal feel of invading this unclean area adding to the satisfaction of the Dominant male. Soren really must have studies dragons as slowly, holding his breath, he forces his head down toward Bahamas’s actual unwashed paws, exposing his neck for the “male” to grasp the “female’ in his jaws behind her neck to fully control her. On some level, Bahamas may realize that this is against his every law, however the pleasure by far outweighs, and potential risk as Soren allows himself to be dominated as a female…. Bahamut able to slip his entire shaft within until his inner flanks straddle the helpless young rider. Soren softly croons like a female dragon. A low growl had come from the dragon as he felt himself pushing into the tight, virginal human. The great God-King had felt a rush of pleasure into his brain as his large, diatonic tool pushed deeper into the young male, until he felt he could go no more. Heavy breath came, hot and lustful, dropping upon the back of Soren's neck. The feeling was amazing! How was it that he had ignored this for so long? When was even the last time he had satiated his lust? When was the last time he evenhadlust? Why was this happening? These thoughts flooded through the mind of the great dragon, before he pulled back from the human's hole. As Bahamas pulled back, his eyes wandered down, noticing the human exposing his neck in a submissive way. His mind not on the laws or the morality, at this point. He was thinking thewhysand thehowsperhaps, but the lustful feeling was soon overtaking his being. The expose neck, showing the dragon that this human wanted him to take the smaller one. A strong thrust came as Bahamas buried his dick in deeply, a deafening roar came, soon followed by a sharp biting along the intersection of shoulder and neck by sharp teeth. They were carefully placed, in ways that would not damage important arteries, but the dragon was lusting after Soren as he would a female dragon and the caution was, mostly, lost as soon as he buried his shaft until the dragon's pelvis was pressing right up against the human's skin. The bite was harsh, but calculated. A tingling pleasure of the nerves mixed with the pain of punctured flesh as some blood encircled the fangs that went into them. Without another warning, the dragon's hips pulled back, only to be thrust forward, causing the initial withdrawal of his cock to be returned as a counterattack of a pursued army. The slapping of scales to flesh and the squish of the magically lubricated tool rang along the room in a hot second, only to be returned with another of the same sound a second later. The dragon's breathing was through his nose, hot, almost fiery air expelled through his nostrils and blowing at the human's neck and chin from the position of Bahamas's head to allow the bite of the shoulder. Quote from: Quinz128 on 19-04-2015, 03:23:03A low growl had come from the dragon as he felt himself pushing into the tight, virginal human. The great God-King had felt a rush of pleasure into his brain as his large, diatonic tool pushed deeper into the young male, until he felt he could go no more. Heavy breath came, hot and lustful, dropping upon the back of Soren's neck. The feeling was amazing! How was it that he had ignored this for so long? When was even the last time he had satiated his lust? When was the last time he even had lust? Why was this happening? These thoughts flooded through the mind of the great dragon, before he pulled back from the human's hole. As Bahamas pulled back, his eyes wandered down, noticing the human exposing his neck in a submissive way. His mind not on the laws or the morality, at this point. He was thinking the why's and the how's perhaps, but the lustful feeling was soon overtaking his being. The expose neck, showing the dragon that this human wanted him to take the smaller one. A strong thrust came as Bahamas buried his dick in deeply, a deafening roar came, soon followed by a sharp biting along the intersection of shoulder and neck by sharp teeth. They were carefully placed, in ways that would not damage important arteries, but the dragon was lusting after Soren as he would a female dragon and the caution was, mostly, lost as soon as he buried his shaft until the dragon's pelvis was pressing right up against the human's skin. The bite was harsh, but calculated. A tingling pleasure of the nerves mixed with the pain of punctured flesh as some blood encircled the fangs that went into them. Without another warning, the dragon's hips pulled back, only to be thrust forward, causing the initial withdrawal of his cock to be returned as a counterattack of a pursued army. The slapping of scales to flesh and the squish of the magically lubricated tool rang along the room in a hot second, only to be returned with another of the same sound a second later. The dragon's breathing was through his nose, hot, almost fiery air expelled through his nostrils and blowing at the human's neck and chin from the position of Bahamas's head to allow the bite of the shoulder. Soren gasps at the feeling of the diatonic organ stretching him, and crooning softly as he had heard deaconesses do during the mating season. His tight opening squeezes and clenches around Bahamas's shaft as the dragon pulled back relaxing to allow the organ to thrust back in. he whimpers slightly grunting as he whispered "S.sire.your.quite.thick' as the lad's opening also defiles the diatonic god's cock, the seed that would normally breed more GOOD dragons. Bahamut tastes the sweet coppery human blood, as the human can only hold in place his own shaft erect beneath him.his feet touching Bahamas's tail as for all he knows this is perfectly normal between a dragon and rider. The blood was lapped from its place by the great platinum's tongue. His thrust coming quick and hard, stretching the man quickly to accommodate him or else suffer from his thick member. Bahamas's mind was practically feral from the scent of sex, blood and sweat that the human was producing. Soren could feel the constant pressure ban given and relieved as Bahamas's cock pounded into him with minor restraint. And after what seemed like hours of rough thrusts, the dragon bit a bit harder upon Soren's shoulder, thrusting deeply into his ass before growling a deep reverberating one that shook the human to his core. Within a moment of that growl, Soren would be able to feel a new warmth pushing out into his bowels as the great dragon's cock twitched and flexed only to spurt out the pent-up batch of his seed. The first shot could very well have been enough to FLL the young man due to the long duration of having released. The cream thick and white and full and virile. Were this boy a female he would have, no doubt, gotten pregnant from the initial orgasm. Another shot of his diatonic seed came, though, but perhaps too much. The cum was o filling, at this point it may have struggled to push past the obstructing cock and lean out from around it. Soren, perhaps like a "good girl" takes the pulses from the dragon, or perhaps unaware of what is happening, the sudden change in feeling triggering Soren's own...first climax, causing the lad to pulse his own white seed on the ground beneath him, which the dragon may realize is where human seed belongs, on the ground. After all it is Dragons, not humans who are the most advanced.However, there is a feeling of satisfaction, the human knows his place and Soren tenses even as his body begins to absorb the dragon seed. Soren's body is stretched taught over the diatonic sword, and he does not complain, trembling his muscle ripple long the diatonic length extending his pleasure. The Sacrifice of the lads' virginity powerfully stimulating any magical spells present. The great God-King's breath was heavy, coming mainly from his nose. His nostrils even flaring with steam seeming to come from the depths of his chest. Slowly, with a growl, Bahamas would have pulled back, withdrawing his still-hard cock from the confines of Soren's bowels. When the dragon managed to pry his cock from the recently designed ass, a wet pop was made and a sigh came from the marge creature. At his point, realization came over Bahamas before he lowered his head, taking a few breaths as his mind collected what just happened. A low growl came from the dragon before he considered what to say. What would he do? The feeling was grand, the boy was attractive in a curious way, but this did seem ill-suited as a part of who he was. Bahamas would take a deep breath, holding it in before, practically, demanding, "Stand before me, Soren." Soren blinks, he is a little weak, his limbs shaking from holding the weight of the saurian on his back while Bahamas had thrust away. Shaka and unsure if he "did anything wrong" Soren moves to stand once again before the Dragon, who is currently the size of a large pony. Soren himself still bears his own arousal, his hard, sheathless cock standing erect, his young scrotum exposed and open, slightly sweaty, and he walks a bit...funny, almost on his tippy-toes "Yes Master?' he asks head bowed "would you like me to lick your paws clean?

Tiamat's gambit (Lordgriffin & Quinz128 )|rating:2.0

ღ Ðσ чσu яεαℓℓч ℓσvε мε_ ღ [o p e n] full

ღ Ðσ you яεαℓℓч ℓσvε мε? ღ ┠ яεмαкε ┨[right] what a better time to be your self... or not. You see here at Genesis High in Hollywood, there are 3 major different cliques that kids are put into at the beginning of their high school career. The Popular, Norms, and the Rejects. Now in each of the groups there are at least several different titles, suck as; Queen bee, or the Skater kid, of the Wannabe, and so on. The groups normal do not interact; though the kids form the Norm group seem to get along with the Popular and the Rejects. However, the Rejects and the Popular are sworn enemies, they never mix, talk or look at the other group. Now this is what is happening at the school, but I wonder if all the kids will follow these rules set in each group. Yeah, each group has a different set of rules. Almost everyone follows those rules, but there might be one or two kids that don’t. Will love blossom in between different groups or will the rules stay and never be broken? Your in control, you write the story. | into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | Profiles + IOC | яυℓεs- Obey the TOS Rules - This is a semi-lit RP, so at least one hefty paragraph, no text talk. At least 10 sentences is a paragraph to me, but from time to time we go get blocks, so I understand. - Romance is allowed, no covering! Keep it PG-13 or take it to the PM's. - No God-moving. I am god in here, not you. If I catch you, you will be blacklisted and taken out of the role-play. - If you are going to be gone for a while, please let us know. It's not fun if you have to wait around for one person to post. - Cursing is allowed, keep it at a minimum. Don't do it every other word. - Fighting is allowed but no killing, unless you have the person consent, and you tell me first. But I would rather that there was no kill. - No anime pictures, please keep them real. - PM your reserve to me for acceptance before posting. Title the pm: DRUM - Pm me the profile second titling it YesIReallyLoveYou. - More may be put up soon. | into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | Cσ∂εsReserve Codes: [do not alter] PHP Code: Popular/Norm/Reject Name:Age:3 character traits:High school clique name: [i.e. the skater, the king, the queen bee, the bookworm, and so on][IMG] 100x100 IMG of your character, real please [IMG]2 colors: Profile Codes: [do not alter and do not fill this out until I accept your reserve] PHP Code: [right]IMG URL (re-size to 300X600 if stamp;#8217;s bigger)[/right][SIZE="5"][CENTER][color=YourOwnColor]Full Name[/color][/CENTER][/SIZE][COLOR="Gray"][SIZE="1"][SIZE="3"]School Application:[/SIZE]Nick names: ___[color=YourOwnColor]nickname[/color]___Date of Birth: ___[color=YourOwnColor]mm/dd/19yy[/color]___Age: ___[color=YourOwnColor]age (16-19)[/color]___Grade: ___[color=YourOwnColor]Junior or Senior[/color]___Clique: ___[color=YourOwnColor]Popular/Norms/Rejects[/color]___Clique name: ___[color=YourOwnColor]what they would call you...i.e. the Skater, the Price, the King, the Queen, and so on[/color]___Crush: ___[color=YourOwnColor]who you're crushing on[/color]___Appearance: ___[color=YourOwnColor]extra things, tattoos, piercings, so on[/color]___Personal:Persona: ___[color=YourOwnColor]personality (at least 3 sentences)[/color]___Likes: ___[color=YourOwnColor]like #1[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]like #2[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]like #3[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]like #4[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]like #5 (add more if you wish)[/color]___Dislikes: ___[color=YourOwnColor]dislike #1[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]dislike #2[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]dislike #3[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]dislike #4[/color]______[color=YourOwnColor]dislike #5 (add more if you wish)[/color]___Biography: ____[color=YourOwnColor]bio (at least one paragraph)[/color]___Schedule:0 period: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___1st period: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___2nd period: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___3rd period: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___4th period: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___5th period: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___6th period: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___After school: ____[color=YourOwnColor]choose[/color]___[RIGHT]___[color=YouOwnColor][SIZE="2"]username[/SIZE][/color___ :Username[/color][/RIGHT][color=YouOwnColor][/color][/SIZE][color=YouOwnColor][/COLOR] | into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | cнαяαcтεя shows Popular: boys: 0 open - girls: 0 open [left]» Khloé Kokomo Kaaba» 17» | Energetic | Sarcastic | Bubbly |» The Dancer» Quarter_Queen [left]» Caden Research» 18» Passive, Genuine, Athletic» The Celebrity Kid» Snow Prince [left]» Sarah Noel Rocha» 17» Logical + Indecisive + Kind» The Social Butterfly» Cows Go Moo [left]» Aaron White» 18» More or less nice, sneaky, deceptive» The Sneak» Abomination. Norms: boys: 0 open - girls: 0 open [left]» Alex Daniel Jacobson» 18» Gentle + Artistic + Protector» The Photographer» Cotton Candy Raccoon [left]» Remington Lauren Franc hot» XVII» Spunky ♡ Sporty ♡ Bitchy» The Class President» Waving [left]» Rhys [sounds like Reese] Griffin» 18» Sweet, funny, charming» The Sweetheart» Abomination. [Left]» Scarlett Andrews» 18» Curious, funny, and imaginative» The Painter» taken [left]» James Indigo Warren» 19» Genuine, quirky, friendly» The Indie Guy» Early Bird Special [left]» Rosemary Lucy Crowe» 17» Cynical, artsy, intelligent. » The Definition of Hip» Early Bird Special Rejects: boys: 0 open - girls: 0 open [left]» Sienna Sky Rose» 16» Fun-loving + Childish + Protective» Miss Innocent Raver» Cotton Candy Raccoon [left]» Sebastian AOI Vanguard» 17» brilliant + nerdy + talented» The emo Musician» Waving [left]» Kennedy Tomlinson» 17» Happy-go-Lucky ~ Awkward ~ Random» The Scene Queen» lightning_Sarah [left]» Mark Gallivant» 18» quiet, funny, sweet» The Loner» Foxglove| into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | classes[you create your schedules from this] 0 Period: PE Period 1: Art, Science, English, Math, History Period 2: Science, English, Math, History, PE, Photo Period 3: English, Math, Science, History, PE, Art, Band Period 4: English, Math, Science, History, PE, Art, Language [any], Photo, Band Lunch Period 5: English, Math, Science, History, Video, Languages [any], PE, Band Period 6: English, Math, Science, History, Photo, Art, PE, Band After School: Sports After school sports: Monday: Football, Soccer, Swim, Track, Basketball Tuesday: Track, Cross Country, Basketballs, Tennis, Baseball, Swim, Volleyball Wednesday: Football, Tennis, Baseball, Track, Cross Country Thursday: Football, Tennis, Baseball, Track, Basketball, Swim, Volleyball Friday: Football, Track, Soccer, Swim, Basketball, Cross Country, VolleyballтεαcнεяsArt: Mr. Quisling Band: Mr. Baker English: Mr. McAllister. French: Ms. Granger History I: Mr. Freeman History II: Mrs. Albertson Italian: Ms. Rossi Math: Mr. Calloway PE: Coach Gibson, Handel, and Coach Munoz Photo: Mr. Dale Science: Mr. Fielder Spanish: Señora Garcia Video: Mrs. Gill Basketball: Coach Munoz Baseball: Coach Short Cross Country: Mrs. Freeman Football: Coach Gibson Soccer: Coach Munoz and Handel Swim: Ms. Rossi Tennis: Mr. and Mrs. Ga lager Track: Coach Thomas Volleyball: Ms. Holland| into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | ρнσтεs- The school: X - The schools huge and very old tree where the Rejects are most likely to be: x - The quad where you can always find the Popular: x - The Library: x + x - The classrooms: x + x - The gym: x - The pool: x - The field: x - The lunchroom: x + x - The art room: x - The science lab: x - The computer lab: x - The band room: x - The park: x + x + x + x - The dinner kids meet at: x - The mall: x + x| into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | αηησuηcεмεηтs► OPEN for IOC talk [2/5/2011] ► RP is open [2/5/2011]| into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | εxтяα| into | rule | codes | characters | classes/teachers | photos | announcements | reserved | open | * so you won't forget * The city is Hollywood The month is September The school is just opening for the new school year The weather is pretty fair summer weather, some clouds → σ ↔ ρ ↔ ε ↔ η ← ____Sienna Sky Rose____ Sienna woke up slowly, her body was tired and pretty much still numb and fast asleep. She knew however that she had to head off to school. Today was her first of her junior year after all. She sighed softly, the sun wasn't even up yet. Closing her eyes she ran her fingers in her blue, purple, pink, and white hair. Opening her eyes she got up and soon stood up beside her head. Walking into her bathroom she looked at the counter. Everything she needed was out on the counter. She looked ta her hair, the newly white parts of her hair were ready to be dyed different colors. She was now last year for her pink, blue, and purple hair. Furthermore, she decided that it was time to go full out rainbow. Looking at the dye bottles she smirked and soon pulled her hair back and sectioned it. Fixing her hair the way she needed it to be, she soon put on the gloves as well as her “dying” Tishri. Taking on bottle she started the whole process. After finally an hour she stopped and looked her her hair, orange, yellow, blue and pink newly added colors marked up her face and skin. Laughing softly she quickly cleaned up the counter, soon going back into her room, the sun still not up. Walking over to her closet she opened it and looked at her clothes. Quickly she turned her computer on, wanting to see what the weather would be like. As it turned on she pulled out a couple of choices, but soon stopped to look up the weather. Smiling at the fact that it was going to be nice and sunny, slight wind and a nice warmth, Sienna turned to her clothing that was on her bed. Putting back a few things she was left with her final choice. Looking at the outfit and soon went back to her computer. She had to pass an hour with something as her hair dries. Looking st the screen she opened up a movie she had downloaded a while ago. Watching the cartoon, the time flied by as well as the movie. Tear rolled down her eyes, not that is a really sad movie, but just because Sienna seems to cry at the smallest cute/sweet thing she sees, many times wishing that would happen to her. Well now her hair was dry, and so she went into her bathroom, stripped and got into the shower. Turning the water on she tried to rinse as much as she could until clear water was running and now a rainbow. Relaxing in the water she couldn’t help but to get nervous, she wondered what people would think of her hair. Though she really never cared about that, she just always wondered. They say good things, she thanks them, they say bad things, she thanks them as well. Laughing softly she turned the water off and dried off. Plugging her hair drying into the socket she quickly dried her hair fully. Laughing at herself as she looked at what her hair looked like in the end, it was a giant colorful Afro. Giggling she combed back the hair quickly getting her hair the way she wanted it, though not teasing, straightening, or spraying it, just parting it and what not. Pulling out her makeup bag she quickly applied foundation and then a powdered cover-up just in case. Pulling out her eye things she quickly did her eyes. Looking up she smiled softly and walked back into her bedroom. Quickly putting her dress she went back into the bathroom and quickly fixed up her hair, soon spraying it and then going back into the bedroom, slipping some socked on she then tied her shoes on and then went to her mirror and looked at herself. Satisfied, she grabbed her backpack and headed out of her room. Walking into the kitchen she took out a pop tart, quickly unwrapping it and taking a bite. Putting her backpack on she walked to the hallway mirror, fixing her self one last time. She walked to the door and then gasped, racing into her room she shut her computer off and grabbed her phone, soon running back to the front door. Walking outside she looked up at the sky, the sun was finally rising. Walking along the street with her pop tart she slowly made her way down Hollywood Blvd. Looking around she smiled softly, people were out, not many, but they were still there. And so she laughed softly as some people stared at her. Pulling her phone out she flipped it open and quickly opened a new text. Scrolling through the names she clicked on Kenny's name. To: Kenny Lt;3 From: Sienna Hey love. You up yet? Ready for the first day ;p MMS? Anyway I should be by the tree soon enough. See you there? Lt;3 Sienna Pressing send she smiled softly and quickly skipped down the streets to the school. It was already around 7am, school starts at 7:45. Walking inside the school she could see a few kids scattered here and there. Walking passed some popular kids she tried to smile, but instead she glared and then ran past them to her new locker. Entering the code she quickly took off her backpack, pulling gout and putting in her locker a few things, only keep what she will need for her first period Art. Closing her locker she walked around the school before going out into the quad and soon off to the large tree where she hangs out a lot. Walking there is a little bit of a jump stride, she climbed up the tree to the first branch, laying there she looked around and waited for her friends to come and meet up with her. __-__Alex Daniel Jacobson__-__ Alex, or as many have called him, Alexis, work up to the sound of his alarm. Stretching as he got out of bed, he slowly made his way to his bathroom. Brushing his fingers through his tangled blondish hair, he quickly sighed softly. He needed a new start, maybe a new hair do. Since he knew exactly what it was she needed to do, right away he got it done, in no time. Now while he waited, he went and picked out his clothes. Picking out a band t-shirt and some black pants she quickly slipped the pants on, however he put the shirt on his bed. Walking back into the bathroom, he blow-dried his hair to quicken the process of the dye. Once it was all dry he just left it all in to shower later [I do that myself. It makes the color brighter actually]. Styling his hair the way it should be. He quickly went back and tossed his shirt on. Sighing softly, Alexis walked over to the side of his bed and slipped his phone into his pocket. Grabbing his backpack and swinging it over his shoulder, he soon and finally walked out into his living room and then into the kitchen. His stomach growled softly as he picked up the note his mother left him and then plate of food next to it. Smiling softly he quickly eats all the food on the plate and drank everything in the cup. Washing the plate and cup, Alexis finally made his way to the door. Taking his keys out of his pocket, he unlocked his car and slipped into the driver's seat. A new car he turned on as she fixed everything, mirrors and seat positions. He really didn’t want a new one, his older one was just fine. However, his mother insisted and so he agreed. Pulling out of his driveway he soon was on his way to the new school. Looking over at his backpack on the seat next to his, he couldn’t help but to sigh softly. In no time he was at the school. Pulling in he grabbed his backpack and locked the car. Pulling his backpack onto the car's surface, he pulled out his camera. Looking around he quickly slipped his backpack back on and walked into the school. He looked at what number his locker was, but alas he had no idea where it was located. Stopping and asking the first person he saw, soon he found it. Unlocking it he quickly slipped some things inside before locking it once more and then walking outside. Looking around the quad, he could tell some people were already sitting in their cliques. Looking around he hoped someone wouldn’t mind if he roamed. Stopping close to a tree, he found a girl with rainbow hair, smiling he quickly took a photo of her. Asking her if it was okay at first. She didn't mind, and so he did. Smiling he found out her name was Sienna, and soon he walked off, now meeting a new person. Possibly a friend? Walking around the school, Alexis wasn’t sure what to do. So he quickly found a bench and sat down. Lifting his camera up he did take some pictures and a couple of video clips. Smiling softly he couldn’t help but to hope that this senior year would be a good one. After all it was his senior year. [yes, yes. Both my characters did their hair on the first day... shhh I know this. I was brain-dead. Deal with it ;p] Khloé Kokomo KaibaGlancing at the clock, Khloé noticed that it was time to go to school. Pausing the music on her iPhone, she stopped dancing. Every day, she got up at 6 just to dance. That was exactly how much she loved it. Shedding her hip-hop clothes and jumping into the shower in the dance studio located in the basement of her Hollywood home. Lathering her hair thoroughly with shampoo, she hummed a tune that had been stuck in her head since she woke up. Rinsing the shampoo off her head, she turned the shower off and patted herself dry. After blow-drying and curling her hair, she put on the outfit she had picked earlier before going down to the dance studio and ran up the stairs to eat breakfast. "Hey." She nodded at her older brother, Kyle Nisei Kaaba and grabbed a piece of toast off his plate while walking towards the refrigerator. Opening it up, she grabbed the carton of orange juice and poured herself a glass. After downing the whole thing and eating the toast, she grabbed her phone, bag, and ran out to her car. Parking her car, she checked her phone for new messages. It had been vibrating the whole way there. "58 new messages..." She rolled her eyes and closed her phone. She was going to check them later. Khloé searched for her locker, and when she found it, she put everything in there except her phone. Khloé then headed for the quad to meet up with friends. Scarlett Andrews Lt;3Scarlett Andrews woke up to the ringing sound of her alarm. Her eyes fluttered open, and she just laid there for a few minutes to stare into the darkness. She hated being up this early and hoped that this year she'd at least find a friend. It's not like she cared who her friend was, as long as they were nice and human then they were all she needed. She sat up slowly, turning and stretching her thin arms before getting out of bed. She had no clue what to wear to school since her goal was not to be noticed by many people since she wasn't exactly a people person, but she would love to at least get a few people to talk with her. Furthermore, she made her way into her bathroom and turned the shower on, humming to herself as she stripped and got into the shower. She washer her hair, singing to herself even though nothing was cheery about today since it was school! What was good about school ? Nothing. She shampooed and conditioned her brownish black hair and then used body wash to make her smell like strawberries the whole day. Once she had rinsed off she stepped out of the shower and dried off, putting her towel in the hamper before blow-drying her hair and letting it keep its natural wave for school. She went to her closet after putting on her black bra and black short shorts and pulled out dark blue skinny jeans and slinging them over her shoulder as she looked for a top. The jeans had a rip in the left knee, but she still loved them so she wore them often. Then she put on a sleeveless black top that cut off at the chest to show off her curves, but not too much since she didn't want to look like a whore. She then put on a black and white striped cardigan sweater, though she didn't button it and just used it as a jacket. She put a black and white bow in her hair and slid on her jeans. Furthermore, she looked in the mirror, deciding not to put on make up since she knew what was inside mascara tube so she only used it when she really wanted to impress someone.[right] Once out of her room she went to the front of the house, sliding on her black flat shoes and then heading outside. Ace probably wouldn't even be awake by now and their mother was probably already at work to keep their family going. She took her keys out of her pocket and unlocked her black cornet that she and her brother both shared since they couldn't afford their own cars. She made sure her tote bag was in the car so she could use it as a book bag once at school and then started the car. Furthermore, she turned on the radio to All-Time Low singing to Maria count me in and started to hum along as well as she started to drive out of the driveway. Furthermore, she pulled into the high school parking lot and parked her car, getting out with a yawn before grabbing her nightmare before Christmas purse like tote bag, locked the door and then threw her keys inside it. Furthermore, she made her way to the building, deciding to sit outside on one of the multiple benches before she had to be confined to school all day. Alexis looked around, spotting a very attractive young Asian girl, he smiled softly and picked up his camera. Snapping a couple of pictures, he soon realized that she must have been a popular girl, due to the fact he noticed several heads had turned when she walked into the quad. Smiling he turned around and looked the other way, checking to see what was what, though however he eyes went back to that rainbow haired girl, he noticed that also near that tree as well where people like her, it seems that possibly she was on the other end of the spectrum of high school cliques. Rejects, most likely. He looked back at the popular and sighed softly. He wondered if there was an in between, and so he hoped he would most likely be put into that group. Most because he was new, that didn’t help. Getting up he walked down the halls and outside. Walking to his car, he checked inside really quickly if he forgot anything. Sighing and locking the car back up he pulled his phone out and answered a next from an online friend. Laughing softly as he walked back up the stairs. Spotting a girl outside the school with naturally wavy brown hair, he slowly made his way to her. Snapping a quick picture he soon reached her, his camera in one hand, his other hand extended out to her. “Hello, Um I'm new here, but I couldn't help but to notice you, My name is Alex.” he smiled softly. [I have to eat dinner. I should be back after that] Scarlett's teal green eyes landed on a boy who seemed to have taken a picture of her. She was flattered since it didn't happen often and since he was cute she didn't mind. She took his hand a gave it a small shake. "I'm Scarlett." She said, giving a small smile. When Alex stated that he was new she nodded a little, having guessed it since she would've remembered someone as cute as him. She wasn't attracted easily to boys in this school since most of them were annoying and in the popular clique that she despised so much. She had noticed him looking towards the beautiful Asian that was so rich. Scarlett envied her for all that money. "It'd be best to not snap photo's of her. She'd probably buy body cards and make a huge scene." She said slyly. " Most of the popular kids here are rich, well not just rich... but so rich that they would probably buy anything they pleased." She said, her eyes looking back at Alex. "So Alex, where are you from?" She asked, raising an eyebrow since her curiosity always seemed to get the best of her. She bit her lip hoping he wouldn't mind her question. Furthermore, she brushed her bangs out of her eyes and looked back towards the popular group before standing up and grabbing her bag since school would be starting soon anyway. Sarah Noel Rocha It was around seven o'clock when Sarah started to get ready for school however, she had been awake long before she was alerted to the time. She was used to both late nights and early mornings and today was no different. For the past hour she had been putting food in all the feeders for her farm's various animals as well as playing with the newly hatched chicks in a coop separate from the other chickens. They were only a few days old, but so darn cute! She had to make sure to play with them when she came home. She quickly went through her routine of brushing her teeth and hair (not with the same brush of course) as well as giving her face a good scrub. Sarah was still in her pajamas, so all that was left before breakfast was to change. Walking to her closet, she pursed her lips, unsure of what to wear. Hm, skirt or shorts? Tank top or halter? So many choices~ It would have probably been a better idea to lay her clothes out the night before, but she wasn't the type to do that. It was easier to decide on the spot sometimes, even if it took a little while. Her eyes strayed over to a pair of jeans. It was always warm in Hollywood so perhaps she ought to dress for it? Eventually (it took about ten minutes) she decided upon a multicolored, tank top and a pair of dark-washed skinny jeans. Crap, what time is it? She looked at her watch, a sigh of relief on her face. She still had thirty minutes to get to school and have breakfast (and yes it was in that order). Furthermore, she came downstairs with her backpack slung over one shoulder and her side carrying her lunch in a bag. Now what to have for breakfast? "Mm... Mom, do we have any cream cheese left?" Sarah asked. No answer. Oh right, she said she was heading to the post office today. Guess I'll have to fix something myself. She put down her backpack and headed into her kitchen, opening the refrigerator frowning when she saw that there were no more bagels left...but plenty of cream cheese. What a cruel twist of fate. "Oh hey a brownie!" she exclaimed, pulling one out from the fridge. After a quick trip through the microwave, Sarah's brownie was taken into Sarah's (Sarah's dad's) car and then made its way to school...before making its way to Sarah's stomach. Mm, I wonder if anyone else is here, Sarah thought after parking her car and getting out. She trekked to the quad, noticing her friend almost instantly. "Khloé!" she shouted, running over to her brown-haired friend. --яσsεмαяч such cяσωε--[right] Rosemary yawned and stretched as she woke up, throwing off the tumbled mess of blankets she'd been sleeping in. She looked around her room. It had only been a week in the new house, so she still felt a strange sensation when she saw the room for the first time in the morning. She felt like she didn't know where she was. She felt like that in a lot of ways, though. Furthermore, she didn't know where she was going, what her purpose was, or even who she herself was. Rosie hoped she would be able to find out who she was this year. It was her senior year, after all... She sighed, shaking herself fully awake. She walked softly over to her closet and wondered what she should wear on her first day at a new school. Rosie wanted to make a good impression. She decided on a blue spring dress, a pair of fun vintage flats, and a bumblebee necklace. She quickly ran a brush through her long red hair, added a dash of eyeliner around the edges of her bright green eyes, and grabbed her trusty satchel before she ran out the door. Furthermore, she was greeted by her family chauffeur, Drew. Drew had been driving Rosie since she was little, so she wasn't surprised to see him waiting for her in the driveway. "'Morning!" she called cheerfully. Drew waved to her. "Aren't you getting in?" "No, thanks," she said. "I think I'm going to drive myself this morning." Drew looked surprised. "Okay, then," he said. "Good luck!" He knew how much today meant to Rosie. It was a fresh start. He watched as the red-haired girl started up her VW Microbus, praying she wouldn't get into an accident. Unaware of Drew's worries, Rosie drove to school without a problem. After she parked the bus, she got out and wandered around the parking lot a bit, not really sure where to go. As she neared what she thought might be the main entrance to the school, she overheard a snippet of a conversation. "-new here, but I couldn't help but..." She turned around a few times, trying to figure out who had spoken. Then she spotted a cute boy with blonde highlights... ...already talking to a pretty girl with curly brown hair. She looked down at her own pin-straight, carrot-tinged hair and felt a slight pang of jealousy. She sighed. The girl looked nice enough, though; and it was worth a try to talk to some of her classmates. She walked over to the two. "Hey," she said, quietly; trying to smile and appear friendly. "I, um, couldn't help but overhear you saying you were new here?" Her hand subconsciously strayed to her bangs, self-consciously fixing her hair. Alexis smiled and took in the girl. It was normal for him to do this. Being addicted to taking pictures, he would look the person over, just eying them for some possibly future pictures. But he shoved this from his mind when Scarlett talked about the Asian girl. How she was rich and what might happen if he takes photos. “Oh well, it seems like there are no guards, though I did snap a couple a few minutes ago. I'm not afraid of strong muscular men. If they try and take my camera ill attack them with all I have.” he smiled softly, with a short laugh. He watched as another popular girl seemed to rush to the crowd. Shaking his head he turned back to Scarlett. Hearing another sweet voice he turned and flashed a soft smile at the very pretty red head girl that had come over. “Oh yes, I am new, Alexander, but everyone calls me Alex, Or Alexis, really I do have a lot of names.” he laughed softly shaking his head, “And what is your name miss?” he asked, wondering. He took a deep breath, so far so good. He couldn't help but to wonder if just maybe he might meet someone he knew a while ago. Shaking his head he then situated himself so he could look at the two girl. Man had he missed this place, was it not the warmer weather, the beautiful girl, he didn't care, he was happy to be back. Remembering that Scarlett had asked him a question, he turned his head to her. “Oh Scarlett, you asked me where I'm from?” he laughed softly. “In all honestly I'm from here, Hollywood. However, we moved up north to Idaho. And so that’s why I haven’t been around. But now I'm back and I can't believe I actually missed this place.” he laughed softly as he soon took his camera and went through the picture, holding the camera out for her and the other girl to see the last few pictures he took of his place in Idaho. “No matter how much money you have, you will still get a pretty large property. That's a good thing about that place. Here to even get something half that size, you have to have millions.” shaking his head he sighed and then turned to Scarlett, “How about you, where are you from?” Soon he looked up at the red head, "And you dear?" Idaho picture: xxx - xxx - xxx - xxx - xxx - xxx - xxx - xxx - xxx Rosie tilted her head to the side, a habit of hers when she was feeling nervous. She held out her hand. "My name is Rosemary, but you can call me Rosie, if you'd like." She flashed a smile. "Alex is a nice name." She watched as he answered the other girl's question, gathering that her name was Scarlett. "That's funny," she said. "I grew up around here, too. But I identify my hometown as San Francisco, since that's where I spent most of my school-age years." She sighed. "It's so strange to be back. My mom hasn't made a movie in ages, but since the divorce, she's been more interested in getting her career back together." His description of Idaho sounded so strange and foreign to the city girl, like something out of a fairy tale. {Goodnight Cookie!} "I'm from." She paused, she could tell him where she was really from or tell him what Ace told her. She hated hiding secrets from possible friends in the future so she decided to tell the truth. "I'm from Ohio. It's kind of dull there, and we felt like Hollywood would be a great place to come to since my brothers partially an actor." He only did things that wouldn't be televised, so our father would never get a hint to where they were at, but really Ace just took any job he could get. Scarlett looked at the pictures that reminded her so much of their house back in Ohio. It was an old Victorian farmhouse with a large black back in the back and a pond just behind the barn that Ace and her used to swim in. The only downside was that the house was around 130 years old and came with a graveyard in the woods with the names of everyone who died there. Kinda creepy. [IMG right] LeberechtThe morning was not something Caden usually looked forward to after a good night’s rest, but he had awakened before the time he had set for his alarm and was unable to fall back asleep. He was quietly lying in bed now, staring up at his ceiling that was covered in inactive glow-in-the-dark stars. He thought of how much he would like it if they stayed illuminated all night and into the morning instead of during the same amount of time it took for him to fall asleep. Furthermore, he figured seeing the glowing stars in the early day might encourage him to sleep in more, but he always felt sad when the stars would lose their light. While those thoughts wandered in his mind, the obnoxious beeping of his alarm clock started to sound in his ears. Caden let out a sigh and rolled his body closer to the bedside table where his clock sat. After turning off the alarm, he continued lying on his stomach for a few more minutes. He still felt lazy and unwilling to get ready for school despite having been awake for a while. When he decided he was ready, he climbed out bed and went into his bathroom to take a shower. He loved how a shower could feel so refreshing in the morning. He may have entered it feeling terribly sluggish, but he exited it feeling wide awake and energetic. Furthermore, he dried off his body and brushed his teeth before heading towards his closet to pick out his outfit for the day. His clothing style was usually simple. He chose to wear a white striped navy blue polo shirt, jeans, and white sneakers. His hair was styled in the same simple fashion, just nicely combed down to however he liked. When he was finished, he checked his overall appearance in a full length mirror and smiled contently at his reflection. Caden was not narcissistic, but he did think he looked nice. He was still admiring himself in the mirror when the door to his bedroom was opened slightly. A young boy’s head poked through the small opening and started to stare curiously at the older male. Caden let out a small laugh when he noticed. “Good morning, Thanh,” he greeted his little brother. He crouched down to the boy’s level and motioned for him to come closer. Thanh approached him carefully and leaned into his ear to whisper what he had to say. It was how they always communicated, by whispering. Caden nodded his head as he listened. “Okay, I can do that,” he finally responded, “Let me just get my own things together, and we can be on our way.” Happiness was brightly lit on Thanh’s face when he answered, and he was quick to exit the room once the words were delivered. Caden had to laugh again. He had just accepted his little brother’s request to take him to the elementary school, and apparently it meant a lot to him. Caden stood up and began collecting the rest of his things like he said he would. He double-checked his black backpack and sports bag for things necessary to get through the day and then shoved his wallet and phone into his pants pockets. The last things he grabbed were his keys and he was ready to go. He walked downstairs to meet Thanh and his mother by the door. “Aww… my two boys going together for their first day back at school,” the woman cooed, pinching each of her sons’ cheeks between her fingers. While their father was in another part of the world, filming for a movie, she was the only one to be seeing them off. The boys said their goodbyes and then went on their way. The time between dropping off his brother at the elementary school and finding parking at the high school was unexpectedly short. Caden wondered how he could have easily moved through the morning traffic as he was locking the doors of his car. It wasn’t that he was unhappy about it, being early to school was always better than being late, but he was still curious. As he climbed the steps towards the large school building, he decided he would look for his locker later in the day and head to the quad first. He saw that Khloé and Sarah had arrived before him but opted not to call out their names. "Sarah! Hay!" Khloé flung her arms around Sarah. "How's it going?" She noticed heads turning around and flashed a smile before returning to the conversation. "Let's check if we have any classes together." Taking out the piece of paper that held her schedule from her pocket, she handed it to Sarah and popped a piece of gum into her mouth. Sarah returned the favor to Khloé, putting on a wide smile before she broke off the hug. It was so great seeing her after almost an entire summer. It was like finding a long-lost relative after years of separation! ... Well perhaps that was kind of dramatic. "It has been so boring without school believe it or not!" Sarah answered, "I can't believe I actually missed school. Did you do anything exciting over the summer?" In reply to Khloé, she took out her own folded schedule and compared it to her friend's. Similar classes seemed to be....nonexistent. "Ah nuts, looks like we're pretty much split," she said, her smile turning into a sad one, "are you doing any sports this year? I know I'm gunning for soccer and track, varsity of course." As she waited for an answer her eyes caught Caden who seemingly just arrived (or was seemingly just noticed). Waving over to him, her smile switched gears to a happy one once more. The quad was full and bustling with all kinds of people. Newcomers were wandering around, some totally confused by their surroundings and others slowly getting used to it, and longtime students were excitedly reuniting with friends they missed over the summer break. The crowd was nicely mixed as it usually was on the first day of school. Caden knew what would happen during the next few days though: everyone would be divided into different groups. It was not something he expected when he first came to the school, but he was fully aware of it now. He wondered who would be interesting enough to befriend him or his friends. Caden instinctively quickened his pace when he saw Sarah anxiously waving him over. His mouth curled into a closed smile as he approached the two girls. “Hey, how’ve you guys been?” he asked. His hazel eyes looked over the papers in their hands, taking note that they were the girls’ schedules. Knowing that it wasn’t unusual to have students of different grade levels in one class, he wondered if he had any with them. “Oh, look! I’ve got at least one class with each of you,” he smiled even wider. He liked that someone he already knew and was comfortable with would be there to endure many boring lectures with him. Though talking to other people wouldn’t be a problem for him either. Alexis smiled, listening to the girl's small stories about their homes. He looked from Rosie to Scarlett. He couldn't help but keep on smiling, so far so good. Furthermore, he laughed softly. “So it seems that we all are new in a way to Hollywood. This place doesn't change much, I remember so much. Hmm, I guess that's what happens when a place gets famous.” He looked around, his eyes traveling from group to group of the different cliques of the high schoolers. He watched some freshman, slightly dazed out and confused at how the school worked. Furthermore, he shook his head and looked back at the girl. “Oh I hope you girls won't mind If I ask you to help me around. And I hope you won't mind if I spend this whole day getting to know you better.” He flashed a grin, childish and sweet at the same time. [roar short. Sorries] "Yup, I'm going for soccer, volleyball, Varsity and maybe basketball." Khloe replied. Seeing Caden coming over and saying hello, she smiled and aside, "Hey Caden!" Hearing that she had at least one class with another popular made her happier. Looking around the quad, she searched for Aaron, but her eyes were attracted to the bright and colorful hair of a reject. Turning back, Khloe questioned, "Do you guys know if an Aaron came yet?" Agh short sorry Sienna rocked back and forth on the tree branch before jumping down and landed on the ground. Fixing her dress, she really did want hugs, which was what her dress said. Smiling softly she put her headphones in, blasting her songs on shuffle. Closing her eyes she hugged her friends as she felt like walking around the school for no reason at all. Walking away from the tree she entered the quad. Looking around she spotted the 3 most popular people, Khloé, Sarah, and Caden. She watched them for a second before slipping her sunglasses on. Her eyes remained on Caden, even though he was a popular, he seemed pretty nice. Wondering about him for a bit, she then walked down the sidewalk, avoiding the eyes as much as she could, walking pasted the three she was looking at before, she kept her head down slightly looking at her iPod as she walked by. Slowly walking down the halls, she soon walked up the steps and into the art room. Smiling at to teach, she knew Mr. Quisling from last year, and he knew her as well. Putting her backpack down behind his desk, she went back outside. Wandering inside the halls, she soon went back outside and into the quad. Leaning against the wall, she looked around. “What if we had no social groupings?” she asked herself softly as she kept her face forward, however her eyes wondered behind the black tinted glasses. "Good to know we'll at least be on the same soccer team," she said, a warm smile on her face. It's better than being on a team full of meatheads. More and more students were streaming in now, most that Sarah knew, but a few that she didn't. Lots of freshman though. "I've just bored CAE (like any other teen that didn't go on vacation long enough)," Sarah answered in response to Caden's greeting (she had a feeling she'd answer that a lot today), "I'm glad to see that you've at least got a class with me though." She continued to look around, taking a moment to check for new messages on her phone before shaking her head at Khloe. "Nah sorry," she answered eyes hovering over to some of the more intriguing new arrivals, "I see a few transfers though." Sometimes she envied new kids for the simple fact that (for the first few months of their school life) they didn't have to choose the clique they stood in. Being popular was so constricting sometimes. Eyes fluttering open, the brunette frowned a bit as she looked over at her lab partner who was sprawled out on the floor. It was a good thing she was uninterested in the "reject," but, somewhere deep down, she knew that there was at least a spark of passion. "SEB-ass-tan!" She prodded at his nose some before she allowed herself to drool all over his pretty face. "Jesus eff'king hell!" Sebastian said swatting away the woman that was hovering over him. The sugar-coated drool was not the most pleasant way to be awakened from a nice full of alcohol, partying, and a little too much pizza. His two-toned hair flopped into his eyes as he playfully batted at Remy. "Today is our anniversary!" Sitting up, his abs flexed some with her weight still trying to pin his slender body to the ground. However, overcoming her weight was far easier than it should have been. Planting a wet kiss on her cheek, SEB laughed. "Can you believe it? We've been best friends since... Kindergarten. We are so fly." "OMG! Debby is going gangsta! Quick, mouth-to-mouth!" Her tongue hung absurdly out of her mouth as she tried to "kiss" her friend. "Get away!" Wiggling his butt back and forth, Sebastian escaped the wrath of Remy's tongue. Standing, he pulled his shirt down some. "Shit!" Hangs wailing toward the clock, he ran over and tackled Remy headfirst into her bed. "Wake up! We're going to be late!" "Get off me, you emo!" Her eyes smiled as she cooed lightly at him. "All right, you shower, and I'll make us some Toaster Strudels." + + + + + When the two were done getting cleaned, dressed, and fed, Remy cocked her head some. "Whey? Not going to skate to school?" "I... I'd be late." Pouting he grinned before yelling, "Shotgun!" "SEB. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN MY CAR!" "I know... but I like to annoy you." Glaring at him, she gave him "the bird." "You suck." + + + + + Arriving at the school, Sebastian popped out of the car and waved his friend goodbye. Even though they were besties, the two rarely associated with one another at school. In fact, Remington came up with a brilliant lie to cover why she was always bringing him to school. She was always telling her friends that "Sebastian's parents weren't letting him get a car, and, since they are neighbors, they begged her to take their 'little' boy to school." As the engine died down, Remy looked up at the clouds that passed by. Her shoulders shrugged some as she exhaled. "Well, let's start this final year. Hell, here I come." Remy stepped from her car and boastfully strolled up to the large looming building that she liked to call... prison. As she flung the doors open, she saw some underclassmen turn their heads toward her direction. A few of the boys waved to her giddily as she brushed her luscious hair from her face. For not being popular, she kind of was. Everyone knew her face, her name, and her brains. However, Remy decided she would rather be normal, so she opted to talk, hangout, and chill with the everyday people. After all, being class president meant she needed to befriend everyone. "Hey," she said walking up to a group of people. "How was your summer?" Meanwhile, Sebastian walked past the popular crowd and over to his reject friends. "Sup, punks?" That cocky grin of his swept onto his slender face. "Anything epic happen this time around?" ---------- [[I wasn't sure where to throw these two in, so I was hoping someone would just talk to them.]] [LEFT] vibration of her phone immediately woke Kennedy up. She looked at her clock, her eyes widening at the time. She jumped out of bed, before flipping open her phone, and reading the message. To: Sienna From: Kenny Lt;3 I just got up...... I'm screwed See you at the tree in a bit She immediately closed her phone, before rushing to her closet. She pulled out a solid black shirt with a rainbow peace sign on it, and some skinny jeans. She pulled on her clothes before rushing to her bathroom. Furthermore, she brushed out her hair, luckily having applied the blue in it the night before. Furthermore, she brushed it out, before heading down the stairs. Furthermore, she grabbed a granola bar, before hurling out the door, without saying a word to her mother. Furthermore, she couldn't help but to run to school, refusing to get herself into any trouble yet. Furthermore, she stopped at the tree, disappointed when her friend was nowhere to be seen. A grin formed on her face as she saw her."SIENNA!!!" She cried, before nearly attacking her.(Sorry it's kind of short, I haven't had much time to reply) Sienna sighed softly as she finally looked at her phone. “Silent, aww damn!” she had the phone on silent without even remembering. Sighing she finally turned it on and found out that she had a message. Hoping the text she smiled, giggling softly before she opened to reply to it. However, she wasn't even able to type in more than one word when she was attacked by her friend. Screaming slightly, she lost her balance, but managed to stay standing up. “Kenny!!!” holding her friend up she hugged the girl ever so much, before squeezing her to death, letting go she smiled and finally took her sunglasses off. “What took you so long I actually had to talk here into the quad to not be bored.” She spoke with a pout on her lips. But noticing the blue in her friend's hair she squealed, “Ohh It's so pretty and cute!! I love it!!! You are now coming over to the dark side with me aren't you. We have cookies.” she smiled, grinning form ear to ear, she so was happy to see her friend again, even though it wasn't too long ago they last saw each other. [its keep Lt;3 no worries Lt;3] Mark Gallivant Mark woke up to the sound of his brother Sam shouting at him. He was yelling, "Wake up! We don't have time for this! Unlike you, Charlie and I do not want to be late on our first day of the Freshman year!" Mark rolled his eyes and sat up. He rubbed his eyes and pointed towards the door for them to leave. His brother Sam ran out into the hall. Mark got up and walked across the hardwood floor of his room. It was not a large room, and he shared it with his two younger brothers. They lived in a small apartment only four blocks from school. The apartment had one bedroom, one bathroom, and a tiny kitchen. There was no living room and no TV because they couldn't afford that. Mark walked towards the three plastic bags of clothes that were on the floor. They each had a name on it. One said Sam, the other Charlie, and the last one Mark. There was about two changes of clothes for each of them in each bag. Mark pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans and a light blue t-shirt that said, 'Love Me' on it. He changed into them and then put on his black converse. He checked his clock and moaned again. If he didn't start to leave soon he would be late. So, he brushed his teeth without eating, and ruffled his hair till it looked alright. Then just as he opened the bathroom door his brothers Sam and Charlie were already walking out the door. "Wait up!" He yelled as he grabbed his backpack. Then he ran after them. Eventually after about two blocks he caught up with his little brothers. He patted their hands and then walked quietly behind them. Mark remembered that there was something important he had to do after school, but didn't know exactly what it was. He thought hard as he walked, and then suddenly it came to his head. He was supposed to call his Lily today. Lily was his little sister who got put into Foster Care. He had not talked to her in four months, and he was very worried about her. 'What if she is sick? Or dying? Or money?' All these painful thoughts went into his mind as he thought about her. Then, when he finally reached the front steps of the school, his brothers were already way ahead of him, walking towards their classrooms. He laughed at them and then walked towards the tree. For some reason he loved that tree. It was the place he went to when he needed to get over stuff his Freshman through Junior year. Mark was just about to put his bag next to it, when he saw two girls standing by it. He stopped and didn't move. He didn't even blink. Furthermore, he didn't hate people, but they were one of his biggest fears. Because people were the ones that hurt you, and broke your heart. "It's fine with me. We can hang out the rest of the day." She said, watching as so many cute guys passed by to either go to class or join their groups. Wow, Hollywood was turning out a lot better than she thought it would be. She ran her hand threw her hair. "So what do you like to do for fun?" She asked Alex, looking at his camera. "Like photography?" She herself did a little photography from time to time, thus why she picked that as one of her classes. She took out her schedule, wondering if she got classes with anyone she knew. "What are your guy's classes?" She asked, her eyes wandering over her classes and smile at her teacher academy class. Her eyes looked to the boy that went into the more reject group, then at everyone in the popular group. Cliques in her opinion were pretty stupid, if someone wanted to be popular all they had to do was act like an air head, throw around some cash and then throw a party. But she wasn't the type to have money... or act like an airhead. She had many responsibilities whether she liked them or not. She hoped she had at least one friend in every class, thinking of all the guys she had liked last year. Which many didn't set up to her standards, tall, dark hair, beautiful eyes, and of course they had to like history and art. And music. Her eyes seemed to be looking nowhere in particular as she daydreamed of her special someone. That she hadn't met yet unfortunately. But she knew there had to be one guy in this high school that loved the same things as her. And of course her friends would have to have similar likings to what she liked. She shook her head out of her trance and looked back at the red-headed girl. She seemed nice, hopefully a person she could get to know to be friends. “If he is already here, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s hiding somewhere to scare people,” Caden answered to the question about the missing member of their group. He made an effort to look for the guy within the crowd as well but found nothing of his presence. He hoped Aaron would meet up with them soon. As he continued to look around, his attention was quickly drawn to the scene of two reject girls screaming each other's names. He noted that their colorful hair would have been enough to attract him without them having to open their mouths though. He wondered what they were doing in the middle of the quad when they usually stood around a giant tree. Were their looks and actions intentional for attention? Caden then turned back towards Sarah and Khloé, poking both of them in the arm out of boldness. When he looked back up, he noticed that Remy had made her appearance on campus. “Miss Class President is here,” Caden said aloud. Although the girl was not classified as being popular, she was still very well-known around the school and Caden treated her as he would his regular friends. Only sometimes, or maybe more than that, he found her to be intimidating… Mark stared for a little longer and then remembered who they were. Colored hair, makeup, tree, "Sienna, Kenny!" He walked towards them and said, "Remember me from last year or no?" Even if they didn't, he hugged them anyway. Mark looked at them and laughed. "And if you don't remember the name is Mark." He said smiling. He looked at each of their hair and said, "I barely recognized you two with your hair! It's awesome." He said as he stared at it. Mark then looked away at another crowd of people. He knew who they were, everyone did. They were the Popular. He usually just pretended they weren't there, and completely avoided them, but today, they caught his eye. He stared at the one with blonde hair, trying to remember his name. Was it Baden..... no. Caden! He thought to himself. Mark nodded and then stopped looking. He didn't want to get punished or something. "So what did you guys do over the summer?" He said, turning back to the girls. Mark really didn't know what to say because he wasn't a good person with conversations, he was to socially awkward. Kennedy laughed at her comment,"You know me and my cookies!" She said jokingly." But seriously She, I couldn't come close to you and your hair. I'm surprised I even recognized you underneath all that rainbow!" She said with a small laugh. Kennedy smiled when she saw Mark,"Hey Mark. Of course, we remember you!" She watched him closely as he looked at the popular. She hated their guts, even if she really didn't have a good reason to. Furthermore, she was a reject, they were popular. There was a fine line between them." I honestly didn't do much over the summer, with my mom struggling with money issues. But I did get to see She often, which was a good thing." She answered." How about you?" Mark smiled slightly and then said, "I took care of my little brothers pretty much the whole time. And struggling to find my father. I don't have any idea where he disappeared to." He said laughing and putting his hands in his pockets. He had always liked Kenny and Sienna because they were like him, rejected. There was also Sebastian, but he didn't have the slightest idea as to where he was. "How about you Sienna? Family Issues or did you actually have fun?" Mark said laughing. He leaned against the tree and put his bag down next to him. "When is your first class?" He asked them, not wanting to walk alone to class. --ɟαмεs ɪη∂ɪɢσ ωαяяεη--[right] Indigo awoke to the sound of his blaring alarm clock. Bleary-eyed, he glanced at the ominous red numbers - 7:00!? He was going to be late! Quickly, he combed down his hair, threw on a long-sleeved t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and his favorite shoes. After quickly brushing his teeth and grabbing a granola bar on his way out the door, he hopped on to his old bike and flew to school. After hopping off of his bike and locking it up on a fence, he walked over to a group of kids - one of whom he'd already seen around. Scarlett... He sighed. He knew nothing would ever come from it, but he'd seen her around before, in groups of friends he'd seen over the summer. Nobody seemed to know much about her, though. He thought she might be shy, or maybe just snobby. He wasn't really sure. Now, seeing her talking with a couple kids Indigo had never seen before, he couldn't believe he'd ever thought she was shy or snobby. She seemed friendly and open, actually. Hopefully, the kid with the blonde highlights hadn't already claimed her. In high school, getting to girls was tough; especially for guys like Indigo. Most girls either assumed he was gay because he was aware of personal hygiene and was generally kind and polite. Or, they were snatched from under his fingers by some pathetic hot-shot jock who didn't care about their feelings. Walking over, he was suddenly hyper-aware of his appearance. Did he have a small zit on his forehead? Was it noticeable? Was his hair messy? How did his breath smell? He shook all of these thoughts out of his head as he walked up to the trio. "Hey," he said, extending his hand. "I'm Indigo... Are you all new here?" He fixed his earthy, brown eyes on Scarlett. "I think I've seen you around before... Scarlett, right?" He was nervous, but he was trying his best not to let it show. Scarlett turned her attention to a boy that looked just like the prince charming she had been thinking about. Tall, dark hair and handsome. Though she had to make sure he liked art, music and history first before she flirted. " Nice to meet you, and yes. I'm Scarlett. And I moved here early last summer. So I guess I'm not that new?" She asked slyly, her eyes looking at him before biting her lip and looking away. She still had her schedule out and showed Indigo. " What are your classes?" She asked, knowing that if he had art and most of the classes she liked then he was exactly the type of guy she liked. She had seen him around before and thought she had heard someone call him James before around town, but Indigo was a cute name too. Furthermore, she remembered being interested whenever he passed by but around guys that actually appealed to her, she was slightly shy, so she had never gone up to him. Scarlett brushed her dark bangs out of her now emerald eyes since they changed from green to blueish green often. Her eyes looked into his brown ones for a moment before looking back at her black shoes. She really hoped she had at least one class with him, even if it was a boring class. Though her schedule didn't really have boring classes on it. Indigo pulled out his schedule and held it next to hers, aware of the mere half-inch between his arm and her shoulder. "Art, history, English, Honors history, Teachers' Academy, and Photography," he read. Then he looked at her schedule. "Huh, that's weird," he said softly. Their schedules were identical. "I guess you'll have to put up with me all day," he laughed. He couldn't have imagined anything better. A huge smile lit up his face. Scarlett smiled as they compared their schedules, obviously thinking 'thank you, Jesus! ' She grinned. "And it looks like you'll have to put up with me as well." She said, checking off everything on her list of what a boy had to have. And so far he was a one thousand out of a ten. "You like history?" She asked, her eyes lit up while looking back into his. This year was already turning out to be wonderful. "Pooh, teachers academy? I'm taking that to help get a scholarship, so I can be a teacher. How about you?" She asked, knowing that she had to get a scholarship of some sort just to be able to afford college. If she didn't get one then her dreams of being a teacher were gone since she couldn't live off of her crappy waitress salary. Indigo smiled back, blushing a bit from the impact of her deep green eyes. "Yeah," he said. "I like history because, if you know about the past, you can help change the future." He didn't usually feel like he could talk to people so easily about serious stuff like this. Usually, he was kind of a goof. But there was something about this conversation that was different - It felt like Scarlett had expectations of him; more than most people he knew, who thought of him only as that Indie kid. "And, yeah, I'm taking Teacher's Academy, too," he said. "I don't really know what I want to do with my life, but I think that learning teaching skills will help me out anyway. I mean," he added. "I have considered becoming a teacher. But I'm just... not ready to decide on one thing, you know? Why box yourself in?" He looked at her, catching himself. What if she had already made up her mind? He realized. "I mean," he continued, quickly. "I mean, it's not a bad thing if you've already decided what you want to do..." His voice trailed off as a nervous laugh escaped his lips, but luckily, it was drowned out by the sound of the first bell ringing. "So, new girl," he teased. "Want me to help you find your first class?" ------ Rosie sighed as the first bell rang. It seemed like the other girl had found some other guy to hang out with, leaving her only with Alex. Not such a bad prospect.... "What do you have first?" she asked. "I have no earthly clue where to go, I could barely find the entrance this morning!" It was embarrassing, but true. She was in a (relatively) new town, and on top of that lay her awful sense of direction. She never seemed to know where she was going. Her mom always said she had her head in the clouds, and she was afraid she was right. She didn't want this guy to think she was a total flake, though, so she tried to be casual about it. "I mean," she covered. "New school and everything. Where do you think we can find a map?" "Eh, I'm pretty positive I want to be a history teacher since back in Ohio my history teacher helped us a lot." She said, not getting into much detail since she hated talking of her old life. And her old last name. She smirked when she heard the bell. "That'd be nice, if you really want to be seen with a new girl." She said with a small smile. She folded up her schedule and put it in her skinny jean pocket. "So. I saw you around town a lot this summer. I've been working at the diner in town since I got here. It's nice to put a name to the good-looking face." She said. She nodded at what he said about history. "I just love Ancient Greece and I figure that I'd get a better pay as a teacher then my crappy waitress salary." She joked. She had noticed his blush and found it rather cute as she started to make her way towards the building. "Oh - You're from Ohio?" She was certainly interesting, more than you'd perceive from the protective way she seemed to guard her past. He figured there was a reason, though, so he decided not to ask more. If she wanted to tell him, Indigo figured she'd tell him in her own time, on her own terms. "He, I'd rather be seen with you than all of these kids," he said, extending an arm to reference his entire graduating class. "Truthfully? I've known these people so long, I'm starting to get sick of them." He let out a grim laugh. He usually wasn't so negative, but he felt like he could trust Scarlett with his true feelings... And his true feelings weren't exactly as sunny as his exterior appearance. He blushed more when she said he was good-looking. "I... I feel the same way," he revealed. "I've seen you around before, too. At the diner. All I'd ever gotten before was a name, it's nice to know you're a real person, too. Not just something I'd imagined." He nodded as she talked about her dream of being a teacher. "It must be nice, to have a dream," he said. "I feel so aimless sometimes..." He looked down at their schedules, realizing that they had already walked past their first classroom. "Over here," he said, pointing out the big art room. Scarlett blushed a little at his comment. "Thank you." She said softly. "Yeah. I'm originally from Ohio, so I'm not really used to Hollywood just yet. It's a lot more fast-paced." She knew that she didn't look much like a girl from the country, but she had lived on a farm and literally had no neighbors whatsoever. It had been nice. "Hopefully you don't get sick of me after a while." She said, looking around at the other kids as they passed them. She noticed a few glancing at them and looked back at Indigo. "I used to say that about the people back at my old high school, and I'd kill to see them now." She smirked. "Except I wouldn't kill to see the popular kids, they'd just get on my nerves." She looked over at him. "You'll have a dream someday. I just got mine a bit earlier thanks to a perfect teacher. And...something you Imagined? I doubt I'm that great, so yes. I am real." She had been staring at him for the past few minutes to even notice they passed the classroom, so when he pointed it out she couldn't help but laugh as she walked in. She noticed a few art tables scattered here and there and took a seat at one, guessing he'd sit by her since they had been talking. Furthermore, she looked towards the board that said hello to the students and stated the teachers name before tucking her bangs behind her ear, so her eyes could see better. Indigo listened as the teacher began the class." Hello," he said. "My name is Mr. Quisling." 'What an odd name,' thought Indigo. But he shrugged it off, the guy seemed nice enough. Mr. Quisling talked about what they would cover this year, and Indigo was pretty interested. Even though his favorite type of art was photography, he'd heard that, no matter how good you were at photography, art schools wouldn't accept a portfolio that didn't have any drawings. He wasn't too thrilled about drawing the still life that was their assignment today, but he knew he needed the practice. Indigo stood up to grab a drawing board, some drawing pencils and knead-able erasers, and a large, 18x24 piece of drawing paper. "Do you want me to get yours?" he asked Scarlett, ever the gentleman. ----- Rosie was getting more and more nervous as the bell signaling the start of classes rang. "Where do you think we can get a map?" she asked her new companion. Then an idea struck her. "What if we tried to find the main office first? I think they might be able to help us, and the office is usually right next to the front door - Want to give it a shot?" She looked at Alex, hopefully. Scarlett had been listening to the teacher with lots of interest since she loved art when she heard him say to get drawing boards and what not. She blushed a little when Indigo offered to get hers. "Um. Yes please? Unless it's too much to carry. Then I'll get my own." She said, running her hand threw her hair and looking at him. She mentally checked another thing off of her list so far he had nine of the ten things. The tenth thing was that a guy had to be interested in her before she would show that she was interested in him. She then realized she had been flirting with him and sighed to herself. She probably looked desperate. Khloé's head shot up as the bell rang. "Aww, first period! I've got to get to science!" She ran off waving to her friends as the quad cleared of all students. "See you guys later!" Strutting to her classroom and stopping to say hi to some of the passerby that she was friends with on the way, she looked around and noticed quite a few new people. Looking down at her schedule, she saw that her teacher was named Mr. Fielder...which reminded her to a certain young Canadian pop star. Upon entering the classroom, a few heads turned and whispers flew through the air, which she ignored because they were certainly just spreading new rumors about her. Sitting down on the stool nearest to the door and taking out her books from her bag, Khloé reapplied some lip-gloss that made her lips turn a vibrant pink color while getting comfortable in her seat. The lab somehow gave off a kitchen-y feeling, except there was no food. [Wow I think everyone has either Art, English or Math first except me XD] Aaron White The Sneak Aaron rose out of bed slowly, slamming his hand on his alarm clock to shut it up. He sighed and ruffled his hair, pulling himself out of the bed and down the hallway. He turned the water on full blast and hopped in, taking his clothes off in the shower and throwing them out as the water warmed. After his shower, Aaron got dressed in a dark blue shirt, his black skinny jeans and white shoes. Pulling on his 'lucky bracelets,' he made his way to his closet, where he grabbed his skull-buckled belt, fastening it tightly and readjusting in the mirror. "Aaron. Come on, you'll be late for school," Craig - his adoptive father - called. "Yeah, yeah, one minute," Aaron sighed, grabbing his orange scarf and white jacket on the way out. When he got to school, the bell rang, and Aaron cursed rather loudly, getting the attention of those around him. "Yeah, you heard me. Fuck off," he muttered, pulling out his schedule and checking the room that he had to go to. He made his way through the crowds until he stopped at the door, and scanned the room for someone he knew. He made his way towards the back of the room, to the seat nearest the window. At least this classroom had good seats. He smiled when he saw the teacher, going over various tricks he could use to make her year teaching him hell. Ah, for prank number one... Rhys Griffith The Sweetheart Rhys groaned, kicking at whoever was trying to wake him up. "Rhys! Rhys! Wake up, you big baby!" His cousin Amber called, beginning to drag him off the bed by his foot. Once he sat up, she pulled him to his feet and then flopped on his bed. "I'm definitely glad that I finished high school last year," she said, giving him a friendly kick towards his closet. "Because you look exhausted." At this, Rhys turned and glared at her, throwing the nearest object - a stuffed animal - at her head. "That's because I am. Now," he yawned, "If you're not going to run my shower or make me a sandwich, I think you should leave." When he pulled out a plain pair of pants and a green shirt, Amber hopped off the bed and snatched them from him. "No, no, no. Go get in the shower, and I'll lay your outfit for the day on the counter. Go on!" She said, tearing different items out of his closet. He only yawned and made his way towards the bathroom that they shared, stripping and hopping in. When he finished his shower, there was an outfit waiting for him, alongside a sandwich. When he peered out down the hallway towards her room, he saw that it was closed. "Eh, well. Can't get worse," he said, pulling on the different pieces to the outfit. He wolfed the sandwich down and grabbed his car keys from his room, heading out the door. When he reached school, he parked and went to the front office to receive his schedule. After grabbing a map the bell rang, and he headed towards his first class, his backpack over one shoulder. "English, huh?" He mused, walking into the room. He took a seat somewhere in the middle, beginning to introducing himself to those around him. "Rhys Griffith. Nice to meet you." Caden raised his head at the sound of the first bell and then waved back at Khloé as she ran off to her first class. Before going on his own, he turned to Sarah and said, “I guess I’ll meet up with you at Science. See you later too, okay?” He left her with a smile and started walking through the congested halls of the school building. When he made it to Mr. Calloway’s room, he took a seat in the second row of desks and waited for more people to fill in and for the lecture to begin. He kind of hoped they would just go over the syllabus and do some introductory activity instead of going into a complete lesson today. (So, this thread is dead? {{I'm not really sure... I went away for a while because my dance instructor put me through intensive training to prepare for a contest, and then I came back, and it wasn't moving... I'm pretty sure it's dead...but I liked this RP! D:}} [[I'm sorry it died. I had gotten a new computer and couldn't find this site. Yay for bad spelling -.-]][but if you liked it. I could try and create a new/same one. If you would want][[or we could just use this one still and just open more spots o. O . If no knows]]

ღ Ðσ чσu яεαℓℓч ℓσvε мε_ ღ [o p e n] full|rating:3.0

Crimson (Talia & Wynter)

Fletcher was enraged. Not just enraged, he was absolutely out of his mind. Although that was true, no one around him could guess even in the slightest. It was probably because his facial expression was so nonchalant, it gave off the impression that he was calm and collected, despite being in a dire situation. He didn't even bother to resist as the policemen cuffed both his hands behind his back, one of them roughly shoving him into the back of his car. He thought fighting was useless, or rather, he didn't quite feel like adding onto the list of casualties he had caused. Furthermore, he knew that being obedient would probably hasten his release, especially since many powerful billionaires were counting on him to eradicate their opposers. They would make sure he wasn't behind bars for long by using their own methods. The policemen were clearly walking on the clouds once they realized they had finally caught Fletcher, the vicious criminal they had been chasing for years. It took them a few moments to really believe that they had been successful, mainly because Fletcher was known to have all sorts of tricks up his sleeve. He was a master of deception. Fortunately for the policemen, Fletcher hadn't really expected their arrival this time, which is why they managed to catch him off-guard. To be fair, Fletcher did expect a larger risk on his latest mission, as he had been paid to kill the mayor, whose house had the highest security in the city. It was no wonder the police got to him so quickly. He had probably set off some stupid silent alarm system. Rich people and their fancy technology. I should've called back up, damn it. Fletcher was mentally cursing himself as the car he was in arrived at the police station, along with other cars following behind. He had overestimated his skills this time, which was why he found himself being shame-walked into his cell. He could hear snarky policemen pass around smug comments about him, but he let it out the other ear. Clearly, they weren't aware that if Fletcher wanted, he could take them down with one blow. Unfortunately, he didn't want to cause more of a chaos. The people he helped were supposed to remain anonymous, so if he did something too big that garnered too much government attention, nobody would ever pay him again. He simply directed a cold glare towards them, one that was enough to make the policemen forget their names. The terrified policemen were daunted by Fletcher's glare, so they quickly looked away and down at their shoes. Fletcher couldn't help but let a smirk play on his lips. Looking around the police station, he realized just how much the policemen feared him. Perhaps because he was at least 3 foot taller than any man in the station. It was clear who held the position of dominance, even though he was being jailed. The prison officers then took him to his cell, which was a few levels under the basement. The lift that took them there was terribly maintained, with rust, dust and dirt all over. It made a squeaky sound as it moved. In fact, when Fletcher arrived at the cell, he realized it would've been a worse punishment for him to live in the lift as opposed to the cell. That's how bad the lift was. That wasn't to say the cell was good, though. It was horrible. The floor was very dirty, the lighting rather dim. There was a bed, or rather an excuse of a bed, in the corner of the room. The bedsheets were ripped and stained, as if things weren't already bad enough. Fletcher mentally groaned, clearly annoyed at the treatment he was being given. He still didn't say much, so the frustration inside him just built up more and more. Thankfully, the warden removed his cuffs, tying him to chains instead. Before he did that, though, he and a few other wardens pulled Fletcher's shirt over his head. The cold air nipped at his skin, making him realize just how freezing the temperature was. He didn't like it at all. "Not the shirt, you fuckers." It was the first words he had said to them, and they were laced in a bitter, cold tone that was enough to intimidate the wardens. He glared at all of them, gesturing for them to hand his shirt back." Shut the fuck up," one of the bolder wardens said, before he brought his fist across Fletcher's face in a swift motion, his fist connecting with Fletcher's jaw. Fletcher felt his jaw throb in pain his eyes squinting from the impact. "Fuck," he spat the blood that trickled down his lips. To the wardens' surprise, though, he smiled after a moment of recovering himself. "Nice one." The wardens were baffled at his reaction, and they decided not to test Fletcher further. The chains were beside the flimsy bed, so all Fletcher could do was either sleep or sit upright on his bed. It wasn't much freedom, but at that moment, Fletcher wasn't willing to complain. He was rather exhausted, so he willingly took his seat on the bed and let himself be chained to the wall. Before he knew it, the warden was gone and all he had were four gray walls enclosing him, with the only source of light coming from the flickering dim lamp above him. "Hey, get up, kid." A rough voice was the first thing that pulled Lorene from her sleep, and judging from the irritation that was lilting its words, the speaker must've repeated themselves quite a few times already. The girl cracked her eyes open, blurry from fatigue and squinting in response to the offending light that was nearly blinding. Leisurely, and clearly taking a time, she slowly pushed herself up from where she'd been resting her head on her desk, among the neat stacks of paper and orderly organization of pens and stationary." Mm, what is it?" She yawned, leaning back in her chair and folding her arms. She was on her two-hour break... Well, it was only an hour, but with the privileges that came with being the chief's daughter, she decided to gift herself some extra time. Regardless, she always took a nap during it and though she wasn't looking at a clock, her mental one was telling her that she still had about twenty minutes of snooze time left. Her displeasure was evident from the way that she was glaring up at the man with an icy gaze and slight pout pulling at her lips. The man, an older officer named Tom, simply sighed at her annoyance and spoke with a drawl, "Look, your dad wants you to go monitor underground level 4." Those words managed to get Lorene's attention because she was suddenly perking up, eyes wide and back straight. "What do you mean?" She questioned, "Nobody's there." That level was for the absolute worst criminals, the top priority ones who shouldn't have the privilege to be anywhere near an exit like the cells on the upper levels. They hadn't had somebody held there in years. Noticing her interest, the older man smirked. "Kid, you miss so much on your naps, we caught Fletcher." That's honestly all she needed to hear before she was jumping out of her seat and quickly slipping into her discarded jacket, straightening out her uniform and slipping her gun into its holster. This was the most excitement she'd felt in her years working here. Fletcher was a real criminal. Not just one that got brought in for petty theft or public indecency. He was a murderer, a notorious one. And he'd finally been caught - all under the watch of her father, she was so proud. She wanted to see him. Wanted to see what the face of somebody like that looked like. The face of someone who had taken so many lives. Was he old or young? Tall or short? He had to be strong right? Or maybe he was more of a lanky type that relied on distance weapons. Admittedly until now, the police had never known much about him other than his name. The ride down was horrendously slow, the girl bouncing anxiously in the old, dirty lift. When it finally arrived, it took all of her poise and control not to run out straight to the only occupied cell. Instead, she lifted her chin up and pressed her shoulders back, walking out with almost a saunter and approaching the cell slowly until she stopped in front of the metal bars and peered in. Oh. That was... unexpected. The man inside looked younger than she anticipated. His face wasn't mangled and twisted, if anything, it was traditionally handsome, would be youthful yet the age and darkness in his eyes said otherwise. His body was what she expected, tall and threateningly strong - the type of man that even her father would be wary of. A little bit of dried blood rested on his lip, and she smirked, somebody must've gotten a punch in. No matter what he looked like, Lorene wasn't swayed. She knew all the bad things he'd done. He deserved to be here. At first, she simply turned away and maintained her spot in front of the cell. Since he was the only one here, there was no point in pacing or patrolling around. That was fine at first. But soon the silence became deafening. Her feet grew sore and her mind heavy. Only a few minutes had passed, but it felt like ages. She was curious, too curious for her own good. That curiousness mixed with ego and pride was an awful combination. Well... He hadn't gotten caught by the police until now, somebody ought to taunt him a little, let him know his place. Without bothering to try and convince herself not to, Lorene turned around and fished the keys from her pocket, easily opening the cell and slipping inside in a cat-like manner, eyes gleaming mockingly and lips pulling into an almost fiendish smile." Hmm, never thought you'd get here, did you?" She hummed, no introduction or anything. As if that was needed, this wasn't a formal setting. Far from it. The guard moved forward until she could reach out and grab Fletcher's red hair, twisting it in her grip a little as she craned his head to the side as though examining his features. "You could only escape us for so long, though. Rats like you deserve to be in a cage. Lucky for you, you'll probably stay here till you rot." Fletcher, by nature, was rather calm. That's not to say he was patient, because he was really impatient, but he was calm. Meaning that if he was left alone, he probably wouldn't mind - in fact, he would prefer it. Being in a cell allowed him to think, to plan, to wonder. These were the things he was the best at, since it is his thought process that let him commit the most dangerous of crimes. This is why being alone was beneficial to him. What the government thought was a punishment, by isolating him, they were only giving him the freedom to think more. And when he was able to think, it only meant his plan for escape would emerge even sooner. It was funny to him how much people underestimated criminals. In Fletcher's opinion, the crime families he had known were often the most intellectual. They were sophisticated in every move, their crimes beginning and ending ever so smoothly and executed with utmost finesse. It was these qualities that he marvelled about crime lords, and it was why he learned to be the very best from them. In fact, his attachment to his crime family was the reason why he had gotten many symbols tattooed on his back and neck. They represented a lot of different things about him, and though the phoenixes and flames on his back and the dagger on his neck were quite the sight, he would never let anyone touch them. There were people that tried to in the past, they all ended up with broken arms and legs in return. It was clear he was protective of his past. But for someone so attached to what used to be his crime family, he barely ever mentioned them. Correction: he never mentioned them. There he was, seated on the bed with both legs sprawled out, his head leaning against the flaky wall. His mind was buzzing with thoughts as he looked up at the ceiling blankly. He actually felt a little relaxed... Not for long though, because he heard the sound of the door closing. Immediately, his jaw clenched when he looked towards where the sound came from, his eyes finding a rather young woman dressed in a uniform. Even though a warden's uniform was probably the most unflattering piece of clothing ever, the female made it look good. He inferred that she was one of the wardens. He was about to groan to hint that he didn't want company, but he decided to hold it back, curious to see what she was about to do. The woman, from the way she walked, seemed rather confident. He wasn't used to such positive energy being around him, it was almost sickening. Still, his eyes were glued to her body. He couldn't help raising an eyebrow as she began to speak to him, slightly taken aback by her voice. Her voice was suitable for someone of her face and figure. She was petite, and her face radiated beauty. Her voice, too, was soothing to the ears. It was surprising to Fletcher that someone like her would want a job at such a shitty place. Suddenly, Fletcher was caught off-guard once again as he felt a tug at the back of his head, a sharp stretch being felt at the side of his neck. He couldn't help but groan at the sudden movement, which strained the muscles in his neck a little. His body tensed up as the woman grabbed onto his red locks, asserting her control over him. It was a little hard for him to believe that a woman like her had so much authority in her. He listened to what she had to say to him, and though it was degrading, he couldn't help but laugh a little. His laugh sounded a little strained from her grip on him, but he couldn't help his amusement from seeing how the woman was reacting to him. It didn't take long for his laugh to fade away though, as his expression fell back into one that was stone-cold. He looked her right in her eyes as he said, "You seem a little too confident for someone who's so clueless." Honestly, Lorene wasn’t exactly sure what she’d been expecting when she had decided to taunt the man. After all, she’d never done anything like this before. It was uncharted territory; exciting, yet with the obvious risks. It wasn’t as though she were too afraid of Fletcher himself, per se, but rather the thought of getting caught by another warden was frightening. Much less her father. She’d get into trouble and God, she couldn’t handle a demotion and going back to her old, boring desk job. Regardless, to have Fletcher laugh was something that certainly caught her off guard. She faltered for a moment, haughty expression dropping as he suddenly changed his expression into one of a piercing glare and dated to call her clueless. Maybe she’d been walking into the offense the second that she decided to do this but still, she felt that wound her pride as though a sword had been pierced through her chest.“Clueless?” She countered, letting go of his hair in irritation, making sure to push his head back against the wall before she withdrew by a few steps, yet still remained in the small cell. It was clear that he’d offended her, and she wasn’t bothering to hide the fact, her expression twisted into one of dislike and irritation. “How am I clueless? Don’t make claims when you’re clearly in no place to be running your mouth.” She huffed and folded her arms, looking down at the man petulantly. Maybe she would’ve just left by now if he’d said nothing, but Lorene was mad and Fletcher was now the unfortunate victim of her spite. “Men like you disgust me,” she said with clear hostility, “How can you even live with yourself knowing how many people you’ve killed? How many families have you torn apart? How many widows and orphans have you made?” Her teeth sunk into her lip as she thought about it, shaking her head slightly at the mental image. “You’re a cocky little fucker. Got too arrogant and now you’re caught. You must be so sad.” Fletcher was amused, and he felt a beam of triumph when he noticed the woman's expression falter. It was clear he had the upper hand in the game, whatever the game really was. He didn't really know why the female was here, but he was going to make sure she left his cell regretting she ever came. She clearly didn't know how merciless and cruel Fletcher could be with his words, let alone his actions. His actions were a whole other story. Once again, Fletcher found his head knocked against the wall lightly as she let him go, the action wounding his ego a lot more than it did his head. He did the best he could to stretch his sore neck, but there wasn't much he could do when he was chained. His hands tugged at the chains a little, and he watched where the chains ended at the walls, wondering if they were as strong as he thought they were. His attention was directed back to the snappy female, who now was more annoying to him than attractive as she has begun her verbal essay. He grunted a little when he listened to her trying to guilt-trip him, before rolling his eyes a little as he looked away from her. Clearly, he was still trying to keep his composure, even though the woman was starting to get on his nerves. He sighed out once she asked him a question about his guilt, answering her curtly. "I live with myself nevertheless, sweetheart"—the word sweet rolling off his tongue in the most bitter way—"and what are you going to do about it? Hit me? Go ahead. I'd like to see what dainty little flowers like you can do." There's a confrontational tone in the way he spoke, and his eyebrows were raised, as if he meant to challenge her. He watched her as she bit her lip, a little part of him twitching almost immediately. His attention was drawn to her lips, which were rather nice to look at. Pink, soft and plump. What a shame the words that passed through her lips were intolerable. What she said next, though, started to get him to lose his temper significantly. He felt himself tense a lot more than before as he spoke, "Cocky little fucker, huh? Look, I'd suggest you get out of her before you regret it. I don't need you here to mother me, so leave me thefuckalone," his voice is now much lower than before, and though his tone isn't loud, there's still a chilling nature to it. Almost like a growl. He wasn't playing games anymore, and neither was he in the mood to. Lorene's father always preached about patience and the virtue of turning the other cheek. He wasn't blunt or confrontational as she was, he tended be quiet and on the verge of brooding. He spoke when necessary and only acted when necessary. Lorene was the opposite, she perhaps ran her mouth a bit too much, she was too lively and too argumentative. Maybe it was all the pent-up energy that she never got to let out. When she looked down at Fletcher, it was with a challenging gaze, eyes fiery and mixed with pure spite. Howdah he talks to her like that. As though he had the right. He really didn't know when to just shut up and accept a loss." I don't think you're in the position to be suggesting anything to me," She countered, voice practically a growl. She felt her fist unconsciously clench, winching slightly as her nails dug into the skin of her palm. Regret it? As though he could make her regret anything. He talked a big game for somebody in his position, ran his mouth in ways that he didn't even deserve to. She wouldn't leave him alone simply because that's exactly what he wanted and now that she knew it, Lorene would just do the exact opposite. Without even thinking, she tightened her fist and took a step forward, swinging it at Fletcher's jaw that already seemed to have taken a hit earlier. Usually she knew not to throw with her full strength, or even to punch prisoners in the first place. But he deserved it... more importantly she was pissed. So naturally, she put her entire weight behind the throw, which was surprisingly strong given her height and stature. A benefit of having been trained by her father from such a young age. The feeling of her knuckles connected with her skin was satisfying, but she didn't linger in the sensation, simply taking a step back and huffing, shaking off her hand slightly. "Call me a flower again, and I'll kill you," She warned, the words shouldn't have had any honesty to them, but it sounded like a genuine threat. Fletcher could see how much the woman was affected by what he had said. Perhaps it was a little too much. Nah, Fletcher liked to think we had just getting started. Once again, he felt the feeling of victory swarming through his body, causing him to sit up straighter then he was before, his posture now exuding the confidence he felt. He returned her glare with his, his hazel eyes stern yet his lips relaxed." Who are you to decide the positions, really?" he questioned once she countered him. He watched as her body tensed up. She looked deep in thought, almost as if she was thinking of something. His patience, on the other hand, was reaching its brim. He was getting restless from all this useless banter going on between the two of them. While she took some time to retaliate, he looked back down at the chains, the tense muscles in his arms now tugging at the chains, seeing how good they really were at holding him back. After all, the state jail was in an absolute mess. It couldn't be that their chains were some mystical strategy. He was sure that they were just as bad as the walls of his cell, he just had to figure out how. He began tugging at them a little harder, and then he gave them one sharp pull, watching as the chains actually gave in to the force. The chains' grip on the wall had become much weaker, but they still wouldn't budge. Perhaps another tug would -Before he could process any further, he felt a sharp pain on his cheek, followed by his neck being turned harshly from the impact. This blow hurt even more than the first one, since it landed on the same sore spot. Fletcher's sight went a little blurry from the blow, his entire face aching. He could taste blood on his lips once again as he coughed violently to get rid of its taste, spitting it out. It took him awhile of recovering before he finally realized what had happened. He looked back at the woman, this time absolutely enraged. He was seeing red, and his conscience had completely vanished for it to stop him anymore." I'll show you," he grunted, his voice low. Using all the energy in him, he gave the chains one strong pull. He had no mercy left inside him anymore, almost like how he felt before he would commit a crime. He had had enough of being thrown around. Furthermore, he had to show them who he really was. Furthermore, he couldn't afford wardens coming around, throwing punches at him. Who did she think she was? The chains came falling off the walls effortlessly, as if they were feathers. They were heavy around his wrists, but he still managed to push himself off the couch in one swift motion. He lunged towards the woman in a fury, shoving her onto the wall behind her, he pinned both her wrists on either side of her head onto the wall. Once he had made sure she was slammed against the wall, and he was in a position of dominance, he knew he had won the game of power play. So, even after all the shit that woman had given him in that hour or two, he still managed to smirk in her direction. "Didn't think the tables would turn this fast, did you?" It wasn't as though the chains had been made from the strongest material in the world, or anything close to it. But they were steel - steel attached to a concrete wall. It was practically impossible to get out of them, much less to rip them away from their bindings with sheer strength. Never had this happened before - even the worst criminals that Lorene had the pleasure of guarding had gotten anywhere close. Though admittedly, it was more than amusing to watch them throw Missy fits and try an escape by thrashing around violently, only to see it end with them giving up and collapsing in exhaustion. It was like watching a child throw a tantrum because they didn't get a candy. Lorene honestly wasn't sure what was happening, everything was going on faster than her mind could keep up with. One minute she'd been shaking away the throb of her hand that came from punching Fletcher, then the next, she was stumbling backwards and feeling her back hit against the hard wall. The impact made her give a slightly pained gasp, and she barely struggled as her hands were moved above her head. With a dazed expression, she looked up at the man looming over her, confusion swimming in her slightly clouded gaze. Then a low voice spoke out, and as though a switch in her mind were flicked, Lorene realised what was going on. Her eyes widened and behind the evident expression of anger was also fear. Her heart suddenly felt as though it were about to beat out of her chest and her mind was in utter chaos. What was she supposed to do? Nothing like this had ever happened before. A criminal was touching her, caging her in, she felt disgusted. Instinctively she started thrashing in his hold, letting out a fully enraged hiss as she also kicked her legs out, trying to force a separation between them. What did he think he was even doing? Judging by his horrible, yet admittedly impressive criminal record, Fletcher was no idiot. He had to realise what consequences would come from this right? He had to know the repercussions. Maybe he just didn't care. Lorene hated that, he had no respect for anything. Once she got out of this situation, she'd be sure to teach him a lesson." This isn't funny," She spat, as though he were just trying to mess around and make a pathetic attempt at a joke. "Let me go, you fucker. You're going to regret this." Fletcher’s own strength, sometimes, really marveled him. Even he found it hard to believe that he had managed to break through steel chains. It wasn’t too hard to believe, though, because the burning sensation on his wrists reminded him how real his action was. He made a mental note not to do it again. He couldn’t injure his wrists since he used them to stab knives and what not. His wrists were important to him, weird as it sounded. His brown eyes were now staring down coldly into the woman’s green eyes. He could tell she was scared from the fear she reflected in her eyes. Now that he was up close, he could see that she was indeed beautiful. The dim light seemed to caress her features well enough for him to see the sharpness and symmetry in them. If she wasn’t so annoying, she would’ve been much more attractive to him. Snapping out of his thoughts, his grip on her wrists tightened even more when she tried to struggle, it didn’t really hurt him as much as it threatened to make him laugh. He didn’t really laugh, though, but he did find it funny. The woman had a lot of courage, that much he could appreciate.“You’re wrong, this is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice laced with the slightest bit of humor. His jaw clenched when she started to cuss at him, not liking her tone one bit. His fingers dug into her wrists in an attempt to shut her up as he neared her, his body pressing hers up against the wall, recovering any distance that she had tried to create between the two of them. His face was inches apart from her hers, his eyes never leaving her gaze once. “Tell me your name,” he simply demanded. In the long run, this was her own fault. She was the one who had opened the cell, who had walked in and decided to start taunting Fletcher, as though that would possibly be a good idea. After all, even if he could break out of his chains, there was no way that he would also somehow be able to break himself out of the cell. As prideful as Lorene was, even in a moment like this, she could acknowledge her own stupidity. Maybe if she'd punched a little harder, or moved away a little faster... Then she wouldn't be in this position. When the elder pressed closer, the proximity just became suffocating. This was too close, way too close. She didn't know where things were heading, but it didn't take a genius to be aware of the fact that the outcome wasn't exactly going to be one that favored her or her interests. Anxiously, her gaze darted around the cell. There was only a security camera in the hallway, so nobody would be able to see them right now. If she screamed for help, nobody would hear - they were levels underground. After seemingly realizing that the only person who could help her in this instant was herself, Lorene looked back over to Fletcher. His face was too close, she could stare into the depths of his eyes, yet she saw nothing. He was guarded, he kept his emotions locked away. She'd seen the same type of apathy before - it was haunting." Lorene," She found herself answering to him without a second thought, even though she'd originally intended on spitting out a harsh 'fuck you' instead. By this point, her struggles had turned more to simple squirming and leaning her head as far back as it would go. She told herself she was just resting for a moment to get her strength back, but she knew the reality was that she was desperately trying to figure out a way to get out. Because fighting wasn't working." Let me go now," She said cool, surprised by the own stability in her voice, "You've made your point. If you're looking for respect, I still think of you like trash. That won't change." “Lorene,” the name rolled off his tongue slowly, as if he was enjoying how it sounded coming from his mouth. He groaned as she continued to ask him to release her, shaking his head afterward. “You think you can treat me however you like and get away with it?” his voice was flavored with just a little bit of annoyance, though most of it was calm and composed, “that’s cute, but it’s not happening.” His grip now loosened on her wrists just a little, his eyes flickering from her eyes, to her soft, rosy lips. He suddenly got an idea, a rather playful one. He wanted to tease her, see her at her most vulnerable. Perhaps a little fooling around wouldn’t hurt. He least down, fitting his face into the curve of her neck. He took in a breath, inhaling her scent. It didn’t take long for his lips to find her neck, and he started to nip at her soft skin, leaving bright red marks on her as his kisses trailed down her neck. His hands slid down her wrists, judging it was safe to release her since she would be too distracted to fight back. His hands continued to trial down her arms, towards her shoulders. Before he knew it, his hands had found their way to both her breasts. He gave her a sneaky grope, waiting to see how she would react. She couldn’t see the slightest smile that appeared on his lips as he bit her neck a little harshly this time. It wasn't Lorene's proudest moment to admit that she'd gone into an utter shock. Her eyes glazed over with a distant expression as she glanced over Fletcher's shoulder towards the wall, looking almost as though she was staring through it. All she could think about was how disappointed her father would be if he saw this. His lips were trailing down her neck, gliding across the sensitive skin almost leisurely, not slow - yet not rushed or hasty either. The nips he gave made her flinch slightly, but not enough to bring her from her stupor. The marks would surely be noticeable on the skin that was usually milky and smooth, they'd be an utter bitch to try and cover up. When his hands traveled down and then inwards, her lower lip started to quiver because everything was starting to make sense. She'd tried to ignore this possibility at first, but the way his movements were so carnal driven just made her veins pump with heavy dread. He squeezed her chest while his teeth sunk into her neck harsher than before, and she finally flinched away, trying to lean opposite of the touches. But effectively, she was just stuck between two walls because Fletcher certainly wasn't budging." You're disgusting," She hissed, trying to make her voice sound harsh, but it came out as more of a scared whimper, breaths becoming visibly quicker and somewhat more erratic. "Don't fucking touch me, do you want this on your record as well? Let me go right now, a-and I... I won't tell anybody this happened." He could see her body react to even the slightest of his touch. He even realized how easy it was to get her flustered, much easier than he thought it was. Earlier, his intensions had been to simply tease her, but now that he watched how hard it was to catch her breath, he didn't want it to stop. He wanted to go further, just how far he could bend her before she broke completely. He was amused at how quickly she had gone from threatening him to pleading him. And he loved the way she sounded when she was helpless. He wasn't sure how far he wanted to go, all he knew was that he couldn't stop now. He felt his teeth grit when he heard her trying to command him, and he abruptly brought his hands away from her chest, pinning one of her hands back to the wall." You really don't get it, do you? You're not in charge anymore," he asserted, glaring at her. He had had enough of her trying to cling onto her pride. He wanted to show her what she was worth, for once and for all. In one swift motion, his other hand slipped underneath the waistband of pants, and then underneath her panties. His fingers searched for the bundle of nerves between her thighs, gliding through them. She was soaking wet. "Ah, a virgin, I suppose? Wet even at the slightest touch. You must be desperate." He liked teasing her a lot, and he pulled her pants down, along with her panties, letting them sit around her lower thighs. It gave him easier access to her, especially since the chains around his wrist were already hindering his motion. The chains made a clanging sound as he pushed Lorene's legs slightly apart for a brief moment. Without warning, he slipped one of his fingers into her hole, going inside of her as far as he could. He felt how tight she was, groaning a little. He knew it was going to be painful, and he liked it. Eagerly, without giving her time to react, he slipped another two of his fingers inside of her, starting to penetrate her with them. In case she was going to protest, he quickly pressed his lips to hers, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss. It wasn't passionate as much as it was rough. He was aggressive in his every action as his fingers began to penetrate deeper and deeper inside her hole, her wetness starting to cover his fingers. He kissed her hard enough to make sure she couldn't breathe, let alone speak. His tongue found hers easily, and he paused a few times just to bite her lip. The grip he had on one of her hands tightened, and he pushed his chest against hers as he kissed her, forcing her lower body to arch such that her hole was in the perfect angle for his fingers to penetrate her. He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy having control over her. Any words or noises that Lorene could have possibly thought to make were drowned out by the kiss - all of her focus had to go towards trying to get enough breath considering that panicking and having a foreign tongue shoved into your mouth was not a good mix. The lack of air made her feel light-headed and dizzy, almost more focused on the sensations overwhelming her opposed to proper thoughts of how to escape. She really had no option to fight back by this point, even if it weren't for the intensity of the kiss, then it would be because the grip which he had on her was broodingly tight and the way their bodies were pressed firmly together. The best sound that she could get out was something along the lines of a pathetic whimper. Despite her best attempts to squeeze her thighs together as some sort of defense mechanism, his fingers still stayed inside of her, stretching her tight walls in a way that they'd never before been stretched. He was embarrassingly right, she was a virgin. She'd always been so focused on work that she never really bothered with anything like flirting or dating, much fewer hookups. Sure, she'd touched herself before but nothing ever felt like this. It hurt, yet mixed in with the pain was also pleasured. Doing this felt wrong... morally. But her body was responding so well, Hell, she was dripping wet and couldn't stop it, even if she was trying. Fuck. She shouldn't enjoy this, yet her hips were unconsciously rolling slightly, as though riding on Fletcher's fingers. The hand whose wrist the criminal wasn't grabbing on was really the only part of her body that she had control over, and really, even that was limited. Slowly, movements heavy with uncertainty and hesitation, she trailed her hand down towards his groin. Her fingers found the outline of what she assumed was his growing erection and nervously traced along it. She wasn't sure if the action was driven by curiosity or need. The thought to just jerk her hand forward quickly and punch him there crossed her mind, it wasn't a bad idea, but that just might irritate him more and... obviously her body wasn't reacting the ways she wanted it to, or listening to her commands. Fletcher was having fun asserting his dominance over the petite girl, until he felt her hand on his groin. Immediately, he felt a tingling sensation in his core, followed by the hardening of his member. He abruptly stopped kissing Lorene, the warmth of her mouth leaving his. He could feel himself stiffen at her touch, a small ache penetrating his body. "Fuck, stop that," he groaned (not sure if he really meant it), his eyes trailing down to her small hand over his large bulge, which intensified his erection even more than before. He knew he didn't want to be pleasured by her, mainly because once he started he wouldn't stop. His motive at first was to torture her, but he was starting to question if he was doing it because he enjoyed it instead. He slipped a fourth finger now, her wall having to accommodate for the space. He could tell he was pushing her limit. Furthermore, he wanted her to come, he wanted her to lose her dignity at that moment. Furthermore, he started to thrust his fingers inside of her even faster, even deeper and even harder. The hand on his groin distracted him, so he released the grip off her wrist just to force her other hand off of his groin, guiding it back up to his chest. "Look at you, so weak and harmless," he teased, laughing at her state. He had managed to control his erection for that period of time, fortunately. He used his free hand to grab her shirt by the collar, restricting her movement. "Come for me, you slut. Or I won't let you leave," he threatened, his voice suddenly a few tones darker. His eyes glistened, as if they assured her he wasn't lying. The girl's fingers curled into a fist against Fletcher's chest, wet tears forming a steady stream down her cheeks. "N-No..." She moaned miserably, words slurred and messy, she shook her head with short and jerky movements, given her limited range of mobility. Lorene's body was reacting in ways that made her feel awful, knowing that she absolutely no control over it. He had four fingers inside of her and the stretch absolutely burned, sending pangs of pain throughout her body, but the way he was vigorously pumping them in and out of her was causing her lower stomach to flutter and tighten, an intangible coil growing more and more taught and taught with each second. She didn't want to come, she didn't want to give in. Fletcher was right, at this moment she was weak and harmless - she was pathetic. But what would make her more pathetic was giving in, was letting herself actually admit that this felt good. Her thighs squeezed together defensively, and she gave soft sobs, body quivering with the increasing amount of effort it took to keep in control of herself. She wanted to leave so bad. But he said he wouldn't let her until she did what he wanted. "Daddy..." The name slipped out softly, almost apologetically. She wasn't calling Fletcher that, but rather quietly calling out for her own father who surely wouldn't hear. Only a few seconds after that, she couldn't hold on any longer and finally let herself go, cries mixing with moans as her walls tightened around his fingers, and she came, squeezing her eyes shut to try and hide herself from the shame, hating the euphoric sensation that flooded through her veins.

Crimson (Talia & Wynter)|rating:3.0

Taking Shapes (Loony and LivingGarment)

The bustling cityscape below the Centerville building, a big skyscraper owned by a group of changelings. Throughout history, myths of vampires, werewolves, dragons, and the like have been fully attributed to these creatures. Nowadays they just meld into human society in two groups, one who viewed themselves better than humans, and the other viewed them as equals. There had been a ceasefire for a few hundred years now and their battles turned into more duel like affairs, meant for sport, ways to show one of the two houses were better without life loss. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(wasn't interested in the duel he was waiting for, as he looked out to the view from the roof. He had been picked to be their next duelist, for some strange reason. His red hair in his human form flowed in the wind, he had picked up this look from one of the clerks in the lower floors. Never really one to be with a definitive identity, which didn't usually sit as well with his peers. Most of his kind had either picked a definite gender for human transformations or at least a single look for themselves. LyX had neither, and preferred it that way, he saw himself as a true shape-shifter, no perceived identity, this didn't mean he was confused by it. Far from it, he reveled in the fact he was this way. The freedom to become anything he saw fit, not tied down by the 'humanity' his kind tried to adopt. Xyx knew not why he was summoned for a duel, but, it may have been the fact he hadn't fertilized or been fertilized by another of his kind. He had ample time to, for being a 134-year-old he wasn't naive to what that usually involved. He just didn't seek such, it wasn't a priority. His peers might just disagree. He had thought about the terms of their duel, should he be the runner, or should he give chase, either way would be just wasted energy to him, if he gave chase at lease he had the ability to end the fight without giving into what his clan wanted. "So you're finally here?" A black speck on the ground quickly spurted up, forming into a young girl with black hair and a determined look. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide("About time, Axis right? Pleased to meet you, my name's Zoo loo. I hope we can have a good duel." She stepped til she was right up to him, despite being taller she wasn't intimidated, "so what's up? You ready to fight?" she grins, "want to be the chaser or the runner? I'm happy either way, but you know the law about a five second head-start right?" She reached up to move part of her hair out of the way. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(He looked over to the spec well before she shifted into a determined looking young woman, "I'm on time, noon, on the dot." he said to her saying 'about time', "If the duel will keep those old fogies off my tail, I suppose we will." he said to her comment on hoping they had a good duel. To be honest, he found this to be a waste of time. Though he usually just lazed his days away as either some bird, or even as some sort of object in the park. He saw her step up to him, he wasn't trying to look intimidating at all, in fact he couldn't care less about his apparent looks, he just adopted it as a formality. He head her ask 'what's up', and merely shrugged, "I suppose so, I would rather be somewhere else to be frank." he stood there shifting, going to a similar form to hers, his transformation seemed unpolished compared to most of their kind, most just taking a look close to that of clay, his seemed more of a fluid rock, all jagged in between shifts. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(looked at her in this new form, still remaining slightly taller, 'he' only to keep things simplistic when they formed as a human spoke, "I'd rather give chase. As much as a hassle it would be, I'd prefer not to be fertilized by someone, just yet." he said, knowing they didn't have to go that far, but, some of his kind had during their duels. "Yes, yes, you actually can take as much time as you need to run." LyX said in a kinda unamused tone. Feeling as though this duel would take forever. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(Zoo loo looked up at the taller girl, not liking the fact she appeared to be trying to "outdo" her. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(Zoo loo changed, there seemed to be a shimmer and then the brief illusion of atoms rearranging themselves. The young man smirked down at the now-shorter redhead." You might want to get an actual game face on, doll face," his lips found their way to her cheek." Gonna come get me?" Before LyX could answer, Zoo had flown into the sky on a pair of glossy black wings. The raven cawed almost mockingly down at him. LyX honestly wasn't trying to 'outdo' anyone, they merely didn't like to create new constructs, especially since he didn't identify enough with any one form. The fact Zoo loo changed form after they had made them feel awkward. But, soon after towering over Axis, and a gentle peck on the cheek making their female face blush, LyX saw zoo fly off before they could say anything. LyX counted slowly to five before shifting into a falcon darting after Zoo. This might be a worthwhile exercise after all. Xyx's speed overtook Zoo easily, the five seconds didn't even matter, the gray and red colored falcon tried to keep pace, knowing the Zoo loo raven could out maneuver them, if Zoo felt to. The Zoo raven was of course, expecting something predatory. How else does one catch a bird if not as a bird? Despite the falcon's speed, the raven's reaction time meant that grabbing it would not be as big an issue to Zoo loo as initially thought. With a swift move to the side the raven found itself being dive-bombed by the raptor. This was not going to go down so easily! Quickly diving, the raven swooped low to the roof of the building, dodging another attack before transforming into a cobra, hissing in preparation for a strike. As LyX expected, Zoo reacted faster than LyX could anticipate, bringing them to a low roof, noticing the change to a cobra, preparing for a counter. Acting quick just as it landed a few feet still in full speed flight now to a full speed rush changing into a Wolverine. Running to attack, keeping on guard for bites, dodging Zoo's first lunge, gently biting down on a part of the snakes middle, not trying to hurt it. Whipping about tossing the snake around slightly. The LyX Wolverine let go before rushing again. Zoo's lunge missed, and then the cobra was swung about, hissing in annoyance. The wolverine flung Zoo a few feet away, not wanting to hurt them, however the black cobra would not go down so easily. Xyx's form would rush to the cobra only to find a sprouting black plant. Before the wolverine's eyes, a tall dark oak tree grew into being, clearly Zoo was taunting them now. It didn't take LyX long to find an answer to this taunt Zoo was displaying, as the wolverine he began to climb the growing tree dodging any branches trying to nab or strike him, shifting into a monkey to climb quicker then the falcon again to burst upwards over the tree flying high just before turning yet again. He changed into a very large tarp, falling down onto Zoo, quickly covering the tree's top, still proceeding downwards. LyX was able to cover enough to manipulate Zoo gently changing part of it's branches into sensitive pleasure nerves, as if he would be trying to fertilize her. Xyx was merely doing it to tease her, and even throw her off balance, but LyX wasn't going to tell Zoo that. LyX still thought that Zoo was told to duel with them to make LyX either be fertilized or fertilize Zoo. More evident when Zoo kissed their cheek in LyX's mind. Zoo tried very hard not to flinch as the wolverine flew up her trunk, her branches flicked to try and get the wolf off only t find that - no! - it was a red monkey! Then it was no longer a monkey but a falcon again! Then a tarp! Oh, no! The tree visibly wiggles, trying to avoid LyX's descent, but of course there was no stopping them! Bad enough that Zoo had a moment of insane desperation as she tried to figure out what was a good form to escape - then she felt something change! Ah! LyX was changing her! The pleasurable areas wiggled as the tree doubled under the sensation. The surrounding tarp touched the ground, and it almost seemed like she had been caught-WHOOP, the Tarp was thrown off. Emerging from beneath the red tarp was a woman made of black obsidian; she was nude but otherwise resembled her original form. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide("Not bad LyX, want to turn this from a chase to a fight?" she offers the red rag. The red tarp soon morphed into an ooze like creature, which then morphed into a very similar shape to Zoo. Staying in a liquid form, LyX was able to speak, "WWW, come on, that would be too much work now. You could have just submitted when I caught you." LyX spoke in almost exhausted tones, he didn't want this to last too much longer, which is why he chose this form. "I could tell you wanted to, you thought about it." he teased. "I suppose they promised a strong mate for you through me. It's why you are here, right? Have a strong older one fertilize you, allowing you pass on the strength I possess to the next generation." He kinda sounded bitter about the idea, he was getting fond of the thought of humans concept of mating, getting to know one another out of these duels, then if things went well. Fertilize or be so. "You're tired?" The stone woman approached the good girl, before melting to a similar liquid state." I almost submitted, but the truth is I'm not ready to be fertilized yet. My elders want me to bad a strong heir, but I'm just a kid." The black good girl, Zoo, sat down then motioned for the red one to join her." I admit you win, ok? I'm not interested in being your mate. Not unless you want to try the whole human thing. Those people are lucky; they go on dates and get to know each other. No sense of intimacy in our culture..." "Not tired, just don't like prolonged engagements." LyX shrugged, sitting down in their liquid form, "I honestly had no intention of fertilizing you, in fact I was going to let you go as soon as you submitted anyway." he said shifting into a human form staying as big as LyX already was. "Sorry if I offend you by, well, they call it mimicking I suppose, It isn't on purpose, I just don't really feel right having a normal form like the others." LyX said getting it off their chest. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(blinked, it wasn't that Zoo wanted a human relationship that startled them, it was the fact she spoke LyX's exact mindset. They envied the humans being able to go on dates and be around each other before deciding what their next step was. Axis wanted to try it, but, most, even in his kind couldn't stand their lack of original form. Similar to LyX, Zoo returned to her human shape from before." I... did think you were trying to best me for a moment there, so for that I apologize." She blushed and looked away slightly." I actually like the fact you don't like holding one form. In fact, it really intrigues me." She smiled to the girl next to her, "what do you think? You want to try the human dating thing? If so, let's call it a fresh start"Zoo loo held out her hand to the redhead, "I'm Zoo loo, a shape-shifter. Pleased to meet you." LyX smiled gently when Zoo apologised, "it is okay, it happens quite a lot..." LyX shrugged, looking at her hand as she held it out. LyX took her hand shaking it "Um, I'm Axis, but, most just call me LyX," it felt gently weird that they were introducing each other again, but, this was to get acquainted not, just have some sort of fight. LyX hadn't really dated even though they were much older than Zoo, it was his lack of an original form that usually kept him from making bonds with people, even their own kind." It is a pleasure meeting you as well." LyX responded. "So... what do you want to do for a date?" asked Zoo. Seeing LyX's surprised reaction, Zoo chuckled." What, we both want to try it. Let's go on a human date," she smiled and motioned to the town below, "come on, I'll let you control my form if you want later?" LyX blushed slightly when Zoo mentioned controlling her form later, after their date, "um, only if you want to by then..." LyX poked their fingers together, getting up, and soon helping zoo up from her sitting position. "Let's go somewhere to eat maybe, or even a movie." LyX really hadn't had any true interaction with anyone so, it was difficult to think. "Those both sound like fun ideas," Zoo grinned, then her stomach growled." Except I think we'd better get something to eat first. Meet you at the front door to the building in ten minutes!" she called, jogging back to the door. Ten minutes later, Zoo loo stood outside the shifter's domain, looking for her red shifter friend. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(had chosen a form that was a bit more casual and a little taller than her usual form." I hope LyX likes this form. I wonder what they'll look like when they get here? Furthermore, I've never met a shifter who didn't identify with one form at least." LyX was nervous as they made their way to the entrance to the shifter domain where he knew Zoo would be waiting. From form to form they changed, wanting to have a form comfortable to them at the moment, stealing the looks of each person he passed. They were aware the others had disliked this, and in fact were whispering low about it. Xyx sighed getting through the building, changing features a dozen times over deciding to be the form of an older shifter, who had blue hair, they had changed a little bit to keep from angering the guy. LyX stood taller than Zoo loo, in a broader male form. "Alright, I'm here." LyX said in a deeper tone but, it was still identifiable as LyX. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide("Hey LyX, looking good there," smiled Zoo as he appeared." Ready to go?" she asked, taking his hand so they could walk together. Soon they were sat in a café, Zoo taking a bite from a small piece of cake." I don't really get humans, but some of them know how to cook. Have you ever tried pancakes? Oh, they are to die for!" She took a sip of her drink, which was a small soda, "so tell me about yourself LyX, do you have a goal? You strike me as the wandering lost soul type." LyX blushed lightly when Zoo spoke about them looking good. "Y-yes, I guess so," they stammered as Zoo took their hand. LyX started to walk with the female shape-shifter." Actually, I learned how to make pancakes, they defy quite a bit of logic, they are a cake, but they can be cooked like an egg, of course eggs are an ingredient but, most cases it adds what they call fluffiness, not consistency." LyX always loved to figure out how human stuff worked, he had tried living with them, but, his inability to keep one human form tended to make human interaction difficult. "Have you tried what they call doughnut? It isn't made of dough, nor is it a nut. It's quite fascinating." Xyx looked down, "I'm sorry, I trailed off there," Axis looked away after hearing Zoo ask if they had a goal, their shape changed into a smaller version of Zoo. Thankfully enough the diner was actually a human one that accepted their kind. LyX when uncomfortable had a tendency to shift into whatever or who ever they were facing. They had an air of anxiety about them, though they have been alive long enough to know how to deal with it." A goal... no, not really, I may not look or well, as the others say, act like it. But, I'm over a hundred." LyX looked away again, wishing they didn't make a bad impression or scare Zoo loo away with their flaws. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide("You're over a hundred?" Zoo smiled nonchalantly, "I actually turn a hundred next month. So you're not that much older." She watched as LyX turned itself into a little girl. Zoo couldn't help but chuckle." I haven't tried doughnuts, but we should definitely get some. Since you're that size do you want to do a big sister - little sister thing or were you looking for a mother to carry you?" That last part was a tease as she rustled LyX's hair." I'm rapidly becoming more fond of you, LyX. You're rather charming, and you have a way LF choosing forms that are adorable," nodding slightly, "want to grow back into a more adult girl? We could go 'clothes shopping' or something." LyX blushed when she talked about a big sis little sis thing, even going so far as looking for a mother. "I-it's not like that... I-it's a nervous habit... I can't help it." LyX heard that she was turning 100 next month, LyX didn't expect someone who was 100 to be so fascinated by the concept of pancakes or doughnuts as they were. "I'll be a hundred thirty-five next June." LyX said shifting to look a little older. A nearby human man, who had been watching and listening, spit out his coffee as Axis's shifting merely doubled chest size keeping a fairly young appearance. LyX paid the man no mind, humans who accepted shifters were either very good people, or just perverted ones. LyX really didn't know of any middle ground. Xyx had copied a bit of the waitress's appearance with this form. Though keeping as close to Zoo's current likeness for the most part. LyX always had a way of keeping their forms unique. LyX's blush deepened again, Zoo was fond of them!? LyX wasn't used to attention, well, positive attention anyway. "Clothes shopping is fine, it's been a while since I was able to mimic fashion. Um, I... I think I'll ask after we get there..." LyX said and then started to ask. LyX was going to ask if they could take turns being each other's clothing, it wasn't an odd thing for shifters to do. Though it was more reserved for mates, which since they were trying a humanness relationship, LyX wondered if it was close enough. Once out of earshot LyX asked their question, stammering still unable to calm their nerves. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(Zoo couldn't help but smile as LyX. There was something adorable about the red shifter. When she took on the female form, Zoo noted they were mimicking her a bit but also some other women they have spotted. She didn't mind but wanted to see LyX get creative. Then they got to the clothing store and LyX asked her a question; would she mind if they took turns becoming clothing? This caused Zoo loo to blush, for the first time since they had met, "wow, that's bold of you LyX!" she grinned, "yeah, I'll do that with you. We'll take in turns. We just need a private changing room, so no humans can watch us." Of course, as soon as they had gotten one, Zoo's eyes flashed." I can't wait to do this. Do you want to go first or shall I? And what do you want to be? Or what do you want me to be?" LyX followed Zoo as she walked through the department store, "um, I w-was thinking maybe going out and picking out clothes to mimic. A-and I'd like to shift first." LyX stammered, they couldn't believe Zoo was going with this, not just going but, running with LyX's idea. "I was thinking we could pick out an outfit for the other to shift into, or even just a piece of clothing." LyX wanted to go slow, even if they knew their bodies would be close with this idea. Even, places on their human frame where they formed intimate areas. Just thinking about being anywhere around Zoo's made them blush, though they would turn a bit to try to keep Zoo from realizing it. Of course some didn't bother with most human areas, LyX however whenever human they tended to prefer it, it added a complete feeling to their body regardless of the gender. Any clothing floating over their body only connected to their collarbone to keep a realistic appearance. Zoo was excited. Changing into inanimate stuff was sometimes more fun than moving. She needed to find something for LyX to be. She had a few ideas, but one thing stood out at the back of her mind that she wanted to suggest. However, LyX would likely need a bit more time before this idea should be suggested. Nodding to herself, Zoo walked amongst the aisles before picking out a very light, patterned red summer dress." I found your first form," she smiled to LyX, "did you pick out mine yet?" Grabbing a few more items she looked for LyX. LyX looked around the store for something simple yet, as they looked LyX felt each fabric. They loved the feeling of fabric and had an obsession with getting as close to the texture on the fabric as possible. They found a couple of tops and skirt pairs of varying colors, LyX wanted to see if they would look better in black. Xyx headed back to the changing room with her small armful. "Y-yes, when it is your turn you can keep your color, I-I just want the fabric." LyX just grabbed based on fabric, not on size, knowing they could adjust. When LyX saw the summer dress their eyes lit up, "where did you find that?" she gently touched the fabric a bright grin on their face. This was going to be fun. Once inside LyX began her change, the woman melted into a molten rock like paste as it moved onto Zoo molding itself around her frame into the dress. Adjusting to Zoo's current frame, even going so far as to change bits of her. Filling out more of her chest and adjusting her waist, wanting their new form to look wonderful on Zoo. Zoo squealed as LyX changed, wrapping around her now-nude body." You feel amazing LyX, I can't wait to- eek!" she felt her chest and waist puff out, then their waist as the light red dress fell upon them. She paused to let the changes finish, then twirled in front of the mirror." Oh LyX, we look amazing together!" she grins, shaking her hips back and forth to let LyX have the full experience." Maybe I'll just wear you out and keep you like this. But I think you've had your fun for this turn. What do you want me to be?" LyX heard her say they looked amazing together and mentioning wearing them out like that, all the while shaking her hips, which ran the skirt portion of LyX against Zoo's skin. They would have blushed if they had a face at present. The feeling of being close to her warm body as the sundress was becoming enjoyable. But, soon enough Zoo spoke about LyX having enough fun for this turn. They morphed off of Zoo turning into her image from earlier, only becoming more Zoo-like now that they didn't have the waitress for reference. "U-um, ok, let's see." They held up an outfit unlike most that they picked out. "I was thinking matching stockings..." they looked away nervously, "I was armlets, so I can create those so you don't have to stretch too thin so far." apart from how nervous LyX was they could speak their ideas. Their nervousness sprouted from their desire not to upset people. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide("You just leave it to me," Zoo grinned confidently, "I'll show you just how good I can be!" Becoming a shifting mass of particles, Zoo moved over LyX's body, taking a moment to explore. Then she extended down the redhead's body. Slim yet she had some curves. After a moment, Zoo loo settled, having become the same outfit LyX had shown her, with matching stockings and armlets. LyX kept turned from the mirror as Zoo morphed over them, they gave a gentle moan feeling her explore. They tried to keep their senses, mainly since the drawback to going complete human was arousal kinda had expected results. They noticed the armlets and how Zoo kept them connected to her main body. LyX was surprised, Zoo had mimicked the fabric texture quite well. They finally felt that the transformation had settled and looked in the mirror. Xyx blushed just as Zoo said earlier they did look great together. Even as they switched roles, they gently turned looking the motion causing gentle friction with her body. "You're just perfect," LyX said almost silently. The outfit was, of course thrilled, being worn was always amazing. At some point she'd have to convince LyX to wear a maid outfit. But she had other ideas in mind first. She wigged at being called perfect, there was another movement of particles as the naked Zoo girl hugged LyX." Do you trust me LyX?" she asked quietly, "if you merge with me, I have a form in mind I think you'll adore. You'll have to trust me though, think you can?" LyX blushed feeling the now naked Zoo hug them, "M-merge?, I don't know..." LyX said almost unsure, merging was something very intimate. But, they were enjoying Zoo's company and was getting comfortable with her. "O-okay, we can merge." they nodded trying to relax, so Zoo could merge with them. A nervous excitement for what form Zoo had in mind came over LyX, as they stood in female form naked next to an also nude Zoo. With a smile and LyX's permission, Zoo reduced once again to a swirling mass of black. LyX found itself being massaged and relaxed until it was melting back into wet clay. For a moment the two shapeless masses just rubbed against each other, sensual in of themselves, but then it began. One by one, Zoo's particles began to embed themselves deep into the red clay that was LyX, fusing slowly and sensually until there was a lump of bubbling wine red clay on the floor. The fusion had aroused both shifters, causing deep moans. Zoo's mind, partially melded with LyX's, was able to focus more, and they began to pull up into a feminine shape. Fabric billowed from their waist in both red and black, red hair flowing from the new being's back. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(a confident smile, the fused shifter looked at her majestic form in the mirror, her body and mind an even mix of the two shifters." Well, looks like you both fused. Zoo loo's identity as a female overrode LyX's lack of identity, though I feel LyX throughout my entire body. We weren't sure before, but now we know, Zoo loo loves Axis. She does!" the queen clapped her hands in joy, "well since you both seem content fused, I guess I'll just enjoy the rest of your date?" this one was dominant over the two shifters that comprised her body. Pleasure overrode all senses LyX had. They had fused once prior, but, the feeling of Zoo fusing with them was almost euphoric to them. The pleasure stopped as their transformation finished. Her new form surprised but, couldn't show it, well, not in the way LyX would expect, a gentle blush across their forms face marked Axis'What remained of LyX heard their fusion speak of Zoo loving Axis, it shocked her. More so than the goddess they became through their fusion. If it weren't for LyX being a part of them there would have been more of a celebration at the revelation of Zoo loving LyX. When the queen spoke about staying together which both sides felt a sensation of the unspoken love LyX seemed to feel for Zoo became evident, they were perfect. Though LyX didn't take control, it wasn't as if they couldn't. Though LyX had no true identity and Zoos took over below the waist shifted between different forms periodically. Perhaps the only thing that couldn't be helped, LyX was still LyX even as a fusion. Taking their new mutual feelings for an affirmative, the queen-like entity transformed into red particles, shooting up into the ventilation system, since awkward questions were not something a queen should answer." I think I'll call myself Empress," she said, more to herself (and her "parents") then anything else. She had reformed on the roof and was overlooking the city below."and I think I'll enjoy living the rest of your lives. Since you two don't seem to want to come back or anything." Empress grinned, knowing there was a 90% chance she'd likely never break down into her component selves. Zoo, being part of the same brain as LyX, signalled to her partner that maybe this had gone far enough. Shifters needed to cuddle too after all, and they could always emerge into Empress should they need or want to. Empress was already a bird and flying over the city, landing as herself in a quiet park before looking around for something to eat. Perhaps the Empress was showing suppressed desires of LyX. For they had wanted a true form they were comfortable in, which through the Empress they had found it. They didn't want to separate, but, Zoo was right, it had gone far enough, the Empress being just a combination of their strongest desires was overconfident in her assessment, LyX knew better than to stay her for long, it wasn't their nature. Their fusion wasn't them, it was one being. All alone. Something LyX once realized was the 10% that the Empress had not accounted for. A numbing tearing sensation came over them as LyX gently pushed their particles from Zoo, to reform their shapes, where Zoo became her human form right away, LyX was a puddle of goo, unmoving for the moment, they took the full brunt of the separation, which meant they were exhausted. If they had shared it, it wouldn't of been so bad, but, it was in a fit of loneliness that LyX had to separate. That itself was painful enough. Within a minute or two LyX formed into a Zoo like imitation, having very little energy for anything else. LyX and Zoo were both out of breath, and despite being female again, both were wearing a simpler version of the Empress' own dress. Zoo was the first to regain her energy, she waited for LyX to get their breath back and pulled them onto their feet. Then, Zoo pulled the shorter girl into an embrace." Guess the secret's out, I love you LyX." Before the redhead could respond, Zoo loo's lips touched theirs and there shared a deep kiss. LyX blushed being pulled into an embrace, hearing Zoo confirm what the Empress had said. Their eyes went wide as their lips met Zoo's they had only known each other less than a day, this thought alone made Axis' head spin. Granted they felt the same despite this, soon enough LyX stopped overthinking it, as the kiss quickly deepened, LyX closed their eyes enjoying the taste of Zoo on her lips. Xyx gently pulled from the kiss, they hadn't confessed their love, though in the fusion Zoo felt it. "I-I, love you, t-too." they struggled to say aloud, though it was almost in a hushed whisper. Blushing, Zoo smiled, "you do? I'm glad LyX. Want to go try some other shapes? I want to explore all kinds of possibilities with you. We can be anything we want!" She twirled the redhead gently then skipped backwards out of reach, "want to go to the park and be trees or something?" Now that LyX let out their love for Zoo, it seemed easier to get lost in thoughts of fertilizing her, or even make her body sensitive and tease it a little while. Though they didn't want to force it on her, it was always going to be Zoo's choice first. After all, LyX didn't believe a human relationship was just about reproducing, and they wanted to experience intimacy. Something they had always been envious of the humans for the longest time." Ok, um, but, trees don't quite have much that go with them..." LyX spoke, thinking more about maybe a cuddling kind of form. "Can we go to the library, I have a form, or two in mind." LyX seemed a little less nervous, though they still fidgeted as they spoke. Zoo's eyes lit up." The library? Lots of small snug places to cuddle," she grinned, "lead the way, my pretty red everything." Soon they arrived." What's your idea?" She asked, really hyped and curious. "Well, I was thinking of different things, perhaps a book and bookmark, or we could be two books on a shelf side by side..." LyX said getting nervous again, thinking back to her comment earlier about them being her pretty red everything. "Or we could imitate one of their computers, with a flash drive, and, um, maybe, make out that way..." "I'd go for any of those. And making out with you as a computer sounds fun. I'd like you to scramble my data sometime, but when you're in a library, you have to be a book first, right?" She chuckles and leads LyX to the back, most well-hidden part of the library." We just need somewhere to snuggle in. Cover to cover that is," she looked around the shelving for a comfy looking space, "oh hey!" she points to a smallish gap on the top shelf they could comfortably fit two books, "looks like a jackpot," she kissed LyX so she'd blush again, "Ladies first, right, sexy red novella?" Before the red shifter could respond, Zoo was flowing up and forming into a black book inside the gap, thin enough to let another snuggle in. If LyX looked, the spine simply read; Legend of Zoo loo - Breath of the Red Rose. LyX blushed when she spoke of liking them to scramble her data, reddening deeper once Zoo kissed them. Watching her morph into a book on the shelf LyX held back a giggle seeing her title before following suit. Morphing into a book of the same size as the space left by Zoo, touching cover to cover with her. But, LyX didn't stop there, as they made an old looking book belt snaking it around Zoo loo as if hugging her in this form. Holding them together. LyX neglected to give themselves a title, but, mad themselves look like a much older book, rougher textured binding, and gentle wear on their cover. The black book was thrilled when the red one joined them, then let out a tiny squeal when the book belt hugged it closer." I love you..." she whispered into the binding of the black book. They'd sit there in silence. Zoo was actually content, and if asked, would happily remain a book next to LyX forever. Eventually though she'd start to fidget." Hey, what's a sexy black tome like you doing in a place like this?" it asked cheerily, but quietly, "wanna... I don't know, wait til the librarians leave and go find a place to make out? I'm not sure how books do it, but we'll find a way to rub together I'm sure." She loved the idea of making out with LyX. And no matter how wild it got, so long as neither reverted to their true forms, they'd never get pregnant. LyX would smile, if they had a mouth to, hearing Zoo's confession of love once more. Basking in the company of their lovely Zoo. Hearing Zoo quietly speak of staying after hours and finding a way to make out as books. It was true if they kept inanimate forms, neither would get pregnant. Although they could if wanted to make parts that could aid in the process. Though they were far from doing so, yet. Xyx made an indent in their cover in a shape of a hand gently running along Zoo's textured surface for a moment before the hand disappeared from LyX's cover, a pair of human lips forming from where the palm was. The lips gently kissing Zoo's cover. The black book had to really hold back a squeal as the hand rubbed its cover. After a moment the kissing began, the red lips would find black lips kissing back. Both books would be engaged in wrenching each other, red and black tongues rubbing together. Once they finally stopped, Zoo would find herself more and more relaxed in the bookish embrace. There was a sudden CLICK that echoed throughout the library. The door was locked. Both books were locked in." Hey LyX, how's abut hide n seek?" whispered the black book to the red, "or want to keep making out?" LyX could still taste Zoo's lips as they finished their kiss. Hearing the librarians leave for the night gave way to a question. If LyX wanted to play hide and seek, or if they wanted to just continue making out. "Th-that, um, is up to you, I wouldn't mind either." they said in their nervous way. Being alone in a library at night was exciting, especially if it went where LyX suspected. She chuckles, "LyX I love you, but I wouldn't mind if you tried being more commanding or dominating..." turning into her usual black atom-y form, LyX flowed from the red books grasp gently." Count to ten, I'm going to vanish," she bubbled at him. Before LyX could respond she vanished. It was deep inside the library that the black blob would give up on trying to find a form to copy so she simply turned into a black slime-girl and oozed under a particular shelf. She was wedged in pretty well but didn't mind. After all, it just means LyX would have to search all the harder. The red book retracted its book belt as soon as Zoo left its embrace, hearing say they could be more commanding or dominating. It honestly wasn't LyX's forte, but, they supposed they could try it. As soon as they counted 10 seconds they hopped off the shelf taking the form of a mouse. Figuring the heightened smell and small size would help them find Zoo. Xyx had scurried past Zoo a couple of times, soon crawling over the bookcase Zoo was under. Could she really be just hiding as a slime? LyX smiled to themselves as they made themselves a slime themselves, becoming a brown shade close to the color of the shelf. Gliding along the post and positioning themselves over her, "found you," they said simply, flopping on her slime form with theirs, effectively cuddling in this form. Cuddling of course gave way to forming mouths to make out, and LyX shifting her body to be sensitive to their slimy caresses. "mmm..." Zoo could only moan through a new mouth as the brown slime was snuggling and almost mixing into her via trenches." You changed color?" she asked between make-outs, "he. You're so talented, my LyX," she whispered, "be mine? Furthermore, you're my favorite everything..." She giggled as LyX continued, then seemed to shrink on herself a bit, becoming smaller, "I said you could play with my form, make me anything you desire my love." She was serious, opening her form to LyX to play with. LyX changed back into their red coloring as they stretched around Zoo, molding her into a bookmark, and LyX a book sitting on the floor, however this was on the surface, within LyX's pages a sensation of pleasure between them as LyX formed pleasure nerves on Zoo's form, running finger like tendrils over her flat surface. It was this form of quiet attention LyX wanted, to show Zoo that she was theirs just as much as they were hers. Without words, they wanted this conveyed. So small, held yet not possessed, sort of. Zooloo was in love, LyX had made her into such a small form... Yet the pleasure moving through the bookmark's body was exhilarating. In silence the bookmark was unable to express pleasure, but that was the only thing the mind within could comprehend. Every stroke gave her new waves of pleasure. She realized, shape-shifters didn't just want romance or even to be in love. Zoo loo owned LyX and Axis owned Zoo. To be owned and own another was exactly what she wanted. Given her form was not of her choosing, Zoo loo was somewhat forced to stay as she was, though given the pleasure, she would gladly stay like this forever. Until LyX molded her again, of course. LyX may have formed Zoo to be a bookmark but, they in no way made it so she couldn't move freely. Though the pleasure they gave was directly convincing Zoo to stay. Not that it seemed Zoo needed much. LyX expanded the bookmark thickening it turning it into a small notebook. Through the pages lips formed kissing the notebook cover, bringing her into a deep kiss. Still while bringing pleasure through the gentle running of 'fingers' along her sensitive cover. Xyx only ever just made changes to Zoo, unlike other shifters who would go so far as to cancel out their others mutations. "Mmm..." Xyx's body was amazing, and it sent shivers through the notebook's spiral wiggle." Hey, bookworm," she whispered, then giggled, her form suddenly withdrew, and she was suddenly a black rubber stamp, "let me... check you out!" she whispered in what was hopefully a sexy voice. LyX laughed lightly, opening to the back cover, a small card appearing against it. "If you must love," a mouth formed on the card to say it, it gently licked its lips, "I think we should find a new place to have fun soon, maybe, your place?" they asked, "after all once I'm all checked out, I have to go home with somebody." LyX smiled, "I'd prefer it be you though," She kissed his lips, stamp to card." Of course, I'll take you home, adorable book." Zoo formed into her human form. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide(LyX, they would find themselves in a messenger bag, black of course as this was part of Zoo loo's body." Be good, little book," she said with a smile, climbing out a window of the otherwise secured library, "although I'll be god-smacked if I'm still carrying a book by the time I get home." She entered her parent's flat." So how'd it go?" asked her mother."Better than you'd think," Zoo loo walked past her mother, "I'm not pregnant though. We decided to try something new." Before her mother could inquire further, she had already entered her room and locked her door." I wonder what the enigmatic LyX becomes with nothing to reference?" Zoo loo asks out loud, "not that it matters, we're in my room now so be what you want." When LyX looks around, Zoo loo lives like an average young woman. She has a few posters, a TV and game console, as well as a bookcase. When they look at Zoo, Zoo has changed so she's wearing a black Princess Zelda-style dress." What do you think?" she asks simply. Once hidden away in the bag LyX stayed content in book form mind still spinning from it all. They were in love with Zoo loo. That was for certain. LyX could feel her move out of the library. Once they got to Zoo's home LyX heard someone outside the bag speak to their love. Was it a family member, or someone of higher up. LyX couldn't see. Xyx had gotten bored with the book look so they had shifted into a dark red see through night gown. As if teasing Zoo with the fact if anyone saw them in the shoulder bag. LyX did create eyes to look around once they were lifted to allow them to survey the room. And see what Zoo had changed herself to wearing. "You look stunning," LyX said a cheerful tone in their voice. "Perhaps I should save this form for bedtime?" they said noting it was getting dark but, it would still be a few hours before 9pm. "Haha, I might look stunning but wait til I'm wearing you," she couldn't resist LyX's clothing forms. Her dress receded into her slim body, she slipped the silk garment on and marvelled at how it felt AND looked." Oh LyX, even my own clothing doesn't feel this good. I'm sleeping in you," she giggled, "hope you don't mind. Do you like being my outfit? Maybe you'll sleep better in my wardrobe," she chuckles, twirling and letting LyX flow out." If you prefer being my outfit and love it so much, want to be something I can wear all night? I'll return the favor however you want..." purrs that last bit. "I don't mind at all," the nightgown said now on Zoo. It was hard not just tightening and teasing her body as they covered Zoo. "I'd prefer to stay out of cramped spaces. I'll be fine if we sleep together. "I suppose I can't pass as appropriate attire for bed, at least if whoever I heard before getting here. Is it alright that I'm here? I don't want you to get in trouble..." LyX gently trailed off-topic, being close to Zoo's skin making it hard to concentrate. "You're fine," she twirled again then grinned, "in fact you're better than fine. You're all mine!" Zoo couldn't help but giggle, then stroked LyX, bringing the shifter under her control for a moment. Zoo began to ripple, brining LyX along for the ride as they fused, though not as thoroughly as before. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide("Don't we look much more ravishing together?" Zoo loo grinned into the mirror, "I love you so much, my little red shifter." LyX was surprised that Zoo was able to manipulate them without engulfing them at all. All she did was a mere touch. It wasn't a full fusion, they stayed themselves, but, What became of them was just as beautiful. Zoo had fused fabric, LyX was and made into a gorgeous dress connected with their love to make a beautiful black and red dress. Something else too, they noticed their eyes, they had been moved, almost like contacts over Zoo's they could both see. It was sloppy for a fusion, but, the product they became flawless." I love you too, my sweet," a pair of lips appeared just below her collarbone, they turned inward making lips within all red parts of the dress, kissing her skin. This was maddening! LyX was kissing every part of Zoo hidden by the dress, which was a lot!" S-Stop!" squealed the black shifter, the teasing and kissing causing her to get very hot under the collar. This would cause her to-"oh poop, down I go..." The red dress slumped as it's wearer dissolved into black goop, landing in a sloppy puddle." D-Don't look!" the black blob cried, trying to gather itself back up, "I hate when I'm not pretty, no looking!" As Zoo dissolved into goop LyX follower her to the ground, shifting into a gel themselves. Hearing her hastily crying telling LyX not to look explaining how she didn't like when she wasn't pretty. This baffled LyX in a way, here they were comfortable for once with someone as their true self. "What are you talking about," LyX said the gel sliding over Zoo's goofy form. "You are still beautiful even as you are right now," they said, surrounding her. Xyx started to morph Zoo, helping her regain her form, though leaving a few details at Zoo loo's discretion. Once Zoo was formed LyX pulled from her, creating a naked replica of Zoo's form. They weren't sure how to continue, they didn't want to start displaying affection again and cause her to go back to a goop form, which seemed to upset their love. Zoo loo stood with a tear in one eye." Thank you," she said earnestly, kissing LyX." Sorry, I don't mean to get upset. I just lack confidence as befitting a shape-shifter... I wish I were more like you LyX" LyX heard her speak of her wishing she was more like them, it was honestly hard to believe. They weren't confident at all, not to their knowledge. "I-I'm not much," LyX admitted, getting up, being kissed they blushed lightly, "I think maybe we should forgo me being clothing for a little while, we can cuddle in other ways after all." they said, just really wanting to be there for Zoo loo. After all, LyX had feelings for her, more than they ever felt before. "Eh... You're sweet," Zoo loo leaned in close kissing LyX." I'm sorry for bringing the mood down, let me think..." she looked around then went to her window."Want to go up to the roof and watch the sunset together?" She suggested. LyX heard her ask if they wanted to watch the sunset on the roof with her. "Okay," LyX said, entwining heir hand in Zoo's salvaging some of the mood. "If you wouldn't mind cuddling a little bit up there." LyX said. LyX felt almost love drunk on Zoo. Zoo loo blushed "of course... come on..."she opened a window, becoming a whip of black smoke making her way up to the roof. Once LyX was up there, she curled briefly with her then turned into her humanoid form." I don't want to mate with you just yet," she smiled, "there's a lot of the world I want to see. Things I want to be..." Snuggling up to LyX, she laid her head on their shoulder." I love you, Axis." LyX followed suit turning into a wisp of red steam flying up to the roof. The sun set most beautiful as they were now curled with Zoo. Turning human with her, blushing once she put her head on their chest. Putting their arm around her with a smile, "I love you too, my Zoo loo." their hand ran on her back. "I know how you feel," they said knowing the elders might not like them not mating just yet. But, they didn't care so much either. Especially since they didn't really feel that LyX was a functioning shifter. Wanting them to just pass on their genetics to the next generation, not wanting what Zoo and LyX had decided on. But, that was something they'd just have to figure out. Just sitting there, Zoo would gently fall asleep against LyX as the sun finally vanished." I love you..." were her last words as she fell asleep. She snuggled against LyX, slightly fusing with them. LyX felt her fusing with them, gently pulling her into a full fusion. Unlike when Zoo controlled their transformation the jagged red goo shaped with the black, to once again create The Empress, a long flowing red and black dress. She sat up looking at the night sky "I wish I could feel this complete without us being one," She whispered to herself, it was in LyX voice, not their combined as she had before. "I love being with you, and I want to be perfect for you too." Soon enough LyX voice faded, and The Empress had her own voice again. It was apparent now that LyX had fused once before, to have their own voice present during a fusion. Though that ability was usually from forced fusions, but between Zoo and LyX wasn't forced, so that meant LyX had one once before. Xyx no longer guarded that part of their past showing it to Zoo freely as they stayed fused. Their last fusion was a male named Neil, they were forced to fuse with him by the elders. His will being stronger making the fusion bind LyX longer than they wanted. Fused with Zoo they felt safe, which was why they let her fuse with them, which was also why The Empress wanted to stay fused and life their lives as one. The Empress lay back on the roof again, letting her 'parents' share thoughts a moment before heading to Zoo's room to nap and infuse again.

Taking Shapes (Loony and LivingGarment)|rating:4.0

The demon's new toy (Toughie & Lynnie)

Mathis Tel'GUL sat back, waiting patiently for a certain pure little being to fall into his grasp. Since arriving at Earth, he heard frequent talks about this 'pure' girl that was roaming around, doing good deeds and saving lives by showing up at all the right places at exactly the right times. The humans that had seen her actions firsthand called them miracles, though Mathis was able to tell the truth from those lies almost instantly. There was a guardian angel roaming this town, making the lives of his comrades harder through her constant interventions and acts of grace and kindness. Most of Mathis' kind, most demons, were oblivious as to how to handle a Guardian Angel, since angels were typically blessed with almighty magic that made them invulnerable to demonic attacks. Mathis, however, had theory crafted the perfect answer for how to deal with those pesky angelic beings, and it was an answer that only he could provide. Mathis was an incubus, a type of demon that specialized in the sexual arts, and grew stronger from devouring human souls. Mathis, having lived for centuries, had grown to be one of the most powerful of his kind through hard work, diligence, and more seductions of young women then he'd care to count. He had gained countless commendations and awards, he had been showered in praise by his demonic comrades for his work and the way that he grew hell's legions all on his own. He had almost anything that a demon could ever ask for, and now it was time for him to claim the ultimate prize, the greatest dream that any demon could only live out in their fantasies. It was time for him to claim an angel. He had set up a trap that looked like a regular human mugging, a middle-aged human man was bleeding on the ground in the middle of an alleyway with all of his belongings being stripped of him. However, whenever the righteous little angel showed up to save him, as Mathis knew that she would, she would find his body evaporating into nothingness as though it had been made of nothing but mist. With the illusion shattered and the angel in position, a huge number of chains would suddenly erupt from the walls, attempting to snare her entire body and cover her arms, legs, stomach, and her neck with countless chains that would restrict her from even the most basic of movements. Illusion magic and Mathis' trademark ten thousand chains curses, a combo that no angel would have been trained to counter since they were so oddly specific and rarely used. Unless this Angel was more powerful than Mathis had predicted, there was no way she was getting out of those chains. Ariel Andmi walked through the street of the city that she has been in charge for several months now. She was sent here right after she received her wings. They weren't the large she had seen. Hers were small and white with a pink tint to them. Her long blonde hair flowed about her face and shoulders as she walked along, wearing a thin white dress with pink ribbon. As she turned a corner she saw what appeared to be a man bleeding. She walked over to him her bare feet were quiet on the pavement as she walked over to him. Kneeling down she whispered, "Rest I will take care of you." As she leaned closer the man disappeared from her sight. Standing upright she blinked, what happened to the man. Turning around she looked wondering what had just happened. Suddenly as chains wrapped around her body she screamed her eyes wide. "What's going on?" Mathis smirked, amused at just how easily she had fallen into his trap. As he walked up to the chained angel, he took a moment admiring her form before he looked at her with a dark, cruel grin. "What's going on, you ask? Well, my little angel..." The chains all suddenly yanked downwards, forcing Ariel to her knees as Mathis knelt down, stroking his hand across her cheek. "You've just walked into a demon's trap." With a small snap of his fingers, the chains would suddenly constrict even tighter, leaving Ariel with barely any room to breathe, let alone try and move in any meaningful way. "And now that I have you, your fate has been sealed." behind him, Mathis would wave his hand in a small motion, and open a huge red portal. Ariel would feel the chains pulling her forward towards the portal, as though she were attracted to it through a very powerful gravitational field that would be nearly impossible to escape unless she managed to use some powerful angelic magic to break free of her chains. Assuming that Ariel went through the portal, she'd find herself move through dimensions, before she was released from her chains and dropped onto the floor of a massive bedroom. Oddly enough, it looked very similar to a human's earth bedroom aside from the red carpeting and the black wall paint. The window drapes were shut, so she wouldn't be able to tell immediately that she had been brought down to hell. And before she was really given a chance to appreciate her surroundings, Mathis would walk towards her, looking down at the Angel. "Welcome to your new home." Ariel blinked as a man, no a demon walked up to her. The dark grin on his face revealed more than she was ready to understand. As he spoke the chains forced her to her knees, she landed with a gentle thud on her knees wincing lightly as she landed on her knees. As he moved closer to her stroking his hand across her cheek she recognized what he was. Before she could speak he mentioned how she fell for a demon's trap. Her eyes widened as the chains tightened against her, trouble breathing happened, but her breasts were proudly displayed in the chains. As he opened the portal she screamed unable to escape the chains as she wasn't a strong enough to stop what was happening to her as she was pulled through the portal. As she landed in on the other side of the portal, she blinked as she looked around to the bedroom that she was now in. It was massive room, it took a moment for her to realize it was a bedroom. As he appeared near her and spoke stating that this was her new home she blinked. "What do you mean? You cannot be serious! Let me go please. I beg you it is an unforgivable sin to kidnap an angel." Hoping that this would be enough to persuade the demon holding her to release her. Though her mind hadn't quite realized that he was a demon and already damned to eternity in hell. Mathis looked down at her in surprise when she vocalized how it was an 'unforgivable sin' for him to kidnap an angel. However, rather than get intimidated and release her as she might have been hoping, the only thing that she inspired out of him was an eager, cruel laugh as he approached his new angelic plaything. "Unforgivable sin? Do you know what I am? I'm already stuck down here for the rest of eternity, rather I kidnap you or not." He reached down, roughly grabbing Ariel by her shoulders before he threw her towards his bed. Since they were in hell, Mathis' powers had been amplified at least tenfold, while Ariel would likely feel even less comfortable and less powerful than ever before. Angels held no sway in hell, since this was a place where absolutely no holiness could thrive. As a result, what little power Ariel likely had would be ineffective against Mathis, and she didn't have much of a chance at beating him if she were to try and struggle or attempt to break free. Mathis straddled her hips, his hands pinning her down by her shoulders once she was on his bed. Smirking darkly down at her, he leaned in and softly pressed his lips against the nape of her neck, speaking in a quiet, dark, dominant voice as he began to tease Ariel just the tiniest bit. "You're in hell now, little angel. And for the rest of existence, your life is now forfeit. From this moment on, you exist only as my slave. I am going to defile you, break you, and force you to submit to an eternity of enslavement, and service to me alone. Don't worry though, I promise that by the time I'm done with you, you'll be thanking me for picking you, and you will come to appreciate your new role." The mind rebelled against outright truths like that, so Mathis being direct, honest, and brutally realistic with Ariel would likely do more to start her plunge into despair then any lie or threat that he could make up. As he walked towards her and spoke back, she whimpered, as he grabbed her and tossed her towards his bed where she landed with a thud bouncing on his bed she whimpered, her powers felt drained almost to the point she couldn't connect to them. The only power she could feel was her ability to heal herself. She felt as if she could be in severe danger she stared at him. Suddenly he straddled her hips towering above her, she panted her breasts heaving with her rapid breaths. Pinning her shoulders down she wiggled under him only managing to rub her body against him in a seductive manner which she didn't mean to do but still had managed to do so. His lips against the nape of her neck made her whimper in slightly fear, "Please don't I beg of you." As he mentioned defiling her, breaking her, and forcing her to submit she cried out before letting the tear fall freely from her eyes shaking her head at the idea of wanting to be his slave. Shaking as she stared at him, "Please don't let me go." Mathis looked down at her, grinning all the wider as she let out that second statement in her desperate plea for him to simply release her. "What's that? You don't want me to let you go? Well trust me, my sweet little angel, that won't be an issue at all." The way that her body rubbed against his own, rather it was intentional or not, was indeed extremely seductive and did little to help the poor angel in her current situation. With one hand still holding down her shoulder forcefully to prevent her from trying to wiggle free, he reached down and gripped the front of her robe tightly. Once he had a firm grip on her, he yanked outwards tightly and caused the sound of tearing fabric to ring through the room as Ariel's robes were liberated from her body, leaving her breasts free for Mathis to admire in the open. However, before he could really begin enjoying his new plaything's body in full, he needed to do a thing or two to keep her in place so that she wouldn't be fighting him all over the place. With the tatters of Ariel's own robes in his hand, Mathis grabbed her wrists and yanked them forcefully upwards over her head, where he tied the angelic robes across her wrists and locked her arms over her head and attached to one of his bed posts. This would also prevent her from protecting her own modesty, as her ample chest was now exposed for him to play with as he saw fit. Mathis eagerly started by wrapping both hands around her supple chest, each hand getting a breast as he squeezed the lovely mounds and rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. "You know, for supposedly being pure beings of modesty and honesty, you angels sure have some fucking outstanding bodies. Pretty unfair, if you ask me. That you have curves like these, but nobody's allowed to play with them." As he grinned her stared at him her eyes wide as saucers, he twisted her words. "No, don't please. I want to go home." She continued to struggle against him only rubbing herself against him even more seductive way. As he reached down pinning her shoulders to the bed with one strong hand she whimpered when suddenly her robe that hide her modesty was ripped away form her form. Her ivory large orbs filled his hands easily her rosy pink nipples hardened at the sudden temperature changes from the robe to the temperature in the room. As he forced her arms above her head she whimpered in slight pain as her arms were forced to stay in that position as he bound them above her. As he grabbed her breasts she whimpered shaking her head. Her nipples and body reacted like it was supposed to hardening the nipples and preparing itself for the act of mating. "No please let me go! Don't do this!" Mathis ignored Ariel, continuing to molest her as he rolled his thumbs up and down her hardened nipples. Honestly, he was surprised by how easily her body was reacting to his imposing touch, but he wasn't about to question it as it meant that he could get to the fun and excitement that much sooner. "Don't do this? Why wouldn't I? I thought we went over the fact that your life is not your own anymore. Your wishes, your desires, hold no sway in this land. The only thing that matters here is your body, and the ways that I can use it to satisfy my desires." He could lay there and grope her ample chest all day long, but he realized that it wouldn't be enough to satisfy his lust if he were to keep himself to such simplistic, mundane actions. As such, he began to step up his game just a little as one of his hands left her breast, and it softly slid against her skin, stroking its way down her body as he traced all the way from her chest, to her naval, and down to her groin before it slipped in between her legs and began to tease her soft, pure little mound. Whimpering as Mathis continued to assault her body. Despite it reacting like it was supposed to she glared at him. "Please, don't. Let me go." Her cries seemly feel upon deaf ears as he was entertained by her cries. Wiggling under him as she tried to get him off her small body, more and more her powers were fading while she was here. As he moved his hand from her breasts down to his groin she screamed, "Don't touch me there!" She glared at him before spitting in his face. How dare he touch her! He was slowly trying her patience and she wanted to go free. If Mathis didn't know any better, he was willing to say that his new angelic plaything was starting to get a little bit snippy with him. Well, he couldn't have any of that, seeing as how she was going to be spending quite a bit of time in a situation that was very similar to this, if not exactly the same. He pulled his hand off of her pussy for only a second, as he wound back and firmly smacked Ariel across her cheek. "Don't you dare talk back to me." As much as he wanted to deflower her right then and there, if she continued to try speaking out against him, he was going to have to put his angelic little guest back down in her place. He'd overlook this first offense though, as he began to disrobe slowly where she would be able to see everything. As he pulled away from her groin she sighed in relief only to have the sting of his hand across her cheek. Crying out in both surprise and pain his words bit into her. She cried softly, tears rolling down her check. As he started to remove his clothing as she screamed. "No!" Finally, she realized what he was going to do to her. Trembling as she screamed shaking and twisting her body trying to get free from him and the bonds. Despite her frantic screaming, Ariel could do nothing to stop her new demonic master from completely stripping down and exposing the rock hard, fully erect cock that laid in wait for her. However, that mouth of hers was starting to get a bit annoying, and it was only going to get worse once he finally took the plunge. With that in mind, Mathis looked around for a few moments before he found a tattered and ripped off piece of her robe and stuffed it into her mouth. One small incantation later, and she would find her teeth biting down on the robes, and she'd fall victim to the makeshift gag while he slipped his rock hard shaft between her legs, his tip pressing up against her virgin folds as his body lowered to rest gently on top of hers. Obviously, unless she gained some incredible boost in strength right then, there wasn't much she'd be able to do to escape his bonds, especially considering that she was in hell, where angels were at their weakest. It was common knowledge that in most cases, once an angel was dragged down to hell, there was no escape. Ariel would be the first of her kind to accomplish that, of the handful that ever descended to that level. As he shoved part of her robes into her mouth she screamed as suddenly her mouth was forced closed around the makeshift gag. Glaring at him when she suddenly felt him between her legs. Her eyes widened in horror as she felt the tip of him pressing lightly against her. Shaking her head as she tried to call upon her powers to free herself. No power came to her, she was left abandoned alone and at the complete mercy of this demon. Tears ran down her face as she pulled hard against the robe bits holding her arms tight up above her head. Mathis was willing to give Ariel all the time that she needed to try and conjure up whatever powers she had left, if only because he was confident that nothing would come, and her being abandoned would be the final kick in the teeth she needed before he could begin the process of truly breaking her. In the back of her mind she likely knew that no help was coming for her, that nobody would save her from her newfound nightmare as his fat, lengthy cock began to force its way into her tight little tunnel, her lower lips parting for him. "mmm...." Mathis let out a deep grunt, his chest rubbing forcefully against her breasts as he continued the achingly slow process of sliding his cock into Ariel's pussy, inch by painstaking inch until he finally came across her maiden's barrier. Mathis put on a cruel grin as he looked her dead in the eyes, and she'd suddenly feel him pick up a burst of speed as he ripped right past her final barrier and popped her cherry. Once he breached that wall, he would continue his shove until his hips pressed against her groin, and his dick was fully submerged in her folds. The feeling of abandon hit her hard like a tidal wave, it was almost enough to make her cry. When she finally felt him slowly pushing himself into her tight folds. She screamed around the gag her eyes flooding with tears as the easily spilled over the edge causing the tears to run down her cheeks. The pain was incredible as she felt him violating her folds. His grunt made her cry out more, her breasts pressed against his chest made her feel everything he was doing, she couldn't even close her eyes to pretend that what he was doing wasn't happening. As she felt him hit her maiden head she stared at him, her eyes silently begging for him to stop. She even screams stop into the gag but only a muffled sound could be heard as he slammed himself inside of her through the maiden head and buried himself inside her. Screaming as the pain filled her shaking her head. Mathis paid no heed to Ariel's pain as he fully breached her, it was a temporary pain that was soon to be replaced with something far better. At least, that was if Mathis did his job as an incubus even halfway correctly. He was a demon of lust and sexual pleasure, so if he wasn't having this angel arching her back and begging for more by the time he was done raping her, he was doing something horrendously, horrendously wrong. As it was, however, his hips slowly began to roll as his cock slid about halfway out of her tunnel before firmly stabbing it's way back in. His body continued to rub softly against hers, her breasts swaying up and down against his chest as he fell into a comfortable, swift rhythm with his thrusts. His hands wrapped around her, holding her back gently as his head settled down into the cradle of her neck and her shoulder while he let out a string of satisfied grunts. The angel was now deflowered, impure, and she would never be able to get that innocence back. The sooner that she accepted that, and the more vividly her sense of abandonment hit her, the easier it would be to break her. As he continued to plow her body she continued to cry as she felt more lost and abandoned by everything. All she had was him and what he was doing to her, even though her body as already starting to react to his in the way it was designed to she continued to cry. As he settled into a rhythm grunting as he plowed into her, she turned her head away from him. As he wrapped around her body his head in the cradle of her neck almost as if he was trying to be a lover to her and not this vile demon removing all of her purity that allowed her to remain an angel. Her wings had a black edge to them showing she was no longer pure and because of that she could never return to heaven. Slowly she stopped struggling against him resolving into the fact she was nothing. Never again would she see the warm light of God's grace she would be banished from it just like the demon who took pleasure in removing it from her life. Ariel was completely and totally correct, those little black edges on her wings were a sign that she had been permanently tainted, that she was no longer welcomed in the land of heaven and angels even if she were to somehow escape her new home in hell. And she was also completely and totally correct in her realization that Mathis had loved and adored every second of stealing that purity from her, though he planned on taking that innocence and purity and replacing it with something completely different once she was good and ready for him. How long that took, however, depended entirely on Ariel. He had heard stories about how certain warrior angels could last for decades without breaking to their respective demonic hosts, and while Ariel was no warrior, he still expected a little bit of a fight out of her before she was obeying his every command, before she lived to serve his every whim and desire. He continued to rape her though, showing no signs of slowing down or stopping even as a tiny bit of fluid leaked out of the tip of his cock into Ariel's body. The interesting thing about incubus cum was that it acted as a powerful aphrodisiac as it was injected in their victim's body, it was a way to get them more and more sexually aroused so that the lust demons could extract more life force from their prey faster. Of course, Ariel was keeping all of her life force right where Mathis wanted it, he had another use for his powerful tool. As he continued to take her body for his pleasure she continued to cry her abilities were gone. The feeling of abandonment mixed with the pain he inflicted on her body caused her to wonder if this was the worst he could do to her. As his fluid slowly poured into her, her body reacted to it causing the pain to subside into pleasure. It was comparable to the feeling she got when she saved a human's life. Whimpering slightly as her eyes lost the fight against her body and trembled her nipples hardening against his chest her folds wetting themselves for better use. Mathis smirked a little when he felt her body react to even the marginal amounts of aphrodisiac that he was pumping into her system, though he had absolutely no clue whatsoever that she was starting to mentally link it to the same satisfaction that she felt when she saved a human's life. That was an extremely dangerous line of thinking for the poor little angel, and it would lead her down the path to corruption far sooner than he had initially planned. Not that he minded of course, the sooner that he broke in his new slave the better. Mathis was able to control his own pace, and he knew that he was still quite a ways away from cumming for the first time. Of course, him being an incubus, a single orgasm would be nowhere near enough to cause his cock to soften up or call it quits for the night. However, now he had a self-issued challenge, he wanted to see if he could get Ariel to cum before he did. If he could force her over the cliff into pure sexual ecstasy right here at the very beginning, one could only fathom how much fun he was going to have teasing her body, torturing her, and breaking her later down the line. As she fought against the feelings building her body she screamed into the gag wiggling against him only driving him deeper into her body. She refused to submit to the feelings taking over her body. Her nipples were hard and almost aching for a touch, her folds clenched around him drawing him in against her will. As he continued to plow into her body she shook her head trying to remove the thoughts from her head and the emotions from her body. Unfortunately for Ariel, the feelings in her body would be harder and harder to deny the longer that her demonic master rammed his cock into her body. Pleasure was always a snowball effect emotion anyway, one that got more potent over time even when left alone, and Mathis would continue to squirt off tiny little droplets of his aphrodisiac into her body at a very slow, consistent rate that would make it even more difficult for her to simply shrug it off. To make matters worse for the previously pure, sweet little angel, Mathis changed his position so that he could take advantage of more of her body. His arms let go of her back, and he sat up, his thrusts slowing down but getting more powerful as his hands wrapped around her breasts again, his thumbs rolling up and down her nipples a few times before his index finger came up so that his two fingers could give the rock hard nubs tiny, rough pinches and twists while he continued to ram his shaft into her. Mathis was quickly coming to realize that he could play with her body for centuries and never get bored with it, though luckily for him, he had an entire eternity to have his way with Ariel, so he was in no rush. Ariel screamed as her body's betrayal was taking over. More and more her mind was losing its ability to keep reason as more and more of the aphrodisiac was forced into her body. His movements into the new position allowed him to get deeper inside her body before he grabbed her breasts. Her nipples reacted quickly to his thumbs causing her to finally giving into a moan before screaming, "No!" She tried to fight her own body, but slowly she was losing the battle. The way he was playing with her, it was slowly dawning on her that she was trapped here forever. Ariel was beyond hope if it still hadn't dawned on her that she was trapped here forever, especially considering the fact that her wings were now tainted, and her purity had been stolen for her. Still, Mathis was more than happy to keep this going for as long as Ariel's body could endure, it wasn't like Mathis had anything else planned for his evening after all. His hands continued to roll across her nipples, teasing them with both pleasure and pain as something else began to happen between Ariel's legs as well. Somehow, Mathis was able to take hold of her clit with something attached to his groin, so that he could softly rub and flick the most sensitive and vulnerable nub on her entire body. He would leave no place on Ariel's body untouched or unleashed, so long as he still had that chance of forcing her to cum before him. Crying out as her body took control over her mind wanting more than what it was giving while her mind and heart screamed against it no. What he was doing was wrong and because of him she could never go home back to heaven. She was doomed to live on Earth or what this demon wanted was for her to be here stuck forever. As he teased her nipples and suddenly more teasing started on her clit. It was enough to send her mind out of control her body taking over as she cried out as her body loved what she wanted. Her body was surrendering quickly and easily, Mathis could tell that many thanks to the pleasure that he was able to feast off of from her body. As he continued to tease both her nipples and her clit, he leaned in gently and whispered softly right into her ear. "You're starting to feel it, aren't you? That pleasure, the kind of joy that you could never even fathom while you were in heaven." It was time for him to drive it home and force her to submit entirely to the pleasure, even if it was only her body for the time being. He would have centuries upon centuries to get her mind nice and properly warped in the future, but for now the only thing he wanted was to get her body to submit in its entirety, and for her to be pushed over the edge into pure bliss before he was finished with her. The more he could get her to cum now, the easier it would be to break her later. Her body took over her mind, the powers he used made her no longer question rational thoughts and only could focus on what was happening in her body. As he continued to tease her body she whimpered softly her body wiggling under him. "N-no, I'm not. Please, stop." She spoke, but her words didn't sound convincing anymore. Her body had surrendered to his powers and what he is doing to her body. Still the orgasm she was on the verge of seemed just out of reach. As she begged, her final little pleas would fall on deaf ears as he continued to force aching, overwhelming pleasure through her body. "Not a chance. You don't even want me to stop anymore. Who the hell do you think I am, hm? I'm an incubus. I can taste your lust, my slave. Furthermore, I can feel your need." As he spoke he continued to drive his cock into her, seeking to dig deeper and deeper into her body with each thrust so that he could push her to the purest depths of both pleasure and despair. "Just let it out already, you're only hurting yourself." It was as if her mind needed that moment of utter loss that her body took over and own as the orgasm rippled through her body. A scream that held passion and anger ripped from her throat as her body lifted and twisted itself lightly against him as wave after wave of pleasure surged through her form. The deeper he plunges it extended out the orgasm waves causing them to increase in strength her body holding its own while her mind screamed at the injustice of what he was doing to her. No longer was she pure, she could never return home. She couldn't even use her powers to escape from here. She was doomed, and it finally struck her just how lost she was now. Once she came down from the high of her orgasm, Mathis slowed the roll of his hips and allowed for her to further appreciate the true depths of despair and loss that had finally clicked into the angel's mind. "You know, don't you? You know that you're stuck here for all eternity, right?" He leaned in, softly kissing her jaw as he continued to softly continue fucking her, though his pace had dramatically slowed while he sent his point home. "You will never return to heaven, you will never see Earth again... You'll be lucky if you'll even be allowed to leave my manor again. Why remain miserable about it? Wouldn't it be so much easier if you came to appreciate your new life? I promise, it'll be so much fun for you, once you see the merits in living the life of a demon's loyal, loving slave." Her heart sank as he spoke to her making her cry as he kissed her jawline. As he continued to slowly fuck her as he spoke. Shaking her head as he promised her that life for her would be fun and happy if she just surrenders to him and what he wanted of her. Wanting her to not be miserable but happy in her new fate she just couldn't find the strength within her to do so. She looked at him tears continued to run down her face as slowly her mind succumbed to the reality of what is going on for her. "How could I ever love you? You have torn everything away from me." Mathis continued his actions, his siege on both her body and her mind being just as relentless as ever while she cried and shouted about how she could never love him because of the way that he ripped everything she ever knew or loved away from her. "That's true, but I give just as much as I take, my angelic slave." He leaned in and kissed her jaw again, his cock now throbbing just a little bit as more precut leaked from the tip and spilled into her pussy. Mathis was close to cumming, and he was confident that once Ariel's body had received a nice, big, hearty dose of incubus cum that she would never be the same woman again. "I take away dignity, responsibility, and duty. And I give it all back to you in the form of pure, unimaginable pleasure." Staring at him as he continued to use her body as he kissed her jawline once again. As he mentioned of how he was going to give her nothing but pure pleasure for the rest of her life being his slave she shook her head. All she wanted was to enrich the lives of humans and now all she'll get to do is be a slave to this man. This demon who has ripped her from everything. Mathis looked down at her as she shook her head, though he did not stop his assault as his cock slid in and out of the angel's tight little tunnel, time and time again at a relentless pace. Eventually, his physical endurance came to its limits, and with a deep and powerful groan he arched his back and sprayed a series of hot, sticky ropes of semen from the tip of his cock into Ariel's body. Typically, having an incubus cum inside a regular human warped their brain to the point where they were an empty, mindless sex thrall for the rest of their lives. However, Ariel was an angel, she was so far above human that the comparison was mostly just insulting. Mathis was curious to see how she'd respond, how sternly her angelic endurance would hold out against such a potent, overwhelming source of mind corruption. As he continued to fuck her not easing up any at all as if he was wanting to milk her pussy for more cum before he came deep within her tight walls. She screamed both in shock and horror at this violation. Part of her thought there was nothing else he could violate on her body now. The power of his cum slowly started seeping its way into her body. She had come across a few humans who had been affected by an incubus's seed, and they cared nothing but for the flesh and the pleasure it could bring. For an angel who was unwilling in this act it started corrupting her mind that maybe sins of the flesh weren't all that bad after all. Perhaps since she was cursed and tainted she could just learn to enjoy what he offered her. Shaking her head as her mind started following her body's irrational thoughts of pleasure instead of pride. Mathis looked down at Ariel, his heart soaring with delight as he started to watch the look in her eyes shift just a little. It was clear that she was starting to come to an understanding that perhaps her new situation wasn't all that bad after all, perhaps she could enjoy his gifts. She was starting to become truly corrupted right down to her very core, so now all Mathis had to do was continue to drive it home and keep on abusing his favorite new fuck toy. After all, the more seed he pumped into her, the more her mind would become warped and demented, right? Either way, for now Mathis would pull his shaft from her pussy and deliver a small, gentle kiss right on her lips. "See? Not quite as terrible as you think it is, now is it?" He reached up and freed her from the restraints holding her down onto his bed. He was confident that he wouldn't need them anymore, since even if her mind rebelled against the idea, Mathis was confident that he could persuade her body to give him everything he wanted from her. "Now then, let's make this official. Follow me." With that Mathis would start to get off of the bed and would start to walk out of his bedroom. If Ariel obeyed his command and followed behind him, he would grant her mercy. However, if she decided to stay where she was, or make a run for it, she had an unpleasant future ahead of her. It wouldn't change her end destination either way though, now that he had defiled both her body and her mind, Mathis needed to 'mark' her as his property, and there was only one kind of mark that an angelic slave like her deserved. Ariel watched him move off her her making her whimper lightly mostly as her body had gotten used to this thing being in her body. As he kissed her lips almost lovingly her eyes closed lightly as if her body had completely surrender along her mind. As he spoke to made her blink shaking her head in response. As he released her arms from the restraints she slowly moved them to rub them trying to get feeling back into the appendages. As he told her he had to make this official she blinked, didn't the blood on his sheets and on her inner thighs prove it enough? The black edging on her wings? What else could he possibly due to her. She didn't move right away to follow him as her legs were weak from being still for so long while he had taken her earlier. Mathis would glance back at her when she seemed to be unwilling to move. However, it wasn't hard for him to figure out the source of her reluctance, it was because her legs were weak rather than her putting up some kind of resistance against his orders. With a small, dark smirk he walked over towards his table and pulled a long black whip off of it, the leather unwinding as he looked back towards her. "I thought I told you to follow." He wound back, cracking the whip roughly against her shoulder to get her moving. "What's the matter? Can't walk on your legs? Perhaps it would be easier if you got down and walked on all fours then, and use your hands instead. Now, youwillfollow me, is that clear?" He could last for as long as it took to bring Ariel down into line. She had to learn that although the pleasure he gave her could be monumental, disobeying her master's orders or not carrying them out was unacceptable. Blinking as he walked back towards her as she finally had gotten feeling back in her arms and was working on her legs when he picked up a whip. Her eyes widened in fear as he cracked the whip hitting her shoulder. Crying out in pain as she started trying to move again. He told her to follow, and apparently it didn't matter to him how she followed. Slowly she pulled herself to the edge of the large bed she tried to put her feet down falling to the ground as her legs were still far too weak to move easily. Looking up at him, she moved the only way she could, on all fours like an animal. Then this is how he saw her, nodding as he commanded she follows him. Seeing the angel trail behind him on all fours, like she were a common house pet, was a welcome sight for the demon. Not even a few hours ago she had been a proud, sweet, kind angel that thought of nothing other than how to aid humans and alleviate their woes, and now she was on her hands and knees like a common animal as she followed her new master through his house. He would lead her through a long hallway before the two of them walked into a room where Ariel would feel even more unnaturally warm then usual. Mathis walked up to a long desk, where he picked up something that Ariel wouldn't be able to see from her position before turning back towards her. "Sit up on your knees, shut your eyes, and expose your neck to me." Once she did that, she would feel him draw closer and kneel down in front of her. After that, she'd feel a strip of leather wrap itself around her neck before sealing shut. With a small glow of burning red magic, the strip would seal itself shut and lock itself in a soft, loose, comfortable position around the angel's neck. As if everything else up to this point hadn't been enough to mark her, Ariel was now wearing a collar, a physical accessory that marked her as his property. As she crawled behind him, she cursed her unwilling legs, why they wouldn't let her walk properly with some pride and dignity. Her mind still continued its fight against his seed's powerful spell. She felt the tears running down her face slowly as her mind started winning against the power he used. As they entered the room she felt hot, and it made her pant from the heat and the devoid of any and all holy power from her body. His words took a moment to register in her mind. She moved to a kneeling position, closing her eyes lifting her head up as if she may be on the floor on her knees but was regaining some of her prior pride and station in her mind refusing to let him break her. As a simple piece of leather touched her flesh she whimpered as she feared it would tighten against her flesh, but it didn't tighten. Once she realized it wasn't going to tighten she breathed a sigh of relief. Opening her eyes she glared at him, "You may own my body, but you will never have my soul, heart, or anything of value from me." Her voice was horsed but soft and feminine. Once Ariel was collared, Mathis would move over to the front of that small strip of leather and attach a leash to the front hook. About that time, Ariel was stating how he would never be able to have her soul, heart, or 'anything of value' from her. That statement inspired a laugh from the incubus as he gripped the edge of her leash firmly and looked down at her with an amused smile. "Oh yeah? Well for one, I think that your body is pretty valuable, secondly..." He would suddenly yank forcefully back on his leash, forcing Ariel's body to lurch forward so that her face and her chest were against the floor. This, of course, assumed that her legs were still too weak to allow her to move. "It's only a matter of time, my angelic slut, before your mind is broken, and you're begging me to defile you more and more." He walked forward if she tried to right herself, and get herself in a more dignified position. His hand would find the back of her head, and he would shove it back down against the floor with enough force that it would probably hurt the angel a bit as her face collided with the ground. "Keep your head down. You don't deserve dignity." Once her face was down, he would position himself behind her, one of his hands remaining on the back of her head to keep her suppressed as he used the other hand to grab her ass and yank that upwards, Mathis now forcing Ariel's knees to support her body as his rock hard cock began to impose itself on the angel's ass, which was now sticking out and proudly presenting itself to him. His dick began pressing against her tight little asshole more forcefully, forcing it open as his shaft began to slide inside. "Your body, your ENTIRE body, belongs to me. I'll do whatever I want with you, and there's nothing you can do to stop it." As he smiled at her, she growled inwardly at him as he yanked on the leash causing her to fall forward. Her breasts hit the floor first then her face with a soft thud. Groaning as she tried to lift her upper body off the floor her knees still stable on the floor as he spoke again she tried to turn her face to speak to him. As he shoved her head back into the floor she cried out in pain as her cheek hit the floor she could feel it bruise almost instantly as he ordered her to keep her head down. As he kept his hand on her head she groaned as he forced her ass up in the air higher almost like she was in the pray dog yoga position. As he pressed his cock into her tight little asshole she screamed out in pain. "No! Stop it!" She attempted to wiggle free only making him slide in deeper. The pressure from the stretching around his cock. When she screamed out for him to stop, he gave her head a shove harder into the floor before continuing to push his cock deeper into her tight back door. "You will NOT give me commands, period." As if to emphasize the point, while his hand still dominated her head and forced it down on the floor, his thumb would roll back towards her collar, and the metal front end would suddenly hum to life with demonic magic as the leather began to shrink and constrict around it's host's neck. Effectively, while Ariel would have a much harder time breathing, she would still be able to get enough air working through her system to sustain her body, though it wouldn't be comfortable. "You are my property, your comfort and your happiness mean nothing to me. You will obey my commands without hesitation, and without negotiation. Is that clear?" As her head hit the floor as he pushed himself deeper into her ass. She screamed as tears flooded her eyes and spilled out upon her cheek. As he touched her collar she noticed she was having trouble breathing and gasped. Whimpering as he spoke about her new place in life. Unable to really speak she cried trying to do anything to numb herself from him. She would probably find the act of 'numbing herself' to his actions extremely difficult, as Mathis put his every effort into trying to make her body feel as good as possible while crippling her mind of any will to fight back against him. His cock continued to push tight into her rear hole, though at the very least she'd find that her collar wasn't getting any tighter around her neck. It kept a reasonably tight grip around her throat, restricting her airways just enough to keep her uncomfortable and make her struggle to breathe so that she'd have to focus more on that than on 'ignoring' the things that he was doing to her body. As he continued to fuck her ass she couldn't help but gasp for breath. The tightness of the collar made it almost impossible for her to do anything else but worry about getting enough air into her body. As he speared her tight hole she could feel her pussy get wet and even felt a bit of juices starting to spill out and down her thighs. Groaning as she closed her eyes not sure if she was in pain or was turned on. Her mind reeled against the realization that his cock in her ass felt wonderful to the point her nipples hardened wondering what it would be like for him to just start slamming into it. Mathis was already being extremely rough with his new fuckboy, but it seemed that Ariel was about to get her wish as his cock started slamming into her ass all the rougher once her body started to get more adjusted to the unwelcome, foreign presence. Since she was an angel, there were obviously some things that he could do with her body that would break a regular human, and he planned on treating her to each one of those things as his hands left her collar so that they could reach down and squeeze her breasts roughly, his index finger and his thumb pinching and rubbing those pointy, hardened nipples of hers. As he slammed into her ass, her body almost welcoming his cock into her body as she trembled lightly. As his hand moved from her collar to her breasts only to start squeezing them and pinching the nipples, the frail hold on her mind snapped as she cried out in pleasure, her pussy verifying her moan as it was starting to drip juices as she was on the edge of an orgasm that eluded her of why she was enjoying this perhaps it was just the power of his magic affecting her. Yes that had to be it, she couldn't possibly be enjoying what he was doing to her. It didn't matter rather or not it was his magic or her own mind that was giving her the pleasure she was feeling, because she was going to spend the rest of eternity so heavily pumped full of that powerful magic that it would eventuallybecomepart of her as though it had been there the whole time. Meanwhile, Mathis decided to take that last step towards pushing her over the edge as he continued to plunge his cock into her ass at an even more powerful and relentless pace. She was an angel, and as such he could abuse her body in many ways that he couldn't get away with when he had a regular human subject. He was still getting used to that unique privilege, but he was still enjoying every second of it. As he continued to plunge deep inside of her at the powerful relentless pace most mortals would have gotten something broken whether it was a hip, pelvic bone, or tail bone. Her body was able to handle his rough housing easily and was perhaps going to bruise lightly from this. Her body gave into him and even started pulling his cock into her harder. Moaning loudly as she felt her body pushing back against him. Even if it was just the affects of his magic she was giving in briefly to him, the inability to breathe properly she was enjoying that darkness, she didn't know why, but she was. Mathis would continue to abuse his new angelic slave's little ass for what felt like ages to the both of them. Since Ariel was starting to surrender to the pleasures that he was able to push on her body, it became all the easier for the incubus to feed off of her pleasures, sustaining his own energy and strength at the same time as he sustained himself off the lust in the air that he got from ravaging the resilient body of his new fuck toy. Eventually, though, all good things had to come to an end. After an immeasurable amount of time, a revitalized Mathis stabbed his cock deep into his slave's ass one last time before he burst forth with another large, heavy dose of cum that he shot off straight into her rear tunnel. Just like before, his demonic seed would settle within her body with the same enchanting effect as before. Mathis panted softly as he pushed Ariel off of his cock and allowed her to drop to the ground. She would only have a small respite before he was ready for another round, all thanks to all that wonderful, magnificent lust that he had been feeding off of her since he started pounding into her ass. As he slammed one last time before releasing his load, Ariel screamed into the floor as she suddenly came from the feeling on him exploding deep inside her. Sliding off of him as she collapsed on the floor panting her body trembling from both the force of him and the surge of his power causing her to lose her self-control. Because she wasn't human her body recovered quickly, Suddenly she wanted him deep inside her again, her mind muddled with erotic thoughts about this demon who kidnapped her, removed her from her place, damning her for all time. For what? Sins of the flesh? Suddenly they didn't seem so bad, what could be bad about allowing one's self t enjoy their bodies and the pleasure that they can bring. As if her body could recognize him and his needs she moved so she was back up on her hands and knees and started crawling to him. Her eyes not hiding their lust, her body wanting more even though a little voice in her head screamed, "No fight back, don't give in. You are an angel, you are supposed to be above this." The voice kept going but she didn't care. All she wanted was to please him. His magic coursed through her veins, it would only last a short time but for now she was his. Her lust filled eyes stared at him as she crawled to his, "Thank you for using my body. Please won't you use it more. I give myself to you willingly just please use me again. I want more. Furthermore, I need more." Her voice soft almost begging for him to use and abuse her. As she waited his reply, she could feel her own juices running down her thighs to drip on the floor. As each little drop ran her nipples hardened, and she moaned softly as if wanting more than what she had memorized from his assault on her before and just what he had done. Biting her lip as she crawled closer to him, her breasts and nipples brushed against his leg as she waited. The voice in her head completely drowned out as she whispered, "Please Master." Mathis knew that he had won the moment that she started crawling towards him, moans emerging from her lips with every small inch forward as she begged for him to defile her all the more. She wanted him to use her body, abuse her, treat her as his slave. Well, if that was what she craved, Mathis figured he'd have to be a pretty heartless master to deny her that satisfaction. Ariel was about to learn that the more she surrendered to him, the more she acted like the shameless, mindless little fuckboy that she was destined to be, the greater her life would be, and the more satisfaction she would get out of living it. She was going to get fucked senseless rather she liked it or not, so if she simply shut her mind off and allowed herself to drown in the pleasure he could provide her, she was going to live an eternity in pure ecstasy. As for hearing her thank him for using her body, and begging for more, Mathis grinned excitedly and kneeled down, where he pressed a warm, affectionate kiss right against her lips. When it parted, he looked into her eyes as his arms wrapped around her, one holding her back firmly as the other landed on her shoulder. "You need more, you say? Well, since you clearly crave it so desperately..." He reached down and grabbed her by her recently ravaged ass, as he swung the two of them so that she was the one on top of him, her pussy grinding and rubbing against the hardened length of his cock. For as long as Ariel's body hungered for more, for as long as she continued to produce levels of lust and desire that Mathis had never known before, her new demonic master would have the stamina and the willpower to fuck her senseless. All of it depended on how long she'd be able to hold out, and how much she craved him as her night of senseless pleasure continued. "Go ahead and get started."he was going to have her be the one on top this time, the one riding him and calling the shots. Sure, she wouldn't be able to provide herself with half of the pleasure that he got from simply being manhandled and abused by her demonic owner, but having so much desire that you're willing to be the one on top doing the work would be a huge step forward towards solidifying her mindset, even once his magic on her mind wore off. As he kissed her she moaned softly leaning into the kiss as if savoring the pleasure and gentleness he was giving her when she wanted him to take her hard. When he pulled away she looked at him as if he just told her she would never feel his touch again, then his words reached her ears and made her smile. As he grabbed her and placed her on his lap rubbing his hard cock against her pussy she moaned as she looked at him as if waiting for him to start. When he didn't, she pouted briefly before she flicked her hips shoving his cock deep into her folds crying out as she impaled herself on his shaft inch by silken inch. Licking her lips as she moaned slowly sliding his cock into her fold until he was buried to the hilt. Leaning back she placed her hands on his shins and slowly started to bounce her body on his cock. By leaning back it caused his cock to hit her g-spot with each movement making her moans. The strands of her hair landed lightly against his thighs as she trembled in pleasure with each thrust she felt. Having his new angelic fuckboy ride his cock was everything that the dominant demon could have ever dreamed of, and it took almost no time at all before he began rolling his hips up into her each time that she dropped her hips onto his shaft. His hands reached up to grab a hold of her hips, as he guided her with every trip that the woman took up and down on him. Thanks to both her effort and her passion, Mathis was quickly letting out a series of eager and pleasure filled moans while the session continued, and he was already having to fight back the impulse to take control of the session again, rather than allow for his slave to be the one on top and the one riding him. He reached up and yanked down on her leash with one of his hands, though this obviously wouldn't have stopped her hips from moving. "What do you have to say to your master, huh? Maybe you're forgetting to thank him for letting you ride his cock, huh? You wouldn't want him to make you stop, now would you?" Why Mathis would ever want Ariel to stop was beyond him, he was loving this just as much as she was, but that wasn't the point. He wanted to hear her howl at the top of her lungs how much she loved riding him, how much she loved surrendering to him. As he placed his hands on her hips she moaned softly as he started guiding her hips and pace as she rode him hard and fast. Her head rolled back as she moaned in pleasure, her hands going to his chest resting there as she used him to steady herself as she rode him. As her eyes closed she felt the tug of the leash and moved forward still riding him as she looked at him her eyes lust filled, "Thank you, Master. Please don't make me stop riding your cock. It feels too good." Her voice echoed in the room as seas she had finally surrendered to him and the powerful magic he had injected into her form she couldn't help but moan and wiggle in pleasure as she started bouncing and grinding herself on his cock trying to milk out every moment of pleasure she could get. Mathis had succeeded, Ariel had become a perfect angelic cum dumpster, and there was literally almost no hope whatsoever that she'd ever be able to escape the fate that awaited her in this place. After all, she found herself stuck in a never ending cycle, where she'd always crave the sensation of his cock being buried in her pussy thanks to the magic that he pumped her full of, and each and every time he gave her that hard dicking that her body and soul both ached for so desperately, she'd get a refreshed and reinforced dose of that mind warping magic of his. It wouldn't be much longer before Mathis came, spurting his semen into his fuck toy's body. Of course, even as his cock throbbed and began to soften, he gave her a harsh smack on the ass. "Don't stop yet, slut. Your master isn't done. Keep on riding like the good little cum dump you are." As soon as he came, and she could feel him soften she slowed her bouncing as he suddenly slapped her ass almost yelling at her for slowing down or even thinking about stopping. She nodded and started her bouncing again at the pace she had prior to his cumming. Once again the magic that his cum contained started taking over again she moaned her eyes closed as her head rolled back causing her hair to spill over his thighs as she continued to pump herself forcing more of his cum deeper into her form. Her hands went to his knees allowing him a better view of his cock sliding in and out of her body as she rode him hard and fast. Mathis looked with pride at his creation, the previous pure and innocent beacon of hope now riding his cock and moaning like a shameless whore. He squeezed Ariel's ass again, littering it with powerful smacks to keep the winged slut bouncing up and down with all the energy that she could muster. This time he planned on emptying the tanks, he was going to force his slave to ride him until her body could no longer hold out, and she was on the verge of passing out from pure exhaustion and sexual satisfaction. This was where he finished her, once and for all. After this, even if she rested for years on end and allowed his magic to work out of her body, he had little doubt that she'd still be just as willing and eager to be his fuck toy as she was when he overloaded her every sense with the mighty drug. She was already going to be his slave until the end of time, no matter what she did to try and fight it, so now the only matter that remained was making sure that not even the tiniest spark of resistance, hope, or willpower remained.

The demon's new toy (Toughie & Lynnie)|rating:1.0

Batmans Explosive Meeting

Where are the men in this city? She pondered as she sat at her desk at Cornelius Labs. Small Lab company that usually made Prosthetics. It was a collaborative lab with Wayne Enterprises so they had a lot of money and a lot of minds to work on making the world better. However, Wendy Conrad... Dr. Conrad, was bored with her life. She did the same thing every day. She came in. Furthermore, she worked on a new prosthetic arm, She wrote down what she did, and she went home. Furthermore, she lived in a very nice apartment on the upper west side and just.....hated it. Furthermore, she wanted something more. Furthermore, she was a gorgeous blonde with an hourglass body and always got attention. Large chest, Perfect backside, and a well toned midsection after years from her previous life. Some men treated her like she was a dumb bimbo Example:"Hey Baby...put those dumb little lips to work and suck on this dick!" Some were so passive Example:"Excuse me ma'am. I don't mean to bother you or disturb you peace. You have every right to say no but will you do me the honor of having coffee with me. She was bored with that right away. Confidence...be fucking confident and don't be stupid.that's it....it could be a fat slob but be confident, and she may give you a flirtatious gaze. Her mind was in chaos almost every day, and she was sick of it. That's when something snapped when she went home. Looking at her family photos of her childhood circus legacy made her cringe. She tried to pull away from such past, but juggling seems to be in her blood. She grabbed every knife in her kitchen and juggled nearly 6 knives without breaking a sweat. Furthermore, she then dropped them all blade down around her, and she thought for a moment. Her life was filled with men that looked at her like bimbo....like a slut... She broke away from the circus and became a scientist. She was something worth more....worth. Furthermore, she opened her eyes to the present moment. Furthermore, she was not in a science jacket but in a full body red leotard outfit with a rips and spikes in it. Furthermore, she had a leather jacket with a bomb symbol on the back. Her chest was too big to close the jacket so it was a little eye candy for people. She had on these boots that reached to her knees that seem to have a few hidden mechanics that helped her with her new Job. She was known now as the Bombshell. Her gifted mind could not only make Prosthetics but make dangerous gadgets and explosives. Using her acrobatic ability with explosives made her pretty dangerous. She already blew up 3 buildings and killed a few people in each one. Mostly men that cat called her when she was out walking. She was done turning her cheek. The more she killed, the more she destroyed, the more she smiled. The true signs she was mentally unstable. Today her target was a club. She pulled on some Dark mask that seemed to cover her lower half of mask and her blue eyes were the only thing seen. She walked to the bouncer and immediately threw a small explosive to his face. The intense pain of that explosion seared his face, melted skin, and he fell unconscious after screaming. She walked in and locked the door. "Time to have fun..." The return to Gotham by Bruce Wayne could not have been timed any better had it all be intentional. The board of his father's company, Wayne Enterprises, had become corrupt, and some very lousy decisions were soon to be made that would have sold off the company into individual pieces. The crime in Gotham had gone to hell and the GCPD was quite frankly outmatched, not to mention almost a third of the force was corrupt and had dealings with one of the many crime families of Gotham. Bruce took back Wayne Enterprises with quite the impression at the first board meeting he had attended since he was five. The purpose of Wayne Enterprises had been to help Gotham, clean up the streets with new technology, and provide jobs for good hardworking people. Using his majority stake in the company Bruce took it back and turned it back around with quite a stir and whirl. In the five years since that day every department was functioning to full capacity and business was booming on all fronts. The other reason Bruce had come back was to clean up the streets of Gotham. After some experimentation and a lot of remodeling of the cave below his mansion, he took the mantle of the bat. The Gotham Gazette dubbed him Batman, and the name stuck from there. He took down the Falcon family first, but as he worked on the city more and more sideshow freaks came forward. Each one with a gimmick it seemed, and Batman dealt with each one as it came forward. Now he stood on the rooftop of the GCPD headquarters with a gray haired Commissioner, "what is going on Jim?" Batman asked in his deep gravelly voice. Jim Gordon took a look at the man before him and took a long drag of his cigarette. The black rubber suit looked heavy, the yellow oval with a black bat made him shudder, and he wondered how many gadgets were in that yellow utility belt around his waist. Not that Jim felt he could do what Batman did night in and night out, but he wondered what sort of shape a man would have to be in to go out like that. "There is a new woman for you. Not much is known, but she uses bombs, blew up three buildings so far. Thankfully casualties have been minimal, but this doesn't look good."" Any idea where she might be headed?" Batman asked curiously, not at all fazed by the fact this was a woman." Not a hundred percent sure, just keep an ear out." Jim had turned around and by the time he turned back Batman had gone. "Man, I hate it when he does that." Batman landed with a roll right near the Batmobile, and he zoomed off toward into the night when a call came over the police scanner about a bouncer who had a bomb hit his face. Paying attention to the address Batman raced toward the rear entrance pushing the pedal of the Batmobile down hard to make up for lost time. Traffic was heavy, and he had some bobbing and weaving to do, but he didn't let it deter him in the slightest. Stopping in the alley The Dark Knight headed in the back door unsure of how bad things were going to be. His goal was to tell people to head out back as he hastily headed toward the main dance area of the club. Genk said: The return to Gotham by Bruce Wayne could not have been timed any better had it all be intentional. The board of his father's company, Wayne Enterprises, had become corrupt, and some very lousy decisions were soon to be made that would have sold off the company into individual pieces. The crime in Gotham had gone to hell and the GCPD was quite frankly outmatched, not to mention almost a third of the force was corrupt and had dealings with one of the many crime families of Gotham. Bruce took back Wayne Enterprises with quite the impression at the first board meeting he had attended since he was five. The purpose of Wayne Enterprises had been to help Gotham, clean up the streets with new technology, and provide jobs for good hardworking people. Using his majority stake in the company Bruce took it back and turned it back around with quite a stir and whirl. In the five years since that day every department was functioning to full capacity and business was booming on all fronts. The other reason Bruce had come back was to clean up the streets of Gotham. After some experimentation and a lot of remodeling of the cave below his mansion, he took the mantle of the bat. The Gotham Gazette dubbed him Batman, and the name stuck from there. He took down the Falcon family first, but as he worked on the city more and more sideshow freaks came forward. Each one with a gimmick it seemed, and Batman dealt with each one as it came forward. Now he stood on the rooftop of the GCPD headquarters with a gray haired Commissioner, "what is going on Jim?" Batman asked in his deep gravelly voice. Jim Gordon took a look at the man before him and took a long drag of his cigarette. The black rubber suit looked heavy, the yellow oval with a black bat made him shudder, and he wondered how many gadgets were in that yellow utility belt around his waist. Not that Jim felt he could do what Batman did night in and night out, but he wondered what sort of shape a man would have to be in to go out like that. "There is a new woman for you. Not much is known, but she uses bombs, blew up three buildings so far. Thankfully casualties have been minimal, but this doesn't look good." "Any idea where she might be headed?" Batman asked curiously, not at all fazed by the fact this was a woman. "Not a hundred percent sure, just keep an ear out." Jim had turned around and by the time he turned back Batman had gone. "Man, I hate it when he does that." Batman landed with a roll right near the Batmobile, and he zoomed off toward into the night when a call came over the police scanner about a bouncer who had a bomb hit his face. Paying attention to the address Batman raced toward the rear entrance pushing the pedal of the Batmobile down hard to make up for lost time. Traffic was heavy, and he had some bobbing and weaving to do, but he didn't let it deter him in the slightest. Stopping in the alley The Dark Knight headed in the back door unsure of how bad things were going to be. His goal was to tell people to head out back as he hastily headed toward the main dance area of the club. Click to expand... "Hello Ladies and Gentlemen. My Name is Bombshell. This dance will not be your last." Some random guy ran to her and tried to hit her with a bottle. She jumped up effortlessly with did a hard kick to the back of his head. The boots technically do mini explosions as it did a harsh impact to the back of his head. His skull dented inward in the back as she laughed pulling out a few C4 Stickies as she was juggling them. She laughed and walked around as the whole crowd was screaming and whimpering in fear of what was going to happen. She was a talented juggler as these C4 stickies were flying around in an oval shape. Furthermore, she awaited for something...but then heard silence. Furthermore, she didn't like silence." Hey...why are you all bitching?...Oh, you guys are bored right?" She let a bomb drop from her grasp and be kicked into the face of one man. His entire body exploded with a few people around him burned and hurt." Now make some noise for our next guest... I think I hear some company. If you are going to come after me......do it... I dare you"She smiled as her eyes suddenly glared in a direction and smirked knowing somebody was going to ruin her fun. The kitchen staff was running for the exit at Batman's request as well as the few waiters and waitresses lucky enough to be in the kitchen at the time. Their panicked faces were nothing new to the man behind the mask, he had seen plenty of frightened people, some with no reason, and...BANG, the loud explosion rang out and suddenly Batman understood the reason for the terrified expressions. He burst through the swinging door to see what greeted him. Even in haste he took in his surroundings. The product of the latest explosion was off to the left. Body parts of one person and a couple more with burns. Thankfully others had rushed to their aid, he wasn't quite a doctor, his skill set lied in taking down the culprit. It was then that his eyes focused on her. Red leotard, and a mighty nice one too. Her body was accentuated nicely from her flat stomach to her large breasts there was no denying her amazing form. His blue eyes saw the black leather jacket before focusing on remaining C4 sticks that she had been juggling. The blonde woman was crazy, there was little doubt about that, and there was no time for formalities. Quickly Batman grabbed three bearings from his bright yellow utility belt and let them fly. Each one aimed for a spot where the C4 sticks appeared to go. One hit at the apex of flight, but the other two missed and the two remaining sticks were left intact. The explosion had been mostly harmless as he used the distraction to quickly march forward, his right fist balled up and ready to connect with her jaw if he should get close enough. During his approach he spoke, "don't mind if I do. Explosives are far too dangerous for you." She saw her c4 bombs dwindle and explode on empty ends of the club. She looked back and it was Batman. Furthermore, she heard of him. Hand-to-hand combat, Tech, so many vehicles. They also said he was highly intelligent. She simply laughed in her head watching him run after her. She then put her hands down and kicked off with her feet. Her puts impact mechanism activated as she was flung into the crowd so fast and the bombs she had in her hand would fall down in front of Batman since he tried to punch her. She smiled and grabbed a random man from the crowd and put a smaller bomb in his mouth and covered his mouth so he couldn't spit it out." Come on...you really think this fight between us is fair?.. Maybe you should call your little buddies... Robin... Nightwing...umm Bald Eagle? I don't know your family names." She smiled and had the terrified man stand still in her grasp." I bet you call women, bitches... You call your mother a bitch? He panicked shaking his head while she laughed at his misery. Genk said: The kitchen staff was running for the exit at Batman's request as well as the few waiters and waitresses lucky enough to be in the kitchen at the time. Their panicked faces were nothing new to the man behind the mask, he had seen plenty of frightened people, some with no reason, and... BANG, the loud explosion rang out and suddenly Batman understood the reason for the terrified expressions. He burst through the swinging door to see what greeted him. Even in haste he took in his surroundings. The product of the latest explosion was off to the left. Body parts of one person and a couple more with burns. Thankfully others had rushed to their aid, he wasn't quite a doctor, his skill set lied in taking down the culprit. It was then that his eyes focused on her. Red leotard, and a mighty nice one too. Her body was accentuated nicely from her flat stomach to her large breasts there was no denying her amazing form. His blue eyes saw the black leather jacket before focusing on remaining C4 sticks that she had been juggling. The blonde woman was crazy, there was little doubt about that, and there was no time for formalities. Quickly Batman grabbed three bearings from his bright yellow utility belt and let them fly. Each one aimed for a spot where the C4 sticks appeared to go. One hit at the apex of flight, but the other two missed and the two remaining sticks were left intact. The explosion had been mostly harmless as he used the distraction to quickly march forward, his right fist balled up and ready to connect with her jaw if he should get close enough. During his approach he spoke, "don't mind if I do. Explosives are far too dangerous for you." Click to expand... She saw her c4 bombs dwindle and explode on empty ends of the club. She looked back and it was Batman. Furthermore, she heard of him. Hand-to-hand combat, Tech, so many vehicles. They also said he was highly intelligent. She simply laughed in her head watching him run after her. She then put her hands down and kicked off with her feet. Her puts impact mechanism activated as she was flung into the crowd so fast and the bombs she had in her hand would fall down in front of Batman since he tried to punch her. She smiled and grabbed a random man from the crowd and put a smaller bomb in his mouth and covered his mouth so he couldn't spit it out." Come on...you really think this fight between us is fair?.. Maybe you should call your little buddies... Robin... Nightwing...umm Bald Eagle? I don't know your family names." She smiled and had the terrified man stand still in her grasp." I bet you call women, bitches... You call your mother a bitch? He panicked shaking his head while she laughed at his misery. In an instant the woman who had been in front of him was gone. He marveled for a moment at how her boots had launched her, but there was no time to look at her landing. Try as he might Batman failed to catch either of the two bombs she had been juggling just moments before and their combined blast sent him for a ride backward. The flash and bang were loud as he was flung off the ground, his midsection flying backward first so that he looked to be bent in half. He had managed to block his face with his cape which prevented any burns or shrapnel from causing any damage to his face. The impact on the ground was solid and painful. Even in the thick suit he could feel it, and it left Batman winded. The suit looked a bit worse for wear. No damage that exposed any extra skin or anything, but there were signs of melting on the abdomen plates and the emblem on his chest. The utility belt somehow escaped without a scratch, but that was about it." Uh, mummy," Batman grunted from the ground. His ears were ringing from the blast and would take a moment to adjust. He still had no idea where the woman was at in the room, nor anything she had said to him in the wake of the explosions. Slowly he began to sit up, and if unimpeded he would finish the job on wobbly legs and begin to look for the very dangerous woman. Genk said: In an instant the woman who had been in front of him was gone. He marveled for a moment at how her boots had launched her, but there was no time to look at her landing. Try as he might Batman failed to catch either of the two bombs she had been juggling just moments before and their combined blast sent him for a ride backward. The flash and bang were loud as he was flung off the ground, his midsection flying backward first so that he looked to be bent in half. He had managed to block his face with his cape which prevented any burns or shrapnel from causing any damage to his face. The impact on the ground was solid and painful. Even in the thick suit he could feel it, and it left Batman winded. The suit looked a bit worse for wear. No damage that exposed any extra skin or anything, but there were signs of melting on the abdomen plates and the emblem on his chest. The utility belt somehow escaped without a scratch, but that was about it. "Uh, mummy," Batman grunted from the ground. His ears were ringing from the blast and would take a moment to adjust. He still had no idea where the woman was at in the room, nor anything she had said to him in the wake of the explosions. Slowly he began to sit up, and if unimpeded he would finish the job on wobbly legs and begin to look for the very dangerous woman. Click to expand... She watched him almost like prey." Can't fight too well, huh?" She then looked to her victim." Change of plans"She released his mouth and let the civilian spit out a bomb the size of a marble. She kicked the marble right at batman trying to hit him with a smaller explosion. The suit may absorb that hit, but it would keep him in this lost like daze he was in. She then started to hear the cops right outside the club." Oh...why is my fun always ruined..." She wondered if she should kill Batman or try to escape. Such decisions but as she was thinking the crowd of people all made a run for it and started to exit the Club."Oh, well. So Batman. Should I kill you now...or later?" She put her hands on her slightly wide hips as she simply giggled at the whole thing. She was crazy. Almost like a Harley Quinn situation, but Quinn was a victim of abuse. Dr Conrad was a victim of disrespect. Unlike Quinn...she wasn't going to apologize for her actions right now. Just as he was about to finish sitting up, his left arm propped behind him, a small marble sized device rolled his way. "Shit," Batman muttered quietly and uncharacteristically. The blast rattled him, and the arm that was keeping him propped up lost the base and his back slammed into the dance floor once more. Things weren't exactly going his way, but the one bonus was that his hearing was beginning to return despite the small blast. The sirens outside were a good thing, her escape would be harder, if not nearly impossible, or so he thought. Of course his brain was a bit scrambled at the moment, not concussed to the point he would be loopy for days, but perhaps a few more moments. "HHH," he groaned once more in pain as he turned his head toward her voice. The way she put her hands on her hips was rather sexy, and it was almost as if she knew it in the middle of the taunt. Life or death decisions had a way of making some people do stupid things in the name of self-preservation. "Later," he replied still managing to mask his weak voice. "You need to escape, I can offer it for my life." It was a risky move to offer to use the Batmobile for escape, "take me with you out the back." If she took him up on his offer he would voice deactivate the shields and once inside he would voice activate the start function. Of course, she could also find the remote in the front right pouch of his utility belt that would run the vehicle just fine without him. Genk said: Just as he was about to finish sitting up, his left arm propped behind him, a small marble sized device rolled his way. "Shit," Batman muttered quietly and uncharacteristically. The blast rattled him, and the arm that was keeping him propped up lost the base and his back slammed into the dance floor once more. Things weren't exactly going his way, but the one bonus was that his hearing was beginning to return despite the small blast. The sirens outside were a good thing, her escape would be harder, if not nearly impossible, or so he thought. Of course his brain was a bit scrambled at the moment, not concussed to the point he would be loopy for days, but perhaps a few more moments. "HHH," he groaned once more in pain as he turned his head toward her voice. The way she put her hands on her hips was rather sexy, and it was almost as if she knew it in the middle of the taunt. Life or death decisions had a way of making some people do stupid things in the name of self-preservation. "Later," he replied still managing to mask his weak voice. "You need to escape, I can offer it for my life." It was a risky move to offer to use the Batmobile for escape, "take me with you out the back." If she took him up on his offer he would voice deactivate the shields and once inside he would voice activate the start function. Of course, she could also find the remote in the front right pouch of his utility belt that would run the vehicle just fine without him. Click to expand... "You're actually asking me to cut a deal for your life?....such an odd one. I have a way out. Not a pretty one.but a way out." She sighed and walked over to him as she grabbed him to pull him up. She had 3 marble bombs on the side of his face. If he moved she would blow him up." Fine. Escort me. Let's see what you can do to get me out of here." She was taking a gamble at this moment. Maybe she hit him hard enough that he wasn't thinking. Maybe this was a trap. He wouldn't dare to trap here. She wasn't above blowing herself up with him. Either way.she saw it as a win in her favor.....then again...she had ways of surviving her own bombs. "Roof," he groaned as she roughly brought Batman to his feet. He found it odd that she was surprised he cut a deal after she had threatened his life. As much as he would have wanted to fight her the explosions had rocked him hard and prevented him from fighting back in the present moment. As the three small marble sized bombs were placed to his face Batman knew that he was not going to be winning the fight, but at least making it out alive was a plausibility. He walked on wobbly legs with the incredibly beautiful blonde woman out toward the back and into the alley where the Batmobile was at. Spoiler: Batmobile {"light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} "Doors," he spoke out loud while both doors opened up and Batman climbed into the driver's side as his head began clearing up a little bit. The tank like vehicle had plenty of buttons, "start," he said as they all began to flash, and the engine roared to life. The panels then remained dimly lit as Batman punched it out of the alley and through the streets. No one followed them, no one had any reason to suspect that Batman was helping the criminal escape. He drove through town silently as he headed toward the docks. He went for the ones on the north side of town away from where patrols generally went and where some abandoned warehouses still were. Furthermore, he slowed down and came to a stop. "Here, I held up my end of the bargain, now prove to me, you have some honor and go. You have twenty-four hours before I come after you. Personally I would leave if I was you." Genk said: "Roof," he groaned as she roughly brought Batman to his feet. He found it odd that she was surprised he cut a deal after she had threatened his life. As much as he would have wanted to fight her the explosions had rocked him hard and prevented him from fighting back in the present moment. As the three small marble sized bombs were placed to his face Batman knew that he was not going to be winning the fight, but at least making it out alive was a plausibility. He walked on wobbly legs with the incredibly beautiful blonde woman out toward the back and into the alley where the Batmobile was at. Spoiler: Batmobile "Doors," he spoke out loud while both doors opened up and Batman climbed into the driver's side as his head began clearing up a little bit. The tank like vehicle had plenty of buttons, "start," he said as they all began to flash, and the engine roared to life. The panels then remained dimly lit as Batman punched it out of the alley and through the streets. No one followed them, no one had any reason to suspect that Batman was helping the criminal escape. He drove through town silently as he headed toward the docks. He went for the ones on the north side of town away from where patrols generally went and where some abandoned warehouses still were. Furthermore, he slowed down and came to a stop. "Here, I held up my end of the bargain, now prove to me, you have some honor and go. You have twenty-four hours before I come after you. Personally I would leave if I was you." Click to expand... "So submissive. I swear are all men bitches?" She threw the marble at him, and it was just that...a marble. She threatened him with 4 marbles she had on her person. Furthermore, she did have real bombs still on her, but she decided to have her own fun right now. Furthermore, she laughed and shook her head." I was hoping for a challenge, and you let me down, Dark Knight. Maybe next time you will actually hit me"She simply kicked his car on the wheel and started to walk away. Her hips as ass swaying normally. She was in the mood for a challenge, but she must have caught him off guard. Maybe she was too much of a threat at the moment. She killed people, destroyed property, and beat Batman to the point of him helping her. Was she that much worse than Joker, Mr. Freeze, The riddler.... Maybe the Gotham had a new Queen of Crime. She left him where he was at but knew she would be seeing him very soon. She didn't return home or to the Lab. Furthermore, she would be setting up a small lair that was in an abandoned roller rink. It was a cute place but to her, it was the one place she uses to hang out at when she was a little girl. She didn't have much time back then to be social. She was a circus star. Could juggle up to 50 items given the space. She would even do acrobatics in the middle of juggling....never saw one penny for her performances. Her Parents spent everything. Maybe that's why she didn't cry when they died." I guess I should round up some minions. Need to greet Batman in style." Her words sank in like a boulder plummeting to the bottom of a lake. He knew in his mind that he was not a submissive, taking a look at what he had done would prove that, but nonetheless he let her words get to him. His mouth opened to respond, but nothing came, his blue eyes watched her rather nice firm ass as it sashayed away from the Batmobile. Clearly he had not been prepared to give her a challenge, he had simply not had enough information and in his unrefined haste Bruce nearly got himself killed which would have ended his days as the vigilante of Gotham. It was a close call, one he would try to make sure never happened again with her. He would need to be more cautious with her, and clearly one of his spare suits was needed. Once she was far enough out of view that watching her ass was no longer of any fun, he had been staring blankly unknowingly, Batman shook his head and drove off to head back to the bat cave. The lonely drive was time enough to get his thoughts cleared up. He assessed how the situation had gone, and what improvements he could potentially make in the future. Of course none of that stopped him from slamming his gloves down onto the floor of the cave as he took them off and sat down. His body ached from the impact of the blast, and a long hot shower was in order once he got the suit off of him. Some of the give in the torso had been diminished by the heat from the explosion so taking the suit off had proven to be more challenging than usual, but he managed and set it aside to examine it further.------------------------------------------Twenty four hours quickly turned into forty-eight for Bruce to continue his pursuit of the blonde bombshell. The black and blue had turned into a nice shade of purple, but thanks to some slaves that Alfred had acquired the pain was mostly gone. The first place he drove was the last place he had seen her, where he had dropped her off, the docks on the north side of the city. There was no help, Night wing was busy in Cuxhaven and Tim Drake, the new Robin was busy with the Teen Titans, he literally was on his own, but he liked it that way, less to worry about. Batman got out of the Batmobile and began to look around, just on the off chance she had set up shop in the area. Genk said: Her words sank in like a boulder plummeting to the bottom of a lake. He knew in his mind that he was not a submissive, taking a look at what he had done would prove that, but nonetheless he let her words get to him. His mouth opened to respond, but nothing came, his blue eyes watched her rather nice firm ass as it sashayed away from the Batmobile. Clearly he had not been prepared to give her a challenge, he had simply not had enough information and in his unrefined haste Bruce nearly got himself killed which would have ended his days as the vigilante of Gotham. It was a close call, one he would try to make sure never happened again with her. He would need to be more cautious with her, and clearly one of his spare suits was needed. Once she was far enough out of view that watching her ass was no longer of any fun, he had been staring blankly unknowingly, Batman shook his head and drove off to head back to the bat cave. The lonely drive was time enough to get his thoughts cleared up. He assessed how the situation had gone, and what improvements he could potentially make in the future. Of course none of that stopped him from slamming his gloves down onto the floor of the cave as he took them off and sat down. His body ached from the impact of the blast, and a long hot shower was in order once he got the suit off of him. Some of the give in the torso had been diminished by the heat from the explosion so taking the suit off had proven to be more challenging than usual, but he managed and set it aside to examine it further. ------------------------------------------ Twenty four hours quickly turned into forty-eight for Bruce to continue his pursuit of the blonde bombshell. The black and blue had turned into a nice shade of purple, but thanks to some slaves that Alfred had acquired the pain was mostly gone. The first place he drove was the last place he had seen her, where he had dropped her off, the docks on the north side of the city. There was no help, Night wing was busy in Cuxhaven and Tim Drake, the new Robin was busy with the Teen Titans, he literally was on his own, but he liked it that way, less to worry about. Batman got out of the Batmobile and began to look around, just on the off chance she had set up shop in the area. Click to expand... "That's when you have a few females standing on the corner with bomb symbols on their leather jackets. They looked right at Batman, and they seemed to have painted bombs on their masks looking at him. They waved to Batman only to have thousands of small marble like bombs drop in front of his Batmobile to do a consistent explosive sequence. The Batmobile was tough, but that impact would probably shake the car up. This wasn't to get a kill but to get his attention. She built her Lair.and broke out some crazies from Arkham. This lead to other criminals coming to her as they heard about her fight with Batman. Some of those criminals died as try tried to grab onto her. She wasn't having it. However, the fight with Batman made her want to redeem the moment. She wanted to see the real side of Batman. The side that seemed to make her insides quiver with excitement. After the moment with the explosions, her henchmen left a note saying Lets roller skate sometime. This was a blatant clue for him to meet her at the old roller rink for another conversation. The females waving caught Batman's attention and the rocking inside the Batmobile was quickly felt. Sure the vehicle could take a few hits, but this was insane as Batman held on and prepared for the potential need to eject from his ride. On the outside there were definitely dents in the armor, some of the weapons systems were either blown off or damaged beyond use, and the engine was in bad shape. Usable, yes, but he would have to be careful. The two women didn't seem to have a care in the world as he watched them leave a note on the windshield that he quickly read. Bruce himself knew of the location, the old roller rink where he had spent some time in his youth. It was sad it had closed, but he could only do so much. Batman's ride was not a smooth one to get to the location, but he made his way there nonetheless his mind filled with wonder as to how this meeting was going to play out. Exiting the Batmobile he walked toward the entrance. More women with bombs painted on their masks wearing leather jackets and red leotards were at the door. They didn't appear hostile, but rather expecting of his arrival. Fighting when he didn't need to and exerting excess energy that would be better spent on their boss would be a terrible thing, though he was itching for a good fight. Batman entered in through the front and into the lobby. "I'm here, and I got your message!" He shouted as he tried to figure out exactly where she was in the building by scanning. He stood near the entrance with a rigid posture and a spare suit he happened to have. She smiled as she was in the middle of the roller rink with her legs crossed and her minions circling around with roller skates."come here Bats... I want to work a deal with you. I think you got a little soft over the years. Furthermore, I figured you would have given me a fight, but you seem to be so cautious. Are you getting old Batty? "She smiled as she walked to him and made sure to show him she had bombs in her hands as she juggled them walking to him. Mainly to make sure he didn't try anything funny." I will stop blowing up innocent people. I will make sure to never harm another innocent person....at least in public. You just have to do something for me. ...but you have to agree to it before I tell you what it is. If you agree.your innocent will be harmed...maybe a few villains I don't care for...but no innocent people. Deal? She seemed so sure of herself it was sickening. She hid half her face but her crystal blue eyes were so gorgeous. He watched her announce herself, in a crowd filled with women who looked similar it had been hard to pick her out. As she told him to come to her, he hesitated, it smelled like a trap the whole thing did, but as she approached he met her halfway. He could see her juggling bombs with expert precision as he listened to her talk of a proposition." Interesting proposal, and no I am not getting too old. I am going to have to pass on the agreement without knowing what it is, and even then I don't like the sound of what you would continue to do." Subtly his right hand grabbed a smoke pellet from his utility belt." I am going to give you a fight though," he tossed the pellet down as black smoke consumed them both and Batman lowered his shoulder into her sternum and moved them forward. He was willing to risk the explosions, and figured he might put some distance between them and whichever bombs might have dropped, possibly all of them. After moving them a few paces away he shot his left elbow up toward the woman's jaw in hopes of knocking her for a loop to allow him to cuff her. She lost her breath as she was hit in her chest and the only air to breath was smoke. She had no way of reacting, but the bombs in her hands did go off. These were small explosive bombs that made holes in the floor in a small area. She flew backwards and was elbowed in the face hard as the mask cracked. She rolled back and simply jumped up attempting a dropkick to the other's chest. With her special boots that pulse of a kick would hurt. An Explosion with no smoke just pure impact." I see you are putting my fire into your fight. I will make you agree to my terms." She said as she would try and pull out her small marble explosives for this fight. It was great to have some success, the sweet sound as his elbow cracked her jaw was nice. For a moment he forgot he was fighting a woman, something that didn't happen often in this fierce of a scenario. The explosions behind him had been noted, but were inconsequential to start. He noticed the crack in her mast as well, it made him smile to know he had caused damage to her outfit much like she had to his a few days prior. The dropkick connected to Batman's chest and the force was unexpected. He was sent sailing backward from the force of the explosive impact. The Kevlar laced into his chest plate shattered, leaving the chest area of his suit compromised and vulnerable to piercing objects and weapons. He heard her words, and made his way back to his feet after rolling to the right. The divots in the floor from the earlier explosions were noticeable. "Don't expect me to give in, I am not easily beaten when prepared," but even as the words came out he had a hard time believing them. Back on his feet he saw the marble explosives. Batman also learned that some were simply fakes, and not knowing which was dangerous for him. Still he came forward believing he could take a small explosion to his suit and protect his face as necessary. If he was able to make it back in range Batman intended to take her legs out, or at least damage them, with an inside leg kick to her left leg from his right followed by a left body kick to her right side. Genk said: It was great to have some success, the sweet sound as his elbow cracked her jaw was nice. For a moment he forgot he was fighting a woman, something that didn't happen often in this fierce of a scenario. The explosions behind him had been noted, but were inconsequential to start. He noticed the crack in her mast as well, it made him smile to know he had caused damage to her outfit much like she had to his a few days prior. The dropkick connected to Batman's chest and the force was unexpected. He was sent sailing backward from the force of the explosive impact. The Kevlar laced into his chest plate shattered, leaving the chest area of his suit compromised and vulnerable to piercing objects and weapons. He heard her words, and made his way back to his feet after rolling to the right. The divots in the floor from the earlier explosions were noticeable. "Don't expect me to give in, I am not easily beaten when prepared," but even as the words came out he had a hard time believing them. Back on his feet he saw the marble explosives. Batman also learned that some were simply fakes, and not knowing which was dangerous for him. Still he came forward believing he could take a small explosion to his suit and protect his face as necessary. If he was able to make it back in range Batman intended to take her legs out, or at least damage them, with an inside leg kick to her left leg from his right followed by a left body kick to her right side. Click to expand... She through the bombs in front of her as she did a few backflips in response to his attacks. She decided to stomp in place to create a small hole in the floor. Furthermore, she then would try and catch the leg which hurt her ribs in the process...but also she was able to pull him some. His other leg would be forced to slide some and slip into the hole she made. If she was allowed to pull him she would knee him in the face. Her knees would not have the explosive pulse but being vulnerable would do it." Take the deal!" With his right foot caught in the hole she had created Batman was thrown off balance and his hands went low to help sustain it. There was nothing blocking the knee to the face that came his way. He was also not meant to flex too far in the suit, and it was becoming uncomfortable in the crotch region. Batman's head snapped backward forcefully from the blow that connected sharply. Practically doing the splits Batman managed to scoot back, using the blow from her knee as leverage, in order to have some control once more and not feel like he was out of control in terms of winning this fight. "No!" He exclaimed back to her with a gruff tone. He managed to get his leg out of the hole, and hobbled a little bit backwards to ensure separation. Batman pulled his grappling gun out and aimed it at her. The intent was that when he fired the weapon the cable would wrap around his present adversary, leaving her bound up tight. It was risky, but one he felt worth taking. Genk said: With his right foot caught in the hole she had created Batman was thrown off balance and his hands went low to help sustain it. There was nothing blocking the knee to the face that came his way. He was also not meant to flex too far in the suit, and it was becoming uncomfortable in the crotch region. Batman's head snapped backward forcefully from the blow that connected sharply. Practically doing the splits Batman managed to scoot back, using the blow from her knee as leverage, in order to have some control once more and not feel like he was out of control in terms of winning this fight. "No!" He exclaimed back to her with a gruff tone. He managed to get his leg out of the hole, and hobbled a little bit backwards to ensure separation. Batman pulled his grappling gun out and aimed it at her. The intent was that when he fired the weapon the cable would wrap around his present adversary, leaving her bound up tight. It was risky, but one he felt worth taking. Click to expand... She thought she had him, but then he rose up shooting something at her. She did not have enough time to react as she was then being wrapped around. That's when her Henchmen dropped and started to jump on the batman. They mostly used these minor gloves that had 50% of the strength of her boots. So each punch was more like a heavyweight boxer striking him. She was tired up torso up, but she ran at him and drop-kicked him again in the chest." You will save this city if you accept it!" She said as her whole team ran to him and pinned him down to laugh and look to him.

Batmans Explosive Meeting|rating:3.0

The Foundling [Chiarra & RE202]

It was often said that in the second half of the 22nd century, mankind had come to completely part with its humanity, and started the bonding process with technology as an ill-fitting replacement part, that human beings had become so overwhelmed by their need for the newest and best, that they'd forgotten what it was to actually be human. Long gone were the family-owned farms that had made the country what it was, originally, now replaced by automated Agra-centers. Airplanes flew themselves, with little to no loss of human life. Cars were cars in name only, as artificial intelligence made the driving of these things obsolete. Even the dignity of human beings was something that could be sold, rented, or even owned. James Richter, the only son of the now-dead Martin Richter, had seen the evidence of this all his life. His father, a pioneer in the development of the artificial intelligence architecture now being employed by most people throughout their daily lives, had succumbed to the notion of lost humanity several decades before, when he bought his first 'pet', who, as it turned out, was James' mother. The arrangement of a purchased pet, made legal some fifty years prior, had secured James' fortune for him, but it also left him without the true knowledge of what his mother, or who, really was. It was for this reason, among others, that James had never indulged in the purchase of a pet before, as he could never see himself degrading another human being like that, making them his slave, and worse, treating them like they were nothing but property. The establishment of the pet-ownership laws had come in on the tide of the 'New Awakening' surge of legislation, part of which was responsible for James' fortune. In that sweeping, decade-long blitz of legal maneuvering, the laws had finally made research into artificial intelligence a possibility, and had also made for a new form of slavery acceptable, as long as the subject being 'owned' were consenting and obliging to the arrangement. This, of course, changed dramatically with the advent of genetically-engineered pets, but the laws about licensing remained the same, even if a person were born into the 'trade'. This was yet another reason for James to never take one, as he didn't care for the idea of a custom-made servant, just for him. That wasn't to say that James didn't embrace most of the things in his time. His home, the entire top floor of a prestigious building, played host to his own creation, an advanced AI that he named Jeeves. Unlike the character of literature, though, James was no Wooster, no hapless elite that bumbled his way along. No, James continued in his hobbies, designing new software for the basic AI architecture, and entering into other worthwhile endeavors. It was, after all, due to his large donations, that HIV, AIDS, and even most cancers were obliterated from the human condition. James felt a touch of pride in that, but at the same time, he wondered what new atrocious maladies would come along to take their place. He truly understood that nature fought back, in her own way. One night, after returning to his apartment after a boring, tedious party in which he was expected to make another of his sizable donations, James Richter stepped from his automated limo and onto the sidewalk outside his building. A strange shape caught his eye, and he turned to it quickly, seeing that it was the form of a girl. James, knowing what a girl looked like, bent low to take a closer look, and found that under the cardboard box she'd been using for cover, she was completely nude, marginally thin, and shaking in the cold and rain." Who is this?" James asked the doorman, who simply shrugged. "Where did she come from?"" Dunno, sir." The doorman replied. "She's been there, most of the night. I tried to talk to her earlier, but she just cried. When I tried to help her to her feet, she screamed, and crawled further down that alley."" Have the authorities been called?" James asked." Sir, there's a riot on the other side of town." The doorman said. "The cops aren't going to be available for some time." James, a sour look on his face, turned from the doorman, and pulled off his overcoat. Then, walking towards the girl slowly, he held the coat out in front of him, offering it to the girl. As he approached, he looked her over once again, and found her face to be something from Asian descent, and her hair was long and black, coming down over her shoulders to cover her small breasts. Her body looked thin, as if she hadn't eaten in a while, but she didn't look sickly or infectious." Girl?" He asked, softly, as he moved closer to her. "Girl, this will keep you warm. I have food in my home, if you're hungry. May I take you up there?" In a move almost too quick to see, James left from where he stood, and draped the coat over the girl. Then, just as quickly, he was standing, with the girl in his arms. He held her close, and looked at the doorman." Ring the elevator for me." James instructed. "I'm taking her to my room." Melody had known nothing but the cruel hands of her previous master. Some pets were given the luxury to speak or walk. The even luckier ones you wouldn't even know were pets if it weren't for their collars, they had almost all their rights and were treated like human beings. Not Melody, the only thing that was ever on her body besides her collar were bruises and more recently, her master. If she got to eat, it was poor quality food and like a dog, and most of her time was spent in a cage or on the floor. She had to crawl everywhere and if she spoke, she was beaten. A couple of days ago, she had been thrown out on the streets, her master no longer wanting her because she was too broken and no longer fun. So, Melody was forced to fend for herself in a world she barely knew anything about. She found herself some protection from the cold and rain in a cardboard box, but nothing food wise. She was starving and was very terrified, especially of the people, associating everyone to be like her master. A stranger was trying to talk to her and even tried to make her stand, but she was afraid of that cane coming down on her soft flesh and screamed in fright, and got away from him as fast as she could. Now, another man was talking to her, offering her a coat, but she wouldn't come near him. He offered her food and her stomach growled loudly at the thought of eating, but she still didn't trust him. The next thing she knew, he was on her, had her wrapped up in his coat and held to his chest. She screamed and cried, trying to get away from him, but she was too weak to do anything about it. For Richter, the girl's weak attempts at struggle were more telling than she probably knew. In his arms, she seemed rather frail and weak, and her attempts to free herself from his grasp were further indications of that very fact, which was very unsettling for James. He didn't like to see someone like this, weak, thin, and barely able to move. On the elevator ride to his penthouse, James kept trying to soothe the girl, whispering to her that she would be all right. Whoever she was, James didn't have a clue, but he knew that Jeeves would be able to help, once Richter passed through the front entrance. Jeeves was very efficient, and with an almost empathic ability to sense some of Richter's requests, the AI seemed to border on psychic. Up and up, the elevator went. Richter's penthouse was nearly four hundred feet above the street, and the view he had was amazing. Also, at that height, it ensured that Richter would have a decent modicum of privacy without having to close all the blinds in the place. He liked his view, and he liked taking it in whenever he wanted. Finally, the elevator car dinged, opening onto Richter's home. Upon entry, the clipped English accent of Jeeves could be heard from an unknown source." Sir, you have company." The AI said." Yes, I do." James replied. "You're very observant."" Well, sir, when you arrive at home, alone, so often, one does tend to take notice." Jeeves stated. "However, I hadn't been aware that you'd been in the market for a licensed pet."" What are you talking about?" James asked, as he set the girl on a lush, leather-upholstered couch. "Pet?"" Yes, sir." Jeeves replied. "Her identity chip shows her name as Melody, and she's a registered, licensed pet. However, her only ownership contract was terminated four days ago, and there's been no right of reclamation on it."" So, she's been thrown away?" James asked." It would appear so." Jeeves said. "Her medical records are up-to-date, though, and she hasn't registered any real problems. There have been some bone-breakages, and some external trauma, but nothing that would qualify as assault. Apparently, she's been genetically engineered for a particular customer.""Who is it?" Richter asked." Unknown." Jeeves replied. "The city-wide net has a block on her information." James heaved a sigh, and sat on the floor next to the couch he'd laid the girl on. He looked at her scared face, and tried to find a glimmer of humanity in her eyes. Whatever had happened to her, she was scared, and James didn't like it, not one damn bit." Jeeves, put a bid on her." James said. "Short term, nothing permanent."" Illogical, sir." Jeeves replied. "As I see it, she's free to claim, and there's no need for a bid. I can solidify the claim, if you'd like."" Do it." He said. "And arrange for some warm clothing for her. If she's to be here, she'll at least be comfortable."" Yes, sir." Jeeves said. James returned his eyes to the girl's, and he studied her face some more. Looking at her carefully, he saw that her face, were it not torn with fear and hunger, could've been very pretty, indeed." Melody?" He asked. "Is that your name? My name is James, and I'll just bet you're starving, huh? Let me go find something warm for you." James pushed himself up from the floor, and headed off to the rather expansive kitchen area. There, he found a pack of dehydrated food-stuffs, but he thought better of it. Instead, he found a quick-heat dinner that had soup, some bread and such for making a sandwich, and even a few vegetables. After a quick, ten-second zap under the infrared preparation beam, he brought out the named food for the girl, and set it next to her on the couch." There you go." He said. "Take it slow, and let your body get used to it." Melody eventually gave up her attempt to get away, realizing that he wasn't hurting her, and she was indeed getting warm in his jacket and in the building that had heating throughout. She still shivered though, from both the cold and fright. She calmed down even more with him assuring her that everything was going to be alright. It wasn't until he brought her into his pent house did she start to freak out again at the sound of another voice. She of course didn't understand that it was a high-tech computer speaking. Her previous owner was rich, but not rich enough to own something like Jeeves. When she was sat down on the couch, something she had never had the luxury of being on, she couldn't help but feel how comfy it was, but be afraid he would punish her for being on it. She retreated to the corner of the couch, trying to hide herself the best she can. It was only when she realized he wasn't coming after her, and that neither him nor the owner of the mysterious voice wasn't even paying attention to her at the moment, but talking about her, did she relax and settle down on the couch. It was the most comfortable thing she had ever been on, mostly having to be on the floor or in the cage, she wasn't used to this. Listening, she realized that he was claiming her and that he was her new master now. She suddenly grew scared again, with the knowledge that her previous master had instilled in her. He was introducing himself as James, but...he was her master now, so he wasn't James. Of course, it didn't really matter, she wouldn't be allowed to speak to him anyway, or so she thought. Food was mentioned again and her stomach growled. Her mouth watered at the thought, and it wasn't long before it was placed before her. She would have to be extra careful and not make a mess, not on his couch. She ate the bread first, then the vegetables, the way a dog would and then lapped up the soup the same way. It was hard to go slow when she was hungry and not to mention it tasted 100 times better than the meals she was used to eating. In fact, it was so rich and better that it almost made her a bit sick, added with the fact she was eating it really fast. When she was done eating, she barked in thanks, and went back to lounging on the couch. It wasn't long before the heat of the soup, a full stomach, and the comfy couch had her falling asleep. "What the hell." Richter asked. "... was that?"" It appears that the girl's been trained to mimic canine behavior, sir." Jeeves said, proving that the Ai could, indeed, 'see' around the apartment, as well as hear." That... That's hideous!" James snarled, as he stared at the floor in disbelief. "Just... fucking... hideous!"" But there is precedent for it, sir." Jeeves replied. "If a pet is owned, under the terms of the Pet Ownership Act of 2215, the 'owner' of said property can train the pet to whatever standards please them. That's also why her injuries wouldn't fall under normal assault specifications. As she was owned, nothing could be done but to treat the injuries. And, as far as I can tell, they've healed marginally well."" But..." James stammered. What he was hearing from the AI was making his skin crawl. Still, James knew better than to try and send her back to where she came from. If she had even a chance at survival, it was with him, in his him. "Jeeves, as the claim been finalized?"" It has, sir." Jeeves replied. "No cost, as she was unclaimed. She's now yours." James looked at the sleeping girl, and found that her sleeping face was actually rather lovely, in a sense. Her hair was frazzled, and her body looked a little thinner than it should, but that could all be helped, and James had no doubt that he wanted her to stay, to keep her safe. After the demeaning display he'd must seen, he wouldn't let her go." All right." James said. "Keep the acquisition discreet. The last thing I need is for someone to think I've gone and bought a slave."" Understood, sir." Jeeves replied. James reached up to remove the tie from his neck, and then, he removed his suit jacket. Laying both on the back of a nearby chair, James then picked up the platform tray that Melody's food came in, and took it to the reclamation unit. Then, when he reentered the main room, he sat on the floor before Melody's location on the couch, and used his hand to nudge her awake." Melody?" He called, softly. "Melody, I need you to listen to me. Now, listen... You belong to me, now, so that means you're safe, and no one will hurt you anymore. But, that also means that I don't want any more barks or you eating like an animal. You're a human being, girl, and I will not accept anything less, okay?" James waited for Melody to take in his words, and then he continued." So, please... talk to me like a person, and not like a dog, all right?" He asked. "As a matter of fact, as your new owner, I won't tolerate anything other than people-speak. Do you understand?" Melody's eyes started to slowly open as she was nudged awake by her new master. She blinked and yawned softly before looking at him and paying attention to what he was saying. What he said confused her. Not speak like a dog? But she would get in trouble....it was hard for her to follow any other rules besides what she had been so used to for years. She did know how to speak English, but that seemed like forever ago, before she was bought by her previous master and not allowed to speak. Nervously she opened her mouth to say something, but was afraid to, and so she closed it and just nodded instead. She understood, but...she was afraid too. Though she wouldn't bark now either because her new master had forbidden it. Would he get mad at her if she didn't say anything at all? She opened her mouth again, getting ready to ask something, closed it once more, before opening it again a few moments later. Finally, she spoke. Her voice sounding so very, very rough, proof that she had not been using it at all except to bark. "Master," she said eyes down cast. "May I take a bath?" She gave the tiniest flinch as she spoke, afraid he was going back hand her or something, for not only speaking but asking for something. Richter heard the scratchy nature of Melody's voice, and the slight flinch was not lost on him, either. Instantly, his heart broke for the girl as he wondered just what kind of hell she'd been put through. He might never know, but that particular moment was not the time to dwell on it. Then, it was time to try and help the girl." Of course, you can." James said, softly. "There are no restrictions, here. If you want something, feel free to ask." James stood, and walked away from Melody for a long series of moments. When he returned, he held a silken blue robe open for Melody, and his face was a smile, as he offered the garment to her." Here you go. Something to cover you." He said, brightly. "When you get it on, I'll show you where the tub and everything is. There's liquid soap in spouts, shampoo, and everything you'd ever want in there." James had considered putting another restriction on Melody, to never use the word 'master' in regard to him. In truth, he wasn't comfortable with the word, not one damn bit, but James held back, seeing as the girl might need some time to get used to her new surroundings. In James' estimation, the change, for Melody, might take a long, long time." Would you like some warm tea for your voice?" He asked. "It might help, and I'm sure Jeeves can tell us what I have in the pantry." Melody looked up at him, hope and wonder in her eyes when he said all she had to do was ask for something. It was such strange words for her to hear. Then he was gone, and she wasn't sure if she should follow or not, and when she decided she should, he was coming back with a very pretty blue colored robe. When he handed it to her, she looked at it like she didn't know what to do with it. Was he...giving her something to wear? She looked from it to him and back to it again. Something that so many people took for granted, she couldn't believe she was being allowed to do. She covered up in it and enjoyed the silkiness of it. It felt so enjoyable. She opened her mouth to bark, but being a fast learner remembered he didn't want her too. So, instead she said "Thank you, Master." To astound her even further, it sounded like he was going to leave her alone to bathe how she wanted, and even give her a choice in the tea. Choices were something that were normally made for her. She either went with or went without, all depending on what her master wanted, not her. So, it was hard for her to make a decision like that. She nodded her head, wanting to try something she had never had before. "Jeeves, what teas do we have?" James asked. "Anything to help a sore throat?"" Indeed, sir." Jeeves replied. "You'll find chamomile tea is the most commonly used, but I also see some data that suggests standard black tea, with a touch of honey, would do nicely."" And we have honey, yes?" James asked." Of course, sir." Jeeves replied, smugly." Well, then, I'll get a cup of both of them ready, and you can make your choice." James said. "But, for now, let me show you where the tub is." Gently, Richter took Melody's tiny, delicate-looking hand in his, and started to guide her through the penthouse. Moving through his bedroom, Melody would see a massive futon bed, covered in black sheets and a comforter that was red, with a black Asian design on it. As a matter of fact, the whole room seemed to be dominated by Asian-style decor, mostly owing to Japanese influence. When they neared the opposite wall, James opened a door, and admitted Melody to the bathroom. The bathroom was nothing short of massive, itself. Along one wall, a range of three sinks stood, all mounted in carved granite stands. Another wall held a shower stall enclosed in glass, and alongside it, a tub that looked large enough to take four adults stood. Warm water was already filling the tub, and James indicated the spouts that he'd spoken of before, showing her what each of them held. Finally, the far wall played host to a fine porcelain toilet, as well as a bidet." Plenty of towels and cloths for you to use." James said, motioning to a set of shelves filled with billowy white towels and such. "And, when you're done, just let Jeeves know, and he'll drain the water."" Jeeves, recognition code Two." James said. "Level two commands to be accepted by Melody, please."" Of course, sir." Jeeves replied. "It'll be my pleasure to serve and help Miss Melody." James grinned, and turned his face to Melody once more." Enjoy your bath, and take as long as you want." He said. "When you're done, I'll have your tea waiting, and we can talk some more, okay?" With all that done, Richter strode off to find tea for Melody. He was feeling better about things, now that he knew she could speak, and understand him. Melody listened as her master talked to...it had to be a computer. She just never got to actually see or hear something this expensive and impressive at work. What amazed her the most though, was she was even going to be able to choose which tea she wanted, after tasting them. She felt a bit giddy and excited, but also very overwhelmed with everything that had been happening to her. But for now, she was to follow him to his bathroom. At first, she was a bit frightened when he took her hand and helped her off the couch to lead her to the bathroom, especially when her first few steps were so wobbly she nearly fell over. She quickly got used to it though and actually enjoyed walking on her two feet instead of her knees and hands. She followed him, albeit a bit shaky, to his bedroom which she found to be visually pleasant. Especially since it reminded her of her heritage, even though she did hardly know anything about it. She listened as he explained everything, the only thing she didn't understand was what level two commands were, but she would find out. She nodded and even smiled at him softly as she was left alone, and she stripped herself of the robe she was given, letting it fall to the ground. Slowly she walked herself to the shelves and grabbed a cloth before easing herself into the pleasantly warm bath. She sighed, never having felt something so amazing and relaxing before. Not to mention, it was making her feel extra warm. She washed her long black hair, getting it nice and clean and soft, before washing her supple body. She dragged the soapy cloth over her chest and small pert breasts, down her stomach, to her legs and between them. Furthermore, she washed every inch of her body, making sure it was clean before rinsing herself off and then relaxing some more. Soon, she fell asleep in the water, very comfortable and relaxed, surrounded by steam. If James didn't come and get her, she'd sleep there for hours. After Richter had prepared both kinds of tea for Melody, he'd taken both cups and set them on a wooden tray on his bed, choosing to wait for Melody in his bedroom. As he waited, he leaned back on the huge futon, and grabbed a book, a hard-covered edition that, along with all the others, represented a passion for James, as he loved the feel of a real book in his hand. His collection was one of the best in the world, and a delightful anachronism to a bygone era, it seemed, as most published literature seemed to be put out in ultra-compact digital formats." Sir, if I may." Jeeves said." What is it?" James asked." Sir, you may wish to go check on Melody." Jeeves said. "She hasn't moved in a while, and she's been in the bath for about forty-five minutes." James nodded, and put his book down before standing to walk to the bathroom. What he saw inside warmed his heart no end, as Melody seemed to be truly relaxed, so much so that she seemed to have fallen asleep in the bath. James knew she was exhausted, then, and made a small mental note to not keep her awake too much longer." Melody." he said, softly, as he knelt by the tub. "Melody, wake up. Your tea's getting cold." When she did wake, she'd see James near her with a gentle, soft smile on his face. His hand held a towel, and it seems that he'd hung her robe up on a nearby hook, to keep it from becoming damaged." Hello there." James said, when she woke. "Now, would you like me to help dry you off?" Melody felt so drowsy and groggy as she was being woken up. She moaned and stretched, yawning even as her eyes drooped, and she was wanting to go back to sleep. She was greeted by a sight that was rare to her, a kind smile. It made her feel happy to see it, and she wanted something like that more often. Then he mentioned the tea and her excitement for wanting to try it came back. She was still tired though, and so she nodded and took his offered help. She was used to having her master touch her body, so it wouldn't be a big deal for her new one to do the same. He owned her after all, so it was his right. She stood, carefully, finding that the floor of the tub was now slick. She almost slipped, and instinctively a hand grabbed out for him to steady herself. Once she was steadied, she carefully stepped out, water dripping down her form, and she made no move to cover anything up. James found a large towel that hung over his shoulder, and dropped to his knee to begin the drying-off process. He started with Melody's feet, and slowly swabbed all the water from her legs. The thing was, it wasn't just a gesture of kindness on his part, although he was definitely trying to be kind to the girl. The assistance he was giving her also let him get a once-over of her body, to find any wounds or other injuries on her. As James moved up her legs with the towel, he noted her slim build, and wondered how much of it was due to her Asian heritage, and what was malnutrition. She didn't seem to be too badly off, but there was definite room for her to fill out, as it were, and James wanted her to be healthy, above all else. James patiently administered the towel to Melody's wet body, and he noted that her legs were hairless, as well as her womanhood. She'd probably been treated to be this way, preventing the need for continuous upkeep in these areas. He didn't mind, one bit, as he preferred the women he was with to have smooth legs, and a smooth sex. All in all, a little bonus for him. Onward, James moved up her body, drying her lower body off and then her hips and back. He was standing now, and he moved back to her chest, where her small breasts stood. He admired her form for a long time, noting that her breasts seemed to fit her form perfectly. If she were an engineered pet, then whoever did the work to make her knew what they were about. Finally, James grabbed another towel, and wrapped her long hair in it. As he saw, her hair reached down nearly to her hips. In a very real sense, Melody was a very beautiful, exotic looking girl, and not for the first time, James wondered how anyone could be so cruel to someone like her. James took his time, drying her hair carefully and gently, and then, when he was happy with his work, he set both towels aside, and wrapped her back up in the blue silk robe." There we are." James said, softly, with a smile. "I think, tomorrow, that we'll have Jeeves help us to find some things for you, like clothes, a hairbrush and whatever else you might like." Then, as James guided her out of the bathroom and back into his bedroom, he guided her to sit on his bed, right next to the tray with the two cups of tea." Just so you know, I sleep in the nude, and I expect you to sleep in this bed, with me." James said. "I intend to hold you as I sleep, and that'll keep both of us warm during the night." Then, taking his own seat across from Melody, he leaned over on his elbow, and looked at her." So, tell me about yourself." He said. "Are you experienced in sexual pleasuring? Have you felt a man's touch before?" Melody stood still as James dried her off, rather enjoying a gentle touch for once. She wasn't over hurt, but there were a few healing bruises covering her body. When she was dry and covered in her blue robe once more, she followed him back into his bedroom. Happily surprised once more by what he said. She would be given more things, things that would be hers and hers alone. She felt giddy once more and actually smiled. Furthermore, she was really starting to think she was going to like it here. When they got to his bedroom, and she was led over to his bed, she sat down and immediately noticed how comfortable the bed was. So, it just made her even happier when he said this was where he expected her to sleep, with him. She didn't care that he would be nude. It wouldn't be her first time around a naked man. She took the cup with the black tea and tried it, not really liking it. It tasted a bit bitter to her, even with the honey, and she set it down, trying the next one. This one she enjoyed a lot more, but still thought it could be sweetened. She didn't complain though and drank some more, pausing shortly to nod at his questions. She wasn't comfortable talking, not yet, it was something she would have to get used to. But yes, she had felt a man's touch. It was one of the things her previous master had her do was please him. Though he tortured her with pleasure every day. He would get her all worked, to the very edge, making her bag for it, only to deny her, and it would repeat the very next day. If she did cum without permission, she'd be severely punished for it, to the point it wouldn't have been worth it. It was only on days like her birthday that she was allowed to cum, but that was it and that was all she got. So, she had great control over herself. Getting the courage to speak once more, she said, "Would you like me to pleasure you?" Richter chuckled as he brought a hand up to start unbuttoning his shirt. He stood, once that was done, and removed his pants, hanging both garments up on a simple chair that sat before an equally simple desk. Then, in just his shorts, he sat back down and leaned back on the bed, still with his smile for Melody." No, not at the moment." He said. "Personally, I think we're both tired, as it seems to have been a long day for both of us." James straightened himself and sat up, looking at Melody a bit before he spoke next." Right now, I think we should get some of the ground rules out of the way." He said, softly. "As I said before, you belong to me now, and that means that I'll never hurt you. However, it also means that I'll have some requirements for you, as well. I'll give you a few of them, to start off, but if you ever have any questions, feel free to ask." Leaning back once again, James looked up at the ceiling of his bedroom, and thought for a while before he spoke again." First off, I happen to like making love to a woman." He said. "You'll find that my desires in this regard are quite large. However, I will never force myself on you, if you don't want it, so if there's ever a time like that, tell me."" Secondly, I will most likely have instructions for you. They'll either come from me directly, or relayed through Jeeves." James continued. "Sometimes, I may want something from you, or I may want you to please yourself. Whatever it is, I can accept questions all day long, but arguments aren't an option. As I said, of you're not feeling up to anything, let me know."" Most of this place, my home, will be open to you. There's a large library of books, a room full of music, and of course the main room's media center. It has a onscreen and access to all major media outlets. Again, Jeeves can help you with the operation of these things. All you have to do is ask." James went silent for a moment, before he spoke again. When he did speak, he looked over to Melody, and fixed her eyes with his own." You and I will be intimate, Melody. As I've looked at you, I find that I like what I see." He explained. "Now, as we're going to be intimate, I want you to understand something. If there's anything you want from me, say it. I may not do it right away, but most of the time I probably will. You see, I love pleasing a woman, just as much as I like a woman pleasing me." Melody drank her tea and couldn't help but watch as he undressed. It was bad of her to think this, but he was so much more handsome than her previous master. Compared to James, he looked like a pig. She listened as he spoke, and nodded to make sure he knew she was listening. She didn't blush once as he spoke, though his rules to this were so much different and actually sounded nice. Though, she didn't once think of herself as arguing with him. She didn't think a time like that would come up. Though she also didn't think she'd ever hear herself telling him she didn't want to, even if she didn't. Saying no to her master was...well...unheard of. If she had said no to her last one...well she wouldn't be here right now. Then, she imagined herself in the library, and it brought a slightly amused smile to her face, considering she didn't know how to read. Though she might like looking at the pictures in some of them...if they had pictures. Surely some of the more educational books would, but she doubted a regular reading book would. She also wondered what it would be like to watch a movie. She'd heard about them, but never got to see one. Furthermore, she distracted herself, but quickly came back to earth and listened to him as he continued talking. Furthermore, she nodded and finished up her tea, setting the cup down on the tray and laying down to look up at him, her robe not covering up a thing. "I understand," she said in a soft voice. "Very good." James said, with a nod. "I think you'll do very well here, and I also think you'll enjoy all that comes with it." James, though, was having a harder and harder time concentrating on things. Now that Melody had finished her tea, and was reclining without being covered, James found that his eyes wandered, hungrily, over her form. Yes, she'd had few bruises on her body, but overall, they didn't detract from the beauty she did possess at all. He knew they'd heal, over time, fading from her as she got better." Now, I have a question for you." James said. "How are you feeling about all this? Are you tired? Would you like to sleep?" James waited for a second before he continued, but continue he did." If you're not too tired, I have your first task, but if you'd rather sleep, it can wait." He said. As she laid there, she discovered that the bed was indeed very comfortable, and it was getting harder and harder to keep her eyes open. She managed though and went to answer his questions. "I am feeling tired Master, but I can do what you want of me." She found it hard to sit up, but she did and readied herself for what would be asked of her. She was expecting something sexual, since that's what she's used to. James moved himself over to lay next to Melody, and he brought his hand up to stroke her cheek, her face, and down along her neck. He kept his eyes on hers, and his smile was ever-present. The more he saw of Melody, the more he liked her, and he was starting to feel really glad about finding her." I want you to talk to me." He said, softly. "I want to know what you like, what you'd want. After all, you're a woman, and I'm fairly certain that you'll have things that you want to explore, things that you desire. Please, share them with me?" She enjoyed his gentle touch, relishing it as if it would be the last gentle kindness she would receive. It just felt so good, but now he put her in an uncomfortable spot. She wasn't used to talking, and it felt weird to her. Not to mention he was wanting her to talk about what she wanted, something else that was weird. What was she supposed to say? Was she allowed to have desires? If she was, it would be a gentle kind master, and she has that now. "Whatever you want master," she said. "Your desires are mine." "Well, I don't know, really." James said, as his hand slid down from Melody's neck, to the hollow of her throat, touching her just as gently as before. "I've never had a pet before, so... it's my first time, really." His eyes held a wicked, playful glint in them, as his hand moved further down, moving to the center of her chest, between her breasts, and further down to her belly, the tips of his fingers touching her skin lightly, and James found that he loved the feel of her skin, soft and warm, but still firm-feeling, even to his light touches. Then, as James brought his hand back up, slowly, along her body, his hand came up to cup her small breast in his palm, and he felt the soft nub of her nipple against his hand, the sensation causing a chill to shoot up James' back." How about this?" James said, as he leaned his face close to Melody's. "How about if we find out together?" With that, James pressed his lips to Melody's very lightly, and engaged in a soft, slow kiss. His hands, so gentle and caring, it was so different than she was used to and so nice. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his hand trailing down her body, and then back up to her nipple, she moaned. "That....that sounds good to me," she said just before he kissed her, and she found herself kissing back. It felt so nice. But it was a habit to do more, ingrained in her to please her master, so while they kissed, her hand went to cup him through his shorts before moving to take them off for better access. "What?" James said, almost yelping. In truth, it had been a long while since he'd felt a woman's hand on that area of his body, and it took him by surprise, a little. "Oh, my..." James pushed his hips up, and allowed Melody to remove his shorts. When she had them down low enough, he finished the job by kicking them off, and to the floor beside the bed. Then, with that done, James returned his attention to the girl next to him, and smiled to her." That was surprising, but not at all unwelcome." He said. "I approve of your intention to explore me, if that's what you want to do." James wasn't overly Prius of his endowments, but he was proud enough. He'd been blessed, so to speak, with a decently sized member, which was growing stiffer with the touch that Melody was giving it. James kept himself very clean, and even trimmed that area so to keep up his cleanliness. Thankfully, the foreskin was removed when he was but a baby, so he felt neither doubt nor misgivings about not having it. As he felt more of Melody's touch on him, his hand returned to her chest, cupping her breast again, and the tip of his finger beginning to flick her nipple, playfully." So, do you like what you've found?" He asked, softly. At first, she thought she was doing something wrong, but that fear was soon eased when he helped take his shorts off and told her he approved. She smiled softly and reached forward, touching him softly and exploring him from up to his chest and back down to his member once more. She moaned out as he flicked her nipple, enjoying his touches as well, and nodded in answer to him. Furthermore, she did enjoy his body and thought it would be a great joy to pleasure. In fact, she looked forward to giving him many orgasms. So, as he played with her breasts, she played with his manhood, stroking him softly. Her hands were very skilled, showing that she was used to this kind of thing. Melody's skill on James' member was not lost on him at all. In fact, her hand's action on him had elicited a few moans from him as well, and he felt compelled to kiss her again and again, pulling her into his chest to bring her close. Her body, feeling tiny in his arms, felt warm on his own, and her silky hair, falling as it did, looked sexy as hell to him. As he kissed her, James moved his hand from her breast, down and down along her belly, to her hips, and then closer to the center of her body. He stroked her smooth pubis once, twice, and when the kiss broke, he looked into her eyes, and smiled warmly to her." Open your legs." he said, softly. "Let me touch you. Soon, I'll want to taste you, too, but right now, I want to touch you." But James was finding it hard to think with anything like rational thought. Gone was the fatigue of the day, gone was the concern for anything but how he felt, and how Melody's hand felt on him. He was feeling more and more like a young man, full of the vigor of youth, and he was enjoying it immensely." And when I taste you..." James said. "I want your mouth on my cock. So we can enjoy each other. Together." Melody kissed him back, enjoying it immensely. She continued to stroke him softly, squeezing here and there but not too hard. It wasn't long before he had her pulled up against him. She enjoyed the feel of his body against hers. His hand stroking down her body, slowly working its way to her folds. Gently she opened her legs for him like she asked, and when he touched her, he would find her already getting wet. He turned her on like she's never been before. And she wanted so much to taste him, but for now she had to wait. She nodded, letting him know she understood and that she wanted nothing less. James was, in point of fact, thrilled at finding Melody's core with its wetness as evident as it was. As he started to stroke her cleft gently, he reasoned that she was enjoying this must as much as he was, and he wanted to give her more, to show her that she didn't' need to fear anymore." I want to make you happy." James said, softly. Between kisses, he spoke to her, telling her what he wanted, and that was to give her a new life, one that she would enjoy. He could tell, due to the plentiful circumstantial signs, that her former life couldn't have been much more than a constant hell. James wanted to change that. As Melody's legs spread, James felt her. Lips spread and open for his fingers, and he felt the warm wetness of her six on his palm. He gently slipped on finger into her, minding not to rush things too much, but still curious about the state of her body. James was delighted to find her inner core very tight, clutching at his finger as it slid in and out if her." Maybe... we can make each other happy?" James asked, before kissing her again. "Maybe we can both find it together, with each other." During this kiss, James continued to slip his finger into Melody, loving how she was making his hand wet. He also felt her continued stroking of his shaft, and after long, delicious moments of all this, James couldn't wait anymore. He withdrew his hand from her, and rolled onto his back." Now, Melody.". He said, looking into her eyes. "Take off your robe, and let me taste you. I want to, right now." Melody couldn't help but moan softly at his touch, as he stroked her gently. She continued to stroke him, wanting to return the pleasure. When he kissed her, she kissed back, listening to him as he spoke, wanting everything he was talking about. She was making it her life's goal to please him, to make him happy, to see him smile. When he pulled away and rolled onto his back, saying it was time, she took off her robe and crawled over her. Her legs on either side of his head, her mound very close to his face. Her own face hovering over his manhood. She took him gently in her mouth, licking at him, sucking on him tenderly, before her sucking started to get a little harder, but not nearly enough to cause pain, just to enhance the pleasure. She started bobbing her head up and down on him, finding a decent rhythm that wasn't too fast or too slow. Furthermore, she even deep throated him a couple of times. Furthermore, she was very skilled at this. Melody wasn't the only one that was skilled, though. The act of giving a woman pleasure with his mouth was something that James had enjoyed a great deal, and he'd studied on it extensively, wanting to do it as right, as best he could. So far, he'd not had any complaints, but since the last time he was intimate with a woman was almost two years previous, he'd not had a lot of occasions to practice. Still, James felt like it was the same thing as riding a bicycle, after a fashion, and one simply didn't forget the art of going down on a girl. His hands came up and around her legs, and gently clamped down on her butt. Then, with gentle pressure from his fingers, he spread her cheeks, and bared the lips of her pussy, causing James to see their wetness and delicateness for the first time, fully. James brought his own lips up to hers, and he began to kiss her sex gently, letting his lips love her pussy, as they would a fine, delicate rose. Then, his tongue slipped out, and began to slip between those lips, to taste her. Peter was very pleasantly surprised at how Melody tasted, and he instantly knew he'd want more of this with her, a lot more. Soon, his lips were covering her sex, and his tongue was dancing soft, light circles around her sensitive little bud, before it'd move towards her entrance, to slip inside her, feeling her heat and tasting her again and again. But James wasn't lost on what Melody was doing, either. Her own actions were spurring a fire inside James, must as he'd hoped he was doing. The feel of her mouth, her lips and tongue, and even her throat were thrilling to him, and she'd caused him to moan, deeply, several times, with each moan's sound directed at her own core. Also, with each moan, the grip of his hands got just a little stronger. The message was clear, that James would let Melody do this to her heart's content, but James was determined to please her, too. When he started licking at her and sucking on her, it felt absolutely amazing and she moaned too. She moaned just as deeply as he did, and she started sucking on him a bit harder. Laying flat on top of him to free her hands, she started to softly and gently massage his balls with one hand. Because she couldn't deep throat in this position, she used her other hand to stroke what she couldn't reach with her mouth. Moaning the whole time. To say that James was enjoying himself would've been a grave understatement. The more he felt from Melody's mouth on him, the more energized he felt, and the more his desire grew for her. He knew that he'd hold himself back, because he wanted more with her than this opening act, and he'd tell her so, just as soon as it was time, but that time hadn't come yet. James continued to please and attend to Melody's sweet sex. The more he did what he was doing, the more he tasted of her, and the more he found her taste intoxicating, enticing. In truth, Melody was becoming more and more ideal for him as the time went on, and his gratitude for finding her was getting larger by the second. But it wasn't just his own actions that were making him feel like this. Melody's mouth, her intensified sucking and kissing of his cock, along with her hands, that was making him feel amazing too. He knew, at some point in the future, he'd want her to do this, all on her own, but for right now, with each of them enjoying the other, James was perfectly content, and more than content, he was feeling full of desire, full of want. His moans were nearing a constant pace, as his tongue danced between her clit and her body's opening. His tongue slipped inside her, before it would dance around her nub, repeating the whole thing, time and time again. His lips continued to surround hers, giving attention to the whole of her, and his hands continued to hold her close, massaging her lovely rear rhythmically.

The Foundling [Chiarra & RE202]|rating:3.0

[NSFW] Angelic Warriors OOC

Angelic warriors have been sent from the Heavens on a mission. To purge evil from this reality and bring it back fully under the power of good (or just bring it into a balance like normally happens). Demons and their dark minions plague this world and only a small few of its inhabitants are perfect. The warrior angels sent from the heavens must battle the dark and maintain their purity, lest they fall to the vile perversions of darkness themselves.-----So the objective for your characters is to battle demons and evil humans without being fully tainted by darkness. This means, and I know it will be hard for you Users to resist, not having random sex or getting raped. Also, no murdering innocence. (Yes I do believe you can do this...maybe) I shall have 4 slots open at first with a waiting list. The characters will be in the same city and are not required to work together, but as angels they cannot intentionally work against each other. So post up a character sheet with a small bio about how your characters' personality is, these characters are basically high school graduates of the heavenly education system so they can't start out awesome, just at LVL 1. Character Sheet Character TraitsRulesWeapons and Combat Players:1Heaven Canceler2CrawlingChaos743Xicreenot currently playing1gibbousmoonsWaiting list1GrosstoadICIf you have questions feel free to ask either here, in pm, or in IRC. (IRC is your best bet for a speedy response) Reserved You can post now Player: gibbousmoonsName: AstaraelAge: 71Sex: Female Rank:Level: 2xp: 50/50Patron: Loki Trait/s: Slender. Good Karma: 3/5Bad Karma: 0/5Taint: 0/5 Virginian: 28/28 (1+[SPIRIT*3]) (regent = spirit/2 round up per 20 seconds)HP: 17/19Abilities:- Detect Evil – at will for 1 min per level^2. 10 min cool down. End at will.- Alter Visage - you may alter the human appearing portions of your body once per day. Feats:- none Spells: (spell name – MANA cost - effect)- MANA Bolt – x – does an amount of blunt force energy damage to target equal to xd4- Bless – 3 – Confers a +1 bonus to subjects non damage rolls-Blessing – 8 – Confer a blessing on a subject for several weeks. Doesn't stack-Heal – x – Heals x*2 hp on subject Connections:- none Equipment:- 1 Holy Short Sword- 1 Holy Breastplate Armor- 1 set of self-cleaning and repairing Orphic clothing that can change style and appearance three times per day- 4,500 human money- 5 silver-demon hunter safe house address paper (?) Stats: STRENGTH - 4 DEXTERITY - 7 AGILITY - 7 KNOWLEDGE - 4 PERCEPTION - 5 CHARISMA - 7 SPIRIT – 9 stat points - 0Bio: Astral is a hard-working, loving, nurturing member of the wider Norse angelic host. All the angels dedicated to the elevation of Loki would doubtless agree with her when asked, and you can always trust an angel. Well, you can always trust an angel of Loki to stir up trouble in the name of a cause. Rabble-trousers, revisionists, tricksters, and prodigious deceivers to a fault, Loki's angels are, like their god, a little off. While they in general, and Astral in particular, work for the cause of good and purity, they're fond of sneaking in as much chaos and destruction as possible into their work, and cannot resist a contest or game that they have any chance of winning. Spoiler: Modthryth Player: Gross toad Name: Modthryth Age: 64 This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 3d6 : 1, 2, 1, total 4 Sex: Female Rank: ??? Level: 1 XP: 0/50 Patron: Ares Trait/s: Fiery Spirit Good Karma: 0/5 Bad Karma: 0/5 Taint: 0/5 V MANA: 21/21 (regent = 4 / 20 seconds) HP: 31/31 Abilities: - Detect Evil – at will for 1 min per level. 10 min cool down. End at will. - Power of Belief - twice per day you can force an attack to connect no matter what. Feats: start with 0 feats Spells: start with 4 spells (spell name – MANA cost - effect) - MANA Bolt – x – does an amount of blunt force energy damage to target equal to xd4 - Bless – 3 – Confers a +1 bonus to subjects non damage rolls - Blessing – 8 – Confer a blessing on a subject for several weeks. Doesn't stack - Heal – x – Heals x*2 hp on subject Connections: - Ares (Patron Deity) Stats: STRENGTH - 7 (5) DEXTERITY - 5 (1) AGILITY - 6 (3) KNOWLEDGE - 4 PERCEPTION - 4 CHARISMA - 4 SPIRIT – 7 (5) stat points - 14/14 Equipment: - 1 Holy Long sword - 1 Holy Breastplate Armor - 1 set of self-cleaning and repairing Orphic clothing that can change style and appearance three times per day Background: Like most followers of Ares, Modthryth has trained heavily for combat, whether with physical might or magical prowess, as both emulation and offering to her lord and god. Now, right after she has completed the gauntlet of angels (read: High School), her lord has summoned her for a mission! To spread Good and Light and Overwhelming Violence (against Evil) to a new world! Modthryth is so ready for this! Yes! +sharpens and buffs sword+ +checks armor straps+ +practice swings and spells_ +packs utilitarian yet cute undies+ Watch out, evildoers! Gross toad Please check the rules page for stat costs. Gibb: As a follower of Loki you gain the Ability : Alter Visage - you may alter the human appearing portions of your body once per day. You are no longer allowed to change your patron especially if you don't like the bonus Gross toad. You have spent 24 stat points when you only have 14. This may be invalid till its fixed. Also Ares Grants you the Ability: Power of Belief - twice per day you can force an attack to connect no matter what. What's the difference between Agility and Dexterity? Also, what is the effect of Blessing? Can we use beneficial buffs on our Angels? Agility is speed dexterity is flexibility basically. Agility will let you move faster and slip through peoples grip if they attempt to grab you. Dexterity will let you wiggle out of grips if they have already caught you. Though there is some overlap due to the slender trait. Dex also controls ranged weapon damage. Blessing is a basically a long term version of bless mechanics wise but cannot be cast on angels. Bless and other future buff spells/abilities can though. You just can't use long term versions. Also blessing takes a lot longer to cast so attempting to use it during combat is likely to get you grappled. And once your grappled It's hard enough to escape without letting them take an advantage right when they grab you. Player: Xi Cree Name: Ellie (Elliot)Age: 65Sex: Female Rank:Level: 2xp: 0/150 (next XP = previous XP + previous XP + 50 / so 50 150 350 750 1550 etc.)Patron: Aphrodite Traits:[x]Perfect Body : Your physical form is flawless aesthetically allowing you to better win the hearts of those who see you +1 to base CIA[x]The Written Word : Even your quickest scribbled notes are clear and well written, when taking your time to write, your writing can trigger what emotions in the reader you intended when you wrote it. Equipment:[x]1 Holy Short Sword[x]1 set of self-cleaning and repairing Orphic clothing that can change style and appearance three times per day[x]1 Holy Breastplate Armor Abilities:[x]Detect Evil – at will for 1 min per level^2. 10 min cool down. End at will. Feats:[x] Feat: Spread Love - You may have sex in order to spread love through the world, but only to spread love, without being tainted. (must explain IOC how you are spreading love)Good Karma: 2/5Bad Karma: 0/5 (gaining 5 in this will add 1 taint)Taint: 0/5 V(Irwin) (no taint is gained when virginity is lost due to sex/rape. Saving for Marriage leads to Huge Bonuses)MANA: 28/28 (1+[SPIRIT*3]) (regent = spirit/2 round up per 20 seconds)HP: 23/23 (3+[STRENGTH*4])Spells: start with 4 spells (spell name – MANA cost - effect)[x]MANA Bolt – x – does an amount of blunt force energy damage to target equal to xd4[x]Bless – 3 – Confers a +1 bonus to subjects non damage rolls[x]Blessing – 8 – Confer a blessing on a subject for several weeks. Doesn't stack[x]Heal – x – Heals x*2 hp on subject[x]Silk Scarves - 2 - creates enough silk scarves to bind a single target for 5 seconds, may keep them existing by taking a temp -2 to max MANA for as long as you keep the spell active---Silk Scarves - prevents bound targets magic, hp 8, regenerates all hp every turn as long as spell is active[x]Cupid's Arrows - 4 - A bolt of holy power attuned to the feeling of love, may infatuate target with caster, Deals 2d4+4 damage to evil beings.[x]Aphrodite Charm - 5 - Increases the castors Charisma for an hour (+2 temp Charisma)[x]2+x - Distracts all who can hear the castor speaking for the next 30 seconds, castor must keep speaking the whole time(-5 distraction modifier on rolls), spell lasts 20 seconds longer for each extra MANA spent. Connections:[x] Did the Demon Tank Admirer Stats:[x]STRENGTH - 5[x]DEXTERITY - 4[x]AGILITY - 4[x]KNOWLEDGE - 4[x]PERCEPTION - 4[x]CHARISMA - 11[x]SPIRIT – 9stat points - 0Bio: An angel of Love in love with love, Elliot is a simple creature fond of songs and charming to a stunning degree. Studied in the arts of romance and bodily desires beneath her patron Aphrodite, Ellie strives to cleanse the world and bring joy where ever she can. She has seen the fall of many, but remains optimistic maybe because of her youth... after all that which rises may fall... but to her the other side of that maxim is also true, all that falls may rise again. And even that which had always been fell... might well be given leave to rise beyond the nature to which it was born. For if angels born pure may fall... so too might devil born corrupt might become pure. Though not exactly glib of tongue in a conventional sense, she is known for the manner in which her heartfelt singing has intruded upon the hearts of her peers winning her many friends... a trait she hopes will continue to serve her in her tenure on earth.[IMG width=429 height=600] Age roll:[blockquote]Rolled 3d6 : 1, 2, 2, total 5[/blockquote] Circle you have spent 30 stat points according to my calculation...there is a table in the rules explaining the stat costs but since you're not the first to do it ill copy it here Initial Next Cost4 5 15 6 26 7 27 8 28 9 39 10 310 11 311 12 4etc etc. etc Also Decree all characters have to be female. I didn't notice the first time I looked. Aphrodite bonus: Feat: Spread Love - You may have sex in order to spread love through the world, but only to spread love, without being tainted.(must explain IOC how you are spreading love Added this to Rules feel free to list them on your sheet. Not really important yet but must be chosen by your first combat IC post. Starting Equipment1 Holy Short or Long Sword (choice of 1)1 Holy Breastplate Armor1 set of self-cleaning and repairing Orphic clothing that can change style and appearance three times per day How long is a combat turn?+eyes the Spirit/2 MANA Regent per 20 sec+Depending on that, I will be either taking Sword or Armor. You get both a sword and armor. But you can only have 1 sword so either long or short. Combat round will be 5 seconds. Regen will be subdivided per turn with any odd regent coming every forth turn. Example you get 5 regent. So you gain 1, 1, 1, 2. 6 regent will be 1, 2, 1, 2. Seven regent will be 1, 2, 2, 2. Then 8 is 2,2,2,2. Regen will be in that pattern. [Appearance]​ Sheets Player: Heaven Canceler Name: Aria Thunderbolt Age: 67 Sex: Female Rank: Level: 1 XP: 20/50 (next XP = previous XP + previous XP + 50 / so 50 150 350 750 1550 etc.) Patron: Hestia Traits: Foresight, Good Karma: 0/5 Bad Karma: 0/5 Taint: 0/5 Virgin MANA: 19/19 (1+[SPIRIT*3]) (regent = spirit/2 round up per 20 seconds) HP: 19/19 (3+[STRENGTH*4]) Abilities: Detect Evil – at will for 1 min per level^2. 10 min cool down. End at will. Feats: Flames of Purity: There is a chance to immolate those who would defile you. Spells: MANA Bolt – x – does an amount of blunt force energy damage to target equal to xd4 Bless – 3 – Confers a +1 bonus to subject's non damage rolls Blessing – 8 – Confer a blessing on a subject for several weeks. Doesn't stack Heal – x – Heals x*2 hp on subject Stats: STRENGTH - 4 DEXTERITY - 5 AGILITY - 5 KNOWLEDGE - 5 PERCEPTION - 8 CHARISMA - 5 SPIRIT – 6 Equipment: 1 Holy Short Sword 1 Holy Breastplate Armor 1 set of self-cleaning and repairing Orphic clothing that can change style and appearance three times per day Biography: Aria is one of the Angels that studied to become warriors for the good of the worlds. During her early years, she was specifically interested in the less understood areas of creation, like the nature of fate and the make-up of Karma. Her interested was first awoken when it was discovered that she possessed the talent of foresight, gaining visions and insights into the future in random intervals. Her direct fighting capabilities are relatively low, and she isn't the most powerful among the Angels when it comes to physical strength, though she can somewhat make up with these thanks to her impressive instincts and awareness. She has chosen to follow under the path of Hestia, the goddess of the home and hearth, which guards the warmth of family and kindness. She thinks highly of bonds of friendship and family, treasuring them and believing that others should do the same. Aria is thus passionate when it comes to defending these she cares about and while normally slightly passive, can become a storm of rage when given sufficient reason. She feels sorry for these with misfortune and forced into situations of pain and believes firmly into redemption of everyone. Even then, her overall mood would be considered as rather calm and cool most of the time. There is a certain detachment flowing off her at points, which contradicts her desire to help others at times. She is intelligent and relatively good at remaining level-headed in most situations. Her interest and skills in Magic are slightly above average and in battle she prefers to fight defensively, using the opponents strength and attacks against himself when possible, or counter-attacking when an opening appears. Hestia: Feat: Flames of Purity: There is a chance to immolate those who would defile you. So many good Pictures of angels on the net. I have at least come to a decision for my own character's appearance. This: Also what exactly does the Patron do aside from giving us a first feat? Are we going to get orders from them and are expected to act according to their interests? All the gods interests are basically the same, increase the amount of Good in the target world, which has been sliding to Evil for a while now. It's more for flavor at the beginning. But if you manage to level up a bit they might start giving other bonuses, like spells, feats, traits, abilities, or even gear. Also when your actions are in Synergy with your patrons' personality, you might get more exp or get incite to potential spells/skills. Not guaranteeing it will happen though. They might assign you a mission every once in a while too. Player:CrawlingChaos74Name:Samira Image: (next XP = previous XP + previous XP + 50 / so 50 150 350 750 1550 etc.)Patron:Ra Traits: Frosty Spirit Good Karma:0/5Bad Karma:0/5Taint:0/5 Virginian:19/19 (1+[SPIRIT*3]) (regent = spirit/2 round up per 20 seconds)HP:23/23 (3+[STRENGTH*4])Abilities:Detect Evil– at will for 1 min per level^2. 10 min cool down. End at will. Light of Day-Radiate golden light for several minutes, can be used 3 times per day, weakens most evil entities that are exposed to it, and can occasionally kill an undead instantly. Feats:Spells:MANA Bolt– x – does an amount of blunt force energy damage to target equal to xd4Bless– 3 – Confers a +1 bonus to subject's non damage rolls Blessing– 8 – Confer a blessing on a subject for several weeks. Doesn't stack Heal– x – Heals x*2 hp on subject Stats:Strength - 5Dexterity- 5Agility - 5Knowledge- 4Perception- 5Charisma - 8Spirit– 6Equipment:1 Holy Long Sword1 Holy Breastplate Armor1 set of self-cleaning and repairing Orphic clothing that can change style and appearance three times per day Biography:Samira is highly charismatic and believes fervently in the concept of justice. She tends to be somewhat aloof, though when her passions are roused it takes a long time for them to cool. Ra - Ability - Light of Day - Radiate golden light for several minutes, can be used 3 times per day, weakens most evil entities that are exposed to it, and can occasionally kill an undead instantly. Since there are more than 4 entries ill be rolling to fill the active slots and the extra will be on top of the wait list First 4 players will be :Heaven CancelerCrawlingChaos74GibbousmoonsXicreeWith Gross toad as first reserve Working on intro post will link to IC when it's ready First Post Upquestionablequesting.com/index.php?topic=624And everyone give me a 1D8 in here once you have posted your turn. Unless you aren't going to find a place to call home. Then roll 1d20 and hope it's not below 12 less than 15 isn't too good either [blockquote]Rolled 1d8 : 2, total 2[/blockquote] [blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 13, total 13[/blockquote] 10:29:42 gibbous moons roll 1d2010:29:43 dice gibbous moons rolled 1d20: 8 = [8] 1d8=41d20=11 This isn't going to end well, is it? I don't think any of us have rolledwellso far. CrawlingChaos74 said: 1d8=4 1d20=11 This isn't going to end well, is it? Click to expand... Are you going to be looking for a base (which is the 1d8 roll) or exploring the area in general (which is the second)which *might* find a better base and might find other things? It was hard to tell from the way it was written dreads said: Are you going to be looking for a base (which is the 1d8 roll) or exploring the area in general (which is the second)which *might* find a better base and might find other things. It was hard to tell from the way it was written Click to expand... Looking for a base. Angel’s have a small amount of extradimensional space attached to them that they can access at will. This takes only seconds to move items in and out of storage. Though the space is somewhat limited it is useful for moving around incognito while still having access to their weapons and armor, along with other useful items. Forgot to mention this Gibbousmoonsyou have an attack heading your way.[08:41] roll 1d20[08:41] Dreads rolled 1d20: 10 = [10][08:41] roll 1d4[08:41] Dreads rolled 1d4: 4 = [4][08:42] roll 1d20[08:42] Dreads rolled 1d20: 17 = [17]you may either attempt to evade or do something else hit = 15evade = 1d10+armor + ((AGI/2) rounded up) + ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) + bonus evade = 1d10+3+4+1+2evade = 1d10+10if it hits you take 1d4=4 damage escape bind attempt = 1d20 + ((AGI/2) rounded up) + ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) + bonus escape bind = 1d20+4+1+2escape bind = 1d20+7must beat or match 17if you attempt something else you must beat the speed of the spell[08:48] roll 1d20 for speed[08:48] Dreads rolled 1d20: 15 = [15]DC 15attempting to parry is 1d20+AGI+2attempting to cast is 1d20+DEX+(AGI/4 round up)attempting to something else is asked may this is confusing to you just ask me for clarificationXicree you have a Tank to fight, it's a demon not a fluffy so combat time*starts working on response to Crawling Chaos post* dreads said: Gibbous moons you have an attack heading your way. [08:41] Lt;@Dreadis> roll 1d20 [08:41] Lt;@qqdice> Dreads rolled 1d20: 10 = [10] [08:41] Lt;@Dreadis> roll 1d4 [08:41] Lt;@qqdice> Dreads rolled 1d4: 4 = [4] [08:42] Lt;@Dreadis> roll 1d20 [08:42] Lt;@qqdice> Dreads rolled 1d20: 17 = [17] you may either attempt to evade or do something else hit = 15 evade = 1d10+armor + ((AGI/2) rounded up) + ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) + bonus evade = 1d10+3+4+1+2 evade = 1d10+10 if it hits you take 1d4=4 damage escape bind attempt = 1d20 + ((AGI/2) rounded up) + ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) + bonus escape bind = 1d20+4+1+2 escape bind = 1d20+7 must beat or match 17 if you attempt something else you must beat the speed of the spell [08:48] Lt;@Dreadis> roll 1d20 for speed [08:48] Lt;@qqdice> Dreads rolled 1d20: 15 = [15] DC 15 attempting to parry is 1d20+AGI+2 attempting to cast is 1d20+DEX+(AGI/4 round up) attempting to something else is asked me if this is confusing to you just ask me for clarification Click to expand... I evade.gibbous moons I'll roll9:56:25 AM just straight d10?9:56:58 AM roll 1d109:56:58 AM dice gibbous moons rolled 1d10: 9 = [9]I evade. My next action is a MANA bolt using 11 MANA. As a side note, I'm not flying yet. Giant get to Google Drive atm but that's 11d4[09:31] roll 11d4[09:31] Dreads rolled 11d4: 29 = [4,4,4,3,3,3,3,2,1,1,1] [blockquote]Rolled 11d4 : 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 1, 2, 4, 2, 2, 4, total 32[/blockquote] CrawlingChaos74 said: Looking for a base. Click to expand... This would make a decent base to rest at, though eventually someone may come investigating its unlikely anyone cares from what you can see. Plus on top of that it gives you a decent place to search for evil within the rich neighborhoods nearby.so what do you do. Let me know what you're going to do IOC first so I can let you know what to roll. Gibbousmoons said: This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 11d4 : 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 1, 2, 4, 2, 2, 4, total 32Click to expand... Demon (Bob) takes 32 blunt force energy damage - saves from instar kill - stunned cannot move, can cast.(Dark Bolt – x – does an amount of blunt force energy damage to target equal to xd3)dark bolt[11:17] roll 1d20[11:17] Dreads rolled 1d20: 10 = [10]- damage[11:18] roll 2d3[11:18] Dreads rolled 2d3: 5 = [3,2]evade = 1d10+armor + ((AGI/2) rounded up) + ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) + bonus evade = 1d10+3+4+1+2only hit on 1d10=Nat 1The spell cannot be parried. All you have to do to dodge is basically step to the side. It was so weak to do to "oh shit that fucking hurts" on the demons part. His name is Bob (or so I am pretending it to be) [blockquote]Rolled 1d10 : 6, total 6[/blockquote] to dodge. If your enemy is down and unable to fight you back a finishing move is1d20 >1 for hit and you don't really want to Nat 1 this...It's embarking [blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 16, total 16[/blockquote] to hit prone enemy. Dreadis said: This would make a decent base to rest at, though eventually someone may come investigating its unlikely anyone cares from what you can see. Plus on top of that it gives you a decent place to search for evil within the rich neighborhoods nearby. So what do you do. Let me know what you're going to do IOC first so I can let you know what to roll. Click to expand... I'm going to use Detect Evil to see which mansion is the purest, then I'll sneak inside. From there I'll find the owners and use my high charisma to convince them to let me stay. I'll probably try and get them to buy\rent me an apartment later on as a backup base in case something goes wrong. [13:04] Xi roll 1d20+6[13:04] roll 1d20+9[13:04] Dreads rolled 1d20: 15 = [6] + 9[13:05] roll 1d20+6[13:05] Male rolled 1d20: 19 = [13] + 6 Rolling the roll.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 17, total 17[/blockquote] Decree gained 15 XP and a connection details[Gained - Connection : Did the Demon Tank Admirer][Gained - 5 XP Dodge surprise attack][Gained - 10 XP Situation Defused...sort of] Pic for Ellie's default look. ^_^ Heaven Canceler said: Rolling the roll. Click to expand... Well How are you going to play the situation. Your roll of 17 caused me to roll on the Minor encounter table. Here is the encounter roll table for when I ask you to roll a d20. Just so you know what your ending up against18-20 Negligible15-17 Minor12-14 Low8-11 Moderate6-7 High4-5 Very High2-3 Major1 Extreme (1d20 Xicreeyou cannot find the Demon TanukiHowever you notice a couple of interesting run down houses that you could investigate or simply move on to do other things. CrawlingChaos74none of the ghouls spotted you. You have free rein. If you're going to attack one or more of them with the sword roll a 1d20 for hit. 1d20=18Not too bad I believe. For the length of my snips do you want me to make them longer? For combat or simple choices like this it's fine. But when posting what you plan on doing outside of combat more will help me get a flow going with my posts. Taking a break...will start writing again in a few hours updates forGibbousmoonsXicreeand CrawlingChaor74 update for Heaven Canceler too now How large is the house? Single story, double, does it have a basement etc. like these lots more secluded. Right up against a small patch of forest in the hills, an unfinished basement. Same size as the house with 9 feet height clearance Do I get any experience for killing that demon? [blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 6, total 6[/blockquote] for stealth. CrawlingChaos74 said: How large is the house? Single story, double, does it have a basement etc. Click to expand... the ghouls were the former owners, there would have been no squatters, but they would definitely have had glass bottles so that's all that might need fixed...unless your going with not realizing that this is the fouled families house then carry on. Dreadis said: the ghouls were the former owners, there would have been no squatters, but they would definitely have had glass bottles so that's all that might need fixed...unless your going with not realizing that this is the fouled families house then carry on. Click to expand... She doesn't know the family was fouled, as far as she knows the vampire stashed them here, or they just found an abandoned house to rest in. alright. That gives me an idea for some fluff for the next continuation of yours. Now if only Heaven Canceler would post a little more, so I don't get too far out of sync with the posts. Dreadis said: alright. That gives me an idea for some fluff for the next continuation of yours. Now if only Heaven Canceler would post a little more, so I don't get too far out of sync with the posts. Click to expand... Sorry for that, posted now. Real Life has been holding me from doing much for the last couple of days. Difference in timezone may also be a reason, though I haven't really looked at that much. I am from Austria, middle Europe time. It is 12:35 right now where I am. Edit: Post is rather short because I am not sure what else to write/do and also because I have to leave in a bit again for an hour or so. GibbousmoonsYou only have time to pull off 1 spell and still be in position to dodge at full ability, you may cast 2 spells at 6 MANA max each if you take 5 on dodge roll, or 3 spells at max 3 MANA each if you take a 2 on your dodge rolls. Of course, you could always grab your sword and use that instead or try to prepare some kind of defense?and Roll some d20XicreeYour in a house with a dead old woman, what do. CrawlingChaos74Well your current location is unowned, and apparently no one cared enough to check on the owners, the dust says months. Heaven Canceler Your walking into a dark tunnel with a vampire. That probably wants to play with his food dreads said: Heaven Canceler You're walking into a dark tunnel with a vampire. That probably wants to play with his food Click to expand... Let us make him talk about how great and awesome he is and such. Maybe he has something useful to say. Can always burn him a bit later, and it is not like the darkness bothers an angel. This is going to bite me in the ass, right? Because that would be hilarious. [11:36] roll 1d20+10[11:36] Decree rolled 1d20: 30 = [20] + 10Roll for Lorain's blessed Note. Not too shabby. Dreadis said: CrawlingChaos74 Well your current location is unowned, and apparently no one cared enough to check on the owners, the dust says months. Click to expand... If nothing happens to me over the night, I'll go exploring in the morning. Heaven Canceler said: This is going to bite me in the ass, right? Because that would be hilarious. Click to expand... It's starting to look like it might this is for you stumble check roll 1d20 + 2 + 1 (bless) + 1 → ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) (you don't get AGI bonus to the check due to being arm in arm must beat 15 or trip, if trip you can’t move next turn other than get up. You can cast, but he gets bonus to dodge in the situation Hypnosis check roll 1d20+perception+1 (bless)must beat 15 else your vision goes like you're a bit drunk[11:41] roll 1d4[11:41] Dreads rolled 1d4: 2 = [2]resulting in a negative 4 penalties to hit your target if you fail the hypnosis you have to beat a 15 on a 1d20 +1 (bless) in order to get back up. You can of course not get up...but that will mean its a lot easier for him to dodge your spells Roll for stumble check.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+2 : 8 + 2, total 10[/blockquote]Roll for Hypnosis Check[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+8 : 16 + 8, total 24[/blockquote]And in case I lose the Hypnosis Check, I will already make the check to get up so I don't have to make another post if I lose it.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+1 : 5 + 1, total 6[/blockquote] the stumble should have been +4 total and hypnosis + 9 total, but that won't actually effect the result so its fine you don't need the check to get up since you beat the hypnosis though so standing just takes the place of all other movement in your turn Eh what? You can only add one modifier to a roll? That is annoying. No mind control for you sir. Still good to know that I have to give all modifiers at once. Writing post next [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+1 : 16 + 1, total 17[/blockquote]? Heaven Canceler said: Eh what? You can only add one modifier to a roll? That is annoying. No mind control for you sir. Still good to know that I have to give all modifiers at once. Writing post next^^Click to expand... roll a 1d20+3 (from AGI)+1 (from DEX)+1 (bless)(total+5) and a 5d4 for your action. Dreadis said: roll a 1d20+3 (from AGI)+1 (from DEX)+1 (bless)(total+5) and a 5d4 for your action. Click to expand... Okay here are the rolls.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+5 : 9 + 5, total 14[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 5d4 : 4, 1, 4, 1, 3, total 13[/blockquote]Hope the Posts are not too short, but currently there is just not much to say. Heaven Canceler incoming spell hit[13:39] roll 1d20+7[13:39] Dreads rolled 1d20: 24 = [17] + 7damage[13:39] roll 5d3[13:39] Dreads rolled 5d3: 10 = [3,2,2,2,1]you need a 24 total to dodge if you can't, you take 10 damage your dodge modifier is1d20 + armor + ((AGI/2) rounded up) + ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) + bonus1d20+3 (armor)+3 (from AGI)+1 (from DEX)+1 (bless)+2 (holy deflection from armor)----this is what you roll 1d20+10-------if you beat it by 3 or less you take half damage due to your armor tanking it(5 damage) [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+10 : 6 + 10, total 16[/blockquote]Okay, let us see what I get. Heaven Canceler said: This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 1d20+10 : 6 + 10, total 16 Okay, let us see what I get. Click to expand... Roll 1d20+STR+1 (bless)if you don't beat[14:08] roll 1d10+10[14:08] Dreads rolled 1d10: 18 = [8] + 1018 you fall down and are stunned, you can cast but you can't get up next turn dreads said: Gibbous moons You only have time to pull off 1 spell and still be in position to dodge at full ability, you may cast 2 spells at 6 MANA max each if you take 5 on dodge roll, or 3 spells at max 3 MANA each if you take a 2 on your dodge rolls. Of course, you could always grab your sword and use that instead or try to prepare some kind of defense? And Roll some d20Click to expand... Okay, so here are the d20 you asked for.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 12, total 12[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 16, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 13, total 13[/blockquote]And I'm blasting the fully grown hellhound with another 11 MANA.[blockquote]Rolled 11d4 : 3, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, total 29[/blockquote] For hitting the target.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 16, total 16[/blockquote] dreads said: 18 you fall down and are stunned, you can cast but you can't get up next turn Click to expand... [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+5 : 13 + 5, total 18[/blockquote]Okay, let us see. Heaven Canceler roll 1d20 +2 (holy armor deflection)+1 (bless)+3 (armor) - 10 stun [total -4 (Nat 20 is not auto win due to stun)] (if you win by less than 3 you take half damage)you must beat 15 to not be hit by dark bolt damage from dark bolt would be 6 Hypnosis check roll 1d20+perception+1 (bless)must beat 15 or be hypnotized(-4 to attack rolls, must roll to stand)current numbers for Aria HP 9/19 stunned MANA 15/19 (at the start of your turn before dark bolt if it hits) XicreeIf you don't want to kill the others you can knock them unconscious with a 1d20 for each of them, just don't roll a 1 or you accidentally kill them. Your first roll is for the older of the two unless you specifically mark them [blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 16, total 16[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 14, total 14[/blockquote]To KO the Stained. Gibbousmoonsthree bite attacks from the pups evade roll is 1d20 + armor + ((AGI/2) rounded up) + ((dex-3)/2 rounded up) + bonus so 1d20+10must beat. Not match beat - damage taken19 - 26–14 - 1I should probably let you know you’re in a timed event and have been since you walked in. Surprise!HP Pullman 12/22 (you legend 1 this turn) Okay, here are my three dodge rolls. To beat 19,[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+10 : 7 + 10, total 17[/blockquote]To beat 6,[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+10 : 16 + 10, total 26[/blockquote]To beat 4,[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+10 : 15 + 10, total 25[/blockquote] Well that was unfortunate. -2 health for me. My next action is to attack all three of them with a flurry of sword blows, and try to get lucky. First roll of each group is to hit, the second roll is the damage. Hellhound Pup 1[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+10 : 11 + 10, total 21[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 1d6+3 : 3 + 3, total 6[/blockquote]Hellhound Pup 2[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+8 : 9 + 8, total 17[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 1d6+3 : 1 + 3, total 4[/blockquote]Hellhound Pup 3[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 9 + 6, total 15[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 1d6+3 : 4 + 3, total 7[/blockquote] Creswell the girls are fine physically, but their minds are pretty broken. They will need monitoring if you don’t keep them knocked out/locked up. Gibbousmoonsyou’re being attacked yet again1d20+6 (lost 4 do to being off balance following your multi attack)Must Beat 11 (12 or better)MANA 13/22 (legend 1)forgot damage[22:05] roll 1d3[22:05] Dreads rolled 1d3: 3 = [3]you take 3 damage if it hits dreads said: Heaven Canceler roll 1d20 +2 (holy armor deflection)+1 (bless)+3 (armor) - 10 stun [total -4 (Nat 20 is not auto win due to stun)] (if you win by less than 3 you take half damage) you must beat 15 to not be hit by dark bolt damage from dark bolt would be 6 Hypnosis check rolls 1d20+perception+1 (bless) must beat 15 or be hypnotized(-4 to attack rolls, must roll to stand) current numbers for Aria HP 9/19 stunned MANA 15/19 (at the start of your turn before dark bolt if it hits)Click to expand... [blockquote]Rolled 1d20-4 : 4–4, total 0[/blockquote]And the hypo Counter.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+9 : 12 + 9, total 21[/blockquote]Okay, it Looks like I am getting my ass kicked by a took that was said to be weak for a Vampire. How many spells can I use? If I can use both healing and a bolt I would be seriously tempted to do so considering the damage I have taken. Heaven Canceler Multi spells you can cast up to 3 spells per turn, though some spells don’t count toward this limit if you cast more than 1 spell per turn you are limited on the amount of MANA can be put toward a spell and during your next turns dodge roll you are forced to take a set amount instead of rolling. Two spells - 6 MANA - take 10 on evade three spells - 4 MANA - take 5 on evade spell that don’t count toward this limitBlessheal if using 3 or less MANA else it counts as a full spell CrawlingChaos74I was waiting on your next post before continuing, going exploring is a bit too non-specific, especially IOC where I can't use the context to see what you are exploring. Dreadis said: CrawlingChaos74 I was waiting on your next post before continuing, going exploring is a bit too non-specific, especially IOC where I can't use the context to see what you are exploring. Click to expand... I think I'll explore the hills north of the city. I probably won't be able to write a snip tonight, but I should have one ready tomorrow. Heaven Canceler said: Okay, it Looks like I am getting my ass kicked by a took that was said to be weak for a Vampire. How many spells can I use? If I can use both healing and a bolt I would be seriously tempted to do so considering the damage I have taken. Click to expand... you'll need to roll 1d20+7 (DEX+Amusing IC is the bonus) to see if you hit and 8d4 for the damage on hour MANA bolt dreads said: you'll need to roll 1d20+7 (DEX+Amusing IC is the bonus) to see if you hit and 8d4 for the damage on hour MANA bolt Click to expand... Okay, let us check out whether I get a lucky hit this time.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 17 + 7, total 24[/blockquote][blockquote]Rolled 8d4 : 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 3, 4, 4, total 21[/blockquote] XicreeThe ritual is draining on the girls, they will likely sleep for at least 10 hours. Rules for leveling added to Rules Document Is 24 enough for a hit? Haven't rolled it yet, LME check1d20+8=17it will hit. Ill get to writing in a bit of LEVEL UP:+3 points CIA [10→11]+7 points SPR [6→9]Grabbing a spell focus. POWER FOCUS - Magic:Cupid's Arrows - Calls on the power of Cupid, son of Aphrodite to beset a target with Love, causing damage to unholy beings in the process. Aphrodite Charm - Blesses self with super-natural Charisma (Spirit → Charisma buff)Loves Whisper - Allows Ellie's voice to force others to pay full attention to the message of her words. Causes a 'pause' effect on processing her words. Decree said: LEVEL UP: +6 points CIA [9->11] +4 points SPR [6->8] Grabbing a spell focus. POWER FOCUS - MAGIC Cupid's Arrows - Calls on the power of Cupid, son of Aphrodite to beset a target with Love, causing damage to unholy beings in the process. Venus Charm - Blesses self with super-natural Charisma (Spirit -Sgt; Charisma buff) Loves Whisper - Allows Ellie's voice to force others to pay full attention to the message of her words. Causes a 'pause' effect on processing her words. Click to expand... FTF Xicreespells gained through level up Silk Scarves - 2 - creates enough silk scarves to bind a single target for 5 seconds, may keep them existing by taking a temp -2 to max MANA for as long as you keep the spell active---Silk Scarves - prevents bound targets magic, hp 8, regenerates all hp every turn as long as spell is active Cupid's Arrows - 4 - A bolt of holy power attuned to the feeling of love, may infatuate target with caster, Deals 2d4+4 damage to evil beings. Aphrodite Charm - 5 - Increases the castors Charisma for an hour(+2 temp Charisma)Loves Whisper - 2+x - Distracts all who can hear the castor speaking for the next 30 seconds, castor must keep speaking the whole time(-5 distraction modifier on rolls), spell lasts 20 seconds longer for each extra MANA spent.also found mistake, you started with 10 charisma not 9 (the trait is added in to total, and counts toward stat cost calculation after that point)your 1 point short of reaching 12 charisma taking that into account. You may bank your points, but you can only spend them while resting/meditating Heaven Cancelers you did quite a bit of damage, unfortunately it wasn't enough to take him out. But he isn’t going to be able to dodge well next turn and since you are no longer stunned you can simply get up without wasting the whole turn on it, meaning you could approach him if you want. And you do have 1 MANA if you want to use it. Heaven Cancelerrightsome rolls1d20+6 for hit on the spell1d4 for spell damage1d20+9 for hit on attack roll1d6+3 for attack damage there is a chance for the spell to lightly stun him, if it does your attack becomes a finishing move instead Attack roll hit. This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 1d20+6 : 16 + 6, total 22Spell Damage This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 1d4 : 3, total 3Attack Roll This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 1d20+9 : 13 + 9, total 22Attack Damage This dice roll has been tampered with! Rolled 1d20+3 : 7 + 3, total 10Okay, going to sleep now. If there are any other rolls, you are free to make them yourself. Goodnight Edit: Sorry, I added the goodnight to the post, and now it says I tempered with it. Promise I didn't What did I get actually? *Looks* Oh, well it seems average? If you want to declare it unacceptable, just reroll it. Have no Problem with it. Dreadis said: gibbous moons you’re being attacked yet again 1d20+6 (lost 4 do to being off balance following your multi attack) Must Beat 11 (12 or better) MANA 13/22 (legend 1) forgot damage [22:05] Lt;@Dreadis> roll 1d3 [22:05] Lt;@qqdice> Dreads rolled 1d3: 3 = [3] you take 3 damage if it hits Click to expand... I parry.to parry[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+2 : 11 + 2, total 13[/blockquote]damage, if parry succeeds[blockquote]Rolled 1d6+2 : 4 + 2, total 6[/blockquote] Heaven Canceler considering the last one is supposed to be 1d6+3...you might want to reroll that unless you want me to roll itevade1d20+8=9actually never mind the number doesn't actually matter Heaven Cancelers need you to roll a perception check before you start writing up your next post, you may get some information which will affect your plans.1d20+perception+1(bless)= 1d20+9 Perception. Will be gone for most of the day to help out a Family member. See you.[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+9 : 17 + 9, total 26[/blockquote] Any useful Information I got? I am back. Was about to start writing it up. Heaven Canceler Your character realizes that the vampire was probably going to take her somewhere specific down in the tunnel. He was obviously planning on amusing himself, so why would he do that where anyone could stumble on the two of them and interrupt him. Gibbousmoons3 survivors1 bad condition slowly dieing2 critical condition dying fast--------------------------------| C||A B---------------------------------A - Astral - Bad conditions - Critical condition XicreeThe chance of the girls gaining potential that you can’t recover purifying them yourself is slim...very slim. It will be nearly impossible to avoid taint with this deal even with your ability, and that ritual is really, really useful if you are eligible to perform it. CrawlingChaos74Your character has no money for bus fair or to buy anything. XicreeFinal offer on deal with a FAE Dreads- From a game mechanics perspective, what health levels correspond to Bad and Critical Condition? How many levels of health would I need to heal before they'd be stable, and no longer losing health just by laying there? Gibbousmoonsgame wise critical means they will die within a minute. Bad is within 5 minutes. Once you start healing them they will partially stabilize, but if you don't heal them enough they will start dying again. Number wise Bad is -1 → -3 hp very bad is -4 → -6 and critical is -7 →-9. Normally people die when they hit 0 hp but if you are trying to take them alive intentionally you can put them into negatives. But not all attacks can be used to take someone alive. If you're trying to take someone alive and hit -10 hp they die instantly anyway dreads said: gibbous moons game wise critical means they will die within a minute. Bad is within 5 minutes. Once you start healing them they will partially stabilize, but if you don't heal them enough they will start dying again. Number wise Bad is -1 -Sgt; -3 hp very bad is -4 -Sgt; -6 and critical is -7 -Sgt;-9. Normally people die when they hit 0 hp but if you are trying to take them alive intentionally you can put them into negatives. But not all attacks can be used to take someone alive. If you're trying to take someone alive and hit -10 hp they die instantly anyway Click to expand... Okay, so I have a healing spell that will heal [MANA]*2 health, and 15 MANA, so let me work this out. There are two people who need, at most, ten health before they're not in the black. There's one who needs at most 4. I can burn three healing spells, two at 5 MANA and one at 2, to put them all above 0, right? don't have my sheets open at the moment but if they are at -4 they will only reach 0. Which is stable but not getting better. You have to reach 1 for the body to be able to heal itself (which takes months/year without magic) so the most someone in bad condition would need is 3 to get them back positive dreads said: CrawlingChaos74 Your character has no money for bus fair or to buy anything. Click to expand... I'll just walk around the city and hope that I find something. XicreeThe book while primarily used for evil casters is capable of being used for good casters, even if only as a reference for defensive spells or counter spells. The Lab can be used to play around to create new spells without accidentally ending up with a case of “fire, everywhere” or “suddenly explosions” like if you tried to create spells without the lab. Heaven Canceler here have some combat gibbousmoonsYou gained a level, level up rules are in the Rules doc. Feel free to ask any questions. Post your wishes in here, and I’ll translate them into game rules for your character sheet. Dreadis said: gibbous moons You gained a level, level up rules are in the Rules doc. Feel free to ask any questions. Post your wishes in here, and I’ll translate them into game rules for your character sheet. Click to expand... so that's 10 stat points, a spell you decide on, and I want a combat bonus to magical blasts using more than 10 MANA.EDIT: upgrading my dexterity to 7 (five points), and my spirit to 9, (five points). Gibbousmoonsfirst 2 things are correct, for the third thing if you want spells you give a name for them and tell me what you want them to do in broad terms, I write a legal spell based on your broad terms, you can ask me for legality and if a spell idea will work before you set up your final wish list either here, in pm, or in IRC. An example for what you already asked for would be something like spell name - 10+ cost - A heavy combat spell for lots of damage. Written with whatever fluff you want to flavor the final result with. Then a heavy-damage spell costing 15 MANA along the lines of "Condemnation. A small dart of mistletoe grows from the angel's hand and is then thrown at the target, hardening back to the death of a fairer being." Gibbousmoonsdon't forget you need to ask for 3 spells not just 1 We were thinking different things. I'd like an ability to let me recharge my MANA fully, usable a certain number of times per day. Gibbousmoons said: We were thinking different things. I'd like an ability to let me recharge my MANA fully, usable a certain number of times per day. Click to expand... That's a bit to OP, especially since its only really useful mid-combat. Now an ability that temporarily increases your MANA regent rate a few times a day, that would work. But full MANA pretty much whenever is a bit much. If you decide that's what you want it will start out as 2/day. Unless you improve the ability later by choosing to improve it when you level again. Dreadis said: That's a bit to OP, especially since its only really useful mid-combat. Now an ability that temporarily increases your MANA regent rate a few times a day, that would work. But full MANA pretty much whenever is a bit much. If you decide that's what you want it will start out as 2/day. Unless you improve the ability later by choosing to improve it when you level again. Click to expand... Well if I can't get that, I'd rather get an upgrade to my basic energy blast spell. That would be focusing on magic instead of combat. You have to use up one of the 3 spell gains to improve a spell you already have. But you get 3 spells instead of 1 combat ability dreads said: that would be focusing on magic instead of combat. You have to use up one of the 3 spell gains to improve a spell you already have. But you get 3 spells instead of 1 combat ability Click to expand... Can't I upgrade one spell three times? Nice try but no. You know what, I'm taking a break. Somebody else can have my slot, and I'll think about reapplying when you've worked the system out, because this is far too 'play by ear' for my tastes.

[NSFW] Angelic Warriors OOC|rating:2.0

Naruto RP Join Now _flashes_!

This is a Naruto RP where you can become a Naruto character and play as him/her. The RP starts in the academy, or if you also want you can create your own character, if you are here is the format:Name:Age:Description:Justus:Rules:follow Kenosha rules no spamming no flamingo illegal stuffs come on and join! I am Naruto! The next homage, remember it! I am Naruto, and my special juts is the Reagan (as you can clearly see)! Come on ninjas! You are all welcome! ’D BAKA U STOLE MY TOPI DXD i don't real care XD dark what character do you want to be? Ill be assume XD *hand signs* summon people to come RP with me juts! Come on people! Someone come here! I am sad and alone! Folos the idiot to sees what he is up to "I'm so hungry, ramen time!" *heads to the ramen place* sees him eat like a pig and rolls eyes and walks away "I would like to RP!" Keychain waved her hands up, wildly. "I would like to RP!" this is my info....but is it okay if I'm...like Leisure's twin sister?.... Name: Skirt UChicago: 13Description:One of the China's is Leisure's younger twin sister. Not overall close to Leisure or anyone really. She does have a good sense of humor and gets along with Naruto. She also has the 2-tailed snake Nib ii sealed inside her. Jutsu: Fire styles and the basics Name: Nassau HichikaruAge: 14Gender: bouts: Time Allusion juts (it's a new one) Name: Alum Shrinkage: 17Description: A very lonely and strange looking ninja. She doesn't fit in around the village and gets picked on all the time. Jutsu: Exploding blood JutsusPic: Name: Yuri KasumiAge: 14Home Country: Bistabilities: Mind Control Just, Weapon Master, Your no Just (ice prison technique)Description: She can be clumsy, most of the time, but likes to have fun. She is a very good listener, if she is paying attention. She is very pretty and is a fast learner. Has a crush on KIA. She is part of the Hyung Clan but has yet to activate the Bakunin. Alum bit her thumb and walked around the Leaf village. She sighed and fixed her little witch hat and retied the ribbon around her neck. She sat down on a bench and sighed.' No one wants to be friends with a freak like me.' *finishes eating ramen and heads to the swing in the tree* "I cannot wait till the rennin exams, I want to get my headband soon!" "I will be the greatest ninja ever! Remember my name! Uzumakin Naruto! Believe it! "No wonder Nissan (that means big brother for those who didn't know) thinks he is so weird!" Skirt whispered from behind a tree as she spied on Naruto. *turns around really quick* *falls of swing from turning around too fast* who? What? Where? I heard someone *draws lunar* "mummy.....uhh" *Steps out from behind the tree* "hi...loser....you know my brother, right?" *walks up to Naruto* "you are Naruto right?" *tilts head and smirks* *gets ready to do mega chicory Nagasaki juts and then attacks this person calls Reagan which I do not know*coughs*then goes to get some sleep pills because I cant sleep and only GAAR knows sleep juts Alum sighed and looked at Naruto." See unlike you, I'm a Chain." She showed him her headband which was tied around her ankle. Skirt looks at Alum and smiles a small smile. "Cute outfit...." "Thanks." She muttered to her, slowly walking away. Okay then....crud is that the time I better get home before SAS-Nii-san has a cow! Sikira thought before she ran off towards the China Estate. Name:el coconuts: chicory powerless see what to say got it*grabs clothing gets dresses and then goes out for a day of training, in the way you see an old lady called lady tsunami, and then she gives you this new juts called chicory Nagasaki, but it takes up all of your chakra and if you use it more than twice you die!!so I see this Katsuki person and almost kills me but I kill him aha hahaha.Gadara died Alum Saw El Loco walking around, and she kicked him in the back of the head."AKA!" She shouted at him as he hit the wall. "NASA... Nii-san isn't here....where is he!!!" Sits down and pouts in a corner. You are not Naruto I am!!!you are Reagan not narutorasenshuriken!! Shadow clone outgoes underground and hides :twisted: pokes eyes and flees and runs like crazy so that no one can see me kame kame kame haaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa shadow clone juts shadow clone massive juts *draws lunar from gear bag* Who is there? I heard someone! Come out you cowards! *hand signs* Shadow clone juts! 4 Naruto appear. "Clones help me find that coward who is sneaking on me! "Ok boss!" *The 5 Naruto jump and go off in different directions looking for the culprit. I'll be friends with you if you'd like and I am Naruto Sukiyaki pulls wherein and gets ready to through them undoes the juts new I am assume be sides who would want to be that idiot Naruto Quote: Originally Posted by Dark_The_Angel undoes the juts new I am assume be sides who would want to be that idiot Naruto I'm sorry but I already took Naruto, and if you haven't read Kenosha's rules you cannot double post. Quote: Originally Posted by Reagan *draws lunar from gear bag* Who is there? I heard someone! Come out you cowards! *hand signs* Shadow clone juts! 4 Naruto appear. "Clones help me find that coward who is sneaking on me! "Ok boss!" *The 5 Naruto jump and go off in different directions looking for the culprit. "It was me...." Skirt said raising her eyebrows. "What is your problem any way ....loser..." Who are you calling a loser? Loser! Come on fight me! I will show you that I am stronger than you! *draws lunar*You are a gunner! *throws lunar* Skirt blocks his attack and activates the Sharing an. "I was calling you a loser, loser...now do you or do you not know my brother, Leisure?" You mean the guy with the bad attitude who think he is better than everyone else? I don't know him but I have seen him around, but one day I will defeat that idiot. So what's it to you? Name: Amino UChicago: 12 (but acts like a little kid.) Description: She was found mysteriously at the edge of the forest by the China clan after it was revived. Her foster father (Leisure) raised her to excel in all the ninja fields just like himself. Only her foster parents know of the phonies that was sealing inside her... She has long dark hair and large purple eyes. She usually has some birds around her. Jutsus: Summoning Birds, Fire techniques.IOC: I'll think of some new ones along the way.:33 Naruto is cool I read all the manga so far nothing much just that he talks about you a lot... *smirks* I can see why...you are quite a lot to talk about! Take that back! *hand signs* shadow clone juts! Summons9 clones, and the 10 Naruto's draw Kuwait and shrikes ready to throw at the China girl. "Goodbye Brat" *All clones and Naruto throw the weapons at the girl* *grins*that should have done it! A dark-haired girl gazed quietly at the battle and sat on a log beside them. Watching on... Syria smirked..."you missed...lol...but that wasn't an insult...you have a lot of potential...and sense I am a Chain now I can tell...also you have a chance of becoming Homage! So you believed it! That is your line right!" Skirt smiled! You know your not that bad, I mean your not like your brat of a brother. *puts lunar away* *stretches hand out for her to shake* Friends? She takes out some paper and begins sketching a nearby cherry blossom tree. IOC: Er.It'd be nice if one of you noticed my char.XD loops sorry moo fin I was waiting for the other girl to post IOC: No probs. :]] Er... Maybe we should start another scene whiles she has gone? O___0 Ok you pick the scene moo fin The girl got up and walked towards Naruto... "Hey, that was some pretty good just there" Her voice was like silk and was as soft as the wind in the cherry blossoms. Name: Borneo Average: 19Description: She's a spunky gal who's often confused for someone far younger. She has short brown hair and hazel colored eyes. Name is the last known member of her clan and was rumored to have killed the others, though she flatly denies it she still gets accused at times. Since she had no clan she was an Ethnic for a while, but has recently joined Sonoma and is under evaluation. She is currently a Churning, but has the skill level to at least be a Junín. Likes to be called Name-Chan, and hates it when someone thinks she's a kid. Jutsus: She possesses the Kellie Genk ai Katsuki (cat's eye) which make her eyes look like green cat's eyes and allow her to see through most ninjutsu (ninjutsu caused by someone's bloodline limit will not be detected). Has a summoning Juts, that summons her wild cat, and knows plenty of other Justus... is pretty poor at actually using Ninjutsu. Quote: Originally Posted by Reagan You know your not that bad, I mean your not like your brat of a brother. *puts lunar away* *stretches hand out for her to shake* Friends? Hm, sure why not.... *shakes hand and smiles* just another thing to get my brother mad. Looks around and sees a title boy and notices that he has sharing an. Gets closer and sees a toy shop. Goes in and sees many Naruto and China things."OMG ITS SAKE"said one of the fan girls walk back and start running for my life DX the Munich Name, walked slowly out of the academy carrying a steep pile of books, scrolls, and catchment. "Could you do me a favor Name-Chan he asked, It won't be difficult for you, he said. Man if he wasn't hot this pile oilpaper work would be dropped on his spike white head. Probably reading that book of his again...GAS!" She grumbled as she started to pass the kids in back. Almost dropping the scroll on top. "Ok China girl, from now on we are friends. Hey you! Girl in the tree, come down here, we spotted you" Alum wandered around the village, waiting for someone to pass by her. She was dying to make fun of someone. She rubbed her eyes and sat down on a bench. *whirls around and looks at the girl* ....how long was she there....*points to girl* Alum frowned and said, "Don't you know It's rude to point?" Skirt smirked, "so your big on manners? Are you?....that's a riot!" when Skirt finished laughing she said, "so how long HAVE you been there?" Alum laughed slightly. She rolled her eyes and stood up." You can't be a very good ninja if you couldn't sense me." She grabbed Skirt's fingers and started to twist them, They were nearly broken." Don't question me EVER!" Skirt sighed as her clone roofed, "TSK TSK....and I'M the bad ninja...sure...that MUST be it." Then Skirt smiled, "nice try though Alum! ...." "What ever..." She said slightly smirking, "No one can top my best Juts. Not even you." She laughed and started to walk away. Blood started to soak through her tights on the white side. She smiled and looked back at Skirt." My juts's starting." "Shit.... Naruto Run!!! Now," Skirt said pushing him away, "tiger roster snake boar tiger, fire style fire shield Justus!!!" then a fire shield surrounded Naruto protecting him. ((oh boy a battle...the reason I'm protecting Naruto is that I don't think he is on now... oh I need to change my profile.)) "I never said I was waiting it on you." She said laughing, "I'm aiming for a bigger target. China Leisure." Skirt paused. And then smiled, "in that case go right a head!!....I don't really care....so have fun!" She put her hands together and made the hand sign for OX." Blood Tsunami No Juts!" She yelled causing a huge wave of her own blood to cover the area and Skirt." No one will stand in my way!" She yelled. Skirt was stunned. "Ummm...okay then...I don't care...go ahead kill Leisure...I won't stop you! So no worries!" Sikira smiled. "Why do you want to kill Leisure anyway?" Skirt said as she began to clean herself of blood. "You don't get it, do you?" She asked, "To kill Leisure, I need to absorb your just's." Ayumu smirked and put her hand into the dog hand sign." Blood Explosion No Juts!" She yelled. All of her blood exploded. It was very, very, powerful. Buildings started to crumble. Yo I'm an China "oh...okay...." Skirt said thinking, "later!!" then Skirt ran off with Naruto.((yep....that is Skirt all right....I'm such a wuss lol)) Quote: Originally Posted by Hitachi China yo I'm an China ((good then you can save me lol! Jk!!)) Alum rolled her eyes and started to walk away from the crumbling buildings. She smirked and looked back at the fleeing Skirt. Quote: Originally Posted by Pawpaw Alum rolled her eyes and started to walk away from the crumbling buildings. She smirked and looked back at the fleeing Skirt. ((lol....yep...I'm sad...lol))Skirt continues to run. She laughed slightly and said to herself, "No one can stop me from taking over this village now." ((so that is what she is trying to do!)) Sikira finally stopped running and sat down it took her a while before she realized that she ran straight out of the village it's self, "well that can't be good!" Skirt said. ((Yeah, I'm pretty good, eh? )She sat on the rooftop by the Homage's mountain." When I'm in charge, this hideous mountain is going down." ((yep!)) Now what do I do?, Skirt thought to herself as she began to pace around. Amino wandered silently around the village.She'd been waiting for her siblings for a while... ((Oh um. Just wonder did we do time skip yet or are Leisure and Naruto still teens. (12-13))) ((I'm confused myself... where is everyone now O_o0 ...this message will be replaced with my role-play when I find out. ) ((^^ Mkay) ((we are in normal time, sorry for not indicating it!)) Naruto runs and catches up to skirt "Who was she? Why.... does she want to destroy our village?! Skirt we got to stop her!" "Sure if you want to get killed!!" Skirt said snorting. Amino walked up to Skirt. "I'm sorry to intercept, but I think it's time for our meal sister." "Hmmm. When did you get here?" Skirt asked. "Who is she skirt? I did not know you had a sister.... nice to meet you." Risen stretched his hand for skirt's sister to shake. "I am Naruto, then next homage!" Skirt sighed. Amino looked at Naruto curiously "Hi, are you big sisters' boyfriend?" She seemed actually interested in who Naruto REALLY was. "Come on let's go before big brother gets mad sissy" She held Skirt`s hand as she pulled her away. "No Amino....we can't go back to the village... And there is ABSOLUTELY NOWAY Naruto is my BOYFRIEND!! ...no Offense Naruto...." Skirt said as she stopped Amino from pulling her away. And Skirt quickly explain to Naruto and Amino that the village was under attack and that it wasn't safe there." So that is why we have to stay here!" Skirt sighed. "But all of our loved ones will die! Will you stand here watching as your family dies? Answer me! Will you! Amino glared at Naruto "Are you so stuck-up and arrogant that you think you can fight everyone there single-hand?" She was on the verge of tears. "Me and Sissy and Brother grew up without a family anyway! We learned that even if you save the lives of others they just say thank you and leave!" She stormed off as hot tears streamed down her face. Naruto opened his mouth for a second but then decided against it. "Hmph, still, our loved ones will die *hot salty tears started streaming down Naruto's face* I did not have a family either, but it does not matter! The village is our new family!" Naruto drew his lunar "If you won't help me then goodbye!" Naruto suddenly disappeared in white smoke. Amino was a little bit shocked. She stared at the burning village. "Maybe he is right." she thought... "Wait Naruto, I'm sorry, wait for me!" She called. Naruto ran toward the village with his lunar raised He heard someone calling, but he ignored it and he keep running. "I have to stop this!" Amino let out a cry of frustration... "Dammit" she thought. "I'll just have to use THAT" She summoned a small flock of birds and ordered them to chase after Naruto, ignoring her bloody finger. "Stop....stop it...." Skirt said shaking her head, "let him go....he knows what to do..." Amino felt torn. "Should I go with the sister i've trusted for years.or this stranger who says what my heart tells me to do." She glanced tearfully in the direction Naruto had fled... "okay sissy..." when Skirt saw her sister's face she said, "we will go too as soon as we have a plan!" sorry 2 interrupt but is it to late 4 me to join this RP with my character? Quote: Originally Posted by Panama Mimi sorry 2 interrupt but is it to late 4 me to join this RP with my character? Probaly not! ^.^ so come and join!! Well if it's not to late Name: Sana KoegetsueAge: 12Description: When she was young she was very good friends with Leisure China, as of now Sana has a crush on Leisure hoping to be his bride, she is like to protect Leisure from all danger, she even protects Naruto & Sakura from time to time, well Sana is very nice, confident, & very sweet to every one....except Sakura... :green:Justus: nothing special (which means cant think of any at the moment)this is what she looks like: well nice to meet you...if you read my pro. You will know that I am Leisure's little sister! ...lol.... I think you and I can become good friends!!!....lol, than for greeting me =3 ^^ i appreciate it you're welcome!! =3 I like this RPC forum X3 its like bits & pieces of the show here lol yep...sad thing is though the person who is Leisure...he never shows up! Lol, well maybe they'll come back soon, unless they quit =O then I'd have no Leisure 2 be crushing on Two T_T Leisure-Kun....I don't have a crush since there is no Leisure here T_T AAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!! *sits down on ground waiting for any1 to talk to* =x hero? Sana K. is lonely here T_T well ill wait =O lol...nice SIG! Lol, thanks *stands up & paces around* GRRR.... IT'S LIKE BEING STOOD UP AT A DATE T_T how embarrassing...*looks around* My Leisure T. T does he h8 me? *climbs up a tree* well I can sit here & wait for a little longer... Having come up with a plan she goes back to the village..." Hey Sana!!," Skirt said waving. "SANA-CHAN!!!!" Amino scrambled up the tree to greet one of her favorite people. She has her a big hug. "Shanahan I missed you. Brother was talking about you, don't tell him I told you" She chattered away happily forgetting her worries. "Hi Skirt, Hi Amino, b-brother? @[email protected]" *Stands up* "Yeah, he was telling that stupid story again where he like saved you, right sissy?anyway he had this weird look on that I've never seen before." She happily bubbled away. "Hey Shanahan where are you going?" "Exactly what kind of weird look Amino?" *sits back down* "no where, so continue" She smiled, happy that Sana was interested in her story. "It was all weird, like it was kinda embarked and mad at the same time, and then when he finished he looked kinda sad, like he was trying to decide about something.anyway I kinda laughed at him, and then he got mad and yelled" She stuck out her tongue "He can be really mean you know" "lol, why would he is embarrassed....was it because of me?"she looked down. "Well at least I'm not as unless as Sakura, at least i don't stand there screaming Leisure's name, at least I try & help him. Ya'know" Amino smiled "That's why when I grow up I want to be just like Shanahan, she's good at almost everything, just like Sissy and Brother" She lowered her voice a bit "But you know that Sakura lady is so annoying sometimes." Alum yawned and she bumped shoulders with Amino. "Watch it!" She hissed angrily. "Oh great....your back....joy!" Skirt muttered under her breath.((no real offense! I swear!)) She smiled looking at Amino, "Sakura is annoying...." "Sakura...Hamm....she just needs a brain that is all!!" Skirt said smiling. "Lol, yea she does need a brain..." she said smiling Skirt laughed, "lets not be too mean to her....just her forehead...lol!" Skirt coughed when she saw a Junín pass." But of course we shouldn't make fun of others in the village! That is the way this village should be!" Skirt said as she saw the Junín looked at her. "Lol, yea..." Sana looked at the Junín & smiled. Skirt smiled as soon as the Junín left."that was Takashi! He is a friend of mine!" "Takashi-Sensei!?" she screamed with a shocked face, "I didn't recognize him!!!!" Skirt laughed, "that is because I died his hair green! He still is mad at me but I know he likes it!" Sikira turned around to look at him, "yep....he defiantly looks better like that!lol!!" "Lol, but u should have dyed Sakura's hair blonde XD, hey lets go look for her & draw zits on her & stuff, I could put her to sleep with a certain jut sue, but one of us has to hold her if she catches on..." Sana smirked, "Well if u have anything else we could do to her that will humiliate her do it." {{sorry for not posting in the RP guys, I have been busy this week}}Naruto ran towards the village, tears obscuring his vision. "I must stop her, I must reach the village in time!" Naruto suddenly did some hand signs and 3 clones appear. "Come on guys, get your battle faces on!" All 4 Naruto ran towards the village, knowing that they had to stop the destruction of their home. "Hey Naruto!" Skirt called to Naruto upon seeing him running. Naruto saw Skirt, but he ignored her, she would only try to stop him. Naruto send one of his clones to stop Skirt, He did not want her to get hurt. "I'm sorry Skirt China." Alum walked into the ramen bar and ordered a chicken ramen. She started to eat it as soon as it came. Amino was shocked and hurt. "No one has ever yelled at me for no reason like that before." she thought. Almost everyone in the village got along with Amino because she was so easygoing and friendly. Everyone always said at least hello every time they saw her... She walked up to Alum... "Hi... Sorry about the whole shoulder thing.clumsy me... Sorry...if there's anything I can just do..." She sniffed. She was a very sensitive and easily embarked person.she was close to a little trickle of tears already... Sana saw Amino crying apologizing to Alum." Kamino, you shouldn't apologize, Alum should she bumped into you, it'her who should apologize." she said with a smile. "Thanks Canadian, but I still feel really bad." She sniffed. "You shouldn't that is the person trying to destroy the village." [[wait are you guys inside the village?]] ((Yeah....sorry is that ok?)) ((ooooooooooooo, so sorry my comp. Caught a virus or something & I can't get it till Monday, p.s I am at my brothers house XP))Sana smiled,"don't feel bad =), it really was Alum's fault." Skirt nodded her head. [[well wasn't the village being destroyed?]] [[well wasn't the village being destroyed?]] ((yeah so we went to try and save it)) ((Lol, so we're INSIDE a BURNING village. Eating ramen. XD DDD)) ((exactly!! It makes so much sense!!!)) [[I know! It makes perfect sense!]] ((got my computer fixed, but its slow TO, btw Reagan nice Kenosha AVI, also lol)) ((okay yes it is funny, but can we get back to the RP? That is if anyone knows what is going on! Lol that is right we're all eating ramen while the village is on fire! Lol))Skirt shook her head, "guys can someone tell me why we are eating ramen while the village is being under attack by a crazy-mad ninja??" Sana looked either ramen bowl then at the flames, "MMM what shall we do?" Sana asked with a questioning face @[email protected] Skirt shrugged, "I know I'm a chain....but I'm not a genius...maybe we should ask Takashi....he might have an idea...!" And with that Skirt ran off to find Takashi. Sana started to sweat, "Man its very haw there..." Sana ran after Skirt, "I think Takashi-Sensei, is in the forest possibly, probably training." ^^;; yeah training while the village is on fire...what train Catholic... Sana thought. Skirt laughed, "yeah probably! Wait no....he is no doubt about it reading those 'books' lol!!!" Sana gulped, "I've seen what was in the 'book'..." Sana shook her head, tearing up, "it was HORRIBLE!!!!!" Skirt turned on her heels, "oh so you have to? I actually didn't think it was that bad....but of course I was eight and I wanted to see what Hitachi was reading..." she laughed at Sana's face and continued running."race ya!!!" Skirt called. ((Lol.)) Amino hurried to catch up with her siblings a friends "Sissy, what about brother. I want to find out if he's ok." Sana laughed camp; picked up her speed, "since Amino is worried on our way shall we look for Leisure?" Sana asked halfway out of breath. Skirt nodded in agreement. Amino smiled a bit "I hope he's alright..." Suddenly she saw a tall plume of smoke coming from the direction of the China mansion "OH NO!" "S-assume... Sasuke!!!!!" Sana screamed running faster towards the China mansion. Sana's eyes got watery, fastening her base towards the large home. *grabs lunar knife* "you guys be prepared!" Sana shouted eyes locked on the China home. Leisure please be okay... Sana thought. Alum stood in front of Leisure with a lunar up to his neck. She smiled and said, "The China family is going down." Her blade came closed and closer to his neck. She was about to kill the last member of the China clan. "GET OFF OF MY NISSAN!!!!!" Skirt screamed as she kicked Alum in the head and grabbed her lunar and stabbed it into Alum's lower back. Skirt pulled Alum's head backwards in an attempt to break her neck in half. "LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE YOU -insert inappropriate words- ((whore))" There were few things in this world that Amino feared.but her worst was seeing her beloved family die. Sana jumped onto of Alum, camp; pulled her hair, "DON'T YOU EVER TRY AND HURT MY SAKE!!!!!" Sana did some hand signs, "hair coffin no jut sue~!" Sana's long black hair covered Alum's whole body, camp; squeezed very tight. *growls* "This is only a WARNING!" Skirt stop beating Alum up long enough to realize that they were all fighting shadow clones!" Guys?....GUYS!!!! We are fighting shadow clones!" She screamed! Sana looked at Skirt, then down at the clone, it roofed in her face. "*growls* Which is the real one!?" Sana got up, her eyes grew into a deeper state of red. The dark crimson eyes looked blood Christy, her black hair grew longer, then soon enough she caught all the so called 'clones', then squeezed them very tight, until one screamed exposing herself, the other clone spoofed away. Skirt pointed towards the one that screamed, "found her..." Skirt said bleakly as she walked towards the one that exposed herself. Sana followed Skirt, Sana's eyes were a deep crimson red, bloodthirsty, camp; full of hatred. Sana corner Alum asking, "Why?! Why were you going to hurt my Leisure!?" Sana took out a lunar camp; put it up to Alum's neck. "Hmm mm!?" "Careful!" Skirt cautioned her Magician Sheridan (the one that Hitachi uses when he uses Syikiumi, the torture just, aka the Moon Justus, the one with the sword. That is what I am talking about) blazed through her eyes." Let's do this!!!" Skirt nodded to Sana forming hand signs in the blink of an eye as her eyes spun gathering energy," SACRED SUN JUTS, AMATERASU!!!" (the black flame Justus that Hitachi used as well)A thousand Black flames attacked Alum. Smothering her in the flames. Alum showed up behind Skirt and rubbed her blood on to the unsuspecting girl. She did twelve hand signs and yelled, "Blood explosion no juts" and Skirt started to set on fire. She kicked Skirt down and said, "That's for thinking you could beat me." She turned to Sana and growled, "You're next." She raced at the other girl with a Lunar and cut her arm. Furthermore, she grabbed Sana's blood with her finger licked it and shot tons of Blood covered Kuwait' out of her mouth. Furthermore, she watched at Sana hit the floor. "Never interrupt me when I'm trying to settle something!" She Hissed in a horrible voice. Naruto appeared behind Alum and hit kicked the back of her head, which sent her sprawling to the ground. Then he bit his thumb and smeared the blood in his palm, then he did some hand signs and pressed his hand against the ground "summoning juts!" Naruto screamed as a white mist enveloped them all. Alum glared at Naruto and then did over seventeen hand signs. "Blood Tsunami No Juts!" She shouted as a wave of blood came and covered every one. Then she did twelve hand signs and yelled, "Blood explosion no juts" and everything blew up. Sana got up as quickly as she could. Sana did hand signs, "Hair protection no jut sue~!!!!!" Just before the explosion happened Sana's hair covered her friends, "What an ignorant girl, the Koegetsue clan isn't as dumb as she thinks." Then again I must restore my whole clan when I'm older.... Sana thought. Sana's eyes were still a deep crimson red, but each moment something was taking affect. Sana then coughed blood, "N-no....not again...." Sana's hair control jut sue had worn off exactly at the moment the explosion finished. Sana then took a strand of her hair camp; pulled on it, "Hmm mm..." Sana licked the blood off her hand. "Mmmm taste." Sana said with laughter. Sana was now bloodthirsty. "Naruto, Skirt, if I must get to out of control. Please try camp; stop me with everything you've got." Sana looked at the two. Amino bite down on her finger "Bird Summoning Juts!" A flock of doves appeared and circled over the battle.... "Shanahan, you first...but if this bitch decides to get slippery..." the birds moved to form a circular wall around them. Sana nodded as her hair grew longer bit by bit. Sana started her jut sue by using the one strand of hair camp; poked her finger until a bit of blood covered the hair, which made the 'blood blade' as Sana called it, then Sana charged at Alum at a fast pace, camp; with one hand free Sana did over 30 hand signs, then she dug the blade deep into Alum's arm then shouted, "Blade explode no jut sue~!!!!" Skirt was to hurt to lift herself up. She would have to trust her comrades right now." I trust you guys...." Skirt whispered before activating a Justus to protect herself. Sana looked at injured Skirt, then tossed a healing scroll to Skirt, "Read the incantations, then they shall work!!!" Skirt nodded her head and said the words that were written. She felt the effects instantly." Thanks, but I think I'm going to rest a little before I start up again. Kay?" Skirt sighed as she was being healed. "Kay..." Sana said then looked at Alum. "Thanks...." Skirt muttered thinking of several ways to turn this fight around. Sana stood their looking at the girl named Alum. [[wow you guys are doing a good job, I'm sorry i haven't posted in a while, i haven't had time to use men, and now I am lost in the RP.;]] ((it's okay, were all getting really confused on where we are)) ((yeah.....yeah, and well there is going to be no winner in this battle because everyone is power playing! Lol)) [[how about we start in another scene maybe? Another event? IDK ideas people!]] ((yeah another scene might be good....how about.....umm...the start of the chain exams....I know it is a bit of a time skip but I think that it's a good idea.....so what do you think Reagan...it is up to you)) ((hi pole, sorry my sister was on until now, so what r we going to do?)) [[yeah, start of the chain exams sound good. So lets start another scene.]] After months of the burning of the village, peace has been restored. Now it is time for rennin to prepare for the chain exams. Naruto is now proudly wearing his headband, walking around town. ((Pole I changed what Sana looks like, link is here was walking around looking for something fun to do, she hadent noticed anything different about the village, it was still the same even after the fire..."Hamm I'm very bored, but WHT to do what to do, the Chain Exams are coming up very soon..." "Hello Sana....." Skirt said walking up to her," Are you going to take the Chain Exams this year?" "Hi Skirt, camp; Yes, it seems award but yes, what about you?" Sana asked. Skirt thought for a second, "well.....I was thinking about taking the Chain exam this year...." Skirt smiled at Sana. ((NVM I want to keep my original character, black haired Sana))"That's great ^^ easier to pass this yr than the next!"((that reminds me what squads do we all belong in @[email protected])) ((well I decided to make Skirt a Lenin....so one group could be Skirt, Sana, and Naruto....I guess if that is okay.)) ((I like that ^^)) ((OK okay...sorry I replied late lol...if you are still on we can continue...)) Sikira smiled at her teammate as she wondered where Naruto was. ((its okays, sorry i didn't reply sooner))"Skirt? Shall we look around for Naruto? Or do u think he will pop up like usual?" Sana asked with a smile. ((it's okay lol))Skirt nodded. She wasn't up to talking today. She was somewhat mad that she was in Naruto's group when both her and Sana wanted to be in Leisure's group. Skirt sat down on the ground and practiced her hand signs as she waited for Naruto to appear. "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Naruto! U numskull! U can't just leave your team waiting!!!!" Sana shouted since they were waiting for Naruto for 2 hours. Probably looking for that Sakura, yuck :roll: ! Sana thought. Sana then got a ramen cup out camp; said, "Here Naruto, Naruto, Naruto, Naruto here Naruto, Naruto, Naruto, Naruto." As she shook the ramen cup around waiting for Naruto to come. ((lol did you get that from "Naruto Cup of Ramen"??? If not you should watch it on tube. Lol))Skirt looked up at Sana and sighed, "he isn't gonna show is he?" Sikira stood up suddenly and walked over to Sana, "Hey if he doesn't show in five minutes let's go look for Leisure...." Sikira smirked. She knew all of Leisure's hiding spots. ((lol, yes, I thought it would be appropriate for a time like this)) "sure, numskull should have hurried...but it can't be helped...." Sana said with a smile...COACHING i get to see my future husband or boyfriend today!!!! Sana thought joyfully. ((lol yeah it was and what was even funnier was that I was watching it on tube just now. Lol))Skirt smiled with any luck Leisure will fall for Sana that way we could be sisters....that would be fun!! Five minutes passed...." Okay his time is up let's find Leisure...." Sikira exclaimed as she dragged Sana off to the area he usually trained at." So Sana....do you like, like my Nissan?" Skirt asked trying to hide her hopefulness from her voice. ((i "Well, yes, I really like him a lot...sure he acts cold towards pole but...I feel something kind from him..." Sana said looking down, "I think underneath all his hatred is someone who cares....about others....." Skirt smiled to herself. She knew what she was talking about...yet she knew that Hitachi had ruined their family in more ways the ever could have predicted. Sikira sighed when she saw that Leisure wasn't in the training ground, "hmm...." She thought, "of course!" And with that she ran off towards home where he would be eating lunch, "follow me Sana!!" "Kay!" Sana followed Skirt on their way to Skirt's home. Leisure.... Sana thought. ((I'm going to be Leisure if that is okay with you...)) Sikira barged into the house, instantly spotting Leisure eating Ramen and randomly muttering to himself." There you are Nissan!! I was looking for you! I brought a friend!" Skirt said as she pulled Sana into view. ((Kay, it's great, since the other Leisure didn't reply))"S-assume..." Sana Stoddard OMG AWD, HE LOOKS TOTALLY HOTTER TODAY!!!DID HE DO SOMETHING WITH HIS HAIR OR SOMETHING!!!! Sana thought. ((Kay thanks!))"in...who is it?" Leisure said turning around, "Oh....hello Sana....did you get a haircut?" Sikira nudged Sana in the ribs and giggled quietly. ((NP, your being a great Leisure X3 Lola))what do I say, I've hardly talked to Leisure lately... Sana thought, "Y-yes..." just for u babe X3...l. Sana thought. ((sorry I replied late))Leisure smiled, "it looks good....." Then Leisure turned to Skirt, "So why did you come home to eat?" Sikira rolled her eyes and ran over to hug Leisure, "Because I missed you silly!!!" Skirt said nearly choking him. Sasuke growled and Skirt giggled. ((Alum's an ABU now!!! Haha hahaha!!)) With a glare on her face, Special ops ABU Alum walked down the streets of Pomona past Skirt and all of them. She smirked as she kept walking. Now she was a step closer to her village domination. She had come in contact with the homage, and she actually trusts the evil ABU. She gripped the Katina on her back and kept walking away, waiting for one of them to stop her. ((hey do you realize that we skipped that part right? Or are you still running amok to take over the village?)) ((its okays, sorry I replied late 2, Lola))Sana screamed with joy in her head but did want to scream camp; embarrassed her in front of Leisure, the guy who she has had a crush on since they were kids, "T-thank you, Leisure." Sana turned away blushed. ((also I think she meant like she passed the house, on her way to destroy or kill the Homage)) ((Oh....okay then.... Sorry....)) Sasuke smiled, "you're welcome... As for you!" he exclaimed as he turned to Skirt and punched her lovingly on the head," tell me next time you coming home to eat go it!!" Sikira laughed and escaped before he could mess up her hair. She walked over to Sana and quickly whispered into her ear while Leisure wasn't looking, "I think he likes you, Shanahan!" Skirt giggled in a girl's voice. Sasuke looked up," What......" He questions confused. Skirt shook her head and laughed. Leisure groaned and muttered something about little sisters being more annoying than Naruto. ((no need to apologize, I think that's what she meant @[email protected]))Sana smiled seeing Leisure be nice to his sister for once....camp; when Sana heard what skirt whispered, she blued big time, "I-i hope s-so..." Skirt giggled," ask him!!!" "A-ask h-him!? B-but......w-what i-if h-he s-says n-no?" Sana asked shyly. Skirt smiled and pushed Sana forward, "Nissan Sana has something to ask you!" Sasuke looked up and smiled, "yes what is it?" "B-but, Saskia..." Sana then gulped, camp; turned her head towards Leisure. Omgawd he is smiling, out of all these y-years I've known him h-he hasn't s-smiled once u-until now... Sana thought. "S-assume d-do y-you....p-possibly...." Leisure cocked an eyebrow, "Hamm....do i what?" "U-ummmmmm...d-do....y-you......l-like......m-me?" Sana asked scared to hear what he would say.((also, Skirt? Do u have Gaia?)) ((yeah I do my name is Skirt-Sakira))Leisure lowered his head," Skirt...I hate....you!" Sikira giggled, when Leisure looked up his face was red, and he nodded his head twice. ((is it ok, if I add u?)) Sana screamed, camp; ran out the door, with her face bright red, "Om gawd!!!!" Sana was happy to know, and was too excited to keep it bottled up, she ran to the training ground since no pole were their at the time, "AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! SAKE LIKES ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SAKE LIKES ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sana got it all out of her system, then fainted, she was all out of breathe. ((also here r some pics I had edited:))that is my new outfit currently(don't wanna stretch the page) "SKIRT WHAT THE HELLHOLE!!!" Leisure screamed at Skirt, "now she probably hates me.....great......" Sikira sighed and ran after Sana. "S-assume......l-likes.....m-me....." Sana said on the ground. Stepping into the Homage's office Alum smiled and bowed. "Today will be your last day as Homage." She hissed as she unsheathed her Katina. Blood splattered on the wall as she struck the homage down. Alum grabbed the Homage's hat and put it on. "He-he..." She said laughing, "Sorry Skirt, Sana, Leisure and the others I'm putting you guys away for life." Sana woke up hearing screams, they sounded like......" Lady Tsunami!!!!!!" Sana got up as fast as she could. She ran down the streets of Sonoma, "W-who would injure the Homage....shouldn't their be guards or something!?" Sana stopped by the China house, "Leisure, Skirt, something is wrong about Lady Tsunami!!!!" Sana screamed getting a lunar out of her bag, "We must go imideatley!" Sana said running out the door heading towards the Homage's office. "WHAT HAPPENED?????!!!!" Skirt raged. Leisure shrugged and ran outside with his weapons armed. "I heard the Homage scream in pain, something bad Gustave happened!!!!" Sana said calling back towards them. Skirt and Leisure ran after Sana. This is just great....both Skirt and Leisure thought. Sana was breathing heavily as she got to the Homage's entrance to her office... Sana opened it...camp; saw.... Ayumu had injured the Homage, eyes wide, blood on the wall..." A-Ayumu what have u don't, u wench!?" Alum smirked and struck the Homage down. "It seems that she's dead, and before she passed, She made me Homage!" Alum licked the blood off her blade and adjusted the big red hat. "Now, leave your Homage alone while I plan out world domination." "Like......." Sana paused, "LIKE SHE WOULD EVER PASS OFF SOMEONE LIKE U AS THE NEXT HOMAGE!!!!!!!" Sana screamed heading towards Alum. She grabbed another lunar camp; managed to cut Alum's arm. "She had no choice!" Alum said spreading her blood around the room, "I was the only one to hear her." She smirked and did her hand signs. "Blood Explosion No Juts!" She yelled blowing off the roof of the building. She made a substitution and appeared on top of the Homage mountain. 'My face will be on here pretty soon.' Sana's hair grew longer camp; longer, did over 36 hand signs, "AS IF OR FACE WOULD BE THEIR!!!!! ~HAIR COFFIN JUTS UE!~" Sana's hair rapidly covered Alum's entire body camp; squeezed very tightly. I WANT U DEAD... Sana screamed in her head. Alum did a basic fire juts and burned out of Sana's hair. "You're just jealous you didn't think of this first!" She made some shadow clones, then made them cut their legs with a Lunar. "Goodbye." They said waving as the poured blood all over Sana. "Blood Explosion No Juts!" They all shouted in unison. ((Your character is awesome :3 she is powerful & cool))Sana's hair didn't burn, it was the special Koegetsue Clan's special power passed down from generation to generation (as if it were like starring or Bakunin), Hair control, its simply hair that is commanded by the Koegetsue's. Sana did hand signs, "Hair protection jut sue~!" Sana's hair covered her, Skirt, camp; Leisure, before the explosion happened. ((WOW!! THANKS!!! ) Alum hissed curses at Sana then yelled, "ABU! I'm banishing these three from the Leaf village. Before they knew it, ABU took them and carried them to the gates. "Sorry, but lord Homage doesn't want you three here anymore." ((yeah you really are strong and are good at staying in control of the storyline!!)) Sikira was stunned. Leisure just laughed hysterical, "Fine! We'll just go to the sound!!!" Sasuke stormed off. Skirt just collapsed on the ground crying I've lost my family and my home.....it-it's not FAIR!!!! Skirt thought. Alum smirked and walked onto the streets. She was still wearing the hat. People were bowing and giving her free stuff. She took a bit of an apple and said, "I could get used to this." "Mind eye juts..." Skirt muttered she poked out one of her eyes instantly it dispersed to the China mansion. Skirt sighed knowing that where ever they went her one eye would be watching the China estate, so nothing could happen to it. Skirt took down her headband and tied it the way she had seen Takashi do it. She wiped her remaining tears and turned her back on the Leaf Village... She slowly caught up to Leisure,"Are we really going to the sound?" Skirt asked adjusting her headband to soak up the blood ((yeah it's still bleeding...joy)). Sasuke nodded his head and they both stopped walking and waited for Sana to catch up with them. ((Sorry I answered so late, & NP u do keep staying in control of the story line))Sana ran faster to catch up to them, "She will NOT be homage...not if I have anything to say about it...." Sana quickly pulled out 3 healing scrolls, tossed one to both of them, camp; Sana read the incantations on hers camp; was all healed up... ((this okay!!)) Sikira and Leisure were in their own little world discussing ways to join other villages to pay any attention to Sana. ((Hey! Don't Kill my girl while I'm gone ok! ) ((will do as long as you don't destroy the China place!!)) ((Kay)) Sana coughed, coughed, coughed, then coughed up blood, "YWHA...a-already?!" Sana fainted, the healing scrolls power had worn off. "Are you okay?" Leisure said turning to her breaking the conversation he was having with Skirt. Sana's eyes opened, they were glowing bright red, then got up. "..." Sana looked around. Seeing as they were going to leave the Hidden Leaf Village. "Lady Tsunami..." Sana said looking at the village. "She would be most disappointed at us...as Saratoga would." Sana said. Then Sana wiped the blood off her mouth. Too many memories camp; pole to leave behind... Sana thought. "She....WILL die." Sana made THT promise to kill Alum, for Lady Tsunami. ((sorry for the late post...I was grounded...lol))Leisure sighed as he saw Sana awaken." It is too late.....we are already on our way..." Skirt said, "I just hope Naruto doesn't cause too much trouble. Skirt giggled weakly and Leisure patted Skirt head affectionately. Skirt bit her tongue to hold back tears. [[ugh... guy sim sorry... I still haven't had time for men. I might not be able to play in this RP anymore, but if you guys want you can get another Naruto. But if I do have time I will come back]] ((This fine)) ((sorry for this late post too, & we hope u can still RP when u have the time, we will wait))Sana looked back, eyes started to water up, "..." Sana started walking, she had a hopless look on her face. To depressed to speak or look at her two friends. Leisure looked back at Sana and gave her a hug," it's okay...." he whispered into her ear. Skirt smiled at Sana sadly and kept walking. Sana didn't say anything. Just blushed. Still with tears running down her face. After Leisure was done hugging her, Sana walked, camp; wondered where they were going. Would we honestly turn our backs on Sonoma? Sana asked herself, We have to fight back...[/ Alum smirked and put her feet up on her desk. "You know what? I think I'm the youngest Homage in the Leaf village." She put a band-aid on the place where she cut her self earlier. "Now these petty people will listen to me! I can get them to give up their lives for me... Foolish people." Sana stopped walking, "What are we doing? No true ninja would walkaways from their home!" Sana turned back and jumped onto a tree, she died up her hair, "Alum, I'm not that weak, so ill defeat you, with all my might." Sana jumps to another tree by the gate on Sonoma, then ran into the village, leaving Skirt camp; Leisure behind. She ran past the homes, camp; people of Sonoma, the reached the Homage's office, "*whispers: Alum....*" Sana open the door, "Alum, you will pay for what you did!" "I didn't do anything." She scoffed. "I run this village, I can get anyone to kill you for me!" She snapped her fingers and three ABU's came in front of her. Skirt and Leisure looked at each other and ran after Sana. They stopped when they reached Alumni. Skirt bowed her head willingly," where aren't here to cause trouble....we just came to retrieve our friend then we will leave for the village hidden in the Sound...or where ever will take us." Skirt looked up at the Homage with approval and hurt." Just please Lady Homage what ever you do please don't tear down the China estate!" Both Skirt and Leisure said in utter unison. The Angus grabbed Sana's arm, "Don't touch me EVER!" Sana while her hair grabbed them camp; threw them out the Homage's office. "And youDIDdo something! Something terrible!" Sana's eyes grew into a DEEP state of red, deeper than before. Sana charged at Alum, throwing her body to knock Alum down. Skirt walked up behind Sana and karate chopped the back of her neck in order to knock her out. "Sorry Lady Homage..." Skirt muttered. "Saskia..." That was Sana's last word before passing out. Sana fell down with a thud. (sorry for the late post!! I have been busy! Lol stupid school! O.o anywho here is my post... and yea it is long....to me anyway...) Sasuke walked slowly towards Sana's body grabbed her and took Sana away from Skirt. "It's a full moon....." Sasuke stated worriedly. "She...she's the two tailed Snake demon...she loses control when there is a full moon..." Sikira hissed at Leisure and turned her head to Alum, "I'm sorry for my brother's foolishness.... Sana's too. As well as my own...my lady... I wasn't thinking straight let me introduce my true self." Sikira bowed,"My true name when I think clearly is Nimbi, as it is the name of my snake demon. It is an honor to meet you, a true murderer!" Sasuke gulped hoping Sana would awaken, and Skirt would find her own control. W-what is Skirt talking about!? Sana thought, What is the meaning of this!? Wake up! Wake up! SANA WAKE UP!!!!!!!!! Sana's hair just grew camp; grew camp; grew. It caught onto 'Skirt' camp; 'Alum's' legs, "Hmm....." Skirt grabbed the hair around her legs and flung Sana out of the building and straighten up. Leisure glared at Skirt and ran after Sana, who was falling out of the window. Sikira smirked smiling at Alum, "So....what is your verdict?" Sana sighed, "Hmm mm always with the trickery..." Sana was laying on the floor outside the office. "Hmm mm a bit of a blood stain from the window....." Sana just jumped back up and lunged herself at Skirt. "I'm not that weak!" Leisure quickly grabbed Sana. "Please don't....please she'll kill you without a second thought!" He whispered into her ear." When she is like this she is extremely strong....I know that first handed, because on the night that my parents died....it wasn't only Hitachi, but Skirt as well who killed them! It was a full moon that night...sh-e...she almost killed me....it was horrible! So please Sana don't fight her...she'll kill you!" Sana didn't listen to Leisure, "I don't like betrayal!" Sana then threw Kuwait at Skirt and Alum. "Sana...it isn't Skirt it's the moon....hide the moon Skirt will be fine, and she won't remember any of this...trust me..." Leisure begged her. Demon Skirt frowned, "poor, sad, ignorant, Leisure China...can't even save his little sister from the demon SEALED IN TO HER! HIMSELF!" Leisure shook his head, "you made me a monster Nissan....a monster, and now I'm going to kill you because of what you did." Demon Skirt walked towards Leisure slapping away Sana's Kuwait, "Just come here Leisure I'll put you out of you misery..." Skirt cooed. Sasuke gulped ready for her attack. ((Sorry I haven't been here for so long. I took a break from RP... A little hard to catch up with the storyline. Fill me in? 33)) (oh yay I will!!! Skirt has an evil demon inside of her that takes control of her when she is in the path of the full moon. The Demon form's name is Nimbi, and she thinks of Alum as her lord....and Demon Skirt is bring to kill Leisure now (I'm also being Leisure...) and Sana later....so that is about it! OH! Also, Good Skirt, Leisure and Sana were banned form the village, but then they came back anyway. Well....actually only Sana came back but Skirt and Leisure follow her. Right into a full moon! Joy! So now Skirt is evil... Sasuke is wetting his pants and Sana is pissed! Want to know anything else? Lol)) ((lol)) Sana got in front of Leisure, "I will not allow you to hurt him!" Sana then kicked Skirt. (I know right....wow...we really messed up Naruto didn't we....okay well only I did but still...)) The shadow clone puffed and Skirt came behind Sana and kicked Sana in the head." Sana listens to me, we don't have to fight her just drag her to a place where the moonlight can't fall on her!" Leisure pleaded as he blocked Skirt's kick at the last second. (lol yea, but its interesting.) Sana grabbed Skirt by the hair, camp; hit her on the head, "Jeez Skirt calm down!" then Sana dropped Skirt over her shoulder. "Leisure, to the mansion!" Sana then had Skirt tied up with her hair, jumping from tree to tree on her way to the China mansion. Name:Heritage: 13Description:A strong fighter I will kill anyone who comes near me that wants to kill me, i have multiple Justus I have the sharing an in both eyes but I'm not from the China Clan. I am from the Hyung Clan I was the first to be given the curse mark from Orochimaru also the first to survive it and I'm like orochimaru he trained Justus:Chicory, Byakuugan All Of Them, Kage Buyout, Juin Juts (Orochimaru) (welcome to our RP Smiley160) ((yes hello Smiley160!!! And you are right Sana it is very interesting!!!)) "PUT ME DOWN," Nimbi said hissing. Leisure ripped off some of his shirt and tied it around Skirt's mouth so no one could hear her. Sasuke sighed, "the Late lady Tune said she would train Skirt to control her demon...now what...I guess we could always ask Maria...what do you think Sana?" Leisure looked up and saw Skirt try to strangle Sana and took Skirt from her, "let me carry her....I'm more used to her like this...." Sana sighed, camp; put Skirt over her knee, "Be a good girl!" and spanked Skirt's butt until she shut up. "Don't make MER turn this......ramen cart....around...." Sana just kept hitter, then put her back on her shoulder, "Yes I think that's a fine idea. But one of us has to go get Jira ya and warm him bit miss Alum." "Right....umm...maybe you shouldn't hit...her....it...could cause some problems......I'll go get Jira ya....and you stay here...and DON'T hit Skirt....please!AND GET HER OUT OF THE MOONLIGHT" Leisure ran off to find Jira ya. Sikira looked up at Sana with a smirk on her face, "Tell me a murder story Sana....or....i'll kill you...." Sikira giggled and passed out," and let me...stay in the ....moonlight....it....feels good....!" "I found Jira ya....MMM what happened here?" Sasuke asked when he says Skirt passed out I the middle of the street. Jiraya let out a long laugh," oh wow....she died!" Sasuke shook his head slowly, now I know why you shouldn't ask drunk people for help...god! Skirt sat up," INFIDEL I AM NOT-----Mph.... Jiraya...the legendary toad sage..." Skirt raised an eyebrow, "You went Timor help to control ME! Hahahah That is...so...horrible...this suck" Skirt crossed her arms over her chest. Sasuke looked up and noticed that the moon was no longer touching Skirt...the Nimbi's rule was over...((okay that was anti-dramatic....anyway... Sikira isn't controlled by the demon anymore...the moon went down...so yeah...huzzah...your turn Sana!!)) ((lol!!!!!)) Sana shook Skirt, "Oh my. Derby Sage why don't you take care of Skirt?" Sana eyed her way to Leisure, perfect moment...... Sana thought. (sorry for the late response....lol I went to see Enchanted at the Rave Movie Theater))"How....?" Jiraya asked as he came to his senses. Everyone shrugged. Sikira stood up, "what happened...where are we...where is Alum?" Skirt exclaimed not remembering anything that happened in the last twelve hours.((yeah it's been that long *shrugs* :roll:))"Oh crap! Did we die Leisure?" Skirt asked pinching herself, "ouch....that hurt so....where are we?" (ROFL~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Sana couldn't resist camp; before anyone knew it, she was kissing Leisure, Crap.....everyone saw.... Sana thought to herself still kissing Leisure. Perfect moment dead..... "SHIT I'M TRAPPED IN A PORNO!!!" Skirt shrieked falling to the floor and rolling in a fetal position. Sasuke took a step back from Sana, "sorry....but I can't...not now..." And with that Leisure ran away. Sikira sigh and patted Sana's shoulder, "You could've had him...but you had to kiss him at this very moment..." Jiraya was crying and writing in a journal. Sikira sat down on a bench dragging Sana down with her." What happened...please tell me?" Skirt asked in a small voice. (Okay the kissing was Sana's imagination ^^;; also I want their first kiss with each other to be romantic, lol)Sana kept staring at Leisure, then she showed Skirt her cuts that she had done, "Skirt it wasn't your fault." ((lol I agree....))" What happened?" Skirt grabbed her head and screamed ((kinda like how GAAR does in the episodes where he loses control so that is kinda your visual)), "why does this always happen...what happened...what did I do?" "Saskia...." Sana hugged Skirt. "Please don't be sad, it wasn't your fault. Right Leisure?" Sana gave Leisure a look he couldn't refuse. Leisure sighed and hugged Skirt and Sana. Skirt continued to cry, "mommy, daddy....where are you Nissan.... Onee-chan... Ita-kun!!" Sasuke hugged Skirt tighter, "shh, shh..." "Skirt....." Sana knew she should let go, but she couldn't, it was none of her business, and she really wants her family.... Sana started crying, "Skirt...." "Sana...could you find some tea for Skirt to drink?" Leisure asked as he cradled Skirt like a baby. "Y-yes....." Sana got up camp; Ran to her home to make Skirt some Tea. Leisure looked down at Skirt and sighed, "why did you have to leave us Hitachi.... Sikira....me and our little sister need you." Leisure twirled Skirt's hair around his finger and laughed. Sana had almost everything ready, she had the tea hot, she started walking trying not to spill it, "I wonder is Skirt is ok...." Sana said practically tip toeing. "I wonder how Leisure is doing as well....." ((sorry I haven't been on lately)Skirt had fallen asleep and Leisure took off his shirt to cover her body. Sana was almost there, "O-oh.... M-my....." Sana saw Leisure with no shirt. Nosey bleed happened. "Hm...." Leisure asked surprised then blushed, "oh....sorry... Sikira...fell asleep and...I didn't want her to catch a cold...so..." Sasuke coughed and sat up, "so...anyway..." Skirt sat up and grabbed the tea from Sana, "thanks...oh.um...whose shirt is this?" Skirt held up Leisure's shirt. Sasuke grabbed and put it on,"mine." He sighed. "U-ummmmmm n-no w-worries.....a-and n-no p-prob Saskia....." Sana said wiping the blood from her nose. Skirt cocked her head and laughed. Leisure looked at her weird and walked over to Sana and handed her a tissue. "T-thank y-you S-assume...." Sana said taking the tissue. Leisure nodded, "hey.....umm thanks...." Leisure muttered quickly hugging Sana and walking back over to Skirt. "N-no p-prob...." Sana turned around, face completely red, Even that idiotic Sakura hasn't gotten this far~! Sana thought. Skirt giggled and once again fell asleep, "Umm.... Sana do you want to spend the night at our house...I mean...I need someone to keep an eye on Skirt...in case...anything happens..." Leisure stated lamely mentally kicking himself for sounding so stupid. "S-sure..." Sana didn't want to turn around, she was too nervous. "Then let's go...." Leisure said as he started walking towards the Estate leaving Skirt behind. "O-okay...." Sana thought why was he leaving Skirt behind, but she was certain that Jira ya could watch her for a while. "So...what should we do now?" Leisure asked as he sat down at home. ((feels like private RP D:))"I-i'm n-not sure...." Sana sat down across from him, her face was red. ((I know....I'm running out of ideas...what about you?))"hmm.how about some TV?" Leisure said turning it on. ((D: I'm blank~!))" K-kays." Sana was still nervous, and she felt a bit uncomfortable, she felt like she was going to explode from being alone with Leisure. "Hmm.....what's wrong Shanahan?" Leisure said looking at her worriedly. "N-nothing." Sana was looking down still red. Leisure smirked and threw a pillow at her. "Nya~?" The pillow hit Sana in the face, she grabbed the pillow blinked for a few seconds then threw it back at Leisure as hard as she could, "Nya~" Sana stuck her tongue out. Leisure laughed and threw it back. Sana giggled, this was the first time she has seen Leisure smile, "Leisure...." "CNN?" Leisure replied still laughing. "This is the first time I've seen you smile ever." Sana was happy that Leisure was happy. Leisure stared blankly, "oh....I guess....." Leisure blushed, "it....has something to do....with...y---" Skirt cut him off by slapping him across the face." There that aught to teach you a lesson about leaving me out in the cold with the pervy sage!!!!" Skirt fumed back to her normal self again. "Cold.... Pervy Sage.......powwow...." Sana was shivering. She still was able to make out of what Leisure was about to say, she blushed, and then shook her head. Name: Hikatteiru Diana (Hike for short) Age: 17 Description: Hikatteiru came to the Academy after leaving the Sound, where she was one of the weapons specialists. She is afraid to meet people, fearful they'd hate her if they found out. Home Village: None Picture: Justus: Mostly the basics. (Mainly uses weapons) ((yay someone new!!! Nice SIG by the way!))" Huh? Sana what's wrong?" Skirt asked not paying attention to Leisure's K.O.ed body. ((Sgt;3< Sorry haven't been here in a while.I'll make something up to fill the time gap)) Amino had been away on training and missions in foreign countries for a while. And now, she was finally back home. "Hey guys, I haven't seen you in forever!" She smiled brightly "How is everything?" "Good I guess....so where were you anyway?" Skirt asked. ''wakes up wow I had the weirdest dream"-heads outside and walks to Hisashi to see what the new mission is-(Do we have a Hisashi) ((no but have you read up on everything?)) ((no DX I ran of time so ya))-wonders around the forest and sees someone following and trows a nine ADN hits a tree--the tree turns into a ninja and then kidnaps him-"ahh" -hand is over mouth- (D: Computer was down so I haven't been on in a while. Sana walked outside and saw Amino. "Ah~ Amino-Chan~!!!" Sana ran up to Amino and hugged her. "Welcome back~!" [is anyone GAAR yet?] Ooh!!! I want to be either Leisure (If this isn't shipped), Takashi (If he isn't dead yet), or Tsunami (If SHE'S not dead yet), Or Gadara (If HE'S not dead yet, or non shipped) Whichever one is most needed I will be happy to oblige!

Naruto RP Join Now _flashes_!|rating:2.0

The woodcutter

A friend of mine owns a nice piece of property on which he plans to build. He had it partially cleared and had the downed trees put in a big pile under a large maple tree. He invited me to help myself in cutting for my wood stove for next winter. I had been there cutting several times when I looked over into his neighbor's place next door, also several acres, and saw a lady moving sprinklers watering her lawn. Today while I was there cutting, it was very hot, and I was covered with sweat and the bugs were flying around as I was lost in a cloud of sawdust while cutting a big log into stove wood lengths. I finished the cut, and heard footsteps behind me. Turning I saw the lady there in a halter and pair of shorts, carrying a glass of ice water which she offered me, saying I looked like I was hot and could use a break smiled and accepted the ice water, and said "I feel like running through your big sprinkler" "Go ahead just don't slip on the grass"I told him and we both laughed. I told him my name was Susan, and he said"I'm Sam".He's been up here on and off for the past week cutting wood. As he drank the Ice water I saw where his eyes were"I should have changed first"The shorts I had on were cut to high sort of like Daisy dukes and my halter top was just too small I heard voices and I turned to look, twas my two sons coming home from school. I turned my head just a little then looked back out of the corner of my eye and saw him staring at my butt. I knew there was a good 3 to 4 inches of cheek hanging out below my shorts so he had plenty to look at. Honestly it felt kind of nice to have a good-looking another than my husband look at me. I turned and said"I have to Go"and smiled He didn't finish his water, but he wanted to give me the glass." Take your time finishing it return the glass tomorrow"I said He smiled saying ok. I walked away knowing what he was looking at............ Sami gulped the water, admiring the view. I'd liked her looks from the distance, but up close she was incredible, and I thought of her invitation to return the glass. I set it down carefully and started loading my wood, thinking I'd arrive in the morning all fresh and clean and just after the morning school bus left The idea of a quick romp through her sprinkler was enticing, but I let it pass and took my wood home. Furthermore, I still had to split and stack it, and tomorrow would be another day full of promise. I did notice that meeting her seemed to give me new vigor as I swung my splitting maul or axe and added the load to my growing pile. As I thought of her walking into the house, I was growing elsewhere too thinking of Susan. I jumped into my shower and took care of that too. When I got home I went into the kitchen where my oldest boy was having a snack. As I worked by the sink making a pot of coffee I got the same feeling I had when I knew Sam was looking at my butt. I quickly turned and caught him with his eyes glued on me. Todd" I said "what are you doing""I'm looking at your ass Mom" he said"well I'm your mother and that's not right" I said"I'm almost 17 yrs old ma It's pretty normal" he said"you know that guy you were talking to was ""checking your butt out to" he said"That's enough Todd.go to your room please""and do your homework" I told him Now I was getting upset, this man properly think sim an easy lay or something because of these shorts. Ill talk to him tomorrow and tell him I didn't realize they were cut this high. I wasn't even sure if he was even going to come back with my glass but still the thought of it excited me wonder if he's married?.......... Sami took my shower and cleaned up. Usually I go get another load after dinner, but tonight it was too hot and i didn't want to get all sweated up again. As I laid in my bed that night with my hand on my wife's ass, I thought of Susan the whole time. I knew she was married or had a live-in boyfriend, because I had heard a male voice one there last weekend when I was there cutting. Maybe it was her son, but it sounded like an adult voice In the morning I got up early and carefully shaved. I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat on the patio, watching the time, so I would get there just after the school bus. As I drove down the street, there it was right ahead of me, stopping to pick up the two kids right at her driveway. I kept going on to where the wood was, so my car wouldn't be in view. As soon as I parked I picked up the glass and headed for Susan's house, noticing that she had already started the sprinklers on her lawn. I dodged them as I went through her yard and to her door. John had left for work and the bus just picked the boys for school "My Free Time" I laughed, and It was only 7:30 am. I had turned on the sprinklers at 6 am and I had to go out and turn them off. When I turned them on it was dark outside no the sun was up, and I was not dressed to be outdoors. I was wearing what I always wear to bed which is a tee shirt and panties only last night I had sex with John, and he pulled them off in the heat of the moment. I stood by the door looking out. I real didn't feel like getting dressed for the 60 seconds out there. I flew out the door and made a beeline to the controls. The valves were set into the ground, so I had to bend way over to reach them, when I did, I felt the cool morning breeze on my ass and herd a voice say "Hello Susan""My God" I thought Still bent over I slowly bend my legs at the knees and lowered my self down into a equating position trying to make my ass not on display. I turned and saw it was Sam, and he had My Glass stood up and turned around"Hi Sam"I said knew I blushed, my face must have been as red as a lobster." Sam I'm sorry for being dressed like this outside and all"I said"I'm usually by myself this early in the am""And while I'm talking about my ass" I laughed"I'm sorry about yesterday those shorts were meet ""for indoor wear only""How about some coffee" I added He followed me inside looking at the end of the show........ Sam Yesterday her ass was quite visible, but it was just a temptation wondering what was under that skimpy garment. This morning there was no question. She was naked below the waist, and while she tried to hide her privates while outside, she invited me in and unashamedly walked toward her door with me following, in full view of that wonderful part of her. With a smile she stood aside and let me in her door, and then led the way to the kitchen, reached up to get a clean cup, and poured me coffee asking how I liked it. I stammered "blonde and sweet, just like Susan"As she handed me the cup she stood there fully exposed to me, and didn't seem embarrassed to be naked in front of a stranger. Seeing me stare at her, she added that she and her husband were naked a lot, except when their kids were around, and she often did her housework that way. She motioned me to a chair, and she sat opposite me. I wondered if I should volunteer to get naked too, just to keep her company I don't know what I was thinking when I invited him in. I think it was the excitement of having a strange man look at me."blonde and sweet" he said when I asked him how he liked his coffee. Then I put the icing on the cake when I reached up to get him a cup, I knew then all of my ass was exposed not just the lower half. The poor man must think I'm a slut looking to at laid, when in fact my husband took care of that last night. I had to set things straight I'd explain it to him. When I turned around and faced him I was shocked, he was naked and smiling." I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable so I'll join you." he said didn't know what to say to him, I just looked. He had a nice build and a great tan and a wonderful erection and WHAT WAIT his penis stood straight out, and It looked to be a good 8 or 9 inches long." Wait Sam I didn't plan on this".......... Sam"I didn't exactly plan on it either, Susan, but I sure thought about it last night, first when I took my shower and got myself off, and then again with my wife in bed I even called her Susan when I fucked her, and then I had to explain who you were. We are swingers and live right around the corner, Would you and your husband like to come over for dinner this weekend and play with us?" She looked at me first in shock, and then softened and smiled as she got up to refill our cups, giving me a clear view of the pussy I wanted to kiss, lick and fuck. I was shocked at what he said about he fucked his wife and called her Susan, I should have been flattered, but I was too taken aback by it. He told me he and his wife are swingers and wanted us to have dinner with them this weekend." I don't think my husband would be interested Sam" I said"he's very serious, he gets pissed just when I talk to men he""would never be able to see me having sex with another man"I added offered more coffee and went I leaned over to pour it I knew he was able to see my pussy. I turned and put the cups of coffee on the table, and he was still standing with his turgid cock on display. I had to say, it was a nice looking cock AA beautiful cock, a wonderful big thick cock." Why don't you sit" I said"Why, don't you like looking at Joey" he said"Oh how cute he has a name and what is it" I asked"Joey" he said"ok you can sit now" I said Why, dont you like looking at Joey" he asked"I love looking at Joey, but he can be a little distracting "I told him? He put his fist around Joey and stroked it. I would have bet anything that it could not get any bigger, but it did as he rubbed it. My pussy was running, the juices ran down the inside of my thighs. My god, I was hot. My head was full of thoughts and visions, one being my husband, I never cheated on him and were married 17 years but judging the way I felt right then I'd say that was about to end. Sam walked toward me still rubbing his cock, he backed me up against the stove and kissed me and as he did, he slid a finger up into my pussy and slowly eased it in and out then added another finger and ran his tongue around mine and darted it inland out between my lips. I had it I reached around and grabbed his ass."Let's go into my bedroom........ I was shocked at what he said about he fucked his wife and called her Susan, I should have been flattered, but I was too taken aback by it. He told me he and his wife are swingers and wanted us to have dinner with them this weekend." I don't think my husband would be interested Sam" I said"he's very serious, he gets pissed just when I talk to men he""would never be able to see me having sex with another man"I added offered more coffee and went I leaned over to pour it I knew he was able to see my pussy. I turned and put the cups of coffee on the table, and he was still standing with his turgid cock on display. I had to say, it was a nice looking cock AA beautiful cock, a wonderful big thick cock." Why don't you sit" I said"Why, don't you like looking at Joey" he said"Oh how cute he has a name and what is it" I asked"Joey" he said"ok you can sit now" I said Why, dont you like looking at Joey" he asked"I love looking at Joey, but he can be a little distracting "I told him? He put his fist around Joey and stroked it. I would have bet anything that it could not get any bigger, but it did as he rubbed it. My pussy was running, the juices ran down the inside of my thighs. My god, I was hot. My head was full of thoughts and visions, one being my husband, I never cheated on him and were married 17 years but judging the way I felt right then I'd say that was about to end. Sam walked toward me still rubbing his cock, he backed me up against the stove and kissed me and as he did, he slid a finger up into my pussy and slowly eased it in and out then added another finger and ran his tongue around mine and darted it inland out between my lips. I had it I reached around and grabbed his ass."Let's go into my bedroom........ I was shocked at what he said about he fucked his wife and called her Susan, I should have been flattered, but I was too taken aback by it. He told me he and his wife are swingers and wanted us to have dinner with them this weekend." I don't think my husband would be interested Sam" I said"he's very serious, he gets pissed just when I talk to men he""would never be able to see me having sex with another man"I added offered more coffee and went I leaned over to pour it I knew he was able to see my pussy. I turned and put the cups of coffee on the table, and he was still standing with his turgid cock on display. I had to say, it was a nice looking cock AA beautiful cock, a wonderful big thick cock." Why don't you sit" I said"Why, don't you like looking at Joey" he said"Oh how cute he has a name and what is it" I asked"Joey" he said"ok you can sit now" I said Why, dont you like looking at Joey" he asked"I love looking at Joey, but he can be a little distracting "I told him? He put his fist around Joey and stroked it. I would have bet anything that it could not get any bigger, but it did as he rubbed it. My pussy was running, the juices ran down the inside of my thighs. My god, I was hot. My head was full of thoughts and visions, one being my husband, I never cheated on him and were married 17 years but judging the way I felt right then I'd say that was about to end. Sam walked toward me still rubbing his cock, he backed me up against the stove and kissed me and as he did, he slid a finger up into my pussy and slowly eased it in and out then added another finger and ran his tongue around mine and darted it inland out between my lips. I had it I reached around and grabbed his ass."Let's go into my bedroom........ I was shocked at what he said about he fucked his wife and called her Susan, I should have been flattered, but I was too taken aback by it. He told me he and his wife are swingers and wanted us to have dinner with them this weekend." I don't think my husband would be interested Sam" I said"he's very serious, he gets pissed just when I talk to men he""would never be able to see me having sex with another man"I added offered more coffee and went I leaned over to pour it I knew he was able to see my pussy. I turned and put the cups of coffee on the table, and he was still standing with his turgid cock on display. I had to say, it was a nice looking cock AA beautiful cock, a wonderful big thick cock." Why don't you sit" I said"Why, don't you like looking at Joey" he said"Oh how cute he has a name and what is it" I asked"Joey" he said"ok you can sit now" I said Why, dont you like looking at Joey" he asked"I love looking at Joey, but he can be a little distracting "I told him? He put his fist around Joey and stroked it. I would have bet anything that it could not get any bigger, but it did as he rubbed it. My pussy was running, the juices ran down the inside of my thighs. My god, I was hot. My head was full of thoughts and visions, one being my husband, I never cheated on him and were married 17 years but judging the way I felt right then I'd say that was about to end. Sam walked toward me still rubbing his cock, he backed me up against the stove and kissed me and as he did, he slid a finger up into my pussy and slowly eased it in and out then added another finger and ran his tongue around mine and darted it inland out between my lips. I had it I reached around and grabbed his ass."Let's go into my bedroom........ Sam Now that Joey and I had her attention, I followed her down the hall licking my fingers and marvelling at her taste, while I again admired that world-class ass of hers. Well- I didn't have to worry about a swinging party, at least not yet, but my wife Jane knew where I was and that I was pursuing a goal that she shared with me emotionally. When I get home I would tell her all that happened, step by Stein their bedroom I again took Susan in my arms and kissed her tenderly. Her hand found Joey and fondled it as we looked into each other's eyes, and walked together toward her still unmade bed. When we got there we looked at each other and I gently put my hands on her shoulders and pushed her down to sit on the bed. Without hesitation I went to my knees before her, and started to worship her very wet pussy, which she made available to me by spreading her knees wide and leaning back to let me feast on her treasure. There was NOI need to work up to it, we were both already worked up as my tongue entered her and swirled around He was driving me crazy with his sucking my clit. I didn't take long, and I was ready to cum. I grabbed his ears and pulled he faces harder into my pussy than he shot his tongue up into my wet hole. My body started to shake, and I clamped my thighs around his head when the wave started"ah aah ah oh hook yeah ahhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"I moaned was one of the few women they called a squirter, when I come I'm able to shoot my cum out of my pussy as far as 2 feet. Sam not knowing this was taken back when I sprayed his face. He stood up at the side of the bed and pulled me off the edge and pushed me down onto my knees in front of him. Joey was hard and only inches away from my face, I knew what he wanted, but this was another thing he didn't know about me, I've never given anyone a B J. I always felt it was discussing. I looked up at him as he inched my lips closer to his cock by the back of my head. Less than an inch away I whispered to him"I've never............... Sam Her orgasm was fantastic. I licked up all her juices off my face as I stood before her, pulling her to meet Joey. She seemed to hesitate and i didn't want to push my luck, but I did manage to let Joey rub across her face and lips as my fingers played in her hair Obviously she l;likes oral sex and as in everything, it is a two-way street. But I could spend the whole day (and night) eating her pussy and be totally happy, but my friend Joey needed a little loving too. She looked up as me as she cupped my balls in her hand and rubbed her face against my cock. I knew it was just a matter of time. I knew what Sam wanted, but I've never done it and I real don't think I wanted to, but what then. I cupped his balls and played with them as I brushed the silky head of his penis against my face thinking:"No way do I want to put that thing in my mouth"Stalling, I played with Joey for a good 10 minutes and I saw him getting restless, and I felt his hand on the back of my head then I heard him say:"open Susan play time is over""OPEN DAMMIT" HE SAID LOUDER And he pushed the head of Joey In my mouth. Furthermore, I started to gag and choke as he eased it in little more and little more and more and more, GAG GAG AHHH. He took my arms and wrapped them around him placing my hands on his ass. It didn't take long, and he started moving in and out faster and faster pushing it deeper and deeper in my mouth and now down my throat. My biggest fear was about to happen"what did it taste like, What did it feel like ? Ran around in my head as I waited for him to empty himself in my mouth."ummmhhhhh Union ummmmmmahhhhahhhhhahhhhh"he moaned then it happened. My mouth was flooded with his hot fluid. As much as I didn't want to, I tried to swallow it, but there was too much. I got some of it down, but most of this sticky juice shot out of my mouth from the pressure that built up, running out the sides between my lips and his shaft then dripping down onto my breasts and legs"God, what would John say.......... Sam After I came I reached down and pulled up her tee shirt, removing it so she was totally naked too. She had my cum all over her face, and I knelt down and helped lick it off her tenderly. We kissed, and she said she was sorry, but she had never done that before. I felt badly about being so aggressive, .but she swung herself over on the bed and pulled me after her. I went back to licking her sweet pussy, but this time with my legs toward the head of the bed, and then I felt her mouth again around my cock, gently licking and sucking it in its softer state. Soon she had it all hard again and I swung around and pointed it at her entrance and she took it in her hand and whispered that she wanted it there. I entered her wet warmth and as we embraced united this way she told me that she would suck me any time I wanted if I would just fuck her took my time and before long she was mounted on top of me thrusting her pelvis at me and emitting loud screams of ecstasy. Soon we both came again and kissed, and she asked me if I would come again tomorrow morning. I told her I would CUM with her any time she might ever want me. Sam helped me clean the cum off my face and what I had In my mouth I swallowed. Now, I wanted to get laid, no I need to be fucked hard and long. We rolled over on the bed, and I was on top of him, and he slipped Joey into me. He held me by the hips and pumped it into me. He had me ready to cum already, and I needed to. I yelled out "FUCK ME GOOD" and the wave hit me and I felt my juice flow"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH""Sam could you come back tomorrow?"........ Sami left and went over to load the wood I had cut yesterday, but wouldn't fit in the trunk of my car. I wanted to save as much time as I could in order to avoid a hassle with my wife. As I drove in she was out watering the pots on the patio, and smiled at me and asked "where's the wood/"My answer was "right between my legs, and she dropped the running hose and came over and kissed me. She said she tasted pussy on my face and I told her she was right. Then she went to her knees and unzipped me and took out Joey and licked it, and then said "I taste pussy here too"Since she is bi I knew she knew what pussy tasted and smelled like. We walked into the house and straight to the bedroom where she pulled up her dress baring her bald and unwanted pussy and spread her legs, demanding to hear all the details. I said I'd tell her as soon as I ate lunch, and proceeded to eat her pussy and hearing her moans and sighs until she came, and then asked if she tasted as good as Susan. I told her yes you are both exactly equal in taste. That was part of our verbal code to indicate that I wanted to keep playing with Susan too. Then I told her I had invited them to dinner and a little swing time, but Susan had said she didn't think her husband would go along with it. Then Jane said "Get them over here, and I'll seduce him", which I well knew she could do in a heartbeat. She said "set it up for Friday night, and I'll pull out all the stops. I told her they were nudists too, and Jane said to tell them to just wear what they needed to get out of the house and over here, and we would all get naked for our party, making the whole occasion even easier for her. Jane is so sexy and so delectable I knew it would work, and that Susan and her husband would be putty in her hands told Jane that Susan and I had another date tomorrow morning, and I would invite them again, saying nothing about swinging, but just having them over as friends. Jane said "But what are friends for except to make love with?" Very good question. Sam After Jane and I made love she went back to finish watering her pots, and I put on shoes and started unloading the wood and then splitting and stacking it on my woodpile. Both of us were nude except for my shoes, and enjoying the nice sun. Jane brought me a nice glass of iced tea and I rested a few minutes and then headed for the shower While washing my thoughts were on Susan and maybe getting her and her husband in the shower with us. Mine is plenty big for four people and it wouldn't be the first time we shared it with another couple. It is all tiled and has benches around three sides, so there is plenty of space to sit and play, and as I let the water cascade over me fondled my cock and looked at the bench thinking how erotic it would be to be sitting there with Susan on my lap, and watching Jane fucking her husband there in the same small space. As I thought about it and was just about to cum, Jane came in and got wet too, and we did just what I was thinking about. She and I are kindred spirits and both of us seem to know just what the other is thinking I can't remember If I've ever been fucked like that, I mean he was like a machine, his wife is a lucky lady. I didn't know if I wanted to tell my husband about our dinner invite it may be best that he and Sam never meet. My husband can get serious sometimes that he scares me. I got supper started and sat as it cooked in the den watching t v and a commercial came on selling firewood and Sam came to mind. I hope he shows tomorrow....... Same had a quiet and restful evening. Jane didn't even put me on a pedestal and expect me to perform, as I'd already cum many times today AMD had a date in the morning played on my computer in a bunch of games, and then went to lit erotica to see if thee were any posts in the threads I was in, and that got my juices flowing as one girl posted a particularly erotic bit that had me going. I went to bed and snuggled up to my wife's naked ass, and she asked me why I was so turned on and I told he OI was thinking about tomorrow morning with Susan. When I got up I took another shower and shaved carefully. I didn't want even a trace of whisker burn to interfere with what I wanted to do all night, and that was nuzzle in her pussy. I might not even fuck her. Furthermore, I wanted to eat her all day. I had my woodpile up to the sky and didn't even need any more wood. Furthermore, I just had to convince Susan to bring her husband and come ti dinner Friday night. You know, two neighbor households getting acquainted. But I drove to where the wood was and walked over, so there wouldn't be a strange car in their driveway for people to wonder about. The woods were out of sight from the road. I wondered what she would have on when she answered the door, but when it opened I wasn't surprise that she was totally naked. In a heartbeat so was I. I took her in my arms and kissed her and just melted. In between kisses I told her I thought of her and wanted her all afternoon and night yesterday. She kissed me back and told me she felt the same way as she fondled my cock and got it nice and firm for her. I asked her if she made one to her husband last night, and she told me "yes, but I closed my eyes and thought of you, but his cock doesn't measure up to yours", as she pulled on it leading me back to their bedroom. Holding his cock I walked him into my bedroom and pushed him into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. I told him that I hoped he wasn't upset with me about not knowing how to give a blow job, he laughed and told me no." Good, I'll keep trying" I said, and I fell to my knees and knelt between his legs and slowly eased his cock into my mouth. I let saliva run out of my lips and down the length of his cock then spread it around with my hand using it as a lubricant as I jerked his cock off. He was starting to moan now so I figured I was doing better. His body timbered and shook as I sucked him. I had a good rhythm going now, and he was bucking his hips to meet my mouth. His moans got louder and his cock swelled inside my mouth then he yelled out that he was coming and grabbed the back of my head and forced it down, and sending his cock deep into my throat, and he pumped his fluid down it............ Sami loved sitting there watching her take Joey into her mouth, She took it slow, and I enjoyed it. We were in no hurry. Her hubby was gone off to work and her kids in school, and as far as both of us were concerned we had all day Then I started to approach my goodies, and I got carried away and again took her head in my hands and forced Joey down her throat. After I came I felt so bad. That was what I's done yesterday. She must not have minded too much, as she invited me back, and now it was time for us to fuck. She looked at me with lust in her eyes and I pulled her up on the bed on top of me. As she mounted ma and sank herself down on me, I fondled her pretty tits and pulled her to me for a kiss, and my tongue licked up a big glob of cum on her chin. She murmured how much she liked having me in her, and I told her I felt that way too, and was sorry I couldn't be more patient with her when she sucked me. Soon she was bucking up and down, and she was panting and moaning ABD then came. As she plunged herself up and down on me, I held her and kissed her, and then blurted out that I loved her. She looked at me in shock, and then softened and kissed me and told me she thought she loved me too. As we laid there together resting I told her that my wife wanted them both to come over to dinner on Friday. I told her there was no obligation of sex, this was just a neighborly get together. Yeah, right, I thought. When Jane gets her mouth on her husband's cock it would be all over. Susan looked at me and then said they would come, but only if I fucked her again told her to wear comfortable clothes, as we would barbecue out by our pool, and then have a swim. Se asked if they should bring anything and I told her no, not even swimsuits. I spent the day in bed with Sam and Joey, and they left for home around 4 pm, and it was just in time, my sons got home at 4:15. And my husband at 4:20,too close for me. I started supper while John took a shower. When he was done he came out into the kitchen"How was work today Sue"? He asked" Oh ok Hun, you know same shit different day" I said"The beds not made, get a late start?" he asked"Yes I did, I'll make it now" I told him Something was wrong, I could tell by the tone of his voice, Did he know? But how?"calm down Susan"I told myself went into the bedroom to make the bed, he had pulled the cover completely off the bed."Oh, God! No' I said to myself In the center of the mattress was a large wet spot from Sam's and myself Cum and there were dripping of his cum all over. I was caught I knew it. I went back to the kitchen to finish supper. As we ate I mentioned to John that our neighbor was here today and invited us to a baroque this weekend."oh the neighbor was here" he said He knew something. I know it. How could have I been so stupid to risk 17 yrs of marriage to get laid by a stranger and, I had to suck him off. I was in my own little world thinking about what I will do when John divorce's me when I heard him say something." What John" I asked"I said yes let go on Saturday" he said"Great "I said Now, I knew something was up......... Sam When I returned home my wife Jane met me at the door with a long, wet loving kiss, and asked me to tell her all about my day. I let her know that they were coming over Saturday night, and we talked about it. She said she wouldn't even make me have sex with her for at least 30 minutes as she brought me a drink, and we planned the evening. She said that she would take Susan for a tour of the house while I got acquainted with her husband John, whom neither of us had met. After dinner, we watched TV. Jane got her vibrator and sat there servicing herself and laughing at poor Joey, all tired out from fucking Susan all day. Saturday evening The doorbell rang and there they were. The ladies shook hands and then hugged, tightly and prolonged, knowing that they shared one lover and would soon share another. I poured them glass of wine, and we chatted about the neighborhood and their future neighbors Jim and Sarah, whom we knew and lusted after, but hadn't yet gotten them into our beds, but the idea was heathen Jane took Sarah on her tour. I asked John if he knew how I had met Susan, and he said yes. Susan had told him all about it last night when they went to bed, and she suddenly went down on him for the first time since they had been together. He said he had begged her for a long time, but gave up but last night he was shocked to find himself in her mouth, where she let him cum and swallowed the whole batch He asked "what brought that on?" and she told him how I had returned the glass and found her almost naked, and they ended hypo in bed where I forced her to deep throat me. I apologized, and he said "No, I thank you for opening that new road in our sex life""While I fucked her she told me all about you and Joey and what has been going on, and we were coming over here to dinner on the weekend, and you had invited us to swing. That has been a fantasy of mine since even before we were married, but we never got that far"Right then we heard the girls laughing and giggling as they came back down the hall. They walked into the living room both totally naked, and while Susan came over to me and leaned over and pushed a tit in my mouth, Jane took John's hand and told him it was his turn for a tour. When they left Susan went to her knees and took Joey out of his hiding place and started sucking it. We heard voiced from the back room, and I asked her if she wanted to see what was going OIN. We snuck down the hall and peeked in through the open door, to see them both naked on the bed in a 69. Jane saw us and smiled and invited us in. Susan laid down next to her and I got naked and mounted her, right next to my wife and her husband fucking right next to us./ I had to admit at first I was serious, Jane is a beautiful woman and to see my husband doing oral on her got me right in the heart, but once Sam got Joey out and into me, I forgot all about them. Sam pumped Joey into me only for a couple of minutes then crawled over and knelt over my head, so Joey was in my face inches away from my mouth. I was watching Jane how she used her hand in a twisting motion in conjunction with her lips so when I took his cock in my mouth I tried the same and almost at once Sam was moaning. He was moving his hips back and forth pushing his now rock hard cock in and out of my mouth just like if he'd been fucking my pussy. He pushed it all the way in at one point which caused me to gag but when he heard me he backed out right away."UMF UMF UMF UMF" he grunted on each stroke going into my mouth. Then like yesterday, I felt the head of his cock swell inside my mouth so, I knew he was ready to shoot his load. I reached around and grabbed his ass with both hands and held him tight,"Umf MFI, fu, fiuumfumfumfUMFUMFUMF AHHHHH' he yelled For a second I looked over at my husband and I saw he was watching me, I think he wanted to see if I was going to take his load into my mouth. I didn't want to disappoint him and right at that moment, Joey sprayed the inside of my mouth like a fire hose. Quickly I started to swallow, but there was too much too fast, and it squirted out the corners of my mouth. Sam pulled out of my mouth and I looked over to my husband and Jane. With another men cum running out of my mouth I smiled at my husband,,,,,,,,,, Sam After the four of us had sex as an appetizer, we went out in the backyard and started the barbecue. Jane did deviate from her nudity long enough to don her apron, and Susan helped her serve the dinner for us men, who were enthralled with the scene and the two hot ladies. He kept telling me what a sweet gorgeous wife I had, knowing I felt that way about his wife too. I even admitted to him that I had truly felt and told Susan I loved her. In talking about the arrangement, we agreed that we would take off together and go to a resort, getting adjoining rooms, and trading roommates for the weekend. They could park their sons with their grandparents and get a weekend by themselves. They apologized that they were unable to entertain us, but that was no problem. I asked if they would like to meet any other of our swinging couple friends, and they agreed that they would like to attend our next party. I told Susan she would be the hit of the crowd that night, and told her that her initiation would be a highlight of her sexual career! They wanted to know when it would be, and we told them that our group had a party every month, and when we went in the house we would check the schedule and let them know, and they would be going as our special guests. Susan was sitting next to me, and I kept feeding her morsels. John was caught up in it too and was soon feeding Jane with his fingers and fork. It wasn't long before the food was forgotten and I stood and fed Susan her favorite morsel, a taste of Joey. John stood and fed himself to Jane right next to her and the girls sucked our cocks as we looked at each other and shook hands, as John said "very happy to meet you!" We went outside and Jane did the cooking on the baroque and the 4 of us sat down and ate/I could see John was attracted to Jane and that was a good thing, I guess. I must have gotten good at giving blow jobs because that's all Sam had me doing. I was on my knees in the backyard sucking Sam's cock and Jane was right next to me with my husbands cock in her mouth. I looked up at John, and he was grinning from ear to ear mumbling "oh baby I love how you do that, oh yea" and the pangs of jealousy returned....... Sam Food eaten or forgotten, I took Susan's hand and led her into the house and to the bedroom. There I sat on the bed and pulled her to me and kissed her breasts, and licked and sucked each one while my arms were around her and my hands cupped her ass cheeks. She moaned and crawled on the bed next to me, and as I fingered her very wet pussy she took Joey in her hand and pointed him at her, and we were entwined. Soon I was on top of her on my elbows, as my ass rose and fell while I thrust Joey into her. Susan's legs were up in the air in a V, and she wiggled and squirmed as we fucked had been saving Joey for her, and now she got my full load, shot deeply within her, and she whimpered as she came too. Then we laid side by side and kissed, but I had the feeling she was wondering what John and Jane were doing. This was a first for her, seeing her husband with another woman, but John took to it like ducks to water. After another tender loving kiss I asked if she would like a dip in the pool, or a quick shower. She chose the shower and we bathed together, washing each other with particular attention paid to her nice clean pussy. I kissed it and licked it as I dried her with the BD towel, and then we checked the calendar and found that the party was on the Saturday night after Labor Day at a friend's house, ad I told her we would pick them up and take them, but that new female members or female guests were the guests of honor and to be prepared for a very sensual evening My waiting for Sam to fuck me was worth the wait and every blow job he made me give him. After we had eaten hi took me into his bedroom and fucked me. He fucked me like Iv'e never been fucked before, hard deep and long real long He made me cum 7 times. When he final rolled off me, I was exhausted and All the muscles in my legs were cramped from having them jacked up onto his shoulders. We took a shower together, and he dried me off man, what a lover. H e looked at a calendar and told me about a wife swapping party. He said that the new women were the guests of honor and the needed special preparation, Hmmmm i though..... Sam While we were talking with her all cleaned up and dressed. Jane and John came in from outside. She had cum all over her face and in her hair, and John had a huge shit eating grin"Just think," I said to Susan - "now he's all satisfied and you didn't even have to do all the work"They headed back to the shower while I poured her another glass of wine, and we sat and talked about the swinging party. She wanted to know how the special welcome to female guests or new members worked. I told her it would be better to keep it a little of a surprise, but it would be the night of her life. Then I got out my photo album we kept hidden, and showed her pictures from previous parties. She saw a lot of good-looking people which I knew would help. One particularly lovely girl we had come to know very well later - was on a big dining room table with her legs speed and a cock in her mouth and one in each hand, and a guy eating her pussy. Susan looked at it and said "Oh My!" I told her "see - the center of attention!" Then John and Jane came out somewhat dressed, and we all kissed and hugged and told them we would see them soon to make plans for our weekend getaway While they were kissing, hugging and talking about making plans for the weekend getaway I got the photo album and went into the living room then sat to look through it.' All I got to see before is what Sam wanted to show me. I have a fantasy which no one, not even John knows about, but I'll tell you it involves be doing modeling for someone mostly lingerie but some of it is being nude, I do this modeling as an amateur mainly for my own self esteem and because its something that I've always wanted to do. The modeling shoot leads to lunch, from lunch to dinners and I'm sure you can figure out where it goes from there. The photos fall into the wrong hands and I blackmailed so in order to keep my husband from seeing the photos I go along with the blackmail. Besides my fantasy Iv'e always had an interest erotic photos. I remember when I was young and my brother would bring home dirty magazines and I would steal them. Deep inside I know that when I look at any type of of erotica or porn I envy the women because they had the nerve to do it when I didn't. I thumbed through the pages and some of the photos were wild. I came to one of a blonde, and she looked so familiar but I was pretty sure I didn't know her, The photo had writing on it is said"Keri"s first party" and it showed her getting fucked by one man, blowing another and 2 others one on each side with their cocks in her hands. I came across another of her, and she was in a 69 position but with another female this one said"There's a 1st time for everything". I flipped the page and found 3 more all in a row. In one, she was sucking off a huge Blackman, he had to be 6'4" or 6' 6" tall and his cock 10" or 12 "and fat, very fat. Even in the photo you could tell her mouth was stretching just to get the tip of it between her lips. The next one showed her getting fucked by the same black guy, he was a giant compared to her. The last one was a close up of her and him doing it doggie style, then I saw it wasn't just doggie style. I wonder how she got that big thing up her butt hole man, it must hurt. On these pics they had written"Last Dance With The Newcomer'Now that woman had nerve, not only to be photographed doing those things but just to do them with that huge black man. That was enough, I was getting aroused, so I better get John and get going the others were still in the same place talking about the same thing, I took my husband by the arm and said goodnight and we walked home............. Sam After they left, Jane and I went to bed and into a full embrace. With our arms around each other, and when our tongues weren't busy in the other's mouth, we told each other what we had done and how much we enjoyed them. I was quite aroused by the way Jane and John hit it off, quite unexpectedly, since Susan and I had been together twice before they were over here. I told Jane I had shown Susan the photo album, and she grinned, asking if she saw the pics of Keri. We both knew that if she had, she was already sold on the swinging scene and would be the prime attraction at the next party. Tomorrow being Sunday, I suggested that Jane call her tomorrow and tell her how much we enjoyed having them over etc. Both of us were all turned on, and we got up and loaded the cassette into the VCR and played the tape of Susan and me in our bedroom, so Jane could watch it. She kept saying how sexy Susan was and how much she wanted a girl/girl session with her when they got the chance. I told Jane she would have to include me in a threesome while John was at work, and she laughed and told me she would work it out - maybe a little shopping trip to get stuff for our weekend outing or maybe even the swinging party weekend after Labor Day Jane When I saw the tape of my Sam fucking Susan I was so turned on my crotch got all wet. I wasn't wearing any panties, so I just leaned over ad put my hand on the back of his neck and drew him down to lick me clean, and as I watched them fuck, he ate me to still more orgasms as if i hadn't had enough while playing with her husband. I thought back to when we got started in swinging. At first when we got married there was no thought of it, but I could see his roving eye. We became close friends with another couple and the wife and I were out in the backyard sunning one day when the subject came up. I had the hots for her husband, and so I set it up that we would go off to a resort for a weekend and end up trading partners. Knowing Sam would go along with it. Since then, we swapped spouses about 6 times with that couple, and both of us dated the other lover a few times on our own too. Then they moved away and we had to find another compatible couple. It was harder than than now, but we managed. Eventually I was fixing him up with my friends, and he ended up fucking about five of them, but not on a couple swapping basis. But, I got mine too. Then we decided to go into it together with no holds barred, and it was a lot easier than sneaking around and telling lies. We went to the same resort again with another couple and seduced them into swinging, and then introduced them into the club we had joined. Now it was John and Susan's turn The tape ended and Sam and I talked. I told him how much I had enjoyed meeting them and playing with them and we kissed. In between kisses we talked about our next move. He suggested I call Susan and set something up, but he didn't know that I wanted her, not her husband. The next day I telephoned her in mid-morning and John was off at the golf course. I invited Susan to go shopping with me to get ready for our outing, and then picked her up and took her to the mall. The first store we went into was Victoria's Secret, and as we looked at sexy lingerie, she told me she sold a line of it at home parties. With a squeal of delight I suggested she do it at our house next week and I would invite the girls from our swing club so she could meet them, plus a few of my other friends. Susan agreed, so after browsing a little more we moved on to Nordstrom's and ended up buying very little, but over lunch we giggled like two schoolgirls at the prospects. As she laughed with me, I wanted so much to put my tongue in her mouth, and we gazed into each other's eyes and I thought maybe she had the same idea. We would see. At first, I didn't like Jane I think just because she was married to Sam, I never thought we would end up being such good friends. When we went to the mall It came out that I did home lingerie parties and Jane insisted that she host one at her house. That day she had told me a lot about there lifestyle as swingers in fact that's who she was inviting to the lingerie party, I was looking forward to meeting them. Jane told me that before they got it out in the open that they both wanted sex with other people both Jane and Sam were seeking around behind the others back but now It's much better that its out in the open. F ew days before the party I went through my display outfits and pieces, and I was missing a few items so quickly I ordered them and got them the day before I was excited about tomorrow night............................. Sam Jane came home all excited and told me that Susan was coming over on Wednesday to do a lingerie party. In between phone calls inviting all her friends, she told me about their shopping trip and what fun they had had. She even admitted that she wanted desperately to kiss her as they enjoyed their lunch, but waited until she dropped her off at home and then leaned over in the front seat and planted a kiss on her lips. She told me Susan seemed surprised, but on the second kiss parted her lips, and they exchanged tongues briefly, before saying goodbye. As Jane giggled at me, she said she was going to invite all the girls from the swing club, especially Keri, who was the object of the pictures in our album that Susan looked at. She told me the party would be at 7, and for me t get lost and come home about 9. By then things might be in a full swing. As it were. I laughed at her pun and the double entrance, and agreed that I'd do just as she planned. Jane Wednesday came, and as agreed Sam stayed at work late and then went out with the boys, to come home later. Susan arrived early and I poured her a glass of wine, and together we set up the display tables and I helped her get ready and set up for the party. We had another drink, as she relaxed and told me she was her own model. She asked me if I would like to help with that too. She picked out a couple of items and let me try them on. We set them aside to put on later at the proper time. But, In order to try the items on I had to undress and get naked, and she did too. I loaned her a robe, but as I handed it to her, I was overcome with her naked beauty, and took her into my arms and kissed her. I told her how happy I was to be her friend, but I was thinking lover. Sam and most of the swing group knew I was bi, but I hadn't sprung that on Susan yet. I would have to take it slowly and let her get used to it, but she surprised me when she cupped my naked breast and kissed me, and told me she was glad to be here naked with me, and was totally comfortable. Then the doorbell rang, and quickly donning our robes we answered it. It was Keri and Rachel, and Susan recognized her from the pictures she had seen. After introductions, I poured them wine too, and as I sat the next guest arrived, alone. It was Sarah, soon to be Susan's neighbor. I invited her as a surprise and introduced them. Sam and I had been recruiting them for our swing group, and I knew her husband Jim was ready and willing. He had told me so when I fucked him one day while Sarah was out of town visiting her family. Soon the others arrived too and after a few rounds of wines and a lot of laughing and talking, Susan and I were ready to start her program. She was going to model her first outfit, and left for the bedroom. I asked if she needed any help yet, and she said with a smile "No, stay here with our guests and enjoy" I went into Jane's bedroom to get dressed. One of the women that was sitting out there having a glass of wine was stuck in my mind. I could swear I knew her or at least saw her somewhere. I hooked a baby blue satin with white lace garter belt around my waist and when I sat on the bed to pull on the thigh high stockings it hit me. That was Keri from the photo album. She was more beautiful in person I had to meet her I hope Jane will introduce me to her. I stood up and attached the stockings to the clasps on the garter belt straps. Next I pulled on the tiny matching T-back panties and pulled them high up on my hips, last came the bra, there wasn't much to it at all it was called a shelf bra and what it did was fit under my boobs and hold them up like a shelf would hold a book or something up. It was mostly lace, and it didn't cover anything and actually there wasn't even any cups. Well I was ready I checked myself i the mirror and had to admit I still looked pretty good, I was going to put the robe on then thought" the hell with it" and I went through the door................................ Jane In came Susan. I expected her to wear her robe and do a formal unveiling, but she just walked in with this skimpy outfit on and did several pirouettes around, telling everyone about the garments and the prices and colors available. I sat there with her order pad which she had shown me how to use, and wrote orders. She sold quite a few, and then it was my turn to model. She sat next to Keri and looked at her. I said "Keri, I showed Susan my picture album with all the pics from your initiation. I hope that's OK, because Susan is coming to our next party ad we have to plan hers"The girls all giggled and came over and introduced themselves, taking a good look at her almost bare tits and body went back and put on the purple teddy, that had snaps in the crotch to open it. Coming out again almost naked, I told them it came in seven delicious colors - plum (purple), Cherry (red), Apricot (orange), Lemon (yellow, apple blossom (white), licorice (black), and Blueberry (blue)"All of them are delicious tastes. Want to check?" I walked over to Susan and told her to show them how to undo the snaps. She did and fondled my crotch, and then licked her fingers She fondled me again and held her hand over to Keri, and she tasted the pussy that she and most of the girls had eaten. Keri took a lick and then stuck her fingers in me, and licked them and then did it again for Susan who licked them clean They were almost sisters now, and would be soon. We sold all her inventory in every color, and then Susan went to dress in her next costume as I took her seat and Keri and I started kissing. While Susan was gone, Keri went to her knees between my legs and started licking my open crotch, and there was stirring around the room as the other girls started undressing too Sam When Jane sent me out on the town I called John and invited him to join me for a drink and also meet his new neighbor, Jim, husband OS Sarah. I knew both of them had had sex with Jane, and was comfortable with that, and we wanted to arrive together about 9 PM when Susan and Jane were in the middle of their party. If all went together well, we would all three of us be going to the swingers party with our wives, two of whom would be new initiates into our little circle of friends. Back in the bedroom again I striped down again and sat on the foot of the bed. I wanted to talk to Keri alone to find out what the first party is real like. I found myself getting as ease with other women even though its something i though I'd never be involved with, now I was worried that I was turning Levi got up and peeked out the door and all of them were nude and kissing each other. I never expected this to happen, and I was not sure what to do. I sat back on the bed trying to decide. Jane After Keri brought me to a nice cum I got worried about Susan, wondering what she was going to wear next. I got up and looked around the room. The only one still dressed was Sarah and she looked uncomfortable. I took her hand and led her to the back bedroom to check on Susan. We found her naked sitting on the bed. I still had on the teddy, but with the crotch hanging open. Sarah had bought one, so we took the opportunity to find her color and help her into it. That broke the ice, and we helped Susan put on her next display item, and the three of us returned to the living room, but not before the three of us exchanged hugs and kisses. I told both of them that these girls were my friends, and most of them were bisexual, and had gotten turned on by the sexy lingerie and everything As we arrived into the living room, the front door opened, and our three men entered, taking in the sight of all those naked women. My Sam went right to Rachel, and Jim took Sarah in his arms after admiring her in her new teddy. John took one look at his wife and went to kiss her, then headed to Keri. My last sight of the three of them was a trip down the hall to our master bedroom, and the sound of the door being closed behind them went over to Jim and Sarah and kissed him hello, and I told them what was going on, while going to my knees and helping open Sarah's snaps on her crotch. She had her arms around her husband and whispered, so I could hear, that she was so turned on she had to fucks stood and kissed her and told her that sounded like a good idea, and went and got Sam and the four of us went to our guest room. I held on to Jim's hand and Sam to Sarah's, so the pairings were set. Side by side on the bed laid the two ladies in their matching teddies, while the men undressed and then took their places between our legs. Sarah looked at me while Jim's big cock entered me, but her attention was drawn to Sam licking her pussy and she moaned as she spread her legs wide and pulled him up to fuck her.

The woodcutter|rating:2.0

Love is Pain (CrimsonWolf & Victim)

Claire Crawford, only child of Baron Leon Crawford and wife Regina, had everything that she wanted in life and nothing that she needed. Her father taught her discipline and her mother taught her social niceties, but neither had time nor love for her, only money. Money could buy a lot of distractions, however. She was content enough with books that allowed her to live vicariously through the characters. She loved shopping for nice things and looking irresistible to potential suitors - and then promptly shooting them down. Furthermore, she loved to daydream that she was the heroine of her own sweeping romance. But the closest she came to meaningful relationships were a handful of fair weather friends she invited to parties, who were every bit as shallow as she was. And when it came to actually doing anything productive, why that was for the peasants and spinsters and unattractive women. She was born to privilege. Her job was to look beautiful and engage in conversation and some day marry whoever her father chose and have a household of her own. But some part of her resented this role. So she busied her mind with distractions so she wouldn't have to think about anything meaningful. She was expected to be shallow and naive and bubbly, so she didn't disappoint. Yet at night in the solitude of her room, she dreamed of dark things. Things she could scarcely bring up at the table, which was the only time she ever saw her parents. These became one more secret locked away in her guarded heart. Tonight despite her parents' warnings she had the door of the balcony wide open. She enjoyed feeling the cool night breeze on her barely covered skin, the sight of the stars beyond reach. She sat cross-legged on the bed, quite unladylike, with her lamp up just enough to read by. Another romance, of course. The lady had just told her pursuer for the third time that she would never have him. "Oh you fool. Don't you see that he is perfect for you? Don't marry that Richard, he's a villain." Her eyes were growing tired, but she dare not turn the light up anymore and risk someone seeing. One more chapter, then. @CrimsonWolf A soft glow trailed down the balcony, like a lighthouse clearly showing the most unprotected route. His eyes flickered in the soft light, much like a wild animal. Rémi took a deep breath, savoring the sweet scent of his newest mark. The breeze began to pick up as a figure appeared in the corner of the balcony. Hungry eyes finally set on their prey. Seeing the lovely young woman reading, so lost in her literature, perfect. The figure almost instantly appeared opposite of the young woman on the bed."Claire Crawford I presume? Daughter of Baron Leon Crawford? Make a sound louder than a whisper and ill be forced to waist such beauty. I'd hate to remove your head from your shoulders." His voice was low, serious, yet it had an almost overconfident tone as well. Standing between Claire and the door, Rémi smirks showing a fang before bowing."you will have to pay for, your fathers sins I'm afraid." His words colder this time as his cold eyes locked with hers. Claire just stared at him. A moment of stunned silence before the wheels began to turn, and she was able to process what he was saying. "Y-Yes. I am she..." She answered him quietly. Her pulse quickened. Waste her? Father's sins? Then this was... "You're here to kidnap me, aren't you? Or else you intend to kill me and just don't want me making a fuss." She didn't see a weapon, but that didn't mean he didn't have one. Then her eyes rested on his oddly pointed tooth, but she didn't know what to make of it, so she filed it away for the moment. After swallowing, she stood. She was only in a cotton chemise and girdle. Practically her underwear. "At least, let me get something on. It's cool tonight." She moved slowly so as not to draw his ire. She had read about things like this in newspapers. Going to her wardrobe, she picked out a relatively simple dress, blushing as she put it on. Why... Why did this situation excite her? A strange and dangerous man, stealing into her room at night, quite possibly even wanting to kill her. Certainly willing and able by the looks of him. Strong. Handsome, even, but obviously dangerous just by the look in his eyes. But it was exciting. It was just like a story. Nothing exciting ever happened to her. And maybe... Her eyes met his briefly, and her blush deepened. What was wrong with her, thinking such things at a time like this? Next she went to the dresser and ran a brush through her hair. No matter what happened, she wanted to look some wise decent. She glanced back at her book on the bed, let out a little sigh. She supposed there were more important things than finding out the ending of a book. Like finding out if her own was about to. Then she looked back at him and slowly approached. "Please don't kill me. I'll do anything you want me to do." The same words might have come from someone who was frightened out of their wits, but the same tone couldn't. The odd thing was, she wasn't actually scared at all. Even if he did kill her, there was nothing she could do about it, and whatever happened it was certain to be an adventure. His cold eyes never leaving his mark, Rémi chuckles to himself before appearing in front of the young lady." You are a strange girl. Do you not fear death?" Surprise running rampant through his voice. His demeanor relaxing slightly, most likely of disbelief. Do you not fear what dark, terrible acts that await you? A life as a thrall, or even better as a pet, do not make you afraid?" He had never before been so thoroughly caught off guard, by a young human woman at that. " You my dear Claire, will be taking your leave of this manor. Now step to the balcony" his words calm and cold, still shaking off the surprise. The men eyes, glowed in the soft light, now brighter than before. His fine attire seemed fashionable yet practical. His hand raising, as if to motion towards the balcony once again. His words, especially the sound of them, had an effect on her. She misunderstood the gesture and shakily took his hand. To her that flat palm was the signal to dance. Of course, she immediately realized her mistake. The other immediate revelation was that his hand was freezing. She instantly let go of it, stepped back a pace, and then walked out to the balcony. "Isn't it a waste of time to fear something I have no control over? Would it help anything if I wasted my breath fretting or my heart fainting? I was taught to take all things in stride... Besides, I would be pleased to never see this wretched place again. And whatever you do to me, it cannot be as unpleasant as wasting my life on a shelf like a china doll gathering dust. I am not naive. I know very well you can do whatever you want to me. Perhaps it is the fact that you want to do anything to me at all." She blushed, but her voice was firm, and her gaze was even. "I am a useless trinket here, only as valuable as my bride price, which no man has yet offered. Of course that is my own fault, but I find them all terribly boring. You are here because you want something from me. Even if it is revenge, I welcome it. You are rescuing me from one fate into another, and the unknown has always fascinated me. Now then, should we not get going?" ((Poke)) (I'm here, sorry I just started a new job so I had to get used to the hours. I'm replying this evening.) (Alright, I don't mean to rush you. I just make it a habit to bump after a few days just to make sure everything is ok.) (It is, I'm sorry for the delay) Rémi quietly stepped closer to the young woman, her confidence was almost refreshing. Grabbing her from behind, he chuckled quietly to himself." It is time for you to sleep, I can't have you knowing where we are headed." With that said Rémi pulled closer, pulling cleared head to one side. Now smiling, he paused before whispering to his prey." I promise this will hurt, though not for long. Only at first, the pain quickly becomes a sense of euphoria, you are rather lucky." Now pulling her head back, his two long canines pierce the base of her neck as the sharp pain shoots through Claire's body before too long. Then numbness, a cold numb, seemingly of deaths embrace. For a moment when he said sleep, Claire did assume he was talking about death. "If I do not awake, then I will never know you are lying now. So I really have no choice but to believe-Ah!" Then for the faintest moment she thought he was about to snap her neck. But when she felt his fangs descend, she knew what he was. "Vampire..." She whispered. She winced, and then the cold numb pleasure, which was a strange combination. But to her who had felt so little in her short life, it was bliss itself. Her head fell back even further and she moaned. "Ohhh... I take it back. What difference if you're lying, if this is how it feels to die..." With a shiver, her eyes clouded, and she fell limp in his arms. Slowly, with a small bit of a headache, she stirred, having no way of knowing how much time had passed. "Is it safe to open my eyes, or am I still dreaming?" Rémi laughed, a chair sitting next to the soft, humble bed she lay on. The room was dark, very little light entered the room. A small candle lit by the bedside kept a dancing wisp of light in the small room. The sounds of the forest could be heard from the outside, the walls were lined with old paintings, some of the battlefields, others faintly resembled portraits, of a time long past. The cold bite the evening air seemed to flutter by on a breeze."it is no dream my dear Claire, you are in one of my guest rooms. Though you are an odd human. A strange woman indeed." Rémi chuckled again to himself, an almost deep throaty noise, though muffled through his lips." I believe we have much to discuss since you are, well no longer free to leave." His voice was charmingly cold. She sat up in the bed and observed her surroundings. "Well in that case, we have all the time in the world, don't we?" She reached a hand to her neck and felt the place where he had bitten her. She blushed a little and cleared her throat. "But let us get straight to the point. Why have you taken me? What did my father do that warranted kidnapping me? And what are you going to do with me now?" She didn't look at him as she spoke. Her eyes were instead drawn to the paintings on the wall. Wondering where he got them. Did he buy them? Were they souvenirs from kills? "I don't even know your name. Since I know I have no chance of leaving, I should at least know who I am speaking to." His eyebrow raised at her questions, rather inquisitively."your father, Leon has made many enemies. Many fellow nobles wish to see him suffer for his many sins. As for my name, my dear Claire.it is Rémi, Rémi Pollution, former lord of these woods where we reside. Though that was many years ago. As for what I am going to do with you, I've not decided yet." He spoke frankly and rather relaxed. He noticed Claire's curious eyes upon the paintings." What is it you'd like to ask about these?" He asked looking back to the young woman. "So you were hired to take me in revenge. I suppose no one can do business without making enemies as well as friends. As far as sins, I only know one of them. But it wouldn't surprise me to know that a man who sleeps with as many women as my father does have other flaws. That's hardly a secret though." She laughed bitterly. "I would say it is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Pollution, but that remains to be seen." She skipped the topic of what he would do with her for now. Her mind was full of possibilities, but it wasn't as though she wanted to give him suggestions. "I was only thinking, this fine art doesn't belong in such a bare room. Where did you get them?" Rémi's eyes looked to the paintings, almost longingly it would seem." These works I had made for me, or were gifts. Times before the PE visage you see today. As well as a few of my own." He sighed before standing."for now you are not to leave the manor. You are rather curious I'd assume? Not many get to converse with a vampire, and live to tell." He said with a quiet chuckle. If you do feel brave enough to try and escape you would have to force my hand. I rather enjoy the company of a lady who is just as dark as I." He spoke, looking deep into her eyes. The dull glow began to dance as the flames flickered from the light breeze. "Well, I am not a simpleton. I did assume that the point of kidnapping me was that I would be unable to leave. Even if that were not the case I would have to be quite reckless to attempt it, knowing what you are." She blushed when he said something about her being as dark as he was. "What do you mean by that? Why would you assume such a thing?" He couldn't read her mind, could he? Those eyes belonged to a man who was capable of anything. She trembled slightly at the thought. She wasn't afraid of him before, but if he somehow knew..." Although I don't presume that I will live to tell. There is good reason no one believes your kind exist. You wouldn't be careless enough to let me go. Even if no one would believe what you are, I still know what you look like. You keep threatening me, but you don't realize how pointless that is. I would rather die than go back to that life, if I had any choice in the matter. And if you took me for a ransom you would not have let me see your face or hear your name. All of which means that either I stay here with you, or you will eventually kill me. I am not as naive as I pretend to be." She moved to sit at the end of the bed. "So yes, I am curious, but aren't you just stalling? Just tell me what you want with me. I am alone and at your mercy, and I can tell by those eyes that you want to do more than talk." Oh, why had she said that? It almost sounded like she was baiting him. But... Well maybe she was. "If it's my blood you want, why haven't you taken it already? It isn't as though I could object." She blushed again thinking of that intimate closeness, that cold pleasure that had washed over her. And... Oh, dear. What had she said to him?! The blush deepened. "People tend to say ridiculous things when confronted with impossible situations, you know..." It could have sounded like she wanted to die. And now she looked back on her recent statements and cringed. She was trying to be brave, but wasn't that exactly what it sounded like? She didn't have a death wish, but no one would understand her true desires, not even someone who wasn't human. Rémi's face began to purse, as if something sour hit his lips. Soon after a slight chuckle escaped his jaw." I understand you are flustered, though I am merely being a kind host. I am fully aware your life is not in your own hands." His gaze flashed to lock into Claire's neck, the mark he had left. A more stern look appeared on his face,"as for my intentions. I plan on allowing you to make a choice, you will become accustomed to everyday life. Or choose to stay here." His look softening again with a smile."as you said you are no fool. You hated that life, I had worked for many nobles, including your father. Though now that is no longer the case." She looked at him, surprised. "You would really let me go?" She thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't want a normal life. Not that I look down on it. Honestly... I don't think I would survive on my own. I don't know how to do anything, and any connections I might have been worthless if I can't go back. And could I pass up the chance to live with a vampire? All my life I have craved some sort of adventure. This may not be what I had in mind, but it is certainly that." She looked at him earnestly. "I would stay here with you." She blushed a bit as she said it. "I know nothing about you, and you do frighten me a little, but also... I think you are the only one who is likely to understand me." She wondered if she would have fewer of those dreams living with him, or more. She idly rubbed that place on her neck. "I protested before, but you are right. There is a dark side to me. Anyone else might have me committed if they knew the sorts of things I daydream about. But I would imagine that a vampire would have a different perspective. No, I could learn to live a normal life, but it would never be a happy one." Her look now was almost pleading, but she was still conflicted. The blush deepened. "You see, the reason I was not afraid of you is that I was hoping you would hurt me. I don't know how to explain it. The thought of danger and pain excites me. When you said what you did about what terrible things you could do to me, it didn't have the effect you thought it would." She looked down at her hands as if she had just confessed to something unforgivable. Rémi smiled a fanged grin, before gripping Claire's arm and bringing the other to her side. His head leaning in close to whisper into her ear." It would seem I must oblige my guest then. I see you've already made your choice." With a sharp pain coming from her neck, he sunk his fangs deep into the base of Claire's shoulder and neck, drinking deeply. Pulling away after a minute or so he sighs, dabbing his mouth with a handkerchief." As I said, this is the guest room. Now I know you will be staying here I shall show you your quarters, but that is for later." His eyes cold and hungry, though a different hunger clawed through his gaze, while that same look seemed to be sizing up the young Ms. Crawford. Claire gasped as he suddenly and painfully sank his fangs into her shoulder and drank deeply. That gasp turned into a moan, but she covered her mouth and blushed. "Y-you..." She cleared her throat, forcing the tremble out of her voice. "You can do that any time. I don't know why, but I really enjoy it. Just a touch more warning next time might be nice." It was strange how suddenly he wasn't just her kidnapper anymore. She had told him a secret that would scandalize anyone else, yet he accepted it without hesitation. In fact, by the look in his eyes, he wasn't just accepting. She didn't need to have read any books to know that look. "For later? What is for now, then?" She smirked slightly. "Dare I even ask?" Rémi raised an eyebrow challengingly,"ask if you dare my dear."he spoke low and a slight hint of seduction. Stepping in front of Claire's frame, leaning his head down to her ear. He whispers closely, his breaths chill hitting the neck below the ear, before sitting back down. His eyes watching her hungrily, his demeanor changing slightly. Noticing every detail of her face in the soft glow of the candlelight. Leaning into the chair, Rémi relaxed slightly, removing his jacket. Claire smiled a little more. His breath on her neck gave her chills, but his words and look excited her. "I don't have to ask. I know the answer already." She looked him over. Despite being somewhat pale he looked strong and handsome. "And I believe I gave you mine. Since I won't be leaving here, and since you spared my life, it stands to reason that you can do whatever you like with me." Her heart was beating fast in her chest. "So why don't you stop teasing me, when we both know what you want." (I am back from hiatus. I would like to continue if you are interested.) (I'd love to my dear) (Good to hear. I was really enjoying this one.) (I'm happy to hear) (It's still your turn. You knew that, right?) (Oh poop I'm sorry!! I'll post once I'm off work) Remi couldn't help but chuckle, this young woman before him, seemed to draw a more feral side of the old vampire." You are treading dangerous waters my dear. That look, you aren't afraid of being taken by me?" His question all.OST playful as he stood up. Claire blushed again, but smiled with a shake of her head. "I'm not afraid of anything. Not here with you. And you've already taken me. There isn't any turning back now, nor would I want there to be. You've already accepted me for what I am, and I you. What more is there to discuss? I like that you're dangerous. You like that I embrace pain. Seems to me like we were meant to be together. No, I'm not afraid. If anything goes wrong, it will have been an adventure." She took his hand and brought it to her cheek. "I want this. I want you." (Poke.) Remi stood, struck dumb momentarily before smirking."you indeed are one of the strangest humans I've met. No fear of what I am but sheer excitement? I shudder with my own excitement. But we have plenty of time for what you would like from me." His cold hand caressing Claire's soft cheek. Before his index finger trailed softly under her chin and neck before smiling again." I do enjoy the chase my dear, so forgive me if I torment you, but I want to test your control, see how far you can be pushed before losing it all." He spoke almost with a smug tone before lifting his finger from her chest, pressing it gently to cleared lips. Claire shuddered involuntarily as his cold hand trailed down her neck. "Oh you're going to test me? You will find that I am quite patient." But even as she said it her voice betrayed her insecurity. He was a vampire. He probably knew ways to torture her that she couldn't begin to imagine. Why oh why did that excite her? "At least I'll try my best," she amended. Even the touch of his fingers upon her lips was more erotic than she was used to. She looked at him expectantly. "Is there anything that you want me to do?" (Karaoke) This young woman was more, and more perplexing as time went on"we will see, I am indeed a patient man my dear." Rémi smiled still focused on Claire's slender frame as his finger trailed the two bite wounds at the base of her neck before trailing a sharp claw like nail up to her chin." We will see soon enough how much you may handle my dear. If you are worthy, you may even receive a gift few gets." His words trailed of slightly as he attempted to regain his composure. Claire was breathing heavily for no reason other than his touch and words excited her. Although by now she was getting a little impatient. Was he going to do something? Tell her what to do? Or just stand here petting on her? She tried not to be. She tried to keep herself calm. But it was hard when he wouldn't answer any of her questions. Maybe she wasn't as patient as she had boasted. The thought shamed her. Maybe he wasn't actually as interested as he pretended to be. Or maybe he needed something from her first. But she couldn't imagine what that was. "I don't know what to do now. You have me entirely at a loss. I have told you something about myself that I could never tell anyone, yet I know nothing about you. I do not know how to proceed here. Furthermore, I have never even been alone with a man." "My dear, you think far too hard, I will tell you anything you'd like to know on either subject, myself or my intentions. If that is what you like, though we have the lack of being alone with a man in common." He said with a smirk. Rémi sat back and smiled at the young woman. It your patience is not what you say it is. Though all will be taught, or explained in due time. As I said, I enjoy a bit of a chase my dear." He spoke with confidence his eyes, meeting hers She laughed. "I have certainly never been accused of that before!" It took her a moment to stifle her giggles. "Well I was taught that a lady aught never ask questions, only answer them, so forgive me if I do not quite know where to begin." Claire thought a moment, looking around the room, anything to keep from staring at him." Well, I suppose we start at the beginning. Where are you from? Or, maybe I should rather say when. Vampires do have long lives, do they not? I would like to know something of your story. I am very fond of stories." "This manor is my ancestral home. I grew up here as a child, and when I became lord of these woods. This home bustling with all walks of life." He seemed to smile faintly remembering times long gone." Far before the kingdom took this area over, I would say your great, great, great-grandfather would have been a noble at the time. So roughly one hundred fifty years. Though time does become s blur. I was bitten you see, on a hint I got lost, and a beautiful woman helped me find my way, she was a traveler and a healer of sorts. Though the Irony was not lost on me." His expression turned sad as he still smiled. "She turned me not long after I returned. And was hunted down by several inquisitors of the time."" he spoke JA "Ah..." She lapsed into a sad silence. Such a story. Although she had asked for it, and did not regret doing so, it was sad all the same. "So those inquisitors, they killed her then?" She knew the answer on his face before even asking. "Do you think maybe she knew they were coming? And maybe she turned you because of that? I mean... that's probably what I would have done. Not that I know anything about vampires, but she probably cared for you." "I know she did, they drug her out into town after several weeks of" interrogation" before they tried her to a stake and burned her alive." He spoke quietly" though it was a long time ago now. Since then, I've kept to myself or working for different nobles as you know. "... Weeks..." She repeated almost too quietly to be heard. From what she had heard of the Inquisition, people would break and confess to anything at all after a day or two of torture and sleep deprivation. She must have had incredible willpower." But how were you never caught? If you never left, and you worked for different nobles over generations?" She was tempted to ask him who had hired him to make her disappear, but in all honesty she did not much care. If it was a punishment for her father, he probably deserved to think her dead. She hated him that much. But her problems were her own. "What would you have done to me if I had been afraid? If I had been so simple as to try to scream or fight. Would you have killed me?" Her eyes said that she wanted an honest answer. "They never knew I was caught, she stayed by my side for several weeks before leaving due to them. My servants told them I was Ill, she left one night after turning me, and they caught her not far from the manor. I stayed to myself for a time. As for what I'd have done to you, I'd have bled you dry and left a note for your father. Before clearing out that wing of his manor. You cannot report if now is alive to do so." He said with a half smile, a bit sharp in his tone as the memories rushed into his mind again. She nodded. "I expected as much. I would not blame you. I suppose I saved lives by coming along quietly, but that was not even in my thoughts at the time." She blushed. "Though I have already told you my thoughts. I was excited from the moment I heard your voice..." She was still a bit ashamed of the fact even if it had technically saved her life. And others, it would seem." Is that really all there is to your story? It seems like there should be so much more. I hope I am not being impertinent to say so." Without thinking, she reached for his arm, as if almost begging to hear more. "You can guess at my whole story, and you would probably be right. Well, almost all of it." Rémi smiles at the gesture"well," he continued" before that I was a hunter, and a skilled duelist. After the bite I supposed not munched changed, though I've seen kingdoms rise and fall, it is a lonely life." He smiled," what more would you like to know my dear?" He asked still smiling, resting his hand on hers. The candlelight dances across their faces. "Oh. I suppose I thought it would be Something like the novels. Oh you know, sweeping romances, harrowing battles, the tide of history. I look at the paintings on the wall and think you must have seen everything. But of course no one can see everything, or really experience more than they intend to unless it just happens. You don't seem the type to let things just happen to you. If you say you have kept to yourself all this time, I'll believe it. And if it's a matter of not wanting to relive the past, forgive me for even asking." She sighed a little. What had she been expecting? His whole life story? That belonged to him, anyway, and it surely wasn't some story out of a book if he had lived it." I suppose what I am trying to say is, well... my life hasn't been interesting at all. Sometimes I have wished I was someone else. But now that I have the chance of it, I..." She suddenly got quiet realizing how what she was about to say was going to sound. "Well, I want to be someone that you should want to remember." She decided to explain herself. "All you need to know about me is that I'm different in the head. I pretend to be a noble businessman's daughter, but it is all a lie. I am his daughter of course, but I have to act a certain way, do things I am expected to do. But if anyone but you knew that I lie awake nights dreaming of being kidnapped, tortured, raped, killed even... I like the stories that don't end happily ever after, because that isn't real at all. I want to feel things. Even painful, uncomfortable things. I want to know the secrets adults are always afraid of telling their children. Because I am not a child. I have been sheltered all my life. What I am saying is... nothing could be more frightening to me than thinking I have just swapped one pretty jail cell for another. I don't even care if you keep me to myself and never let me leave, or throw me out on the streets to fend for myself, but if you think you aught to coddle me and shelter me from the world, or even from yourself, well then you might as well have killed me because I will live and die miserable. I'm not some piece of art to sit idle on a shelf or a wall. Furthermore, I have been that my whole life, and it is agony the like of which my soul can't take again." She had never said so much in her life that she actually meant. She felt she could trust him, this vampire. He would have killed her. He still might. And he would certainly outlive her. Her life until now was worthless. She just wanted him to do something. Anything. She wanted to be useful to him. She wanted to be remembered. Important, but not for who or what she was born into. She would rather have him take advantage of her, hurt or kill her even, than just sit and stare at her and talk like they were making small conversation at a dinner party. His look changed as he smiled" you are right, you are no doll and any other person or human would be taken aback by your fantasies, though I love the idea, each of those paintings are depictions of times of my life yes. As well as many different tales, I'll let you read my journals, my memory is not what it used to be. I have seen many battles as an observer and won many prizes challenging nobles to a duel and killing them without mercy." He spoke with a twisted smile," your appetite for pain I will have to quench it would seem my dear Claire, and no you are no doll, but you do belong to me. I'll have you be very useful to me, if my dear, you can prove to me, you are worth it." He paused for a moment pulling Claire closer by her waist, whispering into her ear before nipping into her neck drawing blood. As he lifts his head from her neck his cold breath brushing against Claire's skin." I might turn you if you prove useful enough" after he spoke is fangs drug gently against the lobes of her ear. "That is all I what~" What started as a reply became a moan. She wanted to be useful to him, in every way that mattered. And if he would indulge her dark desires, she would do anything in return to the best of her ability. "I want to belong to you. I do. Just tell me what I need to do to prove myself." Though his next words gave her pause. "I don't want to be turned," she said bluntly. "I would not want to live forever. I don't suppose that it is really my choice to make, and I may change my mind. But I cannot imagine a life with no end could be worthwhile for someone like me. I only say that to tell you, that is no motivator for me. If I am to live forever, it should rather be in your memory. But then if a vampire's fades like any mortal man, I supposed there is no hope for me." She laughed. "Though I would like to read your memoirs, I would much prefer your company." He raised an eyebrow, with a smile he began to chuckle to himself" you are interesting my dear." Never before has someone turned that down, though I will tell you more of how you may be useful to me. For now my dear there will be many things, that you will do to deem you useful. Time will tell my dear Claire, though make no mistake I will have my way with you". His words echoed before Rémi stood up, lifting Claire's head from her chin forcing her head to turn as he bit down once again. His hands, tracing Claire's slender frame, almost changing the subject. Before sitting down again watching her next moves carefully. "You say you will have your way, though I see no proof of that." Oh God, there he went again. Each bite drove her a little bit more mad, though she didn't let on. It was so irksome how he kept on teasing her. "Do you know what I think, Mr. Bolton? I think that your package must be withered away from old age." She teased him. "I mean, why else would you continue to tease me so, talking about I should do something to impress you, and not even making the suggestion? You have only bitten me and petted on me so far. I'm not very inspired. I would think a strong virile man such as yourself, and even more so one with inhuman capabilities, would be able to simply take what he wanted. Or maybe it is that you are not inspired yourself. Perhaps you do not want me as much as you say you do. Perhaps your appetite has waned. Or maybe it is not enough of a challenge since I am already here. Well!" She began removing her clothes shamelessly right in front of him. "You don't seem to have any trouble taking my blood. Let's see if that old man between your legs can be enticed to take something else, hm?" She blushed at her own forwardness, but she was tired of dancing around the matter. "Seeing as I will not be living forever-" She pushed him down onto the bed and began loosening the knot of his belt. "-I would like a bit of excitement before I'm an old woman." RAM chuckled to himself watching the young woman challenge him. A fanged grin growing on his face, before long his patience waned. Rather quickly his hand shot up to Claire's throat, before she could register she was pinned to the bed faced down into the sheets and blanket." That is a challenge, I cannot refuse. Though I must say you are no lady my beautiful dearest Claire" as the words left his mouth from behind her bent frame, the shopping and removal of his trousers could be here, before quickly removing his shirt as well. Rémi looked down ate Claire's bare body a rush of excitement flooded his body to the core, allowing her to look back, she could now see him bare. His length long and almost throbbing as he looked down to the young woman now being forced to present herself." I can assure you Claire every bit of me is working just fine at my age, if anything my appetite for the flesh has grown over the years, as well as become dark." He grinned once more letting his cold hands wander her slender frame. "Good!" She said laughing after the initial shock had worn off. Or maybe because of it. "And I never did claim to being a lady, if you'll recall I said just the opposite." She breathed deeply, nearly biting the covers in anticipation after having glimpsed what he had been hiding, face ripe as a summer tomato. "But mind you, I only said that for you to prove me otherwise!" She laughed genuinely but nervously. She was going to be deflowered by a monster. A vampire! But wasn't that fitting, really? No normal man could hold her attention, much less her heart. But this wasn't about love. It was about what they both wanted. Love was a fool's game, but this was real. "This is true, you are no lady, now you are simply a pet of mine." He said with a dark grin, now letting his fingers continue to wander lower down her frame. Leaning in to her exposed body his length pressing against her core, he bit down once more feeding from Claire's veins, a clawed hand gripping at her waist as he continued to feed this time, making sure she could feel the cold embrace, before he took all she had to offer, in mind and body. Letting go after some time, Rémi chuckled again rubbing his length against her core waiting to see her reaction," let us see how depraved you are my dear." He whispered into her ear pressing close once again. That wonderful feeling again! Coupled with his claws digging into her hips and his tip teasing her opening, she felt like she would lose her sanity this time. "Sh-should I call you Master Rémi, then?" But he didn't stop to reply. It seemed he would get his fill this time. As fear gripped her heart like a cold iron band, desire and lust came right along with it. Don't let me die yet, please! Not before I prove I can make you happy! Let me just do that first. She was too busy moaning and struggling to say any of that. Or to hear what he said last and recognize the irony of it that she was doing exactly what he had asked without realizing it. The struggling she was doing was not an attempt to break free, but to get closer, to grind against him. When he released her neck she barely noticed. Her head felt fuzzy, but the one thing she knew is that Shead to have him inside her, even if it broke her. She seemed to melt under him as Rémi grinned devilishly, lifting his hand up to her chest he chuckled pressing his head against her opening lightly pressing closer watching Claire hungrily." You are a depraved one aren't you my new pet?" He asks before gripping her hips pressing all of himself into her virgin opening, giving her no time to respond." I will show you all you have been missing my dear," he paints out close to Claire's ear. This was something wonderfully unexpected, this human girl with an appetite as devious as his own. She groaned and cried out as he took her so suddenly. Tears streamed down her face, but she regained her composure quickly for fear of offending him. Her breath was somewhat harder to catch. "Y-yes... I am corrupt at the core..." She smiled. He wasn't done with her, then. She should have known. "I'm not fit for anything but your pleasure." It seemed like a line she might have read in a sultry novel, but no, these words were her own. Long before the pain subsided she had already surrendered to the pleasure. It hurt worse than anything in her life, yet it was a good pain. Who knew there was such a thing? Well she suspected it, otherwise her dreams and desires would not be so dark. She only wanted to sacrifice herself for love, was that so unbelievable? So twisted and wrong? "Hurt me again. Please. Your fangs are otherworldly unsettling and your claws give me chills. It feels too good to be real without pain." With every thrust Rémi sighed with pleasure, listening to her words through each gasp only drove him more mad. His claw gripping harder into her soft skin, easily beginning to Mark's. With the other hand now firmly grasping just under Claire's jaw forcing her to meet his gaze."you wish for more pain already my pet? So eager you are to hurt. I must oblige." His words dripping with lust, wasting no time, in between immense thrusts Rémi bit her bottom lip dragging his sharp fangs away from her soft flesh slowly. The quiet room now filled with wondrous sounds of his newest prize," you my dear Claire will know pain inn a way only we could understand. You will be my toy, my plaything at any given moment. Do I make myself clear?." His words escaped heated pants of his own. Eagerly awaiting the response of the young woman pressed against the soft bed. "Haas... Yeses... Master Remi..." She spoke the words against his lips before pressing against them again. Her wildest dream had come true. A lover who was not afraid to tame her, to fulfill her darkest fears and deepest desires. The pain melted along the edges of the pleasure like a fine chocolate, making it every bit as sweet. From the prick of his claws to the glide of his fangs to the violence occurring down below, she was utterly smitten. Tasting her own blood while smelling their sweat and heat, she was sure it all was doing something strange to her mind. The blood of her wounds trickled down teasing her already on edge nerves, and she felt herself just at the edge of something... something dangerous and forbidden and beautiful. "Indulge yourself in me. I am... yours..." Her breathing was becoming more labored as her head more clouded. She felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff with the cold wind blowing harder and harder. "Harder..." She breathed out not quite aware of what she was saying. (Poke)

Love is Pain (CrimsonWolf & Victim)|rating:4.0

Bride of anubis (mpkdragon and Krystal_Atems_Girl)

Long after the great pyramids were built a great pharaoh wanted to rule all of Egypt therefore he came to his priest and ask that they make a deal with Anubis. If the pharaoh gave Anubis his eldest daughter to him as his bride Anubis would in return great the pharaoh his mighty army. The priest said that it would please Anubis and the pharaoh had his servant prepare his daughter for Anubis. She awaited for her mother in her chambers to escort her to her future husband. Krystal was only doing this out of love for her father. She trusted in the gods, but she was unsure if Anubis would like her or not. This was a big step, and if it was an even bigger step in her mind since she had never met him. "Great Anubis, please like me." She said as she Ste her golden crown into her long blue hair as her mother came in to bring her to him. "I'm as ready as I'll over be, mother. I hope that he likes me. It would hurt to know my husband would never love me." She told her mother in confidence her just nodded and rubbed her back soothingly. "You are a beautiful woman my sweet Krystal ball. Any man be he god or not would be crazy not to love you." She told her daughter, kissing her head softly. That mad Krystal feel much better, but her nerves were still at an all-time high. She silently prayed to her real father rah, asking, almost pleading that her intended love her. The guards knock on crystals door. "It is time." They then lead Krystal and her either to the temple were her father and the high priest await. "Welcome my queen and the lovely bride of Anubis. This way." He motions them in to the temple. In it are the many statues of the gods. In the middle is of course Rey and next to him is Anubis. The group stop in front of Anubis and the priest raises his hands. "Oh mighty go Anubis I bring to you your new bride." He gestures toward Krystal. "Does her beauty please you!" He waits for a moment or tow before turning to Krystal. "Your beauty pleases Anubis but he does say you mu..." Suddenly a loud thundering voice expos throughout the temple. "SIIIILENCCCE!" Krystal was startled by the sudden boom of someone's deep voice, but she could not Deny it was an incredibly sexy voice. She wondered who it belonged to. She did not think that the Great god would make an appearance himself, even though it was he she was marrying. Furthermore, she knew he was busy. "Oh my. whose voice was that?" She thought to herself silently, not wanting to accidentally anger him. Krystal shuffled her feet soundlessly, but also nervously as she awaited to see the owner of the voice. She thought about her father. "Oh great rah, please let this be the right decision. I'm scared. Not of Anubis, never of him. Quite the opposite. I'm afraid he won't love me." She prayed silently, looking from the statue of her father and then back to Anubis likeness, unsure what would happen next. The voice continues. "FOR TO LONG HAVE YOU CLAIMED TO SPEAK FOR US GODS PRIEST. I HAVE GROWN TIED OF HEARING YOU LIE. In fact...ALL OF YOU LEAD MY SITE." A guard and priests beginti escort everyone out. "Wait! All but my bride must go." The voice dies as everyone leaves. The torches lighting the temple go out leaving only the light from the sun. Then a black mist seeps from the statue of Anubis. It swirls into a massive tornado and dissipates revealing the massive 12-story tall form of a tackle with the body of a man. It black fur shimmering in the sunlight. Furthermore, it looks down at Krystal with its dark purple eyes. "So you are my bride?" Krystal nods, blushing. She bows to him. "That was quite an entrance, mighty Anubis." She said respectfully, still bowing. She wasn't sure if her speaking was exactly alright. Furthermore, she couldn't contain her nervousness. Furthermore, she didn't want to say or do anything that might upset the great jackal headed god, so still she bowed, her nervousness happened as she was shaking. Furthermore, she was not afraid of him, even in all his glory, she just was afraid making him angry might get her family hurt, and she didn't want to see that happen. Krystal's long blue hair blew in the slight wind, but she dared not fix it. If there was one thing the young demigoddess was sure of, it was that she loved him. It was an instant connection for her, and she wondered if he felt it too. He sighs "you know at first it was not my choice to make you my bride. It was that blasted priest. He wanted you for himself." He crouches down. "Stop bowing and look at me mortal. He says with slight announce. "You can relax Krystal. I have spoken with your father and.... He has given me his blessing. However, the other gods are angered by me being here with you. They will most likely try to kill me or you." He narrows his eyes. "Knowing this do you still wish to be my bride?" Krystal nods again, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Yes. I do. I know that somehow we will get through this. As for that priest... I should have him killed for dishonoring you and the other gods." She said, smirking a little at the thought of killing him herself. She was trained and taught to be a proper lady since birth, that was true, but she also had a very violent side. Furthermore, she enjoyed watching punishments of those who were evil. It was a bit of a sadistic tendency she had. She looked at the handsome god, and smiled a little, craning her neck. It was hard to see his face from this distance as he was so tall. Anubis stand and nods. "Very well." He claps hos hands together and the black mist swirls around him deminiahinghis size till it dissipates. Standing there is a man with jet black hair and dark purple eyes. The man stretches and flexes his muscular body. He wears Egyptian clothing with a black gold belt. He pops his neck and looks at Krystal. "So what do you think?" He steps forward drawing closer to her. His eyes never leave hers. He takes a deep breath letting out a black mist and coughs. "Gas." He growls showing his canine like teeth. "This form is going to take some getting used to. But for you..." He stands only inches away. He cups her chin and lifts it up slightly. "I'll grin and bear it." He leans in close and kisses Krystal lightly on the lips. Krystal watches wide-eyed as he transforms. 'Wow. So handsome." Was all she could say, smiling at him lightly. She was a bit startled when he kissed her, but she kissed back immediately. There was just something about him that drew her to him. She knew it nothing to do with the fact that he was a god. As a Demi goddess, she was immune to all those charms. Krystal kept kissing back, her mind still reeling. "Anubis all mine now? That is a daunting thought." She thought to herself, getting weak in the knees. She could never have imagined in her entire life that she could be so lucky. Now the only thing she worried about was his safety. She would feel awful if he even got a scratch on him because of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeper. Krystal could feel as the connection only got stronger. Anubis would break the kiss and smile. "I swear to be with you always. To protect you and your family for as long as I remain here." He kisses her head and walks towards the door. "Shall be great the public?" With one push the doors swing open revealing every one on their knees bowing before Anubis. He stops and growls rolling his eye. He looks over his shoulder "I'll be in your chambers." He walks past the crowd but stops at the priest. Furthermore, he smiles showing off his gleaming white canine teeth. Furthermore, he holds up his hand and a black flame forms in his hand. Furthermore, he throws it down at the priest and his body catches on fire. Furthermore, he screams in paints Anubis walks away. The guards rush to put him out but crystals father runs to her. "What did he say about my army." "He didn't father. He only said he would protect us. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to follow my husband." And with that, she turned on her heels and walked away, following after the taller god. She smirked a little as she passed the priest. "Serves him right." She thought to herself as she walked away, coming her her chambers and smiling as she opened the door and then closed and locked it behind her. Krystal smiled at the handsome god and walked over to him. "It's not much probably by your standards, but to me its home." She said unsure what to do other than kiss him, which she did. He blinks and kisses back. "It will do my bride." He turns and looks around. "Your father is a greedy bastard and only wants power. I don't understand. Why Rey would leave you to that bastard." He looks over his shoulder. "And also during my time here I am mortal and don't want to be refers to as Anubis." He sighs "after centuries of being called the ALL MIGHTY ANUBIS it really gets old." He streams and groans. "Call me basis." He turns and looks at Krystal. His eyes looking her up and down. "So my bride shall we begin our...honeymoon."he vanishes and appears right in front of her wrapping his arms around her. "Hm?" Krystal smirks. "Sounds good to me. Though personally (in private I mean) I'd kind of like to call you Nubia. Would that bother you?" She asks. Looking up at him and cuddling into him. He was so safe and warm. She didn't know how in the name of rah she had lived this long without him. She looked to him again. 'As for my real father, I think that he left me with this man solely so I could see how not to run things and overtake my adoptive father. I think I could make a far better pharaoh than he ever did." She added, kissing his cheek. She had never felt anything like this before. Being in his arms was like being in her real fathers. Warm and comforting. Though with Anubis, there was the feeling of a different kind of love than daughterly. Anubis smiles. "If you have to." He reaches down and grabs crystals ass lifting her off the ground and up closer to him. He kisses her passionately. Furthermore, he kisses down to her neck and mutters. "And I shall be by your side my bride. He lets her down and reaches up and begins to undo her dress letting it fall to the ground. "MMM such a lovely bride I have" he smiles looking down at her body. Krystal kisses back, savoring every moment of it. She blushes a little as he undoes her dress, but smiles anyway. "I'm glad you think so. To be honest, I thought you wouldn't like me." She said truthfully, her smile a little unsure. She had no idea what he would do next. Furthermore, she smiled a bit wider though. "Would you like to lay down?" She asked, motioning toward the bed. She still blushed a bit, kissing him. Krystal wasn't sure if she should tell that she loved him yet or not, though she definitely did. She knew that the moment she saw him in all his godly glory. "I'd love to." He picks her up and lays her down on the bed. Anubis kisses her deeply. "I can hear your feelings for me my bride. I want you to say it." He kisses down crystals body licking her nipple. His hand slipping down between her legs ad begins to rub her lips. "I want to hear you beg for me to take you my bride." He slips a finger inside her and smiles licking her nipples. He always enjoyed playing with mortals, but he was playing with Krystal more out of want and love then amusement. "Say it loud for all the world to hear my bride." Krystal moaned, gripping the sheets. "Oh Anubis I love you." She told him, louder moans escaping as she threw her head back in pleasure, her mind reeling. She wondered if he felt the same, but wouldn't press. Furthermore, she would rather he told her in his own time. Furthermore, she gripped at the sheets harder as he played with her pussy. "Anubis! More! More! I want you to put your cock inside me my love!" She crooned at the top of her lungs, her virgin pussy cumming all over his hand. She couldn't help it, the pleasure was just so much. Anubis smiles. "Not yet my bride you must make it wet first." He takes off his cloths revealing his massive eleven-inch hard cock. "What do you think my bride." He lets her sit up and gaze at his glory. "Does it please you?" Krystal smiled, looking him up and down. "Yes. It pleases me quite a lot." She said with a smile, unable to keep her eyes off him. Krystal couldn't help but ogle. "You are so damn sexy, you know that?" She asked with a smirk, kissing him. Anubis smiles and kisses her back GIS massive cock resting against her stomach. "As are you my bride as are you." He smiles "now would you like to see what a god tastes like my bride." He slowly and gently pushes her head down so that she is kneeling before him. His massive member inches from crystals face. Krystal happily takes it into her mouth, sucking vigorously and running her teeth down it. She wondered if this pleased him. She sped up the movement of her head at any point she could, smiling lightly. Anubis tilts his head back and groans. "Yes that's it my bride. That feels wonderful." He holds October blue hair and slowly thrusts his hips forward pushing more into her mouth. "Lets see how much you can take?" Krystal took it all in, being a rare few with no gag reflex. She sucked harder and harder, enjoying the sounds he made. She like pleasuring him. It brought her pleasure. He gasps and pulls his cock from her mouth lifting her back up to him. He kisses her deeply and grabs her ass lifting her up above his cock. "I hope your ready my bride." He slowly lowers you onto his cock pushing the head in first and then slowing inching the rest in till he meet resistance. "Now your virginity is mine." He pushes all eleven inches into her hoping her cherry. He holds it deep within her letting her adjust. Krystal made a tiny meet sound as he pushed it in, but oddly enough, it did not hurt. She made a tiny meet sound as he popped her cherry, but there was no other hurt. "Somehow it always was, Anubis. You can thrust now." she told him with a light blush, kissing him softly, enjoying just being with her love. She didn't care what she was doing as long as she was with him. He kisses her back and begins to thrust deep and hard holding her up in midair. "So how does it feel my bride is it better than you thought. He kisses her neck and nibbles on her ear. 'Much better Anubis" she said with a wide smirk, moaning as he kissed her neck and nipped at her ear. It was a feeling of euphoria, being with him. Like something she had never experienced before. Something that you could only explain if you had experienced it yourself. "Oh Anubis! Anubis! I love you Anubis!" She moaned out at the top of her lungs, unable to contain her high. Anubis kisses her deeply, and she continues to thrust his cock deep in to Krystal. He lays her down on the bed and grabs her hips slamming his cock in deeper and faster. "You are so tight my bride it is amazing." "Well, I was a virgin until you can along my love." She said with a smirk, slightly startled by the change from standing to laying, but adjusting quickly. Krystal put her legs up on his shoulders so that the angle would make her even tighter, and for him to be able to hit her G-spot. "Oh Anubis!" She crooned, moaning louder and louder at each thrust. Anubis holds onto her legs thrusting even harder. His balls slapping her ass. "Will you cum for me my bride will you cum all over my massive cock." He thrust deeper and deeper till the head reaches the cervix. "If you cum for me then I will fill you to the brim, I will give myself to you when ever you wish my bride. I will make you feel like a goddess." Krystal moans. "Anytime you want me to, my love." She told him with a euphoric smile, cumming all over his huge cock and spilling over unto the bed. Krystal keeps moaning, her cumming adding to her euphoria. "Holy rah, I've never experienced anything like this! Its absolutely mind-blowing Anubis my love!" She croons, moaning extremely loudly. Anubis smiles and thrusts deep into her filling her with his warm seed. He takes a deep breath and leans down kissing her lips. "You better get used to it my lovely bride. For I am not leaving for a long time." He climbs in bed with Krystal and kisses her keeping her in his arms. His eyes seem tied. "Curse this mortal form." He sighs. "It seems I have yet to adjust to this new body. Forgive me for my weakness my bride." His eyelids begin to close as he holds her. Krystal smiles. "I understand my love. I'm quite wiped out too." She said, cuddling closely and closing her eyes as well, yawning a bit. The events of today had certainly taken a toll on her, but she knew that she loved him and that everything would work out for the best. Krystal sang softly, her mind wandering. She wasn't sure what would happen next, but she knew whatever it was, they would get through it together, her and her amazing god husband. As a new day dawns Anubis opens hi sees feeling refreshed. He leans over to kiss Krystal but stops when he hears the sound of a hawk. He looks over o the window and sighs. Furthermore, he quietly climbs out of bed and walks to the window making a black robe appear over him with a snap of his finger. "Come to scorn me on sleeping with your daughter on the first date Rey?" The hawk lands and turns into a man with blond hair and golden eyes. "No Anubis. I gave you y blessing, what you do with her is none of my concern...even though I would like to have you castrated." He smirks at Anubis. "I'm here to warn you." Anubis raises a brow. "Of what?" Ra sighs "it seems some of the other god are taking advantage or your mortal form and are plotting to kill you. However, they cannot locate you thanks to me and sober." He looks at Anubis. "You will stay hidden as long as you do not use your powers here understood?" Anubis sighs. "Yeah yeah, so who's after me?" He leans on the window sill. "Osiris, Seth and basket. It seems Osiris is after your position again." Ra says looking over at Krystal. "Great. Just what I need." Anubis sighs and looks up at Ra. He follows Ra's gaze and smiles as he looks upon Krystal. "You regret going back Ra. Returning to the life of a god?" He asks look back up at him. Ra doesn't answer immediately. He looks over his daughter and smiles. "Every day of my eternal life Anubis. Leaving my beloved and my child wad the biggest mistake I made." He regions his composure and glares down at Anubis. "Keep her safe Anubis. I will have Thoth check up on you every so often. I want to be kept in the loop of what's happening down here." Without another word there is a flash of light and Ra returns to the form of a golden hawk and flies away. Anubis sighs and watches him fly off. "And now I have to look forward to Mr. Scribbles paying me a visit. He shakes his head and walks over to Krystal, kissing her cheek. "Good morning my bride." Krystal smiles. "Hello love. Was papa just here? I could have sworn I heard a hawk." She said, looking at him and smiling. She did miss her father, but he appeared occasionally, in her dreams or in the form of a hawk at her window. Furthermore, she knew. Furthermore, she could sense it. Furthermore, she had awoken when she felt him get out of bed, and listened to him and her father's conversation. It worried her a little. "So, what should we do today my love?" She asked, not wanting to let on that she knew about what her father, and he had discussed. She knew it would be alright as long as he didn't use his powers. "Yes my bride he was simply congratulating us on our marriage." He lies not wanting to worry her. "Why don't we get something to eat, and then you could show me around the city." He smiles and kisses her before there is a loud knock on the door. Anubis grabs his clothes and puts them on tossing the robe. He opens the door. "Yes?" At the door is a guard, he stands at attention and stutters. "T-the pharaoh wishes to see you and..." Anubis slams the door in his face AMD looks at Krystal. "So much for the tour." He groans. "Shall we?" Krystal nods, dressing quickly. "Yes my love. He probably wants to know about your army. Greedy old man. I'll never understand why my mother married him. She still loves papa." She said, putting her tiara on, before kissing him softly and squeezing his hand. "It will be alright. I'll ha talk with some of my old friends to ask if they can help too." She added, smirking at him. "You should be more worried about him." He opens the door and jumps "GAS!" Standing there is a skinny man wearing glasses and the same outfit as Anubis, but his is white with hieroglyphs on it. "Good day Anubis soon good to see you." Anubis remains silent and slams the door shut again. He turns a walks right into the same man. "That was rude!" The skinny man shout pointing a pen at Anubis. "You really need to work on your manners' mister." Anubis growls and glares at the man. "Stuff it long beak." Krystal laughs a little. "I'm sorry. But isn't it a little early for you to be checking up Thoth? Papa only left 20 minutes ago." She asked the taller man respectfully, smiling at him. She hadn't seen him since she was a young child. Furthermore, she doubted he remembered her. He looks at Krystal with a raised eyebrow. "And you are?" He scratches his brown hair and snaps his fingers making a scroll appear. He begins to read through it. "Ah! Yes Krystal daughter of Rey bride of Anubis. Yes, yes that's right." The scroll vanishes and he bows. "It's good to see you Krystal." He then turns to Anubis and opens his mouth. He says nothing a closes his mouth. "What was I going to say?" Anubis rolls his eyes and rubs his forehead. "Forgetful bird brained fool." He mutters. Thoth snaps his fingers making another scroll appear reading through it. Krystal smiled at him. "You too Thoth. So, did you remember what you were going to say?" She asked, cuddling close to Anubis, wanting nothing more to drag him back to bed and cuddle for the rest of the day. She didn't want to get up yet. Furthermore, she was much too comfortable in his arms. It was safe and warm in Anubis's arms, and she wanted to stay like that, Anubis smiles and kisses her head. Thoth finally finds what he is looking for and looks up with a look of concern. "Um the scorpions have....um escaped their cell somehow." Anubis growls loudly "WHAT!? Who let them escape." Thoth looks down at the scroll. "Take a guess." Anubis sighs. "Seth. That chaotic son of a bitch. He's trying to flush me out." Krystal looked at him. "Do you want help with that love? I can still use my powers, and animals of pretty much any kind like me. I once had a pet scorpion. Ironically I named him Anubis." She said with a laugh, smiling at both of them. She wanted to help in any way she could to keep them safe. Furthermore, she knew how much of a jerk Seth could be. Her father had told her stories when she was young. "These aren't your normal scorpions. They used to be part of a cult that me, your father and sober got rid of a long time ago." Anubis glares at Thoth. "Bird brain here was supposed to study them. They are immortal as we are. And twice as deadly." He sighs. "Does Rey know Thoth." Thoth looks at Anubis and adjusts his glasses. "Yes he is but.....who are you?" Anubis smacks Thoth upside the head. "Oh yes now I remember.....Anubis." He scoffs at Anubis and vanishes. Anubis tools at Krystal. "We should go see what the pharaoh wants." Krystal nods. "Yes, we should." She agreed, throwing on her hank necklace and manifesting something for him an hank necklace similar to hers, only IQ had a little golden sun carved into it, and a sapphire. Krystal smiled and handed it to him. "A wedding present." She said with a smile, walking toward the door, wondering what the pharaoh possibly could want. She did not dislike the man in question, she just thought he was a bit of a Brut. He only lusted for power, and never really loved her mother, he only wanted her for her beauty. Krystal sighs. "We should go. He gets impatient easily. Last time he got so mad at me, he slapped me. I hadn't done anything other than make him wait." She said, looking slightly annoyed. Anubis smile and put the necklace around his neck and follows her giving her ass a tight squeeze before they enter the throne room. The pharaoh looks at Anubis and stands approaching him. "Anubis might cod of death." He says with a smile on his face his arms held open. "I take it you slept well? Did Krystal please you." He bows as he nears Anubis. Anubis growls and makes a face at him while his head is down making those in the throne room snicker. The pharaoh raises his head and scowls at everyone. They become silent and he continues. "So now that you are well rested might we discuss your end of our deal?" Anubis growls and mutters "I kinda can't" the pharaoh looks at him "why not I gave you my daughter what else do you need?!" "Time father. *she spits out the word, tired of this facade* I am so sick of you! You claim to be all height and mighty and of the gods, but you want to know what, father? I'm more of a god than you. You were never my father, and you are a greedy, perverted old man. I should have rah kill you for what you have done to me. I may love Anubis, but the fact that you only married me off to him is because you wanted his fucking army, shows how little you have ever cared for me. It is a wonder my real father hasn't killed you yet! Furthermore, if you even had an oz of Respect for Anubis, you would see that he has bigger problems than hold up the deal right now! Now, leave, before I kill you myself, father." She told the pharaoh, glowing a bright blue as she did so. She had never been so angry in ever her life. Usually what the pharaoh did only mildly frustrated her, but today she was beyond annoyed. She had never realized how much her "father" had seen her as an object as she did today. The pharaoh backs up ad looks at Krystal his eyes filled with shock. The guards come forward and stand in front of the pharaoh to protect him. Something behind them catches Anubis' eye. He grabs one of the guards spears and throws it at a creature crawling up the wall impaling it where it was. It screeches in pain. He creature looks like that of a scorpion and a man mixed together. Anubis growls. "Just my fucking luck." Two more drops from the ceiling and slay the guards. A third one drops behind the pharaoh and drives its tail through his chest and tosses him aside. Krystal sends a silent prayer to Athena Apollo and Artemis, and within seconds to appear. A tall dark haired woman with a lightning bolt on her shield appears, smiling at the Egyptian god and her friend. "I see the scorpions have escaped. Well, we can get them back into the cage. Artemis, call Aphrodite and get her down her to protect them, we can't have Anubis using his powers." The Greek goddess told her peer, slicing one of the scorpion with her Olympian blade. The slighter smaller girl did as she was told, and a moment later a shield appeared around Krystal and Anubis. "Don't be cross. It was the safest way to get them back in their cage without outing us, and you know the Greeks are great at lock making. Seth won't be able to let them out again." Krystal said simply, cuddling close to her husband. "Oh, and don't worry, they owe me, big time. That's how we became friends." She added, watching as the three gods easily hurt the scorpions enough to lock them back up, changing the lock, so Seth couldn't open it. Anubis growls, and his hands are engulfed in purple flames. "There is one more." There is a loud screech and Anubis turns and incinerates the last scorpion. It falls to the floor and hisses as it burns alive. "So much for not using my powers." Krystal facepalms. "Crap. Athena, put up the shield before Seth finds us." She said as the older woman nodded, doing so. She was frustrated. But not mad at him. Her eyes Widened. "With father dead... that makes me queen. Holy rah." She sensed a hawk coming to the window, and looked toward it. "Papa's here Nubia." Anubis rolls his eyes. "Honey not in front of the other gods" Rey shifts into his human form with an angered look on his face he comes over and punches Anubis. "That was for using your powers." He then hugs Anubis. "That was for protecting my child." Anubis smiles awkwardly. "Uh thanks" he looks down at the burning corp and new that if he didn't use his powers Krystal would have gotten hurt. Ra turns to Krystal and stops. He wants to hug her and hold her, but he knows he can't. He clears his throat and says. "By order of me Ra king of the gods. I hereby name you Krystal. Pharaoh of Egypt." Krystal giggles a little. "Now that's weird." She commented on being named pharaoh, and then tentatively walked over to her father, hugging him. She knew she really shouldn't, but she really needed it. "Papa." She said softly, looking up at him, her eyes wide as the once were as a child when he had told her he had to leave. Krystal's mother came in a few minutes later, and the 3 Greek gods disappeared to give them space. E mother looked almost horrified. "What in rah's name happened her Krystal?" She looked to her daughter, and her eyes widened further. "Sarah?" It was an old affectionate nickname she had given her love, one of who she still loved intensely. She still wore the bracelet he had given her when she found out she was pregnant with Krystal, and the necklace he gave her on the day of her birth. It was obvious to anyone she still loved her husband, the immortal one, anyway. Ra looks at them both and wants nothing more than to hold them but he fields from crystals grasp and appears next to Anubis. "So what will you do now?" He asks look at Anubis trying to keep his mind off of his wife and child. Anubis doesn't answer instead he looks intently at the bounded scorpions. "Damn. Males" he says. Ra raises his brow "what?" Anubis turns to him "the scorpions are male the ones we had locked up were female. Which means there will be more." Ra sighs. "Great and I can no longer since Osiris, or Seth. I'm heading back ill let Thoth inform you when I know of it." He nods to Anubis and without another word he changes into a golden hawk and flies away. Anubis snaps his fingers causing a dark portal to appear under the bounded scorpions and they vanish. He looks at Krystal. "What now pharaoh?" He smiles. Krystal looks to her mother and then back to Anubis. "I have absolutely no idea." She said flatly, her expression sad for both herself and her mother. She knew he regretted leaving, but he was needed. It hurt her mother more than she let on though, because after all this, she ran to her daughter and hugged her. To this day, Krystal thinks she was only hugging her to feel the residual warmth from her husband. Tears could be seen in the older woman's eyes, and she looked to Anubis. "I wish he hadn't had left. But I knew and understood why he had too. I only pray you don't have to make the same choice, Anubis." She said to the taller man before she began to sob. "I made my choice that's why the gods are after me." he smiles and hugs both of the girls comforting them. "We have laws in placed now. Hence, why he had to leave." he kisses crystals lips and smiles at her mother. "He loves both of you very much." Krystal kissed him back. She wasn't sure exactly what that meant. Did that mean he loved her? This was all so confusing and sad. She cuddled into Anubis's arms, needing the comfort. She didn't know why, but she had only felt safe when he was holding her. It was like the security blanket her father had made her, that she used to sleep with. The feel of it reminded her of being him one of his warm hugs. Krystal's mother cried, but looked up when she heard Anubis's words. "He does?" She asked, her tears stopping slightly. Anubis nods "he wishes more than anything to be with you, I promise." he lets them go. "Now my bride it is time to take your throne." he takes her hand and guides her to the throne. Krystal's mother nods her head, wiping her tears and nodding. Krystal on the other hand takes Anubis's arm and walks with him toward the throne, touching it before sitting down. The look on her face showed both concern for her people and worry that she would not be a good ruler. "We need another throne made. The one of the former pharaoh will be much to small for my husband." She stated simply, designing it out in her mind, before adding, "send for a throne builder. I want this done a soon as possible!" She said, her tone pleasant but still authoritative. "I don't need one my bride." he grumbles "I have had enough worship." he smiles up at Krystal and kisses her lips. "I shall guide you through your time as pharaoh." Krystal kisses him back, smiling into it. "Okay my love. But I'd really feel better if you had one, just for occasions where we'd be welcoming guests from other people." She said, smiling at him and squeezing his hand. She really wanted to curl up in his arms and kiss him breathless right now. "Well then." He picks her up in his arms and sits in the throne with her on his lap. He kisses her lips. "Is this better my bride?" He smiles and leans back in the throne and props his feet up on a black cloud. Krystal smirked and kissed him back. "Much." She said with a light smile, Nibbling at his neck a little. She Loved the sound he made she did that. Krystal shooed all the people away that were in the throne room and kissed him again, straddling him. She smirked. "Kinky throne sex?" She asked, her smirk widening. They had to celebrate her becoming pharaoh somehow. Anubis chuckles. "If it pleases you." He snaps his finger causing her to be completely naked he then leans forward and sucks on her breast while his hand plays and rubs the other one. He continues to do this keeping his clothes on wanting to tease her till she can no longer take it. Krystal throws her head back in euphoria. She loved it when he sucked on her big tits. She moaned out, getting louder with every and every squeeze. "Ah! Oh, Anubis!!" She wailed out as she dug her nails into his shoulders, grinding against him. He pulls on her nipple with his teeth and continue to suck her tits. He reaches down and begins to spank her roughly. His other hand reaching down and fingering her. He continues to tease her wanting to hear her bag him for his cock. For her to beg him to fuck her till she can no longer stand. Krystal mad a tiny sound as he put a finger inside her and smirked as she slapped her ass. "Feeling frisky today my love?" She said before continuing to moan as he pulled and sucked on her nipple. She dug her nails further into his back, the sexual euphoria only growing. "Anubis oh Anubis!" She moaned out, getting close to her limit again. He was so close to cumming on his finger she could almost taste it. He licks and kisses her neck, and he fingers her harder and harder. "You're going to cum for me my bride." He spanks her ass again. "I only want to please my bride and if she asks I must give it to her." He smiles and rubs her tits with his free hand. "Oh yes Nubia. Of course. My love." She said as she claimed his lips in a hungry kiss. The combination of kissing him and him finger her caused her to cum in a big slosh, all over his clothes and the throne. 'Oh Nubia.' she moaned out, kissing him again. He kisses back and smiles. "Do you want to ride my cock my bride. If you turn around I can play with you. Who knows maybe people can come and see my beautiful bride fuck Anubis." He slaps her ass roughly and snaps his fingers making his clothes vanish and letting his cock stand strait up. "Yes love. I want you inside me so bad." She said as she kissed him once again, turning around and wrapping her legs around his waist. She teased his tip with her sopping wet pussy, Kissing him as hard as she could. "I love you Nubia." She said softly, kissing him again. Animus smiles and grabs her hips forcing her down on his cock. He kisses her back and whispers. "Fuck me my bride cum to your hearts desires." He reaches up and plays with her tits licking and sucking her nipples. "You got it Nubia." She said with a smirk, chanting something softly to be able to go at super speed and thrusting on him, her breast moving up and down like crazy. Is this to your liking, Nubia?" She asked with a smirk, moaning out as she coated his cock in her sticky juices. He leans back and smiles watching her. "Yes my bride it does." His eyes wander all along her body. "To bad I can't show how sexy my bride is to everyone." He slaps her ass and plays with her nipples as she furiously rides him. "I bet they would love to watch you please a god. Well I bet they would love to watch you in general." He grins giving her nipple a slight twist. Krystal moaned out, but then smirked. "I'm selfish. I prefer having you all to myself Nubia. Besides, they can already hear us moaning for each other." She said with a wider smirk, moaning out as he played with her nipples. "Oh Nubia" yes! Yes!" She crooned, moaning loudly. He smiles. "What a very selfish little girl." He slaps her ass. "Wanting all this cock for yourself." He grins and leans forward kissing her chest as her tits bounce against his face. "Your tits are so soft my bride I just can't get enough of them." He grabs one and roughly begins to suck on the nipple. His arms reach around her back and pulls her into him. "What can I say, I just love you too much Nubia" she said with a smirk as she kept thrusting at high speed, moaning as he stood her breast into his mouth, and arching into his touch. He made her feel like she could break down stone walls. Anubis smiles against her tits. He was starting to like her pet name for him. He flips her around so that he is on top, and she is up against the throne. Furthermore, he grabs her hands and pins them above her head as he begins to brutally shove his cock into her. "Scream for me my bride let all know who you belong to." E smiles and kisses her lips.

Bride of anubis (mpkdragon and Krystal_Atems_Girl)|rating:3.0

Kiss from a Rose.. (Closed; EroticLiteracy)

{"Light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} ------------------​The gentle pitter-patter of raindrops upon the window enchanted her... how they bounced and glistened and raced one another so delicately down the warped glass to the rotted wood encasing it. Beyond it, the blurry shapes of carriages and horses in the street and the drab, darkly clad figures caused her to withdraw ever so slightly... how close they were, those frightening beings, and yet so far away! The rain grew heavier, the sky dark and foreboding, but it was not a picture too unlike London. It seemed a constant overcast hung over the city, a certain damnation or curse the cobbled streets and putrid scents, the gaslights and harlots and all the alcohol in the world could not smother. Quickly she moved away from the window, and down the creaky steps, down into the cellar. The buzz of electricity was ever present. The doctor could afford as much, though, the light fixtures were merely for decoration... he needed the flowing current for far more nefarious intent than to light a dark room. In this day and age, electrical lights were a luxury only the truly wealthy new, and even the Master with all of his fearsome and terrifying talents was not a man of wealth. Fortune alone made him descendant of a wealthy family, so the authorities did not question, and as long as he could muster the handsome fee for electric lights that came every month no one came poking about his business. It was as he liked it. She did not care so much, however... she wished dearly for a visitor. She eagerly listened for a rap upon the door, a kindly face or soft voice, but it never came. The only kindness she knew came from the worn pages of her poetry books--her only earthly possessions, nestled fondly in a nook against the wall where she rested at night. The closest she had ever come was perched anxiously on the stool aside the blurry window--the only window to the outside world--watching them move along in great crowds most days, and on others only a bare trickle of one or two bodies... most days, a fear swelled inside of her chest, and it became hard to breathe when she thought of them. What if they were cruel, and harsh, and heavy-handed like the Master? She shuddered even now at the thought as she carefully tugged the proper book on the fourth shelf to the bottom, and the bookcase slowly slid aside, quickly disappearing within' the darkness of the Doctor's laboratory. She gently turned the dial, casting her world into darkness, and yet she navigated the stairs expertly and gently struck matches to light candles as she ventured about the laboratory. It was a well-kept place, as the Master would always have it. In the very center of a room a table made of thick porcelain rested, and above it upon draw chains a cage of metal suited in the likeness of a human body. A channel of thick cords ran throughout the room, all of them lifting eventually through a network of fixtures which elevated them through the air and toward the only source of light--a skylight, fixated directly above the operating table. It was a far distance--the Master's estate was at least three stories, and the laboratory in the basement, but the distance made no difference. The Master's works were more often than not a success. Gingerly, she moved to the side of the table, and rooted amongst the chains there until she found the proper one. Dangling at the end of it was a crude manner of shackle, and with much disdain, the young woman latched the surrounding shackle left ankle and sighed. Doctor Percy von Held was a man entering his thirties, and wildly successful in his studies of the Origin of Life and the Theory of Mankind... however, his studies of a certain illustrious young Doctor Victor Frankenstein had supposedly poisoned his mind. It was a little known secret that on Held was all but obsessed with the study of life immortal, and defying the laws of nature itself. He followed closely his young predecessors' heinous studies, but when procuring bodies became a challenge, he came to focus upon other methods for prolonging and returning life. A very many of them ancient, and forbidden, and the utmost taboo... and that was how she came to be, only she did not know. What she did know was that the Master would not permit her out of the laboratory. In the last few weeks she had gotten bold, so bold as to pick the lock of her shackle which kept her restricted to only the laboratory, and venture out into the locked kitchen pantry which led down into the cellar where there was but one dingy window looking down over a busy London street. The Master was not one for conversation, in fact, it seemed more often than not he was a little frightened of her all together and terribly awkward when she attempted to speak with him. What conversation she had was only of her own sweet, soft-spoken voice reciting the lines of one of the handful of books she possessed, and nothing more. She grew so restless though! There was little to be had helping the Master with his experiments... it was tedious work, at times messy, and she could not stomach much the harsh burning scent of blood, or the results of some of the experiments... especially the early ones, those of bodies he had pieced back together. Such pain they would be in that all they would do would be to wail uncontrollably, until a time in which the currents left them, and they died once again. Oh, what a miserable existence... but none she feared more miserable than her own. She said upon a step, gazing at the solid table, and beneath it at the tank of chilled, clear water. The very waters she had been birthed in, no doubt. Why did the Master hesitate to create others, the way he had her? He did not elaborate to her on it, but her ever curious mind had brought her to the truth... she found the notebook in which the Master kept on her, and her progress, from the very first forming tissues of muscle to the final layer of creamy caramel skin that covered her body. He had created her from far more than the animated corpse... he had created sinewy tissue and muscle and fat, and then he brought forth from the world beyond the essence she had been long ago. She rested her elbow upon her knee, and within' slender fingers, cupped her chin, her dark brows furrowing gently. She went over the precious first few words the Master had shared, and how she had grasped quickly the basics of language... and then her mind went to the needles, and the restraints, the pain and fear he had inflicted. Furthermore, she closed her eyes, blocking out her memories, and listened as the heavy doors shifted beyond the cellar. Surely he must be returning. She felt a smile tug at her lips, though it was bitter-sweet. She was ever so happy not to be alone, even if her creator did not share the same sentiments. The rain meant a storm was coming. There would be work to do tonight. The bookshelf slid, and in he swept, the thin gaunt dark haired man who she knew as her creator. He cast dull blue eyes down upon her perched on the step and said nothing as he moved down to the table, and gently dusted his fingers across it, setting his satchel down at the foot of it. "A storm is coming Nine. I'll want the catchers raised and prepared to catch the lightning for tonight... do you understand?" She looked up quickly, nodding her head frantically." I came ahead to inform you, but I must go, I have a new subject to procure... it's a very risky business in the day. I'm sure you understand." He was prompt, and she felt an anxious prang in her chest, not wanting to admit that she would rather not be left alone yet again today... but it did no good to sob, or argue. The Doctor was not an empathetic creature, and he cared not for the lonesome aches within' heart of his undead creation. He glanced her way awkwardly, and nodded before ascending the stairs and exiting the book-case, leaving the girl to her devices." Nine." She chimed cheerily... he had taken to calling her that, as she had been his ninth subject. His most successful to date. The soft smile curled over her plush lips could not extinguish as she reveled giddily in the fact that the Doctor had addressed her by an actual title almost as if she were... someone. "Nine!" She repeated as she drew the proper chains, and aligned the current poles as they needed... all that need done now was to open the skylight. “We have an assignment for you” The man sighed settling deeper into the darkness of the confessional. The half of his face that could be seen in the shadows showed just how unhappy he was with the priest statement. He brought up one hand scratching idly at the rough five o clock shadow that adorned his face as the priest waited for an answer.“When I agreed to do this” The man finally said “The council you work for said that I would not be called on this much that their world was stable that their world didn’t need another butcher” The priest was silent for several seconds before he spoke.”Son you are just-““Don’t tell me I am doing gods work!” The man snapped his tone angry and defiant “The army tried to sell me that lie and I didn’t even believe it back then, and I don’t believe it now I did not do this job to become a killer I took this task because I was told I would protect the people ALL people”“And that is what you are doing” The priest insisted his tone firm “The target you are hunting is butchering both sides taking body parts from everyone and patching them together he is an old protégé of the late Victor and as long as he walks the earth he will kill every one mortal and immortal” The man sighed slumping back in his seat. He was silent for several long seconds his long nimble fingers drumming against the wooden chair before he finally stood.“I will do this” The man said his tone short “After that I will go see the council and get to the bottom of these recent tasks that involve killing” With that he took his hat pushing it over his long black hair and pushing his hand against the wooden confessional. It opened without a sound and the man left without looking back. The man that stepped out of the confessional was surprisingly exotic with tan dark features and the features of a Spaniard not an Englishman. The long dark overcoat he was wearing swished against the tile as he walked, and his heavy boots made a light thump sound as he swept down the steps and out of the Catholic Church. It was raining, another dreary day in London. Even after having lived in the city for two years he still wasn’t used to the insistent rain that seemed to lay claim to the city. The two-minute walk to his waiting carriage was enough to leave him soaked and by the time he climbed in he was in even more of a sour mood.“I guess it didn’t go well?” Smoke wafted above her morphing and turning into a random assortment of images. Her long pale leg stuck out of her dress her stockings shown off as well as her black high-heeled shoe. It dangled ever so slightly off of her foot and she made no move to fix it as the carriage lurched and started forward.“Why are you here Sariphirma” The man said his voice tired as he took off his hat and reached for the decanter of Sherry he kept in the carriage “Come to give Jeeves a heart attack? I promise you the old man can handle even a demon’s seductive charm”“As charming as ever Alfonzo” The demon woman known as Sariphirma said as she blew out another cascade of billowing smoke.“I hear the council has a new mission for you is all” She said leaning forward taking the decanter and glass from his hand and pouring the drink for her.”Thought you might want to team up… like old times” She purred pouring the drink slowly as her forked tongue slipped out and ran across her plum blood-red lips.”No” He replied taking the drink from her hands and draining it in one smooth gulp.”I got burned well enough last time” He reminded her reaching out and smacking the top of the carriage to signal Jeeves to stop.”I don’t have any wish to do that again” He told her as Jeeves came around and opened the door “Tell your masters they will have their body in two days” She pouted but said nothing more as she rose out of the seat. With one last lingering look she walked out stepping into the rain which bent and ran around her as if in fear. She turned still utterly dry and with one last smile disappeared before his very eyes.……………………… Turns out it only took him one day His usual contacts wasted no time pointing him in the right direction. Over his last two years on the job he had managed to cultivate a highly effective spy ring of sorts of supernatural creatures. He paid for them with favors, items and if the situation required it his blood or gold. He always made sure to pay, always made sure the word around town was that Alfonzo De Rodrigo was a man you went to when you were possessing information about the things that went bump in the night. His investigation took him to a house, a rather nondescript house in a rather nondescript part of London. Alfonzo only needed one look to determine he was in the right place. Lightning rods“There you are” He murmured walking over to the door. He reached out one gloves hand wrapping over the doorknob. He slowly turned it hunching over so no one could look at his face as he tried the door. LockedAlfonzo sighed and after making sure the coast was clear bent to pick the lock. He pulled from his belt a set of lock picking tools each one finely homed and in pristine condition. It only took him five minutes to pick it and then nothing more than a simple push to swing the door open and reveal its contents to him. He stepped inside closing and locking the door behind him. Once he was sure it was secured he turned his hand going to the revolver on his belt and resting his hand on it. A sense of dread filled his body, dread at what pulling the gun meant. He was a man that didn’t wear the iron without respect for what it meant, he certainly didn’t pull it unless the hour of killing was upon him. How he detested it. Still the doctor was killing others innocence of a magical nature. So he pulled it sliding the revolved out of the oiled holster and cocking the hammer back. He could have waited to draw, waited until he had the doctor in his sight, but there was no telling what foul creature would be backing the doctor. The little comfort Alfonzo took was that any creature would no doubt be in pain and would only be taken out of its misery. He stepped through the house running his hand along several objects and taking stock not only of the house but of its occupant. Killing was not a thing he took lightly. Even with an evil man he took care to know the man TRULY know him. The doctor was a brilliant scientist so it made it all the harder for Alonzo as killing him would be robbing the arts of one of its most passionate members. He was in the kitchen when he heard it, it was faint but there is the sound of someone in the basement working. Alfonzo walked over to the staircase to the basement and founding it locked quickly used his tools to unlock it once more. As the door swung open thunder rocked the house. Alfonzo quickly moved lightly stepping down the staircase and avoiding several worrisome steps. Thunder meant lightning, and if the rods were out then that could mean some manner of creature might come back to life. Alfonzo would not let that happen. He reached the final step and jumped down his gun at the ready. He would not shoot a man in cold blood, but he would shoot in defense if needed. With great care Alfonzo stepped forward weaving over and under the machinery collected if needed. He sensed someone in the distance and his pace quickened moving with alarming speed as he raced the final few steps and brought the gun to bear.“Drop it” He commanded his tone firm and unyielding “Drop it Doctor and turn and face me” Everything was in place... the conductors had been inserted into the water, the lightning rods and catchers in place. The only thing left now was to wait for the Doctor to return with his specimen. Would it be a full, intact body, she wondered? Or some sort of grotesque collection of limbs in which she would have the tedious and none too flattering task of aiding the Doctor in stitching together? Her fair features sunk a bit at the thought. There was something not so unnerving about the coppery scent of blood and the mild perfume of death. The bodies were fresh and so the stretch of rot and decay did not permeate the air, but there was something else about the dead something... familiar. It ignited a sort of craving within' here she was unfamiliar with, the scent of blood. Perhaps it had something to do with what she was. Nine was adamant on ignoring the pull of darkness within' her however, the temptation of blood and flesh. She did not know hunger, or thirst... she was not designed as such, or perhaps, was designed to be better--to transcend the need for sustenance. She would be no older or younger than she was now... she would not grow gray or frail, even if she did not know it now. Furthermore, she had strength immeasurable. Furthermore, she knew well that her mortal wounds, wounds that would surely be the end of anyone else, would heal with a night's sleep... the pain was unbearable, yes, but she would sleep and wake, and it would be gone. The Doctor had done numerous tests, everything from searing her fingertips off, to detaching and reattaching her limbs... even so much as plunging a letter opener into her heart, and she would weep, and scream in response, but she would not die. It seemed so long ago; back when she did not know the words to beg for mercy, when she had not the knowledge to understand the experiments. She was older now, if only a few months, and perhaps more knowledgeable. A flutter of thick, dark lashes, and the golden-eyed girl found herself pacing. She was anxious. She hated ever so much to be alone... and now, she wondered very much so, would this new creation be allowed to remain in the laboratory with her? Would she finally have someone to talk with? Oh, please, let my brother or sister be kindly... A mere few hours went by, and she figured by now, the dusky tints of twilight were casting their shadows over London. The Doctor returned, in a hurry, and motioned the girl to come and assist... he passed her bag after bag, with a significant amount of difficulty. Nine took two in either hand with little effort and carried them gently to the operating table. A patchwork it was. She masked her disdain quite expertly--the Doctor was not at all fond of disapproving expressions. "Thank you... we have to work quickly, the storm is on the rise." She knew better than to ask questions of the limbs. The Doctor had taught her well though, how to align joints and muscle, where to stitch and what pattern that would make the healing processes easy, should they successfully restore life. What she wondered the most though was where exactly did these limbs come from. They were a variation, and while seemingly matched for appropriate size and shape of this young man she knew without a doubt these were not all the limbs of one being. Oh, how she would have loved to know... she sufficed with creating a scenario of it in her mind, unaware of the supernatural qualities a few of these limbs held, that a few of them had come from otherworldly creatures her young and undeveloped him could not fathom. The doctor left her to the task of piecing the body while he went to study his notes, and keep a weather eye upon the sky. In the distance, she heard the rumble of thunder. What she did not hear was the soft thumping of boots as the laboratory was infiltrated." Drop it... Drop it Doctor, and turn and face me." A wave of fear crashed over her, causing her smooth skin to raise with goosebumps. This was not a familiar voice. The long needle clasped between her delicate, bloodied fingertips slowly fell to the table. Should she turn? Should she run? And go where, exactly? She did not snap the shackle and steel chain binding her to this room out of sheer respect and perhaps fear of the Doctor's reaction, but she could, oh, she could tear it from where it tied around the heavy operation table's leg without a second thought and twist it around this intruder's neck before he knew what had happened. It was not her nature, though... the soft-spoken young woman was a timid, quiet being, and so she responded only as that. She turned slowly, the plain gray evening dress she was suited in ever so slightly stained in the blood of her Master's project, and she faced this unfamiliar person with perhaps more curiosity than fear. Face to face with this man she could not help but to worry. He was significantly taller than she was... and perhaps familiar. His features favored hers, with his smoothly tanned skin and dark hair and eyes. Was he... her brother? Had the Doctor done such unspeakably painful things to him as well, that now he had thought to confront him in such a way? Her brow furrowed, her confusion evident, and she stared down the barrel of the gun with no sense of fear... in fact, she stepped forward slowly, and reached out, those uniquely animated eyes wide with her curiosity. She slid her fingers along the barrel, drawing back sharply as the cool steel touched warm digits, her eyes jerking back to his. If he had come to harm the Doctor she would not let it be so, no matter how harsh and unkind as he was." Nine! Step away from this man!" The hiss of on Held's voice snapped her out of the daze of curiosity, and she backed away hurriedly toward the voice of the Doctor... he had entered quietly, witnessing the interaction with much fortunate, and kept a weather distance as his creation moved to stand before him. The Doctor did well to keep the petite, slender female positioned before him as well as he could at that... he cared not if she should take a bullet. She would hurt, yes, but she would not die. He allowed her to act as his human shield, attempting to stifle the rage and panic welling within' him." Who are you? Who's sent you?! You have no business in here--you have absolutely no idea... what you've walked yourself into, my good fellow..." on Held's voice was a dark hiss as he grasped his immortal creation's shoulders and slowly backed toward the doorway. The thunder rumbled above now, shaking the structure with its force, and Nine looked desperately toward the body she had not yet finished piecing together. She had been nearly finished attaching his head when this enchanting stranger had burst into the room with his unusual instruments... and judging by her Master's response, he was not a welcome party in the least." You need to leave, immediately. Go back the way you've come, and I shan't call the authorities--I will not ask you kindly again! Go, now!" Alfonzo had expected a man, a harsh despicable sort that you expected to find when dealing with grave robbers. He had NOT expected to find a girl, a girl whose beauty temporarily took him aback. A girl who seemed unplugged by the gun even going so far as to come over and run her hands along the cold steel. He stood there his feet still planted the gun still leveled. The hammer of his revolver was cocked back ready and waiting to fire the bullet and possibly end the young beautiful girls' life. He didn’t fire would not until the doctor showed his face. Killing was bad enough on the soul, but it was truly damming to kill an innocent. Not that he couldn’t be sure she was entirely innocent, but Alfonzo didn’t fancy himself as a judge. The doctor finally came out snapping an order for the women to leave. Nine was her name? That couldn’t be right… Not unless. Understanding dawned on his face. She was an experiment! Created by the doctor and given life through him and his work. He looked at her with renewed interest for a minute paying the doctor no mind as he moved over to his charge and his behind her. She didn’t look as if she was in pain or misery… Nor did her flesh look twisted and molted. She looked perfectly healthy! Albeit a little confused and scared. Relief filled his body relief that he wouldn’t have to kill someone in misery! He turned his situation back to the doctor who by now was telling him to leave. He cocked his head to the side his eyes watchful and assessing the doctor has he made his plea.“I’m afraid that’s impossible doctor” Alfonzo finally said the gun leveled at his head “I am not here to offer you mercy nor am I here by accident” He reached into the folds of his pocket pulling out a single white parchment paper on. On the paper was a stamp a circle of red with one line drawn through the middle.“By the order of the forgotten council of England” Alfonzo stated advancing “And by the supernatural order of the rose I find you Doctor Van Held guilty of grave robbing murder and performing unspeakable acts of science”“Now please come out from behind the girl and face me like a man” Alfonzo said his voice tired “Die with honor at the very least I do not wish to hurt your experiment I promise you as long as your agreeable I can take the girl and make sure remains safe, but I am not opposed to taking her out to get to you” Being a good head taller than this young appearing female made it difficult to use her as a human shield as sort... oh, how Percy scolded himself internally for not taking the proper precautions. He should have hired a guard, or at the very least, have had his most successful experiment trained to defend him. The girl did little more than the dirty work he cared not to, chopping and sewing body parts, and could only read and speak, sparingly beyond that. Yet on Held knew well she could snap this man's neck like a toothpick, or take his gun and twist the metal until it was no longer effective... but would she? Why would she? Because he demanded it of her?" Ah-ah-ah, I don't think so... what do I care for the commands of man, or the supernatural--whoever it may be, demon, that have sent you to dispatch me?! I will know death, but it will not be this night." He slowly moved, jerking Nine none too kindly with him as he attempted to keep the guns linger at his front, and make his way toward the heavy iron door. "What business do you interfering with my work when you know nothing of it?!" He spat venomously, fingers closing tightly around Nine's slender neck, causing her to wince gently. "All that I have acquired were acquired... legally, with proper paperwork--the body pieces of murderous criminals and creatures you have no idea that even exist--and my work! My work! A modern marvel to the world, sir, you have no idea what you dare to interrupt!" The thunder grumbled, and lightning cracked the sky above, catching one of the lightning rods and racing down the table to the steel cage dangling above it. Nine flinched, visibly, watching the lighting course through the entrapment... and giving a solemn, silent thanks to whatever God existed that the cage was not lowered, because surely would it be a terrible sight to see... the head of on Held's latest monstrous creation was not entirely attached. What a horror for the creature, to be revived in such a terrible circumstance. Her Master did not share the same sentiment." If you care so much for this small useless mound of flesh and bone... why don't you take her, then!" He shouted at last, finally in the proper position to shove Nine forward ever so roughly, sending the small caramel-skinned girl hurling into Alfonzo with enough force to topple the both of them. She let out a shrill shriek, her calm façade now crumbling with the harsh treatment from the only person she had ever known, reaching blindly for anything to help balance her, and grasping the wrong thing--the chains holding the steel cage above the corpse. With a harsh rattle of the rusted links, the cage dropped, lightning once again drawn to the rods protruding from the roof and racing once again down the conductors and into the corpse upon the table. The power surged, on Held having fled hurriedly up the hidden corridor and into the cellar in a feverish attempt to prolong his life. Nine grappled in the darkness, whimpering and now filled entirely with fear... she couldn't see a thing! The last strike had blown the fragile bulbs illuminating the laboratory, and cast it into darkness, with only the lightning far above at the skylight drawing her some kind of idea of what was happening. Where was the stranger? Had her Master abandoned her? She could hear the scratching of nails upon the porcelain operating table, and hear the sickening gasps of the now re-animated beast upon the table as it struggled for air... she could hear the gurgled, muffled screams of pain leaving its lips, and with it, she felt tears well in her eyes. She hadn't finished her work, and because of her, her brother now lay in cruel torment, trapped beneath the cage in total darkness... Sobbing softly the raven haired girl made her way in the darkness to the door, and hurried down the corridor, only to find herself jerked to a halt--the shackle around her ankle prevented her from going any further. Behind her, she could hear the creature screaming at best it's ability, with its head partially severed still from it's patch-work form, and smell the scent of fresh blood beginning to seep from the wounds of it's make-shift form. Where was the stranger? The book case remained open and beyond she could hear the sound of bottles shattering, and smelled a scent most unfamiliar... burning wood. The Doctor was attempting to destroy the evidence of his crimes before he fled, and perhaps even trap his would-be assassin inside his estate as it burned to the ground! Alfonzo kept the good doctor in his sights working the angles as he did. The use of the girl as a shield was proving… problematic. The girls' height didn’t make the best shield but the jerking erratic way the doctor was behaving was enough to compensate for that. The doctor didn’t realize it, but he was proving difficult to shoot in his panicked state! Alfonzo refused to give up or lower his weapon. He had come here to do a job and that was that. The good doctor was using body parts and holding a woman hostage who was innocent. He would die if not tonight then sometime soon by Alfonzo’s hand. There was no changing that fate. The doctor made his move flinging his creation at him as if she were nothing more than discarded rags. Alfonzo caught her, but her tripping fall to earth was enough to bring them both down. They became a pile of writhing body parts on the floor giving the doctor precious time to get away. Alfonzo cursed extracting himself from her and moving towards the door. Before he could however a large boom sounded above him and with horror Alfonzo realized the cage above was slowly beginning its descent down to the ground.“Shit” He said running a critical eye over the instruments and panels. So engrossed he was in stopping the machine that he didn’t see the girl run out of the cellar. He toggled several switches and levers trying in vain to stop the process. But he was to late With a shriek of pain the creature on the table began to stir. It struggled against its bonds its head flopping at odd angles.“God above” Alfonzo whispered shaking his head as he moved to the creature. His gun came out loosely aimed at the creature’s head as he regarded it. Alfonzo reached into his trench coat, he pulled out a leather-bound book and after flickering through its pages settled on one. He quickly began to perform last rites on the creature first performing Penance, then the Anointing, and finally the Victim. Once he was done he shot the creature pressing the barrel to its forehead and using one high caliber round. The creature jerked and with one last twitch fell utterly silent. Alfonzo paused to close the creature’s eyes and lifted the white blanket around its torso above the creature’s body. He took in a deep breath letting the peace and care he had embodied when taking care of the body flow away. He filled his body with rage and anger, anger at the victims who were being exploited and his own pain for having to harm a wounded creature. Once he was ready he turned moving up the staircase slowly and without any hurry. He was a man with all the time in the world, a man who would find his pray no matter what. Every step he took led him closer to that goal and no matter what the distance was he would eventually go there. He reached the corridor noting with displeasure that the woman was chained. Without a word he calmly reloaded his revolver aiming the gun directly at the heavy chain and shooting it.“Stay behind me” He told her his voice firm as he reloaded once more. One bullet went into his gun and only one bullet. He wouldn’t need anymore.“Doctor” He said his tone firm and clear “I want you to know this now. A fire won’t kill me anything will. If you decide to keep running I will keep hunting. I will take my time. It may not be tomorrow or the next day, it may be months or even years but one day you will die by my gun. I promise you this I will spend every day hunting you down. I will make it my mission.”“Surrender now” He said his tone as firm and as unmoving as marble “I promise you it will be quick and painless as long as you do” The Doctor surged through the kitchen, throwing all manners of items into the path behind him in hopes of slowing down his pursuer. He didn't linger to see if Nine had provided ample distraction, though he was certain she would... it appeared his would be assassin was uncertain whether she was simply a captive young woman or that she simply was some manner of creation. Inwardly, he didn't want to abandon her, not at all because she held some special place in his heart but for the simple fact of her progress, her advancement... her very existence defied the laws of not only nature, and science, but perhaps even God's existence himself. He had created this being in the way of reversing the process of death, and he had pulled her soul from the depths of the afterlife and restored it to her. Unlike her brothers before her, she was not mad and wild from the process of necromancy gone wrong, nor had he accidentally called forth some malignant entity or some darkness attached to her soul which soured the corpse and turned the subject feral. She was sweet nature, and docile albeit much like a babe as she learned the regular functions of humankind every day. Gone in an instant were the thoughts of her. He could start again--if he had his paperwork. He rushed through the sitting room first, grasping a shovel and lifting the burning logs of firewood, hurtling them viciously into the kitchen and onto the table. Sweat dripped from his brow as he shoved skeletal digits through his hair to rid it from his gaze, and with another few scoops of the shovel, he tossed them onto the furniture of the sitting room, waiting to watch the flames spread before rushing into his study and throwing book after book over his shoulder, a few choice ones he began to stack. "Where is it? Damn it! WHERE?!" Nine struggled in the dark corridor, fingers prying hard at the steel contraption. She heard the metal began to creek after a moment, the darkness illuminated suddenly by the power restoring to the estate. The screams of the creature upon the operation table had ceased, calming the girls' panicked heart ever so slightly, but when she turned her head to look back she found herself face to face with the captivating stranger yet again. He was advancing quickly. Fear painted over the girl's soft features, who scrambled across the cold cobbled stones and pushed her back to the wall hoping he would pass and leave her unharmed. It appeared very much why he was here, that he meant her Master harm... and he had killed the burdened being in the laboratory. What was to stop him from doing the same to her? She watched as he raised the unusual instrument, the sharp burst of sound it made stinging her ears ever so slightly. But the rusted chain had been severed. Confusion, for only a moment, and then surprise... he spoke to her! She blinked a few times rapidly, rising to her feet in a hurry and all but grasping hold of the tall stranger's trench coat as he told her to stay behind him. Stay she did, as close as humanly possible, keeping his pace as they rose from the cellar and into the burning kitchen. The smoke stung her lungs quite harshly, causing her to cough, in well pursuit of the doctor at this point. As he followed the sounds of on Held's frantic attempt to collect his most vital notes to restart his unholy experimentation elsewhere, they came yet again face to face with the doctor in his study, the wide bay window behind his desk illuminating as lightning pierced the sky. Percy von Held fiddle upon the desk in a hurry, grasping the old pistol he had kept with him, his eyes wild as he glared across the room and down the barrel of Alfonzo's weapon. Nine shifted behind him timidly, finally deeming it safe enough to uncurl her small fingers from the gunman's trench, moving slowly to his side to gaze upon her Master in confusion. She wished to speak, but she could not find the words... what could she say to stop this violence? Would pleading with this man do any good? She did not understand enough of the situation to speak on it... but on Held had only one precious issue upon his mind. Self perseverance. He was certain he wouldn't be quick enough to fire his weapon before this obviously well-trained man, and so he fired before bothering to speak, hoping to yet again slow him down. He jerked the gun to the left and fired, the bullet striking the girl at the gunman's side with aim for her heart. A gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled back, clutching the entry point of the wound with already blood stained fingers and slowly sinking down to the ground. Her breath began to quicken, the pain streaking like fire from the place of entry, and she attempted to exhale but only felt pain. A soft, choked sob left her lips, reaching out anxiously to grasp at the bottom of Alfonzo's trench coat, "P-please..."" Kill me, or save her--you won't be able to do both!" on Held spat venomously before taking the opportunity of pandemonium to attempt an escape. Oh, Nine was in no mortal danger... he knew this, because she was no mortal! He sprinted for the open doorway which would lead to the foyer and main hall, the girl by now was clutching the heavily bleeding wound, and dark, thick lashes lining her vibrant amber eyes fluttered as she swooned, and finally, her world faded into dark. Alfonzo moved down the hall paying no mind to the girl who know clung to his coat. The doctor was his only concern now. He focused on the room around him taking in the tracks the doctor left and paying no mind to the flames licking and beginning to take over the hovel. There was enough time to see the doctor and escape especially for one possessing the skills he did. He walked up the steps his head cocked to the side as he listened. His gun was ready held steady in front of him as he began to zero in on the doctor’s location. He could hear him in the room in the hall crashing and moving furniture in what could only be described in desperation. Alfonzo thought about asking the girl to remain outside but ultimately decided not to. The flames were still making their way across the house and given he didn’t know the creature truly it seemed a bad idea to leave her alone in such danger. He took her with him instead moving down the hall slowly before pushing into the open room. The doctor turned leveling an older pistol that Alonzo tried very hard not to laugh at. He kept his feet planted his gaze unyielding as he leveled his gun at the doctor. He could see the flight or fight response of the good doctors brain kicking in trying to determine what was the best course of action. Alfonzo dared the doctor to fire his finger loose on the trigger but ready to pull it at a moments notice. Then the doctor made his move Alfonzo felt and heard the creature tugging at the bottom of his trench coat. He paid it no mind, but the doctor looked down. Alfonzo watched as the doctors pistol swung down and a bolt of shock went through the hunter as he realized what the doctor intended. He was firing the second the doctor was at the same time swooping to try and protect the creature from the bullet. He was to late She stumbled back falling into his outstretched hand. Furthermore, he caught her with one hand his gun still loosely pointed in the doctor’s direction. Furthermore, he wasn’t sure if he had wounded the man or killed him, but he was sure that one of the two had happened. Not that it mattered now. The woman was bleeding and even though Alfonzo suspected she was supernatural and possibly immortal he tended to her. He would find the doctor again, he was sure of it. He tore at his white linen shirt turning it into a make shift compress and pressing it against the wound.“It's okay” he said as she fainted”I’m here”………………………………………… It was night when she awoke. After she passed out Alfonzo took her in his arms and carrier her out of the burning building. By now a crowd was gathering, and he took advantage of the confusion to sneak away. He passed the cars sent to put out the burning building with his head down hoping beyond hope they wouldn’t notice him. Thankfully they didn’t far too concerned with stopping the building from burning the whole street. He reached the alleyways where Jeeves was waiting and put her inside the carriage. He followed in after her slamming the door behind him before thumping on the roof. The carriage took off shuddering ever so slightly as they moved out of the alleyway. Alfonzo tended to the girl while in transit cleaning the wound and even pulling the bullet out with the surgeons kit he kept in the carriage. Over the years his limited knowledge of anatomy had grown considerably larger, a benefit of taking care of his own wounds. By the time they reached his manor a modest estate in the heart of Whitechapel the girl was in stable condition.“Bring her into one of the guest rooms” Alfonzo said to Missy one of the ladies of the estate. She and Jeeves both carried her in murmuring amongst one another as Alfonzo followed behind. He let them attend to her sure of the fact that they would get her sorted. He made his way into the basement of his estate. Furthermore, he left the door open behind him just in case she woke up, or the servants had need of him. He stepped into his armory switching on the electric lights and reaching out to flick one of the bulbs on. Once the room was properly illuminated he went to work engaging in the rituals he found great comfort in. He took off his coat first stripping it of all the tools he brought and putting them in their specific place. Once that was done his gun and gun belt came off laid on the work bench where he carefully stripped the firearm and cleaned it. Once it was clean he reassembled it putting it back into its place on his gun rack which featured a variety of different pistols. He changed properly then pulling off his outfit and exchanging it for a simple pair of trousers and white shirt. He left the linens for Missy to take care of and finally went back upstairs to enjoy the rest of the night. Furthermore, he went to his office pulling out one of the leather-bound tombs he was current pursuing and settling down to read and wait for her to wake up. Her world had faded into darkness, a welcome comfort from the burning pain that had taken over her body. The Doctor had thought well on ways to ensure his experiment could be easily controlled. By heightening her senses, making her more easily susceptible to sounds, scents and touch, it insured that she would be less likely to use that astounding increase in strength and invulnerability against him. A knick of a blade and she would be quickly distracted by the pain of it enough to stop her in her tracks... it was a necessary precaution. Majority of his previous experiments were consumed by madness, if not some manner of evil caused them to be vicious and dangerous. Nine was a pleasant surprise, but the thing about playing God was that once the product was final it was it. He couldn't change it. Alfonzo's bullet had indeed met its mark, and the man stumbled and struggled to complete his escape. The speed in which the flames had engulfed the estate nevertheless insisted they too get far from the building... and by now, the dark clouds of smoke billowing against the ceiling had begun to seep through the windows and walls, alerting passerby's and night watchmen. A small crowd had gathered outside, though the girl was unaware, finding herself in the arms of the stranger who had come to dispatch her creator and spared from the same fate as Percy von Held.---------------Dark, thick lashes fluttered ever so gently as she began to stir, and opened those vibrant eyes, glittering in her skull like two pools of liquid gold... the room was dim lit, and what was worse, unfamiliar. She jerked to a sit, perhaps a bit faster than she had intended, wincing slightly as she did so--the door closed in a hurry as whoever had been watching over her went to quickly alert the master of the house that his guest had finally waked. With a very soft, startled voice, she calls into the darkness. "H-hello?" The tones of an English accent played upon sweet soprano notes, like the whisper of a child almost. She spoke the only way she knew how to, as her English creator did. Realizing she was now alone the girl began to survey her surroundings. This wasn't on Held's estate, she knew this because two large windows with quite clear glass nestled the far wall from the bed she rested on... the sheets were soft, and the mattress not so much a large burlap sack--were there springs inside? Her small fingers pushed back the sheets, and observed that she was no longer in the tatters of a commoner, but had been re-dressed in a soft cotton sleeping gown. It was a size too big, surely belonging to one of the housekeepers. Ever so gently she pulled back the bandage that had been secured over the wound upon her left shoulder, finding beneath only a slight discoloration of the skin and a very small, star shaped silvery scar where the bullet had entered. In a few hours, even that would have faded away leaving behind only smooth, unblemished skin. For now, the bruising left behind meant she needed to move slowly. Her bare feet shifted, touching the cold wood gingerly, her long dark hair that had been previously tied back tumbling down her back in elegant curls. Instinctively, Nine ventured across the room to the window, and looked out and down onto the street... darkness still swept over London, and in the sky on the horizon she could see the early light of dawn slowly pushing back the darkness. It would be daylight in a few hours. It was the first time she had seen the street clearly, and even without the masses of busy bodies shifting to and fro, it was captivating. She looked from lamp-post to shop-window, to the roof shingles, the sleek form of an alley cat slowly making its way down the dingy streets. It was absolutely marvelous! Her books of poetry did little to tell her of the outside world, only romanticized her cunning mind to the luxuries of love and the terrors of heartbreak. Behind her, she heard the door open again, recoiling from the window to the adjacent side of the bed out of habit. Von Held would never permit her to be seen because of the simple fact that it was well known he lived in the estate alone, and no one had ever seen the exotic looking young woman--she looked remarkably out of place in London, as should have been expected. The bones he grew her from were procured from some foreign land that escaped his memory, Egypt perhaps, or perhaps someplace in Asia, it mattered not... he didn't care what race she was, only that she lived. "Begging your pardon, miss... I thought you might be hungry, or thirty, or perhaps need the bandage changed.""...hungry?" She repeated, confusion apparent as the young housemaid approached her, oblivious entirely that the small young woman could easily be a danger to her. Nine had no experience with eating, or drinking anything... she didn't require it." I brought bread, cheese, fruit... I wasn't sure what you liked--oh, and whiskey, it'll help with the pain. Come here, let me take a look." She gently placed the platter onto the nightstand aside the bed, and took a seat, patting beside her gently. Nine walked cautiously around the bed, her eyes fixated upon the sandy-haired woman in absolute fascination. She had never seen another woman! It was everything she had not to touch her face or hair as she moved to sit beside her obediently, allowing the woman to shift the gown at her shoulder and peer beneath the bandages. Her calm expression did not last, at first disbelief and then, the slightest bit of fear. "Good lord... it's... it's gone!" She looked up to Nine, who tilted her head slightly, and smiled, oblivious to her confusion. The maid slowly unwrapped her shoulder, the slightly bloodied bandages no longer necessary, whispering to her in a hushed voice. "Never in my life have I seen a thing like this, miss... it's a miracle of God, it is. What's your name?"" Name?" Nine blinked, and the maid nodded." Yes... my name is Missy. What is yours?"" Nine." It was the only thing she knew to be called by, and so she announced this quite proudly, drawing a sharp albeit sympathetic chuckle from the woman. "Why, that's a number, not a name... you don't know your own name? God in Heaven, you must have been through an incredible ordeal. You sit tight, and I'll fetch the master for you." He was halfway through his letter when Missy burst into the small room he used an office.“Master…” She said her eyes wide and worried and a slightly panicked look on her face.“She’s… well awake”“I see” Alfonzo replied raising an eyebrow and leaning back “And is there a problem Missy?”“No Lord” She replied though her eyes said otherwise. His eyebrow arched further up, and she shifted her hips back and forth for a few minutes before finally speaking up.“It’s just… well her wound is practically healed! I’ve never seen anything like it!” Missy said in a rushed whisper.“I see” Alfonzo said his suspicions confirmed on the girl’s true nature.”I expected as much please have her needs tended to and then bring her down to the parlor I will meet her shortly” Missy opened her mouth her eyes screaming in protest about going back up alone. Alfonzo crossed his arms starring her down for several seconds before she finally sighed.“Yes My lord” Missy murmured closing the door as she moved to do her masters bidding. Alfonzo sighed in relief and went back to his letter. He carefully detailed the results of the night to the council. He left no aspect of it hidden except the young girl currently residing above. Furthermore, he would disclose that information if and when the time was right. For now, he simply let them know the status of the house and the lab as well as the doctor being mortally wounded. Tracking the doctor would be his next goal, and he promised results by the end of the week. Once the letter was composed he sealed it with red wax. Once sealed he stepped out of his office taking the time to leave it for Jeeves to deliver. Jeeves and Jeeves alone new Alfonzo true work and served as a liaison between him and the council as he had to the others before Alonzo. Jeeves kept his cover intact telling the servants he hired on that their master was nothing more than a mysterious businessman. The forgotten lords and ladies that made up the council loved their subterfuge. Alfonzo didn’t care much for cloak and daggers and was more than happy to leave the hush hush work to Jeeves. Before moving into the parlor he washed up. He took the time to make himself presentable to the young exotic girl. Once he was sure he was respectable and decent he pulled on a long royal blue overcoat and moved to join her in the parlor. He moved down the staircase pausing halfway down the landing to look out the large windows overlooking the square. The moon hung in the night sky swollen and bright. The stars twinkled overhead light up the vast black of space with their splendor. He reached out to touch one pressing the digits of his fingers against the glass as a sense of serene calm filled him.“Sir?” Alfonzo turned regarding Jeeves who stood at the foot of the staircase. Jeeves was a tall man towering over even Alfonzo. His arms and legs were long giving him the frightening appearance of a spider in some aspects. His long bony fingers were wrapped his cane which features a long windy serpent whose head was the handle. Its sapphire eyes sparkled in the night watching Alfonzo as he came down the stairs and stopped in front of the man.“Yes Jeeves?” Alfonzo asked.“The….” Jeeves hesitated his eyes flickering over to the parlor “Young lady is in the parlor. I understand you do not want me to tell the council about her?”“Not yet” Alfonzo replied nodding his head “The poor woman has been through quite a fright. I think its best we find out about her and get her story before we let the council know.”“If you say so sir” Jeeves said his tone unsure “I worry however what they might do when they find out”“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it” Alfonzo said clasping the man on the shoulder before moving to the large double doors “Deliver this message when you get back I shall have more answers”“Very well sir” Alfonzo stepped into the parlor closing the doors behind him. The fireplace crackled casting the room in a warm glow and comfortable heat. He turned on his heel his eyes sweeping across the room before regarding the girl. Her beauty as striking as it was only served to deepen his interest in her. Who was this creature? She was created by the doctors hands… but where did she come from before?“Missy said your wound is healing up” Alfonzo told her stepping over to the bar.”It seems the doctor has given you a remarkable healing skill” He remarked as he poured them each a drink from the crystal decanter that sat on the bar. He filled the tumblers with red wine before taking them in his hand and going over to her.“I am sorry we had to meet in such a way” He told her handing her the drink “The business with the doctor… well it was unpleasant, and I cannot tell you how sorry I am that you got hurt. Rest assured tomorrow I will go back and try to pick up the trail. I do believe I have wounded him but whether the deed is done is an entirely different matter. I know it must be confusing to you since he was who essentially created you but the people I work for do not want him to continue to dig bodies up. The dead should be left alone, and I am inclined to agree” He gestured for her to sit and took his own chair across from her. He took a small sip of the wine partly to show her it was okay before setting it on the table between them.“Now I have to ask you some questions” Alfonzo said his tone soft but firm “Nothing bad I assure you I just want to get a sense of who you are and where you came from. Let’s start with names I am Lord Alfonzo Rivera Del Luca and you are?” She didn't touch the food, not knowing much what to do with it... she'd never eaten anything before, and without a hunger to do so, merely observed it wordlessly once Missy had left her. She did however dare to lift the glass of whiskey and sniff it gently, and deciding it was of little interest as well, placed it down, gently turning her eyes toward the door. The woman had returned to her with a nervous sort of smile, and while she wanted very much to ask what was bothering her, she thought it perhaps rude or not her place to do so... so, she remained quiet, and quite obedient as Missy lead her downstairs to the parlor. She jumped ever so slightly when the door opened, Missy unable to help a funny sort of smile. "Why, it's alright... the light is just the fire place... come along, miss, it's quite alright..." Reassured by the bemused tone the housemaid kept, she slowly entered the room, and noted quite giddily, it was quite a few degrees warmer than the rest of the house. Certainly a thousand times warmer than on Held's cellar and laboratory. The floor, polished wooden like the rest of the home so far that wasn't decorated in lavish rugs, felt pleasant to her dainty bare feet. Missy left her alone once again, and naturally, Nine was drawn to the fire like a moth, her amber eyes alight with the wondrous flickers of the burning wood. What an amazing day this had been... it seemed the girl learned something new every moment. The beauty of the fire was not without consequence, she reached forward to touch it and was sharply surprised when the heat grew almost unbearable. She frowned. Best not to do that again... but oh, how beautiful it is. And warm. Her only other encounter with fire was held in terror and only a moment of that, after all she had been shot and the only home she knew, burning to the surrounding ground. That seemed so far away, now... and there was a certain mystifying uncertainty of what would happen to her next. She wanted to go outside, desperately, she wanted to know what people were like and what they did all day... she might have been comfortable, reading all day and working on corpses at night with the doctor, but that was not written in her fate anymore. It excited her beyond explanation. The door opened, again, and she turned her head eagerly, having nestled herself on an ottoman as close as comfortable next to the fireplace, unable to help the wide smile upon soft pink lips. He was almost like a fairy tale she decided, now that she could see him clearly, and of course without the look of determination to kill her creator on his face. It wasn't funny, but she couldn't help but to feel a giddy rush of delight behind that thought... and, surprisingly, no sorrow-filled thoughts when imaging what had happened to her Master. He was not kindly, nor was he warm... he was cruel to her, even if the only human being she knew. She found she feared him, and feared being alone more than anything. But he was no longer here, and yet, she was not alone." Oh... yes... the pain is gone. Would you like to see?" Naivety made it not in the slightest odd for her to gently draw down the slightly too large sleeve of her night gown to expose the smooth, creamy caramel skin beneath, entirely unblemished. She gently readjusted her sleeve, and nodded. "It was quite painful... perhaps the worst, but they never last. The Master learned that after quite a many studies." Ever attentive she watched Alfonzo speak, her eyes drawn to his lips and how he formed the words, detecting the slightest hint of abnormality. He did not sound like she did, while he did sound proper and quite strong and... genuine in his concern. She wasn't accustomed to it, and so, she was perhaps overly fascinated, slowly moving to stand and approach him as if mesmerized. The youth it seemed of her mind was shown in how everything seemed impossibly new, and how quickly she learned a medical marvel in itself... someone, somewhere in the world would lust after having such an experiment to study, and it would surely be a frantic, dark day, when someone realized just what was hiding beneath the Lord's roof." You wish to kill the Doctor... why?" Innocence vibrated in the soft, sweet voice of the young woman... but again, not terribly much concern. "He is cruel, at times... but I believe he means well. Is it a terrible thing he does? I don't much enjoy... helping with the work." She grew tired of the articulate, gruesome task of playing seamstress with cold, dead flesh. She took a seat, and found herself soon joined by Alfonzo, taking the glass gently and watching him draw a sip from the cup. Furthermore, she did the same ever so slowly, the expression of pleasant surprise striking her, and she drew the glass from her lips quickly. "How odd! ... It's delightful!" She laughed aloud, and took another, much larger sip this time before her attention reverted, back to the handsome face of the stranger who had taken her from on Held's estate. She listened as he spoke, and found herself slowly trying to process exactly what it was he wished to know of her. How frustrating it would be, to find her answers bizarrely limited... but nevertheless, she tried, and nodded gently as he introduced himself." I am called Nine... that is what the Master called me, though, not very often... There were eight before me. My brothers were fearful, and mostly, short-lived... and a few, the Master took away, and they did never return." She slowly lowered the glass to her lap. "I'd much rather like. To be called something else. Something beautiful perhaps, like the poets name the women they love. Is that possible, my Lord?" Alfonzo watched her his eyes studying her every move and act. There was something… naive in the way she reacted to the world. It seemed whatever process brought her back did not bring back her own memories and instincts. He noted her food was untouched as well and made a mental note to ask her if she even needed to eat. This of course brought only more questions. If she didn’t need to eat did she go to the bathroom? Or did she need to breathe? She did seem to be breathing in and out but was it only for show? She really was beautiful he thought to himself as she exposed her shoulder to him. The smooth creamy skin was just begging to be touched, to be licked and possibly more unseemly things. He wasn’t usually a man of such lewd thoughts, yet he couldn’t seem to help himself with the mysterious creature. The thought of what she might or might not be been only secondary to him. So engrossed in her, he almost missed her words about wounds not staying long on her skin. So she possessed rapid healing abilities? Like the Lyman in the underground? Was she part Lyman then? It would make sense given she seemed very much NOT undead. He made another mental note to himself this time to bring her down to the underground to see if anyone knew her.“I’m afraid the doctor must be found and taken care of” He told her in response to her queries “The man has broken several laws and his actions are considered to be taboo and evil in the eyes of many I will do everything to make it quick and painless, but he will die” He noted that she didn’t seem to perturbed by his words and sighed in relief. His worry was that the young woman would be upset or to attached to the doctor to allow Alfonzo to finish his work. If that had been the case things might have gotten… messy. He wished to remain in the girls favor for reasons he wasn’t entirely sure of. Did he hope something would happen between the two? He couldn’t quite say. Thankfully she took a sip of her glass and seconds late exclaimed her delight at the wine. The tension broken he laughed and nodded at her before taking his own sip. It would seem she really was new to many a thing! He thought chuckling to himself. Her naive viewpoint was refreshing to him and his mind began to kick into over drive as he thought of the many placed he could take her. For the man who was used to operating and living in darkness she was much like an open flame to his soul. A balm and warmth he couldn’t quite get enough of.“You don’t have a name except for nine?” He said his tone one of genuine concern “Well that won't do at all the least the doctor could have done is give you a name” He shook his head his disgust at the doctor as plain as day on his face. He rose walking over to the small section of books in the parlor and running his fingers against the spines. Furthermore, he searched for several seconds before he finally pulled out a small leather-bound red book. Furthermore, he pulled out a small brown as well and came over to her.“Here” He said placing both of the books down in front of her “A book of poems and a book about the meaning of different names since you do not have a name it seems fitting you get to choose your own” He sat back down letting her look over the books for several minutes before speaking.”Now I have a few more questions” He told her his voice soft and warm “I wish to help you and in order to do that it would be helpful to know what you know. It seems you do not have much of your memory, but I am certain you are of a supernatural nature”“Supernatural” He explained leaning in dropping his voice to a whisper “Meaning that you possess abilities that the normal human does not. Evidence points to you perhaps being a Lyman or some other half human half creature. Your healing abilities are on par with the ones I have seen. However, this is just a theory, and so I want to explore other options. Do you remember how you came to be? Do you remember anything of your past before the doctor? Your body does not look mismatched, so I do not think you are several things stitched into one. Of course, I haven’t seen your body in its entirety so….” He trailed off a blush forming on his cheek. The realization of what he had said hit him. He coughed and leaned back the blush deepening on his cheek as he hurriedly picked up his wine and took a large sip.“You’ll ah have to forgive me” He told her chuckling “You are unlike anything I have ever seen. I find myself fascinated with you and in my haste to learn more I am afraid I might have been a bit more forward with you than I should be” She was attentive and courteous... she studied this unusual, ever so captivating being with intensity as he moved about the room and kindly gathered for her a pair of books before presenting them to her. Something lit up those beautiful amber eyes as she took the smaller of the two, the poetry book, and idly scanned the pages... she was vaguely familiar with the works of John Keats. Her eyes scanned the passage in its familiarity, finding a certain name in particular which appeared several times--the object of utmost affection in it, she who conjured the swells of love in the words woven across the paper." Love, Isabel!” said he, “I was in pain “Lest I should miss bidding thee a good morrow: “Ah! What if I should lose thee, when so fain “I am to stifle all the heavy sorrow.” “Of a poor three hours’ absence? But we’ll gain “Out of the amorous dark what day doth borrow. “Goodbye! I’ll soon be back.”—“Goodbye!” said she:— And as he went she chanted merrily.” She glanced up as Alfonzo addressed her, drawing her mind from the poetry as she decided what it was she wished to be called. It was simple and sweet, and she was eager to test it on her lips, though... some part of her felt she would be far more fond to hear the name upon the enchanting tongue of the exotic Spaniard who had somehow gone from assassin to savior as it would seem." I wish to help you and in order to do that it would be helpful to know what you know. It seems you do not have much of your memory, but I am certain you are of a supernatural nature." She nodded eagerly, wishing very much so to be of some assistance to him... it was the least she could do, after all. Where would she be now if Alfonzo hadn't rescued her from the burning building in his pursuit of her maker? She might have endured the flames, and woken renewed amongst the rubble and ash more than likely naked and afraid--and of course, should the authorities notice that somehow she had survived the fire, there would be the pandemonium of being discovered by the frantic, fearful and God-fearing citizens of Victorian London,"Meaning that you possess abilities that the normal human does not. Evidence points to you perhaps being a Lyman or some other half human half creature. Your healing abilities are on par with the ones I have seen. However, this is just a theory, and so I want to explore other options. Do you remember how you came to be? Do you remember anything of your past before the doctor? Your body does not look mismatched, so I do not think you are several things stitched into one. Of course, I haven’t seen your body in its entirety so…" Her mind had gone haywire almost as she attempted to recollect a time before her rebirth... it was one thing to recall from the memory of a dead brain reanimated, but one completely reconstructed from seemingly nothingness? There was nothing she could reach in her mind beyond the first icy gasp of water she took when life was renewed to her. It was far more likely the Doctor had decided to over-look those fine details, because of the heinous acts he committed to make such a miraculous creation live again... he not only crossed the boundaries of perversion in science, he played God, and defiled the sanctity of Death itself. It was necromancy, and perhaps some manner of alchemy which brought Isabel back from the afterlife in the form of a fully matured young woman... there was no other explanation. Her mind leapt from one topic to the next as Alfonzo spoke however, and ever eager to please she thought nothing of rising to her feet. "I only remember the Master's work space... there... isn't anything before it. He is the only being I have ever known--do you... need to see my body? I dare not think I am like my brothers... though, I don't know for certain. The pain is only ever temporary... the wounds seal as if they were never there." Those silken tones trailed off, naivety in its finest how little she thought of disrobing before Alfonzo. A renewed sense of curiosity reflected on her gaze as she let the loose sleeping gown slide down her shoulders and pool at her feet, with only the long, waist length dark spiral curls offering the slightest bit of modesty flowing over her bare breasts. The air was warm, and quite delightful upon her now entirely nude body, and her arms rested gently at her side as her gaze dropped to examine herself, fingertips brushing over her flat abdomen. "I believe I am whole... do you think so, Lord?" "I believe I am whole... do you think so, Lord?" Alfonzo choked on his wine. His eyes flew up taking in the sight of the girl naked and on display in front of him. He set his wine down coughing and shaking his head from side to side as his eyes ran over the girls form.“She truly knows nothing of society’s rules” He thought to himself as he rose out of his chair. His tongue flicked out running over his bottom lip and toying with it as he took her in. She truly was a breathtaking creature a woman who would be considered a true prize in society. His cock throbbed inside his pants his balls tightening at the thought of what he could show her in bed. With great restraint, he gathered her nightgown off of the floor. He moved getting close enough that their chest could almost touch. Heated radiated off of his body as he brought the garment up and began to help her put it back on.“I believe so as well” He said his tone hoarse with desire as he slid the nightgown back down over her body “However I believe its best we keep you covered…. For now at least” Once her shirt was back on he reluctantly stepped away. He turned hiding half of his body and trying to pat down his throbbing hard on. His long hard cock was practically jumping at the chance to be with such a creature!“Now then” He said clearing his throat “I have a few more questions for you then afterward we will discuss your next options”“I noticed you haven’t touched your food yet” He remarked pointing at the platter left untouched on the tray “Do you eat? Have you ever felt the need to? What can you tell me about your abilities?” He winced realizing he was all but interrogating the young women. He reached up rubbing his temples and leaning back into the soft armchair. Furthermore, he mentally took a step back shelving his questions for now and instead focusing on the young girls and her perceived needs.“I’m sorry” He said softly “I don’t mean to be so aggressive with my questions….. How about we go for a walk? The doctor didn’t seem to let you out much. Would you prefer to do that?” A youthful mirth glowed in the girl's honey-colored eyes, not taking notice of the embarrassment or sheepish way Alfonzo responded to a bare female body on full display before him. He came close however and retrieved her gown from the floor, sliding it with care back onto her shoulders, and she merely nodded her head gently as he told her it would be best she keeps it on for now. She gently shifted the long spiral locks from beneath the material, allowing them to cascade over her shoulders and down her back once more." Yes my Lord... and oh... these things, I wasn't certain what to do with them." The doctor never ate, and he never brought her food, and it was just as bothersome to know that perhaps the only thing she had ever tasted before wine was blood. He once employed a sort of 'orderly' when she was firstborn who helped 'control' her predecessors one-through-eight by means of violence and intimidation... his tactics did not fare well in Isabel's favor. She barely remembered biting into the man's throat and tearing the jugular vein out... she had been only days old back then, and very much like a feral creature crossed with a newborn babe. She plucked a grape from the plate to inspect gleefully, bringing it up to the light to exam before sliding it before her nose, her attention drawn back to Alfonzo. Her smile grew wider as he asked her an array of questions, not quite following him as he went from curiosity to curiosity. She'd never eaten and did not feel hungry... it seemed more so that her very being had been resurrected and perpetually trapped in her late teenage years. She did not age, and her injuries would seal themselves right up... it was to be speculated that the doctor might have done the forbidden sorcery of necromancy with her remains submerged in waters from the Fountain of Youth, but of course, if he had survived the fire and bullet he would be halfway across Europe now and very difficult to locate. Surely Alfonzo would be hearing from someone regarding the unusual young woman who had all but stumbled into his care, whether sooner or later was yet to be known and whether they had the kindest intentions for Isabel was yet to be said. Her expression melted into something akin surprise and delight as the conversation carried, and he thought it's best to take things at a slightly slower pace... he offered her something she had yet to experience. He wanted to go for a walk. "You mean... out there? I'm allowed to go out?" She pointed to the window, and looked out beyond at the stars dazzling in a rare clear night sky over London. "I've never been... the Master forbid it. But if my Lord does not mind. I would like dearly to see what is out there."

Kiss from a Rose.. (Closed; EroticLiteracy)|rating:4.0

The Sacrifice (LunaTalula & BenIgna)

The Year 1323, In a small and unknown kingdom, called Charles“We will need a sacrifice for the upcoming anniversary of that fateful night. This is the tenth year and I plan on seeing it through for another decade or so.” A man, wearing a brown, woolen robe stood in front of a window, where he looked down to the dark forest below the watchtower of an equally dark and brooding castle. He turned first his head around, the middle having gone bald with a chronic illness, and continued to address the small company of men, three to be exact, standing in the middle of the chamber. “The Princess Alethea is the perfect choice. She is a virgin and well-behaved. The Master will be pleased with her submissive personality.” The three men nodded their heads in agreement, all grinning happily with the concept. “She is not important to the crown, seeing as her elder brother will take over the crown. So, once she is gone, the King will no longer face the chore of finding the girl a husband.” The others laughed, halfheartedly. “Inform the Wizard we have made our choice and send a guard to the King to inform him the Bishop, meaning myself, requests his attentions.” They nodded and scattered away from the room, leaving the Bishop to ponder on future plans and how to execute them without consequence. Not too long after, the King sat in his usual chair in the Bishop's chamber with a goblet filled with red wine held in his left hand. “What you are telling me is, my daughter is needed for Our Lord's day supper?” Nodding, the Bishop picked up his own goblet and took a sip before responding. “Aye, Your Majesty. It is an important occasion and the church chose Princess Alethea to aid in the events. I swear to you, she will remain unharmed and be returned to you in a fortnight.” The King twirled his goblet around between two fingers, considering the Bishop's words. He was very protective over his only daughter, his third born child, and did not want the girl taken out of the castle, just yet, but... If the Bishop required her assistance, then who was he to refuse, especially, if doing so would displease the Almighty. With a curt nod, he stands from his chair. “I will allow you the aid of my daughter, just as long as you keep to your word of her welfare.”“Of course, M'Lord. She will remain safe under my care.” The Bishop grinned, after standing when his King did and bowed low. “Thank you for your generosity. Our Lord will be most pleased with you.” Leaving the Bishop's chamber, the King nodded and closed the door behind him. The Bishop grinned and turned to the three men hiding within the shadows. “Alethea is ours now. See that she is packed and ready to leave by morning's first light. The Wizard will be expecting us.” Frederick Allister stood in the knight’s guild waiting for Sir Galahad to accompany him into the dark forest where creatures of the night reside that has been terrorizing the villagers for days now. Frederick has in the past dabbled in magic and was an accomplished sorcerer's apprentice. His ability to cast magic spells and fight as a knight is an asset to the knight’s guild. He waited impatiently for Sir Callahan to arrive. Frederick looked around the guild that has been adorned with weapons and shields on its walls. The knight’s guild banner on each wall hangs there as if to remind the knights of the oath that they took when they first joined. Frederick sighed, took a seat near a table, twirling a knife in his right hand, aimed at a lizard and threw the knife at it. The knife flew and struck the lizard right at its head. Its death came and swift. Frederick rose from the chair to retrieve the knife, walked back and sat down again. He was about to kill another lizard when he is hard the sounds of heavy footsteps. Sir Callahan arrived with his band of trusted knights at his side. No sooner that he arrived, he immediately goes about giving orders to the lower ranked knights that was gathered there to get ready to set off to the dark forest to hunt down the creatures there. Frederick stood there while Callahan gave out orders, he then turned to Frederick. “Ah Frederick, you are here too. I do recall that I asked you to be at the edge of the forest. Why are you still here?” he snapped. Frederick looked at him with fire in his eyes but controlled his anger and replied “Sir Callahan, your specific instructions to me was I am to wait for you in the guild till you arrive so that we can set off to the forest together.” Sir Callahan was stunned by the impetuous reply from a knight one rank below him; he looked at Frederick and realized that he was told that Frederick was the next in line to be in the King’s Elite of knights. He was not to be harassed in any way. Callahan calmed down and replied “So I did, young Frederick. Shall we move on then?” The pair set off to the forest. The night has a new moon in the night sky that provided the knights the only source of light. The forest that once stood majestically is now in ruins due to some powerful magic that has been cast. The trees were in shambles, its leaves all dried up, the ground cracked and there is no form of life. As they entered it, the cold ill wind blew at them, the full moon high up in the sky that provided the only source of light, Frederick could see something stirred in the bushes and behind some trees. Not only can Frederick see them, he could also sense something in the air and the surroundings of the forest. He whispered to Callahan to be drawn his sword and raise his shield. Callahan chuckled at his request “My dear boy, there is nothing here, why on earth would you ask me to do that for?” No sooner had he spoke, a group of gargoyle flew at them with axes, swinging at them. Callahan realized that Frederick advice was not fool-hardy, he quickly drew his sword and using his shield as protection against the onslaught. His superior tried to slash at the first gargoyle that attacked him and missed. The gargoyle flew back, poised to take Callahan’s head flew at a high speed, its axe raised, ready to take his head off. Callahan raised his shield and as it struck, he deflected its attack and swing his sword at it cutting off it right wing. It fell to the ground heads, its head smashed into the ground and onto a large rock. It lay there motionless. More gargoyles flew to them, this time in groups of 5. Frederick quickly cast a protective spell around them scattering the gargoyles’ attack formation. He urged Callahan to immediately attack, as Callahan raised his sword, a bolt of lightning shot at him, sending him off his horse and his sword off his hand. Frederick quickly dismounted, stood his ground to challenge whoever it was that cast the bolt of lightning. A shadow appeared amongst the smoke, a wizard in the highest order poised to attack the intruders who have disrupted the sacrificial ceremony... It was time. The season was right, the moon full, and high above the trees where the stars were too frightened to even appear. Too frightened of the evil below and within the forest. Even the creatures of the night, the nocturnal kind, scurried away and hid deep within their burrows or high above the trees. The only creature unafraid was an owl as it swooped down with its large wing span and landed upon the shoulder of an elderly man. The owl had tufts on each side of his head, very much like it's cousin, the horned owl, and had a white streak down it's middle. The eyes of this owl were usually a soft brown, nearly gold in the moon-light, but tonight, they were blood-red. It knew what it's master had planned and looked forward to what will transpire. This master of this beautiful, but evil owl stroked the feathery head, his dark blue eyes gleaning as he spoke to the bird, "It is time my friend! The sacrificial will soon begin, and the sacrifice is prepared. Train will be very pleased with our offering." The old man cackled and raised his bony arms, pointing the staff held in his right hand towards the sky. The wind blew as if pleased by the man's words. Lowering his arms, he turns around to face the old dead tree, the tree used for sacrifices made to his own master, Train, the demon of night and darkness. Tied to the tree, was a young maiden with light blond hair, it's tresses blowing from the unnatural wind. She was unclothed, her wrists high above her head and bound together by a rope attached to one of the sacrificial tree's high branches. Upon closer inspection, one might say she was a remarkably, beautiful woman with delicate features. The maiden's skin was white and deathly pale, though her chest moved with the rhythm of shallow breathing. She was aware, but yet unaware of her surroundings. The old man had used a potion on her, not wanting her to struggle and bruise the delicate, milky-white skin. Train would not be pleased if his sacrifice were in any way spoiled, which meant, the maiden was a virgin, but not for much longer. The demon would see to that once she became part of the undead, became his slave for all eternity. The owl, sensing something amiss in the dark forest, turned his head all the way around, letting out a hoot of warning to the old man. The joyous feeling soon evaporated from the old man’s face as he felt the presence of the two knights who dared enter his forest and unannounced. Well, something must be done. They cannot be allowed within the forest undeterred; looks as if the sacrifice would have to be put off for just a bit longer while he attended to the two men. With a flick of the wrist, he commanded the gargoyles to attack, and then, sensing one of the knights use a protection spell, the old man raises the staff once more to the sky, sending a bolt of lightning and having it strike at random. It struck one of the knights, knocking the man off his horse and onto the ground, his sword dropping free from his grasp. He ‘saw’ the other knight, the one who cast the protection spell, dismount from his horse and stand his ground to fend off the invisible enemy. With a cackle and gleeful hop to one side, the old man danced in a circle, then stopped and closed his eyes. Grinning, he looks up at the sky and speaks, his voice being carried by the wind and to the knight. “Leave this place or else, you will die. Leave, now! This is your one and only warning before I rain havoc upon you and your friend.” His voice held a touch of maliciousness, but with a small hint of amusement. Frederick can see the wizard waving his hands in the air and casting a spell after he has warned them to leave the forest. Frederick knew that the next spell that he cast will be a deadly one, he prepared himself for a counter spell should the dark wizard cast it as he does not have any intention to leave the forest before they got rid of the dark creatures that have plagued the village for days. "We will not leave the forest till we are done what we came to do dark wizard!" he exclaimed. "Give me your best shot and know that I can counter your spells." Frederick challenged the wizard. He saw light coming from the wizard's hand that could mean two things: the ray of death spell or the disparity spell that causes illusion to the person cast on. He wondered which, as the light grew brighter and in its center, a dark circle formed, he knew that the wizard is casting the disparity spell along with the ray of death. A deadly combination. Frederick searched his mind for a counter spell that can deflect it and at the same time cause great harm to the wizard. He drew his sword, recite an incantation. His sword grew red-hot with pure light glowing around it. The wizard cast the spell at them, the beam of light travelled fast and furious in their direction. It looks like a fireball, but the difference is, instead of a ball of fire, it's a ball of ill light that shone brightly illuminating the dark forest with its trial of light. Frederick waited for the ball to be close enough for him to use his spell to deflect it back to the caster with a x2 attack power that will cause major injuries. Callahan panicked and urged Frederick to cast the spell "Cast it now!" he yelled. Frederick remained calm despite the urgency in Callahan's plea. 20 feet, he said to himself, a little more... a little more. As he watched the ball flying towards them, 10 feet. He calculated... 5 feet. NOW! He said to himself and cast his counter spell. It struck the ball head on, and it was flung back to the direction of the wizard with the speed of light x 2, the wizard has no time to come up with a counter, and he was struck by his own magic. The ball burnt him and at the same time confused him. He swung his staff wildly hitting his own men and in the process killing them. He rolled on the ground in great pain, his eyes blinded, and his limbs are on fire. Some residue of the ball's light hit the maiden's rope, releasing her from her bondage. She fell to the ground like a heap of hay. Sensing that their master is in mortal danger should Frederic cast another spell, his minions picked him up as he rolled on the ground and flew off to his hideaway. Frederick immediately cast a spiritual arrow at them, it missed the wizard by a hairline, but it landed on one of his minion's chest and wing. It growled in pain but did not let go of its master and flew painfully away. Frederick got out of his attack stance "Are you alright, Sir Callahan?"" I am fine young lad. You should have cast that spell of yours when it was at 10 feet" remarked Callahan"If I have done that, the damage done will not be that averse. I sense a maiden over there, shall we take a look?" he asked. Gallahan nodded in agreement. The two knights walked towards the sacrificial ground where the maiden lay. Carefully, they approached her with Frederick lightning the way with his light spell. He shone it upon the maiden who is stark naked, he took off his cape and covered her with it. Her hair has been trimmed short by a blunt knife, as he looked at her face, Frederick was shocked to realized that the maiden in question is the king's third born. "Sir Callahan, can you make out who she is?" he askedGallahan looked at her closely with the help of Frederick's light spell "Oh god, she is our princess! What on earth is going on here?!"" I do not know, shall we take her back to our guild and find out before we report this to the king?" he asked"I couldn't agree more, Frederick!" Callahan agreed. "Let's go before those accursed beasts come again""The won't, the village will be safe from their harassment for at least a few months." he said as he carried the princess to his horse and walked back with Callahan to the guild. BTW, here is a picture of Alethea....(the guild, a nursemaid attended to the unconscious Princess. She sat next to the bed with a warm washcloth pressed against the woman's warm forehead. The Princess had a slight fever, but the nursemaid assumed it was caused by the recent events and, perhaps, a developing cold, she couldn't be certain of which. But, what she could see and what she knew might be the ultimate problem, must be a sort of potion given to the girl. Sweat, with an unhealthy color of green, formed in droplets on the girl's forehead and rolled down the sides of her face to form spots on the pillows and sheets. The nursemaid had her wrapped in two woolen blankets and a fire roaring in the hearth, hoping to break the fever by making the Princess even warmer. It seemed to be working, because before, she had not been sweating and her body had a high temperature, the skin nearly scorching like the sun. Whatever this Wizard had given the Princess, nearly took her life. The nursemaid was none too happy, but what could she do in retaliation? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. A day later, Alethea stirred for the first time. The nursemaid watched as the Princess's eyes fluttered a few times before one lid opened slowly only to close again. Standing from her stool to lean over the Princess, the nursemaid lightly touched her forehead and whispered soft words of encouragement. "Wake up, m'lady. The day is waiting for you, my little one." Alethea heard the voice, but it seemed so far away and something was making her head pound-- horribly. Why did it hurt so? Better yet, where was she? After a few more words of encouragement, she finally managed to open not only one, but both lids and gazed up at a kind, elderly face with rosy cheeks puffed up by a kind smile. Soft green eyes peered down at her, as the elderly woman moved her mouth, words forming, "Yes. There are those beautiful gray eyes I have heard so much about. The time has come to awaken, Princess Alethea. You have been asleep for way too long, in my opinion." Dabbing a warm washcloth along Alethea's face, the nursemaid continued on, "You need nourishment. I will call for vegetable, beef stew with bread and wine for you, m'lady. How does that sound?" She stared up at the kind elderly woman and made the attempt to nod, but it only caused her head to throb with pain and the room to spin. The nursemaid laid a hand upon her shoulder. "There, there, m'lady. No need to move. Stay right where you are and I will return shortly." Turning away from the bed, she runs over to the door and opens it a couple of inches to beckon to the knight standing guard there. "She has awakened, but do not alert Sir Callahan, nor Frederick until she's eaten. The poor girl needs to be fed and given a medicine for the pain in her head. The latter, I will take care of. You just see to it, she has her vegetable, beef stew with bread and wine." The knight nodded and hurried down the corridor. Within less than half an hour, Alethea had been propped up by fluffy pillows, while the nursemaid, whom she recently found out was named Winifred, but insisted that Alethea call her Franny. As Alethea ate each spoonful of stew, Franny babbled on about this and that. Even though the stew contained the medicine for Alethea's headache, which was now just a dull throb, Franny did not want to force the young woman to talk about the Wizard and risk the headache returning. Soon, the bowl was empty of all contents and Alethea asleep once again, having dozed off to the sound of Franny's babbling. She woke two more times throughout this day and the next, and it wasn't until the fourth time that Franny decided it was time to send for Sir Callahan and Frederick, especially since the Princess was beginning to ask the nursemaid questions. Before doing so, Franny assisted the Princess with a bath, and combed her short, blond curls dry after fixing the messy hack-job made by the Wizard and his minions. Soon, Alethea was dressed in a presentable nightgown and sat once more propped by the fluffy pillows while listening to Franny babble. The old woman had already sent for the two gentlemen. Frederick got word that the Princess has awakened and has been taken well care of. Frederick swiftly went to the chamber where the Princess rested. He was anxious to know how the Princess is doing and to get some clues as to what is happening. There is foul play at foot, and he intends to find out what and who is behind this. It is a capital offense to put a Princess in mortal danger and even greater offense in subjecting a royal subject as a sacrifice for some sick wizard. Frederick has already been summoned by the Elite Knights to take an oath in joining their order. In other words, he is now a few ranks higher than Callahan. He has yet to complete the process, once done, he can address any royalties without fear of offending them greatly. Frederick being a humble man does not let power rule his head. He knew he has to go to the Elite Knight's guild to accept the post, but he has more pressing matters to attend to first. He reached the door where the Princess is in, knocked on it and waited to be shown in. The door was opened by Franny, Frederick smiled at the nursemaid. "Hello Franny, how's the Princess?" he asked. Franny answered that the Princess is recovering but is still a little weak, Frederick must not ask her any questions about the night before unless the Princess brought it up. Frederick sighed for he wanted to ask the Princess how she got there. It would seem that he would have to do it subtly in order not to agitate her. Frederick enters the room that is dimly lit with simple decor not fitting for a Princess, but that is all that they have decent enough to let a Princess rest in. He felt guilty for not letting the Princess have better resting place. He bowed to the Princess "M'lady, I am Frederick, knight of Inglewood Guild and soon to be one of the King's Elite Knights." he said. Furthermore, he stood there with his head bowed not daring to look at the Princess unless he was given permission to stand at ease in front of her. Furthermore, he waited for the Princess to response. There is a knock on the door, Frederick knew that would be Callahan. Franny opened the door and told Callahan not to ask the Princess about the night before without the Princess's consent. Callahan nodded, entered and greeted the Princess. The two men stood there while they waited for the Princess to respond. It seemed like an eternity before the Princess opened her mouth to speak. Alethea sat and listened to the old woman ramble on about the different types of herbs growing around the guild and the garden she'd made for herself. Franny shifted topics and began telling her entire life story: she married at the young, ripe age of fourteen, had four children, and a husband she loved dearly. The day after Franny's 30th birthday, her beloved died from a disease that had been plaguing him for a good five or so years. There was nothing to do about it. The old woman would have continued, except for the knock at the door stopped her mid-sentence. "Oh! That must be the two gentlemen who rescued you. Pardon me, m'lady, whilst I answer the door." Alethea watched the pleasant, but very talkative elder hurry to the door and open it. She heard the whispering of two voices and then watched Franny step back, allowing a very tall, and rather handsome gentlemen into the chamber. Curious as to who he was, she allowed her gray eyes to roam from the man's head and all the way down to his toes. He was obviously a knight, for he was built like one and there was something else about him, but she couldn't quite figure it out. When he walked over and stood at the front of her bed, bowing his head, Alethea continued her detailed examination of him. She began to speak, but, this time, found herself interrupted by the sound of another knock upon the door. Franny allowed another gentlemen inside, only this one was a little older than the first. By just looking at him, she could tell he'd seen a lot of battles and hardships. She waited until he stood next to the first and then spoke, her voice hoarse." I have been told by Franny that you two gentlemen are my rescuers and for that, I am forever grateful." She licked her dry lips then continued, "It is an honor to meet you Sir Frederick of Inglewood Guild." Turning her gaze to the other, she spoke to him directly, "And you must be Sir Callahan. I am very pleased to have the honor of meeting you both. You may lift your heads, I waive away all formality while in my presence, only for the two of you and, of course, Franny." She smiled at the dear old lady, who smiled in returned while handing the Princess a mug filled with water. "Thank you, Franny. Now, tell me, Frederick, how you found me. I admit, I cannot remember anything, save for up until the Wizard took me." Frederick lifted his head up only to see a ravishing beauty in front of him. Her red hair that has been hacked still looks beautiful on her that somehow match her gray eyes. Her rosy lips look so inviting that Frederick could not help but imagined how it will be like to kiss those lips. The Princess’ pale face is an indication that she has not fully regained her strength and constitution. He could never have dreamed that Princess Alethea is such a beauty and is not surprised that a lot of Princes are madly in love with her. He looked her in the eye for a while and looked away for it was improper of him to look her highness they way he is looking at her now. If he were not a knight, his head will roll. Franny sensing that Frederick is somehow smitten by her highness, walked towards him in the pretext of getting the Princess more water, nudged his leg to get him out of his little daydream. He spoke in his most gentle tone “My Lady, the honor is ours to be of service to you. There is a nearby village is close to the Dark Forest. We have news that the dark creatures there have been rampaging the village and causing much distress to its inhabitants. In view of that, Sir Callahan and I made plans to enter the Dark Forest to exterminate the creatures armed with just out sword and shield along with a few good men from Inglewood Guild. What we found was not what we expected. It was only when we have defeated the foul wizard and his minions did we realized that your highness was in mortal danger. I have, however slew the foul creatures, the village is safe for now and the wizard is badly injured too. We brought you back here to recuperate, this room is not fitting for your highness to rest in, and we will find a better one for you, your highness. However, we fear that there is foul play at foot, thus we have not informed his Highness about your whereabouts, and we think that it’s best to investigate to flush out who is behind this foul deed and what is going. Please forgive us for not coming to your rescue and to have put you in such a foul ordeal, your highness.” he said with concern in his tone and bowed his head.“My Lady, I have my most trusted guards to patrol the guild grounds to ensure your safety. No one can enter the guild without our approval, which is to say, your highness, any visitors that may have heard of your presence here would have to go through us and only when we are fully satisfied that they mean you no harm, are they allowed to have an audience with you.” Callahan added. Frederick and Callahan stood there waiting for the Princess to react to their report on how they chanced upon her in the forest. Sweat ran down the side of their head as the Princess did not utter a word. He wondered if he has done the wrong thing by hurting the wizard for he (the wizard) may have some sort of link to the Princess. The minutes ticked by slowly while the two men waited. Once Frederick lifted his bowed head and looked right at her, Alethea felt herself blush for his stare was so intense. Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach, nervously. The gentleman was rather handsome, his face that of a warrior, and from what she could see by just a quick scan of his form, Frederick had the hands of a strong man; they could easily wrap around both of her hands, swallowing them, most likely. She’d seen many a handsome gentleman, but none quite as much as he. They both seemed to be under a certain spell, as they both stared at each other. It wasn’t until Franny went walking by did the spell break and Alethea, hearing Frederick speak again, was brought out of her own trance and listened intently to his words—and his voice. It was almost mesmerizing, captivating her as it caressed its way to her ears, his words entering her mind but not quite registering. She heard someone clearing their throat beside, and she turned her head to find Franny standing there with a jug filled with fresh water. Franny clucked her tongue pouring more water into Alethea’s mug then moved to sit on the stool sitting beside the bed. With the trance no longer having its hold upon the Princess, she was able to piece together what Frederick had said about the dark forest and how they came about to rescuing her. It was an interesting story; one that sounded unbelievable, but she knew, deep in her heart and soul, it was all true. She felt like a different person, no longer an innocent (pure still) and naïve of the evils that roamed the world. Once more turning her gaze upon Frederick and then to Callahan, she let out a soft sigh, speaking to them both.“I, once again, thank you for saving me from such a horrible man. I hope to never again cross paths with this Wizard and his minions. As for the decor, I hardly even noticed and looking at it now, I find it quite splendid and cozy. The bed is comfortable enough, I need nothing better. I may be a princess, but that doesn’t mean I am a spoiled one.” She smiled softly, then, gazed over to Franny, whispering softly, so the men would not hear, “I wish to stand, Franny, and walk, to exercise my legs for a bit. It would help rebuild my strength, what do you think?” The nursemaid, shocked by her ward’s request, considered for a moment or two before nodding her head. “Aye. It may help. You may get up and walk around, just be sure to put this on, will you; while in the presence of gentlemen.” Franny had stood up and held out a purple cloak to Alethea, who nodded in response, and, with the assistance of Franny, she’d swung her legs over the side of the bed, feet planted firmly against the floor. Patting Franny’s hand as it reached out to assist the Princess in standing, Alethea waved it away and looked to Frederick. “I wish for Sir Frederick’s assistance, instead, Franny. He is much stronger and I can lean upon when I become too tired to walk on my own. I would enjoy a walk outside, where the air is fresh and clean. That’s if, of course, he does not mind.” Not at all happy but having no choice in the matter, Franny sighed and looked inquiringly at Sir Frederick; Alethea doing the same. He looked at her as she got off the bed, planting her feet on the ground, the nursemaid close by. Her feet are dainty, delicate and kind of small as compared to other ladies in court. Frederick was stunned by the Princess’ request; he is after all an ordinary knight not worthy of escorting a Princess such as her. Still, he cannot refuse a member of the royal family’s request. He could feel their inquiring stare as he stood there like a statue, unsure how to respond or what to say. He looked at the Princess whose eyes are upon him, his neck suddenly felt warm and his heart racing. Frederic wondered why the Princess wanted him to escort her while there are better knights or lord in the guild. Callahan stared at Frederick, wanted to yell at him for keeping her highness waiting is unbecoming that of a knight, when at last, Frederick spoke “Certainly, Mi’lady, it would be an honor to escort you. May I suggest that Princess Alethea bring along a thick fur collared cape as it’s chilly outside.” he said with a bow as he walked towards her to guide her out of the room, holding her cape with his left hand. Fredrick walked slowly by the Princess’ side, despite having gone through a harrowing ordeal, the Princess has an angelic aura about her; the scent of her body is rosy sweet as if she has just come out from a bathe. Frederick is mesmerized by her as he walked beside her, guiding her along the way so that she does not trip or knock on an ornament, hurting herself. The guards bowed as she walked pass the main hall and into the open air. The night air is chilling, Frederick, being a knight, put the cape over Princess Alethea to keep her warm. Light drizzle greeted them, Frederic has never escorted a Princess before, his nervousness is apparent, his heart is racing rapidly. He chuckled to himself at the thought that he is a brave knight that can go through countless dangers for his country and king, yet in the presence of a dainty Princess, his hands and legs shook like a leave. He stole a look at the Princess, at proximity, he noticed that the Princess is more beautiful than anyone woman he has laid his eyes on; Frederick cursed himself for looking at the princess the way he did; continued to walk in silence not bold enough to utter a word to the Princess. Frederick heard something from the distance, he cocked his head to the direction of the sound, as it got closer, he can tell that it’s the flapping of wings. He looked at the winged creature that is fast approaching, a man / woman is on it holding a spear. “You highness, please stand behind me.” He urged as he stood there with his sword drawn, ready to fight off the winged creature and its rider if they prove to be a threat to the Princess. The winged creature hovers over them, the stranger in cloak dismounted it, got on the knees and spoke “Good evening, you highness.” The stranger said. Alethea smiled, happy that Frederick agreed to be her escort. Wrapping her fingers around his arm as he moved to stand and guide her from the chamber, Alethea could feel how well-toned the muscles in his arm were. They felt like a rock, and her fingers didn't quite reach all the way around; a few inches left between. As they continued down the hall and towards the door, Alethea looked around quietly, feeling at peace with the knight beside her. She thought about making him her personal guard; the current one was apparently not a very good one. Sir Frederick seemed more capable of protecting her, a Princess of Charles, rather than Jamie, who happened to be a much older man, the same age as Callahan, most likely. The fresh air of the night brought Alethea out from her deep thoughts; the light drizzle hitting her face and dampening her short hair before Frederick had placed the fur-collared cap about her person. Bringing it tight around herself, Alethea huddled closer to Frederick, her entire arm curling around his. Just then, she heard a whispering sound in the darkness and looked up, taking notice of the winged creature flying down towards with a single rider who voluntarily dismounted. As the stranger kneeled down in front of them and spoke directly towards her, Alethea moved from behind Frederick's protective back and looked curiously upon the stranger. "Do I know you? How did you know where to find me?" The stranger stood up, planted her spear on the ground and removed her hood revealing herself to the Princess in the hope that she can recognize her. She walked towards the Princess, "You highness, I mean you no harm. I hail from Land of the Chill. My name is Marathi of the Chain clan. I was sent by the High Council to protect your highness as our high priestess, Athena sensed danger in your path. I have a scroll in which I am to give to you, your highness as prove of my origin and why our clan wants to protect you." she said and knelt again in front of the Princess with the scroll in her hands, raised it up and offered it to the Princess. "Your highness, please hold your hand." Frederick said not trusting Marathi, stepped forward before the Princess touched the scroll, he cast a spell of purity on the scroll to be certain that it does not contain poison or any bobby trap that will harm the Princess. "Your scroll seemed harmless, Marathi," he said, "but I cannot let any harm befall on her highness that might be hidden in the scroll that my magic cannot detect. If you was so kind as to open the scroll and read its contents to her." he demanded. Frederick does not know about Dark Elves, in demanding such a task to a Dark Elf would certainly be deadly for the Dark Elves of the Chain clan are a proud race. They have been masters of other Elf races for a long time and regarded them as slaves, humans are not their enemies nor ally, to them are weak and fickle not worth their time nor effort to enslave. Morathi enraged by the request, took a look at the man who has just addressed her, "He is just a mere mortal!" she thought. Feeling even more enraged that a mere weak human demanded such of her, "You are but a lowly mortal, who are you to make such a request?" Marathi hissed. Frederick smiled at her "When it comes to the safety of her highness, I cannot allow strange and dubious creature near her, much less give her a scroll of dubious origin!" he snapped. His words ignited her anger and wrath, clinching her fist to contain it. Marathi remembered that Athena have asked her to be more tolerant to the human race as they can be foolish and suspicious to anything that is unknown to them but to her, the human man in front of her has stepped over her boundaries therefore she must teach him to know his place. She stood up, looked Frederick in the eye with death in her eyes said "How dare you implied that I will harm Alethea! She is like a sister to me!" Marathi kept the scroll and summoned her spear. She grabbed it as it came flying to her then pointed it at him "Fight me you mortal and taste my wrath! We shall see who has the right to protect Alethea!" Frederick drew his sword poised for attack, cast spiritual arrows aiming at Marathi. "The dark creature shows her true colors! To threaten a knight that had sworn to protect is tantamount to mean harm to the Princess." Frederick at a ready to strike with his sword and arrows when he heard a command to stop. The Princess looked upon the strange woman curiously, a slight flicker of recognition sparking in the far reaches of her mind. Somehow, somewhere, she knew who this woman was. She reached out a hand slowly to take the scroll, but the commanding voice of Frederick forced it to stop. Wide-eyed, Alethea looks up at him, slightly confused by his angry and over-protective reaction. The woman was only here to deliver a message, why would she wish to harm the Princess of Charles? She listened to the angry exchange between the two, and it wasn't until then she'd realized who exactly this woman was. The name had only just registered in her mind and everything was becoming quite clear to her; Marathi has always been a close friend, very much like a long-lost sister. They'd first met when Alethea was ten years of age, and Marathi being a dark elf and a little older than she, the Dark Elf had actually rescued the Princess once more before, only from a wild boar in the forest not forbidden to enter. As the memories pushed forward into her exhausted mind, the two drew weapons upon one another, leaving Alethea no other choice but to prevent a battle from happening. Taking the steps towards them, she intercepts them by placing her body between them, her voice soft but commanding as she spoke with a hand on each side, halting their movements. "No. Do not fight, please. Frederick, Marathi is a friend of mine, you will not harm." Turning her gaze from the knight and to the Dark Elf, she continues, "Marathi, you will not harm Frederick either. He is also a friend and now my-- protector against evil. He rescued me just recently from a Wizard. Why not work together to protect me? We can all be friends or perhaps, just allies. Please, lay down your arms and let me read the scroll." She gently took the scroll from Marathi's hands and opened it before giving them the chance to respond and began reading it. Marathi and Frederick stand down upon the Princess’ words. Frederick looked at the Princess with a puzzled look. He wondered how or when the Princess has a Dark Elf for a friend. The Dark Elf isn’t exactly living right next door where acquaintance can be made, she is from a faraway land unknown to many. Nevertheless, Frederick kept his sword and recalled the arrows. He kept his eye on the Dark Elf, watching every move she made, ready to strike if she posed a threat. Morita removed the cloak that has been covering her body and face. She pinned her spear to the ground; smiled, walked pass Frederick to hug her close friend.(( looked at Alethea and frowned commenting that she should change her barber for he certainly did not do a good job in cutting her hair. She told Alethea that her purpose of being here is to protect her from harm that is coming her way, the human knight is not equipped not skillful enough to fight off the Dark Minions. Frederick took offense in her words, “Elf girl, I was the one who rescued her highness from that accursed wizard who wanted to sacrifice her!” he said proudly.”Bah, that was pure luck human! I was high up in the air at that time, did not know that A was the bounded woman. Your magic is weak, you were lucky to defeat him.” Marathi said with a sneer.“Pure luck?!? Perhaps the good elf girl would like to taste my magic and skill?” challenged Frederick.“Do not make me laugh, human. The battle will be over in a blink of an eye.” Marathi challenged back. Feeling humiliated, Frederick turned to Alethea and said “Your highness, do I have your permission to put this elf in her place?” he asked. The Dark Elf who stood beside the Princess patted her hand assuring her that she won’t hurt nor kill Frederick. “Come, human. Show me what you are made of.” she said smiling at Frederick. Morathi summoned her spear which flew to her hand immediately, stood far away from the Princess while waiting for Frederick to be within striking distance. Frederick summoned his lethal arrows and drew his sword, as he charged at Marathi, his arrows flew towards her at a blinding speed. Marathi jumped into the air, pointing her spear at Frederick while dodging his arrows. She swooped down at Frederick who tried to block her attack with his sword; the blow was too strong for him; as it struck his sword, it flew off his hand landing on the ground with a Lew loud clank. Marathi pointed the tip of her spear at his neck and grinned. Just like that, the fight was over.“Well, human, it looks like your life is mine to take isn’t it?” she smirked. “Didn’t I tell you that it will be over in a blink of an eye?” Frederick could not believe that he had lost to the Dark Elf. He; the next in line for the King’s elite Knights. He looked at Morita who is still pointing her spear at him, yield and said “I concede defeat, Dark Elf.” he said humbly. Morita lowered her spear, walked back to the Princess and whispered something to her.“Now that the duel is out of the way, let me tell you the dangers that you will be facing, your highness.” Morita said, “Athena foresaw that your life is in grave danger, the incident in the forest is but one of them. The wizard will not stop his quest to unleash the dark force, but without your flesh and soul, he is unable to achieve that. Therefore, he will not stop at nothing to take your life to achieve the goal, your highness. It was your good fortune that Frederick was there to rescue you, although his purpose was to dispel the forest of beats that plagued the village.” She paused, “I was sent here to protect you, your highness.”“She has my protection, Dark Elf” Frederick said proudly. “You need not concern yourself on that part.”“Hahaha...human, I have just defeated you, yet you stood there talking as if you are powerful. The princess would be safe in my protection, why don’t you run along and play hero?” she sneered.“Dark Elf, We can protect the Princess together, I think a double protection would do her highness some good. If you need to leave or rest, wouldn’t you rest or leave at ease knowing that there is someone else protecting her?” Frederick asked.“Well, I suppose you are right, human. So be it then, we joint protect her highness, but you must listen to my advice and not question me.”“Aye, I will not question you seeing that you are far superior in combat skills, if you’d excuse me, I leave you with the princess while I go about in honoring my post as the Elite Knight.” He said walking towards the entrance to the guild. When Frederick is out of sight, Morita asked “Your highness, do you trust your life in his hands?” Alethea sighed in exasperation as the two quarreled once again before engaging in a full-blown battle that closely resembled more of a spar. She stood with arms crossed underneath her breasts and watched as Marathi defeated Frederick in the blink of an eye, just as the Dark Elf said. The Princess would have stepped up and intervened before the knight left, but she was too late after realizing what he’d said about leaving to honor his post as the Elite Guard. She must remember to request his services as her own personal guard. Surely he’d agree to it, wouldn’t he? Sighing once again, she turns to find Marathi facing her and awaiting a response to her question. Stepping towards the Dark Elf, Alethea places a hand on her shoulder, “Yes. I do trust him, my Sister. He is a very good man and I could not imagine having another knight protecting me. He and Sir Callahan both rescued me from the Wizard, and I am forever in their debt. My father would agree, once he finds out of my situation. I’m sure he is more than worried about me.” The Princess’ gaze seemed to wander off for a moment, a glassy sheen blanketing her eyes. A moment or so later, she blinked them a few times and turned them back to Marathi. “I need to send for my father, but I fear it may not be the best of ideas. Though, he needs to know of the danger I am in and what you have told me.” Wringing her hands, Alethea looks around worriedly. “I can sense the evil lurking about outside, mishaps we should return within the walls of the guild.” The moment the words left her lips, a breeze blew passed and through her short, cropped hair. It made her shiver and she heard laughter, the sound of it sending shivers down her spine. Gasping and stepping backwards, she lifts a hand to play with the ties holding together the furred cape. “Let us go inside, Marathi. The evil is CIO-“ She cried out when the very sensation of fingers touched her neck and slowly wrapped around it. In response, Alethea’s hands flew up to try and pry the invisible fingers from her neck as they began to strangle her. Then, just as quickly as it all happened, the fingers disappeared, as did the evil presence but a lingering, sinister laugh echoed in her ears and the voice of the Wizard was heard, his words holding a promise, "You will not escape me, my lovely little Princess. The Master awaits his precious gift, and he will have it-- soon." Eyes widening in fright, Alethea stepped back and stumbled as her feet tangled. Falling backwards and onto the ground, she whimpered, gray eyes peering around frantically. Frederick humiliated by his defeat to the Dark Elf stormed through the Knight’s Guild ignoring greetings from lesser knights leaving them puzzled. He felt that after all his years of hard training, he could not even lay a blow on the Dark Elf who deflected his attacks as if they are done by three old toddlers. He walked towards the Elite Knight’s guild where the high knight, Jasmine O’Daily is waiting. As he entered the halls heading towards the hall of inauguration Frederick felt an evil presence. He stopped to get a better feel of this presence that is cold and dark, a small voice can be heard telling him to beware of the next time they meet, and it will be his doom. Summoning the all seeing-eye, Frederick could see a figment of the evil Wizard’s shadow lurking in the darkness. Using his light of purity, he purged the shadow out of existence. With that gone, Frederick continued to the hall where a group of Elite Knights stood waiting to welcome him. He bowed to Jasmine who walked down the steps towards him accompanied by two lovely ladies on each side. A girl no more than twenty years old; holding with both hands his new amour to her left. To the right, a girl aged twenty hold his weapon and shield. Jasmine holds a scroll and what looked like a knife stopped before him. Frederick kneeled as Jasmine read out the contents of the scroll telling him his duties and responsibilities as a member of the Elite Knight. She summoned the girl on the left to give Frederick his new amour who is followed by the girl on the right. He accepted both with his hand while kneeling down. “You may stand Sir Frederick.” Jasmine said. Obeying her command, he stood up before her, “Take this knife, it is a symbol of your status in this guild. If you must know, your rank is second to me, that knife when shown to any Elite Knights will yield to you awaiting your command. Use this wisely.” she explained. “Welcome to the Elite Knight, Frederick.” Jasmine smiled giving him a light hug. Morathi armed herself when she saw the princess being attacked by an invisible enemy. She used her Dark Elf’s third eye to spot the invisible assassin, she could not see any but could sense its presence. The evil presence was gone leaving the princess falling to the ground, rushing to the Princess, Marathi got hold of her using her right hand while using her telepathic abilities to summon Frederick to come to Alethea’s aid. Marathi concerned that Alethea might be harm if she let her be in the open hurriedly carried her into the guild not caring if she would be attack by the knights patrolling within. Her first priority is to get Alethea to safety away from the open and the elements. Frinny who is worried about the Princess has ventured out to search for her, she wandered through the guild in search for Alethea. She heard the clashing of steel in the distance instantly knew that something is amiss. She ran as fast as her legs can carry her. When she reached near the exit of the guild, she saw Alethea being carried by a Dark Elf. It would appear that the knights have mistaken the Dark Elf as an intruder and abductor. “My lords! Please hold your steel!” she shouted at the top of her lungs running towards the battle. Frederick who has just received his Elite Knight’s gear could sense someone calling to him asking him to go at once to Alethea’s aid. He excused himself explaining that the Princess needs his assistance he left the guild in great haste hoping that he is not too late. Frederick summoned “Haste” that will enable him to run very fast without using much energy and effort. When he is half way through the Knight’s Guild, he can hear muffled voices pleading the knights to stop attacking. His eyebrows knitted with what he has heard in the distance, using the last of his “haste” spell, he sped towards the noise. As he got nearer, he could see Franny standing in between the knights and the Dark Elf who has Alethea in her arms. “Stop! Do not harm the Dark Elf!” he shouted.

The Sacrifice (LunaTalula & BenIgna)|rating:3.0

A Game of Truth or Dare - L.A. (OOC)

The Feel free to discuss anything and everything. If it's game related please mark it so. I'd like to see people discuss their character's relationships with the other housemates and some of the things that may've happened over the month they've all lived together. Also, would like to see some discussion on how people would like to see the game evolve and if there should be some free-form "character introduction" and other role-play before the Truth or Dare begins. ("Andi" Elle Age:19Gender:Male, but he's never openly stated it Occupation:Unknown to the other housemates, but he leaves late and doesn't usually get back til at least 2 or 3 in the morning Sexual Orientation:Bisexual, with a preference for girls Personality:Andi is a rather mysterious character in the house, who doesn't speak much to the other housemates. He seems to be quite shy, and while the housemates know his name, he has likely never told him his major, his job, or even whether he's a boy or girl. He isn't rude or unpleasant, but rarely makes eye contact. His shy, sweet voice is rarely heard, but when he does speak, it's likely often to offer to help (clean, cook/get food), which is generally followed by him performing the task quickly and silently, and then disappearing into his room. Hobbies:Andi, again, is rather mysterious, but he seems to enjoy music and most of the housemates would likely assume he watches TV or plays video games pretty often based on the sounds that come out of his room. History:Born and raised in Los Angeles, Andi's life has been relatively uneventful. The most notable event in his life is being homeschooled after incessant teasing by students in Middle School. His mother, living on child support and alimony, took good care of him. Andi earned a scholarship through various academic and artistic achievements, a point of which some of his housemates may be aware. Character Likes and Dislikes:Andi seems to avoid the more boisterous and gruff members of the house/campus, and is more polite to people who are polite to him and don't probe him much. Andi likes music of all kinds, and is a reasonable cook, and he does seem inclined to talk more to the girls than boys. Player's O/O's:O/O Thread (- In this case, Group scenes (particularly MFF) are a big plus. Any other notes:I'd rather Andi remain secretive until the housemates seek out those secrets (I like to explore my character through plot anyway). Name:Derek Malcolm Davies (Age:24Gender:Male Occupation:Architecture/Student/Amateur Porn Star Sexual Orientation:Straight Appearance:Derek is roughly 6'1, possessing a well-kept clean cut appearance, framed by a welcoming smile and an immaculate set of pearly white teeth. Derek is also very fond of glasses, although he doesn't seem to suffer any vision loss. Just a personal aesthetic preference. Personality:For the most part Derek is a cool cucumber. Soft-spoken with a deep voice, though clear-headed, he had a tendency to think things through and formulate plans before taking any sort of action. He's more than comfortable in leadership roles though he likes to govern with a democratic approach, weighing whatever options presented to him. He often acts as the voice of reason in the house. On the flip side, he may come across to others as unfeeling, detached and emotionally distant. For as long as he can remember Derek has wanted to build something great, something the world will forever remember even after he's gone, being the son of engineers may have something to do with this. He idolized men like Pierre L'Enfant, Paul Williams and Raffaello and aspired to their level of greatness. Derek does not fear many things, though not being able to live up to his dreams would probably be one. Another is marriage, he absolutely fears it. Hobbies:Engineering, design, exercise, architecture (obviously), jogging, cricket, basketball. History:The son of British Jamaican immigrants, Derek lived in the East London borough Bella for most of his young adult life. While in high school he was involved in track & field, establishing a personal best record in the 100m and 5.5 meters in the poll vaulting trials. He came to the U.S. on a scholarship after high school to pursue his interest in urban planning & architecture. He settled in the Los Angeles suburb after receiving acceptance into UCLA's architecture program. Sometime during his sophomore year at UCLA Derek began to run low on funds, to support himself he began to star in a series of amateur adult films under the pseudonym" Jack London ". Though it's unlikely that he harbors any serious intentions in going professional, he has received little attention thus far. He has not yet shared this personal bit of information with the rest of his roommates. Character Likes:Structure/Order, Athletic women, Banging bodies, Maturity, Independence, Lounges, Luxury Cars, Reggae, urban settings. Character Dislikes:Disorder, Weak willed people, Needy people, Loud noisy things, Nightclubs, rural areas. Player's O/O's:O. O's (#msg6730932)Any other notes:There's probably something I'm missing... Name:Mikaela Johnson Age:18Gender:Female Occupation:Student Sexual Orientation:Straight (but she is a closet bisexual, she has no idea that she likes girls)Appearance:(is a girl that it's not afraid to do crazy stuff if she is having fun while doing it. Known to even jumped out of a plane she is a girl that loves risks. Her sex life it's open and varied she just loves sex no matter with whom. However, she is crazy but also very kind girl, she knows when to shut up and when to admit she was wrong. She has been known to be a girl that will keep promises as she values these with her heart. Hobbies:Partying, Singing, Swimming, Extreme sports. History:She was raised in L.A. Ever since little she always had a love to do crazy things, jumping out of the ceiling of her house at the young age of ten she broke her first feet at that time. Her parents did their best to raise her with values and raise her to keep her promises which she did. At the age of fifteen she jumped out of a plane with her parents just for the fun of it. She loved the thrill of just doing stupid stuff without even thinking too much about it. She has been in the group of friends ever since it formed. Her parents died at the age of seventeen leaving her with their mansion and all of their money which she put into an education. She sold the mansion soon after and moved into a housing near the university. She wanted to become a famous Extreme sports girl and for that she needed to know the risks involved into what she was doing. Enrolling in a small course of medicine she hoped to gain the knowledge to be able to do some basic stuff if she needed to. Character Likes:Strong bodies and rough attitude. She loves bad boys, dominant partners are a must for her since she gets turned on when she is being dominated around. Character Dislikes:Liars and deceitful people. Player's O/O's: (other notes:Anything else you'd like to include about yourself or your character. (Name:Caroline Drake Played By:AribethAmkiirAge:22Gender:Female Occupation:Student/Waitress/Bartender Sexual Orientation:Pansexual Appearance:5’8” (without heels), blue eyes, butterfly tattoo on the back of her left shoulder, and the word “love” tramp stamped and bordered with roses on her lower back. Black hair falls to the middle of her back, and she seems to speak in a southern accent when she’s excited, or drunk. Personality:Caroline is a good ‘of country girl. She loves having a good time and has a vast interest in a number of widely different areas. She has a pretty good sense of who she is, even if she doesn’t exactly know where she’s going. For now, she’s happy living day-to-day, and when she figures out a plan for the future, she’ll determinedly follow it. Hobbies:She likes beaches, surfing, volleyball, soccer, guns, bows, 4x4’s, horses, and cowboys. History:Born in Dallas, Texas. Caroline was raised in a very conservative fashion. As she grew up, she found that she didn’t agree with everything she’d been taught, and more she was eager to carve her own path in life. She earned a scholastic scholarship to UCLA and moved to L.A. right after graduation from high school. Falling in love with the West coast lifestyle, she hasn’t visited home in a few years and is trying to figure out what she’s going to do after she graduates in a year. For now, she’s eager to have fun and maybe find that special something, or someone, that’ll cause all the other tumblers to click into place. Character Likes:Caroline is attracted to people’s personalities. She finds people who are outgoing, thrill-seeking, and extroverted most appealing. Though pair that with assertive, caring, and humble, and she’s likely to fall head-over-heels for that person. Character Dislikes:Insensitive, uncaring, asshats. People who are too aggressive, or give off the impression that they’re better than anyone. Player's O/O's:My O/O’s (other notes:Likely able to post 2–3 times a week, will not be on E at all on Fridays, and possibly Thursdays.(Name:Tristan MacKenzie Played by:AzzmeisterAge:21Gender:male Occupation:bartender Sexual Orientation:Heterosexual Appearance:see picture Personality:quiet and friendly, he normal keeps to himself due to his lack of energy from his bar shifts. He is relatively easy to get along with and whilst at work is charming and talkative Hobbies:he plays guitar and is a regular cinema viewer, he also enjoys rock climbing and basketball History:Tristan is in LA for university, he and his friends have taken regular trips around the world to climb mountains and cliffs Character Likes:Women who know what they want, teasing, costumes, dirty talk Character Dislikes:BDSM, bondage, toilet play, mutilation branding player's O/O's:sorry don't have one(Name:Emma Dahl Played By:Stargirl Age:19Gender:Female Occupation:Foreign Student Sexual Orientation:Straight (But she may get to know otherwise)Appearance:see picture Personality:She has grown as a simple town girl, so is kind of ingenuous more than shy, but she is really shy too. Anyway, she opens to learn, she may just be surprised how much she will learn. What she doesn't know about herself is that she is really true gullible and also of a very submissive nature. Hobbies:Emma wants to make friends and learn more about people. As she is still adapting to the new country, she has been travel around a lot, going shop and very likely seeing all that has to be seen in the Sunny California. History:Emma got this scholarship to study in US. That was the most amazing thing in the life of the girl that have been born in a small town in Sweden. She has never been out of her town before this and now the world feels like so big. Character Likes:She is actually of a very submissive nature, so any strong wiled man can get her heart easily. Character Dislikes:She is not kind of is liking people as she has so much to learn, but weak man don't make her mind. Player's O/O's:I'm very open. Just no bathroom play or dead things please. Just like her, I like to learn. Any other notes:Just ask me. Ryukyu, to answer your question in the Interest thread. The seven (tentative) players are myself, you, Alabaster, Blackest Knight, Acid Lips, Muse, and Jaden Mystic. Foxy decided to step out. "Ah, alright, cool. That's what was throwing me off. You might just want to put (Seeking 1 female) on the interest thread topic." I've been doing some thinking and this role-play is definitely missing something in terms of character and I believe it's an antagonist. I wouldn't mind a more seasoned antagonistic type of character to balance things out. The problem I see going in is that people get along too well or not at all with this role-play, we need a polarizing figure to unite or divide the house. Someone who can get the other roommates worked up. Someone who may be opportunistic, deceitful, self-centered, and not afraid to make enemies in the house would be awesome. Basically we need a bitch. Let's face it, a bitch can bring out the drama. Drama is what makes things interesting. I wouldn't mind a character who's playing the house against itself for her personal amusement, maybe she has dirt on everyone, starting rumors, etc. so much can be done with this type of character. We need a mean girl. That's just my $.02. Quote from: Blackest Knight on 27-09-2012, 04:24:39I've been doing some thinking and this role-play is definitely missing something in terms of character and I believe it's an antagonist. I wouldn't mind a more seasoned antagonistic type of character to balance things out. The problem I see going in is that people get along too well or not at all with this role-play, we need a polarizing figure to unite or divide the house. Someone who can get the other roommates worked up. Someone who may be opportunistic, deceitful, self-centered, and not afraid to make enemies in the house would be awesome. Basically we need a bitch. Let's face it, a bitch can bring out the drama. Drama is what makes things interesting. I wouldn't mind a character who's playing the house against itself for her personal amusement, maybe she has dirt on everyone, starting rumors, etc. so much can be done with this type of character. We need a mean girl. That's just my $.02. That's not exactly what I want. I want a safe, fun environment. I don't want "Big Brother" or "The Real World". People who get along just fine is exactly what I'm looking for. However, if this does become a long term game with people interested in playing after the night of Truth or Dare, then I would consider an antagonist. Like you said, a long term game needs a bit of drama to keep it going. I think that's a hurdle we can discuss if and when that time arrives. "Conflict doesn't have to be person vs. person. It seems like there will be a bit of person vs. self, and some peer pressure and the like. Good Ropers will sir their own drama without getting overdramatic." Ryukyu suggested talking about relationships, housing arrangements and other things in the interest thread. That's what this thread is for. Please feel free to hash all that out so that when the game does go live some of those details will already be figured out. (Spencer Age:21Gender:Female Occupation:Singer/Student Sexual Orientation:Stat/bi-curious Appearance:see pics Personality:Shy at first, which is surprising because of the fame. Kind, Good heart. Trusts people easily and gets often hurt because of it. Hobbies:Music, singing. History:She and a few of her friends were in a music contest and won. They were given the opportunity to join a record label. So at 16 is when her band took off. She loved the life, but after a while her friends started to get bored with it and wanted to move on to other things. She became a solo act a year and a half later and wrote most of the songs on her first solo album that came out on her 17th birthday. Going from being a group to a solo act was bit of a change for her, but she took it all in stride and rode out the wave meeting new people every few days while touring and had one hell of a time overseas in her first gig over there. Now home for a while, she's graduated from high school, and is emerging herself into college life wanting to just be a normal college kid.... Character Likes:a sweet guy that looks like a bad boy... Character Dislikes:Rude, snobby people. Player's O/O's:#msg4674393 (#msg4674393)Any other notes: So who wants to know my char? Yes, please. Mikaela seems like someone would want to know. So how do they know each other? Not a clue. If Mikaela is a Freshman in college, why isn't she living in the dorms? Or would she have residency? They could know each other from school somehow. I was thinking that she has her own apartment that her folks pay or something like that With my character anyone can know him from his bartending job If she has her own apartment, why would she be living at the mansion? And I thought her folks were dead? "Well, Andi, like many of my characters, has smatterings of my personality. He doesn't... actually, I won't mention that, seems more like a thing that would be more interesting to learn in play. Anyway, maybe it'd be a good idea to reiterate the point is that all these people do 'know' each other, presumably. They all live in the same house. I assume Marybeth's question has more to do with who knows who better than the rest of the housemates."" Anyway, based on the bios here, Andi would probably be friendliest with Mikaela, honestly more than likely because she has a punk/goth/outcast/whatever style. Andi finds it's easier to interact with people like that. He'd otherwise be friendly and polite, but standoffish with the other members of the house (except possibly Muse's character, whom I haven't yet fully read as his bio wasn't done yet when I last checked). If anyone thinks they'd approach Andi, let me know. I'll let you know what his reaction might be." Quote from: AribethAmkiir on 28-09-2012, 11:08:21If she has her own apartment, why would she be living at the mansion? And I thought her folks were dead?haha true confused the char for a minute. I guess she can live in the mansion, or she could sell it to live in the dorms and have money on the bank, what do you think? I thought she inherited money when her parents died... and like Ryukyu said, everyone should be living at the Mansion. The question about the dorms is that she's 18, presumably a Freshman, and most colleges/universities require Freshmen to live on campus during their first year unless they have residency in that state. Mikaela loosing her parents at the age of 17 would've likely made the state step in, unless another relative was available, which would cause a lot of legal issues. She could've, of course, turned 18 shortly after her parents death making her a legal adult and that would bypass all the other stuff. Still the question begs to be asked, why is she living in this mansion instead of the one her parents left her? There are probably questions I should've asked prior to now. Ahhh you all live in another mansion is that it? Sorry English is not my main language, so I confuse some stuff up. She is living in the mansion her parents left her however I can change that to suit the story better if you wish. "Yeah, the idea is all the characters live together, in, what I assume to be, school-oriented housing. I wasn't aware it wasn't on campus. Marybeth, maybe fill us in on the details, and maybe 'mansion' isn't the best word for this place, unless it's literally a mansion. I was picturing an upscale student housing, rather than a full-on mansion." it could be a mansion if it was a really high class unisex frat/sorority house Quote from: AribethAmkiir on 28-09-2012, 21:23:56I thought she inherited money when her parents died... and like Ryukyu said, everyone should be living at the Mansion. The question about the dorms is that she's 18, presumably a Freshman, and most colleges/universities require Freshmen to live on campus during their first year unless they have residency in that state. Mikaela loosing her parents at the age of 17 would've likely made the state step in, unless another relative was available, which would cause a lot of legal issues. She could've, of course, turned 18 shortly after her parents death making her a legal adult and that would bypass all the other stuff. Still the question begs to be asked, why is she living in this mansion instead of the one her parents left her? There are probably questions I should've asked prior to now. I can think of a few ways to possibly recon this thing if you're open to the idea, maybe the mansion we're all in is the same house Mikaela's parents left her before their death? The house being close to the university is a draw to students commuting within that area. She's renting it out because she can't afford monthly expenses. Usually when the owners of a house dies the house it's paid for completely. So I think her mansion would be paid full when her parents died or is it different in the US? Quote from: Acid Lips on 28-09-2012, 21:44:11Usually when the owners of a house dies the house it's paid for completely. So I think her mansion would be paid full when her parents died or is it different in the US? Usually, though it's not foreclosed on if someone is making payments. It's entirely possible with the time frame that you gave that you lived off your parents residual income. Quote from: Blackest Knight on 28-09-2012, 21:42:17I can think of a few ways to possibly recon this thing if you're open to the idea, maybe the mansion we're all in is the same house Mikaela's parents left her before their death? The house being close to the university is a draw to students commuting within that area. She's renting it out because she can't afford monthly expenses. I like this idea. It gives my celeb type char a reason to be in the place. Okay. Mansion may not be the most accurate word. The house I'm thinking has at least 8 separate bedrooms, one for each character. 4 bathrooms, a mix between half bathrooms (shower, toilet, sink) and full bathrooms (tub/shower, toilet, sink). Add in your various linen closets and that would comprise the top floor. Main floor would be your large living/TV room, kitchen, dinning room, den, and a game room with pool/billiards, dartboard, and possibly some other games. Hot tub/jacuzzi and swimming pool would be located in the backyard. Going with a unisex, off campus, student housing "House" works for me. Can even call it a Frat/Sorority without the whole Greek nonsense. PI originally required people to be school aged but not necessarily enrolled in school. If we made it school housing, obviously everyone would be required to be enrolled in school. If it's just a house that rents out rooms then there would be a wider variety of characters, at least in my opinion. Looking over the current characters the only character who may not be enrolled in college may be Andi (Ryukyu's character). What I mean by "off-campus" is that it's located on the outskirts of campus. Close enough ride a bike to classes but not technically on campus. Possibly even a little too far to walk, unless someone wanted to leave 15–20 minutes before class started. Characters should at least be familiar with each other. That doesn't mean they're all the best of friends, but when the game opens they've all lived together for approximately a month. Hopefully gone out and partied together. It'd be nice if there was tension, sexual or otherwise, between different characters. I'd personally like them all to get along, or at least tolerate each other. Again, that could be limited to when they're drinking or the 5 minutes per day they see each other. That's what I'd like people to discuss here in the IOC. If you plan on playing a character who isn't very outgoing and is a bit introverted, then give us some things we can work on. Such as Ryukyu's character potentially connecting with Acid Lip's character and being friendly and making breakfast for people (I forget if this was actually stated, or I'm recalling things incorrectly). Not sure if I'm actually clarifying anything or if I'm just confusing people more. Let me know. She could sell the mansion and go live in the 'House' if that solves everything?. Ok well as I said earlier my character is a bartender so I have no problems with him getting along with any of the characters who decide they have been to the bar he works in Quote from: Blackest Knight on 28-09-2012, 21:42:17I can think of a few ways to possibly recon this thing if you're open to the idea, maybe the mansion we're all in is the same house Mikaela's parents left her before their death? The house being close to the university is a draw to students commuting within that area. She's renting it out because she can't afford monthly expenses. Yeah, I thought of this as well. I don't have a problem with this except from a GM point of view, I don't like giving control over the house/mansion to a PC. Quote from: azzmeister89 on 28-09-2012, 22:03:58ok well as I said earlier my character is a bartender so I have no problems with him getting along with any of the characters who decide they have been to the bar he works in So, are you saying he isn't a student? ok, ok then she will sell the mansion and move to the house, that solves everything I think. No he is still a student, but he works at the bar at nights to pay for his collage fee's and studies during the afternoon before work. For the night of the game he can be enjoying a few nights off or something How do you feel about Caroline and Tristan working at the same bar? It would make sense if they did so yea I'm all up for it Quote from: AribethAmkiir on 28-09-2012, 22:09:34Yeah, I thought of this as well. I don't have a problem with this except from a GM point of view, I don't like giving control over the house/mansion to a PC. One thing that I'm not quite sure about is why our characters are even in the house in the first place. I understand from a role player point of view the function of the house, I just don't understand how 8 people came to co-exist under one roof without any explanation of who owns it or why they're even allowed to live there. We need a bit of backstory to clarify things. Perhaps one of the characters could be a tenant. Or maybe there's an off-screen NPC who owns the house but got the idea to make money out of flipping their house into a privatized dorm for students (or non-students) who go to school or work in the area. My character is an architect if I remember.maybe I built or did some work on converting the house. Well I imagine it would be like any kind of student housing situation, someone owns the house but lives somewhere else so he has renovated it into a small dorm complex and rents it out to students. it's a fairly simple system. Quote from: AribethAmkiir on 28-09-2012, 21:56:42Okay. Mansion may not be the most accurate word. The house I'm thinking has at least 8 separate bedrooms, one for each character. 4 bathrooms, a mix between half bathrooms (shower, toilet, sink) and full bathrooms (tub/shower, toilet, sink). Add in your various linen closets and that would comprise the top floor. Main floor would be your large living/TV room, kitchen, dinning room, den, and a game room with pool/billiards, dartboard, and possibly some other games. Hot tub/jacuzzi and swimming pool would be located in the backyard. Going with a unisex, off campus, student housing "House" works for me. Can even call it a Frat/Sorority without the whole Greek nonsense. :P I originally required people to be school aged but not necessarily enrolled in school. If we made it school housing, obviously everyone would be required to be enrolled in school. If it's just a house that rents out rooms then there would be a wider variety of characters, at least in my opinion. Looking over the current characters the only character who may not be enrolled in college may be Andi (Ryukyu's character). What I mean by "off-campus" is that it's located on the outskirts of campus. Close enough ride a bike to classes but not technically on campus. Possibly even a little too far to walk, unless someone wanted to leave 15–20 minutes before class started. Characters should at least be familiar with each other. That doesn't mean they're all the best of friends, but when the game opens they've all lived together for approximately a month. Hopefully gone out and partied together. It'd be nice if there was tension, sexual or otherwise, between different characters. I'd personally like them all to get along, or at least tolerate each other. Again, that could be limited to when they're drinking or the 5 minutes per day they see each other. That's what I'd like people to discuss here in the IOC. If you plan on playing a character who isn't very outgoing and is a bit introverted, then give us some things we can work on. Such as Ryukyu's character potentially connecting with Acid Lip's character and being friendly and making breakfast for people (I forget if this was actually stated, or I'm recalling things incorrectly). Not sure if I'm actually clarifying anything or if I'm just confusing people more. Let me know. Quote from: Blackest Knight on 28-09-2012, 22:26:45One thing that I'm not quite sure about is why our characters are even in the house in the first place. I understand from a role player point of view the function of the house, I just don't understand how 8 people came to co-exist under one roof without any explanation of who owns it or why they're even allowed to live there. We need a bit of backstory to clarify things. Perhaps one of the characters could be a tenant. Or maybe there's an off-screen NPC who owns the house but got the idea to make money out of flipping their house into a privatized dorm for students (or non-students) who go to school or work in the area. My character is an architect if I remember.maybe I built or did some work on converting the house. "This thread just got going, I wasn't expecting the replies to suddenly rush by, so let me try to catch up here (before I have to head out to chores). Okay. Andi was intended to be a student, I thought we all were. I figured it was Student Housing, and Andi's bio says he's on a scholarship, if I remember correctly."" Anyway, I think the best idea would be to say that this is student housing for some of the richer students/students on scholarships (as it seems everyone falls into one of those two categories). I don't know, I have to run for chores, so, I'll be back in an hour or two." Quote from: Ryukyu Tana on 28-09-2012, 22:36:41"This thread just got going, I wasn't expecting the replies to suddenly rush by, so let me try to catch up here (before I have to head out to chores). Okay. Andi was intended to be a student, I thought we all were. I figured it was Student Housing, and Andi's bio says he's on a scholarship, if I remember correctly."" Anyway, I think the best idea would be to say that this is student housing for some of the richer students/students on scholarships (as it seems everyone falls into one of those two categories). I don't know, I have to run for chores, so, I'll be back in an hour or two." Let's go with this idea. Does that fit your concerns BK? Quote from: AribethAmkiir on 28-09-2012, 22:55:55Let's go with this idea. Does that fit your concerns BK? Yeah, I'm fine with that, but are you fine with that? This is your game. Ok so now that everyone is clear on the housing situation shall we finish of with the list of who knows who and all that? Everybody knows everybody at some extent, what we need to figure out it's who it's best friends with who etc. well Caroline and Tristan work together at a bar so anyone who wants to be close to either of them could easily use the bar as a place for that, I'm not so sure about the others, my character is also taking classical history and world literature as his course so if anyone else wants there characters doing one or both of those that makes sense too I'm still not following the housing situation, but what... since my char is a singer, she could occasionally perform at the bar and elsewhere.... Quote from: Blackest Knight on 28-09-2012, 23:23:12Yeah, I'm fine with that, but are you fine with that? This is your game. Yeah, thanks for asking. I wouldn't have agreed with it if I wasn't fine with it. DI see Caroline as a fun, down-to-earth person. She's got a scholarship to school, but she's only devoted to school enough to keep the scholarship. For the most part she's lost and doesn't exactly know where to go with her life. She's pretty accepting of people and will go out of her way to try to make others feel comfortable. I can see her seeking out Andi, for instance, and inviting him to hang out with the group. Not exactly an organizer but someone who likes to know nobody is being left out. As for Tristan and Caroline working together, that probably just means they know each other a bit better and spend more time together. Which could be a good or bad thing. I'm thinking it might be cool if Tristan got her the job at the bar, or vice versa. What do you think, AZZ? What are you confused about Jaden? "I in no way want to seem like I'm trying to take over, I'm just a GM of a lot of stuff, so I think really carefully about these kinds of things. Feel free to take or leave any advice I give. I just want to help this move along and get everyone on the same page. You may also feel free to tell me to shut up and let you do it, I don't want to get in your way."" Anyway, so, yeah, there are a few players who seem like they might need to consider that if this is student housing for 'richer' students or students with big scholarships Tristan and Derek may need some explanation (since Derek is explicitly stated to be struggling). If I had to guess, I'd say Derek has a nice scholarship for housing and classes, but is now running out of money for food and maybe gas, and has had to take 'other work' to cover expenses outside those scholarship. Or his scholarship doesn't actually quite cover the mansion, but originally he had the funds to cover the difference. As for Tristan, maybe he has a scholarship from school and his bar job pays well enough to cover the housing."" As for character relationships, as I said, Andi would be most likely to interact with Mikaela and Caroline, but wouldn't actively be friends with anyone who didn't approach him first. Someone should probably do that, so they have a reason to 'invite him' to the game." that works for me, regarding the whole scholarship idea, it doesn't have to be a place specifically for rich students or scholarship students, if it's a student house it could just be that there are enough rooms that the rent is low enough for students who are not that well off to live, having all the characters as rich on scholarship is kind of making it harder for everyone to be unique I don't know that we need to get too worried about individual financial situations. It's school housing. For characters like Mikaela and Olivia the school purposefully placed them in housing that would most likely accommodate them for whatever reason. For everyone else, the characters got lucky and were placed in a very "plush" house. Winners of a housing lotto, or possibly beneficiaries of unexpected water damage, smoke damage, or what have you that made their originally assigned housing unlivable. Scholarships can often cover school and housing but not necessarily food, gas, clothes, or books. I don't believe the huge different in economic status is going to matter much unless the game does turn into a long term game, which I hope it does. At which time, I trust players to make it one of those underlying issues within the house that can cause rifts or "drama". I think it will cause drama which is good IC :) I'm getting a strange feeling it's going to turn into one of those RP's that like a cross between gossip girl and other such drama's that I can't name for the life of me Can't say I've ever seen an episode of Gossip Girl. I'm sure there's plenty of similar material out there though. It isn't like it's an original idea. However, I'm hoping we can limit the drama, at least the negative drama, until we're well into the game. Ultimately, I'd like to see what happens to the group and individuals after a night of "things going too far", and how people who have to live with each other behave after an out of control Truth or Dare game. In some ways it's playing with those concepts of friends being able to remain friends after sleeping with each other, and so forth. "We haven't heard much from Muse, I'd like to know more about his character, as he's a gamer, which might intrigue Andi a bit."" Also, it seems we kinda went off somewhere else, I don't know if we established much more than that Caroline and Tristan work together. I would suggest everyone make a post about how they see their character relating to each other character, but I guess that's not fair til we get our last player. So, oh hey, what exactly are the rules of the game?"" I think there should be a random element, like, roll a die and everyone gets a number and whichever comes up is first, and then roll again to see who they ask 'Truth or Dare'. This makes sure everyone's always involved, and then whoever was last 'Truth or Dare'-d rolls and does the next person. Also, are there alternate rules if we don't accept the Truth or Dare?" I PM'd Muse. Depending on his response we may just start with 6 characters and leave it at that. Quote from: Ryukyu Tana on 29-09-2012, 21:36:26"Also, it seems we kinda went off somewhere else, I don't know if we established much more than that Caroline and Tristan work together. I would suggest everyone make a post about how they see their character relating to each other character like this idea and that's what I'd like to see for the time being. Whether or not we get 2 more characters, I think there's enough information currently to figure out how characters feel about those that have already been approved. Quote from: Ryukyu Tana on 29-09-2012, 21:36:26 So, oh hey, what exactly are the rules of the game?"" I think there should be a random element, like, roll a die and everyone gets a number and whichever comes up is first, and then roll again to see who they ask 'Truth or Dare'. This makes sure everyone's always involved, and then whoever was last 'Truth or Dare'-d rolls and does the next person. Also, are there alternate rules if we don't accept the Truth or Dare?" I'd like to get some opinions on this. I personally dislike depending on dice because they are rather random. It's as likely to roll the same number 4 times as it is to roll different numbers four times. That to me leaves too much to chance, and the likelihood of leaving someone out is rather high, in my opinion. My thoughts on the rules for the game went something like this:Round begins - players have a choice of choosing Truth or Dare and declaring it ahead of time for their character by posting it upon the IOC thread. Otherwise, players can play it by ear and see how the game is going in order to give it a more "natural" feel. A combination of both is what I've seen before.- This allows for players to a) see ahead of time which characters are going to take a Dare or Truth and plan accordingly. It also allows players to discuss between themselves ideas for Dares/Truths and begin to plan out the scene. This hopefully will help the game move at a decent speed. The character who last received a Truth or Dare will give the next Truth/Dare until everyone has gone. The round will continue until all characters have had a chance to answer a Truth or Dare, then a new round will begin. Once a round ends, players will once again have the option of announcing their character's preference for Truth or Dare on the IOC board for the upcoming round. Players can change their character's choice up until their character has been asked Truth or Dare in game. Rule for "chickening out" of a Dare or changing from Dare to Truth can be agreed upon by the players or in game by the characters. Looking for input and alternative ideas. "So, okay, say I go first, I'll pick who I choose Truth or Dare for, and then they choose and so on and so forth, but you can only choose someone who hasn't gone yet that 'round'? If that's what you mean, I'm okay with that, as long as we always remember who has gone each round. As for 'chickening out', I don't know, I personally feel like chickening out in a game of 'Truth or Dare' is kind of crappy, because why play (but that's me in a real life game, not Andi). So, maybe everyone gets a 'veto' (turn one dare into a truth) and the group is allowed to agree if something is 'going too far'? I mean, we know that the idea is for things to 'go to far', so we kinda have to decide how we'll decide that as well."" Maybe, out of character, we should agree on pacing, as I doubt we want to have the characters in the game decide ahead of time that they are going to have sex. I mean, it should evolve naturally, but we should at least agree that if someone wants to 'progress' sexually, that everyone agrees out of character that the game is at the right stage to start doing that... I don't know. Furthermore, I think too much, maybe."" Also, Marybeth, you said 'two more characters' did Muse drop out or something?" Quote from: Ryukyu Tana on 30-09-2012, 12:05:55"So, okay, say I go first, I'll pick who I choose Truth or Dare for, and then they choose and so on and so forth, but you can only choose someone who hasn't gone yet that 'round'? If that's what you mean, I'm okay with that, as long as we always remember who has gone each round. As for 'chickening out', I don't know, I personally feel like chickening out in a game of 'Truth or Dare' is kind of crappy, because why play (but that's me in a real life game, not Andi). So, maybe everyone gets a 'veto' (turn one dare into a truth) and the group is allowed to agree if something is 'going too far'? I mean, we know that the idea is for things to 'go to far', so we kinda have to decide how we'll decide that as well."" Maybe, out of character, we should agree on pacing, as I doubt we want to have the characters in the game decide ahead of time that they are going to have sex. I mean, it should evolve naturally, but we should at least agree that if someone wants to 'progress' sexually, that everyone agrees out of character that the game is at the right stage to start doing that... I don't know. Furthermore, I think too much, maybe."" Also, Marybeth, you said 'two more characters' did Muse drop out or something?" I agree with it evolving to sex, it was the entire idea anyway Yeah, Muse did step out. When I wrote that I wasn't sure, but I don't count people unless I've heard from them. So we now have Stargirl as our 4th female, and we're looking for another male character. Quote from: AribethAmkiir on 28-09-2012, 23:57:06What are you confused about Jaden? All the talk in the IOC on the housing stuff. I came in on the thread kinda late. Didn't pay a lot of attention to it after posting char sheet, then I'm now, and still, trying to catch up on what's been posted. I'm a page and a half behind in the IOC thread. :) Soon people how are all of you doing? :P All is good very much anticipating this RP, how are you acid? Good good so how are all of you doing? Hi Guy, I just finished reading all this IOC thread. I didn't know about it before my character have been approved. I think I'm going to have as much fun as it can be. As for my character, she needs a help to get loose with others and she will take some time. I think she would have friendship with at least one other female character, but she is very shy to talk with males as it starts. She is out of her place here but really trying to be accepted. Ad for the rules, she may need something to press her in going on Dares, sometimes. She never played the game and don't know really how it works beforehand. I never played it myself, either. I could make a post of how she must feel about every other character, I guess that would help. Who could be my best friend in the house? "I'm wondering if maybe we should leave it as is, a more girl to guy ratio might be a good thing. Given Andi's the only guy who isn't listed as straight, and all the girls have an interest in other girls. We could say there's a spare room (maybe they start the game there, I don't know), and if someone wants to join early or if the game keeps going past the first night, a new student might add intrigue." I agree. That makes a ratio of 2 girls for each straight boy. And one extra to potentially play both sides. "Given Derek and Tristan are straight, I think Andi will more likely be there to confuse genders and add tension with their sexuality, more than to 'play both sides'."" It does look like we have interest, though. I don't want to put anyone off, by no means am I saying we shouldn't have another guy. Either way, I think we're all eager to get going."~"In the vein of the latter point (getting going, that is), I'll post a clear concept of how I think Andi might relate to other people in the house." GuysDerek- I imagine Andi would be polite and friendly with Derek, if not a little stand-offish. Unless Derek made an effort to make a friendship, Andi would probably just give him a little wave anytime they passed, or a nod, and not really speak to him. Tristan- Andi probably doesn't talk to Tristan, as he probably sees Tristan as the 'cool college guy', the type who doesn't talk to the outcast. Again, this would only change if Tristan tried to approach Andi. GirlsCaroline and Emma- Andi is probably polite with them, even offering to cook for them when he's around or just generally help out. Other than that, he might act a little shy around them unless they approached him. Mikaela- Andi is probably most inclined to have a strange, almost curious, reaction to Mikaela. Given her punk/goth/outcast look, Andi might occasionally try to stir up conversation or approach her, but its doubtful that he'd do more than hint at his interest. If Mikaela takes an interest in him, it's like Andi would strike up a friendship with her. Olivia- Andi would probably recognize Olivia, and he might have even talked to her about her music (one of those awkward morning, 'So... I like your music...' type of conversations when they're both in the kitchen or living room alone). If Olivia tried to pursue a friendship, Andi would reciprocate due to mutual interest, but since I want Andi's persona to be a bit of a mystery, I won't elaborate unless Jaden wants to pursue that. Hi, I'm going to post here how Emma sees the other characters. It is just a start idea, so the players can tell what they think about her." Andi" Elle Emma is confused about Andi. She has guessed Andi is a girl and will act that way until someone tells her Andi is a boy. Even as Emma is not so shy with him as she is with man, Andi is retired enough so I guess the two have interacted just a few times the last month. Anyway, Emma will always be polite and try to be friendly. Derek Malcolm Davies He is the guy that is mostly like to get her attention. She really likes the way he talks and how he is handsome and soft-spoken. The funny thing is that she will be extra shy when he is around and will talk to him the minimum that is possible. To the point of leaving the room when he is around most time. That is not that she don't like him, bit that she really likes him. It is possible someone thinks she doesn't like him or is prejudiced, even himself. Her best friend in the house would know otherwise. Mikaela Johnson They are about the same age and can get friends very easy. I guess they should at least talk a few times on the first month, and she could be Emma's best friend. Caroline Drake Being both country girls, they could easily be friends. Anyway, Emma haven't got more open as Caroline do, and she is younger, but I'm sure they should have talked more than a few times during this time. Tristan MacKenzie As he is quiet for most time, I don't think he is going to even had a talk with her. She doesn't know much about him at start, and she is just kind of find what she thinks about him. Olivia Spencer Olivia is most like shy, at first, maybe they didn't talk so much. If they did, as the two are shy someway, they could have become good friends too. Bad news, something came up, and I would need to remove myself from the RP. I am so sorry people! Oh. That is so sad. I would have liked to write with you. Hope it is all right with you. "That's really unfortunate, hope things go well for you." As much as I hate to see Acid Lips go, that evens is up with the male:female ratio. I figure we can just leave it at 6 characters and start moving forward with the game. I guess Caroline is the best character to become Emma's friend. Think she'd be fine with that. :) Emma was in need of friends and Caroline looked just like an older sister for her. So Caroline maybe the one that will be suggesting that Emma should get more open and will even ask her to join the game. Even if Emma would naturally go too much to the Truth side of the game, Caroline could guide her to Dare a little more. Just waiting to hear from BK, Jaden, and AZZ as to their thoughts on the rules and their character's thoughts upon other characters, and then I think we're about ready to begin. I haven't heard from Blackest Knight in a while. Where are the rules, and what am I supposed to be doing? Will have my next post up on Wednesday Hi Jaden. The tentative rules for the game are here: #msg6996296 (#msg6996296)Looking for input, any and all. Also, would like to hear if you've had time to think about your character's thoughts and opinions on the other characters. There's been a few people who've posted their tentative thoughts. Also wondering if you're confused on anything and need clarification. Azz: hoping to go live before Wednesday. Same questions as to what I asked Jaden. I realize RL gets in the way so if you can't post until Wednesday no big deal. My last post got lost in the posts as to what I was confused upon, so I'll requite the quotes from before along with my answers. Quote from: AribethAmkiir on September 28, 2012, 05:57:06 PM What are you confused about Jaden?my reply: All the talk in the IOC on the housing stuff. I came in on the thread kinda late. Didn't pay a lot of attention to it after posting char sheet, then I'm now, and still, trying to catch up on what's been posted. I'm a page and a half behind in the IOC thread. Right, I read that. Sorry, I assumed you were actively trying to get caught up. So basically it's student housing from UCLA and your character was purposefully placed at the House because someone in admittance thought it would suit your character's "lifestyle" better than dorms. Does that help clarify the housing thing? The rest of the thread has various conversations going on. Some somewhat important others not so much. Right now I'm looking for input on the Rule I linked above and was wondering if you had any thoughts as to your character's interactions with the other characters. Honestly, the rules make no sense and confuse me. We're playing a simple child's game. I'm doing a one-on-one of a truth or dare game. This isn't even sounding fun to me any more like it had in the beginning. I understand we need to start out small and that we have to make sure everyone is involved and doesn't get skipped. I know I won't know if I want a truth or dare until I know who is asking me. Knowing that they are students at UCLA helps a whole heck of a lot. I was attempting to catch up, but all I kept seeing was bullshit, so I ignored it again. My apologies, GM. I don't see my char liking most of the people there even tho she can tolerate them. The only one I see my character, Olivia, liking is AZZ char, Tristen. I see my char being jealous of your char Ari. Looks mainly. The rest... I don't know.... Ok here is a list of my characters thoughts on everyone else"Andi" Elle Tristan doesn't know what he should think of and, he finds that it is hard to tell Andi's gender disturbing, yet he thinks he is a nice enough person so is on friendly terms with qindarkë is someone that Tristan is on friendly terms with, they don't hang out too often, but he will stop and talk to him when they bump into each other or just are not busy at the timeCarolineHe is fairly close to Caroline as they work together, and he spends more time with her then anyone else, she is the one who usually persuades him to come on any kind of social eventEmmaDue to her shyness Tristan has not had much opportunity to speak to Emma however he will exchange pleasantries in the hall if they meet, and he always has a warm expression on when he meets herOliviaLike with Emma they don't speak much, although they do have more chances due to there mutual interest in music (his playing guitar and her music career) Quote from: Jaden Mystic on 02-10-2012, 03:08:50Honestly, the rules make no sense and confuse me. We're playing a simple child's game. I'm doing a one-on-one of a truth or dare game. This isn't even sounding fun to me any more like it had in the beginning. I understand we need to start out small and that we have to make sure everyone is involved and doesn't get skipped. I know I won't know if I want a truth or dare until I know who is asking me. Knowing that they are students at UCLA helps a whole heck of a lot. I was attempting to catch up, but all I kept seeing was bullshit, so I ignored it again. My apologies, GM. I don't see my char liking most of the people there even tho she can tolerate them. The only one I see my character, Olivia, liking is AZZ char, Tristen. I see my char being jealous of your char Ari. Looks mainly. The rest... I don't know.... Okay. This is why I'm asking for input, suggestions to make things more fun for everyone. If you disagreed with what people were saying then you need to speak up and say something even if your comment is a page behind. It's also why I'm asking people specifically what they think. Calling them childish and "no fun" may be what you think and might even be accurate, but it doesn't help improve anything. What can we change to make things more appealing? Quote from: AribethAmkiir on 03-10-2012, 02:09:43Okay. This is why I'm asking for input, suggestions to make things more fun for everyone. If you disagreed with what people were saying then you need to speak up and say something even if your comment is a page behind. It's also why I'm asking people specifically what they think. Calling them childish and "no fun" may be what you think and might even be accurate, but it doesn't help improve anything. What can we change to make things more appealing? I didn't call anyone childish or say the game was no fun. I said in a round about way you need to trust the players that have joined you in this role play. Why should we choose so far in advance if we choose truth or dare? Play it as you should in person making sure everyone gets a turn before starting the next round. "I believe Marybeth's suggestion was that some players like to plan those things out, and to keep the game rolling, some peoplemaywant to decide those things ahead of time. However, we are trying to establish the basic rules for how to make sure everyone goes each turn (preferably without having the same person always 'Truth or Dare'King the same person each time) and what happens if someone 'chickens out' (which is common in real life games of Tod)." Quote from: Ryukyu Tana on 03-10-2012, 04:17:27"I believe Marybeth's suggestion was that some players like to plan those things out, and to keep the game rolling, some people may want to decide those things ahead of time. However, we are trying to establish the basic rules for how to make sure everyone goes each turn (preferably without having the same person always 'Truth or Dare'King the same person each time) and what happens if someone 'chickens out' (which is common in real life games of Tod)." I never tried a real life Tod, but I guess I would 'chicken out' very easily. Sorry Jaden. I wasn't saying you were calling anyone childish or no fun, but the ideas and rules as childish or no fun. As Ryukyu said, you don't have to choose way ahead of time. It's adoption order to attempt to keep the game from stalling and to give people opportunity to discuss things ahead of time. It's an attempt to make the game run smoother in the long run. Nothing is set in stone and that's why I'm asking for people's input. We just need some effective communication. "I'm okay with the rules just being that someone starts, they pick someone, and then we keep going until everyone is picked, and then the last person gives the first person a 'Truth or Dare'. Then the next round the next person in the cycle starts the round?" Ok so is this RP starting any time soon? Sorry AZZ. I've decided to put this off for the time being. Getting little to no feedback and the miscommunications just sapped any interest I had in the game. I apologize. That's fine, if it does start again let me know

A Game of Truth or Dare - L.A. (OOC)|rating:2.0

The Great Young Ones (TeaCupDucky and Superloser)

Some parents might have questioned the wisdom of allowing their six-year son to witness the death of his beloved grandfather, but not David Bloom's. Alison and Peter Bloom knew that children were tougher than most people gave them credit for, and that they needed to learn early on that dying was as much a part of nature as living. Admittedly, they were a little concerned with what Archimedes Bloom might say to their son in his last moments. Archimedes had always been an odd sort of fellow. The sort of man who might spend his rent money on century old manuscripts, all bound in leather than you could only hope came from an animal. He'd only gotten odder ever since his wife's passing, the woman who insisted her son be christened with a name that wasn't an allusion to some old, dead alchemist. Hell, the woman who insisted her son be christened at all. After Archimedes' third stroke, he'd been forced to move in with his son and his family, and not a day went by where didn't loudly lament this fact. He'd been forced to put most of his unwholesome books into storage, including the really cool ones you could only understand when under the influence of dubiously legal substances. Similarly, his awful nag of a daughter-in-law had put a stop to his attempts to transmute lead into gold, for fear of them putting odd, unscientific ideas in her precious son's head. Archimedes' grandson David was the only thing that bought the old man any joy in his declining years. When the boy wasn't romping with his friends, he was sitting on the floor of what his granddad charitably called his study. Latin, Enchain, and all other manner of obscure tongues were almost David's first languages thanks to Archimedes. Archimedes had considered initiating David into the occult as his father had, when he was almost grown, of course. Except, that was before Archimedes had been diagnosed with lung cancer." I want you to know, David, that you were a better son than your good for nothing father ever was," the old man whispered in Latin, trying to remain conscious as the morphine worked its magic." What's your grandpa saying, David?" asked Alison." Uh," the little boy said through tears, "He says he loves us all loads."" Tactful! I wonder how my life might have turned out, if I was ever able to master tact," said Archimedes, before dissolving into another round of coughing. When it almost seemed like Archimedes would ride this coughing fit into oblivion, he regained nominal control of his breathing. "Listen, boy. The only reason I've been reduced to this, and incontinent old man, lying in a stinking hospital bed, is because I failed. Magic is an undertaking for children, because only you don't know what's impossible, and what's merely hard!" said the old man, still speaking in Latin. David didn't know what to make of this. His granddad always made it clear that he wasn't "a pathetic magician" like his mom and dad always insisted, but he'd never said outright that he thought magic was real." When I'm gone, look under my bed, before your layabout parents can. You'll find a book, it's a lot thinner than most of my other ones, but every page is worth a thousand! Don't let age and death conquer you too!" David was bawling at that point, wavy black hair sticking to his face with tears. "I love you, Grandpa!" Archimedes sat up, and looked his grandson right in the eye. "And I didn't hate you either, David." And with that, the old man died. It might be too surprising to know that the first thing that passed David's mind was how he'd survive first grade without his granddad. Or what he'd tell his best friends tomorrow. It was early morning. The sun was barely peaking from behind the morning fog covering the sleep town. The birds were chirping sharply, as if trying to wake everyone in the neighborhood. But it was too late for one little girl who had been staring outside of her window and towards the sun. A crazy mess of red curls sat upon a wide-eyed freckled face. Sharp green eyes looked around at the cars leaving their homes to deal with the days challenges. What those challenges were. She did not know. The sound of shuffling feet came from outside of her room caught her off guard as she turned to quickly try and duck back into her bedsheets." Time to get up, sweetie." Came the tired voice of her mother. Her mother rubbed her eyes a bit before looking more clearly to see that her daughter was, what appeared to be, making her bed already. A smile crept onto her face. "Oh. My big girl." She said and walked in to give her only child a hug. Abigale just smiled back and welcomed those warm arms around her. She had always heard whispers from other people about how young her mommy was. Why was age always a concern.? Was it that important when you become a grown up.? Little things like 'Where is that children father.?' and She must be a slut.' were always mumbled from strangers. Abi didn't like to think of those awful things. She hugged her mom back and let her go. Her mom told her to get dressed, and she would have breakfast ready for her in the kitchen." Ok!" Abigale said gleefully as she bounded over to her dresser and decided to pull out more than half of the clothes that were inside. She decided on wearing her new Frankenstein T-shirt, a pair of overalls and her purple rain boots. It wasn't raining or anything. She just really liked them. "Abi! Time to eat!" Her mother called out from the kitchen. She left her room for the delicious smell of burned toast and butter. The whole place was lined with different posters of horror and gore films. Her mother would often let her watch some with her but had the tendency to try and cover her eyes on the really fun parts. Those were Abi gales favorite nights. Her mother greeted her with a smile. One hand with a coffee mug and the other a plate with two pieces of buttered toast. "Are you going to show your new shirt to your friends.?" She asked as she took a sip of her coffee. "Uh huh!" Abi said with a giant smile and grabbed her toast and started heading towards the door. "Be careful, baby. Remember to come straight home after school!" Her mother said before reaching out and kissing the top of Abi gales head. "I love you baby." She said softly. "I love you too, mommy!" Abigale said before giving her one more big hug before running outside. The crisp air felt so good on her face. "Oh wait! You forgot your bag!" Her mothers voice rang out as she held a small neon green backpack out for her from the door. "Thank you!" Abigale said as she ran back to grab it and started head off to school. It was a good thing she lived nearby to it. She was pretty sure if they didn't live so close, her mother wouldn't let her walk to school. 'I can't wait to show David my new shirt.!' She thought to herself gleefully. As she walked on, she passed by the playground that laid right between her home and the rest of her friends. She groaned a bit. How she wanted to go play on the playground instead of going to school. But if she went there. She wouldn't get to show off her new shirt! With new vigor, she began to sprint the rest of the way to the school.((We can skip the school day and just go towards the end.? Sorry mines a bit shorter than I wanted it to be.)) Quote from: TeaCup Ducky on February 16, 2016, 12:51:58 am((We can skip the school day and just go towards the end.? Sorry mines a bit shorter than I wanted it to be.))((Sure, also, do you think four kids would be better than five?))) Quote from: Super loser on February 16, 2016, 12:58:30 am((Sure, also, do you think four kids would be better than five?)))((Yeah. Even numbers are always best in my book First grade wasn't proving a good fit for Finley and Jeanette. The twins hadn't been thrilled with the rules and structure kindergarten had imposed on their lives, but at least most of their day had still been spent playing with their friends. So far as they were concerned, first grade was some kind of torture chamber designed to bore them into submission. It wasn't that the twins didn't like learning per se, it was just that they preferred the kind of learning you got from catching tadpoles down from the river, or listening to the mad, wonderful things their friend's grandpa liked to ramble about. Before first grade, the twins' parents had allowed them to express themselves in almost any way they had wanted; being forced to wear the same clothes every day and allow their dyed green hair to return to its natural blonde did not agree with the twins one bit. Jeanette and Finley might have been able to cope with the tedium of first grade if their best friends since babyhood, David and Abigale, had been there to endure it with them. Sadly, the twins' parents had deemed it necessary for their children to attend a private school on the other side of town. They had tried to explain their reasons as best they could, but the twins didn't care about having better learning environment, or being "gifted"; all that mattered to them was their friends. Being separated from them made the twins want to recreate some of the stuff they had seen in Abigale's DVD collection with their parents... As soon as the twins returned home from school that bright summer day, they stripped off their hated uniforms and donned their most well-worn sets of play clothes. If they could be thankful for one thing, it was that their parents had never insisted on buying them matching wardrobes. Perhaps it was because they already possessed a stronger resemblance to each other than most fraternal twins. Indeed, some of the less than bright folks around town had occasionally asked if Jeanette and Finley were "identical". It was for this reason Jeanette had insisted on letting her hair grow to her waist, it was a loud a declaration of her girlhood as she could muster. The twins raced out of their house, deliberately ignoring the three worksheets they had been given as homework. The twins' mother was hard at work in her art studio, and their dad had raced back to work immediately after dropping them home, so they weren't able to object to such a dereliction of scholastic duty. The twins headed towards their neighborhood park, a place they had spent so much time with their friends, it felt more like their home than their house. They argued almost every step of the way." We would've stayed with David and Abigale if you hadn't showed off so much!" shouted Finley." Says you," retorted his twin, "at least I didn't do big kid math where I knew Mrs Adams would hear!" Finley didn't respond for a little while, simply staring at the pavement. "I think Mom and Dad were going to make us go somewhere else anyway," he eventually blurted. Jeanette raised an eyebrow. "Why?"" I heard Mom saying that we needed to make more friends than David and Abigale." The very idea baffled Jeanette. Who needs more than two friends when they're the best ever? The four of them shared everything, even a birthday. "Grown-ups are dumb," opined Jeanette. The twins eventually reached the park, still with plenty of daylight, but not enough for their tastes. The old playground seemed to be abandoned, which struck the twins as odd. Usually, Abigale would be already be there before the school bell could finish ringing, or even before. After mucking around the climbing equipment for a few minutes, the pair decided they both needed to go to the bathroom. Since the public toilets at the park had always given the kids the creeps, they both went into the women's toilet together, hoping their twin hood would somehow excuse them if they got caught. It was only after they had finished their business that they heard a familiar giggle coming from the end stall." Abigale!" shouted the twins in unison. Abigale emerged from her stall, not looking like someone who'd just gone to the toilet. "Hi guys, how was kid jail?"" Bad, what about you?" replied the twins in stereo. Sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason. Abigale flashed the twins a devious grin. "Oh, I didn't go to school today. I'm pretty sure they're looking for me, so I thought I'd play here till dark. Do you like my shirt?" While Jeanette quickly said "yes" without much thought, Finley pondered the question a little. Finally, he declared that while Abigale's Frankenstein shirt was super-cool, it wasn't nearly as awesome as her Gill-Man one, but still a tiny bit more so than her Dracula smock. The twins were about to ask where David was, till they heard him calling their names outside. Running out, the three saw that he was carrying a thin book, no thicker than your typical notepad, which was covered in strange, almost haphazard looking gold letters...((Do you think this was in character for Abigale? Feel free to mess around with David or the twins, too.)) ((Short posts are fine with me. Don't doubt your beautiful work. Your writing style is awesome!)) As soon as she had gotten close to the school, her breath coming out it little burst of white smoke from the chill, she stopped and looked around. Usually David would already be here. He'd either be standing nervously by the front doors or in the field by the school playground. 'Where is he.?' She thought to herself. Her skin had begun to prickle with goose bumps by the chill she had almost forgotten was there. She rubbed her arms for a brief moment before turning and started to head away from the school. This year had been so bad. She had always been told that school would be fun and that she would make a lot of friends for her to run around with, but it seemed that nobody wanted to play with her. Most of the other kids had already begun to mock her for her 'crazy' hair and her unstable bursts of energy. She wished the twins hadn't been placed to a new school. Abigale couldn't remember a day without them or her friend David. They used to run around with one another at the playgrounds. Taunting each other into dirt fights and playing hide and go seek. She did remember that one time she had made David cry. They had been playing with dirt clods that day, and she hadn't realized the one she had just thrown towards her friend. Had a large rock in it. Abigale felt so bad. She did her best to comfort him as did the twins. Eventually everything simmered down and they were at it again. A smile crept onto her face as she bounded back to the old playground. She could handle another lecture from her mom and school. After all. Without David. What was the point of going back to that school.? As she reached the playground, she threw her bag to the ground and started running as fast as she could to the other side of the field. It always felt so good to run. To feel the wind on her freckled face, the sun beginning to give little kiss's on her as it began to rise. Everything about being outside always felt good. Once in a while she would see squirrels making a run for it. "RAAAAAAWWR!!" She would yell as she brought her arms in to imitate a T. rex and chase them about. It wasn't until late afternoon that she finally sat down on the grass and took a breather. Not a care in the world ran through her head. It wasn't until she heard the Twins voices nearby that she got back up and decided to play a little game of hide and seek with them. Quickly she ran into the bathrooms and hid in the last stall. 'They'll never find me!' She thought excitedly. It took a bit, but they finally came into the bathroom. She couldn't hold her giggles down and eventually, they called her name. Abigale emerged from her stall, not looking like someone who'd just gone to the toilet." Hi guys, how was kid jail?"" Bad, what about you?" replied the twins in stereo. Sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason. Abigale flashed the twins a devious grin. "Oh, I didn't go to school today. I'm pretty sure they're looking for me, so I thought I'd play here till dark. Do you like my shirt?" Her smile only brightened at their answers. She knew they would like it just as much as she did! "Huh.?" She said quietly when they heard David calling out for them. "DAVID!" They all yelled in glee and ran out from the bathroom. But when they saw him. Jeanette and Finley paused for a moment to see their friends face looking slightly red and moist. They exchanged looks before running after Abigale who had not noticed anything strange until stopping in front of him. "Where have you been? We've been waiting!" Abigale stated with an angry huff before looking down to the book and back to his face. "What's that?" She pointed. ((Might as well try for rapid fire.))" It's-it's," David gave up on what he originally planned to say, "Grandpa's dead." Abigale and the Twins didn't say anything for a long time. David's granddad Archimedes had been like a grandfather to all four of the children. Abigale had never even met any of her real grandparents, even though she knew all four of them were still alive. Sometimes she suspected her mommy didn't talk to them anymore because of her somehow... The twins' love for Archimedes was no less strong. He'd often sat them down on his lap and told them about all the a-cult properties of twins, and how they and their friends were somehow of the most magical youngsters he'd ever seen. They had never quite grasped what he had meant. David swallowed a few times, holding back tears. His grandfather wouldn't want him to cry about him leaving that rotten old shell of his, not after living had been robbed of all joy for him. "You can't tell anyone about this," said David, "but I think this is a book of proper magic. Granddad left a note inside it." David pulled the little piece of notepaper that had been sticking out like a bookmark, and begun reading. "My awesome little man," David recited in his best imitation of Archimedes. "This book contains a re-tool that I think would be perfect for you and your little mates," Archimedes had come to America from the British Isles many years ago, "if you don't want to worry about ending up like me, or even having to grow up at all if you don't want." Abigale stared at him, blank faced. She had never actually close to anyone who had died before him. The only information she got about death was from the horror films her mother watched. Her cheeks went red at the idea of the old man being gone. He was the only one who would ever come over to their place. Who would treat them like they weren't some kind of freak show. He treated them like family. She never knew her father or her grandparents so he had been the only one she had ever known as family. She gripped the bottom of her shirt and looked down. Tears were welling up, but she didn't want to show it to them. Abi quickly wiped her face and looked to the twins. They looked as if they were about to break down themselves. 'Stay together for David.' Abigale thought to herself as she looked back to him and his strange book. Quickly she nodded her head and moved to stand close to his side, looking down at the page before them. "Re-tool.?" She asked between sniffs and wiped her nose with the back of her arm.' Not grow up?' She thought to herself and looked up towards the others. They seemed to be as interested as she was. "Not grow up? Does that mean we could always be friends and hang out?" Jeanette asked with hopeful glint in her eyes. "I think so!" Finley said excitedly as they both huddled about the book. "Go on, David! Read the rest!" Abigale said and nudged his shoulder.((Sorry for the shortness ;-;)) David continued reading. "Granddad says if we do the things it says in the book, we can do whatever we want, won't have to deal with death, and will be the strongest things ever," David looked at his friends expectant faces. "All we have to do is 'sacrifice our humanity', whatever that means." Finley seemed to be getting excited. "What do we have to do?" he asked. David lipped curled in concentration, reading his grandfather's handwriting could be tough, especially when it wasn't in English. "We have to sacrifice some things that are like treasures to us, and then sacrifice one of our enemies." Abigale thought for a moment. "Do we have any enemies?? The twins scowled. "Our parents," they both declared." What about me?" came an aggressive sounding voice from behind them. The four children turned around to see Keith, an older boy who lived close by. "And what are you little shitheads talking about?"((Is this length okay?)) Abigale listened closely. "Sacrifice.our humanity.?" She said quietly to herself as she slowly looked over the excited faces of the twins. She couldn't quite place which movie she had heard a line that sounded like that. Maybe Frankenstein.? ". I think it means to give up part of what makes us.us." She mumbled quietly to herself before looking quickly back towards David when he mentioned that we would need to sacrifice an enemy as well. That got her thinking.' Do we have enemies.?' She thought to herself. Nasty neighbors and people raced through her head, but she had never wished any harm onto any of them. Maybe to go away or reveal their true monster forms but not any harm. "Huh?" Abigale breathed at being shaken from her thoughts at the aggressive voice coming towards them. "Keith." She muttered as she glared at the older boy. For as long as she could remember, he had always tormented them in some way or fashion. He was a couple of grades higher than them. Once in a while they would see him with other older kids, but it didn't seem like they werehisfriends. Maybe his older brothers. She stepped in front of the group and crossed her arms over her puffed out chest. "Nothing that concerns a dingle berry like you!" She huffed. The twins had fallen back behind David. Whispering quietly to one another." He's the worst that we know." Finley whispered just loud enough for David and Jeanette to hear. A smile had crept onto Jeanette's face. "We can sacrifice him"She whispered back and made a slight gesture towards the older boy. "He's the worst that we know." Finley whispered just loud enough for David and Jeanette to hear. A smile had crept onto Jeanette's face. "We can sacrifice him"She whispered back and made a slight gesture towards the older boy. David couldn't say he didn't like the idea. Keith had picking on him and his friends pretty much since they could walk. Once, he'd even knocked out one of Finley's baby teeth. They had told his mother that he'd banged his mouth against some playground equipment, for fear of Keith or the big kids he hung out with taking revenge on them for tattling. The only problem was, Heath was big, and they were little, so how were they going to sacrifice him?" Give me that foggy book!" shouted Keith. David didn't quite know what the word "foggy" meant, but he thought it had something to do with having more girlfriends than boy ones. Keith grabbed the book out of David's hand, and to his horror, started trying to pull pages out of it. They didn't budge. "What the hell is wrong with this the-YOOOW!" Keith screamed like he'd be stabbed in the thigh, because that was exactly what had happened. Abigale pulled the dull, bloodied carving knife out of Keith as he fell to the ground howling in pain. Finley and Jeanette covered his mouth. "I knew keeping this in my bag was a good idea!" declared Abigale gleefully. "What else do we need to do, David?" David swallowed, worrying about the trouble they'd get into if a grown up or even another kid stumbled upon the scene. "Well, we can't do the re-tool till the sun starts setting, but that shouldn't be too long. Uh, Able, it says here that we need to decide what we'll look like..." Abigale had never hated anybody before. But Keith. Keith was a different story. She had always tried to defend her friends but with how much bigger the boy was, she was usually shoved aside. Once he had even put gum into her hair. It was part of the reason why she had decided to keep it so short. Though her mother wanted her to grow it out, when it reached her shoulders, it was time to go." Hey!" She shouted as he pushed her aside and went straight for David and the others. Foggy? What did that even mean? All she knew was that it was supposed to be mean. Her face reddened once more but out of anger. As he was distracted with the others, she sprinted to her bag and quickly drew the old knife out from it. She had found it under the dirt in the field nearby and had decided to keep it. Just in case zombies ever came to eat their brains. Keith was going to be the closest thing she would find to a mindless creature. She turned her head back to the others and noticed Keith had grabbed the book and was attempting to rip the pages from it. Abigale gritted her teeth and ran full force at him and plunged the blade into his thigh. Her breathing came in short puffs as her smile remained. "I knew keeping this in my bag was a good idea!" declared Abigale gleefully. "What else do we need to do, David?" She glanced back down at the blood pooling around the boys legs and the twins holding their hands tightly over his mouth. So much adrenaline was pumping through her that she couldn't help but be giddy. "Oh! I know exactly what we should look like!" She exclaimed happily and got onto her knees in the dirt next to the crying boy and started to trace out four different looking monsters." This one is going to be you!" She pointed to the bat like monster and then pointed out to the goat like monster. "That one is going to be me!" Abi said happily before pointing out a tiger looking monster to Jeanette and a snake looking monster to Finley. As the sun set over the children, David started to get excited. He knew the creatures Able had drawn would be considered ugly, but that didn't stop them from being totally awesome. "Okay," said David, a grin breaking out on his face, "now we need to each sacrifice something precious to us." His friend's high spirits faltered for a bit. Finley was the first to speak. "Me and Jeanette could sacrifice our stuffed animals," his twin glared at him, "I know it sucks, but our stupid parents said that we were getting too old to have them anyway." Jeanette considered this. "Okay," she sighed." I could sacrifice my Frankenstein shirt," declared Able, "I mean, it's really cool, but being a real monster would be even cooler!"" But what could I sacrifice?" asked David, "my mom and dad never let me have stuffed animals or anything like that!" Abigale stepped over the Keith's crying form and put a hand on David's shoulder. "Do you have anything else of your grandpa's?" Tears begun welling in David's eyes again. "Just his old medallion," he said, pulling a necklace out from under his collar. It was a silver chain, with a large but delicate looking blue bauble hanging from it." Then you'll have to sacrifice it," said Abigale sadly, "Your grandpa wouldn't want you to miss out on being awesome because of something he gave you." David nodded sharply. "Okay, we need to really break the sacrifices." Luckilly, Abigale's knife was still sharp enough to cut through fabric. The twins tore their precious teddy bears to pieces, and dumped the remains on Keith, as per Archimedes' instructions. Abigale stripped off her overalls and shirt, ripping the latter into as many pieces as she could, before also depositing them on Keith. David managed to take a lot of pleasure in placing his grandpa's necklace on Keith's back, and jumping on it as hard he could." Okay, said David, it says we have to rub what's left of our sacrifices all over itself, so we'll have to be undressed," said David. The kids were not embarrassed by seeing each other naked, not after many shared baths, or the countless hours spent running through the sprinklers together. It was decided quickly that Abigale would finish sacrificing Keith. It was a strange sensation, plunging a knife into another human being's throat, and a lot physically harder than the movies she watched made it look." Quick," said David, "rub the fluff and...stuff all over before it dries." When the gang looked like a gaggle of Martians who'd just finished shearing some sheep, David beckoned them all to stand in a circle around Keith's remains. He spoke in words that made their teeth hurt, in a voice that almost sounded older than it should. The children stood there for a few seconds. "So what happens now?" said Abigale." I don'tt-hey," said David. All of a sudden he felt really, perfect... It didn't take very long for the group to decide that Abi should be the one to end Keith. It wasn't a hard decision either. She had always wanted to cut another persons' throat. More or less she would have rather had it be a zombie or a monster, but beggars can't be choosers. It almost took all of her strength to plunge the blade into the older boys' throat. She stared at the blood that began to ooze out and listened closely to him choke on his blood. Her eyes darted towards his face and gazed at him. His face was becoming more and more pale and his eyes were beginning to role to the back of his head. But strangely. His eyes didn't close. 'I thought they closed when you died.?' She thought to herself before looking back to the others. Standing naked with blood and fluff all over their bodies made it feel like it was Halloween. Her smile just could not be dropped as she looked the others over and listened to David. "This is so exciting!" She exclaimed as she felt a sudden tingle overtake her body. "Oh!" She gasped as she looked down to her hands. Her body was slowly taking on darker shade. She could feel her skin begin to tighten as her body began to morph. Nothing was hurting. Strange as it didn't hurt. It felt more like being tickled a lot. Laughter began to fill the air as the children began to change form. She kept her eyes on the others as she felt her body grow. The twins were taking the forms that she had drawn out! How exciting to see their gleeful child like faces turn into such monstrous creatures! Their colors were a vibrant purple and blue but their forms were so different. She couldn't help but stare at their faces. Between her giggles, Abigale began to feel her face and head and discovered two large horns had sprouted in place of her hair. Her teeth had become much more jagged and sharp. A loud thump echoed through the park as a tail grew from her bottom and landed hard on the ground. Her once sparkling green eyes were now small and blood shot. Abi gales once gleeful child like laugh had now deepened into a hardy cruel laugh. "I can't believe it!" She shouted as she looked to the excited faces of the twins and looked back over to Davids new form. "We're monsters!" She roared happily. David couldn't be sure how tall he and his friends had become, but they were definitely many times larger than any of the buildings in their little town. He gave a mighty screech, stretching his leathery wings, wondering if they would actually let him fly... The abominations that were once the twins were roaring at each other, trying to stand back to back and see who was taller. "THIS, IS AMAZING! Thank you, David, thank you, thank you!" the two of them declared, bursting the eardrums of some unfortunate motorists who'd stopped to try and comprehend what they were saying." What should we do first?" said Abigale in her newly deepened voice, which still somehow sounded girlish and innocent. David's monstrously elongated lower jaw prevented him from truly grinning, but he felt like he was. Though the transformation had left him and his friends as tall as skyscrapers, he still felt like the little six-year-old for whom right and wrong were merely suggestions. "Well, first..." David bounded over to Abigale, and rubbed his clawed hand all over her face. Abigale tried to scrap the slime off from around her beady eyes. "EWE, EWE, that is so...COOL!" she screamed, "Seriously, what do you want to do?" David remembered the kids at school who teased him and Abigale, and the teachers who insisted playtime should have an end. He also remembered the other school that had taken the twins from them." I think," said David, slime gurgling from his mouth, "that we're late for school." Jeanette and Finley couldn't take their eyes off of each other. Both of their eyes were sparkling with joy as they watched what made them so similar morph into something different. This was what they have been wanting their whole lives! To change! To be different! No more twin jokes. No more mixing them up! No more of that junk! Jeanette looked down to her feet to see that they had become more Scala and huge. With large claws digging into the dirt. It was such a tingly feeling, that they couldn't help but laugh along with the other two. She looked down to see that her regular hands had transformed into two sharp claws. Pretty close to a T. rex. She twisted her body to look behind her to find a long cat like tail covered in more bright scales come up. Jeanette then felt her face. It has elongated into a snout. Small dagger like fangs shot up here and there from the outside of her lips. Finleys heart was racing a mile a minute as he watched his sister transform into some kind of neon tiger-crocodile monster! It was awesome! Abigale always had the best ideas. He couldn't wait to see what he would look like. With laughter escaping him, he flung his arms out to watch either side of him. His body also began to grow bright scales. At first a slight panic ran through him at the idea that Abigale didn't give them different forms. But it subsided as he noticed that he still had all five of his fingers, they just had smaller claws on them. He stuck out his tongue and realized just how long it had become. He could taste the air! What a different feeling! Finley looked down to notice how long and thin his legs had gotten and the webbing that had happened between his toes. "Cool!" He shouted as he looked back to the others transformations. They all looked so. So.COOL! Abigale ran her paws over her face to try and wipe whatever slime was left on her face as David gave a suggestion on what we should do. A devious grin spread wide on her face as she turned to look where the school was. How crazy was it that they could see how small their town really was. She could hear police alarms coming towards them but paid no mind to them. "Come on! Let's show everyone what we look like now!" She bellowed as she began to head towards the school. The giant ball on her tail dragging behind her and leaving a large ditch carved into the dirt as she ran towards the school. Strangely enough, David was the first of the children to taste human flesh and bone. As the gang ran to Able and David's school, he took to picking up the cars attempting to flee town, and crushing them between his powerful jaws. He loved it when the passengers sometimes tried the fleeing their cars, on to find themselves stumbling about his wet, toothy maw. He found it odd, but extremely cool that metal tasted good to him now, and that he could swallow it without any problem. The trip to the school had quickly devolved into a game of tackle tag, dozens or hundreds of people being squashed to death every time one of the children was knocked down by another. Once, when Jeanette had her brother pinned to the ground, Finley used his long, thin tongue to scoop a whole family into his mouth, enjoying how they squirmed before he crunched down. When the kids finally reached the school, David was the first to act. Flapping his great wings, he created a wind that actually managed to knock down part of the building. Luckily, this didn't include their old classroom, where many of their peers had sort shelter in. Abigale ripped the roof off the classroom, and started to speak. However, all the human far below her heard was a horrific screeching, that caused many of them to go into seizures. Thought they knew they were laughing, it sounded like hell itself had risen from beneath the crust of the earth. Letting millions and millions of bloodthirsty demons into their world. Sadly though that was not the case. Maybe if it had been millions of demons, they would have all gotten to die a lot faster and a lot less painful. To Abigale, the others all sounded about the same. The tones had changed a little bit, but she could understand every last little thing that they said to one another. It was so nice to see how happy they were. Since the twins had left, David hadn't been smiling as much. It may have also been caused by the chaos in his own home. They never knew that Davids grandfather even knew how to do this kind of stuff! She knew there was another reason why she liked the old man so much. It was hard for her to hear all the people screaming and the occasional gun shot that rang from someone's backyard. To her, it felt like nothing. Maybe like a twig scraping against her pants but nothing painful. She was surprised to see how much faster David and the others were then her. Usually she was the one sprinting about, but with her new form, she couldn't go as fast. For a moment she stopped and looked down between her hooked feet and saw all the people scrambling around to run away from them. "They look like ants!" She growled gleefully and leaned down to pick up two cars. Her grin must have been terrifying because all at once, everyone in the cars passed out. She chuckled before inspecting them a little before tossing both cars into her mouth. To her, it had a weird taste. Almost like that of a metal snickers bar. She liked it. The twins were quickly rolling around with each other nearby, destroying down town. She looked over to David to see him just throwing people into his mouth and chowing down. This was so much fun! It felt so good to be with one another again. Abigale ripped the roof off the classroom, and started to speak. However, all the human far below her heard was a horrific screeching, that caused many of them to go into seizures. She tilted her head in confusion at this. "Hey! I don't think they can understand us!" She called over to the others before puffing her cheeks slightly in agitation. If they couldn't understand, then they would be considered food. She brought her head into the building and began chomping down on everything and anything that moved. When all David and Able's teachers and classmates were well and truly dead or devoured, and the school building smashed into dust, the four monstrosities found themselves at a loss for something to do. They considered doing the same thing to Finley and Jeanette's school, but they had absent-mindedly obliterated the place while tussling." I think we should head into the city," announced Finley, smearing and enormous handful of humans onto his sister like war paint, "we can climb the buildings like King Kong." This idea received instant approval from the rest of the group, though Abigale had her objections. "I think we're a little too tall for that. Maybe we should go to New York after we've finished here!" Nevertheless, the gang all begun heading into town, a little more casually than when they had dashed to the school. Jeanette and Abigale stuck together, seeing who could kick houses the hardest, while David and Finley chatted a bit." Hey, Finley," said David, "Do you think we're still actually boys?" Finley looked quizzically at his friend, which was interesting when your face looked nothing more like a snake crossed with a fish. "What do you mean?" Finley tried to say through a mouthful of children. David pointed at Finley's mid-section. "Well, boys are meant to have..." David was about just say "you know", but he decided being rude was no longer a concern, "Weenies, but I don't think we do anymore?" Finley laughed as only an immature six-year-old could, and it quickly spread to David. "I'm more worried about whether we still need to go to the restroom, but..." He picked a few fleeing humans off of the ground, and dropped them screaming into his mouth. "I think we'll find out soon!"

The Great Young Ones (TeaCupDucky and Superloser)|rating:4.0

Ranma 1_2 - Tales of Jusenkyo (Canon NPC Character Sheets)

(São Toméan:16Gender:Male/Female Hair:Black Eyes:Black Description:Lysenko Curse (If Any):Nyannichuan, Spring of Drowned Girl Martial Arts Style:São Tomé School of Anything Goes Martial Arts Element or Elements Attuned to:Wind Special Technique:Each Ten shin AmagurikenHiryū Shorten Heineken (Cat Fist): When Rama's acute fear of cats reaches a certain level, he enters a state where he believes himself to be a cat and becomes practically unbeatable. He gains the following traits:Martial Arts x4Strength 6 + Strength x2Speed 6 + Speed x4Durability 6 + Toughness x2Wisdom 1In this state Rama can shred a variety of things with the air pressure created by his fingertips.ATTRIBUTES:(Number after the slash represents "Girl Type" stats)Strength:6/5Speed:6/6Durability:5/5Wisdom:4/4Knack:6/6Charm:6/6Martial Art Skill:x3Special Training:Strength x1, Speed x2, Toughness x1, I Training x2, Jump x2Flaw:Arrogance/Pride, Short in his Girl Form (less reach), Acrophobia (fear of cats)History:Rama, the only son of Genoa and Vodka São Tomé, was taken from his home by his father when approximately 2 years old, to begin a 13-14-year training trip to perfect his skills in the martial arts. Later, near the end of the trip, Genoa took Rama to a training ground in China named Lysenko that few people used, due to the springs being cursed. Falling into them would transform a person into whatever first fell in. Not knowing this, and not having the patience to listen to a warning from the local guide, Genoa attempted to train with Rama atop the bamboo poles which jutted up out of the pools. When Rama knocked Genoa into Shonmaoniichuan/"Spring of 'Drowned' Panda", he was surprised to watch a panda emerge from the pond and leap onto one of the poles. Genoa, now cursed, was able to hit Rama into Nyannichuan, or the "Spring of 'Drowned' Girl". Thus, he turns into a female version of his original form when splashed with cold water, which is only (temporarily) reversible through contact with hot water. Sometime after that he had eaten a large bowl of porridge made from Dragon's Whisker which would make his hair grow at ridiculous rates when he was a man. The cook of the porridge then gave him a sliver of Dragon's Whisker to seal the effect until it wears off which leads to Rama constantly keeping his hair as a braided pigtail even after the effects wore off (before the incident he tied his hair back in a simple, loose ponytail). Before this incident, Genoa had made an arrangement with his best friend Son Tend that Rama would marry one of Son's daughters and carry on the Tend Dojo. After learning of Rama's condition, Son's daughters Kashmir and Kabuki began to insist that Rama choose their younger sister Kane, and rationalized that a tomboy would be a more appropriate fiancée for a man who transforms into a woman. Although Kane and Rama were initially unwilling to be engaged, they develop feelings for each other, while generally struggling to deny or otherwise avoid openly expressing throughout the entire series. Ranma and Genoa moved in as house guests of the Tend dojo. Since then, Rama has endured, among other things, Chinese Amazons, old rivals, Dojo destroyers, and even evil demons. Female Rama has also received a few male suitors, such as Gateway Juno and Mikado Tanzania. (HibikiAge:16Gender:Male Hair:Black Eyes:Brown Description:Yoga stands out in the crowd due to his regularly rough appearance. His usual outfit consists of his trademark leopard bandana (and several hidden leopard bandanas inside the visible one) around his head, a yellow jumper, black trousers with yellow leg bands around the Andes and a black sash like belt. As his name suggests Yoga, meaning "good fang" in Japanese, has very visible fangs. Jusenkyo Curse (If Any):Spring of Drowned Black Piglet (In his pig form Yoga gains Speed x3)Martial Arts Style:Self Taught Element or Elements Attuned to:Earth and Fire Special Technique:Hokusai Tenets: or Breaking Point, is a technique taught to Yoga by Cologne. Originally used by construction workers to clear away debris, this technique enables Yoga to shatter rocks and similar substances with a finger. The training is grueling, consisting of tying yourself and a boulder to a tree and repeatedly slamming yourself, finger first into the boulder until you figure out the 'breaking point.' The technique is useless on humans, but the training's side effects make the user nearly invulnerable to physical attacks. Also, this technique is what allows Yoga to tunnel underground. He is also seen using a "Rapid Fire" version at times, striking quickly and repeatedly to produce several small blasts in a row.ATTRIBUTES:(Numbers after the slash represent Yoga in his P-Chan form)Strength:6/1Speed:5/6Durability:6/2Wisdom:2 (1 in regard to his sense of direction)Knack:5Charm:3Martial Art Skill:x3Special Training:Strength x3, Speed x1, Toughness x2, I Training x2, Jump x2, Weapons x2, Pure Heart x1Flaw:Lysenko Curse, No Sense of Direction, Little Common Sense, Innocent History:Yoga is introduced in chapter 10 of the manga, titled "The Hunter" and in episode 7 of the anime entitled "Enter Yoga, The Eternal Lost Boy", in which he casually stops a giant boar from attacking rural villagers. He politely asked for directions to Frisian High School, but overshot the distance by 500 kilometers south, and again shortly thereafter by 500 kilometers north. A week later, he finally managed to reach his destination and promptly attacked Rama. The latter had to think hard to remember him, but was glad to see him when he remembered Yoga as a friend from his old boys' school (Junior High School in the anime, High School in the manga). At first, it seemed like he simply has a grudge because the latter "ran away" from their scheduled fight, at a vacant lot located 500 yards from his own house. His bad sense of direction forced him to wander all over Japan for four days looking for his destination, while Rama only waited three days before leaving with his father for their training trip to China. Rama recalls the motivation as consistently beating Yoga to the last bread at lunchtime, slowly building up the latter's resentment towards him. Ryoga ends up a week late travelling to their next duel. During their confrontation, he discovers Rama's curse, and the latter accidentally cuts off part of Kane's hair, by kicking away Yoga's belt-slash, leading both boys to profusely apologize. After another fight takes place in a rainstorm, female Rama finds out that Yoga tracked her to China, and concludes that the reason for his anger lies in being cursed by the springs of Lysenko. Rama finds a dog on the scene which she assumes to be Yoga and allows it into the house, while Kane finds a suspicious small black piglet in her room and tends to it. Kane tells Rama to bathe the pig, but when he puts it the hot bath Yoga appears. Female Rama almost manages to convince him that he should be mad at the girl who pushed him into the spring, leading him to almost be cooked and eaten, but it turns out to have been herself, during a chase after Genoa-panda, aggravating Yoga more than ever. Kane decides to adopt the pig, naming him Chan ("cute pig"; the "P" is actually derived from the English word "pig"), completely unaware of his dual identity and that he has become utterly enamored with her.Afterward, Yoga frequently finds himself back in Erica, whether to challenge Rama, search for a cure for his Lysenko curse, bring pastries and gifts to Kane as awkward shows of affection, or simply become entangled in the schemes and chaos that seem to follow his rival. His antagonism towards Rama gradually lessens with time. It starts out as a fierce rivalry, then shifts back and forth between tense competition, uneasy alliances or non-serious conflicts and, after a brief lapse, progresses to friendly enough terms to repeatedly risk his life to help Rama. However, they remain highly competitive. Rama himself considers Yoga as "generally a friend" and as his only true rival/equal. (Engage:17Gender:Male Hair:Black Eyes:Blue Description:Lysenko Curse (If Any):None Martial Arts Style:Kendo Element or Elements Attuned to:Wood Special Technique:Air-Pressure Strikes/Blue Thunder Attack: Juno's primary move. He jabs his broken at a target at high speeds, in the anime yelling "Atatatatatatatatatata!". During their first battles the air pressure alone proved enough to shatter a stone pillar, gave a significant bruise to Rama's throat, and later made him unable to hold back the tears from the severe pain over his entire body.ATTRIBUTES:Strength:4Speed:5Durability:3Wisdom:2 (Rather generous in my opinion)Knack:3Charm:3Martial Art Skill:x1Special Training:Weapons x2, Wealth x3Flaw:Stupidity History:A master of Kendo, Gateway is a senior at Frisian High School, captain of the Kendo Club and a classmate of Kabuki Tend. He is also the older brother of Karachi Juno, who attends St. Debarked School for Girls instead of Frisian High. He is almost exclusively referred to by his surname, unlike his sister. He had long been interested in Kane Tend, and had made a decree—given as his entry for a school speech contest—stating he would punish anyone who tried to date her without first defeating her in combat, thus resulting on Kane having to fight a barrage of boys every morning when she arrived at school. When he learned of her engagement to Rama São Tomé, he immediately assumed that Rama was hounding Kane and challenged the pig tailed newcomer. It ended when both of them landed in a swimming pool and Rama changed into his girl form. After being defeated, Gateway fell in love with her as well, though he continued to lust after Kane. As the story progress, he attempts to make Rama his girlfriend more than he does with Kane. Since Rama is actually a man, he has no feelings for Gateway at all and has shown extreme disgust at the concept, although he has taken advantage of Juno's obsession when it suited his purposes. Blown up photographs of Kane and the Pig tailed Girl, courtesy of Kabuki, adorn the walls of his bedroom. (Engage:16Gender:Female Hair:Black Eyes:Brown Description:Lysenko Curse (If Any):None Martial Arts Style:Tend Anything Goes Style of Ennoblement or Elements Attuned to:Earth Special Technique:Anime SlapATTRIBUTES:Strength:5Speed:3Durability:4Wisdom:3Knack:3Charm:4Martial Art Skill:x1Special Training:Strength x1 (Only when she gets angry)Flaw:Stubborn, "Uncut" (Short Temper), Complete Inability to Cook or perform any other "domestic" skill History:Kane's mother died when she was very young. Perhaps because of this, she appears not to have learned many traditionally feminine skills, and her terrible cooking is a running joke during the series as nearly everything she cooks ends up making people sick, except for her curry. Kane may see her sister Kashmir as a surrogate mother figure, since she helps her with more traditionally feminine chores. Akane grows up as a tomboy, getting into fights, acting tough, and improving her martial arts. In elementary school, her classmates thought she was so much like a boy that she was cast to play Romeo in their production of Romeo and Juliet; Kane accepts the role and plays a very cute Romeo, though deep down she always wanted to be cast as Juliet, a wish that she'll have fulfilled only years later (though she would have four different Romeos fighting for her). At the beginning of the series Kane has a crush on Dr. Tofu Ono, who patched her up many times when she got into fights. Unfortunately for Kane, Dr. Tofu is besotted with her older sister Kashmir. In an attempt to get his attention, Kane grew out her hair longer like Kashmir's. However, during one of the first fights between Rama and Yoga, her hair is cut, a look she retains for the rest of the series. Because of her unrequited crush on Dr. Tofu, she initially claims to hate boys.[1] It turned out that because her original 'suitor', Gateway Juno, declared that only someone who defeated her in battle would be allowed to date her, many of the strongest male athletes at Frisian High School began to violently attack her en masses every morning. Kane always beat them all without being late for class. When the series begins, Kane is engaged against her will to her father's friend's son, Rama São Tomé, so that the Tend dojo and the school of the Anything Goes Martial Arts will be assured a future. At first, Rama could have been engaged to any of the Tend girls, but Kane's older sisters palm Rama off on Kane. Kane's first meeting with Rama does not go smoothly: when Kane first meets Rama, he is in his girl form, and they have a short sparring match. But as she goes to wash off the sweat from their workout, Kane unknowingly walks in on him in the bathroom just after he's transformed back into his boy form. Akane and Rama often fight and insult each other. Usually, Rama insults Kane for being a tomboy and calls her "uncut," while Kane insults Rama for being a pervert. Despite their bickering, Rama is always there to protect her, and Kane often helps him through his fights, or saves his life. The two are also usually seen hanging out with each other outside of school and the dojo. Rama's arrival heralds the end of her daily morning fights shortly after he defeats Juno, the school's best warrior, in combat. Because of this and due to learning of her engagement, her daily attackers tearfully declare that they give up on her. After Kane's hair, which she had worked hard to grow out for Dr. Tofu, was suddenly and accidentally shorn off during Rama's battle with his rival, Yoga, she became furious and sad. Realizing this, Rama comforted her by telling her she looked cute with short hair. After that, Kane was able to get over her feelings for Dr. Tofu (later making several attempts to help bring Kashmir and Dr. Tofu closer) and began to develop affection for Rama, although his abrasiveness sometimes jeopardized these emotions. (Engage:17Gender:Female Hair:Brown Eyes:Black Description:Lysenko Curse (If Any):None Martial Arts Style:None Element or Elements Attuned to:None. Not a Martial Artist. Special Technique:None.ATTRIBUTES:Strength:2Speed:3Durability:2Wisdom:6Knack:5Charm:4Martial Art Skill:None Special Training:Wealth x1, Fast Talk x2Flaw:Greed History:Kabuki is presented as the middle of the three Tend sisters, and a second year student at Frisian High School. Even at her young age, she is gifted at methodically serving her own interests at the expense of anyone else, including her family, and has no compunctions against emotionally wrecking, manipulating, tormenting, impoverishing or setting up others in life-threatening situations for either money, amusement or petty pride, even if she owes them her life several times over. She encouraged Juno to keep his infatuation with female Rama and Kane to further her regular sales of clandestinely-taken photos, which he keeps in a large album. She also regularly uses incrimination or blackmail to get what she wants. In the anime she has also taken bets on Rama's fights. While she comes from a martial arts school, Kabuki is not a combatant. Although she always keeps her wits about her, she has herself stated that she's a completely untalented fighter. The only fighting skill she has shown is clobbering Juno unconscious with a small mallet from behind, while the latter was completely distracted, although Kane also performed the same feat just previously. She has also occasionally manifested a variant of the standardized intimidating battle aura that is recurrently used by various characters for comedic effect, but like Kashmir, and unlike her father, it hasn't been shown as useful for anything else, and is only workable when she's thoroughly mad/furious. She generally ensures that the violence around her finds other targets to occupy its attention, although she misplaced, and briefly found herself defenseless, when Shampoo and Karachi decided to simply kill her. (São Toméan:Mid 40sGender:Male Hair:None Eyes:Black Description:Lysenko Curse (If Any):Shonmaoniichuan, Spring of Drowned Panda Martial Arts Style:São Tomé Anything Goes Martial Arts Element or Elements Attuned to:Earth Special Technique:None NotableATTRIBUTES:(Numbers after the slash are when Genoa is in his Panda form)Strength:6/6Speed:5/4Durability:5/6Wisdom:4/4Knack:4/4Charm:2/3Martial Art Skill:x3 (Will generally only use x2 out of laziness)Special Training:Strength x1 (x2 in Panda Form), Speed x1 (Loses this in Panda Form), Toughness x1, I Training x3, Jump x2Flaw:Cowardice, Greed, Gluttony History:Genoa São Tomé is Rama São Tomé's father and the sensei of the Tend Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts. During the time when Genoa took Rama on a decade-long training voyage to improve their martial arts skills, he insisted on going to Lysenko in China - a place which he believed to be a training ground. However, because of Genoa's ignorance of the Chinese language, he did not realize that the ground was unfrequented because it was cursed. Genoa realized all too late the mistake he made, after his son knocked him into a cursed spring during this fateful training session. Genma was knocked into Shonmaoniichuan, the Spring of Drowned Panda. Due to the nature of the Lysenko curse, a victim who falls into the spring is cursed to turn into who or whatever drowned there when doused with cold water. Thus, whenever Genoa is splashed with cold water, he becomes a giant panda. Hot water, as with the rest of the Jusenkyo-cursed characters, can change him back into human form. Despite the fact that he and his son were cursed, Genoa still brought Rama back to Japan to fulfill a marriage engagement with his longtime friend and fellow martial artist Son Tend, the terms of which were as follows: Rama would marry one of Son's daughters and carry on the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts. Genma and Son decided that Son's youngest daughter Kane would one day marry Rama after Kane's sisters made the ruling on their own — against their will, at least at first. Genoa currently resides in the Tend Dojo along with Rama, in the hopes that one day Rama and Kane will get married and fulfill the agreement made by the two families. He spends most of his time playing Go or Shogi with Son, although he briefly had a job at Dr. Tofu's clinic. (Engage:19Gender:Female Hair:Brown Eyes:Brown Description:Kashmir is almost always wearing a very domestic looking dress and apron. Jusenkyo Curse (If Any):None Martial Arts Style:None. Element or Elements Attuned to:None. Not a Martial Artist. Special Technique:Untouchable: Kashmir seems to be so sweet and innocent that no one would dare lay a hand on her... and those who would risk Son's wrath.ATTRIBUTES:Strength:2Speed:2Durability:2Wisdom:4Knack:2Charm:6Martial Art Skill:None. Special Training:Pure Heart x3, Cooking x2Flaw:Naive History:Nineteen-year-old Kashmir is the eldest daughter of the Tend family. She stated that she finds younger men boring when she and her sisters learned of Rama's pending arrival. Although she is out of high school, she took over as the family matriarch after the death of her mother. She handles most of the housework, caring for and supporting her family and anyone who visits. Her life is largely that of a traditional Japanese housewife, but she appears to be content in that role and has sometimes been shown to go on trips or meet friends. Dr. Tofu Ono, the local physician, has a crush on her and goes haywire whenever she comes by, or even talks to her on the phone. But given that she always encounters him in this mode, she considers him somewhat odd and seems unaware of his affection. (Engage:Mid 40sGender:Male Hair:Black Eyes:Black Description:Lysenko Curse (If Any):None Martial Arts Style:Tend Anything Goes Martial Arts Element or Elements Attuned to:Water Special Technique:Battle Aura from Hell: When enraged, Son displays a giant battle aura, frequently in the form of a "Giant Demon Head," which most people (even Hippos), except his daughters, find very intimidating.ATTRIBUTES:Strength:4Speed:4Durability:4Wisdom:3Knack:4Charm:3Martial Art Skill:x2Special Training:Weapons x2, I Training x2Flaw:Overly Emotional History:Son Tend is presented as the current sensei of the Tend Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts. Many years ago he, along with Genoa São Tomé, was taken as a student by the style founder Hippos, but the 'training' largely consisted of the grandmaster gleefully abusing them as slaves, or pack animals, chaining up, starving and taunting them by eating all their food, and sticking them with responsibility for his thefts and runaway restaurant bills. They eventually managed to temporarily get rid of the pest, by getting him drunk and then sealing him within a cave, by means of explosives, a large boulder, and a Shinto Oneida seal. At some point Son established his dojo, got married, and became the father of Kashmir, Kabuki, and Kane. With the untimely death of his wife, he was left with the responsibility of raising his three daughters and the duty of keeping his dojo afloat all by himself. In traditional way of carrying on the legacy, there has to be a man to succeed him as master, so Son struck a marriage arrangement with his old training partner. The latter's only son, Rama, would marry one of Son's daughters, and thus preserve the future of their martial arts style. Soun let his daughters decide among themselves whichever should take up the engagement. But after Rama's gender-bending nature was exposed, the two older sisters foisted him/her on Kane. However, due to a misunderstanding when Kane first saw him as a naked stranger awaiting her in the bathroom, she initially found this unacceptable and loudly objected. Despite this initial outburst, Son and Genoa remain confident that they will grow to love each other with time. (300Gender:Male Hair:White Eyes:Black Description:Short little old man who dresses like a thief. Jusenkyo Curse (If Any):None Martial Arts Style:Founding School of Anything Goes Martial Arts Element or Elements Attuned to:White Cotton. Seriously, probably Wind. Special Technique:Finger Block: Hippos can use this move to stop huge objects or powerful punches aimed at him with only his index finger. It has proved sufficient to effortlessly stop Taro's cursed form in its tracks. It is unknown if he uses his own strength, channels his chi to stop the attack, disables the object's momentum, or any combination thereof. Either way, it is one of Hippos's best defensive moves and hints at what he could do with a full arm if he ever turned serious. Extra-Dimensional Warp: Hippos becomes invisible, allegedly by turning his body composition similar to air/a gaseous state. The downside is he cannot attack without becoming visible. It is used primarily to spy on girls. Fist of the Hermit Crab: Hippos throws several empty buckets into the air towards his target, then uses his extradimensional warp to hide in one. Afterward he attacks from his bucket as he bypasses his target. In the anime, this technique is part of an entire sub-discipline of the Anything Goes School known as Bathhouse. He probably devised it to protect himself from the girls he peeped on in public baths. Happo Throw: A technique that Hippos uses on attacking opponents. He hooks their arm or leg with his pipe, then uses their own momentum to throw them a great distance, by flicking his wrist. He can also do this without the pipe. Bean-jam Blow-out (Anime): Using his chi, Hippos creates a large blast of wind to blow his enemies away. This move is named as he created to steal Bean-jam from Son and Genoa. Happo-Fire Burst: Hippos's "ultimate technique" and his favorite. He sealed it away because it damaged a bra many years ago and promptly forgot how to use it, but after Rama pushed him too far he recalled this long-lost technique and set out to retrieve the scroll for it. Though he was unable to read his own handwriting and then tore it up in irritation, he remembered how to perform the move after being hit in the head. In reality, it is just throwing large fireworks at people. They are presumably infused with chi, however, and can cause massive damage. Hippos can also immediately create these bombs in different sizes to increase their power, some even as large as a small house. Even single regular sized versions have repeatedly beaten Taro's cursed form. Battle Aura: as the grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts, Hippos is exceptionally skilled at manipulating his immensely powerful battle aura. The shown uses include paralyzing Rama, chi-direction, or solid giant-scale fighting, and it can evidently be molded into different forms and sizes. In the anime, he is shown to fire it as a serpentine blast resembling a demonic Chinese Dragon, while during his first "duel" with Rama in either canon, he is shown creating a variant of Son's "Demon Head", which only Rama can see -- in the manga, he promptly follows this up with a hand-variant when Rama manages to shrug off his paralysis. Several times in both the anime and the manga, he uses this technique to manifest a skyscraper-sized version of himself, and he can keep this up for prolonged intervals. Enough to scourge the town in a search of Taro and then effortlessly beat him up, or battle Genoa's similar technique even when severely weakened. In the anime, this is depicted as an actual transformation, rather than an energy construct, with both his students capable of the same feat, but they are not as durable. Hippos's lust aura is even more powerful than his battle aura. Cologne commented that the latter could “lay waste to the Earth”. This seems like hyperbole, but is nonetheless signifying the extent of his power, derived from his perverted spirit. Chi-direction: Hippos has occasionally generated chi-blasts, either directed from himself or his battle-aura. These are shown capable of instantly defeating Taro's monster form, which took an extended beating from Rama, Yoga, Mousse and Shampoo without as much effect. Silky Storm: A distraction technique that involves Hippos spinning his pipe and creating a blizzard of bras/panties to cover his escape.ATTRIBUTES:Strength:4Speed:6Durability:6Wisdom:5Knack:6Charm:1Martial Art Skill:x4Special Training:Speed x4, Strength x3 (Only used to damage and knock back. A more clever use of leverage and pressure points than brute strength), Toughness x1, I Training x4, Weapons x4, Jump x3Flaw:Lecher (Addict), Easily distracted by lingerie or women's' bodies. History:The "training" that he put Son and Genoa through, was cleaning up his messes, having to "take the fall" for him, and basically making life a living hell for the two. However, one day they finally managed to get away from Hippos's control. While the latter was passed out drunk from the sake that they brought to him, Son and Genoa trapped Hippos inside a box with lit dynamite, threw it into a cave, rolled a boulder over the entrance, and sealed it with fastened Gouda spirit wards. Thinking they were finally free of the old lech, Son and Genoa left to continue their practice. After many years, Hippos managed to escape from his prison and made his way to the Tend dojo. Fearing that he was out for revenge, Son and Genoa immediately tried to kill him, but after being instantly and effortlessly defeated they groveled before him. Even though he is a massive pest, Genoa and Son don't always have the backbone to stand up to him, especially not close to his introduction, and tried to force Rama São Tomé to apologise for helping to return his stolen underwear to its rightful owners. Rama managed to outsmart and weaken Hippos through sticking him with a women-repelling scent, which enabled Genoa to wear him down, but much to everyone's dismay, Hippos nonetheless moved in with the Tends. (300Gender:Female Hair:White Eyes:Black Description:Like Hippos, she is very small and elderly. She has long white hair and gets around by pooing on a gnarled wooden staff that she sometimes uses as a weapon. Jusenkyo Curse (If Any):None Martial Arts Style:Joketsuzoku (Chinese Amazon) Tribe Martial Arts Element or Elements Attuned to:Water Special Technique:Pressure Points & Combustion: The Joketsuzoku have a wide variety of techniques that revolve around manipulating the body with the application of pressure or heat to specific points. Three of the most notable are the Xi Fa Jiang GAO (which combinations manipulation of points on the head with the application of herbal extracts to modify memories), the Full Body Cat's Tongue (which renders the victim's whole body ultra sensitive to heat, so much so that Lysenko victims can't bear the water they need to resume their true form), and a nameless technique that allows the user to manipulate their victim's body like a puppet. Kachu Ten shin Amaguriken: By repeatedly striking with bare hands into an open flame in an effort to retrieve roasting chestnuts, the trainee eventually boosts their striking speed to the point where they may not only achieve this task without being burned, but strike a target hundreds of times in a matter of seconds. Bakusai Tenets: By repeatedly beating themselves against a solid boulder, the trainee both hardens their flesh to make them almost immune to blunt impacts and gains the ability to see the "breaking point" in any mass of stone. With training, one can similarly see the breaking point in wood and metal, though, despite legends to the contrary, there does not appear to be any way to use this technique on living flesh. Hiryu Shorten Ha: By projecting an aura of cold energy, and goading the opponent into both projecting an aura of hot energy and leading them into a spiral pattern, the martial artist may mix the two energies together to create a violent, spiral-shaped wind current that carries the victim aloft in a miniature tornado. Shark Fist: Presumably by usage of her I, Cologne is able to generate violent bursts of water by touching the surface of a body of water, using these pressurized bouts to knock her opponents flying. This move appears in the manga version of the climatic battle for the Phoenix Pill saga. Fist of the Ice Bear: Using her I, Cologne levitates multiple boulders of ice and directs them as guided missiles. The name may be because she uses this technique while mounted on a life-sized ice sculpture of a bear, which is also manipulated with this technique. This replaces the Shark Fist in the anime, as the Phoenix Pill saga ends in the mountains rather than on the beach. Splitting Cat Hairs: Cologne is able to use her I to create up to 18 illusionary duplicates of herself in battle.ATTRIBUTES:Strength:3Speed:6Durability:5Wisdom:6Knack:6Charm:2Martial Art Skill:x4Special Training:Speed x4, Strength x3 (Only used to damage and knock back. A more clever use of leverage and pressure points than brute strength), Toughness x1, I Training x4, Weapons x4, Jump x3, Occult Knowledge x4Flaw:Selfish: Will generally only help someone if it furthers her schemes to help Shampoo marry Rama. History:Cologne is the great-grandmother of Shampoo and accompanied Shampoo when she returned to Japan, opening the Cat Café in Frisian. She is a contemporary of Hippos, and possibly a leader (or the leader) of the Chinese Joketsuzoku tribe. Cologne is very elderly, being around 300. Many years ago, as a young woman, she was quite beautiful (and normal-sized), in contrast to Hippos, who was basically the same, only younger. The cause of her shrinkage is unknown. Cologne calls Rama São Tomé "bride-groom" and "future/son-in-law," and though she tries to trick and scheme to get Rama to marry Shampoo at first (as well as at a couple of opportunities that fall into her lap), most of the time she is there as an aside, seeming to find joy in just watching the madness. She is a grand master of martial arts, and occasionally teaches Rama new techniques, sometimes doing the same for his rivals. (Curse (If Any):Manichean, Spring of Drowned Cat Martial Arts Style:Joketsuzoku (Chinese Amazon) Tribe Martial Arts Element or Elements Attuned to:Water Special Technique:ATTRIBUTES:Strength:6Speed:5Durability:4Wisdom:3Knack:3Charm:5Martial Art Skill:x2Special Training:Strength x1, Speed x1, Cooking x2, Weapons x2, Occult Knowledge x1Flaw:Selfish, Sucker for RanmaHistory:Soon after getting cursed at Lysenko, Rama (as a girl) and Genoa (as a panda) drop into a contest in a village of the Joketsuzoku "tribe of women heroes" ("Chinese Amazons" in English versions). Half-starved, they feed on the next available foodstuff - the feast that was to be the first prize for the contest - and are instantly challenged by Shampoo, the village champion. He swiftly defeats her, but this was a bad move. According to Chinese Amazon tribal laws, if a female Amazon is defeated by a female outsider, she must give the outsider the "Kiss of Death", hunt her down to the ends of the Earth, and kill her (as Rama tells Kane, "and when they say 'to the ends of Earth', they mean it"). Rama and Genoa manage to elude her and settle down in Erica, thinking that they've lost her. However, Shampoo eventually tracks female Rama down and resumes her attempts at murder. She finds Rama, this time a male, in the Tend household—where she managed to enter courtesy of Kashmir, who thought Genoa had invited her, when she was actually stalking him—and declares her intent to kill Kane for hiding female Rama from her. Rama stops her attack by kicking the head off of her Hui, which knocked her cold when it landed on her head, accidentally defeating her a second time. However, instead of receiving a "Kiss of Death," Rama gets a kiss on the lips; it turns out that if a female Amazon is defeated by a male outsider, she has to marry him. She continues on the path of trying to marry male Rama and kill female Rama, until Rama tricks her into thinking that the male side is a disguise for the female side. Heartbroken, Shampoo returns to China, where she undergoes re-training at the hands of her great-grandmother Cologne and finally receives a cat curse at Lysenko, which causes her to become concerned. Realizing that Rama had been cursed as well, she goes back to Japan with Cologne to try to marry Rama once more, learning in the process that he is actually male. Unfortunately, this revelation came at a price: Rama has been completely "phobic" about cats (coulrophobic) since childhood. Even if she has been chased by the Ghost Cat Mandolin a couple of times, Shampoo really has only one strong suitor, her childhood friend Mousse, whom she rejected when they were both three. Cologne has stated that this holds true by Amazon law, regardless if he manages to beat Rama, but he remains stubborn despite her multiple rejections and frequent cruel and derisive treatment. In Shampoo's defense Mousse is very clingy, often trying to glop her and will not take no for an answer. Then again she behaves exactly the same way towards Rama, to an even more severe degree, and has been repeatedly shown as far more inconsiderate towards him than Mousse is to her. As is standard for the series, either behavior is frequently used in a comical manner. Shampoo generally seems annoyed and contemptuous towards Mousse, but occasionally shows some concern when he drives himself too far. Late in the series, when her love has been turned to hate by a magic jewel, and Mousse decides to take advantage to approach her, she rejects him in the normal manner, which may hint that her feelings towards him contain elements of both derision and appreciation.

Ranma 1_2 - Tales of Jusenkyo (Canon NPC Character Sheets)|rating:3.0

Girlfriend for hire (Rara and Cameron)

(was as if Vanessa had woken up in a different universe, yesterday she was a model for a fetish agency, an escort by night and trying to get through college three days a week. Today? She was some arrogant pricks hired girlfriend for a sports game she didn't even take an interest in or rather that's what her government official file said anyway. Thankfully at least most of her belongings were packed, band shirts, shorts, jeans, bikinis and even a few of her fetishist catsuits for undercover purposes. Had to get the extra in somehow, and yet she remained in bed, stretching her arms above her head she sighed at the sheets caressing over her skin and sighed. "I don't even fucking know this guy..." Less mumbled as she rolled her gaze to the male that occupied her laptop screen, alright. Fine she knew who he was, who didn't with a smile like that but just because he was attractive, tattooed to the heavens with a smile that made panties pointless it certainly didn't mean she liked him. Anyway, she swiped up her phone and called her agent yawning rather loudly into her palm as she just stared at the screen of her laptop "I'm not sure who wins more..." She grinned rolling her eyes hearing the secretaries' ahem "Can I help?" Vanessa soon peeled herself out of bed idly resting her free hand upon her hip tapping her pale skin with a grunt. "Nah, just called because I'm bored! Seriously Staff, yeah. Put me on to Vic, kinda need my travel arrangements." Vanessa grunted as she lay on her back reluctant to crawl out of bed and begin her day since college was out for the semester giving herjobtop priority. (just rolled out of bed, getting the text from Vic that Vanessa would be there around three in the afternoon, and he could pick her up from LaGuardia Airport. Rolling out of bed as it was now ten. Hopping into Cam's room, jumping on his bed. "The new tits comes today. This girl is a ten on a scale to five." Cam just growled, 'That's nice... I'm sleeping." Do shook him, "No this is good for you to man, you can fuck her too." Do's eyes widened. "What?" "Yeah... didn't think I'd let my buddy's cock be drier than the Sahara when I have a pussy that I'm paying for would you?" "That's exactly what I thought, you're kind of an asshole" Cam said with a laugh. Do just smirked. "Yeah, you're right." (set her phone down on the unoccupied pillow beside her and slowly found her eyes dropping to a close when her phone chimed alerting her of the details being sent to her email as well as the print-out ticket, now she needed to get out of bed. Since her belongings were packed she frowned and placed her feet on the floor listening to a debate just because you've never had a girlfriend it doesn't mean you're a misogynist Perking a brow she turned to face the radio and snorted. "No. But buying a girlfriend leans towards that." Vanessa muttered whilst she tied her lace bra let around her neck and against her back before sliding a vest over her head with a yawn. Well there are girls you can pay for... Services. Those with daddy issues are more likely to charge the higher rates. Snapping her gaze to the radio she wondered if anything had been leaked to the press or if it was simply a coincidence. "Don't have daddy issues." Vanessa grunted as she slid into a pair of black panties that matched her bra let and jumped into a pair of shorts soon after, only shoving her feet into a pair of slip on vans and dragging her case out of her room downstairs. "Fucking radio shows." Vanessa muttered as she placed her bags in the hall moving to the kitchen where and patted Matt on the shoulder as she pours herself a coffee. "Catch me up. What's Alejandro the new superstar like." (just smiled slightly, "I don't know all that much about him honestly, I know he was first overall draft pick in the league. So there's a lot of hype around him that we're talking about him on literally the other side of the country and I know who he is. Well-spoken man, Twenty four. You'd love him, very much your type. He's a bit of a party boy who gets tired of girlfriends quick. So I wouldn't be surprised if he's done with you within a month or two." Matt sighed. "I kinda hope he is. Not that I don't want you getting paid. I'm just going to miss you." He said wrapping his arms around Vanessa's waist. "If he hurts you, I'll get my ass kicked trying to defend your honor. I hope you know that." He said kissing her forehead. (frowned idly as she sipped at her coffee grumbling as it seemed maybe the radio debate held some truth to it, laying her head against her housemates shoulder as she listened to him speak with a sigh falling from her. "Great, so the guy who would rather queue for beer rather than roses. Sooner he gets bored with me the better then." She sighed pressing a kiss to Matt's cheek and strolling towards the fridge grunting as she settled on a banana, just tossing it on the counter with a groan. "I hate him already, I don't do the girlfriend experience for more than a night or two. A month and we revisit the time, if he wants me longer. He gets longer. What if he is a misogynistic cunt? I'm screwed. I mess this up? Furthermore, I could lose my job." She sighed and just poured her coffee down the sink checking the time, finding she had an hour before she needed to leave. "Know what he said in the request, I need a believable set of tits on my arm... Paint him in a good light since he can't do it himself, he described me without using my fucking name." Shaking her head she scrolled through her emails and huffed. "He better have a huge cock otherwise I get nothing out of this." (shook his head tilting Vanessa's gaze up to his own, waving his phone. "I'm always just a phone call away. If you need anything, I'll be on the next plane to come get you." He said as he leaned in almost threatening to kiss her. Matt has loved Vanessa since she moved in, and he wanted to pull her from that life. What happened if he never saw her again. He held her chin in his palm. "It will all work out Less. I promise, you'll be okay. He snuggled into her. Pressing a kiss to her forehead. Matt ran his hands through her hair. Making his way back to the counter. Dro saw Less' number on the site. Texting her once. "Hey, I'm your new boyfriend for the while. I've seen most of your body." Snapping a picture of him in just his boxers. "Here's mine." (job wasn't as horrible as people made it out, she never had sex with her clients in fact she was just the trophy girl on events, award shows, high class dinners. It was simply dating and getting paid to do so, nearly $1000 per date, it was the easiest 28k she made each month. 1000 per date, one date a night. 28 dates a month, it was the simplest bit of money she earned and that was onto of her modelling. So really she didn't need to do this anymore, but easy money was always so appealing then again any money she made went back to the government since it was mostly practice cover work to see where she was or wasn't comfortable, flicking her gaze to Matt's features she parted her lips as he leaned in over to sigh as he moved to the counter, "I'm a big girl Matt." Strolling from the kitchen she near choked on air at the image that appeared on her phone, Vanessa licked over her lip and text back simply "Well done, you're a douchebag in good shape." She wasn't even there yet, and he was already acting like she was something to soon own, shaking her head she snorted she had free-range of speech until he picked her up from the airport. (smirked at her response. "I know you near swallowed your entire face when you saw that. I mean... most girls do. Not entirely uncommon. Maybe I'll show you a bit more, Get that pussy wet so by the time you get here you'll be ready for me to fuck you stupid. I'm not like these other guys who are content with just taking you out to fancy dinners, so I'm not alone. You're my girlfriend now. I fuck you, we go out to dinner, you're going to do my laundry. That's what this is now. If you have a problem with it, I can find someone who's not, and you don't get paid." (her tongue against her cheek she just stared at the text utterly dumbfounded at such a blunt message, "Don't flatter yourself, you're just a job to me a complete utter cunt of a job. But a job nonetheless. Turns out the radio debate was right about you." Shoving her phone deep into her pocket she just groaned and carried her bags into her car where she rested against the trunk and inhaled a deep breath through her nose considering she wasn't the most confrontational person, but he was pushing every button imaginable for such an early hour. It was surprisingly a warm sunny day in California, and yet she was travelling to the complete other end of America for a fucking job she was already regretting, pinching the bridge of her nose she snapped her gaze towards the house and whistled. "Come on then, you're having to drive my fucking car back you fuck!" Walking around to the passenger side she dropped into the seat and kicked her feet onto the dash with a shake of her head. "Fucking laundry my ass." (just sighed as he slid his way into the driver's seat. Shaking his head at Vanessa, reaching over to grab her hand with a smile. Pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I know his type. He's not going to give you up, he'll send for another one and keep you just for your tits. Vanessa... I'm falling in love with you and I can't give you up without telling you that." He said as he pressed a kiss to her lips. "He won't pay for you, and he's keeping you anyway if you piss him off." He held her close to him. "Vanessa." He sighed as he hugged her close to him. "Let's just go to the airport." He said with a sigh. (blinked as the atmosphere soon grew serious between them, turning to face him she perked a brow and simply listened as she bit down on her lip with her forehead bowing into his kiss. Stroking her thumb soothingly over the back of his hand she sighed "You make him sound like a complete abusive asshole that'll keep me captive. I doubt he's that bad." She frowned as only ten minutes ago he had said Alejandro was exactly her type, and now he was subtly telling her to be careful and that they should just go to the airport. Her thoughts already swimming she simply nodded reluctantly and pulled her phone from her pocket. "What's going to happen if I piss him off? He'll yell a little and then sulk for a few hours. It's fine. It's just a job, I'll be back in the month." She sighed not realizing how wrong she was about the end result and how wrong she had Alejandro. Dropping her gaze to her lap she pulled and twirled the piece of metal vertically through her lip and tried pushing her thoughts from her mind. (sent Vanessa another text. "Sorry sweetie, not going to be able to pick you up from the airport. Cam my agent and roommate will scoop you up though. I have a meeting with a charity that I can't exactly pass on." Texting her a picture of his Cane Torso/Pit puppy Paws. "Hope you like dogs. I adopted this guy about a month ago, and he's a cuddle machine, so I figured I'd let you know what you're walking into. Cam's going to take you out to lunch and then shopping. I spoil my sluts... so anything you want Cam will make it happen. Can't wait to fuck... see you." (just sighed at the texts upon her screen barely even smiling at the puppy, just shaking her head slowly with her expression growing somewhat grim "Yeah. Great." She texts back blankly just sliding her phone back into her pocket as they drove to the airport, staring longingly out the window half tempted to just have Matt turn the car around but honestly. What else was she to do for the winter break? Shaking her head slowly she sat in silence for the rest of the drive soon sliding to her feet once they were parked, "I'm not coming home am I." She sighed lifting her bags out of the trunk, grabbing her carry on and slinging it over her shoulder and grabbed a suitcase in each hand just staring towards Matt with a worn out smile. "There's no words for this is there Matt? We both know what's going to happen. It might turn out that he's really not so bad, texts mean nothing. He could be seeing if I believe the press or. The press are in fact right, and I've signed myself over to the devil." (just sighed as an ex of his was making her rounds about how Do abused her physically, beating her ass on a nightly basis as she told the story. Matt pulled up the pictures as he heard the story on the radio. The bruising was obviously a makeup job to anyone who had ever applied makeup, the bruising on her ass was real, but it wasn't over the top, just made Do look kinky. Showing the pictures to Vanessa. "A lot of these look brutal, are you sure you don't want to just bail? Not like he has an address or anything, he can't exactly come looking for you." (slammed the door of her trunk shut and snatched the phone from his hand scrolling through the ex-girlfriends story and examined the pictures with a roll of her eyes "It's make up. Look I'm giving the guy the benefit of the doubt here, a story like this? Can make THOUSANDS. She's selling a story to make a bit of cash. Put yourself in his shoes a moment, would you not wantsomeoneto have a little bit of faith? Sure it might and likely will beat my ass, but I can't bail because I've heard a few stories. Everyone deserves a chance. Except her, that makeup is terrible." She sighed brushing her hand through her hair and shook her head slowly brushing past him, "You're no better if you're basing this on a few things you've heard and read." Walking onwards towards the airport she huffed a breath and soon disappeared from sight towards the check in where she waited and placed her bags on the conveyor belt, eventually after arguing that she wasn't taking out every piercing she was finally on the plane with her book in her lap. Yet no matter how hard she tried she could concentrate upon the words on the pages as her mind couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth in the ex-girlfriends story. (just frowned "Fine Less. If you think you know what you're doing here. Just remember, you're a call away." He said with a sigh, expecting confiscating her phone to be the first thing Do did. Do wasn't a horrible human being, he just expected a lot of his female companions. Expected them to do as he said, when he said it. But he was never cruel when they didn't. Sure he was a dick, but he'd never leave lasting bruises unless it was during sex, he was a kinky fuck. But Do had no respect for those who hurt women. Watching his dad do it over and over again to his many wives. Do however had his father's drive for perfection, and it made him how he was, and he hated it. (couldn't shake the words Matt had called out to her, sounding as if it was something sheshouldremember rather than it being a passing comment. However, when she saw the seatbelt light she knew she was about to find out what such words meant, finally once she hands landed she stuffed her book back into her bag and slid to her feet slinging the bag over her shoulder and making her way towards the airport where she headed for the collection point for her bags. Heaving her cases from the belt she looked around and frowned before making her way towards the exit simply turning her phone back on and texting Alejandro with a grunt of disdain. "Alright, I'm here. Who am I looking for?" Pressing send she sat down on one of the benches, placed her hands behind her and rested her feet atop of her cases making herself more than comfortable even if it was remarkably colder in New York, and it showed in the way she shivered. (Do could text her back, Cam crept up behind her with a smile. "Vanessa, right? You're the girl Alejandro Vargas inquired about? I hope if not I just blew up his secrets and he'll murder me in my sleep." Cam said obviously kidding. "I'm Cameron Madsen, I'm Drop best friend and agent. Been friends since we were kids, it's why he sent me with something so precious. With the shit Andrea's spewing he deals with guys questioning his manhood. Was he rough with her? Sure but did he ever raise a hand to her? Absolutely not. Do would never. This is the guy who won't let me sleep on the floor he gave me in his home because once when I was sleeping, I had a night terror and when I'm very excited, I'm allergic to my own adrenaline of sorts, and he worries since had he not saved me I'd be dead. Been taking medicine for it since that night and The dude still won't let me sleep too far. That's not best friend that's more of a brother." (blinked as a tall figure blocked her light and glanced up at the male nodding slowly "Uhm yeah, that's me. I believe we've already met on my campus, you were across country seeing Becky when we were grabbing coffee." Vanessa mumbled barely having time to say anything else as he went on a ramble about how great Alejandro was despite everything she heard or read, frowning slightly she just heaved a breath and stood to her feet. "You know when someone rambles on about howgoodsomeone is it comes off as a lie or an exaggerated truth. I'm still here, aren't I? Clearly giving him the benefit of the doubt no? I'm just here on a job, after the month is up. I'm off. If he's such a great guy?" She paused standing abruptly to her feet and taking her cases within her grasp and snapped her gaze towards him "It won't be so terrible will it?" She uttered with a perked brow and nodded towards the sea of cars with a shrug. "Lead the way. Also, thanks for forgetting me. I was the girl you found in a park bawling her eyes out because this attitude is as fake as it can fucking get yet when I get a quiet moment it still sucks as to why I had to find it." (just smiled at her words. "It's not going to be as bad as you expect. You're a smart girl and that's honestly Drop biggest mistake to date, he wants something just that he can stick his dick in. If he had gone to someone like you who is down right stunning but smart enough to figure out what's going on? His image wouldn't be tarnished. Do wants the ideal woman, great in bed, does what's asked of her, and just all around shows that she wants to be with him. All Do wants is to be the guy his girl wants and her to show him that in the way he wants. Drop not a bad guy. Earn his trust and he'll give you his world and then some. I mean I'm here getting paid to spend the day with you a model. If I were single? Do you know how great that'd be? " Cam brushed Vanessa's hair from her eyes. "I didn't forget I just wasn't sure if you were that girl anymore." (frowned slightly as there was still something not quite right maybe Cameron just didn't realize or maybe he didn't know the extent of anything, shaking her head slowly she followed him to his car and loaded her cases into the trunk just frowning. "You know. I nearly believed you until he told me in more than one way Something to get his dick wet as well as do his laundry. I quoted spoil my sluts, so nah. You were nearly there. I've been on a plane for 5 hours, and I've been awake for 7, and it's not even 4. I just want a drink, shower maybe stretch to a bath and take a nap before my job really starts. Furthermore, I may not seem like that girl anymore. But she still exists." Sighing she moves around to the passenger side of his car and slid down into the seat where she pulled her phone from her pocket checking for any messages before dropping her phone in her lap, running her thumb anxiously over her lip. "You were right though. I am smart, so don't underestimate me by feeding me some fabricated or exaggerated shit to make me feel better about being his slut for a month." (glanced over to Vanessa shaking his head slightly. "You're right, I have something that might help." He showed Vanessa the number before dialing it, hitting send on a text. "What were you thinking going to the press about fabricated shit like what you told them. Do won't want you at all now." Showing Vanessa that text and the pictures in the feed of a desperate attempt to get Do back. She had even sent Cameron slutty pictures to get him to talk to Do. "So I have an eight and a half inch cock Do's got me beat by like an inch plus. So being his whore won't be so bad y'know there's always that. (scrolled through the messages and sighed tossing the phone back to him with a shake of her head. "You think that's my problem? That I'm a paid slut for a small guy. No. I know her injuries is a bad attempt at make up so I don't even believe her. I'm not talking about this right now. Furthermore, I'm too fucking tired." She grunted and slapped her arms over her chest where she turned in her seat and her back to him whilst she stared out the window distantly already missing Matt, already missing home, already thinking of what was going to happen to her until she had found her bearings or learned the lessons. What if Alejandro was in a mood when he got home, she didn't even know what either of them were like. Chewing on her lower lip she heaved a breath and closed her eyes softly before snapping them open "9 and a HALF?! Alright so he has one decent quality." She mumbled idly before closing her eyes softly once more. (chuckled when her eyes shot open, "That's why he goes after the big titled women, can't tit fuck a nine-inch dick with BS now can ya?" He asked with a laugh. "You'll love it once you're settled in, I promise. Do isn't looking to punish you unless you fuck up. You're safe I think, he's done this before, but he never once had his heart set on anyone the way he's set on you. I think he likes you, as more than just a pair of tits. Vanessa, he's attracted to you. I've never seen him like this the way he stares longingly, proudly at your pictures." (held her hand up and just shook her head slowly having heard enough for now as she curled up in the seat as she waited for him to pull out of the parking space to take back to her new home or wherever he was instructed to take her. "Key word you think... A part of you doesn't even know." She sighed shaking her head and pulling her knees to her chest resting her cheek upon her limbs as she closed her eyes softly, her breathing sooner growing shallow and soft with each passing minute as she began slipping off into the clutches of sleep that she seemed to have been missing from her ridiculously early morning. Shivering in the vastly different temperature compared to what it was back home she hugged her legs tighter to her chest in attempts to contain her body hear. (shook his head, draping his jacket around her. "Yeah should've warned you it's a bit colder here on the East Coast." He said curling her into his side. "I've never seen Do act like this before. I've seen him have crushes but like, he's got his heart set on you being his. I mean I see the allure, you're gorgeous with a nice body but still like he's a millionaire and barely twenty-two with a full career in football ahead of him. He's going to have sluts throwing their panties at him non-stop. There's something he's not telling us I think." (tiredly mumbles as she moved all too easily to lay against Cameron's side, covering her yawn with her hand as her tone softened signalling how tired she really was "Well guess I've fucked up since now I'm here he's not letting me go." She sighed tucking her hand beneath her head as she closed her eyes once more and huffed that if she wasn't getting a nap soon one of them were going to end up in the ER before the day was up, and it wasn't going to be her. Smiling proudly at her promised threat she nodded and soon fell back into her half-hearted slumber, absently pulling his jacket up to her chin as if it were a blanket with her toes pushing on the backs of her shoes sliding them from her feet. "Wake me when we get there." (just smiled as he curled him into her side. His hand sliding up around one of her soft breasts, giving it a firm squeeze. "Wow. They are real. How about that." He said with a moan texting Do the results of his squeeze. Do just moaned. "Wow, you're kidding, they're huge. So nice." Cam smiled and continued driving on their way back home, pulling into the driveway of the three-story mansion. Cam had his own floor and Do had his gym as well as a multiplex looking theater with computers and his TV set up as well as a game console or two. (grunted as Cameron gave her breasts a light squeeze, not enough to wake her fully but firm enough to get a response. Snorting slightly in her slumber she nuzzled her cheek against her hand and continued sleeping even after they arrived. Actually snorting herself awake she rubbed at her eyes tiredly and glanced around chewing on her lip as she stared at the large mansion ahead of her in awe, perking a slender brow with a faint sigh "Maybe this won't be so bad." She mumbled lightly sliding to her feet automatically moving to the trunk to retrieve her bags and cases with a yawn into her shoulder. (slid up to grab her from the car, Cam took her bags, carrying them into the house. Do pressed a heated kiss to her lips, scooping her up off her feet and into his arms. Carrying her into the house as he sat her on the couch, laying her head in his lap, his cock grew hard giving her something to wake up to if she passed back out. Do just moaned as he slid his hand into the neckline of her shirt, giving her breasts a firm squeeze. "Pooh these are real and these are really nice." He says as he massaged her breast, pulling his hand from her shirt. (soon as Alejandro lifted her from her feet and into his arms she grumbled a faint hello before dropping her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes once more, something about the soft bouncing moments of each taken had lulled her back to sleep where she groggily returned his kiss before whining a soft sound as he soon sat down on the couch where he lay her down next to him and positioned her head in his lap. However, a few moments later, half hour later maybe longer she sat upright and pulled off her shirt grunting "Uncomfortable." And lay back down now that she was just in her shorts and her black lace bralette, she had to admit he was a comfortable thing to sleep on which she was pleasantly surprised about in fact she was surprised he was letting her sleep at all considering the way he was texting her earlier. Sliding her arm beneath her head she hummed a soft sound as she stroked her palm over his hard cock beneath his jeans curling her digits around his concealed length with a soft whimper, her heavy breathing being the only indication of her being truly still asleep. (helped her out of her shirt. Laying her back down across his lap. Moaning slightly as she was now stroking her palm over his cock. Wiggling out of his pants and boxers. Giving her access to his exposed cock with a smile. Pulling her bra let down slight to squeeze her bare breasts. Massaging the round flesh and then her nipples with a wide smirk as he massaged the flesh. "Oooh am I going to love these being mine." He said as he stared at her with a wide smile, pressing a heated kiss to her forehead. Continuing to paw at her breasts/ (grunted as he shuffled out of his jeans and boxers her sleep half disturbed leaving her in that could wake up but hostage, even her mind was still asleep soon her hand wrapped back around his large cock panting a half tired gasp of surprise as she found her index fingertip barely connected with her thumb around his length. As his hand massaged the large flesh of her breasts she whined a sound biting down on her lower lip as he rolled her nipples between his digits with a soft moan falling from her lips, rolling to face him she inched her head off his lap and inched her forwards towards his cock until she wrapped her mouth around the sensitive tip where she sucked gently. Tessa simply groaned and inched her mouth down on his length as she stroked her palm downwards even half asleep she made sure there wasn't an inch of him untouched. (reached his free hand down to rip her shorts down and off. Ripping her panties to the side, reaching between her legs he ran his fingers over her tight pussy, stroking his fingers in and out of the tight space before pulling her ass cheeks apart, waving Cam over to get a good look. 'How fuckable is she from that view?" Cam just laughed. "What? What's going on here?" He laughed as he made his way behind her, giving a thumbs up to Do, "Lucky as fuck looks super tight, both holes do." (inched her hips upwards allowing him to pull her shorts off with ease as she shuffled to lay on her front across the couch with a soft whimpered moan, arching her back until her weight rested on her knees. Blinking slowly as her brain eventually began to catch up to what was happening even if Alejandro's digits stroking in and out of her pussy still had her thoughts distracted, however she continued stroking her cheeks down and back up on his length until he spread her ass cheeks and started talking with Cameron, her movements slowed down until she had come to a stop entirely. Slowly she sat upright and glared between them, shaking her head slowly as she rearranged her bralette and wriggled back into her shorts dropping her head forward and to the side hiding behind her black and red hair with a sigh. "Fun fact. There's a word for what happened. Something to do with salt." She muttered sliding to her feet and moving to sit in a chair away from the pair, "Two peas in a fucking pod." (wandered over to her, ripping her shorts back down. Burying his face in her ass, licking the tight hole. "You don't get to throw a tantrum seeing as I y'know set this whole thing up. It wasn't like I had Cam do this, where he eats your ass. I asked him to look at something I didn't have the eyes to see and give his opinion, if this was at college, and you were in a sorority getting your ass pounded by a frat boy, and you had a sister like friend to give you a yay or nay on his ass would you not take it?" (yelped as he yanked her shorts back down the force of the action bringing her ass to the very edge of the chair where she whimpered and attempted to wriggle away from him, barely even an hour, and she was seeing who Alejandro was for what the media were painting him to be. "Actually. No, because I'd respect him enough to not have him inspected." She grunted angling her foot against his chest shoving her leg forward and either herself upwards against the chair or him away from her, either one would do her nicely. "I'm not a pair of tits or a piece of ass you can inspect. Isn't that what I'm here for to clear your name of being a misogynistic prick? Wait, we're behind closed doors. So what you go on as normal here and I flash a smile out there?" She asked with a perked brow, crossing her right leg over her left and snorted before turning to Cameron. "Yeah. You exaggerated a lot didn't you?" (snarled. "A misogynist? Is that what you think I am? Because of my laundry and you being of no use to me other than holes? Honey, honey, honey. That might make me a misogynist, but the media put that in the back of your head, didn't they? When I said that Andrea couldn't survive on her own, she needed a man in regard to her leaving me because I "abused" her. Vanessa I don't have respect for women because no one fucking showed me how, You've been here for five minutes, and you've already been the most stable women in my life, Sorry for not "respecting" you when I've never had a woman in my life for more than a week. My mom died young, and my dad fucked more women than a porn star with ten dicks. Died of aids when I was thirteen. Cam and I made this shit up since. If you don't want to give me a chance and be like the rest. Their's the fucking door. I'll pay you for your month, and you can fuck off, paint yourself in bruises, and I'll do the apology tour." (pulled her head back and a bit down on her quivering lip before suddenly shaking her head and jumping to her feet, her hand snatched around his jaw and she laughed. "Oh but darlin' that's exactly what it makes you. I came here to give you the benefit of the doubt, so don't pull the're impressionable shit on me. You say the media planted my opinion of you but didn't your dad mold you in how you should see women with how many of them he banged? I mean, you just said what happened to him. Keep fucking going, and you'll be seeing him sooner than you think." Shoving his face away from her, she buttoned up her shorts and huffed a strand of hair from her face exhaling a shaky breath of air as she squared her shoulders. "Listen. You don't take my shit? Fine, but don't fucking expect me to take yours. You need me more than I need you right now Vargas. 28k a month on a slow time, more if I push the boat out. I don't need this job, but you need me to have it don't you. Tell me, anyone ever stand up to you before?" (heard her speak, and her question rang in his head. "No actually, they typically just leave and run to the papers to see how much their stories worth." He shrugged out of his hoodie, handing it to her. "Take this, you're not used to New York weather yet, probably don't even own a proper hoodie. Win lose or draw whether you leave here tonight or not? Keep that until you don't want it anymore, it is freezing out." He said as his tone was dry, but he was deep in thought. She took everything he knew in five minutes and turned it on its ear. Grabbing her by her hips he pinned her firmly against the wall, kissing her passionately. Pointing Cameron out of the room this time. (blinked at the Hood he was holding out towards her and tilted her head, taking it with a faint smile and pulling it onto her frame near yanking the zip up in a hurry as she was in fact freezing. However, his kind gesture was enough to make her defense crack and send a tear rolling down her cheek, she had stood up to someone and apparently won the fight, yet she soon squeaked and found herself pinned against the wall with his lips crashing against her own. Slouching into him, she broke her lips free from his own and just stared up at him, "Why did he need to leave?" She mumbled with a frown finding her features, chewing on her lip anxiously as she couldn't work out why he would need to leave considering he just gave her something to where which meant he wasn't going to be taking them off. Blinking, she just panted with the adrenaline that ran through her veins from actually standing up to someone much bigger than her and just grunted. Arching her weight to her toes she crashed her lips back to his own and claimed his lower lip between her teeth giving it a tug hoping to silence the questions racing through her head. (just smiled and ran his hands down over her breasts, unzipping the hoodie to get a better feel. Zipping it back up once he had a sufficient grope. "I'm not going to undress you, you're right but at the same time I still kinda want us to have some alone time, this is technically our first date after all and you and I have spent it with my dick in your mouth, my fingers in your pussy and yelling at each other. Albeit a good time so far. I kinda want to prove that I'm not a total prick. I'm just... issue ridden." He said with a laugh. Walking them over to the couch where he sat her on his lap. (blinked confused as to why he unzipped her Hood to grope her breasts just to zip it back up soon after in fact almost instantly, she was even more confused as to why she cared. Muttering something incoherent under her breath and flicked her gaze towards his own, "Well. Give me a tour and then I'll cook us all dinner? I still think you're an asshole but may as well pull my weight while I'm here, what? You guys do live on takeouts right? Alright then, time for a proper meal." Shoving her hands deep within the Hood pockets she crossed her right foot over the top of her left and shrugged her shoulders lowering her gaze down to her feet with a sigh. "I swear, come out with a sexist crack about me in the kitchen, and you will be dinner itself." (just grabbed her hand, leading her up the stairs to the master bedroom. Nudging Tessa inside. "So due to the paparazzi and me being like movie star famous to the football world going first overall then immediately requesting a trade to my hometown team. I'm a big deal and that's why you're here to soften my image a notch or ten. But because of that we have to sleep in the same room, same bed because you never know where the paparazzi are going to be. " He said leading her from their bedroom into the master bathroom. "I'm sure this might deter you from sleeping elsewhere, sleep here and this is your bathroom, full whirlpool jacuzzi and the nine." Leading her from the bedroom, to the office area. "Here's Cam's office, where the super computer is. If you ever need anything that requires a really high-end computer Cam won't mind just ask first. That was another major issue. Andrea set up a twitch gaming channel. "MrsDroVargas, and used Cam's computer, downloaded a view bot and got a virus that Cam spent two days trying to fix. We're not assholes a lot of the time, just because you're with us doesn't mean you get full run of the house without asking. Like maybe, it's just me who thinks manners are dead. As far as the sexist women in the kitchen joke goes. I'm too busy picturing you in nothing but an apron, sweaty over the stove with my cock in your ass." (frowned as she stood in the doorway of Do's room folding her arms over her chest she just couldn't work out why she was required to sleep with him when she was as far as he was concerned a publicity stunt, perking a brow towards him, she leaned against the doorway and cocked her head to the side "You are aware there is no press in this place right. I'm a stunt out there not in here." Sighing she eyed the jacuzzi bath and sighed once more before following him into Cameron's office, frowning further "Then why show me? This isn't my business. I have my own laptop thank you." Just when she thought she could finally relax her thoughts he spoke of her in just an apron bent over the stove and that was when she shoved past him shaking her head, "You really are a special grade asshole you know that?" She was beginning to think this was one cover she couldn't keep, but she knew certain assignments may mean she had to deal with worst and in comparison he could be a pussycat. Dropping her head forward she pinched the bridge of her nose and grunted "You can't just talk to me like I'm equal can you.? I'm just a set of holes in your eyes." (smacked Vanessa on the ass. "Go get dinner ready while Cam's in the shower, that way by the time he's out. It'll be almost ready, and we can have a proper meal as roommates." He said as he gave the round flesh of her ass a firm squeeze. Slipping into his own bedroom, where he stripped down to just his boxers and a tank, getting a text from one of the new cheerleaders. "I heard you like to party. How about you party with me tonight." And attached was a picture of the bimbo's double d breasts. Do got dressed once more and slid out without as much as a word to Vanessa or Cam. Just forwarding the picture to Cam, "Look at those tits though." Cam rolled out of the shower to find the picture with a roll of his eyes, texting back. "They're fake and what about Vanessa?" Do didn't text back. (held her tongue at his response and just stormed off towards the kitchen muttering under her breath, while Do was in the shower she had already managed to cook three steaks to perfection whilst preparing the garlic glaze for the vegetables however as she was placing everything on their plates she heard the front door click shut. Curiosity was soon to be enemy as she watched Do slide into his car and drive off. "Oh you motherfucker." Vanessa sighed and just hurled Do's plate at the kitchen door before continuing to prepare her own dinner however finding that she was no longer hungry she scraped her dinner into the trash and just hunched forward bracing her weight against the counter. (made his way down the stairs still naked only to find Vanessa scraping her inner into the trash. Cam had still been home, and he didn't know if she knew that. He grabbed her by her wrist gently pulling her to the table. Taking his knife, he cut his steak in half, nudging half to one side of the plate along with half of his sides to the same side and the other half of the meal for the other. Sitting in a seat he sat her on his lap. "You worked hard on this, and I'm not letting it go to waste. You deserve at least a small taste of what you made, it smells delicious. Also... after dinner. We need to talk." (slowly turned towards him and stared at him jaw agape as even though he gently took her wrist she couldn't help but stare at his still wet naked frame. Swallowing back her groan she sighed and sat opposite at the dinner table cutting off a piece of steak from the half he offered her, before she was sat in his lap, since she was still wearing her shorts she perked a brow and adjusted herself slightly in hopes she could fight off the urge to grind her ass against his cock. "Thanks. Good to know someone appreciates the effort." She mumbled popping the piece of steak into her mouth and chewed slowly, rolling her eyes to a close as she had found it was cooked to near perfection. Next she stabbed a piece of broccoli onto her fork and audibly moaned at the right amount of garlic glazing the still crunchy piece of vegetable and sighed finding she really wasn't hungry for more, she decided she'd just whip something up later if she needed too "I'm seriously not hungry, beer?" She asked as she slid to her feet and towards the fridge grabbing two bottles and twisted the caps off with a sigh. "What about?" She mumbled setting his bottle down as she hoisted her weight to sit on the counter idly swinging her legs back and forth. (shook his head. "I'm sorry about Alejandro. Kind of expected him to at least try your steak rather than chew on some worn out cheerleader's pussy, the girl from what she texted him, and he forwarded to me doesn't even stack up to you. I don't get it. Anyway that's not what I needed to talk about. I kinda bugged your computer before I got in the shower. Anything on the network I have access to. Thank god for auto-connect right?" He said with a smirk. "So you really Ike puppies, huh?" Cam whistled and Paws padded in, excitedly wagging his tail as he sniffed Vanessa. (slowly lowered the beer from her mouth and shrugged "I'm not really his girlfriend so why should I care. Good news? I don't have to share a bed with him now." She mumbled taking another sip of beer only to choke on the liquid as he mentioned bugging her laptop, glaring towards him, she slowly turned her gaze towards the window and rubbed at her nose. "The only way you could manage that is if you had access to the..." And so her face fell into an expression of realization, actually breathing a sigh of relief she smiled with a knowing nod "Had it pinned as soon as Alejandro said super computer." With another nod she slid down to her feet and held her hand out to Paws letting him sniff before crouching down to his level and rubbing his ears. Grinning as he rolled onto his back wriggling his paws in the air "Someone wants a belly rub!" She cooed before scratching his tummy contently, "So you know who my dad is then." She mumbled taking another sip of beer before sighing, knowing Do was out for a while. "This undercover training sucks ass, I've been a Pierce, a model actually. I kept that going as a hobby of mine. Stripper, escort which is my current one, but I've been bought for the month before I'm back at it for month two. Then I have my practical. I can't keep this going with him. I can't." (just smiled, "Know your dad? He was the training agent I had as well as my CO in my first case. Good dude your father is. I wouldn't be surprised if he put you here because you need substance and well he knows I need something pretty in my life. Not to be Do sounding, but I haven't had sex more than twice in my life and the second time it wasn't particularly free." He said with a laugh. He took Vanessa by the hand, sitting her on the chair next to him. "I'll protect you from Alejandro. I promise, you're safe here. My gun's in my safe which is just behind the case of my computer. Bullets are in the playing card box on top of the tower. Passcode for the safe is 1208. December 8th is my birthday."

Girlfriend for hire (Rara and Cameron)|rating:2.0

Cyberpunk [Roan Quince & Parabellum Thread]

(thread for Roan Quince information, solitary posts, Parabellum songs, etc. Created for the campaign Cared: Carpe Noctem (but now awaiting a new game.) "You are one monstrously unlucky bitch, Roan Quince - which makes the shit you manage to pull all the more impressive."- Jeffrey Blakeman QuinceRockerboy(lifestyle of a Corps Kid never did suit Roan Quince - a fact that failed to escape the notice of her parents, William and Abigail, two of the most powerful Executives within the hidden Night City branch of the Aras aka Corporation. As their sole child and heir, it was a source of constant irritation to the Quinces that Roan failed to meet their extremely high standards in all aspects of her life; she grew up in a gilded cage, and her parents made no effort to make it more comfortable for their offspring, having come to expect her to just fall in line with their wishes without difficulty. Unfortunately for the Quinces, Roan was far more rebellious and free-spirited than they imagined: when her family's long-standing feud with rival Executives in the company drew their focus, she slipped away into the streets of Night City. By the time the Corporate feud had quietened enough for the Quinces to focus on anything else, their daughter had truly vanished. Initial efforts to locate her proved unsuccessful and, in time, William called off the search, stating that his daughter would "come crawling back" after Night City had "chewed her up and spat her out"; in the meantime, he had a Corporation to help run. Unbeknownst to her parents, Roan was far more resourceful and capable than expected, and she took to life as a Street Kid like one born to it. Having true freedom for the first time in her life, she set herself up in one of the more rundowns, older Megabuildings in Night City: a block of cramped living quarters, shops, and utilities inhabited by some of the roughest, most distrusting denizens to reside in the local area. In spite of the hostile reception she initially received, Roan earned the respect and admiration of many of the other residents through her "no shit" attitude, and her willingness to draw the blood of anyone who caused issue for the Megabuilding or its inhabitants. During her brief time upon The Streets, Roan had stared down boostergangers, throttled a dealer with barbed wire, and engaged in pitched gun-battles with the harshest inhabitants of the neon-lit pathways of Night City: acts which not only gained her the support of her Megabuilding, but also the moniker of "Rebel Queen." In spite of her newly-gained freedom, however, Roan was still a woman lost: she felt restless and angry, burdened by emotions and rages that she struggled to express or even fully understand. This inner-conflict continued to boil over into violent acts that earned Roan just as much trouble as it did respect - and after a particularly dangerous encounter with boostergangers she was discovered near-death upon the steps of her Megabuilding. The one who found her, Ethan Arnett, was responsible for saving her life: he dragged her into her room, removed the bullets from her chest, and remained at her side for days afterward. Because of his determined efforts to keep her alive, the two quickly became romantically involved - but even the close affections of a friend like Ethan could do little to calm Roan's growing unrest. The biggest change in the young woman's life occurred when she heard the busking Jeffrey Baker play for the first time. A middle-aged, scarred man with no cybernetics, he occasionally came to play upon the street corner closest to the Megabuilding in which Roan resided. Drawn to the musician for reasons she didn't understand at first, Roan began to visit Baker frequently, listening to him play whenever possible. They began speaking at length, and over time-shared details of their pasts. Baker, it turned out, had once been a prominent Fixer in the area, but his enthusiasm for chrome went too far, and he fell victim to cyberpsychosis - an episode which ended with the permanent mental handicapping of his wife and the death of his son. Once captured and recovered, Baker removed every ounce of cyberware from his body and put himself into self-mandated exile upon The Streets: his own form of penance for what he had done. During this time, he developed a love for - and skill with - music, and began earning his meals through playing publicly: a process which, he confessed, also helped him quieten the dark thoughts in his own mind. Recognizing in Roan an equally troubled individual, Baker offered to teach her how to "exercise her demons" through music. Accepting eagerly, Roan quickly revealed herself to be a true musical talent, taking to the guitar, songwriting, and singing with an affinity which startled all who knew her. Realising that Roan's music was helping to calm her, as well as give some direction to her life, Baker called upon what few contacts he still had in order to book her in to various venues as a solo act - and she became an instant hit. Channeling her troubled thoughts and clusterfuck of emotions into songs, she drew to her venues larger and larger audiences, which in turn earned her more frequent invitations to perform. In little time, the fledgling Rocker boy had begun to develop a dedicated following. A few of her more devoted groupies even impressed her enough to be invited to play alongside, and in short order they became her de facto bandmates. Roan had never intended to go full-impact with her music, but that choice was taken from her by her parents who, thanks to her budding reputation as a musician, had finally learned where their errant daughter was hiding. They made a single, cold-hearted demand for her to return home to her heiress lifestyle; when she refused, they reacted without thought or hesitation, forcing her eviction from her Megabuilding. When that didn't have the desired impact - there were plenty of people willing to put her up - they went one-step further: without warning, Jeffrey Baker was kidnapped, beaten, and then executed. He reappeared after a week of silence - during which Roan had hunted for him desperately - on the outside corner of the Megabuilding with a bullet wound to the skull and a broken guitar. He was the message, and its meaning was unquestionably clear. Roan was beside herself, having lost her surrogate parent and the one who had given her life a measure of direction. But as saddened as she was by Baker's death, her anger had no measure of temperance. Roan knew in her heart that her mentor had been killed by her parents, but vengeance against them was unachievable in the immediate - and they had not been the ones to pull the actual trigger. Roan began leading a double-life: hunting for the killer by day, and pouring her all into her music by night. Her following grew, with her groupies noting a renewed, refined power and feeling in her songs that made her more and more hypnotic. By tracking down and sourcing the contacts that Baker had once spoken of, and by doing jobs for them as a means of payment (jobs in which she proved herself both reliable, efficient, and terrifyingly brutal), Roan was finally able to learn the identity and whereabouts of the low-level Corps Exec who had hired the man on behalf of her parents to beat and kill Baker. The Corps was crafty and paranoid, so Roan hired a local Solo to ensure he did not escape once she made her move. Fortunately, their operation succeeded, and by the end of it the two women had the Suit in their hands. Without hesitation, and after demanding the name of the man who had executed Baker, Roan beat the Exec bloody with a metal bar, ripped his metallic arm from its socket, and then gave his skull a lead injection. This done, she mailed the bloody metal arm to her parents - a warning of things to come. A first taste of vengeance had been had, but Roan was far from sated - if anything she had become more angry, more restless, more hateful. The swift brutality of her parents, and the company they bled and breathed for, was well-known to the Rocker boy, who had experienced life both above, and below, the poverty line. She was a first-hand witness to how the world worked on both levels, and how thoroughly the Corps had forcibly changed the rules of living life to suit their needs. Roan knew that slow, gentle improvement was not something that could ever happen: the Corps would rape the world and humanity to their last ounces of life if it meant higher profits and more luxury for their upper echelons. Finally, after so long of floundering in the dark and being unable to find a meaning in her life and reasoning behind her relentless anger, Roan finally found clarity: peace was something she could only ever achieve for herself over the bloodied and burning corpses of her enemies - not just her parents and the man they hired to murder Baker, but also the foul and soul-destroying Corporation that they lived, bled, and killed for. By her parents and their actions, the Rocker boy had begun to channel her inexhaustible anger and hatred into a singular, very deadly focus. Roan returned to her old apartment - something she was able to do when the local administrator was threatened into compliance by the other residents. She continued to play her music, it being a channel for her anger and passion - but her message had shifted, becoming less about rebirth and awakening and more about rebellion and the need for violent, merciless change. Her followers grew in number. Intending to rip the bloody, beating heart out of Aras aka - and all corporations like it - the Rocker boy began playing for a larger audience, intending to convince them of what they already knew in their hearts - and also to warn them about the bloody path she was about to blaze. Though she began promoting the band under the name Parabellum - "Prepare for War" - they were always known among the true fans simply as Roan Quince, or Rebel Queen. Though most of Roan's friends and fans celebrated her sudden drive, focus, and anti-Corporate message, not everyone close to her found themselves able to encourage her vendetta: Ethan Arnett, who had remained her stable input throughout her more troubled times, was unable to handle the Rocker boy's sudden, all-consuming fixation with revenge. At first, he tried to appeal to her sense of self-preservation, but it quickly became clear that she cared little about her own safety - or even the safety of others, at least where damaging the Corporations was concerned. In the end, Ethan gave Roan an ultimatum: it was him, or Aras aka. She didn't help him pack his things, though she did give him one hell of a shiner on the way out of her apartment. In spite of her rejection of him, Ethan remains to this day protective and affectionate towards the Rocker boy, perhaps in the impossible hope that she might one day give up her vendetta and settle for less deadly adversaries - like the boostergangers or common, Night City thugs - or even just focus on her musical career, which he had always believed would take her far. Others in the Megabuilding, and outside of it - particular those numbered within her fan base - are dedicated to Roan's cause, and come to her gigs dutifully to hear her spread her anti-Corporate message. Whilst her growing library of music does include a wealth of songs focused on things besides her hatred for the Corporations, Roan has had little time in recent nights to focus on anything other than her intense desire for revenge. When not translating her rage into song to prevent it from spilling over into actual violence, she is formulating a plan of action to track down and deal with her next target: the man who pulled the trigger on Baker. Understanding that this individual is likely to be more difficult to take down than a low-level Exec, Roan is proceeding with a greater degree of caution, this time going so far as to involve other mercenaries to ensure that the capture and execution concludes exactly as it should. Once the man is finally lying dead in a gutter, Roan can turn her sights upon her true targets: her parents, and their beloved Aras aka Corporation. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:A woman barely into her twenties, Roan Quince cuts an alluring figure. Slender of build, she nevertheless moves with a surety of purpose that speaks of a deep-seated confidence, and she talks with a voice that radiates charisma, drawing and keeping the focus of all she speaks to. She doesn't often smile, but her eyes burn with a furious passion that seems scarcely under control. Long, straight brown hair curtains an attractive face, and stretches down just past her shoulder blades. Despite being a Rocker boy, Roan does not frequently bend to new fashion trends - unless they match her personal tastes. Instead, she favors practical, yet appealing, attire that suits a woman who wrestles first-hand with the harsh demands of The Streets. The simplistic nail necklace, however, is a must: she is almost never seen without it. Unlike many others, she sports almost no chrome, save for the Biomonitor buried in her left inner-forearm - one of the few gifts from her former input Ethan Arnett that she's actually kept. Whenever out and about, Roan always dons her light armourjack and carries her pistol tucked into the waistband of her bottoms: evidence of the pragmatic caution that she had picked up early on during her time on The Streets. Quote from: LifepathCultural Region: North America | Known Language: English Personality: Analytical, passionate, rebellious, and violent. Dress camp; Personal Style: Generic Chic | Hairstyle: Long and straight Affectation You Are Never Without: Simplistic nail necklace What Do You Value Most?: Your word | How Do You Feel About Most People?: People are obstacles to be destroyed if they cross me. Most Valued Person in Your Life?: A teacher or mentor (Jeffrey Baker) | Most Valued Possession You Own?: A recording (Memory Chip containing Jeffrey Baker's songs)Original Family Background: Corporate Execs | Your Environment: In a Corporate luxury "star scraper," high above the rest of the teeming rabble. Your Family Crisis: Your family is cursed with a hereditary feud that has lasted for generations. Your Friend: 1; based in the Megabuilding | Relationship: A former lover (Ethan Arnett). Your Enemies: Parents and their Paid Killer | What Caused It?: Abandoned old way of life - in retaliation, they caused the death of a close friend and mentor (Jeffrey Baker). | What Can They Throw at You?: A powerful Corporation (Aras aka). What Are You Going to Do About It?: Kill them, and then utterly destroy the Corporation they have lived and bled for. Your Tragic Love Affair: 1 | What Happened?: A personal vendetta came between you and your lover (Ethan Arnett). Life Goals: Destroy your parents, and all the Corporations bleeding mankind dry - starting with Aras aka. What Kind of Rocker boy Are You?: Musician (Singer, guitarist, and songwriter). Are You in a Group, or a Solo Act?: Group (Parabellum) | Where Do You Perform?: Seedy Dive Bars Who's Gunning for You camp; Your Group?: Corporate enemies who don't like your message. CHARACTER STATISTICS:Real Name:Roan Quince Aliases:Rebel Queen Role:Rocker boy |Role Ability:Charismatic Impact 4 |Reputation:1 |Improvement Points:5STATS:Intelligence 7, Reflexes 7, Dexterity 6, Technique 8, Cool 8, Willpower 7, Luck 2/2, Movement 6, Body 6, Empathy 5/5Hit Points:45/45 |Seriously Wounded Wound Threshold:23 |Death Save:6 |Humanity:50/50 (-0 Humanity maximum due to cyberware)Critical Injuries:None |Addictions:None Skills (Base/Level):Athletics +8/2, Brawling +12/6, Composition +13/6, Concentration +9/2, Conversation +10/5, Deduction +10/3, Drive Land Vehicle +10/3, Education +9/2, Evasion +12/6, First Aid +10/2, Gamble +10/3, Handgun +10/3, Human Perception +10/5, Language (English) +11/4, Language (Street slang) +9/2, Local Expert (Your Home) +10/3, Melee Weapon +8/2, Perception +9/2, Personal Grooming +12/4, Persuasion +14/6, Play Instrument (Guitar) +14/6, Play Instrument (Singing) +14/6, Stealth +8/2, Streetwise +10/2, Wardrobe & Style +11/3Cyberware:Fashionware (Biomonitor), Internal Cyberware (Contraceptive Implant)Armour camp; Weapons:Mustang Arms "Mark III" (Heavy Pistol, Damage 3d6, Heavy Pistol Magazine 8; OF 2; Hands Required 1; Concealable? Yes), Light Armour jack (Body Location, Stopping Power 11/11, Armour Penalty 0)Equipment camp; Personal Gear:Agent (+2 to Library Search, +2 to Wardrobe & Style if trends are followed), Audio Recorder, Basic Ammunition (Heavy Pistol) x 40, Carryall (Duffel Bag), Computer (Desktop), Disposable Cell Phones x 2, Electric Guitar, Jeffrey Baker's Memory Chip (Musical Recordings), Memory Chip x 4, Personal Carpal, Pocket Amplifier, Radio Scanner/Music Player Fashion:Generic Chic Clothing (Bottoms, Top, Jacket, Footwear) x 3, Leisurewear (Bottoms, Top, Footwear)Euro bucks:1,720eb |Lifestyle:Kibble |Housing:Cargo Container (Megabuilding) |Total Monthly Cost:1,100eb (QUINCE aka "Rebel Queen"- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Song WriterNIKOS PALE aka "Preacher"- Guitar, VocalsVINCENT CARSON aka "Grunt"- DrummerHERMIONE ST-JOHN aka "Slash"- KeyboardsMARKUS STORM aka "Storm"- Bass Guitar (What follows are the song lyrics of Parabellum's better known songs. Most of these lyrics and song titles are taken directly from real-world tracks (and this is appropriately credited when so), whilst others are originals written by myself. Please note that the in-universe songs will sound different from the real-world versions they're based on.)VIOLENT REACTION(Real-world creators:Refused)I'm a violent reaction'm a violent reaction to you'm a violent reaction'm a violent reaction to you Seduced by the charm in a charlatan's arms If you don't know the mark, you were it from the start Their profit, their yield, so repulsive to me could not ever be just a pawn in the scheme Serpent savior Dealer of regret Venomous betrayer Peddler of debt Identify with all counterfeit needs spectacle so perverted by greed We can't but must be non-conformist sheep Level it all, level it Dallas the sun, it descends over mice and on men This tyranny feels like the safest of deals prison to me, you can't ever leave Complete sacrifice, where nothing's for free Tethered by the thought, this is all that we need Level it all, level it all, destroy Level it all, level it all, restore Level it all, destroy, level it all, restore Level it all, destruction, level it all, restructure We dragged the stones We broke our bones We fought the wars We fed the farce We're a violent reaction We're a violent reaction to you We're a violent reaction We're a violent reaction Serpent savior Dealer of regret Venomous betrayer Peddler of debt Level it all, level it all Level it all, level it all Level it all, level it all Level it all, level it all Always locked on target Since the day my fire was lite'm a violent reaction To a world that's gone to shit I'm a violent reaction to you'm a violent reaction to you(OF ME(Real-world creators:Battle Beast)Hey you, what's going on The fire is burning hot No use, can't make this UPAE're going to go and fuck shit up Going on and on All shame is gone You going to scream and shout it loud You need Getting pleased Got to bleed Up to speed Come on'Cause you want a piece of Bethe only thing you ever need Just a little piece of Bethe only thing you ever need You're burning Dream on, you crazy fool Who the fuck do you think you are? Good lord, you need to pray No one's going to save you now Twisting your head Ripping it to shreds Your ego undefined Gonna crush Gonna grind Gonna kill Gonna thrive'm a queen And you want a piece of Bethe only thing you ever need Just a little piece of Bethe only thing you ever need You're burning And on and on it goes You need to take it slow And on and on it goes You just want a piece of Bethe only thing you ever need Just a little piece of Bethe only thing you ever need You fool'Cause you want a piece of Bethe only thing you ever need Just a little piece of Bethe only thing you ever need Dream on...(creators:Parkway Drive)I got an axe to grind, a crooked mind You better watch your back got an axe to grind, a crooked mind You better watch your back Starved like a vampire chasing a vein Cruel disposition, sickness I crave Attention, attention, welcome to the stage Your new sacrifice, come sharpen your teeth Prey, we are all prey for the sorrow Prey, we are all prey for the sorrow Our sorrow Prey, prey, we're prey for the sorrow Prey, prey, prey for the sorrow got an axe to grind, a crooked mind You better watch your back got an axe to grind, a crooked mind You better watch your backtick validation, gut full of pills Self-medication, it's making me ill Attention, attention, it's all eyes on me'll burn at the stake while you ache for the kill Prey, we are all prey for the sorrow Prey, we are all prey for the sorrow Our sorrow Prey for the sorrow, our sorrow Prey, prey, we're prey for the sorrow Prey, prey, prey for the sorrow Our new gods are empty like the holes in our heads We dance upon the alter of envy and hubris scourge of narcissism reaps depression in black waves If this is your salvation, you better prayYou better pray One, two, three, copra, we are all prey for the sorrow Prey, we are all prey for the sorrow, our sorrow Prey, prey, we're prey for the sorrow Prey, prey, prey for the sorrow(WANT TO WATCH THE WORLD BURN(Real-world creators:Refused)What we lost in the fire, we'll find in the ashes There's an untold promise, 'neath the rubble of the ruin Without the shedding of blood, there won't be forgiveness Don't need to list the reasons, 'cos I know you've felt it too'Cos I know you've felt it too One spark to set it off One match is all we need Wanna stack your values highland douse with gasoline One spark to set it off One match is all we need Wanna stack your values highland douse with gasoline What we lost in the fire, we'll find in the ashes There's something calling, something outside the herd'm trying to wield my privilege, in the service of a dreamt's not impossible to me, that one morning we'll see (we'll see)A new seed scattered on a level field want to watch the world burn for what it's done want to watch the world burn for what we've become want to watch the world burn for what it's done want to watch the world burn want to watch the world burn One spark to set it off One match is all we need Wanna stack your values highland douse with gasoline One spark to set it off One match is all we need Wanna stack your values highland douse with gasoline want to watch the world burn for what it's done want to watch the world burn for what we've become want to watch the world burn for what it's done want to watch the world burn for what we've become want to watch the world burn for what it's done want to watch the world burn for what we've become want to watch the world burn for what it's done want to watch the world burn want to watch the world burn'Cause I know you felt it too'Cause I know you felt it too(I COULD SEE YOU(Real-world creators:Iced Earth)Where can I turn? You've gone away grieve in silences much I've learned in life today Still I need your guidance You always found the words to Sarto ease my troubled minnow you're gone feel alone If I could see you one more time If I could see you now You'd help me find my waif I could see you now You'd help me find my way Where can I turn? You've gone away need your words of wisdom Sometimes I'm lost and in the rage Taking things for granted You were the one who did believe When no one else could serif I could share what's on my mind If I could see you one last time If I could see you now You'd help me find my waif I could see you now You'd help me find my waif I could see you now You'd help me find my way'll find the strength somehow'll fight to seize the day(creators:Iced Earth)They will try to crush your spirit Everyday just trying to bear it Dire thoughts to escape this suffering Tear this pain away With the blade in your wrist Something in you says you must resist They are weak you are strong Accept this You must take control You are rising The strength inside you With your defiance you will not be broken This torment Has its reasons Your defiance takes your spirit higher Parasites that try to hurt you Manipulate and strip your virtue You are the master of yourself They will never take away Smash through the wall of their hate Just pawns to Insecurities They decay in sorrow and rage Their malice fades away You are rising The strength inside you With your defiance you will not be broken This torment Has its reasons Your defiance takes your spirit higher Never falter Find your solace (Rise! Fight!) No more weakness (Rise! Fight!) Exile, torment (Rise! Fight!) Wiping tears and blood from your face Rise above the cowards of disgrace Realize they're just as beaten Overcome the fear You must know they can't break your soul You are strong, stronger than you know Their power inside is fiction Oppressor is defied You are rising The strength inside you With your defiance you will not be broken This torment Has its reasons Your defiance takes your spirit higher You are rising The strength inside you With your defiance you will not be broken This torment Has its reasons Your defiance takes your spirit higher(POWER(Real-world creators:Parkway Drive)Your heart, your home, your voice, it's got a price tag Sign in blood, bury your rights in a body bag They're feeding fear through the fault lines You heard it here first, they got your freedoms on the front linePrimetime, the noose at our throats Our liberties hands run with blood of the scapegoats So tell me how can we demonize When we can't see life through another's eyes Pay 'em off and play 'em off Fear rolls like a reaper through the streets of the lost Pay 'em off and play 'em offcut in the eyes of the storm The truth drops like a bomb The truth drops like a bomb The battle is unhands in chains for a fist full of dollars Who do we blame for the holes in our knowledge? The past you know has been written by the victors I ask you now, who is it writing your future? The butcher, the liar, the thief or the killer? Your freedom died quiet in the halls of power Starved for peace, we'll eat war until it kills us Six feet deep with a belly full of bullets Pay 'em off and play 'em off Fear rolls like a reaper through the streets of the lost Pay 'em off and play 'em offcut in the eyes of the storm The truth drops like a bomb The truth drops like a bomb The battle is on The hate runs deep, but our hopes cut deeper Now we walk through the valley in the shadow of the reaper Money talks, and it's speaking in tongues They put a price on our soul like they had already winnow open wide, I see their jaws locked tight Silent at the moment like prey in the floodlights The signal is static, baptized in fire Now we see how they talk with a mouth full of barbed wire Absolute power, absolute power, absolute power Absolute power corrupts absolutely Absolute power, absolute power, absolute power Absolute power corrupts The truth drops like a bomb The truth drops like a bomb The battle is on The truth drops like a... Absolute power corrupts absolutely "You are one monstrously unlucky bitch, Roan Quince - which makes the shit you manage to pull all the more impressive."- Jeffrey Blakeman QuinceRockerboy(lifestyle of a Corps Kid never did suit Roan Quince - a fact that failed to escape the notice of her parents, William and Abigail, two of the most powerful Executives within the Night City branch of the Aras aka Corporation. As their sole child and heir, it was a source of constant irritation to the Quinces that Roan failed to meet their extremely high standards in all aspects of her life; she grew up in a gilded cage, and her parents made no effort to make it more comfortable for their offspring, having come to expect her to just fall in line with their wishes without difficulty. Unfortunately for the Quinces, Roan was far more rebellious and free-spirited than they imagined: when her family's long-standing feud with rival Executives in the company drew their focus, she slipped away into the streets of Night City. By the time the Corporate feud had quietened enough for the Quinces to focus on anything else, their daughter had truly vanished. Initial efforts to locate her proved unsuccessful and, in time, William called off the search, stating that his daughter would "come crawling back" after Night City had "chewed her up and spat her out"; in the meantime, he had a Corporation to help run. Unbeknownst to her parents, Roan was far more resourceful and capable than expected, and she took to life as a Street Kid like one born to it. Having true freedom for the first time in her life, she set herself up in one of the more rundowns, older Megabuildings in Night City: a block of cramped living quarters, shops, and utilities inhabited by some of the roughest, most distrusting denizens to reside in the local area. In spite of the hostile reception she initially received, Roan earned the respect and admiration of many of the other residents through her "no shit" attitude, and her willingness to draw the blood of anyone who caused issue for the Megabuilding or its inhabitants. During her brief time upon The Streets, Roan had stared down boostergangers, throttled a dealer with barbed wire, and engaged in pitched gun-battles with the harshest inhabitants of the neon-lit pathways of Night City: acts which not only gained her the support of her Megabuilding, but also the moniker of "Rebel Queen." In spite of her newly-gained freedom, however, Roan was still a woman lost: she felt restless and angry, burdened by emotions and rages that she struggled to express or even fully understand. This inner-conflict continued to boil over into violent acts that earned Roan just as much trouble as it did respect - and after a particularly dangerous encounter with boostergangers she was discovered near-death upon the steps of her Megabuilding. The one who found her, Ethan Arnett, was responsible for saving her life: he dragged her into her room, removed the bullets from her chest, and remained at her side for days afterward. Because of his determined efforts to keep her alive, the two quickly became romantically involved - but even the close affections of a friend like Ethan could do little to calm Roan's growing unrest. The biggest change in the young woman's life occurred when she heard the busking Jeffrey Baker play for the first time. A middle-aged, scarred man with no cybernetics, he occasionally came to play upon the street corner closest to the Megabuilding in which Roan resided. Drawn to the musician for reasons she didn't understand at first, Roan began to visit Baker frequently, listening to him play whenever possible. They began speaking at length, and over time-shared details of their pasts. Baker, it turned out, had once been a prominent Fixer in the area, but his enthusiasm for chrome went too far, and he fell victim to cyberpsychosis - an episode which ended with the permanent mental handicapping of his wife and the death of his son. Once captured and recovered, Baker removed every ounce of cyberware from his body and put himself into self-mandated exile upon The Streets: his own form of penance for what he had done. During this time, he developed a love for - and skill with - music, and began earning his meals through playing publicly: a process which, he confessed, also helped him quieten the dark thoughts in his own mind. Recognizing in Roan an equally troubled individual, Baker offered to teach her how to "exercise her demons" through music. Accepting eagerly, Roan quickly revealed herself to be a true musical talent, taking to the guitar, songwriting, and singing with an affinity which startled all who knew her. Realising that Roan's music was helping to calm her, as well as give some direction to her life, Baker called upon what few contacts he still had in order to book her in to various venues as a solo act - and she became an instant hit. Channeling her troubled thoughts and clusterfuck of emotions into songs, she drew to her venues larger and larger audiences, which in turn earned her more frequent invitations to perform. In little time, the fledgling Rocker boy had begun to develop a dedicated following. A few of her more devoted groupies even impressed her enough to be invited to play alongside, and in short order they became her de facto bandmates. Roan had never intended to go full-impact with her music, but that choice was taken from her by her parents who, thanks to her budding reputation as a musician, had finally learned where their errant daughter was hiding. They made a single, cold-hearted demand for her to return home to her heiress lifestyle; when she refused, they reacted without thought or hesitation, forcing her eviction from her Megabuilding. When that didn't have the desired impact - there were plenty of people willing to put her up - they went one-step further: without warning, Jeffrey Baker was kidnapped, beaten, and then executed. He reappeared after a week of silence - during which Roan had hunted for him desperately - on the outside corner of the Megabuilding with a bullet wound to the skull and a broken guitar. He was the message, and its meaning was unquestionably clear. Roan was beside herself, having lost her surrogate parent and the one who had given her life a measure of direction. But as saddened as she was by Baker's death, her anger had no measure of temperance. Roan knew in her heart that her mentor had been killed by her parents, but vengeance against them was unachievable in the immediate - and they had not been the ones to pull the actual trigger. Roan began leading a double-life: hunting for the killer by day, and pouring her all into her music by night. Her following grew, with her groupies noting a renewed, refined power and feeling in her songs that made her more and more hypnotic. By tracking down and sourcing the contacts that Baker had once spoken of, and by doing jobs for them as a means of payment (jobs in which she proved herself both reliable, efficient, and terrifyingly brutal), Roan was finally able to learn the identity and whereabouts of the low-level Corps Exec who had hired the man on behalf of her parents to beat and kill Baker. The Corps was crafty and paranoid, so Roan hired a local Solo to ensure he did not escape once she made her move. Fortunately, their operation succeeded, and by the end of it the two women had the Suit in their hands. Without hesitation, and after demanding the name of the man who had executed Baker, Roan beat the Exec bloody with a metal bar, ripped his metallic arm from its socket, and then gave his skull a lead injection. This done, she mailed the bloody metal arm to her parents - a warning of things to come. A first taste of vengeance had been had, but Roan was far from sated - if anything she had become more angry, more restless, more hateful. The swift brutality of her parents, and the company they bled and breathed for, was well-known to the Rocker boy, who had experienced life both above, and below, the poverty line. She was a first-hand witness to how the world worked on both levels, and how thoroughly the Corps had forcibly changed the rules of living life to suit their needs. Roan knew that slow, gentle improvement was not something that could ever happen: the Corps would rape the world and humanity to their last ounces of life if it meant higher profits and more luxury for their upper echelons. Finally, after so long of floundering in the dark and being unable to find a meaning in her life and reasoning behind her relentless anger, Roan finally found clarity: peace was something she could only ever achieve for herself over the bloodied and burning corpses of her enemies - not just her parents and the man they hired to murder Baker, but also the foul and soul-destroying Corporation that they lived, bled, and killed for. By her parents and their actions, the Rocker boy had begun to channel her inexhaustible anger and hatred into a singular, very deadly focus. Roan returned to her old apartment - something she was able to do when the local administrator was threatened into compliance by the other residents. She continued to play her music, it being a channel for her anger and passion - but her message had shifted, becoming less about rebirth and awakening and more about rebellion and the need for violent, merciless change. Her followers grew in number. Intending to rip the bloody, beating heart out of Aras aka - and all corporations like it - the Rocker boy began playing for a larger audience, intending to convince them of what they already knew in their hearts - and also to warn them about the bloody path she was about to blaze. Though she began promoting the band under the name Parabellum - "Prepare for War" - they were always known among the true fans simply as Roan Quince, or Rebel Queen. Though most of Roan's friends and fans celebrated her sudden drive, focus, and anti-Corporate message, not everyone close to her found themselves able to encourage her vendetta: Ethan Arnett, who had remained her stable input throughout her more troubled times, was unable to handle the Rocker boy's sudden, all-consuming fixation with revenge. At first, he tried to appeal to her sense of self-preservation, but it quickly became clear that she cared little about her own safety - or even the safety of others, at least where damaging the Corporations was concerned. In the end, Ethan gave Roan an ultimatum: it was him, or Aras aka. She didn't help him pack his things, though she did give him one hell of a shiner on the way out of her apartment. In spite of her rejection of him, Ethan remains to this day protective and affectionate towards the Rocker boy, perhaps in the impossible hope that she might one day give up her vendetta and settle for less deadly adversaries - like the boostergangers or common, Night City thugs - or even just focus on her musical career, which he had always believed would take her far. Others in the Megabuilding, and outside of it - particular those numbered within her fan base - are dedicated to Roan's cause, and come to her gigs dutifully to hear her spread her anti-Corporate message. Whilst her growing library of music does include a wealth of songs focused on things besides her hatred for the Corporations, Roan has had little time in recent nights to focus on anything other than her intense desire for revenge. When not translating her rage into song to prevent it from spilling over into actual violence, she is formulating a plan of action to track down and deal with her next target: the man who pulled the trigger on Baker. Understanding that this individual is likely to be more difficult to take down than a low-level Exec, Roan is proceeding with a greater degree of caution, this time going so far as to involve other mercenaries to ensure that the capture and execution concludes exactly as it should. Once the man is finally lying dead in a gutter, Roan can turn her sights upon her true targets: her parents, and their beloved Aras aka Corporation. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:A woman barely into her twenties, Roan Quince cuts an alluring figure. Slender of build, she nevertheless moves with a surety of purpose that speaks of a deep-seated confidence, and she talks with a voice that radiates charisma, drawing and keeping the focus of all she speaks to. She doesn't often smile, but her eyes burn with a furious passion that seems scarcely under control. Long, straight blonde hair curtains an attractive face, and stretches down towards her waist. Despite being a Rocker boy, Roan does not frequently bend to new fashion trends - unless they match her personal tastes. Instead, she favors practical, yet appealing, attire that suits a woman who wrestles first-hand with the harsh demands of The Streets. The chokers, however, are a must: she is almost never seen without them. Whenever out and about, Roan always dons her light armourjack and carries her pistol somewhere on her person: evidence of the pragmatic caution that she had picked up early on during her time on The Streets. Quote from: LifepathEthnic Origins: Anglo-America | Known Language: English +8, Street slang. Family Ranking: Corporate Executive | Parents: Both parents are living. | Family Status: Family status is OK, even if parents are missing or dead. Childhood Environment: In a defended Corporate Zone in the central City. | Siblings: Only child. Personality Traits: Analytical, passionate, rebellious, and violent. | How Do You Feel About Most People?: People are obstacles to be destroyed if they cross me. Person You Value Most: A teacher of mentor. (Jeffrey Baker) | What Do You Value Most?: Your word. | Your Most Valued Possession: A recording. (Memory chip containing Jeffrey Baker's songs.) Life Events - Friends camp; Enemies (17 Years Old): You've made an enemy of a Corporate Executive when you rebelled against upbringing, and ran away from home. (Father) | What Can He Throw Against You?: A large Corporation. (Aras aka)Life Events - Big Problems, Big Wins (18 Years Old): Local Booster gang likes you. You can call upon them for 1 favor a month, equivalent to a Family Special Ability of +2 - but don't push it. (Occupants of Megabuilding.) Life Events - Romantic Life (19 Years Old): Tragic Love Affair. A personal goal or vendetta came between you. (Ethan Arnett) | Mutual Feelings: They still love you. Life Events - Friends camp; Enemies (20 Years Old): You've made a friend in a teacher or mentor. (Jeffrey Baker)Life Events - Big Problems, Big Wins (21 Years Old): You lost someone you really cared about. They were murdered, and you know who did it; you just need proof. (Jeffrey Baker killed by William Quince.) | What Are You Going to Do About It?: Kill them, and then utterly destroy the Corporation they have lived and bled for. CHARACTER STATISTICS:Real Name:Roan Quince Aliases:Rebel Queen Role:Rocker boy |Special Ability:Charismatic Leadership +10 |Reputation:1 |Improvement Points:5STATS:Intelligence 9, Reflexes 7/7, Technical Ability 6, Cool 10, Attractiveness 9, Luck 7, Movement Allowance 8, Body Type 7, Empathy 7/7Save Number:7 |Body Type Modifier:-2 |Humanity:61.5/70Skills:Athletics +2, Awareness +2, Basic Tech +1, Brawling +4, Composition +5, Dodge +4, Education +3, English +8, Guitar +7, Handgun +4, Perform +7, Personal Grooming +1, Stealth +1, Streetwise +4, Wardrobe & Style +1Cyberware:Bioware (neurosurgeons), Implants (contraceptive implant), Neuralware (chipware socket, interface plugs, neural processor, smart gun link)Armour camp; Weapons:Federated Arms X-9mm (P ● 0 ● J ● E ● 2D6+1 (9mm) ● 12 ● 2 ● ST ● 50m), Light Armour jack (Torso, Arms ● 14 SP ● +0)Equipment camp; Personal Gear:Amplifier, Ammunition (Medium Autopistol, Box of 50) x 4, Cellular Phone, Digital Recorder, Electric Guitar, Nylon Carry bag, Sleeping Bag, Terminal Fashion:Mirror shades, Leisurewear (Bottoms, Top, Footwear), Urban Flash Clothing (Footwear x 4, Pants x 6, Tops x 7)Euro bucks:13,600eb |Lifestyle:Cable TV, Cell Phone Service, Cred Chip Account |Groceries:Kibble |Housing:Apartment (Megabuilding, Combat Zone), Utilities |Total Monthly Cost:660eb

Cyberpunk [Roan Quince & Parabellum Thread]|rating:4.0

An eye for eye {Tigeris x Eirlys}

Cori glared at the man before him. Alone together in a small cabin, neither of them had brought any guards or friends for this discussion, no members of either pack besides the two alphas were present, at least none of Cori's own would have dared to come after he had told them he wished to come alone. As for In golf's...well despite the long rivalry between the two largest packs in Europe Cori trusted the man's word. Old and yet still clearly a powerful ruler In golf had earned his respect over decades of rule even if his pack was weak in Cori's eyes. It wasn't their fault...living closer to a large city and having the most fertile land, the pleasant weather, abundant food and resources In golf's pack had grown complacent. They lived a softer life and in Cori's opinion it made the lot of them softer. Where Cori came from they lived in a community hewn out of stone and wood, a small village right in the middle of the densest forest. Cold, inhospitable, they lived in a hard land and bred hardier wolves, fighting for survival, hunting for their food as they could only grow limited crops. They weren't wealthy like the others, they didn't have the modern comforts In golf's pack relied on. When it had come to the games that happened every five years, Cori had been sure his pack would win. Each pack in Europe selected 3 of their members to compete in games of strength, speed, cunning and skill and as the two largest packs it often became a competition between In golf's and Cori's. For Cori's part, his pride in his pack and their lifestyles made him feel they couldn't lose, and it would have been such a blow to the other alphas to lose to him. At third-nine years old he was by far the youngest among them...different packs had different methods of succession, in most rule passed to the eldest son of the current alpha if they could pass a test to prove their worth, in his own pack the test was a challenge. Any wolf could challenge the alpha to a one on one battle that ended in death or submission during the full moon and at least one of those fights would occur each year. Three years ago Cori had issued the challenge to the ruling alpha, one who had fought off all challengers for over three decades himself, and after a hard fought battle that had cost him his left eye he had emerged victorious. Even as they'd turned up to the games he had seen it in the other alpha's, it rankled to treat one so young as an equal when not a single one of them was below the age of eighty. Living a longer life than most humans as they started to age slower once they reached around twenty-five even In golf at over a hundred years old looked no older than a grizzled fifty-year-old human would. Conri's pack and In golf's had seemed almost evenly matched in the games and small fights had broken out among their packs as they drank at night, waiting for the next day of the games. This was all considered normal, healthy competition and bickering to strengthen the alliance that had settled down after centuries of war between packs in the past, an uneasy alliance with many misgivings and misconceptions on either side, but it was peace, and none of the alpha's wanted to be the one that broke it for the first time, none wanted to be the alpha that sent the two great packs and all their affiliates into a bloody war once more. Unfortunately, the drinks had gotten to the heads of a few wolves, the boasting and fighting had gotten out of hand and a far more brutal fight than normal had erupted. By the time they had gotten it under control, Cori's own ward, his young nephew of only nineteen years lay dead. Standing over his body with bloody hands had been In golf's own sons. Cori had erupted in fury, demanding recompense or war, and it had taken all of his advisors to control the temper his rage, to hold him back from declaring war there and then and In golf had no easier a time no doubt, as his own pack had seen the rage and Cori knew that they were on the brink of war. A messenger had come to visit him that night. In golf wanted a meeting, this meeting, just between the two of them. It could be a trap, kill Cori before he drove his pack into a frenzy of war, but that had been dismissed, there would be no surer way of provoking the wilder pack than that, and so he had come." Blood for blood." Cori repeated at In golf, the same demand he had made that night and even with his temper cooled now he still wanted the same, he wanted retribution." Your sons, their heads and we will have no war...do you still think I'm being unreasonable, old man? Do you think I care? He was my nephew, my ward, it was my duty to raise him, teach him, protect him! He should have been safe but your sons..." He paused, his voice had started to rise again, and he needed to take a breath to calm himself and In golf used that time to get his own words in." Please, you cannot, I cannot...you have been wronged, I don't deny this but the lives of my sons, surely there is something else, we will...we can send you another, one of our strongest, one of our most promising young wolves to serve as your ward instead! A full member of your pack, you can choose! Take one of my sons, they did the deed, at least I'll know they live, but don't take their lives, don't ask that of me. Please, Cori...you want war no more than I do, you've heard the tales of how it was back then...please, see reason..." They argued back and forth for hours, trying to come to terms and the sun was starting to rise. If they didn't come to an agreement soon then they would part, and it would be war, and In golf was right, he didn't want that. It was only then that Cori saw another option. A glint of malice in his steely, golden gaze as he grinned wickedly at In golf." Fine...neither of us want war, but you can't let your sons die, I respect that...but I will have recompense. A ward was taken from me, I will have another from your pack, but I don't want your sons, I don't even know which of them did it, which of them killed Lugo...and if I look at them for more than a minute I'm likely to kill them, so I'll choose another." He grabbed his long, thick coat and pulled it on over his shoulders. He'd spent enough time here." Thank you Cori, thank you for seeing reason..." But Cori had cut him off with a snarl." This isn't for you, I still want you and your sons to hurt, so I make my choice of ward now, and you will send her to me by the end of the week." He let his choice of words linger in the air, he saw In golf's eyes go wide with understanding, and saw fear in them." Don't worry, she will live. She'll be one of us, one of my pack, yours no longer, and this is the only chance you will have to stop war between us. It's your daughter, or the lives of your entire pack." Without giving the old wolf another thought, Cori turned to leave on the long walk back to his woods. Life was rarely fair. It was a lesson that Sarah had learned early on. The youngest child and a female to boot. She had never had a chance, not really. One could say her father doted on her, that he wasn't as hard on her as he was her brothers, but that wasn't entirely true. Sarah had been placed in a gilded cage, the key long ago tossed. There were things expected of her, much like her brothers. The expectations that had been dumped on her could have taken her back to 1950s America. She was to keep the house clean, look pretty and never ever. Get her hands dirty. It wouldn't have seemed so bad perhaps had she been human. A docile young thing that could be manipulated and was happy with her place... her lot in life. She wasn't human though, and she was far from docile. Born a wolf, she had known that feral nature since forever. If not her own, others. The largest problem that plagued Sarah was that she wasn't an Alpha. She never would be. It took. A certain something, she was wise enough to understand it... Hate it. To know that she could never change her rank within the pack. Desire alone wasn't enough. So when her father came home, grim faced and told her of what was to happen to her. No amount of raging, furniture smashing, crying and yelling changed anything. He didn't want to, but he had no choice... Sarah didn't even know the reason she was to be shipped off, a rough explanation of something at the annual games. A half-hearted and half-assed explanation. Whatever had occurred would rob her of the life she had, as it was... While her lot in life had never been what she had wished for, she lived comfortably. Keeping her head down, doing as she was asked, and she had been allowed to live how she desired. Not that it had always made her father happy. She had never been docile. Her life had been packed away into a duffle bag and backpack. Mostly clothes, though not entirely. A few mementos had come with her, things that Sarah couldn't live without. Pickles had been with her since she had been small, a little stuffed pig, with a curly tail. At eighteen, she still slept with it on nights that were hard... More often than not recently. He knew all her fears, had shared in her tears and was the protector of her dreams. He was in her backpack with other treasured possessions. The door was chiming behind her as she looked up the long walk, the rough road curling away from the stone gate, the wrought iron open to all who dared to enter. "Miss?" Tossing he heavy fall of her deep brown hair over her shoulder her dark eyes met the drivers. "I could. Drive you up if you want? There are reports of large wolves in the area." I bet there are.... "No, it's okay. I am expected." She offered a slight smile and closed the door in his well-meaning face as his mouth opened to say something else. Shouldering her bag she lifted the duffle and inhaled. It smelled fresh, wild. Shaking her head she headed up the path, the lights that had been illuminating the path and her faded as she turned along the winding road. The chill brushed her skin, cooling the heat of her body. The hem of her jeans was getting dirty, not that Sarah minded. She wasn't one to normally fuss over her clothing... Not that she didn't want to look nice. The care taken without outfit, even now said that. From the fishnet that hugged her waist to the red and black crop top sweater, her shoulders bare. The chains along her hip bounced gently with each step as she walked. Fuck, I knew they were an antisocial bunch, but this is ridiculous. She had heard about this pack, knew them by reputation alone. They lived out here, where life was harder, rougher. She knew what they thought of her pack too, and she couldn't deny some of it. They were spoiled. It didn't make them weak though or soft. A large house set nestled against the trees and somewhere close, water lapped on stones. The windows glowed a warm welcoming gold, though she doubted that welcome was for her. An eye for an eye, that was all her father had said. So she was here, as a sacrificial lamb, thrown to the wolves, quite literally. She made the rest of the trek as quietly as she had been. Standing before the door she knocked gently, shifting her bag uneasily on her shoulder. Her anxiety making her scent permeate the doorway. The spiciness of herbs, the warmth of something earthy, wooden scent followed by the cooling scent of peppermint. She smelled like a storm breaking on woods. Another knock and she stepped back from the wooden door, feeling her nerves itching at her skin. She had no idea what to expect. Once he'd left the old man back in the cabin, Cori had made his way back to his own land with all haste. He had no doubt in his mind that In golf would submit to his demands, the old wolf wanted war no more than Cori did, it wouldn't serve either of their people. Tales of how it had been back when war had been all they knew had filtered down through the packs. Some wanted it, would welcome the action, and not just in Cori's own, wilder pack, but most wolves agreed that they were dark times and were none too excited to return to them. True, his pack had more of those, there were wolves that were none too happy that Cori had managed to do what most of them could not and defeat the former Alpha, wolves that resented him for his young age just as the other Alphas clearly disliked having to treat one, so young like an equal, and those were the most dangerous of all. Wolves from other packs Cori could handle easily, as one of the two greater packs his own was more than capable of cowing others into submission, just the threat of war with either the Frost fang pack, Cori's own, or even the Moonstone pack which belonged to In golf was enough to make any others back down from all but the most dire of threats as no one pack could possibly stand up to either of them. No, it was the wolves inside his own pack he had to keep a closer eye on, always ready for one to challenge him or use more devious, underhanded means to subdue him and take control. If one of the more warlike members of the pack with a following of their own gained control of the whole thing then war was going to happen. He'd already heard the mutterings around the small town they had created for themselves, that he was weak for even offering any terms to In golf that were not outright war. The girl who was to arrive would be in danger from the moment she set foot on their land and while Cori was sure none of his wolves would outright attack her they would be watching carefully for any kind of weakness, and when nobody was watching who knew what they would do? Killing In golf's daughter even if she was no longer one of the Moonstone pack would likely give them the war they wanted should the old wolf ever hear of it. That's why on the following days, Cori had his most loyal watching, waiting for her to arrive and no sooner had she set foot on their territory had he been alerted. He'd watched her approach the large house that he'd claimed after his battle with the former Alpha. Large and imposing it was a suitable home for the ruler of this land, and like most of those before him, he chose to live their alone until he took a mate, though of course his councillors and bodyguards were permitted to come and go as they pleased. His ward had also lived with him, his nephew who he'd been training in their ways, teaching to hunt and survive in the harsh land. His death had caused this whole thing and this girl knocking on his door was meant to replace him? Just thinking about it didn't put him in the best of moods, he missed his nephew, but as always he had to go on, and so he threw the door open, standing there in his blue jeans, small holes and tears in them, clearly faded from work. The same could be said of his brown boots and the plaid shirt he was wearing. Despite the rougher appearance he was immaculately clean, clearly he took some pride in his appearance and his hair was tied back in a ponytail, his black leather eye patch covering his left eye with a single snowflake symbol on it and the three claw marks coming from beneath it from the injury he'd lost his eye to." Hmmph, so you showed up. I half thought you'd be too scared, princess." He grinned as he said the words. Everybody knew the Moonstone pack was coddled, they lived in a land where food was easy to come by, they didn't have to work half as hard for twice as much as his own pack, they lived lives of luxury, soft and weak. Because of this there had been rumors they looked to other things for their entertainment, to pass the time, that some of their more privileged wolves had fallen into the habit of taking recreational drugs and even using distilled wolfs bane to give them a high they didn't get from life. It was suspected that that was what had led to In golf's sons, her brothers, picking fights and attacking his nephew. Cori wasn't going to allow anything of the sort in his home so the first thing he did was step out through the door and grab the girls pack from her, tugging it from her shoulder and turning back into his home." Come in, girl. Might as well get used to your new life. This is where you'll be living, where I can keep an eye on you but don't think for one second life will be easy like you're used to." In his front room he threw her pack down on the table and sat down at it, opening it without bothering to ask her and starting to rifle through her things. "I know your brothers have themselves a little habit too, wolfs bane, is it? I won't allow that shit in my home or my pack, am I clear?" He pulled out some of her clothes, tossing them aside, stopping to grin at a frilly pair of panties and rolling his eyes. More comforts that she wasn't likely to find in her new pack, and he held them up where she could see them." Like your pretty clothes don't you girl?" He tossed them aside and next found her stuffed toy, pulling out the pig and raising an eyebrow as he looked at her." Really?" This one at least he didn't toss aside, placing Pickles down gently on the table. Seeing no drugs, he threw the bag to the side with the rest of her things." No drugs, good. I'm Cori, your new Alpha, and you're my ward which means you live here, you answer to me, you train under me, and you keep no secrets from me. You're here because of your brothers, and because your father chose to sacrifice you to my pack rather than face war. Any questions?" It wasn't easy for her to be here, and it was made less so as the door opened, and he greeted her with a snarky little comment. Her hackles rose quickly, and it took a slow deep breath from her nose to let that flash of anger go. While she didn't know all the details, hell, she knew nothing really about why she'd been sent. She wasn't an alpha though so here she was. Being a good little soldier she had followed her orders. "Why, are you the big bad wolf?" A brow rose, and she fought the urge to smirk at him. He could likely smell her unease and perhaps even a little bit of the fear that clung to her. Stupid wolf senses... More than anything, she knew what she would be to this pack. Even as she joined it, she'd remain an outsider. They were brutes, that was what she knew of the Frost fang's. They lived out here in the sticks, without any real vacillation other than the one they created for themselves. A harsh and unforgiving landscape fit them. As he stepped into her, her body stilled. She inhaled and braced herself. Sarah hadn't expected an embrace, she had braced herself for a slap. A punch or something else that fit what she knew of him and his pack. Yet it was her bag that was tugged from her grasp and for a moment, she wondered if she'd misjudged them... him. It seemed like an almost gentlemanly thing to do, to take her bag from her, and she relaxed slightly as she stepped through the door. His words were still gruff and she frowned slightly. She had nothing to say to his declaration that her life would be far from easy from now on. She hadn't expected the lap of luxury from him. Following him down the hall she watched her bag wiggle as it landed on the table before he pulled the zipper open. "Hey!" Her voice was bright, and her cheeks colored as he pulled out her clothing, tossing them in a heap to the side. When her panties followed as he explained what he was looking for she blushed vividly and growled low. "I don't why my clothing choices would be any of your concern, asshole." That anger flaring again as he riffled through her bag. When he reached Mr. Pickles she hissed at him and snatched him from the surface of the table, cuddling him to her chest. She didn't dignify Mr. Pickles to him. Fuck him. Tears had beaded against her lashes, but she didn't move to wipe them away as she glared up at him. "You could have asked instead of just assuming." Kneeling she began to pick her things up, pushing them into her bag once more, though her grip on her toughie didn't loosen. Ward. Well this would be a lovely hell, wouldn't it? Biting back a growl she stood with her bag and turned to him. She had been cleaning up their messes her whole life, why not pay for their mistakes with her life as well? It was almost poetic. She gave a small shake of her head. While she clamped down tightly on the emotions his words riled, her heart gave a sharp pained jab. She'd been thrown away because of them. Thrown to Cori and his pack... She was no better than chattel. "No." The word was clipped, and she looked down, her arm around Mr. Pickles tightening slightly. "Will you show me my room, or do you want to throw me in a dungeon?" Anger and pain mingled, making her mouth smart, in the stupidest of ways and Sarah was having trouble caring at the moment. Something about her smirk made Cori laugh. The two major packs were separated enough that besides a few rumors neither truly knew how the other was run, which led to misconceptions. He knew that, intellectually, and yet he still thought of the Moonstone clan as weak. They'd lost their fire, their pride as wolves and had settled down for the easy life that the land they owned afforded them. The few rumors he did hear supported that assumption, he'd heard they only had symbolic hunts now, they no longer gathered for the full moon to run through the woods together, to feed the bonds that held a true pack like the Frost Fangs together, to feel that wild energy that coursed through them as they ran and fought and fucked. Of their Alpha and his family, Cori knew very little. In golf was respected, all the Alphas were, but that was as far as it went and even here the drug problems that plagued his pack and In golf's sons in particular were heard of, but of his daughter, the wolf smirking at him from his doorway, Cori knew nothing. Likely as weak as her brothers, the fire long gone he'd expected her to be more meek. To hear her challenge him like that with her first words was a surprise. He simply grinned at her, flashing his teeth and taking her bag from her. There was no need to answer her comment, he could smell the unease on her, the fear. Aggression as a defense mechanism was hardly unheard of and at least more than he'd expected from her, she wasn't trembling or stuttering like he'd thought the soft princess of the Moonstone clan might be. Then she'd been forced to watch him going through her things, and she'd surprised him again with her anger. Those misconceptions had him assuming she would have quietly accepted what he was doing in silence, too afraid to speak up, but that didn't seem to be the case." Everything you do now is my concern, princess." His voice was deep, the timbre of it rumbling through the room as he spoke without even bothering to look up at her." You're my ward. I don't know what kind of wolf you are, but we all know how soft the Moonstone clan is, and these..." He lifted the frilled panties again. Looking at her, his single eye like a chip of solid gold as it met hers. Looking at her properly he had no doubt they would look good on her at the very least, and he smirked as he pictured it in his head." These are exactly what I expected of you. Wear what you like, but I recommend something warmer and more substantial unless you're planning to dance for me." He threw them back down. The stuffed pig he'd been surprisingly gentle with and didn't comment on as she clutched it to her chest. Looking up again when he was done he could see the tears beginning to form already. He could have made it worse for her, he could have poked her easily, but that wouldn't really benefit him in any way and Cori was at least practical. He hadn't gone through her things for his own enjoyment, it was because he didn't trust her." I could have just asked, and you could have just lied. What would be the point in that when I can just check for myself?" Rising to his feet he towered over her." No questions at all? Very well, if you do think of any you should ask. You're not a member of the Moonstone clan anymore, you're a Frost fang from this point onwards, you will learn our ways, I'll make damn sure of it. You're my ward now, a position a lot of wolves are going to be jealous of especially as an outsider, you should be prepared to deal with that and know that what they think of you doesn't matter, only what I think of your does." It was a simple truth, there were rumblings in the pack already, those that would rather not see her join them but Cori didn't care. It was his decision, it was the only way he'd been able to prevent war. The girl was essentially a sacrifice. A tough fate, one he didn't envy, but there was little he could do about it. He laughed, grinning as she asked if she had a room or a prison cell." You have a mouth on you girl...is that what you think of me? That I'm a savage that is just going to keep you in my dungeon?" He stepped closer to her until he was almost touching, looking down, reaching a hand out to slip around her throat and using it to tip her head upwards to look at him." Oh yes, I do have a dungeon for my prisoners, is that what you want to hear? Would you like me to show you? Perhaps you think I just wanted a princess to claim as my own personal breeding stock?" He laughed again and released her, no malice or anger in his eye, just amusement." Your room is this way." He led the way, up the stairs and to aroma the back of the house right beside his own." This is where you'll be staying, right next to mine in case I need you for anything. You can decorate it however you like so long as it doesn't shame me, I don't expect many will be entering it besides the two of us anyway but just in case. You have free rein over the village but be careful, I don't expect my people to be happy to see you. It doesn't matter, they will have to deal with it, but I'd advise you to stay close to me for your own safety. Put away your things and then we eat." He turned to leave her there and to go finish cooking his meal. Her cheeks burned as he lifted her panties for a second time. While they were the only ones seeing the soft pale lacy things, it was still mortifying. "You expected me to not take pride in myself?" Her words held a slight vibration of a growl as her eyes narrowed. "They are not for others to see, but sure. Shame me for wanting to feel good about myself." The growl was loosed when he mentioned dancing for him. "Fucking pig." She was a virgin, not that he needed to know that, so no one had actually ever seen the things he casually taunted her about. His judgment of her clothing choices was in line with what she thought of him and his pack. Brutish, bullies. On one hand Sarah knew her brothers had done something awful, that is why she was here. She hadn't though, and she felt little to no shame in judging him as he quickly was one to make snap judgments about her. Who she was based off where she had come from. She had thought to give him the benefit of the doubt. The moment thought his stupidly handsome mouth had opened though, that had gone out the window. Jaw clenched she glared at him, her eyes shimmering with tears as he rose. Fine. That was fair enough. Had she been like her brothers, she might have tried and therefore lied. "Oh goodie." Her terse reply was given while she still shot daggers at him. As far as she was concerned, they could have had the spot. She needed to come live here, she didn't need to be a part of the stupid pack. She would have preferred to been left alone on the edge of his territory. There were risks, naturally, but either she'd hold her own or she wouldn't. That was the way of all packs. If she couldn't defend herself, without someone to defend her, she'd die. "I don't think there is much of a difference in how they will see me from how you see me. You clearly are not happy I am here. They take their cues from you. You can tell them you don't want them doing anything, but it doesn't mean they will all listen. Even you don't have total control." It wasn't a slight at him, but total control was a myth. There were always fringe groups within any large pack. "I get it. I am intruding into the pack. You lost someone and got me as a shitty consolation prize. Poor baby..." It wasn't just him, just his pack hurting. While she might still be alive, they had still taken everything from her in payment. "No one is happy. I don't need you to lecture me as if I am stupid." Turning to him, still cuddling Mr. Pickles in her arms she lifted a brow. "They stole everything from me, and I was sent here to try and replace something, someone I can't begin to replace. You have made it clear how you feel. So yeah, it was an actual consideration." She snorted softly. "We do too, even though we are oh so soft." Another low growl, a warning. "You'd win, if that was your goal, but I wouldn't be taken without a fight." While he thought she meant she might attack him, Sarah knew she'd have very little success with that route. She'd kill herself first. Though, that said, she doubted that was a part of his character. Brutish, unkind and blunt... sure. Rape? It didn't seem to fit. She followed him up the stairs quietly and when he showed her the room she nodded. Not a cell, but he made it clear while she could decorate it, as long as it didn't. Shame him? That she wouldn't have privacy. "I am not hungry." This was said as she closed the door just as he cleared the doorway. Turning back to the room she sighed softly and closed her eyes. The tears still lingered, but she didn't want to cry. She didn't want him to think her weaker than he already did. Didn't want to give him the satisfaction in not only thinking her weak but knowing it. Inhaling and exhaling slowly she moved to the bed and laid her rumpled bag of clothing on the surface. Slowly she began to unpack. There was little reason not to. It didn't take her long, the few undergarments were in the chest of drawers. Anything else that could be put in the drawers was added, and the rest hung up. Turning back to Mr. Pickles she set him on her pillow. "Least I have one friend." Her voice was small. "Someone who likes me." It was an almost childish thing to whisper in the quiet of her room. Sighing softly she moved to the fire and had it roaring within moments. Pulling her phone from her pocket, Sarah pushed the two little white earbuds into her ears and curled up on the leather sofa before the big window overlooking the grounds, her back to the fire as its warmth filled the room. "I don't know what to expect from you. I try not to listen to the rumors of your clan, your people, but your siblings make that...difficult." That she called him a fucking pig didn't bother him, it didn't matter. He'd not expected her to like him nor for him to like her, this was merely a way to help prevent war between the packs and to take something from In golf and his family, something that would mean something to them. Precisely how it would prevent a war between them was spotty at best; just like he didn't expect them to like each other Cori was under no delusions that his pack would forget what had happened to his nephew...when Luka had been killed that night the baying for blood had begun, and while she wasn't likely to win his pack over they would at least settle for knowing that In golf had lost a daughter. Some of them wished for more, had hoped he would take one of In golf's sons instead of his daughter and Cori knew that wasn't to have them in the pack. Had Cori accepted either of the boys they would have already been dead, that Sarah hadn't been a part of what happened was the only thing saving her from a tide even Cori couldn't hold back and even then some of the more unruly of his pack would take her life in a heartbeat if they didn't know their own would be forfeit." No... I'm not happy you are here, but I at least see potential in you. To me, you're another of the Frost fangs now, you're one of my wolves." His voice was dangerously quiet, he'd let her have her little outburst and even respected her right to have it, he had hardly been a welcoming host after all, he knew he'd been harsh, but he had no plans to treat her as an outsider for long, he knew he just needed to get past this visceral reaction to her being here and Luka being gone." Not an intruder, I demanded you be here. That is my responsibility, not yours... I know you didn't ask for this." There was a flash of anger and something else in his eye...pain, right as she mentioned why she was there in the first place." Luka." The word was spoken with a tremble, his tone a touch softer and more uneasy and harsh than it had been." His name was Luka, he was my nephew and my ward before you..." He was leading her up towards her room." This is our burden to bear, yours and mine. If I hadn't demanded you join us, taken a daughter from your father then my pack would have demanded blood or war, this was the only way to prevent demanding your brother's heads. Would you have preferred that, princess?" He had a feeling that no matter how strongly she felt she had gotten a raw deal, she wouldn't have wanted them to die. After showing her to her room he left. He heard her claim she wasn't hungry but as he cooked his own meal, a venison steak with some potatoes and asparagus, the latter which he'd only cooked because he knew he had a guest who might have been used to finer things than the peas he would often eat with his meat. Filling two plates with the hearty meal, he also put orange juice and a couple of bottles of ale on the tray along with bread before he carried it all up to her room. He didn't bother to knock, balancing the tray as he shoved the door open. He found her on the leather sofa by the fire and brought the meal over, placing it down on the sofa beside her and sitting in the chair." You said you weren't hungry, but you've travelled far. You will eat." The way he said it made it clear it wasn't a suggestion, he intended to stay there for as long as it took for her to eat her meal. In silence, he started to eat his own meal. Reaching to the tray halfway through it, he grabbed one of the bottles of ale and opened it with his powerful teeth, taking a drink to wash it down, and while he ate he kept his eye on her the whole time. Maybe this was the worst idea he'd ever had, but damn it he hadn't seen a path other than this, other than making her come here, and he wasn't going to let her starve herself just because she hated him. Like it or not she was a Frost fang now...he had to remember that, and try not to take out her brother's misdeeds on her. He chewed another bite of his steak before he sighed." I...am sorry. I know it isn't your fault, I didn't mean to treat you like an intruder." It was the best he had, difficult enough to get those words out of him, and he did not expect much in return. She still thought about the way he said his nephew's name. Luka. Her heart ached for his loss, and she couldn't imagine having her in his house after what his brother's did. In his place, Sarah supposed she wouldn't have been happy about having him in her life, in her pack after such a loss. She tried to see it from his position and ignore her own hurt and betrayal. They were both hurting and neither wanted her here, yet this was for both their packs. Together they suffered. It gave them something that they shared. She was lost in her thoughts, trying to work through her own feelings. She supposed she should apologize to him. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight, she didn't think she had it in her. Not after the display downstairs. She could still remember the look in his eyes as he had held her lacy underthings up. Cheeks flushing anew at the memory she gave a frustrated sigh, that ended the door pushed open and Cori entered carrying a tray of food. The smell of the food tickled her nose and her stomach gave a soft growl of hunger, and she frowned up at him. It was set on the couch beside her, and he took a seat in the comfortable leather chair near the couch. The order made her fight back a growl, looking down at the meal she sighed. They both knew she was hungry, thanks to her treacherous stomach. Picking up the plate she lifted a fork and took a bite of asparagus. She liked asparagus, but her favorite green vegetables were peas and broccoli. When it came to asparagus she was a bit picky with how it was cooked. This, this was good though. His voice made her look up, and she bit her lower lip, studying his face. After a moment she set her fork down and shifted along the couch. "It isn't yours either." Looking back at her food, she toyed with the potatoes. "Not to add to my spoiled air, that you think I have," her words were soft, though there was a playful tone to them. "I was angry and not just at you. My position in my pack was little more than an honorific. I took care of my family. Cleaned, cooked... looked after them. I was a glorified maid. Anything I wanted to do was shut down, I never understood why. But it felt like being sent here was the final nail in the coffin. I was sent to appease you and our pack, when I had done nothing. Nothing I ever wanted to be mattered, and now I was being sold to cover their mistakes. More than that, I was going to a place where no one would want me there." Eating a forkful of potatoes she was silent a second before swallowing. "But you're not to blame. You are trying your best... So, I am sorry for before too" After that she fell silent slowly picking at her meal. While she was physically hungry it was a challenge for her to eat. Everything was cooked nicely and as she slowly ate she tried to make conversation with him. Tried to make the best of the situation they both found themselves in. "I wouldn't have pegged you for an asparagus sorta guy." She lifts a stalk of the vegetable in question and gave it a small wiggle before biting off the tender top. "I prefer peas and broccoli normally, but this is still good." The last thing she tackled with the venison. She took small bites and when she had eaten half of it, she placed it back on the table. Looking at the ale, she wrinkled her nose and tried for another small olive branch. "Can I help you clean up?" He'd show her the kitchen and she could get a glass of water or milk. Sarah didn't drink. Once he'd started to eat, Cori still kept his eye on the girl. He felt genuine remorse for how harsh he'd been to her...not for going through her things, as far as he was concerned that had been mandatory. While he was sure not all the wolves of the Moonstone clan were drug addicts, likely very few of them, he couldn't take the chance of letting that kind of thing slip into his own pack. No, what they had to deal with came down to life or death, they were survivors, and you had to be able to trust that the wolf beside you had your back and was at the very least competent. His own ward would be responsible for backing Cori himself up if it came down to fighting of any kind, and to hunt with him, to live with him. He couldn't take the risk that she would have been on drugs, it wasn't worth it for him. In truth, there wasn't as much fighting these days, there were skirmishes with a few neighboring packs and hunters had made their home in the mountains nearby which did lead to situations once in a while, but the days of war were over...but it didn't matter. Should it come down to it, Cori had to know that his ward was clean. He merely nodded when she told him it wasn't his fault she had been forced here either...at least they were both talking, and in civil tones. This time he listened and tried not to judge her, listened to her talk about her position in her pack...correction, her former pack. To him, it sounded like such an odd way to live, though honestly that they ruled through right of birth and not the challenges that the Frost fangs had to go through to prove they were worthy to lead was already alien enough to him. Now he was hearing that their princess wasn't even taught to hunt, to fight, but expected to cook and clean? He finished chewing the bite of venison he'd taken before he spoke." Your father didn't want to send you here either, I demanded it so it is my fault, in a way. I did not see any other outcome... I could not take your brothers, I'd have killed them myself or my pack would have done so out of anger...you, I can protect. They are still angry, as am I, but despite what you might have heard we can be reasonable, we will not slaughter you for the sins of your brothers. You might be right that they will hate you though...but they do not know you. Prove yourself, work hard, and you will be accepted. That's always been our way." He took a drink of his ale and grinned." Maybe you will even enjoy it here. I can cook my own fucking food and I have no need for a maid unless you want to dress as one and call me Master. Our women are not cooks or cleaners, and you'll be expected to fight and to hunt. I don't suppose you have much training in that, do you?" He expected not judging by what she'd said, he would have to test her and train her himself. When she mentioned the asparagus he stared at her for a few moments, the gold of his single eye boring into hers like he was considering leaping at her and tearing her throat out, an intense stare...then his lips split into a grin, and he laughed, shaking his head." I hate asparagus...we have very little of it here, we grow what we can for our restaurants, some of us like finer dining once in a while... I took some from our stores for you, to make you feel more at home..." He finished his meal, leaving some of the hated vegetable on his plate and he drank his ale while he watched her, waited for her to finish and then nodded, grabbing his own plate and leading the way downstairs. The kitchen was large enough, simple, functional much like the rest of the house, and he scraped the leftovers into the trash before he started to wash his plate." Next time I'll let you choose what we eat... I started before you arrived, so I had to guess what you'd like. Now I wish I'd cooked the broccoli." He dried his hands as he finished washing his plate." Tell me what experience you have tending animals. I'm guessing you've never hunted and have no combat training." He listened to her as she spoke, and he didn't interrupt her, which she was thankful for. She was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but she knew that other packs, much like his, those who didn't live the cushy lives the moonstone clan had, saw them as weak, pampered. Her life hadn't ever been her own and that was the pain she shared with him. Sarah had opened herself up and told him some of her most vulnerable secrets. Sarah doubted even her pack knew that she would have preferred to be anything but a pampered princess. When she fell silent, Cori watched her while chewing for a moment and then he spoke. She smiled softly and shook her head. "You still didn't have much of a choice. If you didn't want war, you couldn't take either of the idiots I call brothers. You or our pack would have killed them. That would have still started a war." She motioned to herself. "I was the only option to avoid it while still paying the blood price." Biting her cheek she listened to him and nodded with a soft sigh. "I will do my best, I really will." She wasn't going to rest on her laurels, it had never been her desire in life. "There is the pig from earlier." Chuckling, she shifted on the couch. "I don't think you will ever have me calling you master, Cori... Or wearing a skimpy maid outfit." He was handsome, she wasn't blind, but she just couldn't see it. She wasn't an alpha, but she wasn't so submissive that she had a desire to call anyone master. She looked away from him as he questioned what training she had. "No, I don't." Her voice had gone very quiet, there was something there around that question that plucked at a ghost from her past. Clearing her throat she changed the subject, though the joke made his demeanor change and the intensity in which he looked at her made her want to squirm in place. The laugh surprised her and she jumped slightly. Her own smile was sheepish. "Sorry, but thank you Cori, for trying." In truth, she wouldn't have expected it of him, and she realized while she was trying, she still made small judgments when it came to him and what she expected. Following him downstairs she followed suit by scraping her leftovers into the trash before washing her own plate. Shifting, she moved to pick up the remaining pans that had been left from cooking these too, she began to wash and when he spoke, she looked at him and smiled. "What do you like to eat? Clearly not asparagus. And you like broccoli" she washed dishes with quick efficient movements. "I haven't. I." She fell silent again. She loved her family, even with the problems that had been a part of them... Looking down at the pan she was washing she fell silent, her motions stopping for a moment before she cleared her throat and said again softly. "I haven't." The last pan washed she moved to try them all before turning to him with the first. Each pot and pan was put away where he directed her, and she wiped her drying hands on her thighs. "Choice or not, it's still my responsibility. I'm the Alpha of this pack, when any decision is made it is still on me. I could have chosen to risk going to war and not taken you from your home." As much as she had a point Cori didn't believe in letting the blame fall elsewhere when he felt it was his own burden to bear." I could have demanded the life of one of your brothers instead too. That would have likely satiated the thirst for retribution. I chose an option where everybody might live, even if not the life they wanted and in doing so tore you from your home. You who had nothing to do with what happened." It was evident that he was a little sad about it, upset at himself mostly, but what was done. There was no changing it now. He nodded at her as she said she'd do her best." I believe you. Life here will not be the same as what you're used to I'm sure, but you are far less timid than I expected. You might do well here. You might even find you like it." The thought of her in a maid's outfit was much more appealing than the previous conversation, and he had grinned as he looked her over. "I never said anything about skimpy outfits...is that where your mind goes, Sarah? Interesting... I was just offering you something you might be more used to, and you call me a pig for it like I was being suggestive..." He was smirking the whole time he said it, betraying his actual thoughts, but that was fine, there was no way she could prove he hadn't meant it innocently. He nodded as they walked to the kitchen. Furthermore, he hadn't expected her to have much in the way of training anyway, that would be easy enough to fix, and he grumbled softly about the asparagus." It's fine...last time I try to do you any favors though." He knew he was lying as he said it, but the atmosphere was turning into a far more pleasant one than earlier, and he felt like being playful. As he washed his dish, and she began to wash her own and more, he thought about what he liked to eat." Meat," he answered honestly." The vegetables are there because they should be, I don't enjoy them much. Asparagus less than most. Broccoli is nice, and potatoes, peas, carrots...but truth be told I'd rather have none even if I can cook them well enough." He chuckled softly as she admitted she had no combat experience, not at the fact that she had none but at the soft way she said it, clearly she didn't like having to say no." It's fine, really... I expected as much, and it isn't anything to worry about. You can learn, I'll show you." Putting down the cloth he dried the plate and his hands before gesturing to her. "Follow me." A small door in the hallway led down a set of stairs and towards the basement of the large house, a very roomy space with soft mats like one would find in a school gym on the floor. There were punching bags off to the side and other equipment one might find in a kickboxing dojo. Along the other wall were a few mirrors and weapons, as well as some training gear that wasn't often used except for when things were getting rougher. He gestured to the gear." Get anything you need to protect you. Us wolves can take a bit of a pounding, and I'm sure you're no different, but if you'd prefer to soften the blow, grab some headgear." He grinned and grabbed a long strip of red fabric used as a blindfold from one of the racks and looped it through his belt loosely so that if it was grabbed it should be possible to pull it free, though it might take some effort. Standing in the middle of the mats, he gave her a smile." Start now. Take the fabric from me, any way you can, and we will see if you know anything at all. Don't try to be too fancy, we are werewolves, not ninjas." She understood the stance he took. How it all fell on his shoulders and for a moment Sarah was glad she wasn't an alpha and never would be. It seemed lonely to have to shoulder such decisions alone, with no one else but yourself to blame. It made sense, she figured the way his pack worked rather than the right of blood hers followed. Neither of her brothers would be a good leader. Where here, if they felt that Cori was leading them astray and not doing the best by them, they could champion a challenger and replace him if they had the strength. It could also lead to a monster taking over too... Werewolf hierarchy was a headache and far from simple. It was the second time he said she may even come to like life her, and she studied him with her honey colored eyes. He really seemed to think she might grow to like it here. Far from the pampered princess he had pegged her for, she wondered if she would find a way to love the pack, the town and its rugged beauty. Cori himself was handsome. Sarah wasn't blind, she could easily see it, but she wasn't foolish enough to even consider trying to catch feelings for him. A smirk curled on her lips as he tried to claim he hadn't been dirty. "No, of course not." The sarcasm in her voice was far from hidden. "You can try and play it off, but after the dancing for him comment and the breeding me comment, I am not buying it." "Hey, I said I appreciated it! The asparagus was perfect." She didn't think he was serious, but she was carrying over the lighthearted playfulness as they entered the kitchen. She snorted softly as he said meat. Furthermore, she wouldn't have ever guessed and the roll of her eyes said as much. Furthermore, she made a mental note, though she found it funny he was exactly what she thought of when she thought of an alpha wolf. The fact that it aligned with a caveman was neither here nor there and her smile might have given away that there was an image of him banging his chest and dragging a club behind him in her head. The subject however shifted, and her smile faded as she answered him. Memories rising like ghosts in her mind. Squaring her shoulders she turned to look at him, fighting the rising panic that was building. Swallowing, she nodded and placed her own cloth down before following him to the door and down the narrow set of stairs. It was nice to know it was just a gym. While she'd been pretty sure he hadn't been joking about a cell to lock her in, to know it wasn't here at least was a small comfort. A spike of fear licked up her spine. She could take a fair bit of abuse. Her body held the scars to prove it. Pushing the fear aside she nodded as he grabbed a strip of red fabric, watching as he attached it before looking at the things available. She didn't know how to use any of them and was more likely to hurt herself with them, than him. For a long moment she looked at him, trying to work out how to even begin. Rushing at him wouldn't work, and he had told her to not be fancy... She could have just said that she couldn't do it. She didn't think she could. But that wasn't the point of this exercise. Sarah knew she didn't know enough to assess him for a weak spot, and she doubted tackling would do much, and it would be obvious. Nothing cute would work either, something told Sarah that Cori wouldn't like that. So she stalked closer, assessing him. Circling behind him, she came to stand before him before trying to punch him, shifting her weight to try and snag that stupid piece of red cloth. This would continue with her trying to throw punches, kick him and in the end she charged at him trying to tackle him, the move a desperate try to snag the red cloth. It was clear while inexperienced, Sarah was trying her best to do as he asked. Cori laughed, smiling, a gleam of mirth in his one visible eye, and he brought a single hand to his chest." How dare you insult my reputation like that? I was simply picturing you in a maid's outfit as you did your chores, isn't that what you said? That you were a glorified maid?" Truthfully, he hadn't been picturing her dressed as anything of the sort even if his comment had definitely implied it, it had even had the meaning she'd taken from it, but the image hadn't been one he'd thought of. Now though, he was definitely thinking about it, his eye wandering down her form and then back up to meet her own eyes again." And I clearly had no intention of locking you in any dungeon to breed, that comment meant nothing." He grinned as he waited for her to finish washing the dishes she'd taken up." Trying to impugn my honor like that, really... I should take you over my knee for making accusations like that of your alpha." He chuckled again as she finished up." I'm glad you liked it at least, I don't think I'll be cooking that again though." He was actually enjoying Sarah's presence now that the tension seemed to have dissipated, which was a pleasant surprise. He'd expected to dislike her on principal, he'd tried not to of course, but it simply wasn't always that easy, yet she made it seem like the simplest thing to like her. She wasn't as shy or held back as he'd thought one from her clans might be even thought the pig plush he'd found had made him worried she might be too much of a princess for his pack. No, she was joking with him playfully, she made him smile, and he found he actually hoped she'd fit in well, he could get used to having somebody to laugh with since his nephew had died, to have the house not be as quiet as it had been these past couple of weeks. That alone didn't mean she would fit in to the pack though...he still had to teach her to fight, so he'd led her down to the basement. The whole way down he had felt how nervous she was, he could practically feel her shaking, and her heart rate didn't go unnoticed." Relax Sarah, I'm not going to hurt you. Not much anyway..." In the room he explained the rules to her, simple enough to follow. It wasn't the most important of tests or even the most informative, but he wanted to see how she reacted to it. Ideally she would try her hardest, not shy away from it since aggression was so respected in his pack...if she were too timid, she would never fit in, never find a home there. Skill and ability could be taught, she was young and if she was willing to work it wouldn't be too hard to teach the girl to fight. He waited as she circled him, keeping his eye on her until she finally tried to punch him, and he stepped neatly aside with a chuckle." Come on, wolf princess, you can do better than that." Grinning, he fended off her punches and kicks, most of them he moved aside from, a few he used his palm to gently tap her limbs aside and cause the swings to miss...until she charged at him, possibly frustrated. Grinning he grabbed her wrist and used his leg to trip her, sending her tumbling towards the mat and following her down. They both hit the ground with a thud, her wrist still in his one hand he quickly grabbed the other and pinned her beneath him, leaning over her with a smirk." Not terrible...you will need training but at least you have spirit. If you're willing to try that hard I think you'll do just fine here." Even as he spoke he didn't let her go, keeping her pinned beneath him as he smiled down at her. "Uh huh... your reputation." The said it in a suuuuuuure sorta tone, clearly not believing him. It didn't help as his eyes trailed down her body and back up. She hissed at him and slapped the towel out at him. "Stop looking at me like I am prey!" She knew when it came to the hierarchy, she was little better then, more so because she couldn't fight. She had never been trained and while she wasn't this spoiled princess he'd feared her to be... she was only just a few shades from it. Furthermore, she had her own work ethic, and she wasn't one to let someone walk over her verbally, but if it became physical? Furthermore, she would be royally fucked. Rolling her eyes she gave a low, playful growl. "I don't do capital punishment, Alpha." Of course, if that had been something he'd meant, she wouldn't have stopped him, but she wasn't sure how she'd feel about it. Sarah stopped that train of thought as he led her down the stairs. The basement was wide and open, well for a basement that was. Cori's voice rumbled through the room, telling her to relax. It wasn't that simple, but she tried. She tried because her alpha had told her to. Because she did want to please him. That was the way of their kind. It was frustrating, but she tried to not let it get to her. When he teased her, she even smiled a bit, a quirk of her lips. It was the right sort of encouragement for her. So Sarah tried again. The tackle had been out of desperation, rather than frustration. However, as he pinned her to the mat her heart rate spiked and almost pure panic went through her. The room faded, and it wasn't Cori above her but her eldest brother. Snarling in her face, her body screaming in agony beneath him. He had lured her into a trap. Offering to go against their father's wishes. Teach her to fight... Yet he had only wanted to teach her a lesson about disobeying orders. He'd beat her, not just in the fight, but thoroughly. Broken ribs, nose and a split lip to name a few. The final nail in the coffin had been when he had slammed her already broken body onto the hard floor. A scream of pain had left her and then his hand had encircled her throat, cutting off her air. Snarling inches from her face, he had told her exactly what she was good for. It had been lewd and vile for her own brother to say such things to her. Tears leaked from her eyes as she lashed out, the panic blinding. She kicked at his groin with her knee, her body bucking wildly to dislodge him. Nails scraped against skin and mat, a high whine slipping from her. She fought like a wild cat to get free, her hear racing. Eyes dilated, she looked truly scared as she fought to escape him, panting. If he let her, she would crawl away from him and curl up into a ball. It would take a lot to break her from this panic though. "Yes, my reputation. What, you don't believe me? Why would you feel my intentions are anything less than pure?" Grinning, he had grabbed the towel as it was flicked at him and yanked on it, hoping it would pull her close where he could grab her waist with his other hand."Oh, I don't look at prey like this, princess." His tone was an octave lower as he spoke, the edge of a growl in his own voice in response to the one she gave." And who said it would be for punishment? Can't I take you over my knee for fun?" He chuckled softly, deciding not to push that any further in case Sarah got the wrong impression; while Cori did love to flirt he wasn't trying to fetch on her or make her uncomfortable, and he definitely didn't want her thinking he would push his Alpha status on her to take her. Instead, he'd finished up and led her to the basement. It seemed to be going well. She had no real technique to speak of, just enthusiasm, and he felt she was eager to prove herself, a fire that he very much respected. Cori knew first-hand that wolves without that fire seldom made it in his pack. Sure, there were a few that settled down to become butchers or craftsmen, and they were valued, even respected a little, and they even joined in the hunts but when it came down to it, they weren't thought of as true Frost fangs. They were their supporters, they made it possible for the rest to focus on their training if they needed to, and he had to admit he feared that was all she'd ever be...their talk of a maid outfit hadn't been the furthest from what he'd expected from a Moonstone, but now he had other ideas. As he parried another wild swing from her, he admitted to himself he could train her, he could make a warrior out of her, a hunter. Then he pinned her to the mat and everything changed. He felt her freeze up beneath him first, then he felt the struggles. It wasn't playful like he'd intended, like Cori himself was being. No, she was fighting against him like he was a mortal threat to her, like she truly feared him. His one eye widened in shock at the visceral reaction and that was all it took for him to drop his guard and take a knee to the groin. He held on to her for a few seconds more before a familiar, tugging pain started and grew rapidly, the dull, crushing ache that made him let go and move to the side to protect himself and there was strain in his voice as she started to crawl away from him." Narah, stop...what happened...?" Despite the pain he was in he followed, crawling after her, wincing but determined. Once he reached her, curled up on the floor, he wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind, then one of his legs until he was pressed almost seamlessly, body to body, against her. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but he'd had enough experience to recognize not fear, but terror. Real, heart pounding terror had caused the fiery, almost fierce wolf to shut down entirely now. Squeezing tightly, one hand came up, fingers stroking through her hair and his voice was low but clear as he spoke, his lips just inches from her ear so he barely needed to do more than a whisper." Shhh, calm down princess, you're okay, I'm not going to hurt you. Breathe...take a deep breath and hold it in for five seconds, then release it for five. Keep doing that, close your eyes...you're safe here, safe with me, I'm your Alpha, I will not hurt you." He could feel her panicked breathing in his arms, her trembling, her rapid heart rate pounding in his ears like it might burst out of her chest, and he tried to soothe her the only way he thought might help, by holding her tight and refusing to let go even if she struggled against him, even if she scratched or bit him. Any concern that he had for her, the confusion or anything else was lost on her as she fought against some unseen foe. Panic didn't work based on logic and as he'd pinned her to the mat it had spiraled out of control. Freed, she crawled away from him and curled into a tight ball, whimpering like a wounded animal. Already a tiny thing her body had become infinitely smaller as she curled upon herself. Protecting herself as best as she could from the phantom blows that would never come. When he first curled around her, he'd feel the tension vibrate though her. She was still terrified, but his rich voice whispered against her ear, the gentle stroking of her hair... It all made her slowly relax. It helped him break through her panic. He was saying something. Breathe. She obeyed. A breath in, a slow count to five before she exhaled. Her eyes had already been closed, but she kept working on her breathing up until the panic receded enough to leave shame and guilt in their place. Her heart had slowed and there was nothing but his strong scent in her nose. No blood. That had been there last time. Her own blood. There was no pain either. This wasn't history repeating itself. Trembling, she curled tighter, unsure what to say. He wouldn't hurt her, he'd said that. Yet Sarah knew he couldn't promise that. He would strive to never have to hurt her perhaps, but the words themselves were a lie and in her current condition, she couldn't see anything but that. Darkness, hurt still clung to her mind. After a few minutes though, she did relax in his arms. She even pressed back into him, seeking the comfort of another. Of one who was meant to protect her. Her cheeks heated with that shame and she mumbled softly. "Sorry." She tried to pull herself free from his arms now. This was exactly what he'd expected of her no doubt. She wasn't worth training. That was what he had said. When he'd kicked her in the ribs. She only had a few uses... She wasn't meant to fight though. Maybe the women of Cori's pack were just built differently. Maybe she was just a pathetic wretch. No matter which it was, she didn't fit, wouldn't fit. How could she if she couldn't even be trained without breaking down... shattering into pieces. She could still feel her cheeks on her cheeks, cooling in wet tracks. Sniffling, she tried again to pull herself free. She wanted to tell him to just let her go. She could go curl up in the shower and then go to bed and try to forget this ever happened. To forget that she was exactly what her brother had said she was. Worthless. Useless. Cori didn't know what had prompted it, but he recognized a panic attack when he saw one. Some trauma from her past had been triggered when he'd forced her down to the mat but wondering why it was happening would have to wait until later, he had no intention of leaving her to suffer it alone. No, he'd forced himself on her again, this time wrapping his arms so tightly around her that it was likely difficult to take the breaths he'd told her to take, but he didn't let up and slowly, but surely he felt her starting to calm down. She trembled less, the tension started to leave her body and the loud beats of her heart that his sensitive ears had picked up, making them sound like drums of war had started to slow down to a much more sedate beat. He felt rather than heard her follow his instructions, breathing in and holding it, exhaling and holding that. The whole time he continued to stroke his fingers through her hair, to make soothing shushing noises and say her name, repeating that she was safe, that he was there. It was only when he felt her press back against him that he moved again. He didn't let her go, he kept his arms around her, but he pulled her up with him so that both were sitting, he behind her with his arms around her, and she pulled tight against his chest, still facing away. When she apologized he didn't say a word at first, he made a soft"Him" noise instead and still he refused to let go of her while she tried to price herself from him. He heard the sniffle, he knew she'd been crying from the wetness at his fingertips as he stroked her cheek, but it didn't matter, there was no way he would let her go until he was satisfied that she was okay." Stop trying to move, you aren't going anywhere, and you don't need to be sorry, Sarah." He used her name rather than the nickname he'd given her." I want you to stay right where you are, in my arms where you're safe and tell me what happened." He knew what had happened, of course he did, a panic attack like that came from trauma, and it hadn't come from nowhere, it had arrived because it had been triggered. He'd pinned her down, and she'd gone into a panic. Something had happened in her past." You know I'd never hurt you like that, right? I know us Frost fangs have a rough reputation, but you're a Frost fang too, and I'm your Alpha. A few bruises at worst is all you'll get from training with me, I didn't mean to scare you..." His tone was soft and gentle." Something happened to make you scared...somebody hurt you. Tell me who it was, Sarah. Tell me and I promise they will never have the chance to hurt you again... I won't let them." He wouldn't release her once he had her cuddled into his strong arms. She knew she shouldn't try to escape his embrace; his arms made her feel safe. Made Sarah want to turn into him and cling to him until the panic fully subsided, and she could breathe again without struggling for each breath. Until those memories faded once more. His voice was a comfort too, the bass rumbled against her back as he spoke, telling her she needn't be sorry and that she sure as hell wasn't going anywhere. She still squirmed against his hold for a moment or two longer before she sagged against him. His question went unanswered for a long time. He spoke, that vibration playing against her back. She did listen though as he told her that he'd not ever really hurt her. That the most she'd get were some bruises. He wouldn't hurt her; he was her alpha. That seemed to linger in her mind even as he demanded she tell him what happened to her. She gave a shake of her head. Sarah knew he wouldn't relent just because she said no. He was her Alpha and had asked her a question. He promised to protect her from whoever had left these scars, both physical and mental. Whimpering softly she exhaled and pulled herself free from his grasp. Sarah scooted away and turned to face him, her cheeks wet with tears. Dashing at the wetness on her cheeks she sniffled and slowly lift her shirt up and over her head. There was a jagged cut along her ribs along with a number of other cuts. Inhaling and holding her breath she turned and showed him her back, the straps of her bra interrupting the lines along her back. She'd been whipped and the lines crisscrossed over one another. "I wanted to learn to fight... My eldest brother, he. He offered." Her face was still turned away from him and her voice was soft. "The first time, he beat me until I couldn't move. I was disobeying our father. Zane took it upon himself to punish me for insubordination." She slowly worked to put her shirt back on, covering the marks. "I think he liked it. My pain. My tears." Her voice was getting softer now. "It became. A habit for him. He started to get creative... Added" Sarah's voice trembled. "He started touching me after." Nothing that Cori could do would make this pain vanish or erase her past. Talking about it wouldn't likely make it better. "He told me if I ever told anyone, he'd kill them." Clearly the person in question had been their father or her other brother. Who else would the Princess of the Moonstone pack run to? So no one had ever been told about what happened to her. She had been beaten, bruised, broken and molested. Never once with anyone stepping in or up for her. Moving here had been a small blessing, but at the time she'd been sure it wouldn't change her fate much. After all, it was Zane who had whispered what they'd do to her here. Releasing her was the last thing on Cori's mind, at least so long as she seemed to be in a panic. Slowly he could feel her getting calmer, her breaths becoming more steady as he held her tight against his chest and while she still struggled to try and get away from him, he still wouldn't let her go. Eventually she relaxed against him again, and they sat in silence, his hold on her became weaker since he didn't have to keep her there anymore, and he could focus on soothing her. "Shh, it's okay, I told you already, I'm your Alpha, I will not hurt you, I'll never hurt you, you're safe here." While the words were there, soft and hopefully comforting his hands were moving, one was stroking up and down her side, the other through her hair, over and over, his cheek resting against the side of his head so she could feel his presence. This was something he'd seen before; there had been trauma from battle, skirmishes where some of his pack had lost their partners or siblings, those closest to them and at the time Cori had been young, it had been difficult to understand how to help, but there had been others that had done this, just held those that broke down from the trauma. Cori may have been young, but he'd at least remembered. Eventually she started to price her way out of his arms again and this time he allowed it, she didn't seem to be in a panic anymore, nor ashamed and trying to hide from him. He watched as she turned to face him, that single eye like a golden searchlight, there would be no hiding from it and to her credit she didn't try. She lifted her shirt up and the first thing he saw was that scar on her ribs, focusing on it thought there were other small cuts around it." Narah...who..." He didn't need to wait, he probably hadn't needed to ask as she showed him her back too and started to speak, not looking at him. Her brother...her own sibling had done this, but why hadn't the other and her father protected her? His hands clenched into fists by his side, anger flashing at all three of them until she told him...she'd never told them because she worried about their safety, because of Zane's threat. Conri moved closer to her on his knees, hand finding her waist and the other her wrist, stopping her from putting her shirt back on." How did he touch you?" There was a growl in his voice now as Cori traced his fingertips over the cuts on her body." Your brother is a monster...but you're safe now, Sarah. You're safe, and you've told me know, you're no longer the only one that knows. As for his threat...well, let him try to kill me." He released her wrist and grabbed her t-shirt instead, helping her pull it down her body, to cover herself. Once she was covered up he turned he to face him, his palm coming to cup her cheek, to make her look up at him." Whatever happened, it happened... I cannot change it no matter how much I wish I could save you that pain, it's done...but I swear as your Alpha that he will never touch you again without forfeiting his life for the privilege...if he even tries to get near you again I'll tear him apart, and I don't care who is around to witness it." He tried a smile, though he still had an angry look in his eye that clearly wasn't directed at her." Come on. We will train you another day, I think a drink would serve you better right now."

An eye for eye {Tigeris x Eirlys}|rating:3.0

A Roleplayer is you. IC

All of you were all just minding your own business and going about your day when, by a bizarre string of coincidences, found yourself fighting an ancient zombie green dragon. You all just finished destroying it and have the first chance to actually speak to each other. Good luck. "And then the mighty barbarian raised his- and it's dead,"Killeen said, aborting her latest narration with a shrug." You have to be quick,"Anthem said with a slender grin." Uh-huh. Seriously, though, that was nuts. I'll tell you what, that is the last time I sit on that bench. Actually, I may just go ahead and declare a general moratorium on bench-sitting in general. I don't need the stress."" That the two events were related is highly implausible,"Anthem felt obligated to point out." Considering that the entire fight was highly implausible, I stand by my decision,"Killeen countered with a firm nod, before shifting her focus to the group of people who they had assisted in the battle (no, it wasn't "who assisted them"; Anthem and Killeen were quite clear on their role in the universe)." Hey, guys, just wanted to say, awesome job! That thing was all 'Rare!' and you were all 'Chop!' and 'Boom!' and 'Bam!' and it's like 'Guru!'"" That is...certainly a valid recounting of events. Or, at least, it would be for someone who doesn't have sixteen levels of Storyteller, but whatever. On a more practical note, does anyone have any idea where that thing actually came from? Or, and this is critical, if there are perhaps more on the way?" Grog composes himself, shaking the blood from his Great sword and turning to address the gathering. He looks embarrassed and slightly scared."I am so sorry for bringing this beast upon you all. I will no longer endanger you with my presence."he says, half shouting his words. He then begins to walk away. Gorilla turns to the storytellers and the barbarian,"Well, I feel it's perfectly reasonable to expect that dragons will attack from time to time. After all, why would there be stat blocks for so many monsters if they never saw combat? But I digress; I think if our group decides to work together, the reason the dragon came here is perfectly clear. Alternatively, the dragon's a precursor to a larger invasion, and we should band together until this threat is defeated. Either way, our course of action is clear." She pauses, then speaks again,"As to your other questions, I'll make some knowledge checks and see if I can't come up with anything." Forilla reflects on whether green dragons would be likely to live in a habitat like this, whether they tended to live in groups, and what the answer to those questions were when asked in regard to zombies. Knowledge (Arcane):(1d20+31)[48]Knowledge (Religion):(1d20+29)[30] The angelic twins cast each other surprised, sidelong looks, before flying around to get in front of the barbarian." Woah, slow down, man! This thing was after you then?"" In the general sense, the people who think their presence is a danger to others due to an inordinate number of increasingly Byzantine monster attacks occurring in their vicinity are the people we most prefer to hang around with,"Anthem said. There was just enough sarcasm in his voice to qualify the statement as self-deprecating." It saves us time on divination, you see,"Killeen explained." Speaking of which, let us know if you think we should cast a couple of those,"Anthem said, turning his gaze to Gorilla. "Honestly, I don't know if it was truly after me. What I do know is that the last and only two times I've been in a settlement of some kind, It was razed by some creature while I was unconscious. I had thought I had gotten off scot-free until we rolled initiative. I hope none of you were injured in the fight on my behalf." Grog begins talking as if he was addressing the party, but by the end he is looking at his boots, clearly still embarrassed. "Voodoo"Cheered Reiko, her words"Good job every...everybody"She mumbled, digging around in her belt. The young woman slouched against the fallen dragons hide, nursing back a bottle of ale, before splashing a bit onto her scrapes to clean them off. The contrast was, frankly, somewhat frightening. Moments before, she'd been tornado made of punches, a dervish that seemed to strike from everywhere at once. But perhaps that was just the heat of the moment. Because now, Reiko very much appeared to have little to no grasp of where she actually was, much less of how to fight a dragon. From another pocket at her belt, she produced two more bottles"Who wants to celebrate? Celebrate?... Celebrate?"she chuckled at her slurred words, gaping down another mouthful. In her hazy thoughts, an idea appeared"Hey... Hey guys... Guess what! This is a dragon!"from her excitement, one would really hope that she had a better followup to her observation"And he's dead! You know what that means? Free ****! YEAH! Triple Standard treasure" Winding up, she gave a hard punch to the side of the dragons face"Hey! Hey Dragon! HaaaaaaAAAAAAy...where's your loot? I call..." Her balance seemed to give out. The world spun around as Reiko took a tumble head over heels, landing on her back. She didn't seem to mind though, not from the big, goofy grin on her face"... Dibs" Gorilla smiles at the exuberant woman,"Unfortunately, I think the 'zombie' part trumps the 'dragon' part. So no, no triple treasure for us. Probably. Unless we can find where it aired before it got zombified. I will celebrate with you though." She bends down and reaches out her hand to take the other bottle the woman had produced, then continues, addressing Grog,"If you don't mind me saying so, you looked pretty conscious during this fight." She turns back to Reiko,"You do raise a valid point though. We should probably loot its corpse, just to be on the safe side." Spoiler: Search check Hide (1d20+30)[42] Grog's eyebrows shoot up, as if he hadn't even considered that." Oh! I didn't even consider that! And I do admit I am quite curious to see what kind of loot drops from such a beast." "Soundalike plan" Nodded Reiko, climbing back to her feet, and continuing to climb after reaching a standing position, right up onto the back of the dragon. "Don't worry, I got this. The dragon can take us back to its lair, since he probably knows where it is". Now perched atop the decaying dragon head, Reiko gripped two of its horns in hand"Giddy up""Don't worry, I'm good to ride" she added, as if to reassure the group of her driving abilities.(1d20+9)[21]Ride check Killeen leaned over to her brother, saying softly with a bright smile,"I call narrating for her in future battles.""Oh, dear..."he replied with a long-suffering sigh." Ah, miss! That dragon is, in fact, quite dead. Doubly so, as it happens."" Ten points say it takes off and starts flying for her anyway,"Killeen said." No bet,"Anthem replied, far too savvy to fall for a trap like that. Originally Posted by Game Spawn Knowledge (Arcane): [roll0] Knowledge (Religion): [roll1] The nearest green dragons live to the good ways north in the lower, forested, parts of the mountains. What questions were there about zombies? Originally Posted by Game Spawn Spoiler: Search check Hide [roll0] There's nothing much. Approximately 20 platinum could be found wedged under, or partially wedged under, scales across the lower half of the body. Originally Posted by NineOfSpades "Soundalike plan" Nodded Reiko, climbing back to her feet, and continuing to climb after reaching a standing position, right up onto the back of the dragon. "Don't worry, I got this. The dragon can take us back to its lair, since he probably knows where it is". Now perched atop the decaying dragon head, Reiko gripped two of its horns in hand "Giddy up" "Don't worry, I'm good to ride" she added, as if to reassure the group of her driving abilities. [roll0] Ride check The dragon is quite dead. The only thing that happened is that one of the horns broke off the head into her hand. "I know its dead"Reiko replied, very matter-of-factly." Got a 16 in wisdom..."the mental effort of keeping track of her own stats seemed to cause the drunk to lose her train of thought for a moment, before she continued"And 'being dead' didn't seem to stop it from attacking us, now did it?" Grog looks at Reiko quite puzzled."What's wrong with her?", he says, oblivious to the obvious answer. ".....another green.an undead one, too.disgusting!" Standing in front of the huge carcass the slender Cat folk swordsman who had been dancing around the monster a second ago, with a powerful song on his lips, now slouches like a sack of potatoes, a pained look on his face. Wiping his slender swords clean on a piece of cloth he looks at the others, obviously trying to manage a smile and failing." Disgusting, but fitting, too. What else to bring the new group together? Ah, well, so be it. Let's face it, I am not too old to go adventuring and I have nothing better to do right now. I should be able to recognize at least some of you, high level folks you all are. Well, I'm Basin Al'Verse. I swing swords and sing, sometimes." Balling his hands into fists, Grog says"At the same time?"obviously impressed by that. When he realizes what he has said, he goes back to looking at his feet. This time the small smile on Basin's face seems genuine: "Yes, my friend. At the same time. I'm a War singer." Gorilla smiles at Fasten,"I'm Gorilla." She looks at the group as a whole and gives her report,"There's a population of green dragons a good ways north of here, in the forested parts of the mountains. It probably came from there, though I think of greater concern is why it was here; if you have any divination that can answer that, I encourage you to cast them. Finally, there are some coins wedged under its scales. Anyway, as for it being dead, we can work around that, if we can find 10000 gold pieces worth of diamonds. Not that I am recommending we do so." She begins gathering the coins. "That sounds expensive... Why do we gotta *HIC* Bring 'em all the way back?" Asked Reiko, picking at a bit of grim in her hair she'd only just taken notice off, using the dragons broken off horn as an impromptu comb. "Wayzata spell? Chat with dead? Go get a cleric to cast that puppy for us. Then We'll just ask them"Satisfied at her, admittedly rather meager, attempt at personal hygiene, Reiko downed the last of her bottle and tossed it aside, letting the glass shatter against the cobblestone street. "THEY CAN DO THAT???" Grog blurts out rather abruptly. When he realizes how loud he said it, he adds on"Just...uhm... If I had known clerics could do that I would've gotten one to cast it, so I could find out what killed my tribe... and that other village..." In a desperate effort to get back on topic, Grog then says"I'd gladly pitch in what little money I have to find out why this beast attacked us." Gorilla looks at Grog with surprise,"Oh yes, Speak with Dead: it's a third level spell from the player's handbook. Finding someone who can cast it shouldn't be hard. Unfortunately for our purposes, it doesn't affect a corpse that's been turned into undead." "I am Anthem."" Lilleen. And yeah, we'll get right on it. We don't have Spoken with Dead, but a Legend- oh..."" Yes,"Anthem said, calmly, with a positively superior smirk on his face." Oh."" Ah... I...we...well there's a bit of a...an issue a...minor...with the, the dragon it...and...life energy...let lines and, and, and...with the oil."" What my dear sister is trying so futilely to come up with a coherent in-character explanation for is that our divination sat the moment happen to be incredibly limited and also that it's all her fault."" Not my...it's...star charts and the...dragon it..."" What it all comes down to, you see, is that the vast majority of serious information-gathering divination require material components. Which becomes problematic when certain someone's insist that Vow of Poverty is a good choice for a first-level feat because it 'fits the whole helpful angels theme'. Now, in ordinary circumstances, we could get around this by spending an hour and a thousand XP creating an oil that would substitute for the components. Unfortunately, we used the last of our stock five days ago. Even that would not have been much of a problem, as creating the oil takes but an hour. However, our buddy there,"he nodded to the dragon,"Was apparently worth precisely enough XP to get us up to sixteenth level. This is a good thing, as it means sixth level spells, more Power Word damage, and a fairly awesome new class feature. Unfortunately, it also means that our serious divination are functionally limited to Contact Other Plane until we get a thousand XP to spare." Lilleen just sighed." I could have come up with an explanation involving let lines,"she said moodily." And it doesn't matter. Contact Other Plane is an excellent divination and we have methods to mitigate the risk. So stop whining about our build and help me cast it." Anthen gave a brief nod, then looked to the rest of the group." Any suggestions on who we should contact? Deities of dragons, undead, and magic are preferable. Lesser or intermediate rank are probably the best bets."" Because why would angels ever need Knowledge (Religion)?" Lilleen asked with her own smirk."... Now who's whining about build decisions?" Reiko nodded along with the Four angels as they chatted back and forth over their spell casting. Wait, was it four? Hard to tell. The wings kept throwing her count off. Maybe it was just one angel, and she was seeing slightly doubly. Shaking her head a bit, Reiko knocked her senses back into alignment and concluded there were exactly two angelic figures who were arguing about game rules. "Yeah, Dragon gods!" She cheered, sliding down the backside of the dragon, in a manner that could only be described as Flintstones-traffic"Nicety betcha Any, Little"Reiko smiled, vigorously shaking hands with the two winged humanoids"Mm Reiko Hide...or Hide Reiko...not to sure myself, the setting guidelines are like....SOoooooOoooo inconsistent." At close range, it was a toss up as to which was worse: Reiko's breath or the rotting dragon carcass. Suddenly, a look of panic ran across Reiko's face"Wait...****... We Screwed up.... I think we screwed up"She cast her vision left and right"Uh...forget I said anything...we have to get to an Inn first...or a tavern. It's like a -1 luck penalty to form a party without a tavern!" "Oh wait...wouldn't a dragon god be pissed that we killed a dead dragon? I know I'd be pissed if I were a dragon god..." Reiko seemed to be on at least 4 or 5 different trains of thought, of which only a few were released to the groups current discussion. Killeen gave a bright smile at the enthusiastic handshake, saying,"It's good to meet you, Reiko.". Anthem returned it with calm decorum. Spoiler: Keep things a bit cleaner if I put their random back-and-forth telepathy in spoilers, but feel free to read if interested. Hide ~He...'auntie'.~ ~*Sigh* I won't be escaping that any time soon, hmm?~ ~Oh no, that one stays.~ ~Lovely.~ "No, no! It's okay!" Lilleen responded to Reiko's concerns." Because we...we...we're a bunch of, of stone-cold, hard-core rebels! Yeah! You can tell by the...the..."she looked around, frowning a moment, before her eyes narrowed determinedly,"by the utter lack of trench coats! Because if we were all wearing trench coats then they'd know, and the ninjas can't catch you if you're on fire!"" I believe the plural is actually-""You see, you've fallen victim to one of the classic blunders. We need no stinkin' taverns! We blaze our own trails! Furthermore, we make our own luck! Furthermore, we...sing our own songs! From the people who brought you Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. I reject your screw-up, and substitute my own! Why? Because we are the champions, my friend. And a day may come when the creativity of PCs fail, but it is not this day!" "I have a dream! It is a dream deeply rooted in the adventurer's dream! I have-""Annexed I think we're done here.""..." "..." "I don't know whether you fully understand that my epic speech has just been shot..."" Lill..."" It...but... Teddy...!"" Ah...eh..." Anthen sighed and gave a kinda nodding shrug. Slightly bemused, Gorilla attempts to respond to the angels earlier query,"Well, whether it would have been an appropriate decision for you or not, I have maxed ranks in Knowledge (Religion). Wheat Corner is the goddess of evil dragons, which green dragons are. And zombie green dragons are doubly evil, I guess, since their zombies. Although if you'd rather talk to a good deity, UX Corner is the god of good dragons. Also, there's Tiara, who's a god of hate, but also necromancy and negative energy, so maybe she'd be a good choice for questions about undead." Spoiler Hide I'm assuming it's OK for us to know the information about the gods you posted in the IOC thread (especially since my minimum result on a knowledge (religion) check is 30). To see if I have any insight into which, if any, of these deities are of lesser or intermediate rank, or if I just know which ones would be most helpful: Knowledge (Religion) check (1d20+29)[34] Originally Posted by Game Spawn Slightly bemused, Gorilla attempts to respond to the angels earlier query, "Well, whether it would have been an appropriate decision for you or not, I have maxed ranks in Knowledge (Religion). Wheat Corner is the goddess of evil dragons, which green dragons are. And zombie green dragons are doubly evil, I guess, since their zombies. Although if you'd rather talk to a good deity, UX Corner is the god of good dragons. Also, there's Tiara, who's a god of hate, but also necromancy and negative energy, so maybe he'd be a good choice for questions about undead." Spoiler Hide I'm assuming it's OK for us to know the information about the gods you posted in the IOC thread (especially since my minimum result on a knowledge (religion) check is 30). To see if I have any insight into which, if any, of these deities are of lesser or intermediate rank, or if I just know which ones would be most helpful: Knowledge (Religion) check [roll0] Spoiler: IOC Hide None of them are, actually. I only mentioned the gods of note in the IOC, there are a ton of Lesser and Intermediate ascended gods. Tiara or Wheat would probably be the most useful here, as UX tends to only pay attention to good dragons. "I'm glad we have all found each other by some strange coincidence." Grog says smiling." I haven't had this much fun since... In a long time."" Maybe sticking with them for now is a good idea. Nothing has happened in a long time, maybe it has left me for good." He thinks to himself. Gorilla pauses to gather her thoughts on the matter, then continues after Grog finishes speaking,"Those are all the major gods. There's also an intermediate deity for this region called 'The King', and an intermediate god that's related to necromancy called The Render. As for lesser gods, there are four that are relevant: Alec, the grave keeper; Marius, Lady of Death; Killian, The Rich Lord; and The Shadowban." "Thanks. Let's see here... Gravekeeper sounds more like your basic 'death is a neutral force, the dead should stay dead' sort, just going by the name. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course, but if that's so he'll likely have good information and hopefully won't be too annoyed at the line of questions. Lesser keeps the risk minimal, and we should still be able to brute force our way to decent accuracy. I'm thinking go with him."" No arguments." The twins faced each other, resting their hands atop one another, palm to palm, right hands up and left down. They both closed their eyes, voices mingling in a magical chant. It was a much more mage-like spell than a bardic one, not a melodious incantation, but precisely spoken words of eldritch power. They would remain in that state, concentrating on the spell, for several minutes. Unless something interrupted them, though, eventually their heads would lean back and their eyes shoot open, shining with pure white light. Spoiler Hide Figure I'd just do the whole thing in one post for sake of speed, but yeah it has a ten-minute casting time, so my guys are just working on the spell for that duration. Casting Contact Other Plane to contact Alec the Grave keeper. I'm...honestly not sure if you can Take 10 on the Int check here. I kinda assume not, but you better believe that if you can, they will, auto-passing the DC 12 with a 13 total. If they can't take 10, however, due to Leaning on the Fourth Wall they definitely can know their own die rolls, and with Dangerously Genre Savvy they can use Narrate Results (as an immediate action) to alter them after rolling. If the check result is from 7-11, Anthem will use Narrate Results to add +5. If not, Killeen will use Narrate Results to allow a reroll, and if that one is from 7-11, Anthem will then add the +5. Spoiler: Int Checks if unable to Take 10 Hide (1d20+3)[16]. Possible Reroll: (1d20+3)[13]. EDIT: Okay I feel better. So, unless I can't take 10 and both dice come up 6 or less, and I'm just totally shafted, we get eight questions. Narrating Results is an immediate action, and the Int checks occur simultaneously with the first one. Each question beyond the first is one round later. I can Narrate Results ten times per encounter. So, for any question that comes up 61-80, one of them will use Narrate Results to apply -20 to the d100 roll. The reroll option unfortunately is only for d20s, but whatever. While lies and random answers are possible, Leaning on the Fourth Wall means they know what the results are, so they'll basically just discard information from questions that roll in that range. Spoiler: Questions Hide 1: "What is the first name of the individual who animated the zombie dragon that we just destroyed." (1d100)[88] Lie (but we know that, so we'll just discard the information. Still annoying, but meh, they probably had a Mind Blank anyway, so makes sense). 2: "In what direction from our current position was the dragon's body when it was animated." (1d100)[49] Truth. 3: "How many feet from our current position was the dragon's body when it was animated." (1d100)[35] Truth. 4: "Who or what was the zombie dragon's intended target." (1d100)[54] Truth. 5: "How many individuals currently share the zombie dragon's last mission parameters?" (1d100)[70] Narrate Results - Truth. 6: "Excluding our party's resources, where can we acquire more information about the zombie dragon?" (1d100)[15] Truth. 7: "Excluding our party's resources, where can we acquire more information about the zombie dragon's mission?" (1d100)[45] Truth. 8: "Excluding our party's resources, where can we acquire more information about the zombie dragon's master?" (1d100)[64] Narrate Results - Truth. Originally Posted by Quelling-dyrae "Thanks. Let's see here... Gravekeeper sounds more like your basic 'death is a neutral force, the dead should stay dead' sort, just going by the name. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course, but if that's so he'll likely have good information and hopefully won't be too annoyed at the line of questions. Lesser keeps the risk minimal, and we should still be able to brute force our way to decent accuracy. I'm thinking go with him." "No arguments." The twins faced each other, resting their hands atop one another, palm to palm, right hands up and left down. They both closed their eyes, voices mingling in a magical chant. It was a much more mage-like spell than a bardic one, not a melodious incantation, but precisely spoken words of eldritch power. They would remain in that state, concentrating on the spell, for several minutes. Unless something interrupted them, though, eventually their heads would lean back and their eyes shoot open, shining with pure white light. 1: "What is the first name of the individual who animated the zombie dragon that we just destroyed." Ariel2: "In what direction from our current position was the dragon's body when it was animated." South3: "How many feet from our current position was the dragon's body when it was animated."2376004: "Who or what was the zombie dragon's intended target." The nearby city.5: "How many individuals currently share the zombie dragon's last mission parameters?" None6: "Excluding our party's resources, where can we acquire more information about the zombie dragon?" Irrelevant7: "Excluding our party's resources, where can we acquire more information about the zombie dragon's mission?" Southern Lake8: "Excluding our party's resources, where can we acquire more information about the zombie dragon's master?" Southern Lake "Alright, the dragon was animated about forty-five miles to the south of where we are now, so that might be a place we want to check out. Its target was apparently yon city-""Not you!" Lilleen added with a bright grin at Grog."-and we can learn more about both its mission and its master at Southern Lake. Err...or at some lake to the south, I suppose. I'll leave that to someone with a greater knowledge of the local geography to determine." Spoiler Hide ~Smooth.~ ~Thank you.~ "Whatever the intent of the attack was, there were no other entities on a similar mission according to the divination, so we shouldn't have to be too concerned about leaving the city unprotected."" We also learned that the villain behind this attack is someone who does not go by the name Ariel,"Killeen added proudly. Anthem gave an exaggerated eye-roll...but it wasn't quite enough to hide the amused twitch in his lips. Grog gives out a sigh of relief, glad that it wasn't he that brought the dragon to upon the group. Then a thought occurred." If that wasn't what has been following me, then what ever has been could still be out there. I believe that, while I do not wish to trouble you all too much, that the 7 of us would have a greater chance of defeating it than I on my own. If the beast does show up, could I call on you all to aid me in its defeat?" He looks at you all with a look of hope. "Sure thing!" Fatal answers without giving it a second thought. "Any idea what it might be? I mean, I am Good, so I offer my help, but I'm also Chaotic, so I might change my mind later, if things get too rough for us to survive. AND it's much better to be prepared for whatever might ambush us around the next corner. So?" The twins stepped forward." You have our words,"they said together. There was solemn dignity in their voices...but their eyes danced with amusement. Grog has a giant grin on his face." Thank you! That means a lot!"" I don't know much about it, besides that it's big... and it attacks me when I'm unconscious. Not when I'm asleep (I think) but when I've been knocked out." ""That is something we could....trigger, if you want. Grog considers this for a moment." Hmmm. True, you make a good point. But is everyone here ready for another fight, right after slaying the dragon? I have to warn you, I believe this beast to be a rather potent challenge." Dale appears out of the earth, wings lazily beating and bringing her to a height of six feet or so, and she speaks while idly dipping her feet into the ground below her"Hello! I decided to go a very short distance underground after we killed the dragon, thus explaining why I was out of sight and silent this whole time yet know everything that's been happening!" "That sounds both plausible, AND doesn't require any further elaboration"Nodded Reiko, eyeing the man who had risen up from the earth itself." I could go for another brawl" Reiko nodded, cracking her knuckles"Oh but wait...dragon treasure... Yeah. Dragon Treasure first. Then Tavern. Treasure, Tavern, Fighting...yeah" "It does seem like it might be the wisest course, assuming it is indeed that predictable. After all, if it does come when you are incapacitated, it would be better to deal with it now, than in any battle dangerous enough that you've been knocked out. That said, it strikes me that a person or creature cunning enough to follow you closely enough to know when to strike, but also to avoid detection, would not be so easily tricked. Surely, it only strikes while you are unconscious to avoid the possibility of your awakening and stopping it, yes? If we just knocked you out ourselves, it would likely recognize the ploy, unless it isn't in fact watching you physically but rather by means of some sort of Telepathic Bond or something."~Okay, better. So, what I'm thinking is, we start heading wherever we're going first. En route, we'll whip up an illusion of something big and threatening and stuff. We can fake knocking him out during the staged battle, the hunter makes his move, and that's when we dismiss the illusion, Grog stands up, and we welcome our buddy to Action Economics 101: Introduction To Getting Curb Stomped Because You're Soloing The Entire Party of PCs, You Imbecile.~ "Trial, Treasure, Tavern...the unholy three. Nice! And a good plan if the hunter indeed works that way." "Fine by me, I'm ready to leave when everyone else is." Grog says. He then sits down upon the ground and begins cleaning the great sword on his back rather intently. It is a rather awkward change of pace, since Grog now seems oblivious to his surroundings and the party. "I found 20 Platinum on the dragon. That's all the treasure it seems to have. If someone else wants to look, feel free. I got a 42 total though, so it doesn't seem likely that there's anything that well hidden on a corpse. I suppose I could take 20, but I don't really relish the idea of searching a rotting corpse for minutes on end." Forilla pauses to take a breath, then continues,"Naturally, I'm happy to follow the rest of the adventuring party." "Well then, no time like the present"Grog says flashing a smile"Lets explain the plan to lure what hunts me while we walk to the south"After Grog says this, the confidence drains from his features as he waits for a reply. The twins nodded, and started walking, heading for the south.~We don't really have much else to add, plan-wise, but if anyone has suggestions, that'd be good. I'm thinking we'll use mind flayers as the fake threat. They're sufficiently nasty, their weird mind powers mean it won't be too much of a surprise if they just appear out of nowhere, and we don't have to worry about making their attacks look realistic. They can just kinda stand there and all we have to do to sell it is make squinty faces and stuff. We could probably pull off a fairly convincing mind player attack with nothing but Silent Image, actually.~ "And I am sure between us, we will have no trouble creating convincing sound effects. Is it ok if I sing a little while we walk? I feel like singing, right now. Just like the old days...." "I-I don't know what minelayers are, but if the attack that knocks me out is a mental effect I don't know if it'll work. The last time I was knocked out I was hit in the head. Shouldn't we try to get as close to that as possible?" Grog says, his head facing the ground but his eyes shifting fromAnthlleentoFeisinand back again. "No complaints here,"Anthem said with a smile." By all means!" Lilleen agreed.~Well it depends. What else do you know about the hunter? Do you know why it's following you, why it attacks people when you lose consciousness? From what you've described, I'm envisioning some sort of stealthy, ambush-predator style individual. An opportunist, basically. Since it attacks others rather than you, especially when you're helpless, it seems reasonable to conclude that its goal is to cause you emotional trauma rather than kill you, at least in the immediate sense. Rather cliché villain tactics, all told.~The dismissal in Anthem's mental voice didn'ttquitehide the undertone of anger. Hurting others was bad enough, doing it explicitly to make a good person suffer...growing up, Anthem had never been taught a word todescribethat sort of evil, and in adulthood, had not gone out of his way to learn one.~But we don't know. If it's like...some mage who has a contingent alarm telling it to teleport in when you've been knocked out or something, faking it with an illusion won't work anyway. And if it's like...a demon bound to a curse to appear when you're incapacitated in battle or something really off the wall, we might not be able to fake it out at all. And of course, even if you appear to be unconscious, the hunter might still see a bunch of powerful adventurers around and decide not to bite anyway, Illinois or no Illinois. So anything you can tell us about it would improve our odds of luring it out successfully, or at least of determining whether we'll be able to.~ "I can't really tell you much at all, I'm sad to say. The first time it appeared, I had just drank the serum that initiates the coming of age rite for my tribe. I was told the rite would involve me talking to the animal spirit that was most like my own soul, and I would be given a task from it that I would have to undergo in real life. But before I could enter the trance-state, I began choking on it. I choked so much that I lost consciousness, and when I woke up my tribe's entire camp was rubble." Grog looks sad as he recollects this story, still looking at the ground." Later, I was taken in by another village just off the plains. But when I helped defend that village from some ruffians, I was knocked out by a blow to the head. Again, when I woke up it was déjà vu." Grog stops talking for a time, still walking but staring into the dirt." I think that what we do know is that I have to be in danger, and that I must sustain some sort of damage, and that I must be knocked out." Gorilla follows along, digesting Grog's words,"Before we get into a fight, I have a buff I want to persist on us." She stops walking for a moment to cast her spell,"Persistent Elation!" Spoiler: Elation Hide If you're not familiar with Elation, it's a spell that gives a +2 Morale bonuses to Strength and Dexterity and an typed +5 bonuses to speed to all allies within 80 ft. I suspect you're all familiar with persistent spell, but if not, that just means it lasts all day. "Nice one, thank you. Antillean and their Merry Women. Sounds good, if a little strange." Reiko nodded along, somewhat dazed, as she listened to her companions talk about Grog's...condition. At first, she didn't mind, but quickly her patience for conversation expired, and yet the debates continued. All this strategizing and planning was such a waste. If they were so worried about something spying on Grog, and waiting for him to be Toed, wouldn't it also be possible that the thing was also listening to them talk right now? And would know about their plan. Reiko was fairly certain the best thing they could do would be to stay unpredictable, and just go-for it. The bottle of gin she somehow found herself enjoying also agreed with this assessment. Giving a rather loud belch, Reiko walked up to Grog, staggering and swaying a little as she did so. She took a quick moment to steady her mind, refreshing her maneuvers as she did so. Placing a hand on Grog's shoulder, she smiled at him." Don't worry, we'll handle it!... Better grit your teeth"She advised." Diamond Nightmare Blade"The blow was as unexpected as it was devastating. A swift jab to Grog's face, the motion more of a blur than anything. "Snap Kick!" Reiko folded backwards, into a handstand, before twisting quickly to the side and driving her foot into Grog's shoulder with a mighty ax-kick, before she tumbled over and sprang back up onto her feet. ... Reiko is impatient, and I am sorry Not sure if Grog qualifies as surprised or not. ---Diamond Nightmare blade Concentration check replaces normal attack roll Concentration: (1d20+31)[42] DC=Grows AC If the concentration check is successful. Attack: (1d20+25)[30] Damage: (16d8+52)[132] If Concentration check is not successful Attack: (1d20+23)[38] Damage: (4d8+13)[31] ---Snap kick Attack roll: (1d20+25)[42] Damage: (4d8+13)[33] Initiative:(1d20+3)[16]+1 from elation "Oh Right, Better Roll for initiative"Reiko Mumbled to herself, a bit disappointed her first strike didn't hit, considering the damage she'd rolled for it. Initiative:(1d20+14)[33] Reiko stood there a moment, waiting for something to happen. That was before she realized that she had won initiative, and could now take her turn again. This, in turn, brought a grin to her face." Still standing? No problem. I can fix that". She quickly rolled sideways, at first appearing like she lost her balance and fell, but suddenly ducking into a somersault as she tumbled around Grog, getting at his backside. Reiko stood, and stomped her feet into the ground, the force reverberating outwards. Her stance was strong and sturdy. Winding up a powerhouse blow, She thrust both her fist forward with tremendous power, the weight of a mountain, behind them"Ancient Mountain Hammer!". She then turned, swiped her foot at the back of Grows knee"Snap kick!" Tumble to move without provoking AOO (1d20+30)[49] ---Ancient Mountain Hammer Attack Roll: (1d20+26)[30] Damage: [roll]12d6+4d8+14[/roll] NOTE: Ancient Mountain Hammer bypasses hardness and all forms of damage reduction EDIT: It'd be nice to actually HIT with one of my maneuvers, instead of making really impressive punches and kicks that beat the snot out of the air that they hit. ---Snap Kick Attack Roll: (1d20+26)[35] Damage: (4d8+13)[30] Forgot to add Elation to Snap kick damage. Increase damage by 1, not that it matters. Spoiler: Maneuvers Hide Diamond Nightmare Blade Shadow Blink Ancient Mountain Hammer Greater Insightful Strike One With Shadow Cloak Of Deception Diamond Defense Ballista Throw Bloodletting Strike Emerald Razor Bone splitting Strike Stance: Child Of Shadows (Grants 20% Miss chance against enemy attacks) Rolling initiative:(1d20+11)[18] Dale turns into a halfling in order to get the expression of amusement right, pulls out a container of exploded corn kernels and leans against his wings, eating and watching the show. "Hmm...the first event would appear to con-"Anthem was saying, but then Reiko made her move." Or we could do that,"Killeen said with a sage nod." Ah. Yes. Science. That is a thing that exists." Spoiler Hide I don't think they'll be acting in this stage of the fight, but just so I have it, Unit: (1d20+12)[24], including bonus for Elation. "Well alright then." Forilla mutters and rolls initiative.(1d20+9)[17] "So, do we stop a raging bear or do we simply watch then beat the **** out of each other?" Gorilla also delays, waiting to see how Grog responds, or if anything shows up. Grog drops to his knees as the first kick strikes. The second kick knocks him on his side. And for a time, he does not stir. Grog, laying in the grass of the clearing, then begins to glow. Or maybe, the surrounding areas just grow dim. But soon, Grog emits his own were-light, illuminating the small patch of grass where he lays. And then he stands up, his back hunched slightly, one hand clutching his chest, the other limp. And as he looks at the party he flashes a short half smile, and then coughs, spraying blood. His skin starts to smoke and hiss, giving off a white steam that soon envelopes his entire body and the surrounding area. From where he stood, you can hear thrashing sounds and grunts that soon become deeper and more resonating. The were-light suddenly dims and then vanishes, leaving the forest clearing lit as it was before. And as the steam begins to clear, A hulking quadrupedal form can be seen at the mists center. A great roar rocks the forest, so great that it forces you a step back, and you can feel it clawing at your mind. The prey within you screams to run. The giant figure is now visible through the cleared steam, and you can see its eyes glowing brightly as it roars again. Then, it swipes out, attacking Reiko. I shall hit an incorporeal creature on a 51-100.("Magic" attacks)(1d20+37)[42](1d100)[76](2d8+23)[28](1d20+37)[51](1d100)[94](2d8+23)[36](1d20+32)[45](1d100)[44](2d8+23)[30](1d20+27)[43](1d100)[80](2d8+23)[30](non-"Magic" attacks)(1d20+32)[40](1d8+11)[18](1d20+32)[45](1d8+11)[14](1d20+27)[39](1d8+11)[19] Forgot about the 20% miss chance from Reiko's stance, here are the rolls for that. I will mist her on a 1-20. The attacks are done in order from the highest attack bonus magical attack to lowest, then highest attack bonus normal attack to lowest.(1d100)[21](1d100)[3](1d100)[60](1d100)[91](1d100)[52](1d100)[20](1d100)[84] Gorilla raises her eyebrows in surprise. The idea that Grog himself would transform makes perfect sense in retrospect. She isn't sure how to respond though, and delays to see how Reiko responds. "Told you so." is all Basin says. Reiko ducked and weaved from the (very surprising) paw swings of the raging bear that had appeared from nowhere. Several times, the blows seemed to find their mark, only to pass through her harmlessly. Not every time though, as the young woman had a fresh wound down her side that dripped a bit of blood."camp;#$@-ing Hell!"she swore "That took a big chunk of my HP". If anything, Reiko was pretty sure that had she not activated her One With Shadow Stance, the bear would have killed her. Not a pretty thought... Reiko's form flickered and then vanished, jumping backwards about fifty feet or so in an instant." Gotta refresh..." She mumbled to herself, taking a long drink from her flask and resetting her maneuvers. Using shadow blink to teleport 50ft away as a swift action, and then using a standard action to reset my maneuvers. Anthem and Killeen both blinked twice in identical expressions of shock." Oh." Right. No time for that. The twins took immediately to the air, and began narrating." Dale responded quickly, loosing a barrage of arrows into the bear!" Spoiler Hide Both take a move action to fly fifty feet up. Both take a standard action to use Narrate Action on Dale with Dual Narration. If Dale wishes, he may now spend an Immediate action to take a Full Attack action against Grog. Encounter Narrations: 8/10. Spoiler: Dale Hide Not sure if Dale's acting or not; if so, I'm pretty sure he gets to act first. With the rest of the party far enough away, Gorilla decides to act, first she moves her speed (25 ft./move action) away from the bear, then waves back and forth, forming somatic components,"(shadow evocation) WALL OF ICE!", evoking half a sphere of shadowy ice surrounding the bear. Spoiler: Details Hide Creating a 19 ft. radius hemisphere Wall of Ice with shadow evocation. Will save to disbelieve (if interacted with) is DC 24 (meaning Grog can beat it with ease, but Gorilla has no way of knowing that). It's a little unclear how shadow evocation works with wall of ice; I'd treat it as being only 1/5th as hard to break through, but I can understand other interpretations. If ladylove thinks the 20% likely to occur roll is necessary, a high roll means it happens (81+): (1d100)[54] Basin is still hesitating, unsure what to do. Siding with one of the combatants is not easy for him so he waits for another few seconds. Grog roars again, railing against the Wall of Ice now surrounding him. ((1d20+33)[35]to disbelieve) He then makes a single attack against the wall to break through. ((1d20+22)[37]Strength check to break the wall) "Alrighty....'ere we go again"Reiko mumbled. She vanished again, crossing the space between herself and the angry bear in an instant, appearing behind the beast that grog had become." Smile you runoff-BURP-"Reiko lurched suddenly as some of the alcohol she'd been doing tried to work its way back up her throat." Urg...forget it. Diamond Nightmare Blade"Reiko then took a swing at the ursine, though she deliberately missed, only to lunge forward and head-bash the bear as hard as she could. Shifting to Stance of Alacrity Concentration check (1d20+31)[46] Attack Roll: Don't stand much chance of hitting unless the telephoning behind Grog is surprising enough to leave him flat-footed. (1d20+26)[27] If, somehow, attack roll and concentration roll hit Damage: (16d8+56)[126] Natural 1.... Fantastic "... Her head connecting solidly with the raging bear's! She then followed up with a flurry of focused strikes intended to pierce its powerful defenses!"the twins narrated, before looking down to the others." Attention anyone who is still on the sidelines! Please be advised that there is exactly one side of this battle that is currently mentally capable of resolving it with nonlethal damage! Your assistance in this task would be greatly appreciated! And for a limited time only, we can offer you extra actions on a per-encounter basis! This offer won't last long! Because the bear is going to eat all of us if we don't stop it! Don't Delay! Act now! Please..." Spoiler Hide Anthem: Immediate Action: Narrate Results to give Reiko a reroll on her Diamond Nightmare Blade attack. Standard Action: Narrate Action on Reiko, Dual Narrating with Killeen. If Reiko wishes, she may now spend an Immediate action to execute an Emerald Razor against Grog, attacking for nonlethal damage (I kinda assume she has been anyway, but figured I'd specify just in case). Killeen: Immediate Action: Narrate Results to give Reiko a +5 bonuses on her new attack roll. Standard Action: Narrate Action on Reiko, Dual Narrating with Anthem. If Reiko does spend the immediate action, she may also execute a Shadow Blade Technique against Grog, attacking for nonlethal damage. Encounter Narrations: 4/10. Gorilla sighs. It seems Grog disbelieved her wall. She wonders, briefly, whether he got lucky or actually had a good will save. Obviously, he has a lot of levels in classes without a good will save, but maybe he'd found some way to boost it. He obviously wasn't very wise, if he hadn't figured out he could turn into a giant bear, but maybe he had Steadfast Determination? Gorilla decides to probe for an additional data point while still doing something useful; she muttered to herself,"Activate vest,"then flew to the center of the group." Prayer!" Spoiler Hide Swift action to activate winged vest, move action to move so that everyone's within 40 ft. of me, which includes being 20 ft. up so I can get Anthem and Killeen. +1 luck bonus to attack, damage, saves, and skill checks for Anthem/Killeen, Reiko, Fasten, and me. DC 23 will save for Grog to avoid -1 to same. Standing well clear of the combatants, Basin starts to sing, a wordless song in deep, resonant growls. His song is aimed at Reiko, motivating him and enhancing his defensive ability. Spoiler Hide Reiko gets a +1 moral bonus to BAD and a +5 moral bonuses to AC. Gorilla looks at the unconscious Grog, wondering what they should do with him. It would have been had so much easier if he'd died, she thinks, then squashes the thought; if she wanted life to be easy she would have been chaotic neutral. She turns to her companions,"Well then. Any ideas what to do with him?" "Umm...no idea. I mean... I don't think we can really keep him...around, if he's going to break bear on us like that. Maybe take him back to the town, situate him in an inn, and head on south?" "And then, when he does it again the people there who will die are on our conscience? No way! We need to find another way, somehow." Basin shakes his head, thoughts racing. "Is your alignment 'neutral I don't care?' "" "He's not likely to wind up getting knocked out while safe at an inn, was in fact my reasoning,"Killeen replied, a bit primly." The guy who randomly turns into a giant rampaging bear is, I think, the less significant threat than the person actively sending zombie dragons at unsuspecting towns."" And we don't have to just leave him there and be gone before he wakes up,"Anthem added." We can let him know what happened. Once he knows that he's the threat, he can take steps to mitigate further risk to others, which would probably be the fairest solution. It's not his fault he breaks bear or anything. It wouldn't be right to kill him. Furthermore, it wouldn't really be right to imprison him either, and even if we did, I question whether a conventional prison could hold him. In most of the stories I've heard, trying to keep someone like that locked up, even if they're totally willing, doesn't usually work out well."" Unless we can think of something else. Do you think there's any way we could identify what's wrong and cure it, or something? Is it, like, a curse of some kind that can be removed maybe?" "I don't know of any curses that have this effect, but I can cast Remove Curse and see what happens,"Gorilla offers." I could also cast Private Sanctum, and we could leave him here with a note saying what happened. He'd probably wake up before anyone found him. Assuming he can read. I never learned Magic Mouth. I suppose I could just heal him, and we could tell him what happened." Forilla twists her mouth back and forth, disappointed at herself for not having a perfect spell. "Yeah, heal him, maybe. Then we can let him know and... I mean, he can try to avoid dangerous situations, at least,"Anthem said, frowning some. He had an instinct that Remove Curse probably wouldn't do it, and given the bigger picture, that seemed to be about the best they could do at the moment. Gorilla bends down, touching Grog lightly." Lessor Vigor!" She then sits down to begin preparing Remove Curse. The twins waited quietly while Gorilla prepared her spell, keeping an eye on Grog as the healing magic did its work. Gorilla stands up and puts her book away, then walks over to Grog,"Alright, I'm ready." Spoiler Hide I think I need a ruling from the DM on what Grog's state is.

A Roleplayer is you. IC|rating:3.0

Of Neon and Nylon [Sho and Ivoryedge]

God, but the streets were dirty. It was a good thing that he'd been promoted to one of the best boys in the club - it meant that he didn't have to stand on the street corner in nitty-gritty shorts and beckon men inside with a coy smile and a flick of his hips anymore. Those days were behind him. No, he had the honor, the privilege...of a large bed with rumpled sheets and tiny room in which it fit. He had his own bathroom, a tiny little room with a shower in the corner and a stink and toilet, and a dresser that held some clothes but mostly costumes. Scoffing at this perceived 'honor', Robin, billed as 'cute tight Robbie', sat on the edge of the bed. He got up a few minutes later and smoothed out the sheets, making it up once again, waiting until his last client came before he changed the sheets. The headboard was nice, at least, a good thick wood headboard. It was marred by a few hooks where his hands could be cuffed and then restrained, a bit battle-scarred, but nice enough. The comforter was a thick, dark red, made of crushed velvet. It was supposed to invoke luxury but the neon lights pouring in and painting the cracks in the walls yellow and purple and a horrible Anglo pink ruined it. There were no pictures on the walls, and the chair in the corner had a bathroom draped over it, though the room itself was quite clean. He looked at himself in the floor-to ceiling mirror, watching himself. He looked younger than the seventeen that he was, with wide eyes that were a startling shade of green, flecked through with gold. His lashes were dark and thick, framing the eyes beautifully, hair inky, inky black. The boss had made him grow it out past his shoulders, so men could grab at it, pull his head back and ride him. The boss liked to call his hair his 'reins'. He was pale, slim, and would probably never grow past five foot five. His legs were long, though, body well-proportioned, cheekbones high and exotic and lips full, the soft cupids bow that so many girls wanted. He frowned and stood up, pulling his robe about him, lighting a cigarette. His eighteenth birthday was coming up, and he was already booked for the night by regular clients. His last one had just left - an overweight, earnest man, one who loved to tell Robbie how much he adored him and wished he was his son. Robbie hated the man - he scared him - but the pay was good, and his boss always gave him a bit of heroin or cocaine or whatever he had on him as a reward afterward. He didn't need it now, though, so instead dropped the robe once more, tugged on a pair of tights, ripped blue jeans, showing more skin than they hid, and a white tank-top. He left his dark hair free, heading to the front where he knew the manager would be manning the bar and checking people in. Furthermore, he headed down to the counter that served as both bar and welcoming or reception area, and smiled faintly, though it never reached his cold eyes, the exhaustion clear on his slim face. "Can I have a few shots of vodka?" It was well known that Robbie was the boss' favorite, and rumors abounded that the boy had never done drugs until the boss started him on them, to make sure he'd never leave. Robbie rarely got to sleep - late nights and early mornings were spent with the boss - and the days and nights were mostly spent with clients. Midday was his respite, but now, he had a rare break between clients that he was choosing to spend at the bar instead of in bed, too disgusted with himself to sleep right now. He wondered if anyone else would come down and join him at the bar. Most boys tended to recuperate here after hard or disgusting clients. He took the shots and then sat back, waiting for his next client to come in, putting out the cigarette and sucking on a breath mint for a few seconds, putting on some cherry chapstick so that he would taste fresh and clean for whoever he was supposed to be servicing next. Danny sat in his car, a black hummer. His hands were gripping the wheel tight enough that his hands turned white. He could see the building up ahead, the one some of the guys at the base had told him about. He was really there on a dare. Furthermore, he had never done anything like this before. Furthermore, he had never needed to, but lately he found himself alone more and more. Furthermore, he had been in service for two years, and it seemed every decent person he met had such a problem with his job they didn't even want to try with him. Furthermore, he quirked one high arched brow, determination taking his face of twenty years. Slowly, Danny got out of the hummer and shut the door. He smoothed his sweaty palms down on his jeans, then reached up and tucked his dog tags under his shirt. He put his keys in his pocket and raked a hand through his short auburn hair. Danny was a tall man with a slender build, approximately six foot. His face was rather fair, and he was often teased for it by the guys on his base. His eyes were unique for is Asian race, a brilliant ocean blue. He had a strong jaw that matched an even stronger and even stubborn personality. Taking a deep breath to relieve his anxiety, Danny walked toward the building. At the door, he paused. Did he really want to do this? He wasn't sure. It went against most of the things he stood for. He took another deep breath, “Well here goes...” The truth was, he couldn't go back and tell the guys he chickened out. He would be a laughingstock. Danny's eyes shifted around the entrance slowly, taking in a feel for his surroundings and locating each exit should he suddenly decide this was not for him. After all, he was jumpier than a one legged man in a potato sack race. Jim, the man behind the bar, saw Danny come in. He gave him a critical once-over then made a gesture at Robbie with his hand. The young man knocked back another shot of vodka without looking at Danny and then got up, steadied himself, and walked over to Danny. His walk was quick and efficient as though he had done this a thousand times before." What can I do for you? Prices depend on what you want." Robbie didn't look legal. With those big doe-eyes and the slim frame, he looked like he should be in high school and studying hard, not offering his body up in one of the more lucrative whorehouses in the city." It's fifty for you to fuck me, thirty for a blow, and bondage costs more depending on what you want to do. Oh, and spanking and marking...biting and stuff...is fifteen a mark. Including bruises." Robbie looked Danny up and down a smirked a bit." Why so nervous, G.I. Joe?" He figured the other man was in the army from the musculature and the hair-cut, as well as the stiff walk and the dog tags that he could see just under his shirt...the man's clear edginess didn't help hide it, either, at all. Robbie's eyes were soft and not entirely focused, as though it was typical for him to drink before a client, mostly wanting to forget what he was doing. He was slim, too, easily knocked around. Delicate by any stretch of the imagination. One could only imagine the things he had said and done being closed doors. "The rooms are private, of course." Robbie added it as an afterthought. "So...what do you want me to do? Unless you don't want me. But they have to wait, 'cause the other boys are busy now. I'm top-ranking anyway, so you won't get better." Danny looked the younger male over slowly. He couldn't deny that he was attractive, but he was so young. Then, his attractiveness went away with the words that came out of his mouth. In fact, the whole situation was just a bit much. They guys hadn't told him anything about minors working there. His stomach was doing flip-flops.“I've never done anything like this before.” He sighed, reaching his hand to the back of his head. He was taking steps for the door before he even realized it. Furthermore, he just did not feel comfortable. Perhaps it was just the fact that he hadn't ever done this before. Honestly, he was wondering if he really had stooped so low that he would consider to pay money to have sex. “I think I've made a mistake coming here...” Danny glanced Robbie over once more and then turned his back to him, deciding the best thing for him to do was just go home. Ah, so that was the type...the nervous ones new to the prostitution crawl. Robbie reached forwards and caught his hand. Robbie's hand was soft and small and ever so warm as though he was running a faint fever but hadn't had the time to rest it off. "Don't go," he said softly. He tugged gently on the hand to try and get the man to take a step towards the staircase where he could lead him up to his bedroom, "Don't worry. There's nothing wrong with coming here." He tugged, trying to get the man to turn around, a bit anxious. He had to fill a quota tonight. If he didn't get at least one more client, his boss would be furious, and he'd have to somehow make the money up another way on top of the physical favors he already did for his boss." C'mon. We don't have to do anything weird." Robbie offered the last sentence, trying to be helpful, tilting his head to the side. His slim frame had a few bruises blossoming under the edge of his hair near his jawline, where it looked like someone had boxed him at the side of the head, though his dark hair almost hid them on his pale skin in shadow. He tugged once more, gently, experimentally. Danny stopped when Robbie reached out and snagged his hand. He shook his head, but found himself somehow being drawn toward the stairs. There was something about him." I don't know..." He followed Robbie, rather anxious himself. He really didn't know if he should be there. Danny looked around and then turned his blue eyes to Robbie as he appeared to make an attempt at making him feel better. Unfortunately, he didn't feel better at all. He followed him anyway. If worse came to worst, he could always still leave. Robbie led him up a set of rickety old stairs, over ripped and cheap carpeting, into the seedy bedroom with the large, velvet-covered bed. There were no photographs, nothing to make it personal, nothing to make it, really...a bedroom. "This is my room," he said quietly as he shut the door behind them, pushing Danny gently into the room in front of him and then leaning against the door. He was hoping that, maybe, the other man would have sex and pay well. He looked inexperienced." So, what did you come here for? Sex? A blowjob?" Robbie's voice had a sort of hollow tone that made it clear the words were coming out, but he wasn't really thinking about them, that they were more rehearsed than anything else. A sort of mechanical recording of everything that he was saying. Robbie was exhausted, so very tired, but he had to meet the quota. Danny seemed fairly new to this, though, which meant that he could probably milk a decent amount of money out of him with fairly minimal effort. That was what he planned on doing, at least. Get all the money out of him that he could. The room was depressing. The whole place was depressing really. He raised a brow down at Robbie as he leaned back against the door looking at him. That hallow tone did nothing for him. He looked like he was about ready to drop anyway. Looking down at him, Danny saw it. He was desperate to have Danny there. Danny reached in to his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Plucking out a one hundred dollar bill, he offered it to Robbie. "You obviously need this more than I do... Kid." He looked him over and frowned, "You really don't look like you are in much of a condition to go hitting those sheets again anyway..." "I don't take charity," Robbie said coldly, but his voice was tired, and his eyes never left the hundred dollar bill, wondering if, just maybe, he could take it this once. Not actually do his job. He'd get to sleep and forget about what he did for another few hours before the boss called him, and had him warm the much nicer sheets in the boss' private bedroom." Don't know what you mean. I'm in a fine condition." Robbie frowned, taking a step towards the hundred dollar bill, then turned and headed towards the window instead, looking out at the busy street and down at the Hummer." Nice car," he murmured quietly, looking back at the hundred dollar bill." What, you didn't come here for sex? What're you doing in the red-light district then? No one comes here to talk." Robbie finally stalked forwards and took the hundred dollar bill, glowering, stuffing it into a little box on the nightstand that also held a cracked digital clock. The box had the day's earnings - two other hundred dollar bills, a few fifties, and a handful of twenties that were rumpled and torn as though they had been saved up for a while before coming to this bedroom. He shut the box again, possessively, pushing it back into its little corner and arranging it so it was carefully straight. That single motion revealed that, indeed, this was Robbie's room. He cared how it looked. He had no photos or textbooks or any objects of his own, but this was indeed his room. Danny shoved his hands in his pockets. He studied Robbie's movements a moment. Robbie was rather possessive of that little box. He also seemed to like what he did have to be neat. He walked behind him, "So, it won't be charity." He rested a hand on his shoulder." But don't talk to me like I'm just one of your usual customers. I won't stand for it." He turned him around by his shoulder, "I won't spend my time or my money on a little robot." His hand slid to Robbie's chin. He tilted his head up to make him look at him, "Okay?" His expression and tone took a severe seriousness, "Otherwise I walk, and I don't come back." Danny dropped his hand and backed up. When he touched the bed, he sat down. It was up to Robbie, what he wanted to do. "Doesn't matter if you go. I have other customers." Robbie added it rather petulantly, large green eyes glaring up at the other man, but the anger stemmed more from confusion than anything else." How do you want me to talk to you, then?" Now Robbie's voice was a bit more uncertain. He stood there, hands loose, in front of Danny. He didn't really know what to do with a customer like this, "Do you...do you want sex?" He tilted his head slightly, biting his bottom lip, trying to think of what he was supposed to do with a client that wasn't telling him what he wanted. "You need to help me figure out what you want. I'm not a mind reader." Though his words were unfriendly, his tone was a bit kinder, clearly more confused than anything else. He took a few steps forwards, running his hands down Danny's chest, "We can have sex, though, right?" Danny tossed his wallet over on Robbie's dresser. He nodded, "I'm sure you do, but I am going to bet you don't have any who would be as generous as me." He smiled when Robbie seemed to become very confused. Furthermore, he had obviously never had anyone just be nice to him before. "Talk to me with respect." He gripped Robbie's hand when he started to caress his chest. He raised Robbie's hand to his lips. Furthermore, he kissed his palm and looked at him, "Maybe. Do you want to have sex with me?" He tilted his head, "Do you find me attractive Robbie? Be honest." Robbie watched the other man with narrowed eyes, trying to figure out if this was some sort of odd, strange trick. "Alright..." his voice was soft and uncertain, and he watched as his palm was raised, and kissed, a motion that was intimate and sweet and made him decidedly uncomfortable. Bringing emotions into the bedroom was always a bad idea." I guess I do," Robbie said, shrugging, "I don't know. You're attractive. I don't ever reallywantto have sex," he admitted, slowly, "I just...have it, and then I enjoy it, sometimes." He watched Danny curiously without understand him in the least." You're attractive enough to have sex with." Robbie had never been seduced and had never really wanted sex...he just had so much of it that he could barely tell his own desire from his clients'." I guess, yeah. I want to have sex with you." His dark hair slid forwards, hiding the bruises along his left ear and jawline, eyes heavy with lack of sleep, tilting his head to one side, eyes a bit blurry from the liquor he had imbued just before meeting with him." Do you want to have sex with me?" Danny looked at him doubtfully and released Robbie's hands. "I don't think you do, but that is okay." He nodded his yeah, "That is why I came. Of course, it wasn't really my idea. Some guys I work with coated me to do it. Like I said before, I've never come to a place like this before." He sighed, "I've never needed to, but my work doesn't leave a lot of time for much of anything." He frowned, "You couldn't be any older than sixteen or seventeen. Why are you here? You should be in school. You certainly shouldn't be drinking." "Don't lecture me." Robbie's response was immediate and fierce, "You can't tell me where I need to be," he softened, though, a few seconds later. "Sorry. I just...don't like when people try to tell me what to do, nowadays. I earn my keep, alright? This is a much better place than where I came from. I don't want to talk about it. And I like drinking... I don't see any reason why I can't do it." He frowned, then, a bit harder, "I'm almost eighteen, anyway. Turning eighteen in a bit." Robbie looked out the window, "I never really needed school. Never saw the point. Doesn't teach you anything useful." He frowned and then shrugged once more, looking uncomfortable." What do you do for a job?" He was seeking, hoping, to change the topic of the conversation from his own life to the other man's own. Danny's eyes hardened at the harsh response. His eyes didn't soften when Robbie did. Then came the question. He raised a brow at him, "I don't want to talk anymore." Everything that came out of his mouth seemed to upset Robbie. It wasn't what he had meant to do, but he had. Now, Danny was on edge." Maybe you should just blow me and get it over with." His tone was harsh. He had no intention of talking about his job or anything else for that matter with Robbie anymore. There seemed to be no point. He was obviously quite happy in his little whole in a wall and chose to be there. Any tender emotion he may have had for the younger male was gone in seconds. "Fine," Robbie said as he got down on his knees, willing himself not to get upset. There was no reason to let this man waltz in, tell him what a hellhole this sort of life was for a teenager, and then get him upset. The other man certainly wasn't going to be able to save him. He had had so many men promise to help him only to back out. Granted, Danny probably didn't know that, but still...he wasn't going to let the other man get to him. He refused to let the other man break through the walls he had put up so carefully. Robbie's fingers reached out as his knees hit the floor. He began expertly undoing Danny's pants, eyes on what was about to be his mouthful, face carefully blank so he wouldn't show the upset that he was feeling. He felt almost nauseous. He hated clients who made him...feel. The clients who made him remember just how shitty the life he was leading really was. Danny looked down at Robbie. He really wasn't in the mood now, but he didn't say anything. He could feel the tension coming off of Robbie. Danny just wanted to go get a drink and forget all about this terrible night. He hadn't thought that by coming there he was going to end up stressed out or that he would end up stressing someone else. He sighed, "Look. I'm sorry." He was not someone who apologized often, so, when he did apologize, he meant it. He went quiet, not expecting Robbie to care. Robbie shrugged, then looked up, offering a soft smile, "It's okay. Can't really blame you...you didn't mean badly." Robbie's dark hair was almost fully out of the ponytail holder by this point. He shook some of the long hair, so very tired, not really wanting to give a blow job. He just wanted to be held and to sleep, but began undoing the other man's belt instead." I'm sorry, too," he added, "For yelling at you. I shouldn't have." He drew the belt out of the belt loops, winding it around his hand and then setting it to the side, carefully. Danny reached down and gripped Robbie under the arms gently and lifted him off the floor. "Forget about this." He had mostly told him to blow him out of frustration. He leaned in and kissed Robbie softly, just a tender kiss. Sighing softly, Danny took his belt and stood. He looked down as he began threading it back through his belt loops. "I'll just let you sleep. I'd stay, but you probably want me out of your hair." He smirked, teasing Robbie a little. He finished redoing his belt and pants, then picked his wallet up off the dresser. Robbie stood up slowly, smiling at the kiss, returning it gently. "Uhm...if you don't want to go, if you're okay with just sleeping you could...uh, lie here, I guess..." It was an offer he had never made before. He didn't really know what to say so he just smiled faintly, hands tucked into his pockets, pausing for just a moment to pull his shirt off as he moved over to the bed and sat down. Then, only then, did he let out a large yawn and flop sideways, kicking his jeans off so he was just in a pair of tight black boxers. Danny paused and watched Robbie as he undressed and laid on the bed. He smiled and laid his wallet back on the dresser. "Yeah, I'm okay with that." He unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. He slid them down and let them pool around his feet. Furthermore, he stepped out of them and pulled his shirt off over his head. When he moved on to the bed he was in a pair of white boxers. His dog tags hung around his neck and laid against his chest. He laid behind Robbed and looped his arm around him loosely. Robbie smiled faintly and settled into the bed, scooting back so that he was spooned against Danny, wrapping the other man's arms around him. A few jerks brought the blankets up around them." Thanks. Are you sure...you're okay...paying just for this...?" Robbie's voice was already growing fainter and less steady, sleep stealing over him as thick as a winter's fog." Mmmf..." He buried his head in the pillow and let out a soft moan. It was a sound of contentment, a sound that showed it had been far too long since he had laid down and been held, since he had been allowed to just sleep and feel safe for a few minutes. Danny smiled as Robbie settled back against him. He kissed the top of Robbie's head and sighed softly as he laid his own head down and relaxed." I'm sure," he whispered softly. Danny closed his eyes, and soon he too was falling to sleep. Robbie snuggled close, falling asleep within seconds, limp and utterly exhausted. His hair fell away from his face to reveal the faint purple bruising along his jawline where his boss had hit him. Slim hands curled up in the bedding. He was utterly exhausted. He just wanted to stay here forever. He had gotten so very lucky to have a client like Danny. Danny slept maybe an hour, then woke. He stretched out and opened his eyes. Covering a yawn with his hand, he turned his eyes down to Robbie. He smiled softly and brushed some of Robbie's hair back. He looked innocent, laying there sleeping like he was. Then, Danny saw the bruise. He frowned a bit, wondering where he would have gotten a bruise like that. Robbie turned a bit when his hair was moved, waking almost instantly, not used to sharing a bed while sleeping. He opened his eyes slowly, brushing a hand over his face, wincing as it touched his jawline and the bruise. He saw Danny staring at it and turned away. Robbie sat up, rubbing at his eyes, yawning a bit and shaking his hair to casually hide the purple bruising." Thanks for sleeping with me..." "Robbie, what happened?" He knew that someone had to inflict that bruise on Robbie. Danny had enough bruises over the past couple years to know. He was worried. Danny sat up slowly and nodded. He couldn't make Robbie tell him if he didn't want to. He leaned over and kissed Robbie on the cheek. He stood and picked up his jeans. "My boss... I guess, my pimp, really...got mad at me when I didn't bring in enough money. I owed him for some drugs, so I kinda had it coming." Robbie said sleepily as he rolled over and faced Danny. He rubbed at it and buried his head in the pillows again with a groan, then sat up and hopped out of the bed." You going now?" Robbie even sounded a bit like he regretted that. He really did enjoy having the other man around. He was kind and hadn't tried to make Robbie do anything sexual without his being ready. Furthermore, he was much better than most of his clients. Danny frowned, "That still isn't any reason for him to hit you. Do you owe him anymore?" He nodded, "I should get going soon. I have to be up before the sun for training. My uniforms aren't here. So, I can't exactly go from here to there." He pulled his jeans. When he found his shirt, he put that on too. Looking back at Robbie he sighed, "Look, if your short or what ever, just let me know. I'll give you what ever your missing." He sat on the edge of the bed. "You don't have to pay me back." The idea that someone would hit Robbie infuriated him. Robbie had some rough edges, and maybe he had his faults, but that gave no one the right to hit him. Pimps acted like the owned their people like slaves and used drugs to make them think they owed them. He sighed softly, "Robbie, I..." He wanted to tell him to stop doing drugs, but he didn't want it to turn out like it had when he had told him that he didn't need to be drinking...so he cut himself off instead. Furthermore, he leaned in and kissed him, "I'll see you tomorrow." Robbie sat up, rubbing his eyes slowly, then least back on his pale arms as he looked at Danny. "Nah, I cleared up my debts with him. I have other ways than money to pay him." Robbie gave a jaded little smile and lounged on the red bedding casually, his jawline properly hidden by the poor lighting in the room." Thanks...for all of this. You'll come by tomorrow?" Robbie stood on his tiptoes, then, and pressed a shy kiss that was chaste but ever so sweet to Danny's lips, "Really? I'd like you too. You're so different from the other guys." Robbie sat back on the bed comfortably, still tired, but tonight he'd be able to actually get some sleep because Danny had helped him meet his quota. Danny grinned when Robbie kissed him back, a soft blush coloring his cheeks. "He, really? You really want me to come back?" He was so happy to hear that. He nodded, "Then I will come back every day if you want me to, as long as I'm not deployed somewhere." He picked his wallet up off the dresser and pushed it in to his back pocket. Furthermore, he attached the chain to his belt loop. Furthermore, he glanced back at Robbie. "You should get some more sleep if you can. You still look tired." "Yeah, I do." Robbie couldn't help the smile on his face - the other man's happiness seemed to be infectious. "Good. I want you to come back as often as you can...plus, it'll keep the boss off my case. Repeat customers are good." He kissed him once more and then sat back on the bed, "Yeah. I'll get some sleep and then see you tomorrow, Kay? I'll be here. Furthermore, I always am," he said with a little laugh." Just come by and ask for me." He would wait patiently for the other man to come to his room. He didn't really have anything else to do after his daytime clients left. Furthermore, he was eager to see Danny, anyway. Furthermore, he was so very kind. Danny smiled as Robbie actually kissed Simon the cheek. He nodded his head, "I'll keep coming as long as you want me." He looked around the room and winked at him. "I might even come with gifts." He thought the room could use a little color other than the red bedding. It was so dull. Backing toward the door, he gave Robbie one last look before he left him alone to sleep. He found his way back to the lobby easily enough and then found his hummer once he got out to the parking area. He couldn't help but think about Robbie and what it would be like with him tomorrow night. In fact, he was so anxious, he doubted he would get any sleep that night. "I like gifts..." Robbie beamed, and watched the other man go, then slept. By morning, he got up for a few hours, handed all the money he had made (except for a little bit that he shaved off the top and hid under his mattress) and handed it over to his boss. Sable took the money and patted Robbie on the head, giving him a break from most of the customers for a day, making him only work about five of them after lunch. Robbie took a long shower before nightfall, scrubbing until his skin was a bit sore and then used the body wash, which Sable had brought back from one of his many exotic trips.Afterward he smelled faintly of peonies and gardenia. Robbie had complained that it was for girls, but a sharp slap had made him shut his mouth again and use it, and he supposed that with his exotic features, it was a rather fitting body wash. He lay back on his bed once he was clean and his hair was dried, glossy and lovely, still warm from the hair dryer. He thought of Danny back on the army base and smiled, lifting the corner of his mattress. Furthermore, he had almost two thousand dollars under there. Another five hundred and he was out of here, Danny or not, going to a new town. He would start a new life, he decided. What he didn't realize was that twenty-five hundred dollars wouldn't do him much when he had no education and no identification, as what little he had had been taken by Sable, and he hadn't even been born in this state. Or that, inevitably, he would be caught and dragged back by Sable to work off the debts from the time he had missed. He would get what he could from Danny tonight, maybe, then try to leave. It was time to get out of here. He looked at the window and smiled. Danny pulled in to the parking lot a little after nine. He got out, carrying a big duffle bag with him. He went inside, keeping his duffle close to him. Furthermore, he asked for Robbie and then moved over to lean against a wall while he waited. He looked around the place and frowned. Furthermore, he wanted to help Robbie get out of there, if he would just listen. Of course, he hadn't seemed interested in talking last night. Infect, he had appeared offended. So, he wasn't too sure about opening that can or worms again. The best he could do was do what he could to get that smile on Robbie's face that he liked. Robbie least around the stairs when his room was called, and he gestured for Danny to come upstairs, to join him in the small bedroom that he could call his own. "C'mon up. Bed's warm," he said with a soft laugh and then waited for Danny to actually make his way up the rather steep stairs. He was going to do his best to run. Maybe once he actually got away he would try to call Danny. For right now he just needed the money and then to try and get out of here. Maybe he would actually manage to get away.... Not as likely as he thought it was, though, as there were men Sable had hired to watch his boys. Sable knew full well how much each of these boys was worth and the idea of losing one made him sick to his stomach. Robbie didn't know about that though." How was your day on base? Hard work out?" Danny smirked as he made his way up the stairs to Robbie. "My aches have aches." He moved in to the room and sat his large duffel bag on the bed, sighing in relief to have it off his shoulder. He grinned toward Robbie and opened the bag up. "I promised you gifts." The first thing he pulled out was a combination lock box. He turned to look at him. "This will keep your money safer than that box on your dresser." He sat it aside, then pulled out some colorful things to put around the room to brighten it up and give Robbie something nice to look at besides bare walls. Lastly, he laid his money down inside the lock box that still needed its combination set." I'll bring some better things next time. I just thought you could use some color in this room, if you want it. If you don't, that is okay." He shrugged a little. Robbie smiled and least back on the bed, then jumped up and grinned when he saw the colorful things he had been brought, immediately placing them on the side table and the windowsill so he could see. He took the lockbox, turned it between his fingers, then pulled all the money from under his mattress and stuffed it in the box. He had a good twenty-five hundred dollars, now with the money that the other man had given him. He shoved it all in the box and set the lock, shaking it a bit, grinning when it held up." This is fantastic! Thank you...!" He hugged Danny, then, tightly. He tossed the lock box back to the bed and kissed him hard, letting his tongue part the other man's lips, tasting him and getting used to that taste. Enjoying it." Mmm...that's so sweet of you, Danny. I really appreciate it." Danny was glad to see Robbie happy with the things he had brought him. He watched him drag his money out and put it in the lock box, then set the lock. He nodded with satisfaction and sat his bag on the floor. Furthermore, he kicked it under the bed to keep until he was ready to leave." Your well-" He didn't get to finish his sentence before he found himself with Robbie's lips pressed firmly against his and his tongue in his mouth. He was so shocked with the action after what had happened last night that he only had time to rest his hands on Robbie's sides when he finally realized what was happening. Then, the kiss was over." Y-y-your welcome," he stammered. He smiled softly, his cheeks turning a bright pink. Robbie laughed at the other man's reaction to the kiss, "You're cute, y'know that? I mean, cute in that army kinda way...but still, I like you." He sat on the edge of the bed, turning the lock box between his fingers. He seemed not to want to let it go. He was obviously thinking of something, as he kept glancing towards the window and then out, wondering how long it would take to get to the train station. Furthermore, he wondered which way the train station even was. Where would he go? New York? Maine? Paris? He doubted he could take a train to Paris. Geography had never really been a strong point. No, he decided, he should choose somewhere that spoke English and where people wouldn't think to look for him. Danny shook his head, "No, never knew...and I didn't know there were different ways to be cute either." He sat on the edge of the bed and watched him with the box and how he kept looking out the window. He raked a hand through his short hair. The only reason he could be acting that was because he was thinking of running." Robbie...tell me something, are you planning to do something crazy?" He considered him just up and running crazy since he had no education in order to get a job. "If you are, let me help you." He looked toward the window, then to the box and then back up at Robbie. He was afraid he would end up getting himself hurt or in even more trouble than he was already in. Robbie tilted his head up, flicking some of that luxuriously long hair out of his face, blinking those wide and rather pale green eyes up at Danny. "No," he said, "I'm not doing anything crazy. I'm doing something that I should have done before." He nodded, "I have a plan, and everything. I just..." He trailed off and then looked out the window again." Maybe you could show me where the train station is, on a map, or something? I'm leaving tomorrow morning," he blurted out. He shrugged, "Everyone will be asleep, and I can sneak past the doorman, and then get out of here. I'll...if you want, I'll give you a call when I get to where I'm going." Once he decided where that was, of course. Danny nodded, "Job? You know, you can't even flip burgers anymore without a high school diploma." He looked toward the box. "I don't know how much you have there, but it won't last forever Robbie. Why don't you come stay with me? At least let me help you get stable enough that I know your going to be okay?" He moved closer to him. He stroked a hand through his hair gently. He knew things were harder out there then Robbie obviously realized. Furthermore, he could see the desperation, the determination in Robbie's eyes though. Furthermore, he finally gave in and nodded, "What time in the morning? I'll take you myself." At least if he took him to the station himself he could see with his own eyes that he was safely on the train and on his way out of harms way. "Dunno. Maybe I'll try to get a job in a high-class brothel rather than this shit-hole. There are worse things than being a kept boy. I'd like to... I don't know, maybe try acting, or...something. Anything. I really want to stop being a whore, though, if I can. I mean, I'll use this money for a bit, then see where I end up." He stretched along the bed, clearly not having thought this out too well, "Maybe I'll try and join one of those boys and girls clubs, or something. The ones where you get to hang out after school? Maybe I'll even try enrolling in school. Who knows," he added, with a yawn. He stretched and smiled, "I can't come live with you because you're in the army, and they don't like gays. Plus, I need to do this on my own, and get out of here. If you'll take me on the train, though...that would be great. I was thinking of just getting a good night of sleep and then heading out early...really...early, first train, and get out of here. Maybe head towards New York. It's winter there, I heard. I'll buy a coat along the way." He nodded, "Yeah, you don't have to tell me that one twice." He already knew the army didn't like gays. That was one reason he tried to keep his own sexual preference hid. Perhaps he wasn't thinking clearly himself. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed the number to his commanding officer. He talked his way out of showing up early, making up a fake reason. When he was granted a delay, he hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. He looked to him, "I'll just stay here, and we leave in the morning." He was rarely someone who called out of work, so he had gotten out of it rather easily. Furthermore, he was actually surprised at how easily he had gotten out of it. Furthermore, he laid on his back, but frowned uncomfortably and turned on to his side. Furthermore, he reached out and gripped Robbie's hand, "I'll give you my number. You promise to call me, so I know you are okay when you get there? If you don't, I'll worry about you." "Yeah. I promise to call. I have to use a payphone, though, since I don't have a cell. Sable - the boss - he doesn't like us having cellphones. Thinks it's a bad idea...anyway...thanks for doing all of this for me. I know that you don't have to and that it's probably causing you a lot of trouble..." He least forwards and pressed a slow, sweet kiss to the other man's lips and stroked a hand down the side of his face, "You've been so much nicer to me than anyone else." He frowned momentarily and shrugged." Kindof a pity that I'm leaving after finding the perfect customer. Then again, if I stay, I have to deal with all the customers that are worse than you, so..." he shrugged slightly. No, leaving would happen, and he would be glad. This time, Danny had met the kiss as Robbie's lips came to him. He groaned softly, the kiss ending too soon for his liking. He smiled and pulled Robbie close to him, in to his arms. Furthermore, he looked down at him. "So, leave me with something to remember you by?" He leaned his head down and captured Robbie's lips, kissing him. He didn't like that he would likely never see Robbie again. Furthermore, he had only come back tonight because he had taken a liking to Robbie, but if he wasn't here, Danny doubted that he would be back. His hand slid under Robbie's shirt, touching the skin on his side. Robbie didn't have to do anything that he didn't want to. However, he was hoping that at least tonight he might want to just because Robbie seemed to like him too. Robbie would be back soon enough, certainly, though he didn't know it. It would take a painful and rather short trip for him to realize that escaping was not so easy as he liked to think it was. He kissed the other man back gently, "Yeah," he whispered, deepening the kiss. Oh, he liked Danny, but he liked the idea of his freedom more. Maybe if he managed to get a job...... Maybe then, and only then, he could come back and see Danny. Visit him, for old times sake, have a romp together where money wasn't exchanged. For now, though, he contented himself with this. He kissed him back deeply, pressing his lips to the other man's, smiling when his soft skin was traced over by Danny's hand. He trailed his lips from Robbie's as he kissed over his face and then down his neck. "Maybe when you get settled I could even come list you, when I get leave." He pressed his lips to Robbie's again, kissing him passionately. Both of his hands moved under the shirt, tracing Robbie's skin. He pushed the shirt up further and further as his hands slid over Robbie's torso. His skin was so soft against Danny's hands, made rough from army life. He broke the kiss again and slid the shirt over Robbie's head. He grinned at him." Anything in mind that you want to do?" He wanted Robbie to have fun, so what ever he wanted, Danny was up to at least try. He kissed Robbie's neck again and trailed the kisses down over his now bare chest. Robbie grinned, "That'd be great, if you wanted to. It'd be fun to have visitors once I got settled in a new place." Robbie kissed him again and moaned when he felt that passionate response, curling himself up against the other man, moaning when his shirt was pushed so far that he ended up pulling it off. His chest was bare, pale, skin so very soft because of his profession. It was his job to stay soft and smooth, to be more perfect than any actress could be. Most cameras didn't get as close as a customer did." I want..." He paused, and then laughed softly, "If you want it, to have sex with you. Otherwise, we could always... I don't know, I don't have a television or anything to watch a movie on." He kissed him once more. He loved having Danny with him. Furthermore, he was so very kind. Danny laughed softly, "Nothing kinky?" He didn't want to watch TV anyway. He slid his hand down to Robbie's waist. His eyes drifting down his body, admiring his appearance to him thus far. He turned his ocean blue eyes back up to him. Danny leaned down and kissed along Robbie's bare chest. He took his time, nipping here and there. Kissing back up to his lips, Danny smiled and captured Robbie's lips again. "We can be kinky if you want to..." Robbie said with a quiet laugh as he nuzzled the other man's shoulder, then kissed him slowly and enjoyed his taste. Oh, yes. He had quite a fondness for the other man. He had been so sweet to him. He gasped, though, when Danny kissed down his chest slowly. The faint nips made his breath catch in his throat. This was totally unlike what sex usually was. He wasn't at all used to his clients pleasuring him. Sometimes they tried but usually they failed. This one wasn't failing at all. Danny smiled and slid his hands down. He rid Robbie of the remainder of his clothing. There was no doubt why the owner of that establishment wanted him there. Robbie was exquisite. He brushed his hands down over Robbie's hips and thighs slowly, teasing him. He kissed Robbie's neck, sucking gently on him. Robbie let out a soft moan as his body was explored, all the soft and hard places stroked, everyone just touching him. He flushed and spread his thighs a bit more, head tilted to the side, accepting that sucking. He would even let Danny leave marks if he wanted to do so. Usually he would charge extra for that. Now that he was planning on running, though, he figured that it didn't matter. Plus, the other man's mark would be a nice reminder of having someone that cared for him back home. Danny's hand moved along Robbie's inner thigh, stroking his skin until he found what he was really after. He fondled Robbie, still kissing along his neck. He was in no rush, so his caressing hands moved gently and slowly. Furthermore, he wanted to please him and show him that sex could be a give and take, not just what he had likely experience thus far as a prostitute. He lifted his head and looked down at Robbie, smiling. Furthermore, he pulled away for just a moment to undress himself. Robbie moaned and parted his legs entirely, looking at Danny's naked body, grinning at the muscles that the army had given the other man. He lay back on the soft pillows. His hair spread out around him, hiding that faint bruise along his jaw, mostly faded now that a few days had passed though another would certainly replace it soon enough. That was what life was in this part of town." I really...sex with you...it feels different," he whispered, even now, before he had been fully penetrated. Danny smiled, "I imagine so. You haven't ever had someone who took the time to make sure that you were enjoying it as well have you?" He thought not. He slid his hand further down and to Robbie's anal. Furthermore, he stroked him gently, "Do you have any lube?" He stroked the other male's cheek. Danny was very fond of Robbie, and he would really miss him when he was gone. When Robbie did get settled in and could call him, then he would have to take one of his weekends off and go visit him. He wanted too anyway to make sure that he would be alright. He slid his hand from his cheek and stroked his member again while his other hand continued to play else where.

Of Neon and Nylon [Sho and Ivoryedge]|rating:3.0

MtGitP_ Mystic Muse vs. Blue Ghost (Archenemy)

The three winged ponies wing their way to the cloud banks of Clouds dale, conversing urgently as they fly. Here's the plan, girls, says Twilight Sparkle. We're going up against an aspect of Ankara. We don't know the full extent of her capabilities, so we must exercise extreme caution. Um, Twilight... Fluttershy whispers meekly. Come on! We can take her! I'll just go in and give her the ol' sonic rain boom, and we'll be out in a jiffy! Rainbow Dash puts on a burst of speed, forcing the others to accelerate to keep up. Um, I don't think... No, Rainbow Dash! If we go in unprepared, there's no telling what will happen. The Princess has given us these charms to summon reinforcements. It'll take some time before they're fully charged, but at least we have the element of surprise on our side. Um, guys... Fluttershy points her hoof toward a nearby cloud bank. Turning her head, Twilight gulps in fear. She's seen us. So much for the element of surprise. Just hope the Elements of Harmony will be enough... Spoiler Hide Twilight Sparkle Life: 30 Field: Hand: Grave: Exile: Commander: Adam, Lady of Scrolls Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Enclave Cryptologist (U) 2. Azure Mage (1U) 3. Weaken Afterimage (1U) 4. Thought Courier (1U) 5. Augury Owl (1U) 6. Phantasmal Image (1U) 7. Snap caster Mage (1U) 8. Sushi Apprentice (1U) 9. Omen speaker (1U) 10. Trinket Mage (2U) 11. Sage of Fables (2U) 12. Sea Gate Oracle (2U) 13. Apprentice Wizard (1UU) 14. Graceful Adept (2U) 15. Laboratory Maniac (2U) 16. Sigil Tracer (1UU) 17. Spike tail Drake ling (1UU) 18. Ether Adept (1UU) 19. Rendition Clique (1UUU) 20. Denser, Shaper Savant (2UU) 21. Archaeomancer (2UU) 22. Elgar Shield mate (3U) 23. Psychosis Crawler (5) 24. Mull drifter (4U) 25. Magus of the Future (2UUU) 26. Stuttgart (3UU) 27. Refer, Mage of Half (2UUU) 28. Overhang of Myth (MUUMUU) 29. Ar canis the Omnipotent (3UUU) 30. Dead eye Navigator (4UU) 31. Pact of Negation (0/3UU) 32. Sol Ring (1) 33. Sensei’s Divining Top (1) 34. Pontiff (U) 35. Brainstorm (U) 36. Sleight of Hand (U) 37. Sapphire Medallion (2) 38. Mind Stone (2) 39. Lightning Greaves (2) 40. Counterspell (UP) 41. Merchant Scroll (1U) 42. Compulsive Research (2U) 43. Vow of Flight (2U) 44. Mystic Study (2U) 45. Ghostly Flicker (2U) 46. Arch mage Ascension (2U) 47. Spell Crumple (1UU) 48. Diviner’s Wand (3) 49. Jayme Tome (4) 50. Jace, the Mind Sculptor (3U) 51. Cryptic Command (1UUU) 52. Flight of Fancy (3U) 53. Time Warp (3UU) 54. Rush of Knowledge (4U) 55. Force of Will (4U) 56. Conjurer’s Closet (5) 57. Mind’s Eye (5) 58. Denser’s Journal (5) 59. Future Sight (2UUU) 60. Mind Over Matter (2UUUU) 61. Tami yo, the Moon Sage 62. Blue Sun’s Zenith (UUU) 63. Curse of the Swine (AUU) 64. Reliquary Tower 65. Miami, School at Water’s Edge 66. Riptide Laboratory 67. Solaria West 68. Academy Ruins 69. Island 70. Island 71. Island 72. Island 73. Island 74. Island 75. Island 76. Island 77. Island 78. Island 79. Island 80. Island 81. Island 82. Island 83. Island 84. Island 85. Island 86. Island 87. Island 88. Island 89. Island 90. Island 91. Island 92. Island 93. Island 94. Island 95. Island 96. Island 97. Island 98. Island 99. Island Rainbow Dash Life: 30 Field: Hand: Grave: Exile: Commander: Aurelia, the War leader Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Serra Ascendant (W) 2. Accorded Paladin (1W) 3. Stone forge Mystic (1W) 4. Sky knight Legionnaire (1RW) 5. Mir ran Crusader (1WW) 6. Cloud chaser Kestrel (1WW) 7. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 8. Spite mare (2 R/W R/W) 9. Hero of Oxide Ridge (2RR) 10. Hell rider (2RR) 11. Fireman Avenger (2RW) 12. Bane slayer Angel (3WW) 13. Thunder maw Hell kite (3RR) 14. Storm breath Dragon (3RR) 15. Crabgrass the Hidden (3RR) 16. Magma Phoenix (3RR) 17. Nobility of War (R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W) 18. Zealous Conscripts (4R) 19. Angelic Skirmisher (4WW) 20. Hell kite Charger (4RR) 21. Conquering Manticore (4RR) 22. Reused, the Falling Star (5R) 23. Gisela, Blade of Goodnight (4RWW) 24. Bale fire Dragon (5RR) 25. Dragon Mage (5RR) 26. Thunder Dragon (5RR) 27. Angel of Serenity (4WWW) 28. Aroma, Angel of Wrath (5RRR) 29. Avalon, Angel of Hope (5WWW) 30. Sol Ring (1) 31. Lightning Bolt ® 32. Path to Exile (W) 33. Racecourse Fury ® 34. Steel shaper’s Gift (W) 35. Swift foot Boots (2) 36. Lightning Greaves (2) 37. Smetana’s Jitter (2) 38. Boris Signet (2) 39. Boris Charm (RAW) 40. Lightning Helix (RAW) 41. Luminance Ascension (1W) 42. Boris Key rune (3) 43. Sword of Feast and Famine (3) 44. Sword of War and Peace (3) 45. Sword of Fire and Ice (3) 46. Sword of Vengeance (3) 47. Rim’s Thunder (2W) 48. Armageddon (3W) 49. Than Dynamo (4) 50. Return to Dust (2WW) 51. Saline of Lightning (2RR) 52. Relentless Assault (2RR) 53. Seize the Day (3R) 54. Chandra, the Firebrand (3R) 55. Else, Knight-Errant (2WW) 56. Reforge the Soul (3RR) 57. Gleam of Battle (4RW) 58. Terminus (4WW) 59. Aroma’s Vengeance (4WW) 60. Storm Herd (8WW) 61. Comet Storm (XRR) 62. Entreat the Angels (XXWWW) 63. Arid Mesa 64. Flooded Strand 65. Windswept Heath 66. Marsh Flats 67. Scalding Tarn 68. Wooded Foothills 69. Bloodstained Mire 70. Plateau 71. Sacred Foundry 72. Clifftop Retreat 73. Sun home, Fortress of the Legion 74. Emerita, the Sky Ruin 75. Plains 76. Plains 77. Plains 78. Plains 79. Plains 80. Plains 81. Plains 82. Plains 83. Plains 84. Plains 85. Plains 86. Plains 87. Plains 88. Mountain 89. Mountain 90. Mountain 91. Mountain 92. Mountain 93. Mountain 94. Mountain 95. Mountain 96. Mountain 97. Mountain 98. Mountain 99. Mountain Flutter shy Life: 30 Field: Hand: Grave: Exile: Commander: Rhys the Redeemed Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Birds of Paradise (G) 2. Soul Warden (W) 3. Essence Warden (G) 4. Fauna Shaman (1G) 5. ITU-Ghazi Guild mage (GW) 6. Basal Pride mage (GW) 7. Wayfaring Temple (1GW) 8. Dauntless Escort (1GW) 9. Eternal Witness (1GG) 10. Tristan, Selena's Voice (GGWW) 11. Restoration Angel (3W) 12. Neva, Nature's Herald (2GG) 13. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 14. Master of the Wild Hunt (2GG) 15. Thragtusk (4G) 16. Wolf Silver heart (3GG) 17. Ant Queen (3GG) 18. Karmic Guide (3WW) 19. Archangel of Tune (3WW) 20. Armada Warm (2GGWW) 21. Rampaging Ballots (4GG) 22. Foliar Sovereign (4WW) 23. Sun Titan (4WW) 24. Casimir Wolf blood (4GW) 25. Tristan's Summoner (5GW) 26. Wind brisk Raptor (5WW) 27. Sol Ring (1) 28. Swords to Plowshares (W) 29. Path to Exile (W) 30. Worldly Tutor (G) 31. Lightning Greaves (2) 32. Selena Charm (GW) 33. Vladimir's Call (GW) 34. Druid's Deliverance (1G) 35. Intangible Virtue (1G) 36. Pacifism (1W) 37. Beast master Ascension (2G) 38. Beast Within (2G) 39. Cultivate (2G) 40. Glorious Anthem (1WW) 41. Aura Shards (1GW) 42. Idyllic Tutor (2W) 43. Recumbent Bliss (2W) 44. Glare of Subdural (2GW) 45. Growing Ranks (2 G/W G/W) 46. Return to Dust (2WW) 47. Parallel Lives (3G) 48. Wrath of God (2WW) 49. Marshal's Anthem (2WW) 50. Advent of the Warm (1GGW) 51. Doubling Season (4G) 52. Fathers' Crusade (3WW) 53. Primal Vigor (4G) 54. Iraqi's Wake (3GW) 55. Hallowed Burial (3WW) 56. Overwhelming Stampede (3GG) 57. Else Tire (3WW) 58. Collective Blessing (3GGW) 59. Garry, Caller of Beasts (4GG) 60. True Conviction (3WWW) 61. Primeval Bounty (5G) 62. Tooth and Nail (5GG) 63. Hurricane (KG) 64. Green Sun's Zenith (KG) 65. Grove of the Guardian 66. Saxony Township 67. Savannah 68. Temple Garden 69. Arid Mesa 70. Windswept Heath 71. Flooded Strand 72. Marsh Flats 73. Verdant Catacombs 74. Wooded Foothills 75. Misty Rainforest 76. Forest 77. Forest 78. Forest 79. Forest 80. Forest 81. Forest 82. Forest 83. Forest 84. Forest 85. Forest 86. Forest 87. Forest 88. Forest 89. Plains 90. Plains 91. Plains 92. Plains 93. Plains 94. Plains 95. Plains 96. Plains 97. Plains 98. Plains 99. Plains Ankara! Stop, in the name of the princesses! Twilight calls, as the three ponies fly into battle positions. Draws:Twilight:(7d99)[18][17][47][17][99][12][13](223)(4d99)[44][17][12][40](113)Rainbow:(7d99)[7][12][47][92][55][16][76](305)(4d99)[49][63][43][32](187)Flutter shy:(7d99)[40][64][14][76][35][64][26](319)(4d99)[26][34][44][42](146) Well. Mulligan for everyone. Twilight:(7d99)[95][61][81][14][96][77][3](427)(4d99)[8][52][10][13](83)Rainbow:(7d99)[86][79][68][89][96][77][95](590)(4d99)[94][23][8][29](154)Flutter shy:(7d99)[33][24][42][34][19][16][67](235)(4d99)[26][65][63][87](241) Upon looking at it, the entirety of Clouds dale has been abandoned. The only person in sight is the Alison looking up at them with a horrid insane glint in her eye. She spreads her wings, as her horn glows, magnifying her voice." So, the "Princess of Magic" and her two little winged friends wish to try and stop me? I'm insulted. I would think those princesses would take me a little more seriously. But, if you're all she sent against me, I guess I can't complain too much. It just means there's no way I'm going to lose." She says with quite a smug grin. LibrarySpoiler Hide 1-30 basic plains 31 Akromas Vengeance 32 Ancient Tomb 33 Anvil of Boardman 34 Armageddon 35 Batter skull 36 Blind Obedience 37 Caged Sun 38 Condemn 39 Contagion Clasp 40 Contagion Engine 41 Dark steel Forge 42 Defense Grid 43 Else Knight Errant 44 Else Tire 45 Endless Horizons 46 Enlightened Tutor 47 Expedition Map 48 Font of Mythos 49 Gauntlet of Power 50 Ghostly Prison 51 Gilded Lotus 52 Glorious Anthem 53 Honor of the Pure 54 Howling Mine 55 Humility 56 Idyllic Tutor 57 Forms Bell 58 Lenin Sun Standard 59 Light mine Field 60 Luminance Ascension 61 MANA Vault 62 Marshals Anthem 63 Minds Eye 64 Mobilization 65 Mycosynth Lattice 66 Nevinyrrals Disk 67 Oblation 68 Path of Bravery 69 Possessed Portal 70 Ravages of War 71 Relic of Progenitor 72 Rest in Peace 73 Return to Dust 74 Rule of Law 75 Sensei's dining Top 76 Serras sanctum 77 Sol Ring 78 Spear of Helios 79 Sphere of Resistance 80 Sphere of Safety 81 Static Orb 82 Steelshapers Gift 83 Swords to Plowshares 84 Tangle Wire 85 Temple of the False God 86 The Tabernacle at Vendrell Vale 87 Thorn of Amethyst 88 Than Dynamo 89 Trading Post 90 Troposphere 91 True Conviction 92 UBA Mask 93 Unexpectedly Absent 94 Unwinding Clock 95 Cyborg, Tomb of Mammoth 96 Ward of Bones 97 Winter Orb 98 Wrath of God 99 Moat Archenemy deck Spoiler Hide 1 I bask in your silent awe 2 I know all I see all 3 Ignite the clone forge 4 Choose your Champion 5-6 Look skyward and despair 2 7-8 My Crushing Masterstroke 2 9–10 Realms Befitting My Majesty 2 11-12 The Iron Guardian stirs 2 13-14 The Pieces are coming together x2 15-16 All in Good time 2 17-18 Behold the Power of Destruction 2 19-20 Embrace my diabolical vision 2 Scheme roll(1d20)[8]Hand Opening Draw(1d99)[79](1d98)[35](1d97)[26](1d96)[71](1d95)[84](1d94)[17](1d93)[12] Mulligans for Rainbow Dash and Flutter shy.(6d99)[57][35][52][99][24][75](342)(3d99)[49][86][28](163)(6d99)[15][2][19][65][76][22](199)(3d99)[57][15][7](79) reroll for hand.(1d99)[27](1d98)[81](1d97)[12](1d96)[33](1d95)[47](1d94)[92](1d93)[89]Hand Spoiler Hide Plains Anvil of Boardman Expedition Map Static Orb Trading Post UBA Mask Deck Spoiler Hide 1-28 basic plains 29 Akromas Vengeance 30 Ancient Tomb 31 Armageddon 32 Batter skull 33 Blind Obedience 34 Caged Sun 35 Condemn 36 Contagion Clasp 37 Contagion Engine 38 Dark steel Forge 39 Defense Grid 40 Else Knight Errant 41 Else Tire 42 Endless Horizons 43 Enlightened Tutor 44 Font of Mythos 45 Gauntlet of Power 46 Ghostly Prison 47 Gilded Lotus 48 Glorious Anthem 49 Honor of the Pure 50 Howling Mine 51 Humility 52 Idyllic Tutor 53 Forms Bell 54 Lenin Sun Standard 55 Light mine Field 56 Luminance Ascension 57 MANA Vault 58 Marshals Anthem 59 Minds Eye 60 Mobilization 61 Mycosynth Lattice 62 Nevinyrrals Disk 63 Oblation 64 Path of Bravery 65 Possessed Portal 66 Ravages of War 67 Relic of Progenitor 68 Rest in Peace 69 Return to Dust 70 Rule of Law 71 Sensei's dining Top 72 Serras sanctum 73 Sol Ring 74 Spear of Helios 75 Sphere of Resistance 76 Sphere of Safety 77 Steelshapers Gift 78 Swords to Plowshares 79 Tangle Wire 80 Temple of the False God 81 The Tabernacle at Vendrell Vale 82 Thorn of Amethyst 83 Than Dynamo 84 Troposphere 85 True Conviction 86 Unexpectedly Absent 87 Unwinding Clock 88 Cyborg, Tomb of Mammoth 89 Ward of Bones 90 Winter Orb 91 Wrath of God 92 Moat Draw for first turn(1d92)[74]Hand Spoiler Hide Plains Anvil of Boardman Expedition Map Static Orb Trading Post UBA Mask Spear of Helios Deck Spoiler Hide 1-28 basic plains 29 Akromas Vengeance 30 Ancient Tomb 31 Armageddon 32 Batter skull 33 Blind Obedience 34 Caged Sun 35 Condemn 36 Contagion Clasp 37 Contagion Engine 38 Dark steel Forge 39 Defense Grid 40 Else Knight Errant 41 Else Tire 42 Endless Horizons 43 Enlightened Tutor 44 Font of Mythos 45 Gauntlet of Power 46 Ghostly Prison 47 Gilded Lotus 48 Glorious Anthem 49 Honor of the Pure 50 Howling Mine 51 Humility 52 Idyllic Tutor 53 Forms Bell 54 Lenin Sun Standard 55 Light mine Field 56 Luminance Ascension 57 MANA Vault 58 Marshals Anthem 59 Minds Eye 60 Mobilization 61 Mycosynth Lattice 62 Nevinyrrals Disk 63 Oblation 64 Path of Bravery 65 Possessed Portal 66 Ravages of War 67 Relic of Progenitor 68 Rest in Peace 69 Return to Dust 70 Rule of Law 71 Sensei's dining Top 72 Serras sanctum 73 Sol Ring 74 Sphere of Resistance 75 Sphere of Safety 76 Steelshapers Gift 77 Swords to Plowshares 78 Tangle Wire 79 Temple of the False God 80 The Tabernacle at Vendrell Vale 81 Thorn of Amethyst 82 Than Dynamo 83 Troposphere 84 True Conviction 85 Unexpectedly Absent 86 Unwinding Clock 87 Cyborg, Tomb of Mammoth 88 Ward of Bones 89 Winter Orb 90 Wrath of God 91 Moat "Let's begin with the simple basics, shall we?" Anacra asks and pulls out an ancient looking map.[Plains followed by expedition map. Your turn. Field: Plains, Expedition Map Graveyard: NadaHandSpoiler Hide Plains Anvil of Boardman Static Orb Trading Post UBA Mask Spear of Helios A wave of dizziness comes over the three ponies. Gah! What the hay! Twilight manages to recover quickly, but the others aren't so lucky. Could be some magic of Ankara's, or just the atmosphere at this altitude. Be careful, girls. Draws:Twilight:(d92)[32]Rainbow:(d93)[44]Flutter shy:(d93)[19]We can't afford to go in right now. Hang back, and start charging the portals. But the altitude proves too much for Flutter shy, who loses control of her flight and tumbles downward, landing on a cloud right at the feet of Ankara. She looks up and grins meekly.(Island/Plains/Forest. Flutter shy summons herself (Rhys the Redeemed).) Spoiler Hide Twilight Sparkle Life: 30 Field: Island Hand: 7 Spoiler Hide Island Tami yo, the Moon Sage Island Graceful Adept (2U) Island Weaken Afterimage (1U) Pontiff (U) Grave: Exile: Commander: Adam, Lady of Scrolls Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Enclave Cryptologist (U) 2. Azure Mage (1U) 3. Thought Courier (1U) 4. Augury Owl (1U) 5. Phantasmal Image (1U) 6. Snap caster Mage (1U) 7. Sushi Apprentice (1U) 8. Omen speaker (1U) 9. Trinket Mage (2U) 10. Sage of Fables (2U) 11. Sea Gate Oracle (2U) 12. Apprentice Wizard (1UU) 13. Laboratory Maniac (2U) 14. Sigil Tracer (1UU) 15. Spike tail Drake ling (1UU) 16. Ether Adept (1UU) 17. Rendition Clique (1UUU) 18. Denser, Shaper Savant (2UU) 19. Archaeomancer (2UU) 20. Elgar Shield mate (3U) 21. Psychosis Crawler (5) 22. Mull drifter (4U) 23. Magus of the Future (2UUU) 24. Stuttgart (3UU) 25. Refer, Mage of Half (2UUU) 26. Overhang of Myth (MUUMUU) 27. Ar canis the Omnipotent (3UUU) 28. Dead eye Navigator (4UU) 29. Pact of Negation (0/3UU) 30. Sol Ring (1) 31. Sensei’s Divining Top (1) 32. Brainstorm (U) 33. Sleight of Hand (U) 34. Sapphire Medallion (2) 35. Mind Stone (2) 36. Lightning Greaves (2) 37. Counterspell (UP) 38. Merchant Scroll (1U) 39. Compulsive Research (2U) 40. Vow of Flight (2U) 41. Mystic Study (2U) 42. Ghostly Flicker (2U) 43. Arch mage Ascension (2U) 44. Spell Crumple (1UU) 45. Diviner’s Wand (3) 46. Jayme Tome (4) 47. Jace, the Mind Sculptor (3U) 48. Cryptic Command (1UUU) 49. Flight of Fancy (3U) 50. Time Warp (3UU) 51. Rush of Knowledge (4U) 52. Force of Will (4U) 53. Conjurer’s Closet (5) 54. Mind’s Eye (5) 55. Denser’s Journal (5) 56. Future Sight (2UUU) 57. Mind Over Matter (2UUUU) 58. Blue Sun’s Zenith (UUU) 59. Curse of the Swine (AUU) 60. Reliquary Tower 61. Miami, School at Water’s Edge 62. Riptide Laboratory 63. Solaria West 64. Academy Ruins 65. Island 66. Island 67. Island 68. Island 69. Island 70. Island 71. Island 72. Island 73. Island 74. Island 75. Island 76. Island 77. Island 78. Island 79. Island 80. Island 81. Island 82. Island 83. Island 84. Island 85. Island 86. Island 87. Island 88. Island 89. Island 90. Island 91. Island Rainbow Dash Life: 30 Field: Plains Hand: 6 Spoiler Hide Gleam of Battle (4RW) Swift foot Boots (2) Relentless Assault (2RR) Mountain Bale fire Dragon (5RR) Sword of Vengeance (3) Grave: Exile: Commander: Aurelia, the War leader Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Serra Ascendant (W) 2. Accorded Paladin (1W) 3. Stone forge Mystic (1W) 4. Sky knight Legionnaire (1RW) 5. Mir ran Crusader (1WW) 6. Cloud chaser Kestrel (1WW) 7. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 8. Spite mare (2 R/W R/W) 9. Hero of Oxide Ridge (2RR) 10. Hell rider (2RR) 11. Fireman Avenger (2RW) 12. Bane slayer Angel (3WW) 13. Thunder maw Hell kite (3RR) 14. Storm breath Dragon (3RR) 15. Crabgrass the Hidden (3RR) 16. Magma Phoenix (3RR) 17. Nobility of War (R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W) 18. Zealous Conscripts (4R) 19. Angelic Skirmisher (4WW) 20. Hell kite Charger (4RR) 21. Conquering Manticore (4RR) 22. Reused, the Falling Star (5R) 23. Gisela, Blade of Goodnight (4RWW) 24. Dragon Mage (5RR) 25. Thunder Dragon (5RR) 26. Angel of Serenity (4WWW) 27. Aroma, Angel of Wrath (5RRR) 28. Avalon, Angel of Hope (5WWW) 29. Sol Ring (1) 30. Lightning Bolt ® 31. Path to Exile (W) 32. Racecourse Fury ® 33. Steel shaper’s Gift (W) 34. Lightning Greaves (2) 35. Smetana’s Jitter (2) 36. Boris Signet (2) 37. Boris Charm (RAW) 38. Lightning Helix (RAW) 39. Luminance Ascension (1W) 40. Boris Key rune (3) 41. Sword of Feast and Famine (3) 42. Sword of War and Peace (3) 43. Sword of Fire and Ice (3) 44. Rim’s Thunder (2W) 45. Armageddon (3W) 46. Than Dynamo (4) 47. Return to Dust (2WW) 48. Saline of Lightning (2RR) 49. Seize the Day (3R) 50. Chandra, the Firebrand (3R) 51. Else, Knight-Errant (2WW) 52. Reforge the Soul (3RR) 53. Terminus (4WW) 54. Aroma’s Vengeance (4WW) 55. Storm Herd (8WW) 56. Comet Storm (XRR) 57. Entreat the Angels (XXWWW) 58. Arid Mesa 59. Flooded Strand 60. Windswept Heath 61. Marsh Flats 62. Scalding Tarn 63. Wooded Foothills 64. Bloodstained Mire 65. Plateau 66. Sacred Foundry 67. Clifftop Retreat 68. Sun home, Fortress of the Legion 69. Emerita, the Sky Ruin 70. Plains 71. Plains 72. Plains 73. Plains 74. Plains 75. Plains 76. Plains 77. Plains 78. Plains 79. Plains 80. Plains 81. Plains 82. Mountain 83. Mountain 84. Mountain 85. Mountain 86. Mountain 87. Mountain 88. Mountain 89. Mountain 90. Mountain 91. Mountain 92. Mountain Flutter shy Life: 30 Field: Forest Rhys the Redeemed (1/1) Hand: 6 Spoiler Hide Thragtusk (4G) Soul Warden (W) Archangel of Tune (3WW) Grove of the Guardian Foliar Sovereign (4WW) Sun Titan (4WW) Grave: Exile: Commander: Rhys the Redeemed Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Birds of Paradise (G) 2. Essence Warden (G) 3. Fauna Shaman (1G) 4. ITU-Ghazi Guild mage (GW) 5. Basal Pride mage (GW) 6. Wayfaring Temple (1GW) 7. Dauntless Escort (1GW) 8. Eternal Witness (1GG) 9. Tristan, Selena's Voice (GGWW) 10. Restoration Angel (3W) 11. Neva, Nature's Herald (2GG) 12. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 13. Master of the Wild Hunt (2GG) 14. Wolf Silver heart (3GG) 15. Ant Queen (3GG) 16. Karmic Guide (3WW) 17. Armada Warm (2GGWW) 18. Rampaging Ballots (4GG) 19. Casimir Wolf blood (4GW) 20. Tristan's Summoner (5GW) 21. Wind brisk Raptor (5WW) 22. Sol Ring (1) 23. Swords to Plowshares (W) 24. Path to Exile (W) 25. Worldly Tutor (G) 26. Lightning Greaves (2) 27. Selena Charm (GW) 28. Vladimir's Call (GW) 29. Druid's Deliverance (1G) 30. Intangible Virtue (1G) 31. Pacifism (1W) 32. Beast master Ascension (2G) 33. Beast Within (2G) 34. Cultivate (2G) 35. Glorious Anthem (1WW) 36. Aura Shards (1GW) 37. Idyllic Tutor (2W) 38. Recumbent Bliss (2W) 39. Glare of Subdural (2GW) 40. Growing Ranks (2 G/W G/W) 41. Return to Dust (2WW) 42. Parallel Lives (3G) 43. Wrath of God (2WW) 44. Marshal's Anthem (2WW) 45. Advent of the Warm (1GGW) 46. Doubling Season (4G) 47. Fathers' Crusade (3WW) 48. Primal Vigor (4G) 49. Iraqi's Wake (3GW) 50. Hallowed Burial (3WW) 51. Overwhelming Stampede (3GG) 52. Else Tire (3WW) 53. Collective Blessing (3GGW) 54. Garry, Caller of Beasts (4GG) 55. True Conviction (3WWW) 56. Primeval Bounty (5G) 57. Tooth and Nail (5GG) 58. Hurricane (KG) 59. Green Sun's Zenith (KG) 60. Saxony Township 61. Savannah 62. Temple Garden 63. Arid Mesa 64. Windswept Heath 65. Flooded Strand 66. Marsh Flats 67. Verdant Catacombs 68. Wooded Foothills 69. Misty Rainforest 70. Forest 71. Forest 72. Forest 73. Forest 74. Forest 75. Forest 76. Forest 77. Forest 78. Forest 79. Forest 80. Forest 81. Forest 82. Plains 83. Plains 84. Plains 85. Plains 86. Plains 87. Plains 88. Plains 89. Plains 90. Plains 91. Plains 92. Plains "Interesting choice, coming to face me by yourself. Let's see if it pays off, shall we?" Anacra says with a smug look, quite clearly expecting it to not pay off at all. Card draw(1d91)[60]scheme draw during first main phase (Nothing I can do before then) [roll]1d19/roll] (The Iron Guardian Stirs)Ankara's power seems to be growing by the minute, as the map disintegrates in her hooves, and the ponies see a ghostly image of a rather odd looking place. It's a rather horrifying looking place. There's not a speck of life anywhere to be seen, and there's an awful black sludge leaking out of some place. (Sacrifice Expedition Map to search up Cyborg, Tomb of Mammoth). Next, from a Portal, Ankara summons a rather large, unfriendly looking golem (Looks like a porcelain legionnaire)." I hope you have fun dealing with one of my witch hunters." She says with a maniacal grin. Field: Plains, Plains, (All tapped) 4/6 Golem Creature token Graveyard: Expedition MapHandSpoiler Hide Mobilization UBA Mask Static Orb Trading Post Spear of Helios Anvil of Boardman Cyborg tomb of Mammoth Library Spoiler Hide 1-26 basic plains 27 Akromas Vengeance 28 Ancient Tomb 29 Armageddon 30 Batter skull 31 Blind Obedience 32 Caged Sun 33 Condemn 34 Contagion Clasp 35 Contagion Engine 36 Dark steel Forge 37 Defense Grid 38 Else Knight Errant 39 Else Tire 40 Endless Horizons 41 Enlightened Tutor 42 Font of Mythos 43 Gauntlet of Power 44 Ghostly Prison 45 Gilded Lotus 46 Glorious Anthem 47 Honor of the Pure 48 Howling Mine 49 Humility 50 Idyllic Tutor 51 Forms Bell 52 Lenin Sun Standard 53 Light mine Field 54 Luminance Ascension 55 MANA Vault 56 Marshals Anthem 57 Minds Eye 58 Mycosynth Lattice 59 Nevinyrrals Disk 60 Oblation 61 Path of Bravery 62 Possessed Portal 63 Ravages of War 64 Relic of Progenitor 65 Rest in Peace 66 Return to Dust 67 Rule of Law 68 Sensei's dining Top 69 Serras sanctum 70 Sol Ring 71 Sphere of Resistance 72 Sphere of Safety 73 Steelshapers Gift 74 Swords to Plowshares 75 Tangle Wire 76 The Tabernacle at Vendrell Vale 77 Thorn of Amethyst 78 Than Dynamo 79 Troposphere 80 True Conviction 81 Unexpectedly Absent 82 Unwinding Clock 83 Ward of Bones 84 Winter Orb 85 Wrath of God 86 Moat 87 Temple of the False God 88–89 Plains Updated Scheme deck Spoiler Hide 1 I bask in your silent awe 2 I know all I see all 3 Ignite the clone forge 4 Choose your Champion 5-6 Look skyward and despair 2 7 My Crushing Masterstroke 8–9 Realms Befitting My Majesty 2 10 The Iron Guardian stirs 11-12 The Pieces are coming together x2 13-14 All in Good time 2 15-16 Behold the Power of Destruction 2 17-18 Embrace my diabolical vision 2 reroll since I typo'd on the scheme(1d19)[10](The Iron Guardian Stirs) Flutter shy gulps. Er, if you don't mind, I'll just be going back right now... DrawsTwilight:(d91)[62]Rainbow:(d92)[54]Flutter shy:(d92)[12]The ponies continue to concentrate theirs endings, Flutter shy closing her eyes and thinking of home. Rainbow's charm begins to glow red. Yes! Come on, Celestial, send us some royal guards here! A glowing portal opens in front of her, and out of it emerges... a pair of boots. The ponies sigh in disappointment.(Island/Mountain/Grove of the Guardian. Rainbow casts Swift foot Boots.) Spoiler Hide Twilight Sparkle Life: 30 Field: Island x2 Hand: 7 Spoiler Hide Island Tami yo, the Moon Sage Island Graceful Adept (2U) Weaken Afterimage (1U) Pontiff (U) Riptide Laboratory Grave: Exile: Commander: Adam, Lady of Scrolls Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Enclave Cryptologist (U) 2. Azure Mage (1U) 3. Thought Courier (1U) 4. Augury Owl (1U) 5. Phantasmal Image (1U) 6. Snap caster Mage (1U) 7. Sushi Apprentice (1U) 8. Omen speaker (1U) 9. Trinket Mage (2U) 10. Sage of Fables (2U) 11. Sea Gate Oracle (2U) 12. Apprentice Wizard (1UU) 13. Laboratory Maniac (2U) 14. Sigil Tracer (1UU) 15. Spike tail Drake ling (1UU) 16. Ether Adept (1UU) 17. Rendition Clique (1UUU) 18. Denser, Shaper Savant (2UU) 19. Archaeomancer (2UU) 20. Elgar Shield mate (3U) 21. Psychosis Crawler (5) 22. Mull drifter (4U) 23. Magus of the Future (2UUU) 24. Stuttgart (3UU) 25. Refer, Mage of Half (2UUU) 26. Overhang of Myth (MUUMUU) 27. Ar canis the Omnipotent (3UUU) 28. Dead eye Navigator (4UU) 29. Pact of Negation (0/3UU) 30. Sol Ring (1) 31. Sensei’s Divining Top (1) 32. Brainstorm (U) 33. Sleight of Hand (U) 34. Sapphire Medallion (2) 35. Mind Stone (2) 36. Lightning Greaves (2) 37. Counterspell (UP) 38. Merchant Scroll (1U) 39. Compulsive Research (2U) 40. Vow of Flight (2U) 41. Mystic Study (2U) 42. Ghostly Flicker (2U) 43. Arch mage Ascension (2U) 44. Spell Crumple (1UU) 45. Diviner’s Wand (3) 46. Jayme Tome (4) 47. Jace, the Mind Sculptor (3U) 48. Cryptic Command (1UUU) 49. Flight of Fancy (3U) 50. Time Warp (3UU) 51. Rush of Knowledge (4U) 52. Force of Will (4U) 53. Conjurer’s Closet (5) 54. Mind’s Eye (5) 55. Denser’s Journal (5) 56. Future Sight (2UUU) 57. Mind Over Matter (2UUUU) 58. Blue Sun’s Zenith (UUU) 59. Curse of the Swine (AUU) 60. Reliquary Tower 61. Miami, School at Water’s Edge 62. Solaria West 63. Academy Ruins 64. Island 65. Island 66. Island 67. Island 68. Island 69. Island 70. Island 71. Island 72. Island 73. Island 74. Island 75. Island 76. Island 77. Island 78. Island 79. Island 80. Island 81. Island 82. Island 83. Island 84. Island 85. Island 86. Island 87. Island 88. Island 89. Island 90. Island Rainbow Dash Life: 30 Field: Plains Mountain Swift foot Boots Hand: 5 Spoiler Hide Gleam of Battle (4RW) Relentless Assault (2RR) Bale fire Dragon (5RR) Sword of Vengeance (3) Aroma’s Vengeance (4WW) Grave: Exile: Commander: Aurelia, the War leader Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Serra Ascendant (W) 2. Accorded Paladin (1W) 3. Stone forge Mystic (1W) 4. Sky knight Legionnaire (1RW) 5. Mir ran Crusader (1WW) 6. Cloud chaser Kestrel (1WW) 7. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 8. Spite mare (2 R/W R/W) 9. Hero of Oxide Ridge (2RR) 10. Hell rider (2RR) 11. Fireman Avenger (2RW) 12. Bane slayer Angel (3WW) 13. Thunder maw Hell kite (3RR) 14. Storm breath Dragon (3RR) 15. Crabgrass the Hidden (3RR) 16. Magma Phoenix (3RR) 17. Nobility of War (R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W) 18. Zealous Conscripts (4R) 19. Angelic Skirmisher (4WW) 20. Hell kite Charger (4RR) 21. Conquering Manticore (4RR) 22. Reused, the Falling Star (5R) 23. Gisela, Blade of Goodnight (4RWW) 24. Dragon Mage (5RR) 25. Thunder Dragon (5RR) 26. Angel of Serenity (4WWW) 27. Aroma, Angel of Wrath (5RRR) 28. Avalon, Angel of Hope (5WWW) 29. Sol Ring (1) 30. Lightning Bolt ® 31. Path to Exile (W) 32. Racecourse Fury ® 33. Steel shaper’s Gift (W) 34. Lightning Greaves (2) 35. Smetana’s Jitter (2) 36. Boris Signet (2) 37. Boris Charm (RAW) 38. Lightning Helix (RAW) 39. Luminance Ascension (1W) 40. Boris Key rune (3) 41. Sword of Feast and Famine (3) 42. Sword of War and Peace (3) 43. Sword of Fire and Ice (3) 44. Rim’s Thunder (2W) 45. Armageddon (3W) 46. Than Dynamo (4) 47. Return to Dust (2WW) 48. Saline of Lightning (2RR) 49. Seize the Day (3R) 50. Chandra, the Firebrand (3R) 51. Else, Knight-Errant (2WW) 52. Reforge the Soul (3RR) 53. Terminus (4WW) 54. Storm Herd (8WW) 55. Comet Storm (XRR) 56. Entreat the Angels (XXWWW) 57. Arid Mesa 58. Flooded Strand 59. Windswept Heath 60. Marsh Flats 61. Scalding Tarn 62. Wooded Foothills 63. Bloodstained Mire 64. Plateau 65. Sacred Foundry 66. Clifftop Retreat 67. Sun home, Fortress of the Legion 68. Emerita, the Sky Ruin 69. Plains 70. Plains 71. Plains 72. Plains 73. Plains 74. Plains 75. Plains 76. Plains 77. Plains 78. Plains 79. Plains 80. Plains 81. Mountain 82. Mountain 83. Mountain 84. Mountain 85. Mountain 86. Mountain 87. Mountain 88. Mountain 89. Mountain 90. Mountain 91. Mountain Flutter shy Life: 30 Field: Forest Grove of the Guardian Rhys the Redeemed (1/1) Hand: 6 Spoiler Hide Thragtusk (4G) Soul Warden (W) Archangel of Tune (3WW) Foliar Sovereign (4WW) Sun Titan (4WW) Hero of Blade hold (2WW) Grave: Exile: Commander: Rhys the Redeemed Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Birds of Paradise (G) 2. Essence Warden (G) 3. Fauna Shaman (1G) 4. ITU-Ghazi Guild mage (GW) 5. Basal Pride mage (GW) 6. Wayfaring Temple (1GW) 7. Dauntless Escort (1GW) 8. Eternal Witness (1GG) 9. Tristan, Selena's Voice (GGWW) 10. Restoration Angel (3W) 11. Neva, Nature's Herald (2GG) 12. Master of the Wild Hunt (2GG) 13. Wolf Silver heart (3GG) 14. Ant Queen (3GG) 15. Karmic Guide (3WW) 16. Armada Warm (2GGWW) 17. Rampaging Ballots (4GG) 18. Casimir Wolf blood (4GW) 19. Tristan's Summoner (5GW) 20. Wind brisk Raptor (5WW) 21. Sol Ring (1) 22. Swords to Plowshares (W) 23. Path to Exile (W) 24. Worldly Tutor (G) 25. Lightning Greaves (2) 26. Selena Charm (GW) 27. Vladimir's Call (GW) 28. Druid's Deliverance (1G) 29. Intangible Virtue (1G) 30. Pacifism (1W) 31. Beast master Ascension (2G) 32. Beast Within (2G) 33. Cultivate (2G) 34. Glorious Anthem (1WW) 35. Aura Shards (1GW) 36. Idyllic Tutor (2W) 37. Recumbent Bliss (2W) 38. Glare of Subdural (2GW) 39. Growing Ranks (2 G/W G/W) 40. Return to Dust (2WW) 41. Parallel Lives (3G) 42. Wrath of God (2WW) 43. Marshal's Anthem (2WW) 44. Advent of the Warm (1GGW) 45. Doubling Season (4G) 46. Fathers' Crusade (3WW) 47. Primal Vigor (4G) 48. Iraqi's Wake (3GW) 49. Hallowed Burial (3WW) 50. Overwhelming Stampede (3GG) 51. Else Tire (3WW) 52. Collective Blessing (3GGW) 53. Garry, Caller of Beasts (4GG) 54. True Conviction (3WWW) 55. Primeval Bounty (5G) 56. Tooth and Nail (5GG) 57. Hurricane (KG) 58. Green Sun's Zenith (KG) 59. Saxony Township 60. Savannah 61. Temple Garden 62. Arid Mesa 63. Windswept Heath 64. Flooded Strand 65. Marsh Flats 66. Verdant Catacombs 67. Wooded Foothills 68. Misty Rainforest 69. Forest 70. Forest 71. Forest 72. Forest 73. Forest 74. Forest 75. Forest 76. Forest 77. Forest 78. Forest 79. Forest 80. Forest 81. Plains 82. Plains 83. Plains 84. Plains 85. Plains 86. Plains 87. Plains 88. Plains 89. Plains 90. Plains 91. Plains Draw for the turn.(1d89)[16]Still have nothing before my main phase, so time for the scheme(1d18)[11] And draw for "The Pieces are coming together."(1d88)[85](1d87)[24]Ankara's power grows yet again." What's the matter little ponies? Need some help? Well, alright, since I'm feeling nice..." She says (Playing a plain, then casting anvil of Boardman for nothing)." Have fun with the power. Just remember, power has its price." She says in what is probably the most condescending tone imaginable. Then a bustling trading post appears behind her...that's rather odd." Hey ma'am, here's your goat." A random pony says as they hand her a goat. Well, okay then." And now, little Flutter shy...you face the wrath of my witch hunter." The rather large golem heads right for Flutter shy, hoisting up its rather vicious looking arm, and attempting to bring it down upon her." Your turn, little ponies." Life: 59Field: 3 plains tapped, Anvil of Boardman, one 0/1 Goat token, one 4/6 Golem token tapped, Trading post tapped Hand:Spoiler Hide Plains Cyborg, Tomb of Mammoth Mobilization UBA Mask Static Orb Spear of Helios Wrath of God Deck Spoiler Hide 1-24 basic plains 25 Akromas Vengeance 26 Ancient Tomb 27 Armageddon 28 Batter skull 29 Blind Obedience 30 Caged Sun 31 Condemn 32 Contagion Clasp 33 Contagion Engine 34 Dark steel Forge 35 Defense Grid 36 Else Knight Errant 37 Else Tire 38 Endless Horizons 39 Enlightened Tutor 40 Font of Mythos 41 Gauntlet of Power 42 Ghostly Prison 43 Gilded Lotus 44 Glorious Anthem 45 Honor of the Pure 46 Howling Mine 47 Humility 48 Idyllic Tutor 49 Forms Bell 50 Lenin Sun Standard 51 Light mine Field 52 Luminance Ascension 53 MANA Vault 54 Marshals Anthem 55 Minds Eye 56 Mycosynth Lattice 57 Nevinyrrals Disk 58 Oblation 59 Path of Bravery 60 Possessed Portal 61 Ravages of War 62 Relic of Progenitor 63 Rest in Peace 64 Return to Dust 65 Rule of Law 66 Sensei's dining Top 67 Serras sanctum 68 Sol Ring 69 Sphere of Resistance 70 Sphere of Safety 71 Steelshapers Gift 72 Swords to Plowshares 73 Tangle Wire 74 The Tabernacle at Vendrell Vale 75 Thorn of Amethyst 76 Than Dynamo 77 Troposphere 78 True Conviction 79 Unexpectedly Absent 80 Unwinding Clock 81 Ward of Bones 82 Winter Orb 83 Wrath of God 84 Moat 85 Temple of the False God 86–87 Plains Scheme deck Spoiler Hide 1 I bask in your silent awe 2 I know all I see all 3 Ignite the clone forge 4 Choose your Champion 5-6 Look skyward and despair 2 7 My Crushing Masterstroke 8–9 Realms Befitting My Majesty 2 10 The Iron Guardian stirs 11 The Pieces are coming together 12-13 All in Good time 2 14-15 Behold the Power of Destruction 2 16-17 Embrace my diabolical vision 2 Flutter shy screams as the golem's metal arm crashes down. She tries to dive out of the way, but the monster's arm slams down on her tail. She yelps in pain, as her friends cry out in concern.FLUTTERS HY! Draws:Twilight:(d90)[25](d89)[49]Rainbow:(d91)[64](d90)[83]Flutter shy:(d91)[44](d90)[36](Discards: Tami yo, the Moon Sage / Gleam of Battle / Foliar Sovereign)Hang in there, Flutter shy! The spell's almost ready! Twilight and Rainbow continue to hover, building up energy, but Flutter shy is too terrified to concentrate.(Island/Mountain/cry. End turn.) Spoiler Hide Twilight Sparkle Life: 30 Field: Island x3 Hand: 7 Spoiler Hide Island Graceful Adept (2U) Weaken Afterimage (1U) Pontiff (U) Riptide Laboratory Refer, Mage of Half (2UUU) Time Warp (3UU) Grave: Spoiler Hide Tami yo, the Moon Sage Exile: Commander: Adam, Lady of Scrolls Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Enclave Cryptologist (U) 2. Azure Mage (1U) 3. Thought Courier (1U) 4. Augury Owl (1U) 5. Phantasmal Image (1U) 6. Snap caster Mage (1U) 7. Sushi Apprentice (1U) 8. Omen speaker (1U) 9. Trinket Mage (2U) 10. Sage of Fables (2U) 11. Sea Gate Oracle (2U) 12. Apprentice Wizard (1UU) 13. Laboratory Maniac (2U) 14. Sigil Tracer (1UU) 15. Spike tail Drake ling (1UU) 16. Ether Adept (1UU) 17. Rendition Clique (1UUU) 18. Denser, Shaper Savant (2UU) 19. Archaeomancer (2UU) 20. Elgar Shield mate (3U) 21. Psychosis Crawler (5) 22. Mull drifter (4U) 23. Magus of the Future (2UUU) 24. Stuttgart (3UU) 25. Overhang of Myth (MUUMUU) 26. Ar canis the Omnipotent (3UUU) 27. Dead eye Navigator (4UU) 28. Pact of Negation (0/3UU) 29. Sol Ring (1) 30. Sensei’s Divining Top (1) 31. Brainstorm (U) 32. Sleight of Hand (U) 33. Sapphire Medallion (2) 34. Mind Stone (2) 35. Lightning Greaves (2) 36. Counterspell (UP) 37. Merchant Scroll (1U) 38. Compulsive Research (2U) 39. Vow of Flight (2U) 40. Mystic Study (2U) 41. Ghostly Flicker (2U) 42. Arch mage Ascension (2U) 43. Spell Crumple (1UU) 44. Diviner’s Wand (3) 45. Jayme Tome (4) 46. Jace, the Mind Sculptor (3U) 47. Cryptic Command (1UUU) 48. Flight of Fancy (3U) 49. Rush of Knowledge (4U) 50. Force of Will (4U) 51. Conjurer’s Closet (5) 52. Mind’s Eye (5) 53. Denser’s Journal (5) 54. Future Sight (2UUU) 55. Mind Over Matter (2UUUU) 56. Blue Sun’s Zenith (UUU) 57. Curse of the Swine (AUU) 58. Reliquary Tower 59. Miami, School at Water’s Edge 60. Solaria West 61. Academy Ruins 62. Island 63. Island 64. Island 65. Island 66. Island 67. Island 68. Island 69. Island 70. Island 71. Island 72. Island 73. Island 74. Island 75. Island 76. Island 77. Island 78. Island 79. Island 80. Island 81. Island 82. Island 83. Island 84. Island 85. Island 86. Island 87. Island 88. Island Rainbow Dash Life: 30 Field: Plains Mountain x2 Swift foot Boots Hand: 5 Spoiler Hide Relentless Assault (2RR) Bale fire Dragon (5RR) Sword of Vengeance (3) Aroma’s Vengeance (4WW) Plateau Grave: Spoiler Hide Gleam of Battle Exile: Commander: Aurelia, the War leader Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Serra Ascendant (W) 2. Accorded Paladin (1W) 3. Stone forge Mystic (1W) 4. Sky knight Legionnaire (1RW) 5. Mir ran Crusader (1WW) 6. Cloud chaser Kestrel (1WW) 7. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 8. Spite mare (2 R/W R/W) 9. Hero of Oxide Ridge (2RR) 10. Hell rider (2RR) 11. Fireman Avenger (2RW) 12. Bane slayer Angel (3WW) 13. Thunder maw Hell kite (3RR) 14. Storm breath Dragon (3RR) 15. Crabgrass the Hidden (3RR) 16. Magma Phoenix (3RR) 17. Nobility of War (R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W) 18. Zealous Conscripts (4R) 19. Angelic Skirmisher (4WW) 20. Hell kite Charger (4RR) 21. Conquering Manticore (4RR) 22. Reused, the Falling Star (5R) 23. Gisela, Blade of Goodnight (4RWW) 24. Dragon Mage (5RR) 25. Thunder Dragon (5RR) 26. Angel of Serenity (4WWW) 27. Aroma, Angel of Wrath (5RRR) 28. Avalon, Angel of Hope (5WWW) 29. Sol Ring (1) 30. Lightning Bolt ® 31. Path to Exile (W) 32. Racecourse Fury ® 33. Steel shaper’s Gift (W) 34. Lightning Greaves (2) 35. Smetana’s Jitter (2) 36. Boris Signet (2) 37. Boris Charm (RAW) 38. Lightning Helix (RAW) 39. Luminance Ascension (1W) 40. Boris Key rune (3) 41. Sword of Feast and Famine (3) 42. Sword of War and Peace (3) 43. Sword of Fire and Ice (3) 44. Rim’s Thunder (2W) 45. Armageddon (3W) 46. Than Dynamo (4) 47. Return to Dust (2WW) 48. Saline of Lightning (2RR) 49. Seize the Day (3R) 50. Chandra, the Firebrand (3R) 51. Else, Knight-Errant (2WW) 52. Reforge the Soul (3RR) 53. Terminus (4WW) 54. Storm Herd (8WW) 55. Comet Storm (XRR) 56. Entreat the Angels (XXWWW) 57. Arid Mesa 58. Flooded Strand 59. Windswept Heath 60. Marsh Flats 61. Scalding Tarn 62. Wooded Foothills 63. Bloodstained Mire 64. Sacred Foundry 65. Clifftop Retreat 66. Sun home, Fortress of the Legion 67. Emerita, the Sky Ruin 68. Plains 69. Plains 70. Plains 71. Plains 72. Plains 73. Plains 74. Plains 75. Plains 76. Plains 77. Plains 78. Plains 79. Plains 80. Mountain 81. Mountain 82. Mountain 83. Mountain 84. Mountain 85. Mountain 86. Mountain 87. Mountain 88. Mountain 89. Mountain Flutter shy Life: 26 Field: Forest Grove of the Guardian Rhys the Redeemed (1/1) Hand: 6 Spoiler Hide Thragtusk (4G) Soul Warden (W) Archangel of Tune (3WW) Sun Titan (4WW) Hero of Blade hold (2WW) Advent of the Warm (1GGW) Idyllic Tutor (2W) Grave: Spoiler Hide Foliar Sovereign Exile: Commander: Rhys the Redeemed Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Birds of Paradise (G) 2. Essence Warden (G) 3. Fauna Shaman (1G) 4. ITU-Ghazi Guild mage (GW) 5. Basal Pride mage (GW) 6. Wayfaring Temple (1GW) 7. Dauntless Escort (1GW) 8. Eternal Witness (1GG) 9. Tristan, Selena's Voice (GGWW) 10. Restoration Angel (3W) 11. Neva, Nature's Herald (2GG) 12. Master of the Wild Hunt (2GG) 13. Wolf Silver heart (3GG) 14. Ant Queen (3GG) 15. Karmic Guide (3WW) 16. Armada Warm (2GGWW) 17. Rampaging Ballots (4GG) 18. Casimir Wolf blood (4GW) 19. Tristan's Summoner (5GW) 20. Wind brisk Raptor (5WW) 21. Sol Ring (1) 22. Swords to Plowshares (W) 23. Path to Exile (W) 24. Worldly Tutor (G) 25. Lightning Greaves (2) 26. Selena Charm (GW) 27. Vladimir's Call (GW) 28. Druid's Deliverance (1G) 29. Intangible Virtue (1G) 30. Pacifism (1W) 31. Beast master Ascension (2G) 32. Beast Within (2G) 33. Cultivate (2G) 34. Glorious Anthem (1WW) 35. Aura Shards (1GW) 36. Recumbent Bliss (2W) 37. Glare of Subdural (2GW) 38. Growing Ranks (2 G/W G/W) 39. Return to Dust (2WW) 40. Parallel Lives (3G) 41. Wrath of God (2WW) 42. Marshal's Anthem (2WW) 43. Doubling Season (4G) 44. Fathers' Crusade (3WW) 45. Primal Vigor (4G) 46. Iraqi's Wake (3GW) 47. Hallowed Burial (3WW) 48. Overwhelming Stampede (3GG) 49. Else Tire (3WW) 50. Collective Blessing (3GGW) 51. Garry, Caller of Beasts (4GG) 52. True Conviction (3WWW) 53. Primeval Bounty (5G) 54. Tooth and Nail (5GG) 55. Hurricane (KG) 56. Green Sun's Zenith (KG) 57. Saxony Township 58. Savannah 59. Temple Garden 60. Arid Mesa 61. Windswept Heath 62. Flooded Strand 63. Marsh Flats 64. Verdant Catacombs 65. Wooded Foothills 66. Misty Rainforest 67. Forest 68. Forest 69. Forest 70. Forest 71. Forest 72. Forest 73. Forest 74. Forest 75. Forest 76. Forest 77. Forest 78. Forest 79. Plains 80. Plains 81. Plains 82. Plains 83. Plains 84. Plains 85. Plains 86. Plains 87. Plains 88. Plains 89. Plains Draw for the turn, uncap, and scheme card for the turn(1d87)[63](1d86)[7]Discard rest in peaceScheme(1d17)[3](Ignite the Clone forge)"Those are really a lovely pair of boots, Rainbow Dash. I think I'll have to have a copy of my own." Anacra says in a not so nice voice. Choosing Rainbow Dash's Swift foot Boots. Anacra's power seems to grow further still." I'll be perfectly honest with you three. I don't think I'm going to lose." She says with a very large maniacal grin." Now, I don't think I'll be needing this anymore. I think I'll trade it in for something with a little more use." She says, referring to the goat. She tosses it off to the weird ethereal looking trading post, getting an ancient map back in return, which immediately disintegrates into ashes, as the ghostly image of an ancient, what most ponies would call heathen temple appears behind Ankara.(Playing a plain, tapping it to sacrifice my goat token and get expedition map back, playing expedition map, then sacrificing it to search up temple of the false god. All lands are tapped.)" Now, Flutter shy, as much as I hate to do this, you and your friends are in my way. Witch hunter, attack." Anacra says, sending the golem at Flutter shy once again." I don't see why you're trying to stop me. If you really need some way to justify it, just think about it. The only ones who will die from this are those that deserve to. Changelings, parasprites, things that serve no good purpose. I have specifically engineered this to cause as little collateral damage as possible. You, your princesses, and your friends will all be quite alive when I'm done." Anacra assures them. Life: 59Field: 4 Plains, 4/6 Golem, Trading Post, all tapped, and anvil of Boardman. Graveyard: Rest in PeaceLibrarySpoiler Hide 1-23 basic plains 24 Akromas Vengeance 25 Ancient Tomb 26 Armageddon 27 Batter skull 28 Blind Obedience 29 Caged Sun 30 Condemn 31 Contagion Clasp 32 Contagion Engine 33 Dark steel Forge 34 Defense Grid 35 Else Knight Errant 36 Else Tire 37 Endless Horizons 38 Enlightened Tutor 39 Font of Mythos 40 Gauntlet of Power 41 Ghostly Prison 42 Gilded Lotus 43 Glorious Anthem 44 Honor of the Pure 45 Howling Mine 46 Humility 47 Idyllic Tutor 48 Forms Bell 49 Lenin Sun Standard 50 Light mine Field 51 Luminance Ascension 52 MANA Vault 53 Marshals Anthem 54 Minds Eye 55 Mycosynth Lattice 56 Nevinyrrals Disk 57 Oblation 58 Path of Bravery 59 Possessed Portal 60 Ravages of War 61 Relic of Progenitor 62 Return to Dust 63 Rule of Law 64 Sensei's dining Top 65 Serras sanctum 66 Sol Ring 67 Sphere of Resistance 68 Sphere of Safety 69 Steelshapers Gift 70 Swords to Plowshares 71 Tangle Wire 72 The Tabernacle at Vendrell Vale 73 Thorn of Amethyst 74 Than Dynamo 75 Troposphere 76 True Conviction 77 Unexpectedly Absent 78 Unwinding Clock 79 Ward of Bones 80 Winter Orb 81 Moat 82–83 Plains Hand Spoiler Hide Plains Cyborg, Tomb of Mammoth Mobilization UBA Mask Static Orb Spear of Helios Wrath of God Temple of the False God Your turn This time, the golem's blow catches Flutter shy square in the flank, knocking her a few feet. Fluttershy stammers a bit, trying to overcome her terror to reply to Ankara. N-n-no. I-I won't let you do that. She struggles to her hooves, wincing in pain. You might not see what the changelings and parasprites give to Equestrian, but it's there. Without the parasprites, the Ever free Forest's ecology would be ruined. And sure the changelings can be mean, but Equestrian can't have the bonds of love tested without them. A-and you have a place here too, but if you won't take it, we'll have to stop you. ... Right, guys? Rainbow Dash nods her approval. Heck yeah! Way to tell her, Flutter shy! And I think I have just the spell to do it.(During your end step, Twilight wizard cycles Weaken Afterimage for Ether Adept. Rainbow cycles Aroma's Vengeance to draw.)(d89)[25]Draw step:Twilight:(d87)[65](d86)[20]Rainbow:(d88)[33](d87)[23]Flutter shy:(d89)[23](d88)[34](Discards: Refer/Gisela/Sun Titan)Twilight concentrates, focusing her magic. Her horn glows purple, and a shimmering portal opens. A red-maned blue unicorn steps out, smiling confidently. At the same time, the golem is sucked into the portal, banished back to wherever it came from. Meanwhile, Rainbow smiles as a gleaming sword comes through the portal, glowing with white fire.(Island/Plateau/nothing. Twilight casts Ether Adept, targeting the golem. Rainbow casts Steel shaper's Gift, searching and casting Sword of War and Peace. End turn.) Spoiler Hide Twilight Sparkle Life: 30 Field: Island x4 (3 tapped) Ether Adept (2/2) Hand: 6 Spoiler Hide Graceful Adept (2U) Pontiff (U) Riptide Laboratory Time Warp (3UU) Island Psychosis Crawler (5) Grave: Spoiler Hide Tami yo, the Moon Sage Weaken Afterimage Refer, Mage of Half Exile: Commander: Adam, Lady of Scrolls Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Enclave Cryptologist (U) 2. Azure Mage (1U) 3. Thought Courier (1U) 4. Augury Owl (1U) 5. Phantasmal Image (1U) 6. Snap caster Mage (1U) 7. Sushi Apprentice (1U) 8. Omen speaker (1U) 9. Trinket Mage (2U) 10. Sage of Fables (2U) 11. Sea Gate Oracle (2U) 12. Apprentice Wizard (1UU) 13. Laboratory Maniac (2U) 14. Sigil Tracer (1UU) 15. Spike tail Drake ling (1UU) 16. Rendition Clique (1UUU) 17. Denser, Shaper Savant (2UU) 18. Archaeomancer (2UU) 19. Elgar Shield mate (3U) 20. Mull drifter (4U) 21. Magus of the Future (2UUU) 22. Stuttgart (3UU) 23. Overhang of Myth (MUUMUU) 24. Ar canis the Omnipotent (3UUU) 25. Dead eye Navigator (4UU) 26. Pact of Negation (0/3UU) 27. Sol Ring (1) 28. Sensei’s Divining Top (1) 29. Brainstorm (U) 30. Sleight of Hand (U) 31. Sapphire Medallion (2) 32. Mind Stone (2) 33. Lightning Greaves (2) 34. Counterspell (UP) 35. Merchant Scroll (1U) 36. Compulsive Research (2U) 37. Vow of Flight (2U) 38. Mystic Study (2U) 39. Ghostly Flicker (2U) 40. Arch mage Ascension (2U) 41. Spell Crumple (1UU) 42. Diviner’s Wand (3) 43. Jayme Tome (4) 44. Jace, the Mind Sculptor (3U) 45. Cryptic Command (1UUU) 46. Flight of Fancy (3U) 47. Rush of Knowledge (4U) 48. Force of Will (4U) 49. Conjurer’s Closet (5) 50. Mind’s Eye (5) 51. Denser’s Journal (5) 52. Future Sight (2UUU) 53. Mind Over Matter (2UUUU) 54. Blue Sun’s Zenith (UUU) 55. Curse of the Swine (AUU) 56. Reliquary Tower 57. Miami, School at Water’s Edge 58. Solaria West 59. Academy Ruins 60. Island 61. Island 62. Island 63. Island 64. Island 65. Island 66. Island 67. Island 68. Island 69. Island 70. Island 71. Island 72. Island 73. Island 74. Island 75. Island 76. Island 77. Island 78. Island 79. Island 80. Island 81. Island 82. Island 83. Island 84. Island 85. Island Rainbow Dash Life: 30 Field: Plains (T) Mountain x2 (T) Plateau (T) Swift foot Boots Sword of War and Peace Hand: 4 Spoiler Hide Relentless Assault (2RR) Bale fire Dragon (5RR) Sword of Vengeance (3) Aroma’s Vengeance (4WW) Grave: Spoiler Hide Gleam of Battle Gisela, Blade of Goodnight Steel shaper’s Gift Exile: Commander: Aurelia, the War leader Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Serra Ascendant (W) 2. Accorded Paladin (1W) 3. Stone forge Mystic (1W) 4. Sky knight Legionnaire (1RW) 5. Mir ran Crusader (1WW) 6. Cloud chaser Kestrel (1WW) 7. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 8. Spite mare (2 R/W R/W) 9. Hero of Oxide Ridge (2RR) 10. Hell rider (2RR) 11. Fireman Avenger (2RW) 12. Bane slayer Angel (3WW) 13. Thunder maw Hell kite (3RR) 14. Storm breath Dragon (3RR) 15. Crabgrass the Hidden (3RR) 16. Magma Phoenix (3RR) 17. Nobility of War (R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W) 18. Zealous Conscripts (4R) 19. Angelic Skirmisher (4WW) 20. Hell kite Charger (4RR) 21. Conquering Manticore (4RR) 22. Reused, the Falling Star (5R) 23. Dragon Mage (5RR) 24. Thunder Dragon (5RR) 25. Angel of Serenity (4WWW) 26. Aroma, Angel of Wrath (5RRR) 27. Avalon, Angel of Hope (5WWW) 28. Sol Ring (1) 29. Lightning Bolt ® 30. Path to Exile (W) 31. Racecourse Fury ® 32. Lightning Greaves (2) 33. Smetana’s Jitter (2) 34. Boris Signet (2) 35. Boris Charm (RAW) 36. Lightning Helix (RAW) 37. Luminance Ascension (1W) 38. Boris Key rune (3) 39. Sword of Feast and Famine (3) 40. Sword of Fire and Ice (3) 41. Rim’s Thunder (2W) 42. Armageddon (3W) 43. Than Dynamo (4) 44. Return to Dust (2WW) 45. Saline of Lightning (2RR) 46. Seize the Day (3R) 47. Chandra, the Firebrand (3R) 48. Else, Knight-Errant (2WW) 49. Reforge the Soul (3RR) 50. Terminus (4WW) 51. Storm Herd (8WW) 52. Comet Storm (XRR) 53. Entreat the Angels (XXWWW) 54. Arid Mesa 55. Flooded Strand 56. Windswept Heath 57. Marsh Flats 58. Scalding Tarn 59. Wooded Foothills 60. Bloodstained Mire 61. Sacred Foundry 62. Clifftop Retreat 63. Sun home, Fortress of the Legion 64. Emerita, the Sky Ruin 65. Plains 66. Plains 67. Plains 68. Plains 69. Plains 70. Plains 71. Plains 72. Plains 73. Plains 74. Plains 75. Plains 76. Plains 77. Mountain 78. Mountain 79. Mountain 80. Mountain 81. Mountain 82. Mountain 83. Mountain 84. Mountain 85. Mountain 86. Mountain Flutter shy Life: 22 Field: Forest Grove of the Guardian Rhys the Redeemed (1/1) Hand: 8 Spoiler Hide Thragtusk (4G) Soul Warden (W) Archangel of Tune (3WW) Hero of Blade hold (2WW) Advent of the Warm (1GGW) Idyllic Tutor (2W) Path to Exile (W) Recumbent Bliss (2W) Grave: Spoiler Hide Foliar Sovereign Sun Titan Exile: Commander: Rhys the Redeemed Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Birds of Paradise (G) 2. Essence Warden (G) 3. Fauna Shaman (1G) 4. ITU-Ghazi Guild mage (GW) 5. Basal Pride mage (GW) 6. Wayfaring Temple (1GW) 7. Dauntless Escort (1GW) 8. Eternal Witness (1GG) 9. Tristan, Selena's Voice (GGWW) 10. Restoration Angel (3W) 11. Neva, Nature's Herald (2GG) 12. Master of the Wild Hunt (2GG) 13. Wolf Silver heart (3GG) 14. Ant Queen (3GG) 15. Karmic Guide (3WW) 16. Armada Warm (2GGWW) 17. Rampaging Ballots (4GG) 18. Casimir Wolf blood (4GW) 19. Tristan's Summoner (5GW) 20. Wind brisk Raptor (5WW) 21. Sol Ring (1) 22. Swords to Plowshares (W) 23. Worldly Tutor (G) 24. Lightning Greaves (2) 25. Selena Charm (GW) 26. Vladimir's Call (GW) 27. Druid's Deliverance (1G) 28. Intangible Virtue (1G) 29. Pacifism (1W) 30. Beast master Ascension (2G) 31. Beast Within (2G) 32. Cultivate (2G) 33. Glorious Anthem (1WW) 34. Aura Shards (1GW) 35. Glare of Subdural (2GW) 36. Growing Ranks (2 G/W G/W) 37. Return to Dust (2WW) 38. Parallel Lives (3G) 39. Wrath of God (2WW) 40. Marshal's Anthem (2WW) 41. Doubling Season (4G) 42. Fathers' Crusade (3WW) 43. Primal Vigor (4G) 44. Iraqi's Wake (3GW) 45. Hallowed Burial (3WW) 46. Overwhelming Stampede (3GG) 47. Else Tire (3WW) 48. Collective Blessing (3GGW) 49. Garry, Caller of Beasts (4GG) 50. True Conviction (3WWW) 51. Primeval Bounty (5G) 52. Tooth and Nail (5GG) 53. Hurricane (KG) 54. Green Sun's Zenith (KG) 55. Saxony Township 56. Savannah 57. Temple Garden 58. Arid Mesa 59. Windswept Heath 60. Flooded Strand 61. Marsh Flats 62. Verdant Catacombs 63. Wooded Foothills 64. Misty Rainforest 65. Forest 66. Forest 67. Forest 68. Forest 69. Forest 70. Forest 71. Forest 72. Forest 73. Forest 74. Forest 75. Forest 76. Forest 77. Plains 78. Plains 79. Plains 80. Plains 81. Plains 82. Plains 83. Plains 84. Plains 85. Plains 86. Plains 87. Plains Draw, and scheme card for the turn, since I likely won't be doing anything before said scheme card resolves.(1d83)[44](1d82)[22]Discarding a plain to Anvil of Boardman. Scheme card(1d16)[14]Behold the Power of Destruction. Rainbow Dash's board presence is wiped out. First, the temple now materializes on the field. Behind the trading post rises up a large stone temple, obviously dedicated to Ankara. Next, her horn starts glowing, and out of nothingness materializes a golden shining spear, with what looks like a miniature sun in the middle of its head. Next, the Elements begin to hear singing. A beautiful haunting melody in a language they neither understand nor comprehend, as Ankara is surrounded by ethereal Vegas. Life: 59Field: 4 plains, Temple of the false god (All tapped), Spear of Helios, Glorious Anthem, trading post and anvil of Boardman. Graveyard: Rest in Peace, Expedition Map, PlainsHandSpoiler Hide Plains Cyborg, Tomb of Mammoth Mobilization UBA Mask Static Orb Wrath of God Deck Spoiler Hide 1-22 basic plains 23 Akromas Vengeance 24 Ancient Tomb 25 Armageddon 26 Batter skull 27 Blind Obedience 28 Caged Sun 29 Condemn 30 Contagion Clasp 31 Contagion Engine 32 Dark steel Forge 33 Defense Grid 34 Else Knight Errant 35 Else Tire 36 Endless Horizons 37 Enlightened Tutor 38 Font of Mythos 39 Gauntlet of Power 40 Ghostly Prison 41 Gilded Lotus 42 Honor of the Pure 43 Howling Mine 44 Humility 45 Idyllic Tutor 46 Forms Bell 47 Lenin Sun Standard 48 Light mine Field 49 Luminance Ascension 50 MANA Vault 51 Marshals Anthem 52 Minds Eye 53 Mycosynth Lattice 54 Nevinyrrals Disk 55 Oblation 56 Path of Bravery 57 Possessed Portal 58 Ravages of War 59 Relic of Progenitor 60 Return to Dust 61 Rule of Law 62 Sensei's dining Top 63 Serras sanctum 64 Sol Ring 65 Sphere of Resistance 66 Sphere of Safety 67 Steelshapers Gift 68 Swords to Plowshares 69 Tangle Wire 70 The Tabernacle at Vendrell Vale 71 Thorn of Amethyst 72 Than Dynamo 73 Troposphere 74 True Conviction 75 Unexpectedly Absent 76 Unwinding Clock 77 Ward of Bones 78 Winter Orb 79 Wrath of God 80 Moat 81–82 Plains Scheme deck Spoiler Hide 1 I bask in your silent awe 2 I know all I see all 3 Choose your Champion 4-5 Look skyward and despair 2 6 My Crushing Masterstroke 7–8 Realms Befitting My Majesty 2 9 The Iron Guardian stirs 10 The Pieces are coming together 11-12 All in Good time 2 13 Behold the Power of Destruction 2 14-15 Embrace my diabolical vision 2 Twilight concentrates as she tries to identify the ethereal song. Some kind of amplification magic. This might be dangerous. Too bad you don't have anything to amplify! Rainbow gloats. DrawsTwilight:(d85)[39](d84)[37]Rainbow:(d86)[14](d85)[44]Flutter shy:(d87)[14](d86)[33](Discards: Graceful Adept/Bale fire Dragon/Ant Queen.) This is enough! Twilight's horn glows purple, conjuring a few pieces of scrap metal. Twisting the metal, she fashions a crude automaton shaped like a spider with jagged legs. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash summons up a crackling storm cloud and flies atop of it. The red-maned unicorn casts a spell, siphoning water out of the surrounding clouds and hurling it toward Ankara like a high-pressure pump. Flutter shy, mustering up all her courage, tries the Stare on Ankara. She knows that it won't have much effect on such a godlike being, but she hopes it would at least unnerve her a little.(Twilight plays Island, casts Psychosis Crawler. Rainbow casts Saline of Lightning. Flutter shy cries. Aether Adept and Rhys attack for 3.) Spoiler Hide Twilight Sparkle Life: 30 Field: Island x5 (T) Ether Adept (2/2) (T) Psychosis Crawler (5/5) Hand: 5 Spoiler Hide Pontiff (U) Riptide Laboratory Time Warp (3UU) Ghostly Flicker (2U) Vow of Flight (2U) Grave: Spoiler Hide Tami yo, the Moon Sage Weaken Afterimage Refer, Mage of Half Graceful Adept Exile: Commander: Adam, Lady of Scrolls Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Enclave Cryptologist (U) 2. Azure Mage (1U) 3. Thought Courier (1U) 4. Augury Owl (1U) 5. Phantasmal Image (1U) 6. Snap caster Mage (1U) 7. Sushi Apprentice (1U) 8. Omen speaker (1U) 9. Trinket Mage (2U) 10. Sage of Fables (2U) 11. Sea Gate Oracle (2U) 12. Apprentice Wizard (1UU) 13. Laboratory Maniac (2U) 14. Sigil Tracer (1UU) 15. Spike tail Drake ling (1UU) 16. Rendition Clique (1UUU) 17. Denser, Shaper Savant (2UU) 18. Archaeomancer (2UU) 19. Elgar Shield mate (3U) 20. Mull drifter (4U) 21. Magus of the Future (2UUU) 22. Stuttgart (3UU) 23. Overhang of Myth (MUUMUU) 24. Ar canis the Omnipotent (3UUU) 25. Dead eye Navigator (4UU) 26. Pact of Negation (0/3UU) 27. Sol Ring (1) 28. Sensei’s Divining Top (1) 29. Brainstorm (U) 30. Sleight of Hand (U) 31. Sapphire Medallion (2) 32. Mind Stone (2) 33. Lightning Greaves (2) 34. Counterspell (UP) 35. Merchant Scroll (1U) 36. Compulsive Research (2U) 37. Mystic Study (2U) 38. Arch mage Ascension (2U) 39. Spell Crumple (1UU) 40. Diviner’s Wand (3) 41. Jayme Tome (4) 42. Jace, the Mind Sculptor (3U) 43. Cryptic Command (1UUU) 44. Flight of Fancy (3U) 45. Rush of Knowledge (4U) 46. Force of Will (4U) 47. Conjurer’s Closet (5) 48. Mind’s Eye (5) 49. Denser’s Journal (5) 50. Future Sight (2UUU) 51. Mind Over Matter (2UUUU) 52. Blue Sun’s Zenith (UUU) 53. Curse of the Swine (AUU) 54. Reliquary Tower 55. Miami, School at Water’s Edge 56. Solaria West 57. Academy Ruins 58. Island 59. Island 60. Island 61. Island 62. Island 63. Island 64. Island 65. Island 66. Island 67. Island 68. Island 69. Island 70. Island 71. Island 72. Island 73. Island 74. Island 75. Island 76. Island 77. Island 78. Island 79. Island 80. Island 81. Island 82. Island 83. Island Rainbow Dash Life: 30 Field: Plains (T) Mountain x2 (T) Plateau (T) Saline of Lightning Hand: 3 Spoiler Hide Relentless Assault (2RR) Sword of Vengeance (3) Storm breath Dragon (3RR) Grave: Spoiler Hide Gleam of Battle Gisela, Blade of Goodnight Steel shaper’s Gift Aroma’s Vengeance Bale fire Dragon Swift foot Boots Sword of War and Peace Exile: Commander: Aurelia, the War leader Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Serra Ascendant (W) 2. Accorded Paladin (1W) 3. Stone forge Mystic (1W) 4. Sky knight Legionnaire (1RW) 5. Mir ran Crusader (1WW) 6. Cloud chaser Kestrel (1WW) 7. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 8. Spite mare (2 R/W R/W) 9. Hero of Oxide Ridge (2RR) 10. Hell rider (2RR) 11. Fireman Avenger (2RW) 12. Bane slayer Angel (3WW) 13. Thunder maw Hell kite (3RR) 14. Crabgrass the Hidden (3RR) 15. Magma Phoenix (3RR) 16. Nobility of War (R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W) 17. Zealous Conscripts (4R) 18. Angelic Skirmisher (4WW) 19. Hell kite Charger (4RR) 20. Conquering Manticore (4RR) 21. Reused, the Falling Star (5R) 22. Dragon Mage (5RR) 23. Thunder Dragon (5RR) 24. Angel of Serenity (4WWW) 25. Aroma, Angel of Wrath (5RRR) 26. Avalon, Angel of Hope (5WWW) 27. Sol Ring (1) 28. Lightning Bolt ® 29. Path to Exile (W) 30. Racecourse Fury ® 31. Lightning Greaves (2) 32. Smetana’s Jitter (2) 33. Boris Signet (2) 34. Boris Charm (RAW) 35. Lightning Helix (RAW) 36. Luminance Ascension (1W) 37. Boris Key rune (3) 38. Sword of Feast and Famine (3) 39. Sword of Fire and Ice (3) 40. Rim’s Thunder (2W) 41. Armageddon (3W) 42. Than Dynamo (4) 43. Return to Dust (2WW) 44. Seize the Day (3R) 45. Chandra, the Firebrand (3R) 46. Else, Knight-Errant (2WW) 47. Reforge the Soul (3RR) 48. Terminus (4WW) 49. Storm Herd (8WW) 50. Comet Storm (XRR) 51. Entreat the Angels (XXWWW) 52. Arid Mesa 53. Flooded Strand 54. Windswept Heath 55. Marsh Flats 56. Scalding Tarn 57. Wooded Foothills 58. Bloodstained Mire 59. Sacred Foundry 60. Clifftop Retreat 61. Sun home, Fortress of the Legion 62. Emerita, the Sky Ruin 63. Plains 64. Plains 65. Plains 66. Plains 67. Plains 68. Plains 69. Plains 70. Plains 71. Plains 72. Plains 73. Plains 74. Plains 75. Mountain 76. Mountain 77. Mountain 78. Mountain 79. Mountain 80. Mountain 81. Mountain 82. Mountain 83. Mountain 84. Mountain Flutter shy Life: 22 Field: Forest Grove of the Guardian Rhys the Redeemed (1/1) (T) Hand: 9 Spoiler Hide Thragtusk (4G) Soul Warden (W) Archangel of Tune (3WW) Hero of Blade hold (2WW) Advent of the Warm (1GGW) Idyllic Tutor (2W) Path to Exile (W) Recumbent Bliss (2W) Aura Shards (1GW) Grave: Spoiler Hide Foliar Sovereign Sun Titan Ant Queen (3GG) Exile: Commander: Rhys the Redeemed Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Birds of Paradise (G) 2. Essence Warden (G) 3. Fauna Shaman (1G) 4. ITU-Ghazi Guild mage (GW) 5. Basal Pride mage (GW) 6. Wayfaring Temple (1GW) 7. Dauntless Escort (1GW) 8. Eternal Witness (1GG) 9. Tristan, Selena's Voice (GGWW) 10. Restoration Angel (3W) 11. Neva, Nature's Herald (2GG) 12. Master of the Wild Hunt (2GG) 13. Wolf Silver heart (3GG) 14. Karmic Guide (3WW) 15. Armada Warm (2GGWW) 16. Rampaging Ballots (4GG) 17. Casimir Wolf blood (4GW) 18. Tristan's Summoner (5GW) 19. Wind brisk Raptor (5WW) 20. Sol Ring (1) 21. Swords to Plowshares (W) 22. Worldly Tutor (G) 23. Lightning Greaves (2) 24. Selena Charm (GW) 25. Vladimir's Call (GW) 26. Druid's Deliverance (1G) 27. Intangible Virtue (1G) 28. Pacifism (1W) 29. Beast master Ascension (2G) 30. Beast Within (2G) 31. Cultivate (2G) 32. Glorious Anthem (1WW) 33. Glare of Subdural (2GW) 34. Growing Ranks (2 G/W G/W) 35. Return to Dust (2WW) 36. Parallel Lives (3G) 37. Wrath of God (2WW) 38. Marshal's Anthem (2WW) 39. Doubling Season (4G) 40. Fathers' Crusade (3WW) 41. Primal Vigor (4G) 42. Iraqi's Wake (3GW) 43. Hallowed Burial (3WW) 44. Overwhelming Stampede (3GG) 45. Else Tire (3WW) 46. Collective Blessing (3GGW) 47. Garry, Caller of Beasts (4GG) 48. True Conviction (3WWW) 49. Primeval Bounty (5G) 50. Tooth and Nail (5GG) 51. Hurricane (KG) 52. Green Sun's Zenith (KG) 53. Saxony Township 54. Savannah 55. Temple Garden 56. Arid Mesa 57. Windswept Heath 58. Flooded Strand 59. Marsh Flats 60. Verdant Catacombs 61. Wooded Foothills 62. Misty Rainforest 63. Forest 64. Forest 65. Forest 66. Forest 67. Forest 68. Forest 69. Forest 70. Forest 71. Forest 72. Forest 73. Forest 74. Forest 75. Plains 76. Plains 77. Plains 78. Plains 79. Plains 80. Plains 81. Plains 82. Plains 83. Plains 84. Plains 85. Plains Originally Posted by Blue Ghost Twilight concentrates as she tries to identify the ethereal song. Some kind of amplification magic. This might be dangerous. Too bad you don't have anything to amplify! Rainbow gloats. "Word to the wise, dear Rainbow Dash. Don't taunt the God-killing abomination." She says with a rather maniacal grin. She appears lightly harmed by the attacks, but nothing more than that.(1d82)[60](1d81)[7]Scheme card for the turn(1d15)[14]Embrace My Diabolical Vision. Roll for Ankara's new hand(1d91)[85](1d90)[79](1d89)[12](1d88)[69](1d87)[74](1d86)[42](1d85)[76]A great wave of magic sweeps over the battlefield, resetting expended spells, and removing the ones currently on every pony's mind, replacing them with new knowledge." Ah. Have not used that in quite some time...it feels rather nice."she says. Ankara Smiling is a rather awful thing, one would say. HandSpoiler Hide Rest In Peace Wrath of God Plains Tangle wire True Conviction Honor of the Pure Unwinding Clock Ankara's power grows yet more as she enters the battlefield, staring back at Flutter shy. A very scary horrifying stare. It's as if there is simply nothing inside this mare at all. And now there's a hoof moving right towards Flutter shy, as Ankara smacks her out of the battlefield. That feels about as nice as it sounds.(Play a plain, cast Flesh Born, Grand Cenobite)"I'll be perfectly honest, Twilight. I don't care for your construct. You're next." She says with a maniacal grin." But first..." She grabs the red maned blue unicorn, and the unicorn's eyes shine pure white, as her horn crumbles to dust, and she faints. Ankara tosses her aside. The construct begins rusting slightly as well. Life: 52 (1 general damage)Graveyard: None Field: Flesh Born, 5 Plains, Temple of the False God, Glorious Anthem, Spear of Helios, Trading Post, Anvil of Boardman. Deck:Hand now Spoiler Hide Rest In Peace Wrath of God Tangle wire True Conviction Honor of the Pure Unwinding Clock Rolling new hands for everyone. Twilight:(d83)[78](d82)[60](d81)[27](d80)[39]Rainbow:(d84)[10](d83)[44](d82)[80](d81)[68]Flutter shy:(d85)[55](d84)[43](d83)[40](d82)[53]As Twilight channels her magical energy, the excess is funneled off through the metallic insect and blasted at Ankara. The three ponies gasp in horror as Ankara disintegrates the unicorn's horn. You monster! How could you do that? Twilight levitates the unconscious unicorn back through the open portal, directing her to the Canter lot hospital. Draws:Twilight:(d79)[74](d78)[76]Rainbow:(d80)[46](d79)[66]Flutter shy:(d81)[11](d80)[72]That's it, you're going DOWN! Building up speed, Rainbow hurls herself at Ankara, shattering the clouds in a sonic explosion. (TERMINUS!)(Discards: Island/Plains/Fathers' Crusade.) Rainbow laughs triumphantly as Ankara is knocked back by the force of the sonic rain boom. Word to the wise, Ankara. Don't mess with the Rainbow Dash! Through the portal comes a red-coated Pegasus with a fiery mane and a slightly maniacal grin. Heya Dash, did call me? What do you got for me to smash this time? Heya Crimson. See that Alison right there? Want to help me take her down? You got it, sis! The Pegasus charges Ankara in a fiery streak, slamming into her headlong. Yay! Fluttershy cheers. I-I think I'm feeling better now. She rises from the cloud where she landed, and resumes flying.(Island/Plains/Arid Mesa into Savannah. Rainbow summons Hell rider and attacks for 4. Flutter shy summons Rhys again.) Spoiler Hide Twilight Sparkle Life: 30 Field: Island x6 Hand: 4 Spoiler Hide Island Sol Ring (1) Spell Crumple (1UU) Grave: Spoiler Hide Tami yo, the Moon Sage Weaken Afterimage Refer, Mage of Half Graceful Adept Pontiff Riptide Laboratory Time Warp Ghostly Flicker Vow of Flight Ether Adept Island Exile: Commander: Adam, Lady of Scrolls Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Enclave Cryptologist (U) 2. Azure Mage (1U) 3. Thought Courier (1U) 4. Augury Owl (1U) 5. Phantasmal Image (1U) 6. Snap caster Mage (1U) 7. Sushi Apprentice (1U) 8. Omen speaker (1U) 9. Trinket Mage (2U) 10. Sage of Fables (2U) 11. Sea Gate Oracle (2U) 12. Apprentice Wizard (1UU) 13. Laboratory Maniac (2U) 14. Sigil Tracer (1UU) 15. Spike tail Drake ling (1UU) 16. Rendition Clique (1UUU) 17. Denser, Shaper Savant (2UU) 18. Archaeomancer (2UU) 19. Elgar Shield mate (3U) 20. Mull drifter (4U) 21. Magus of the Future (2UUU) 22. Stuttgart (3UU) 23. Overhang of Myth (MUUMUU) 24. Ar canis the Omnipotent (3UUU) 25. Dead eye Navigator (4UU) 26. Pact of Negation (0/3UU) 27. Sensei’s Divining Top (1) 28. Brainstorm (U) 29. Sleight of Hand (U) 30. Sapphire Medallion (2) 31. Mind Stone (2) 32. Lightning Greaves (2) 33. Counterspell (UP) 34. Merchant Scroll (1U) 35. Compulsive Research (2U) 36. Mystic Study (2U) 37. Arch mage Ascension (2U) 38. Diviner’s Wand (3) 39. Jayme Tome (4) 40. Jace, the Mind Sculptor (3U) 41. Cryptic Command (1UUU) 42. Flight of Fancy (3U) 43. Rush of Knowledge (4U) 44. Force of Will (4U) 45. Conjurer’s Closet (5) 46. Mind’s Eye (5) 47. Denser’s Journal (5) 48. Future Sight (2UUU) 49. Mind Over Matter (2UUUU) 50. Blue Sun’s Zenith (UUU) 51. Curse of the Swine (AUU) 52. Reliquary Tower 53. Miami, School at Water’s Edge 54. Solaria West 55. Academy Ruins 56. Island 57. Island 58. Island 59. Island 60. Island 61. Island 62. Island 63. Island 64. Island 65. Island 66. Island 67. Island 68. Island 69. Island 70. Island 71. Island 72. Island 73. Island 74. Island 75. Island 76. Island 77. Island Bottom: Psychosis Crawler Rainbow Dash Life: 30 Field: Plains x2 (T) Mountain x2 (T) Plateau (T) Hell rider (3/3, T) Saline of Lightning Hand: 2 Spoiler Hide Chandra, the Firebrand (3R) Mountain Grave: Spoiler Hide Gleam of Battle Gisela, Blade of Goodnight Steel shaper’s Gift Aroma’s Vengeance Bale fire Dragon Swift foot Boots Sword of War and Peace Relentless Assault Sword of Vengeance Storm breath Dragon Terminus Plains Exile: Commander: Aurelia, the War leader Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Serra Ascendant (W) 2. Accorded Paladin (1W) 3. Stone forge Mystic (1W) 4. Sky knight Legionnaire (1RW) 5. Mir ran Crusader (1WW) 6. Cloud chaser Kestrel (1WW) 7. Hero of Blade hold (2WW) 8. Spite mare (2 R/W R/W) 9. Hero of Oxide Ridge (2RR) 10. Fireman Avenger (2RW) 11. Bane slayer Angel (3WW) 12. Thunder maw Hell kite (3RR) 13. Crabgrass the Hidden (3RR) 14. Magma Phoenix (3RR) 15. Nobility of War (R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W) 16. Zealous Conscripts (4R) 17. Angelic Skirmisher (4WW) 18. Hell kite Charger (4RR) 19. Conquering Manticore (4RR) 20. Reused, the Falling Star (5R) 21. Dragon Mage (5RR) 22. Thunder Dragon (5RR) 23. Angel of Serenity (4WWW) 24. Aroma, Angel of Wrath (5RRR) 25. Avalon, Angel of Hope (5WWW) 26. Sol Ring (1) 27. Lightning Bolt ® 28. Path to Exile (W) 29. Racecourse Fury ® 30. Lightning Greaves (2) 31. Smetana’s Jitter (2) 32. Boris Signet (2) 33. Boris Charm (RAW) 34. Lightning Helix (RAW) 35. Luminance Ascension (1W) 36. Boris Key rune (3) 37. Sword of Feast and Famine (3) 38. Sword of Fire and Ice (3) 39. Rim’s Thunder (2W) 40. Armageddon (3W) 41. Than Dynamo (4) 42. Return to Dust (2WW) 43. Seize the Day (3R) 44. Else, Knight-Errant (2WW) 45. Reforge the Soul (3RR) 46. Storm Herd (8WW) 47. Comet Storm (XRR) 48. Entreat the Angels (XXWWW) 49. Arid Mesa 50. Flooded Strand 51. Windswept Heath 52. Marsh Flats 53. Scalding Tarn 54. Wooded Foothills 55. Bloodstained Mire 56. Sacred Foundry 57. Clifftop Retreat 58. Sun home, Fortress of the Legion 59. Emerita, the Sky Ruin 60. Plains 61. Plains 62. Plains 63. Plains 64. Plains 65. Plains 66. Plains 67. Plains 68. Plains 69. Plains 70. Mountain 71. Mountain 72. Mountain 73. Mountain 74. Mountain 75. Mountain 76. Mountain 77. Mountain 78. Mountain Flutter shy Life: 21 Field: Forest (T) Grove of the Guardian (T) Savannah (T) Rhys the Redeemed (1/1) Hand: 4 Spoiler Hide Hallowed Burial (3WW) Temple Garden Neva, Nature's Herald (2GG) Plains Grave: Spoiler Hide Foliar Sovereign Sun Titan Ant Queen Thragtusk Soul Warden Archangel of Tune Hero of Blade hold Advent of the Warm Idyllic Tutor Path to Exile Recumbent Bliss Aura Shards Fathers' Crusade Arid Mesa Exile: Commander: Rhys the Redeemed (1) Library: Spoiler Hide 1. Birds of Paradise (G) 2. Essence Warden (G) 3. Fauna Shaman (1G) 4. ITU-Ghazi Guild mage (GW) 5. Basal Pride mage (GW) 6. Wayfaring Temple (1GW) 7. Dauntless Escort (1GW) 8. Eternal Witness (1GG) 9. Tristan, Selena's Voice (GGWW) 10. Restoration Angel (3W) 11. Master of the Wild Hunt (2GG) 12. Wolf Silver heart (3GG) 13. Karmic Guide (3WW) 14. Armada Warm (2GGWW) 15. Rampaging Ballots (4GG) 16. Casimir Wolf blood (4GW) 17. Tristan's Summoner (5GW) 18. Wind brisk Raptor (5WW) 19. Sol Ring (1) 20. Swords to Plowshares (W) 21. Worldly Tutor (G) 22. Lightning Greaves (2) 23. Selena Charm (GW) 24. Vladimir's Call (GW) 25. Druid's Deliverance (1G) 26. Intangible Virtue (1G) 27. Pacifism (1W) 28. Beast master Ascension (2G) 29. Beast Within (2G) 30. Cultivate (2G) 31. Glorious Anthem (1WW) 32. Glare of Subdural (2GW) 33. Growing Ranks (2 G/W G/W) 34. Return to Dust (2WW) 35. Parallel Lives (3G) 36. Wrath of God (2WW) 37. Marshal's Anthem (2WW) 38. Doubling Season (4G) 39. Primal Vigor (4G) 40. Iraqi's Wake (3GW) 41. Overwhelming Stampede (3GG) 42. Else Tire (3WW) 43. Collective Blessing (3GGW) 44. Garry, Caller of Beasts (4GG) 45. True Conviction (3WWW) 46. Primeval Bounty (5G) 47. Tooth and Nail (5GG) 48. Hurricane (KG) 49. Green Sun's Zenith (KG) 50. Saxony Township 51. Savannah 52. Windswept Heath 53. Flooded Strand 54. Marsh Flats 55. Verdant Catacombs 56. Wooded Foothills 57. Misty Rainforest 58. Forest 59. Forest 60. Forest 61. Forest 62. Forest 63. Forest 64. Forest 65. Forest 66. Forest 67. Forest 68. Forest 69. Forest 70. Plains 71. Plains 72. Plains 73. Plains 74. Plains 75. Plains 76. Plains 77. Plains 78. Plains 79. Plains Ankara's eyes change. Instead of hatred and insanity, they're filled with fear...but not in a good way." No one can hear me scream. Maybe it's just a dream..."she says, before her eyes go back more to the way they were before.(1d84)[1](1d83)[56]Discarding Rest In PeacehandSpoiler Hide Plains Ravages of War Tangle wire True Conviction Honor of the Pure Unwinding Clock Ankara plays a plain, and attempts to cast wrath of God, getting screwed up by Twilight's spell crumple. After that, she casts honor of the pure (2 MANA left)Then, she pays 1 life and taps Trading post to get another goat. Lastly, she taps out to attempt to equip the goat with Swift foot boots. Field: Anvil of Boardman, Glorious Anthem, Honor of the Pure, Goat token, 6 Plains (T), Temple of the False God (T), Scheme(1d14)[1](I bask in your silent awe)Life: 45

MtGitP_ Mystic Muse vs. Blue Ghost (Archenemy)|rating:2.0

The Makings of a True Champion ((EyesoffireXAmybeth))

Lucille stood before her looking glass as her chamber slaves attended her hair and hooked her simple silver chains around her think long pale neck. She tilted her head to the side admiring the way the silver and sapphire drops that hung in her ears stood out from her almost black large curls. Her gown was of fine thin material that almost floated around her form in hues of white and blue. As the last of her large curls was tamed with a silver comb. “That is fine Alba, I am not hosting anyone today, simply reviewing the new purchases, no need to put too much work into it all.” She was used to having slaves take care of her but had never been cruel to the slaves she owned. Her ladies retreated as Lucille stood tall examining herself. Her skin was pale, which many complimented her on, but she felt it was too pale and had always wished for the golden glow some of her women had to their faces. Furthermore, her hair was thick and such a dark brown it would seem black in some lights, and it feels to her mid-back with full curls her ladies always loved to play with. Furthermore, her eyes were a shocking gray set above high cheekbones. Furthermore, her nose delicate and her lips a full heart shape of pink. Lucilla was looked out the window at the dawning sun, she frequently rose with the sun to oversee her recently inherited gladiators. She wanted to make it to the stocks early to have first picked of the men, and get her purchases back in time to begin their training without delay. She met her eyes in the mirror, making her face stone, she had to be stone to survive the world she now lived. At 22 years young she was not running her father’s lands and his Anita in wake of her parent’s untimely death. All had expected lands to go to a distant cousin, but it was in Lucille’s fathers dying wish that his daughter should have his namesake. Then again it was expected that she marry, no woman could handle the pressures of what her father had put upon her shoulders. And for months she felt a rabbit and the single men of the Empire hunting hounds. But again the assuming crowd was gone, and the rabbit proved far more evasive than the hounds had thought. She had managed to maintain her father’s Anita and now, she moved to improve it. She knew she had to prove herself with fresh blood and not ride off the backs of Gladiators her father had picked and groomed. Lucilla shook her head clearing the thoughts of her parents from her head. She made her way through the marble corridors her ladies following her gusts of fabric. Previously in the week she had made her way into the center and picked men based on size, muscles, scars and a look in their eye her father had warned me of. The ones with fire, were dangerous and hard to break, but if kept in heel would best any tamed Gladiator on the sands. She Had gotten less men than she had wanted, but there was a slaver or two that was more money than she was usually to spend on new investments. She had let recruits work under the sun in the dry heat for a week she now planned on checking in on the progress with her investments. As she headed her way towards the training ground her sandaled heels hit the marble in a satisfying click, her ladies following behind her flowing gown. The grounds were designed so that at the one end there was a balcony overlooking the training with a terrace underneath for Dominos or Dominos that wished for a closer view and did not fear their gladiators. She waited in the shadows of the terrace before announcing her presence “My lady, is it safe to be so close to them when they are so new.” Her more nervous chamber slave whispered. “Dear Desima, I appreciate your concern but, do not speak out of turn or question me.” She said her voice lacking cruelty but not steel. “Yes, Domino.” Julius had been working in the sun all day, but by now he'd figured out exactly what the trainers were doing to him. He had been too headstrong to just treat fairly so they'd work him from sun-up to sun-down. The glaring heat making his skin tanner than it already was. Sweat dripped down from his dark hair and onto his face as he swung the wooden sword for the hundredth time today. He wore nothing more than something akin to cloth shorts strapped on with a leather belt. Needless to say his muscular and toned body was on display for all to see, sweat-covered and shiny. He swung the sword in a wide arc, almost hitting the trainer. The older man laughed and raised his shield. "Close, but you'll have to do better." Julius sneered in response and lunged. It had been a week of training like this, despite that fact that he almost always collapsed in his dirty, hard bed, he had to admit that the intensity of the training was helping to clear his mind. The last time he'd held a sword was what lead him to this mess. He couldn't help but think on the situation, the circumstances that brought him here. He was 24 now, his life was wasted, he would die somewhere on the sands, his blood staining them. But he swore to the gods every night that he'd be damned if he didn't die without a fight. He lashed out with his sword once more and his hazel eyes roamed upwards to spot his domino under the terrace. Bad mistake, the shield came out of nowhere and slammed him under the chin. He fell back and shook his head, glaring at the trainer, who laughed in response. Julius grabbed his wooden sword once more. The domino, he'd rarely seen her, much less heard her voice. Only when she bought him had their eyes connected. She seemed to linger on his eyes. He wasn't sure what he saw in her own eyes, was it fear? Curiosity? Anger? Or greed? He didn't know what to make of her other than what he'd think of her physically. She was the strangest part of his new life, his new master. She had no husband, and she was young, an interesting predicament. But Julius knew he couldn't take advantage of it, her guards were too loyal to her. Julius lunged again, sprang by his trainer and turned swiftly, he almost hit the trainer's back, his sword-point not even half an inch away from it. Then he fell, collapsed, tired, sweating, bleeding from a few cuts, the sweat stung. "Water!" The trainer called. Lucille hidden in the shade had managed to go unnoticed for a few moments allowing her a few minutes to watch the men train authentically. The veteran gladiators still were tentative on how to preform in front of their recently empowered Domino, especially some of the older men who had been at the Anita since she was little more than a child. But her unwitnessed observations did not last, as she watched one of the new especially fiery slaves eyes fall upon her. She couldn't help but feel her feather fluff as the slave was distracted enough to be knocked to the dry dirt. But had a positive out look on this ones future he was relatively well-trained and skilled prior to his purchase and his body very clearly was that of a physical specimen. She tilted her and sighed, was the man already burning out. "Alba, tell the trainer I would like him and his top 3 of the recent recruits to present themselves here... after some water." Her pretty more bold of the chamber women into the sun and surrounded by some of the strongest men in the city. The guards lining the walls tensed slightly at the possibility of trouble. Alba was darker of complexion with green eyes and honey hair. She made her way to the commotion in the center of the training court keeping here eyes ahead of her without looking at the various paring groups that were halting at the sight. She approached the men just as another young boy ran forward with water that was nervously handed to the trainer. His eyes met Alba and knew her message before she spoke it. Having heard it before from her father for many years before. But it was usually male slaves making the journey across the dirt not Alba. She nodded to them both before turning and making way back to the safety from both the sun and the surrounding men. She returned to her mistress who had set out the special treat of fruit for the three men who had passed her trusted trainer, who had she not had help from, she would never have succeeded on her own. Lucille tried not to watch the young man too closely not wanting to be caught watching but something about him caught her eye more than the others. He was challenging had been the reports but promising, she felt he might have been her missing chess piece all she needed was a way to control him without breaking him. Julius pushed himself up to his feet and took the water that was presented to him. He drank it quickly and went in for more. He was halfway done when it was smacked out of his hand by the trainer. "Your stomach will go bad if you keep drinking that fast." Julius glared at him and wiped water from his chin. He was then escorted towards the shade, something wholly unexpected. He was surprised that he was even being pulled in such a direction. But he had not the energy or the mind of protest right now, truly something curious was gnawing at the back of his mind. He wondered what exactly was this all about. He looked to his right and saw two others brought up before her. They were new as well, bought alongside him. He looked at his trainer and had some kind of idea of what this was going to be about. Julius was given more water, and he took it, drinking it slowly this time. He gave the cup back and looked over to his domino. His eyes scanned her, but he couldn't help but noticed the guards behind her looking nervously at him. It wasn't a good thing to be facing a nervous guard and so Julius eased up upon his gaze. Though he refrained from looking cowed or defeated. He was breathing heavily in the silence that waited for the domino's words. But it wasn't her ho spoke up first." These are the ones I feel would be best suited to the arena." The trained pointed at each one, poking the roughly in the chest. "Some are quick." He said, looking at one. "Some are cunning." His gaze fell upon the second. "And some..." His eyes fell onto Julius. "Are beasts waiting to be unleashed." He turned to face the domino. Julius stared at her chest and lips. "They merely need to hone their skills, Domino." The trainer said, crossing his arms over his chest. Lucille's eyes traveled over the three barely dressed men all shining in the sun with sweat from a difficult morning. She nodded her head to the trainer welcoming him. As he spoke she followed his gaze introducing each of the new slaves who had shown promise. "I thank you, how soon until they are ready to be bled and tested?" She asked eyeing Julius before her gray gaze returned to the trainer she appreciated the idea of a wild beast on the sands, but she did not take kindly to wild in her Anita she had just gotten things secure again under her watchful eye she did not want to risk the possible collapse of order because of a stallion with too much buck in him. She waved to the girl on either side of her who unspoken brought bowls of fruit offering it first to Lucille who took a single grape and placed it between her lips enjoying the cool liquid on a hot day. Next the food was offered to the trainer. But the women stopped in front of the line of slaves who had eaten very little other than gruel and tough salted meat since arriving. The women waited until their Domino moved forward to stand directly in front of the men putting all the guards to a point of hysteria the whites of their eyes showing their anxiety." Well, it would seem you have proved that you may have been a worth investment. Which is a relief to me, but men, there are options here for you, and it is your choice as to what route you will take." She said grasping a pomegranate from the top of one of the bowls. "This Anita has given this city many champions through the years, and it is time for the next generation of greatness to be birthed." She said looking each man in the face locking her gray eyes to hazel ones for just a moment longer. "I present you with your first option, death. You could die you blood spilled on the sands of the arena, an honorable death to many her." Her eyes going distant to the men that continued to train behind them. "Your next option is to fight endlessly until you have earned respect and rank and follow in many great footsteps training the future greatness." She said smiling towards the intimidating trainer who had taken a few grapes of his own. "Or... You can show this city greatness, become the champion of this Anita and this city. You can earn funds from your victory buy your freedom, your name on the lips of ever man woman and child for miles." She said tossing the relish fruit to Julius suddenly. "There are fruits to be won here, I will give you the tools for greatness, but it will be your job to achieve it." She truthfully cared little if her message was reaching the other two who had seemingly already fallen inline. But the speech was meant for the wild beast she had been introduced to, he would never fight for her, or be trained to fight for honor of being a gladiator, but she saw his fight. 'Here is your chance to fight free or die trying bucking stallion' she thought to herself as the girls brought fruit to the other two. Lucilla lowered her self to a cushioned seat, "once you have finished you may return. And do think of what I have said as you train. And while you scheme." She said hissing the word between her teeth again making sure to rest her eyes on the man Julius. And with that they were dismissed. The trainer remained a moment to speak quietly to his Domino. "I expect frequent reports on their readiness. Especially that beast of yours, he will either be our downfall or our chariot to the sun." Knowing the dangers of a rouge gladiator especially in a Anita that had just recovered from unexpected turmoil. The trainer nodded. "I understand, my domino. He will be looked over carefully. I'll see to it personally that his skills will be used to elevate this house to noble standing." The trainer leaned in some more. "And if he doesn't seem able to keep up... well... perhaps you can make some coin off of him by selling him to a brothel." The trainer shrugged, bowed and walked off to continue the training. After Julius had finished off the fresh fruit, his mouth filling with tastes it sorely missed, he was pushed back onto the dirt of the training grounds. One word ringing in his head; 'freedom.' That was something he wanted, something he needed. He had had it once, and he missed its taste. He would have to buy his freedom and he knew what he would have to go through in order to obtain it. Julius picked up his practice sword and levelled it at the trainer. The older veteran came at him with gusto, renewed strength. He beat Julius soundly, the slave fell to the floor, but he hauled himself back up, fell again and came back up. "You have a fight in you boy." The trainer said, grinning. "So lets see it." He dashed towards Julius, shield up, sword high. Julius fell on his bed. He was out as soon as his head was resting on something. He had never been worked this hard in so long. His body was covered head to toe in sweat, and he knew that it would only get harsher in the days to come. Within the housing quarters of the trainers a light was on, and a meeting was being held. "We're to work them to the bone." Julius' trainer said." And will they survive your regimen, Coho?" One trainer asked him." If they don't," Old Coho said, "Then they will die slaves rather than as gladiators. But I will see the glory of this house restored and my domino's name spoken well of!" The others joined him in a small, quiet cheer. Lucille had become increasingly more excited to test her new recruits. It was hard not to be tempted to fight them already anxious to prove herself. But under the suggestion of her trainers she had waited. Today was the final test of the men who Lucille had put directly in Coho's capable hands. The hot summer weeks seemed to drag the oppressive heat weighing downtime itself. Lucille dressed in the thinnest muslin she owned an ethereal cream that her mother would have disapproved of its almost revealing nature. But the heat was more than she could take. She had watched the beginning of the day from her balcony but took refuge inside the cooler marble walls once the sun hit height in the sky. She had Alba do her hair in her favorite style with piles of curls on her head with them spilling down her back. The sun began to die in the sky and the heat lessened its oppressive control over the city. Lucille moved her was to the terrace on connected to the training grounds were all the men had been organized in lines in front of her. The trainers had prepared their men, but they had final tests to complete before being named a gladiator of her Anita. She had been pleased to know that her effect on most of the men had been a good one. They wanted to fight for her, bring her honor and uphold her name. But there was still her wild bucking slave; the one she had learned was named Julius. She saw nothing but fire in his eyes; and none of the adoring looks the rest of them gave her. But she wasn't foolish she knew some of those looks were for her pretty face and shapely figure which was now more exposed than usual in her mid summer attire." Trainers, you have done your job, it is time to see which of these men are worth to fight alongside the honorable gladiators of this Anita, and which men are no more than slave and will always be." She said scanning the crowd her gray eyes intense searching the crowd before lowering herself to the chair she would watch the final trial from. She gave a quick nod to Coho to begin the trials. The trials consisted of sparring one on one with the other proven gladiators. Each gladiator go to pick which candidate they'd fight. Julius was picked first, a large man named Flavius stepped up and pointed a sword to his chest. From what Julius had heard Flavius was far from a good man. But he was a strong fighter and that's what mattered in this life. The other two were picked. Julius hadn't bothered to find out their names while training. He wasn't even sure they'd make it through. Flavius and Julius moved to a round ring that had been made by ropes being set down. "You take one step over this rope," Coho said, "And you've lost." He looked at the two combatants. Flavius had clearly done this before. "First one to bleed loses. If you succeed this trial, if you show us you can survive then you are welcome." Julius swallowed and sidestepped quickly as the bigger Flavius charged him. He was slow and Julius could feel that that was the key to winning this fight. Lucille bit her lip and leaned forward as the process began. It did not surprise her that the new man was chosen first, established gladiators always want to be the ones to put upstarts into their place. But when the large veteran Flavius brazenly challenged Julius a shiver of anxiety rolled down her spine. She needed this wild one to win, she had put her eggs in too few baskets. She knew Flavius’ reputation for dirty brutal fighting. Furthermore, she made brief eye contact with Coho, who gave her a tight-lipped nod. Furthermore, she understood this was necessary for him to prove himself, but she had put a large portion of her saved money on the man now entering the roped areas. If she lost him as a gladiator the Anita would be in serious trouble financially. Flavius had been one of those slaves her father had bought when he had taken over the Anita from his own father a too short 10 years ago. Her grandfather lived too long and her father didn’t live long enough. Her father had seen the same fire she had looked for in the marketplace. If Flavius hadn’t enjoyed fighting and killing as much as he did, she doubted her father would have been able to control him, but he took to the gladiator lifestyle like a fish to water. He was the individual would charge head into battles with no regard for his own safety, or the safety of anyone who was put in the arena with him. But watching Julius side step the snarling man she leaned back against the back of her chair, not relaxed but relieved. She knew he was good, but she had seen Flavius destroy men on multiple occasions. The man was slow, but gods help the man who met one of his strong blows. As the man turned preparing to charge again she could see every muscle of his back tighten. The men hollered and hooted, Lucille did not stop the rowdiness, she wanted them excited to serve her and fight for her. Some of the group seemed to rally around the newcomer knowing if he succeeded as did their domino. But others, the more veteran usually supported Flavius, jealous of the young man’s attention feeling it was due to them. Flavius charged again, Julius side-stepped, but this time turned around fast enough to hit Flavius in the back. This seemed to flip something within Flavius' mind he turned and dropped his own practice sword and charged once more. Julius did the same as he glared at Flavius. The two collided and a cloud of dust was kicked up as the wrestled and struggled to the floor. Julius hit Flavius square in the eye while Flavius' fist made contact with Julius' jaw. The two were entangled, grunting and beating one another as they slowly fell to the floor. The others watched with intent as the cheering subsided somewhat, this was completely unexpected and Coho made a move to stop the fight. He froze, however, realizing that this could very well happen in the ring. There was rage building between the two of them, and it had boiled up to this. Once things has settled the two men had to be pulled apart. Flavius' right eye was bleeding, black and bruised. Julius' mouth was dripping with blood. Both had various other bruises across their bodies. There was murmuring going on throughout the crowd. Who made who bleed first? No one could really tell. Eventually things simmered down and they looked at Coho. Coho stared out at the two bleeding men in the make-shift ring. He opened his mouth then closed it before turning to look at Lucille. "This is your decision, Domino." Lucille Gnawed her lip as the fight took a much less civilized turn in event. She just hoped Flavius' mouth stayed far away from Julius she had seen his teeth rip off ears and take out chunks from a man which would mean a loss of Julius. Lucille couldn't help the movement of her body as she leaned further and further forward in her chair until the motion finally brought her to her feet. When the entire Anita turned their eyes to her, she was already standing a motion most had missed as their eyes had been glued to the ruckus that had erupted in the ring. All eyes turned to their Domino, waiting for the answer to the problem that had been placed before her. She made eye contact with Coho searching for his own opinion, but it was purposefully and overly blank. Of course, she wanted to shout out Julius and be done with it. She needed him to pass, she could not waste the money she had spent on him for to become a house slave with no ability to bring in money to the Anita. She also knew that if she did this he would be faced with trouble from many of the seasoned gladiators and she and Coho could not be there all the time to keep problems uneventful. And Lucille was also aware that if a fight were to break out her guards would go at ANY length to end it. She needed ALL of her gladiators in fighting shape. No she needed a way to have Julius accepted, without them thinking it was simply her favor that had given him his position. The moment of silence was deafening. All eyes were unwavering, and it was as if the whole Anita held its breath. So when Lucille abruptly stepped from the Terrance onto the dirt of the training ground itself the action seemed to startle everyone. No one was more startled than her guards who jumped and scurried to her side. But when they finally met her she had already closed half the distance between her and the slightly bloodied men. Some men looked down embraced to be so close to the young beautiful Domino, almost as if casting down their eyes hid some of their thoughts. Some stared boldly not having ever been this close to her. Many of the men had not laid with women in months, some even years. She allowed victorious gladiators to bed house slaves, IF the house slaved wished for the bedding as well, something that had not been as important to her father. Some of the men resented the fewer women that were sent to the gladiators quarters. She stopped just two feet in front of the men. She studied both of their faces. Furthermore, she wasn't sure what she was doing at all, she was winging it, but she had hopped being closer would giver her some idea. Without a word she first tugged on Flavius' chin pulling it down so she could better inspect his eye. The gasp of the guards and their shock could almost be felt in her bones, she had to hide her smile, she felt bad she really did put them through quite the stressors. His eye was puffy and swollen almost closed with dried blood crusting at the sides already. She turned to Julius repeating the process. She for some reason felt more nervous touching him, even though Flavius was the clearly vicious gladiator, it was Julius' unpredictability that made her nervous, she thought. His lip was bleeding still and puff and would be so for a few days. She had originally planned on trying to pitch that the man that spilled more blood would be the winner, but a split lip tends to bleed quickly, and it would leave Julius the looser. She nodded to both and turned to the side to face Tho and some of the other training veterans would have circled around just in case the too hot-blooded gladiators. Again silenced came over the dirt, the sound of wind whipped through the courtyard area. She was unsure if her façade of careful deliberation was covering her rapid fire problem-solving. "Well Trainer Tho, I have to think practically, what is going to produce the best gladiators, win the most challenges, and bring this Gangstas the glory it deserves." And thankful mid-sentence it dawned on her. "I am making my decision based on which injury would have the greatest negative effect on the gladiators possible performance. Our challenger finds his eye greatly swollen and visibility reduced a disadvantage in the arena even for the best gladiator. Our prospect finds himself with a bloodied lip, though bloody indeed it would have little to know effect on any level of fighter. For this reason I am reasoning in favor of Julius." She turned to the slave her gray eyes steady meeting his. "Welcome, Gladiator." She said cool. "Very wise and fair judgment Domino." Tho added as she turned on her heels to head back to her seat. Tho followed her back under the watchful gaze of her cumbersome guards. "You have eased the boys transitions, but some will still be unhappy." She turned to him "I felt I was very fair, do you disagree?" She asked with a dangerous bite to her voice loud enough for many near to hear. "Yes, of course Domino" Tho was shocked but also mildly relieved to hear her father's tone in her voice. "We will test him early he can prove to me and the others I have not made a mistake or die in the sands." She said loudly for the whole courtyard meeting his eye. Before returning to her seat to observe the rest of the evening. "You have a flare for dramatics domino." Her bold Alba stated daringly airing her a wicked girlish grin from Lucille. Julius was pulled upright by the other trainers. He was breathing heavily, his body sore from the fight, but he was glad enough to hear the Domino's words. A lingering feeling made itself know, its presence occurring when their eyes had met. He wasn't quite sure what the feeling was. It could have been anything from a stirring within his loins to deep hatred within his gut. However, he had heard that hatred and passion are so easily mixed up. Flavius leered at him, his lower jaw tight as he tried to pierce Julius with his gaze. His fits were clenched, the veins sticking out as he made an effort to take a step towards Julius. The heavy hand of one of the other veteran gladiators stopped him. Julius would have welcomed the fight again. Anything to put down the competition. He was taken away from the crowd, sat near the steps by the kitchens and given some food and water as well as a pat on the back by some of the gladiators. He ate slowly, his blood mixing with the stew-like food he'd been given. But he had to eat, he had to get better quickly because now things were different, now his life was on the line. These thoughts were taken from his mind as he watched the other two go through the trials. The one next was a younger man, around the age of 18. His speed was incredible, unmatched by the one he was facing. He managed to trip the man and ended the trail by sitting upon his back and pressing the tip of his practice sword into the back of his neck. He got up as soon as Coho said he'd passed and yelled out his own name into the night. "GIGO!" The third man failed. He was beaten down harshly by a close friend of Flavius who wanted to extract some sort of revenge... or to prove that he was better. Julius couldn't tell. The trials were over, and the gladiators were moving back to their rooms with much to talk about. GIGO sat by Julius and ate quickly. "Wasn't so bad." He said through a mouth full of bread." You ever killed a man before?" Julius asked him quietly." You do not want to know what I did to get here." GIGO replied. Julius finished eating and walked off to his own bed, locking the door to his quarters and knowing he'd be meeting with both GIGO and Flavius in the near future. Lucille sent orders to the trainers to continue training as usual, and to target weakness with more force than before. She wanted to hammer the flaws of her gemstones, and those that did not crack were the ones of real value. She also refrained from observing from the first floor, and only occasionally appearing on her balcony. The men had seen her close for long enough, and she wanted to create distance and make sure none were getting to familiar with her presence. She continued to get updated information about them. Though Lucille was very well-informed on how the world of the gladiator was run, like her father she advised the trainers when it came to planning fights. They were with these men almost every hour of every day when she only gave down at them for a few moments a day. She met in a plan room inside her home that was used for informal meetings. Before her Tho and two other trainers presented their recommendations. Lucille had asked about putting Julius in a larger even but was warned against it and understood it immediately. One the men would resent giving him an opportunity to add to their purse to spend on whores, drink, or possibly their freedom. Also, he was good, but he wasn't as good as he thought. Most gladiators were not as good as they thought they were, in their minds they were all the next champion of Rome. But Julius did have potential to be one of the best, and it would be unwise to waste it in a fight to which he would quickly die. He was placed lower in the ranking, the trainers were certain he would be fine and as would GIGO, who they decided would fight together, though both new, both were quite good." Inform the men that are to fight in the next arena." The even was in just two days she wanted to give them time to prepare. "Domino, I don't recommend it, it will give men who are angered by not being chosen more time to exact their revenge." She pursed her lips annoyed by the idea that such behavior was not control able. "Well then, you can decide when they know, you are already deciding when they piss and shit." It was unnecessary and showing of her age and frustration as she had had some social disturbances, especially when it came to aggressive single men. She signed her shoulders sagging. Her tone much more gentle "Tell them what you wish when you wish, you have much more experience in the handling of Gladiators then I do." She dismissed the men. Otho marched into the washroom lucky empty of all but Julius and GIGO, "Oh good, you two are becoming friends, prepare you will be on the sands the day after next." Tho chose to follow Lucille's advise on this these men were going to need to learn to fight well with each other if they were going to make it out alive. "Tomorrow we will be training you two against groups, it will be fun." He said with a tone that explained how much it was not going to be fun. Lucilla observed for the first time since her dramatics on the dirt to the Terrance on the first floor. She dressed in a deep emerald color bringing out the lightness of her skin and the gray of her eyes. Her dark deep curls flowing down her back barely contained with braid appearing much more natural, as if she had risen from bed and left them wild. Her girls were allowed to relaxed being her only close company since her father and mother had died. They sat kneeling on cushions beside Lucille giggling about the muscled and scantily dressed men. Lucille smirked at them and tasked their silliness, but even she found her eyes wandering she was only human, a young adventurous beautiful human. And she found was her gray eyes traveled over the men they frequented the form of her newest gladiator. Tho had done as she asked and was definitely testing the flaws of her men for cracks as Julius and GIGO fought off four opponents at once. It was certainly clear that GIGO and Julius were training a lot together. Over the past days they had realized something about one another, their strengths and weaknesses. GIGO was a Carthaginian and his body had become used to fighting in the heat for long periods of time. However, he wasn't good with a direct approach and so Julius, who was bigger and stronger, would gain the enemy's attention as GIGO swung around and attacked a different angle. It had worked against groups of two prior to this, but against four, well this would be a challenge. Gisgo was initially hard to work with, despite being slow to anger, he was prone to poking at Julius emotionally. He frustrated Julius initially by talking about himself. Most notably about the things he did which landed him here. It wasn't until their training that Julius could show GIGO that he needed Julius and not the other way around. GIGO would be taken down by the other, bigger men because Julius decided to hang back. It wasn't until Julius would rush into the fray and GIGO was allowed to move and be mobile, which gave him supreme command of the space. The four men split up, two facing Julius and two facing GIGO. Julius had a brief word with GIGO before the training began. It took a while for things to work out and Julius was taking a beating, however he kept his shield high and deflected and parried the hits. The plan was a success due mainly to GIGO's speed and Julius' endurance. They'd come out on top and the better for it. Each passing day made them stronger and hungrier for victory. Julius had heard that with victory came some coin and with coin can come the prospect of a female slave to pour out his desires into. Lucille did not hide her pleasure from the excellent show the men put on. She fantasized and arena chanting his name, chanting her name, chanting them together. Her inner voice froze and she startled herself. She was glad her statement was kept to herself. The girls giggled with delight even clapping for the men. At first, she looked down almost as an older sister with a reserved smile, she is like that the women of her company did not shy away from the games and instead embraced them. Though one was much more nervous than the other. But when Lucille looked down she noticed the more bold Alba's eyes were locked on Julius. A cold shiver of anger rolled through her like thunderclouds. "Well Domino, you certainly have a way of picking wonderful examples of a man." Alba turned to meter her Domino with a smile the froze when she saw the ice her in her mistresses gray eyes. "Did I speak out of turn?" She questioned not used to such a harsh and cold stare. Again silence hung. "No, but remember he is not a toy, not your toy, he is to be a champion, my Champion." Lucille sounded maybe just a little to possessive, but Alba would be treading on dangerous territory to say anything about it, instead she dropped her head murmur "Understood Domino." At the end of the training Domino sent a message to the kitchen to bring a stew with more meat than usual to the men. She wanted them strengthened and wanted to give them a taste of the finer things. The trainers were ordered to remind the men that those that fought with honor, and won money and respect for this Anita would be privileged to much more than stew with extra meat. To remind the men that money, food, comfort, women and even their freedom could be won on the sands. She wanted her men to be motivated. She also wanted to win new gladiators over. But she also did not want to seem soft, as she wasn't. A month before Julius had joined she had flogged a gladiator for raising a hand to one of her ladies. Raising a hand to one of them was like raising a hand to her she said as they were a continuation of her self and belonged to her. He was sent to the minds, a fate that every slave feared. So the men were shaken awake well before the sun to spar once more before being shuttled off to the sands. Lucille awoke with them and watched from above a shall wrapped around her shoulder to keep the bite of early morning away. Her hair whipping in the surrounding wind. She watched through eyes still heavy with sleep but eyes that did not miss a beat of the action below her. And as it has always been since purchasing him her eyes settled on Julius. She wanted nothing more than to turn him into a champion but she knew she could not push it, or he would be nothing more than blood to moisten the sands. He did show promise. She planned on putting him and GIGO against the men of Marcus' another Anita in the city. He had too much money and simply bought slaves, fought them and bought more when they died. His deep purse made him lazy. His men usually fought in groups of wild uncontrolled groups of four. She would win money on the 2-4 paring, but she planned on having some of her men bet on the match with her money and bring the winnings back. Tho had tried to advise her against betting because if she lost, she lost twice, but she was rather confident. Tho was a serious man and saw betting as tempting the gods to dump you on your ass. "Next time I look down upon you, you will be proving yourself. May the gods show you favor." She said under her breath her whisper being taken away with the wind. After retreating into her chamber her slaves dressed her in crimson and gold, her hair in braids and coiled around her head but tumbling down one side onto one shoulder in perfect large ringlets. She had gold thick necklace that resembled armor and cuffs around each wrist studded with rubies which resembled the guards worn by gladiators. She smirked as she looked like a dangerous and beautiful goddess of war. Furthermore, she turned in the mirror allowing to be silly for a moment, "wonderful job ladies, really you out did your self." Both women smiled and tucked their heads. A swirl of attention whipped through the main courtyard as Lucille walked with a brisk step her ladies and guards keeping step with her. She had gotten and early start but had unintentionally left at the same time the men were being loaded into the uncovered wagon to head to the arena. She was originally unhappy that they would see her dressed so well, she did not want them becoming overly familiar with the sight of her. But she also considered the thoughts of men, perhaps she could get some blood flowing and motivation for the men to do well. She definitely looked like someone men would die for at the moment. Her appealingly full lips pulled slightly at the corners, she was only 22 years old, any young woman enjoys being admired. She mounted her dark-colored stallion with grace and a familiarity that most higher born women lacked. She rode past the line of men and half loaded wagon and stopped where Tho overlooked everything with guards on either side of him. He nodded at her, "Domino." He knew the stakes.

The Makings of a True Champion ((EyesoffireXAmybeth))|rating:4.0

Forest Hospitality

The plane landed with a thump on the paved landing strip. Outside, all the new arrivals could see was lush green. Fog blanketed every inch of the horizon. It was all rather eerie and haunting." You see! I told you it was all worth it!" The cinnamon haired man glared over his shoulder. "I only came for the camping. Not the ghosts."" Well this place will make you believe." Another voice piped up from Blaine's right. It was official, his friends were crazy. They kept talking about ghosts and how they would prove once and for all the things were real. As if spirits would want to linger on earth when they could go wherever the afterlife took them. And even if they did, would they really want electronic toting guys to find them? To capture them on camera and through a bunch of other expensive equipment? Blaine kept wondering that all during the drive towards the forest where they would be staying. He wasn't sure if camping in the nearby forest was legal. Apparently Carter had gotten permission from one of the people who owned the land where the forest was, because of all the haunting that kept going on. Ireland really was a place for people who still believed in things that went bump in the night. Once at the forest, they stepped inside with bags slung over their backs, and in their arms. "So Blaine, you still think this place isn't haunted?" Blue-gray eyes snapped to a freckled face. "Martin, this forest is just like any other pace we've gone camping. Old and creaky and natural." It was beautiful, really. Moss covered trunks and green underbrush lined their path. And there was a path, a dirt one that veered off through different spots. It took the trio a little while to discover a clearing where they could set up their tents. Blaine was determined to stay in his own two-person lean to, while the others were going to share a place of their own, if they managed to get it up. Tachigami: It looked to Fin tan that the clouds had descended beneath the thick canopy above, which made up a thick roof of big, beautifully emerald leaves that rarely let more than a few wan rays of sunlight flicker down to the grassy floor. The trees here were so huge Fin tan was sure he could fit more than a few of his cottages into the trunks alone, and sometimes he hoped one day to see what was so far up that only the clawed and winged animals could get so far up. His long limbs could run like wind, leap high, and gave him a grace he had been told few others possessed, but they didn't allow him to climb trees effectively. He didn't like going more than a few feet up, because the idea of falling and hurting himself was an awful one. He stepped away from his window and stretched, looking into his home. It was small. He had been born within its walls and raised here. His mother told him that his father was a strong creature, powerful, with horns that put all the others to shame. But he had left, as was the same with the fawns, before Fin tan was born. He missed his father, though he had never met the fawn, and had never seen him in the forest. But then, it was just so massive... He looked around at the simply made furniture, the room that made up a large portion of the main house. There was a simply carved staircase leading up to the bedroom. Beyond the living area and its large fireplace, which was more than necessary in the winter, was a small kitchen, based on what the humans styled their dwellings after. It was so hard to get material here, where no one knew fawns even existed, but it was easy, Fin tan had heard, to scavenge for parts where they dumped them. Luckily nowhere near the forests, but that meant a longer trek to and from home when they were needed. It was why his home had no glass in the windows. He didn't want windows anyway. After his mother's passing Fin tan had discovered just how lonely it was here. He turned to the door and stepped out, onto the small stone stoop, and then onto the grass. Since so little sunlight reached the forest floor except in large clearings, the grass was short and kept that way by the herbivores and insects. Fin tan didn't eat grass unless he was short on food himself, because it had an unpleasant tone and aftertaste. Closing his door, he started forward, pausing and looking back. A small cottage, really. Lovely and secluded and rare, as far as homes went in this place. He picked his way through the fog to the natural orchard a couple miles out, large ears twitching and tail swinging from side to side in anticipation of any form of danger. While the other two struggled, Blaine excelled. His hands put metal poles together with practiced ease. Then it was just a matter of sliding the poles through pouches in the tent's form to put it up. The tarp went over the small structure, and was settled into place with rope and pegs, as was the tent. It was well in place, off to the side of the clearing." Hey, mind putting up our tent too? We really want to go exploring," said Carter. Blaine rolled his eyes. "Sure, just don't get lost, you hear?" His friends nodded and raced off after grabbing camcorders and other gizmos from their bags. That left Blaine alone beneath the tall trees, doing his best to put up yet another tent securely. This one was a bit more complicated, only because of the type of tent it was. He wished, not for the first time, that Carter and Martin had gone camping more often when they were younger. It was mostly because of that, he knew, that they would most definitely stay safe on the forest paths. He found himself in the orchard quickly and picked up the old woven bag he and his mother would use to pick apples and pears and strawberries and anything else that would grow on the forest floor or in trees or on vines. Fin tan hung the bag off one of his antlers, an ivory three-point situated just above his heavy ears, and started pulling large red orbs from the tree and dropping them into the bag. He barely had enough control not to eat every one he pulled off the branches, which was saying quite a bit since he was so thin and willowy. Still, the bag grew heavy fast, and Fin tan had to pull it off his antler before it started hurting. What time was it? He didn't have a way of telling specifically, but he knew the slant of the sun even when it had to fight with the fog that would become trapped among the huge trees. It was nearing evening and the humidity was lessening, and soon the night would be complete and clear, entirely dark. With the bag held in his long fingers, Fin tan picked his way to where he knew a few berry bushes were. He'd had an awful habit of keeping his bags near where he harvested, something his mother had always scolded him about. Between picking dark red berries and tossing them into the little bag, Fin tan's ears twitched involuntarily when he heard something odd. A voice, more than one voice, talking together. Among themselves. He didn't know their tones, had only heard humans speak that way when he was ever so close as to hear them. Of course, that was before the others started tormenting them while staying just out of sight, like spirits in the trees and shadows to scare them out. Fin tan had never done it---he preferred to keep away from the events. Still, he was curious. Setting his bags down against a tree, he lowered himself down and started creeping forward. Carter and Martin crashed away from the camp. Their voices could be heard with no trouble at all, drifting through the trees. Really, the sounds they made sliced through the fog like knives through butter. "Come on, I saw something over there!" Martin said something next. "... stay on the path!" Blaine shook his head as he settled down on a small stool outside his tent. He fumbled through his luggage, trying to find a lamp he'd packed. It ran on electricity of course. This, he hung on a branch above his head before settling down again. The athletic young man pulled a jacket over himself, and swept some cream across his hands, onto his neck, on his ankles, to make sure that no mosquitoes would bother him while he started to read. Fin tan skirted the two humans with their clunky devices and wires and whatever else they dragged into the middle of the only forest that people were terrified of because of the rumor that it was haunted. And people like this... they liked to spy and try to find the nonexistent spirits. He was quiet, wincing at the loud voices and the lumbering footsteps. So inconsiderate. But they were coming from elsewhere. Fin tan could smell something else, something they had left. And could hear movement, though it was dim. Creeping forward, he gritted his teeth and held his breath. A light that didn't look like fire hung on one of the lowest branches of a large tree behind the human. What was it? It hurt his eyes, not at all like fire. Sweeping his hair back, Fin tan moved around and behind one of the large dome-like dwellings, getting as close as he dared. His heart was pounding in his thin chest. He hadn't been this close to people like this before, not ever. What would this human think? What would he do? Fin tan wanted to explore, but there was no way he could do that without calling attention to himself. The book was old and worn, something much read. Its cracked spine was testament to that. Blaine's eyes were focused on the slightly yellowed pages, reading through the classic tale with serious concentration. Treasure Island was his favorite book, and he didn't go anywhere without it. Of course there were unusual sounds all around. Branches creaking and swaying in the wind. The wind itself, whistling softly through the trees ... Crickets rubbing their legs together, creating a song all their own in the night. It almost sounded like something scurried in the underbrush. Almost. Blaine ignored it, and bent his head closer to the pages. The sky was darkening after all. Night under the trees was even more lightless than under the skies. Starlight had a hard time making its way through the branches up above, and so did moonlight. It was no wonder, really, that Blaine was just a little jumpy. His large, black liquid eyes made it easy to see in what little light was offered, even in foggy evenings or cloudy, rainy ones. The light, however, was painfully bright and sharp in his gaze and Fin tan had to blink multiple times to even start to see what was over there. The human was bent over something in his hand, refusing to look up, so Fin tan wriggled his backside a little to build up a bit of courage, twitching his tail left and right as he crept to the nearest dome, pressing his hand to the open slit and pulling it open a bit more. He could smell them. A specific human. Whichever one it was, Fin tan couldn't figure it out. The scents mingled with other strange smells that he just couldn't place. He stuck his head into the flap and stared around. So many soft things. He definitely heard something. Slowly, Blaine lifted his head from the pages of his book. He twisted around with care, and peeked at what had been roaming around. A behind was stinking out of his tent... And it had a tail. The young man blinked incredulously. Was this some kind of joke? Had one of the villagers decided to take advantage of the ghost hunters? Lure them in with tales of a haunted forest, and then send someone in to steal their things? The young man didn't want to accuse anyone of theft without having proof. So he put his book aside gently, and shifted to make himself ready. All it would take was one lunge, and he would be up and running. If that was needed. The zipper, when it moved, was very strange. It sounded odd, a noise he couldn't place. The fabric was odd, so tightly wound with itself that he didn't know how it was made. Fin tan wriggled in a bit more, looking at a red bag and pushing it open, bringing something out. It looked like a shirt, just not his kind of shirt. Nothing of what he wore, not even similar to what he wore. What was it? And the pants were so heavy. And the things with long ties, there were two. He froze when he heard something shift behind him. Feeling his throat tighten, Fin tan backed out, feeling his antlers catch on something. He flailed, shaking his head free of the fabric and throwing himself back. The human was up and staring straight at him, possibly as confused as him, but Fin tan's mind was frantic, it didn't register the look. He shifted and got onto his feet, fleeing the scene and its sharp, ugly, bright light and the strange things and the human that looked like he was about to jump on Fin tan's back. "Hey wait!" Before he could even really think it through, Blaine set off after the ... other person. He jumped after it. Tackling the slight person near instinctively. It was the years of rugby that made him do it. And an almost certainty that the strange person who'd been peeking through his tent would run away as fast as could be if he didn't catch him right away. There was a sense of lightness and speed to the person, to the stranger. That would have made it too easy to escape. So he'd tackled the fleeing shape, and now they were both on the ground. Blaine lay atop the slender form, arms wrapped around it tight. Something poked his face. The young man shook his head and leaned back slightly to peer at the antlers. Those must have been what got caught in his tent. "What were you doing, messing around in my tent?" He went the most familiar direction he could. Home. He had to get home. Home was a safe place and though he was obviously leading a random human being to it, somehow Fin tan knew if he just got home, just got through the door and closed it and hid under his bed and pretended he was relaxed and calm, there wouldn't be any danger. No worry. No fear. He sped so quickly he was sure he could take off and fly at any moment, but the trees were so thick. He had to slow down now and then just to go around the huge things. Then something grabbed him. He screamed out a terrified noise he didn't think he'd ever heard himself produce and went to the ground, throwing his head back and trying to grab the grass and pull himself away. But he couldn't get the guy off. He bucked, twisted, and finally found himself panting and writhing underneath the heavier body, mewling out little cries as his eyes blurred with tears. What would happen now? He could barely breathe. "O... Ah, ah...! Am s-s-sorry... Sorry..." He panted, trying to gain a full lung of air but finding it increasingly difficult. "P-please let me up... want to go home..." Home was his safe place. Nothing could get him there. Not even this big human. He was panting because of the chase, and for having had to handle a squirming shape trying everything it could to escape. Blaine almost felt sorry for the poor thing, almost. The young man shifted to a sitting position, but kept his hold on the intruder. Very lithe, and terrified apparently ... Those tears, they certainly seemed really enough. Blaine sighed." Would you like it if I went poking around your home without permission? That's what you did to mine." Temporary home though it was, the tent was still where he would be staying for the next while. Any kind of intrusion into his space always left Blaine with his skin crawling and a slow burning anger simmering underneath his skin. He was sure his barely suppressed ire could be heard in his voice. It was still hard to breathe but Fin tan couldn't get the air---or courage---to tell the human to get off. The human seemed so angry. So furious that Fin tan would dare get near anything he owned, and it was incredibly... confusing. "S-s-sorry... W-we don't... I don't..." He panted, feeling lightheaded. "I... let anyone in... I-in my home... When they need..." He shifted and felt his antlers dig deep into the earth behind his head. His heart was going so fast he couldn't feel it anymore. Was he going to die? There were small lights blooming in front of his vision, swimming, and he finally went limp. Stopped his vain attempts to get away. He'd never been attacked like this before. He'd never heard of the concept of keeping people out of his home if they wanted to come in. Furthermore, he was just friendly. Curious, cautious, but friendly. Belatedly, Blaine realized he was still partially onto of the slender stranger. Mumbling under his breath, he shoved the lithe form around until he was holding the stranger against his chest, without actually sitting or leaning on him in any way. It had taken a little bit to get the horns out of the dirt though. "Are these for real?" He poked at the antlers, tugged at an ear with one of his hands. The other arm was still tight around the intruder. He just couldn't believe any of it. That someone was so naive as to let anyone into their home, that someone could actually have deer ears and antlers. It couldn't be real. Fin tan heard himself yelp when he was manhandled, trying and failing to get away again. This human was too strong for his thin body, built for speed and flight and escape, to wrench away from. He twisted his head, trying to get the probing hand away from his sensitive antlers, his even more sensitive ears. He gasped and shook his head hard to make the human stop pulling his ear. "Ow, stop! Please... Let me go... Go back, I'm not going to come back, I want to go home..." He mewled again, delving into more of a pitiful, quiet sobbing. He wanted his apples and berries back, wanted to take them home and hide under the blankets in front of the fire and forget that painfully bright light in the tree and the weird domes of fabric that seemed to hold their shape on their own and the weird pair of thick fabric with the ties. And this human that didn't seem to care that he was hurting Fin tan. Blaine snatched his hand back as if burned. Everything just felt so real! Gentle, he pressed his fingers against the antlers again. "They're real ..." He looked at the young man in his arms with wonder. "You're really real. Some kind of . Of forest spirit, aren't you? Don't you know humans think people like you don't exist?" His hold gentled, but didn't disappear. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know your ears were really ears. I just thought all of was a trick, some kind of costume." The crying both made him feel horrible, and got on his nerves. It just didn't seem like the deer-being would ever quiet down to have a sensible conversation. Shaking his head hard, twisting, so his hair was released and didn't pull back painfully, Fin tan panted until his breath was back. He didn't want to cause harm but felt dangerously close to kicking back and bucking the human off, then running back, perhaps zigzagging so he lost the guy and didn't get tackled again. He couldn't run forever, but he could run faster than humans, especially in such heavy darkness that hid the ivy and the twisted roots, the fallen logs and streams and little empty riverbeds. "I'm n---no spirit, I just live here." He twisted again, letting out a noise of distress and finally, ultimately, going limp for the last time. "I don't know what you're talking about, I just want to go home. Let me go! Your friends might... be back. They might be worried..." Blaine tilted his head to the side. "You were curious about our things. Well, would you like to see them?" Now that he knew, knew for certain, that there was something more out there then what was obvious to the human eye, he just couldn't let it slip by without at least trying to find out more." My friends are out hunting for ghosts, for spirits. It's the whole reason why they came here. I just wanted to come camping." And now he had bruises and scratches to show for his wanting. "So you can look in my tent if you want now ..." Now that he knew the deer-being wasn't a thief, only curious. Fin tan gritted his teeth painfully, shaking his head in a short, jerky motion. "I don't wanna." He muttered. "I saw enough, I don't know what most of it is. C-camping..." What was that, exactly? What these humans were doing? Why would they leave their real homes? And didn't they have their own homes to begin with? He shifted, hoping that he could slide away from the human and run home. "Spirits..." He huffed, nearly snorting out a halfhearted laugh. "There aren't spirits here... Just... me. And animals. And others like me... They won't like you here. They don't like newcomers. And all that stuff you have... it makes our ears hurt. And the lights... they hurt our eyes. They'll try to get you out as soon as they know why you're here." And he just didn't care. He wanted to get away from the beeping and buzzing and blinking lights that came with these spirit searchers. "If you don't run away I could start a fire, and turn off the light." Blaine tried to make his voice sound as reasonable as possible. "And I could give you some food. Have you ever tried dried cranberries before?" He'd bought them in one of the towns they'd passed. Hard to find, surely, but definitely delicious. Slowly, he let the other's lithe form touch ground. He lifted his hands up so the deer ling could see exactly where they were. "I'm curious, that's all." He felt lighter, finally, like he was able to escape. The thought passed through his mind, though, and he didn't immediately take off again. "I don't..." He stared at the hands the human was holding up. "I have... Well, what about them?" He was speaking of the man's friends, obviously, and their devices and things and the buzzing noises that came with those devices. "I don't want... I mean... I don't know..." He twisted his hair, the beads he had threaded through some of it, and felt his mouth go dry. He couldn't form much more in the way of words after that, so he just nodded. "Fin tan." He added quietly. Blaine lowered his hands slowly, and rested them against his knees. "They'll be gone for a while, all night, probably. Chasing those others like you, that you were talking about." He shifted a bit and considered moving to his feet. The light did need to be turned off, as soon as could be, so his guest could feel more comfortable. But he had no wood, and needed to find some ... Blaine smiled a bit, despite all the thoughts whirling through his mind. Fintan did cut a rather endearing figure. "I'm Blaine." He glanced at the dark forest. "Would you help me find some wood? The sooner that's done, the faster we can start a fire." The human stood with deliberate slowness. He was afraid of startling the deer ling. Fin tan nodded and licked his lips to get a bit of moisture back. "Blaine, then." He nodded in greeting, looking around at the immediate area. "I can find some wood. You can go back there... I'll find my way back. It isn't safe to run around in... in the dark. When you don't know your way around." He knew they weren't from around the forest, with the accent and the strange temporary dwellings they had set up. And all that gear. He couldn't imagine carrying it all, let alone knowing how it all worked. He turned his back, picking large sticks and fallen bits of logs off the ground; they were dry since it hadn't rained in days, and the fog was never thick enough for very long to let moisture sink in. "I promise I'll come back." He added when Blaine didn't seem to be going anywhere. "I can just... I can see better." He started piling sticks and branches at the foot of an especially large tree. Fin tan was such a fidgety fellow. Blaine stood still nervously, unsure if the deer ling really would go back to the camp. It was nerve wracking really. Now that the threat of remaining alone in the forest loomed before him, he was terrified. When he'd been sitting with his book, things had been alright only because he knew that his friends wouldn't find anything. Now he knew they would, and were probably going to end up outside the forest. Reluctantly, the human nodded and turned on his heel to walk back towards the camp. The light guided him. Bright as the lantern was, it was near impossible to miss. That didn't stop Blaine from stumbling from time to time, garnering a whole new collection of scratches and bruises. With the receding footsteps, Fin tan had the chance to run. Escape, get back home and hide. There was no way the human, inexperienced in tracking and with a nose that couldn't smell Fin tan's specific scent and follow it wherever it was going. He didn't run, though; it might have been stupid but this time he knew he could run if he just zigzagged instead of taking a straight, predictable pattern. He collected some low-lying branches and tested the strength of a thick, albeit dead, tree. It had seeded possibly four or five years ago, and didn't get enough sunlight to grow or survive before it got to be more than a few feet high. He snapped it off near the ground and added it to the large collection, then untied the cloth from around his waist and cinched it around the large, heavy bundle, and threw it over his shoulder. Fin tan knew what his mother would say. Not to trust the humans that came in and looked for ghosts. That spread rumors and then got scared of the very things they were chasing. And this human, Blaine, had chased and tackled him, had painfully attacked him, because why? Because Fin tan, in his curiosity, had wanted to know what was in those oddly formed dwellings. He shook his head as he caught the familiar scent on the breeze, arriving and feeling tense all over again. While Fin tan had been searching for firewood, Blaine had tucked away his book. He'd pulled blankets from inside his tent, and settled them near the entrance to be pulled out and snuggled into at need. He had taken the opportunity to dim the lantern's light, twisting a knob on the side to do so. Usually camping was a rather wondrous affair, something to do with friends and family. He could just imagine what his father would say about Blaine's crazy tale when he went home. His parents would never believe him. The young man glances up, and saw a slender form standing nervously nearby. "Have you found enough?" Blaine walked to a cleared space at the center of the clearing. He'd worked on it while Fin tan was still out in the forest. There were two stools placed at a safe distance from where the flames would be. "We can put it here." He pulled matches from his pocket in anticipation. Fin tan's tongue was between his teeth as he surveyed the place. Simple, open to everything, and under one of the especially huge trees that called the forest home. Nodding at the question, he stepped forward and felt his tail do a small dance in anticipation of what he would do next. Run? Stay? If he ran it would be in the air, alerting to any nearby as the ethereal glow of pure white fur made the silent warning clear. Danger. He decided to stay, though. Fin tan wasn't one to run off when he said he'd come back. Stay, for how long? Not long he hoped as he set the bundle down and started arranging them in a latticework, then an upward form. "What... is that?" He nodded to the tiny sticks with red heads in Blaine's hand. Blaine watched the deer ling work for a few moments, before he decided they needed some kind of dry underbrush. He grabbed some quickly, and settled it at the base of Fin tan's wooden construction. The matches were in his hand, ready to be used. Blaine smiled and struck one of the red tips against the matchbox. A flame erupted, and nearly spluttered out as Blaine settled the flame against the wood and dry grass. Then, it took off. The flame started spreading. Just to make sure, he struck another match, and put flame to the other side of the base. "It's called a match. We use it to start fires." He smiled, knowing that was obvious after his demonstration. Shaking his head, the tall man stood and wandered to the lantern. With a flick of his wrist, he turned it off and moved back to the fire, taking the blankets with him, and handing one over to Fin tan. There wasn't much to go on for dry grass, but Blaine had managed to find some, somehow, and had it against the woodwork to hopefully catch quickly. Then he startled at the sudden flame, bursting to life as if by magic with just a flick of the wrist on Blaine's part, and Fin tan took a step back that was so minute he didn't think he'd actually moved. The fight or flight response was so powerful it had his chest vibrating with the intensity of his heart thumping, but Blaine seemed to be in control of the fire. "Ah..." He managed, though it sounded more like the baa of a goat. He blinked when the painful light nearby was turned off, and so quickly, and was given a blanket that felt so much softer than the ones he had at home. "This... how do you make it?" He studied the fabric in the growing firelight, still where he was, standing and staring and running a hand over the pale color. Nothing like the dark tones from leather and dyes he made himself. Blaine peeked at the cloth. "Well the wool is put carded, then spun. Humans use ... big meal contraptions to do it quickly. These were made on a loom, by a craft person, and they're alpaca wool. My aunt has a farm, so she sent off the wool and ordered some blankets. She game them to me for ... a special occasion." His birthday actually, but he wasn't sure if the deer ling knew what that was, Blaine took a moment to pull a little stool over, one of those with three metal legs and a cloth top that folded up easy as could be, and motioned for Fin tan to settle down. Blaine sat on the other one and stared at the flames. Now this was real camping. Blinking, Fin tan looked at the strange little seat, and moved forward, gently sitting and gasping as he felt sure the cloth under him would give out. It didn't, however, and sagged under his weight as it seemed like it was supposed to do. "I see..." He muttered. "My mother used a loom. But she said the easiest way is to... take wool, fluff it, soak it and let it dry in the form you want it. And sew layers of the wool and dry moss or wool scraps together to make it warmer." He smiled at the gentle memory, his delicate mother, more than him even, sitting in front of the fire with Fin tan and a bone needle, some thread she had made herself and showed him how to craft, sewing a colorful blanket and tugging now and then at her brown and white hair. He had been born with brown and white hair, but it had lightened, and the white had gone as he matured. Furthermore, he hadn't gotten his antlers until much later than the rest of his kind, however. "What is that?" He asked suddenly, pointing at the domed thing he had found so interesting before. The flap was still open from where he'd undone it. The second-hand memory made him smile. It sounded like such a wonderful moment. The kind that was quickly disappearing in the human world, where machines were taking over everything. Technology made things easier, true, but it stole so much from the people who used it unwisely. The life the deer ling described seemed idyllic to Blaine. He glanced at the tent when it was mentioned. "That's a tent. A temporary home that can be put up and taken apart quickly." His stormy ocean eyes moved back to his guest. Blaine kept staring at the other man's antlers, and ears. Then of course there was that fluff of a tail ... He shook his head. No one was ever going to believe him if he tried telling them what had happened on his trip to Ireland. Fin tan's tail twitched left and right, his ears following suit. He didn't often like to be in the night outside his home, but now he had little choice. No doubt if he tried to leave again Blaine might tie him to a tree or sit on him to keep him where he was. And that frustrated him to no end, though the frustration was trumped by curiosity. Curiosity when it came to those clothes, those 'tents', those 'matches', and the things that looked alike and went on Blaine's feet. He pointed. "What are those?" Swallowing slightly, Fin tan turned his big eyes down to the ground. "I'm sorry for asking so many questions. I just... I want to know... And I've never spent time around humans like this before... I don't know what much of this stuff is, or what it does..." How would he keep everything in mind? He could easily forget it all in a second. The young man glanced at his feet. "Shoes. Human feet are soft." He laughed. "Probably because we always use shoes." It was one of those odd things he hadn't thought about until Fin tan asked. Blaine lifted a hand and pointed at the deer ling's tail. "Does the way that moves, and your ears, kind of show how you're feeling, like with deer?" He tilted his head. Fin tan looked down at his feet and wiggled his toes. The soles of his feet were tough and difficult, if not impossible to cut through without a blade of some kind, and he'd never had it happen. "I see..." Shoes. How would those things feel? They looked like they would pinch. Hurt. Maybe that was why humans were so clumsy when they went trudging through the forest. He shrugged, feeling his ears lower. "Um, well, kind of..." He shrugged. "When I'm afraid it goes up, kind of like... a warning to others nearby. The bottom is white fur so it can be seen at night. And my ears... yes, those too." He absently touched the tip of the left one, stroking the short fur there. "Hamm." He leaned back and promptly fell over. Blaine shook his head and stared at the stool accusingly. Those things were supposed to be solid. Though he supposed trying to play trapeze on them wasn't recommended. The young man lay back against the ground, his head pillowed on his arms. The skies were filled with a countless array of stars. Though Blaine was no astrologer, he could still appreciate their beauty, their mystery. Just like he could appreciate the mystery Fin tan posed, even though he was no biologist or any kind of -is tat all. He glanced at the tail Fin tan had been talking about. It was so ... cute. And fluffy. And very white underneath. "It must be useful." And his words were so out of place. He knew they fell flat. Fin tan gasped, then slapped his hands to his mouth to stifle the laugh, forcing it to die in his throat. He hadn't found the seat difficult to use but at the same time, hadn't fallen. Slipping off the fragile thing, he crept forward on all fours until he sat above Blaine, ears lowered. "I suppose..." He looked back and gave his tail an appreciative flick left and right. "It's pretty useful for others. I guess others' are useful for me too... There aren't many dangers here, but... When there are, we hide from them, or try to scare them away." He shifted, folding his legs under himself and leaning over Blaine. His hair shifted forward, touching Blaine's nose and cheek. "What are your friends doing, anyway...?" Blaine chuckled. It was nice, hearing about the kind of life Fin tan lived. Free from the burdens of a society imploding upon itself. Then he thought of what his friends were chasing, and laughed some more, even though the deer ling leaned down so close. Fin tan's hair tickled his nose, and brushed against his skin. And for some reason, Blaine really didn't mind." They're chasing ghosts. Or trying to." He laughed a bit more, and pat the ground by his side. "Come on, lie down. Look at the stars. They're so beautiful tonight." Blinking, Fin tan looked up through the tree branches. Here, where the grass was green and long, it allowed those on the ground to see through the high branches and stare at the swirling mists and dust in the sky. He settled down alongside the human, folding his limbs under himself in a way that humans might find uncomfortable, and stared upward. "Ghosts...?" He sighed, lowering his gaze. "They'll be chased back here by everyone else. There aren't ghosts here." Not that Fin tan had seen, at least, and he had lived here all his life. He leaned down to the ground and rubbed an antler on the ground, digging up some grass and earth and relieving an itch. The young man stifled another laugh. "Well hopefully not too soon. I wouldn't want them to scare you off." Blaine watched the deer ling with a perplexed look on his face. "Now what are you doing that for? I have to admit I'm curious." He had never heard of anyone or anything digging at the earth with antlers. Then again, he didn't study wildlife, and had previously had no inclination to do so. But now with Fin tan around, he couldn't help but be curious. Fin tan felt his throat constrict. He hadn't thought of that---or at least, hadn't recalled that he'd be around two more people when those two got back. Then and their mechanical stuff. He breathed quickly, then settled his racing heart and turned his attention back to Blaine. "Well... I had an itch." He shrugged a little and shifted. "They have feeling... And they're useful when you want to put a distinctive marking on certain trees to claim your place of residence... Antlers leave a specific style of mark different between every male and female..." He shrugged a little and lowered his head to his arms. Blaine shifted so he lay on his stomach. He tilted his head just so, and gazed at the deer ling. Under the moonlight, he seemed far more serious than he usually was. Then again, it was probably because he had some inkling that his whole conversation with Fin tan was no more than a dream. Still ..." So they're like ... fingerprints then." His eyes moved to the forest as he put his head on his arms. "You know, we could always meet up some other time, when my friends are gone." They were likely to go out ghost hunting again. Fin tan blinked curiously, looking down at his hands and flexing his fingers a little. "Finger... prints...?" He held them close to his face and squinted in the firelight, seeing little ridges he didn't think anything of most times. Was that a fingerprint? He was curious about how they came to be left. Did they come off? The idea seemed painful, so he looked up at Blaine to ignore it. "Um, I don't---" He froze, and his ears raised when something shifted nearby. Tensing, Fin tan scanned the area nearby. What was it? What was happening? He wanted to run, but that meant leaving Blaine where he was. And the human didn't know his way around. He nodded. "They're a bit like footprints. Each person's is unique." Blaine laughed a bit at the deer ling's antics, until he heard the sound too. It took longer to reach him. His ears weren't nearly as good as the wild deer ling's. Not even close. The young man shifted around quietly, cautiously. He wasn't nearly as used to the woods as he let on. In fact .... Blaine was more than just a little afraid of them. But he had felt quite safe with Fin tan by his side, until now. They were in the camp, well on its edges. He wanted to ask the deer ling what was going on. But was afraid the sound of his voice would make the other man take flight. So ... he whispered. "What?" Just one word. That was all. It had probably been too much. His ear was twitching with every footfall, pairs making it louder than it should have been. He was up, ready to take off, but cast a wary glance at Blaine. "... It... I don't know... It sounds like footsteps. Like... Voices too... They're whispering. I don't..." Something snapped and Fin tan startled to his feet, crouched down just enough to bound away at the slightest provocation. "I... what if it's your friends? I should... Should I leave? They won't hurt me, will they? They won't be loud, right?" He didn't want to leave so quickly. Blaine was utterly fascinating and talking to a human felt like a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Even after being tackled by him before. Blaine's thoughts ran a mile a second. He let out a long breath and shifted to his knees. "Why don't you hide nearby? I'll bring you up in some way or other, and let's see how they react. If they react well, you can come out. If not, you could go back to your home. And maybe ... sneak back when I'm alone again." He spoke as fast as could be, while still doing his best to be understood. He could hear them getting closer. Furthermore, he was sure it was his friends. Their voices were familiar, but this once very unwelcome. Fin tan swallowed hard between a dry mouth and constricted throat. He nodded, backing away and slipping behind a tree out of the pool of firelight and clinging against the smooth bark as if his life were depending on it. Absentmindedly, Fin tan rubbed his antler lightly against the bark and lowered himself to the ground, watching through his lashes as two people appeared lugging their heavy-looking mechanical things with them. Fin tan didn't think he'd ever be able to tell any of that stuff apart, and the idea of doing so was hard to imagine. He breathed carefully, as if his breaths were loud enough for the humans to hear. The two other men dropped their gear gently. The pile of things nearly distracted Blaine from what he was supposed to ask. "Hey guys, , how'd it go?"" Awesome! You wouldn't believe all the things out there!"" Including part deer people?" Carter scoffed. "No way. And even if they existed I doubt they'd want to meet humans." That sounded less than promising. Blaine tried again. "Would you want to meet one?"" Well ... kind of. I mean ... Well I don't know why the heck you're skin all this! You're the one who doesn't believe in ghosts. And I don't believe in deer people." Blaine glanced to the forest. He hoped Fin tan stayed away. He wanted to keep the deer ling quite for himself. The other man was a wonder, a discovery that proved that there was more to the world than Blaine had ever thought there was. Swallowing hard, Fin tan rubbed his antlers a little harder against the tree. The tiny vibrations through the ivory sprigs let him release a little of his nervous energy as the other two humans came by. He felt his face grow warm when they said they didn't believe in 'deer people', but insisted that there were ghosts in the forest. He wanted to go back home but had to go around the clear area and the firelight. Creeping out from behind the tree, Fin tan picked his way through the sparse undergrowth and did his best to avoid the fallen branches that had long ago dried, but hadn't been taken or eaten away. He was absently grinding his teeth in the effort to keep quiet, and didn't realize it until after he was sure he cracked a few. He heard noises in the forest. Something moving around. Blaine made a face, and stood up. "Well anyway, it's getting late." The young man lifted his arms to the sky, and then swatted a bug. Loudly. He yawned too for good measure, and cracked his knuckles. Fin tan had to get away safe and sound. The deer ling was the only thing there to keep him from going insane while his friends traipsed through the forest looking for ghosts that weren't even there. Taking his chance, Fin tan bolted while distracting noises overtook the ones he couldn't avoid making. He ran until the fire was just a distant memory, and all the things he had been introduced to. Match. Shoe. Tent. That thing that buzzed and gave off a painful white-blue light. He didn't like that thing very much. Finding his bag abandoned where he'd left it, Fin tan was glad to see most of his things were still inside. Grasping it tightly in his hand, Fin tan hurried home, slipping into his cottage and closed the door tightly. Of course, it wouldn't stop anyone that wanted in. His windows had no glass. Setting the bag beside the door, Fin tan dragged himself up the stairs to the loft. He was so tired suddenly. Everything had compiled as soon as he found himself in familiar territory. Crawling onto his bed, he rubbed his ears against the soft woolen covers and closed his heavy eyelids. The moment he was sure Fin tan had escaped, Blaine relaxed. He grinned, and waved at his friends. "Look, I'm going to turn in now." Blaine ignored the crackling fire. Wood smoke drifted from the orange-red flames. Blaine sneezed and shook his head."Aw, come on! Spoilsport!" Carter said. Blaine shrugged. Zip and swoosh. The tent opened like a cocoon. The young man slid inside with a sigh. This was too surreal. First he met a deer ling. Now he needed to hide the existence of that very same deer ling from his ghost hunting friends. Great. Fin tan's ears twitched in sleep, and he shook his head hard, nearly waking himself up. He kept dreaming about strange things, mostly what he was shown before he managed to get back home. Shoes... Tent... Lantern... The clothes that didn't look like his at all. He twisted and suddenly, jolted awake when he hit the floor. Moaning, Fin pushed himself up and rubbed his head, getting to his feet and rubbing his hands through his long hair. Staring for a moment at his bed, Fin shook his head. There was no way he was getting back to sleep now. He trudged downstairs, going into his kitchen and digging through a hanging bag to find a pear. From across the cottage he stared out into the night through the glassless window. What was that human up to? He could barely see the light of the dying fire. The young man fell into a fitful sleep. When a few hours had passed, moonlight slipped its way into the tent. The low across his eyes woke Blaine. He sat up and wriggled out of his cocoon-like sleeping bag. He tried reading by lantern light. Then Blaine warmed up some water over the fire and made a cup of hot milk. That didn't help either. Cute ears and wide eyes kept popping into his head. Blaine settled down by the fire with a sigh, and stared at the flames. They kept dancing around each other. Logs were slowly crumbling down, veins of red slipping into their flesh and skin, until they collapsed into tiny glowing dark bits. Blaine shoved a stick into the mess of wood and flames. For a few seconds, the fire flared, then he threw on more logs, and it became a steady warm glow again, and not the sputtering thing it had been only moments before.

Forest Hospitality|rating:4.0

Wielding (Raziel99 and Oreo)

The place: Earth The Time: Now Plot: The world is slowly falling apart. Environmental issues, greed, and war have brought humanity to the verge of collapse. To many it appears this is just the way of things. But the true cause lies with scientists delving where they should not have. Thinking they were finding a way to fix the damage man was causing, they inadvertently opened a breach. A tear in the reality of the universe. Our plane of existence is not the only one. While our world holds to technology, the alternate realm depends entirely upon magic. The only way for these strange and varied magical creatures to exist in the realm of earth is by merging into a human host. Some are evil, some are neutral, and more are coming. Not all of these beings are evil but those that control their hosts openly, have intentions that will drastically change the human world. Scattered throughout the continents these people are waging war for the dominance of earth. Their purpose is to destroy one world to expand the other. The realm they wish to destroy is earth. With the scientists the first to be assimilated the rift stayed open, and the entities continue entering those humans who seemed to have the temperament necessary to understand and fight. The three factions fight in single duels, and sometimes even in small skirmishes. As the possessed humans fight they manifest the powers of the otherworlds to increase their own skills, and to gain new powers. Each time a fighter kills or stuns another they gain the ability to manifest more of the entity within them. They gain incredible power, but the world as we know it is almost certainly going to end. The question is which way will it go, will the inhabitants of Earth be destroyed, or will those of the other realm lose their existence, or will the worlds merge, creating a permanent pathway between the worlds, and possibly even a new hope for all? The Power Types Breakers: Those humans who have destroyed the minds of their entity and control them. They always fight for either a merging of the worlds or the destruction of the magic world. Possessors: Those other realm beings who have broken their human counterparts and fight to either destroy the human world, or to merge both worlds. Wielders: These are the rarest those who have joined side by side with their other entities, two minds inhabiting one body, who fight together. They always fight for the unification of both worlds.=======================Character Name : Alacrity Bandage: 28Gender: Female {"light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} Personality/Motivation:"I don't care to watch the battle from afar. If I can't control it, why look?" Alacrity has a clarity of convictions that often leads her to arguments, her natural instinct urging her to fight in the face of those same convictions. Though experience has taught her that restraint is the better part of valor, too often she has found herself victorious but alone. Improvising on the fly, is something she does with ease. Seeing what needs to be done, she remains resolute in conflict, ready to send the valiant into the mouth of hell so long as she is leading the charge. When challenged she may buy reflex become argumentative, or simply unleash an icy gaze that serves notice, 'do not trifle with me'. She does everything with great passion. Alacrity's motto: "I'm really sorry you have to die." Appearance: Alacrity stands tall for a woman at 5'9", her long hair is pure silvery white. Only her crystalline blue, almond shaped eyes, stand out as having any defining color; while her full, slightly pink lips, fade in comparison. Her features are fair, her bone structure delicate. She keeps her slightly pointy ears hidden beneath her hair. (Her hair skin and ears changed from the affinity with the other-world char.) She prefers loose flowing blue pants that would look almost like a dress if she didn't keep them shoved into her blue suede boots. Her blouse is peasant style, white with blue embroidery around it's scooped neck. Side: Merging of the Worlds Power Form: Wielder Other-worlder Type: Ice Elf Powers Afforded by manifestation: An affinity for the cold, small tricks like freezing with her hands. (These powers increase as the RP progresses.) Short History: Alacrity was born and raised in Northern California. When she turned 18 she began her job as a ski instructor for the handicapped in the winter months and a part-time ranger for the conservation corps the rest of the year. Most of that time was spent alone backpacking through the Marble Refuge Forest making repairs to the trails and checking for up-to-date fishing licenses. Her hobby since early high school isCapoeiraFighting. A few months before the entity found her she had met the man of her dreams, or so she thought. He walked out of her life within weeks of the entities' arrival. Her world turned upside down when she realized just how big the universe was and how desperately she was needed to fight what was coming. That was six months ago.=======Alacrity shielded her eyes from the sun streaming directly into her face. Sitting up in the back seat she tried to focus on her watch. Well she got a good...five hours of rest anyway. El stirred her mind to further wakefulness, There is not much time left. I can sense the wave of flash. They are coming soon. We need to go now. Leaning over the seat she opened the door to her pride and joy. Then combing her fingers through her snowy hair, she climbed outside. Running her hands across the stock yellow paint job of the 68 Shelby GT, she yawned and stretched her muscles before sliding behind the wheel. Smiling, like she did every time she turned the key, it was power time. In minutes, she was back on the road, eighty mph with Anastasia blasting on the CD player. A grimace and shivering of her jaw escaped as she swallowed the last oily dregs of cold coffee left over from last night. Their approach to Saint Louis proper brought with it the palpable taste of flash. The air reeked with ozone and magic. At least now she knew what to expect. Fighting, and lots of it...to the death. Who would have thought her love of Capoeira would come in handy to actually save herself and possibly the earth as well? She had been in less than ten battles so far, but El had done his best to find weak combatants for her. She had only survived the first fight on a fluke. Arriving at a three-way match, she absorbed the magic of a fallen victim before the other two had finished fighting. Alacrity fled before ever finding out which of those two had won the skirmish. Then El had led her to a newly arrived possessor. Its claim was to destroy the earth, and in moments El had surged through her veins. Her white skin had turned to a delicate blue flush, cheekbones more angular, and her breath turned icy cold while her eyes changed from pale blue to deep violet. Her customized Ronin blade gripped firmly in her hand followed her enemy with a dancing graceful precision. There was no room for error here. This was no trial or competition...it was a fight to the death. He was bigger and stronger, but her speed and dexterity served her well. Her first two strikes had him roaring in anger. His muscled bulged across his chest with a rippling along his abdomen, before his mouth opened larger than what seemed humanly possible. Alacrity barely avoided the sonic blast of sound he had sent at her. El had sensed it coming and had her diving to the side while the wall behind her had crumbled into rubble. It seemed to take time for him to recharge for the next blast, and she took advantage of the opening. With a flying roundhouse kick from behind she stunned him. Her arm continued to swing as she landed, plunging her blade deep into his chest and shoving upward until she met his heart. As the life drained away from his eyes, his magic essence flowed into her with a visible glow. Her head rolled back, body trembling from the sheer bliss that overtook her senses. Magic surged through her, and her voice stuck in her throat then shrieked suddenly as El wrapped himself more firmly around her mind. "One of the few reasons I let you have some control over your mind is because you work those blades so elegantly, boy." Syn said in a rather teasing voice in Alexander's mind. Ten of the possessors were dead from his skills, the last one wasn't even a challenge thanks to some help from Syn. That rush of speed made everything easy. He still remembered the look on his allies' faces when the one cleave cut seemed to do nothing, then the man's upper half simply slid off to the side, the essence floating through the air to join with his own. He could feel the new power rushing through him to Syn, could feel her gaining power, but that didn't matter too much to him. Furthermore, he didn't care what side most of those he had killed were on; if they attacked or challenged him, they were utterly defeated at his hands. Though, he was fair about it: He only used his blades because that man was trying to blow his head off with a shotgun. They were a memento from his family, a gift from their visit to Japan before the ordeal came over and killed them. That was part of his bitterness that made him kill those that challenged him. "There's another nearby." Syn said to him, and he picked his head up to see the GT pass by him, speeding down the road. "Think we can catch up, Syn?" "Yes." It was a burst of speed, momentarily but more than enough, that had him catch the car, jumping higher than a normal human could, then landing completely silent on the roof. This car would take him to wherever he had to be. Syn knew more than he did, since she was one that could feel the energy of the possessors. Can't you 'feel' the voice? You don't have a choice. What a kind of life:Freedom in flesh - shackles on your mind... Men have good intention son their way to the light. But some of them are venal and end up in the night. Maybe it's better for you, mankind, not to know what's going on. Sometimes we must noways that seem to be wrong. What a kind of life: Freedom in flesh, shackles on your mind... She was singing along tithe Tower, smiling grimly at the irony of the words. Even El was chuckling in her mind. Yes, this music you listen to it is strange, but I am beginning to enjoy its aesthetic value. We have nothing like it in Cordelia. The more he talked about the world on the other side of the rift, the stranger everything seemed to be. At first, she hadn't believed any of it. In fact, she had thought she was losing her mind. After a day or two of the worst migraine she had ever had, she was assailed by El's strange voice in her head. At first, she couldn't even understand his words. There were just flashes of living dreams, pictures of his life imposed into her thoughts. With time, she understood the content, and he began speaking in English. She hadn't wanted to believe, but it soon became evident that he was real, she wasn't crazy and earth was doomed. Here her journey began. Here is the quest to seek and destroy the invaders. Here the constant fleeing, from invadersandthe police. Murder was on the rise but the dead and fallen though looking human, were anything but human anymore. The best time to feed was when groups of beings came through the rift. It constantly changed location, but when it opened those that were growing stronger sensed it, and congregated. There was a big one coming, she could feel it as well as El. Get off the highway and go right. You will sense them soon. The flash hasn't begun yet but there are two we can take down. You are strong enough. I sense another, but he is very weak. The two stronger ones pursue. Leaving at the next exit, she headed toward the heart of town. Within a few blocks she felt them. Letting El seep into her flesh, a chill ran through her as the familiar icy blue liquid changed the blood in her veins. The chameleon like blue of her skin, the altering shift of the bones in her face, the slight pearled sheen to the palms of her hands, all happened in the span of a few moments. The temperature in the GT dropped a good fifteen degrees in a flash. Her Mustang barreled down the street toward the three. The one being followed seemed totally oblivious. He was about to become fodder, easy pickings if he was a foe. Screeching to a halt between the weaker man and the Possessors she grabbed her Robin and jumped from the car. Her waist length icy-blue white hair swung behind her like a glacial cloud. Deep violet eyes turned to the hood of her car. How had El missed sensing him? Three she could take, but four? A cloud of glacial fog billowed from her mouth with a hissing noise, as she took a defensive posture. "For or against the merge of worlds?" His response could well mean her life or death. There was something about him El didn't like, What the hell does that mean, El...he smells wrong? But she sensed it too, there was something menacing about him. Most people would have thought him crazy, but Syn found it almost as exhilarating as he did, standing on the roof of the GT. He wasn't down and pressed against it, holding on tight, but actually standing in the center, able to hold steady and not crush in the roof because of the flight ability that he gained with Syn around. He had his arms out, and he had to hold back from laughing, knowing that it would scare the singing girl in the car. Furthermore, he could feel the chill power that was inside her, and Syn noticed it as well, though she kept silent. Syn had come to him while he was in the mountains, and that was the first connection that the two of them made, the mountains. Both knew intricacies in them that few did, even if she didn't hail from them. It was a short time of him showing her through the abode that he could hide out in, and learning how to harness the flight ability with her help, before they headed out, and the possessors started picking fights with what seemed to be a weak Wielder. He proved them wrong again and again. "She's going towards a rift." Syn said, something Alexander hadn't noticed, because he hadn't been paying attention to that. But he could feel the pulses of energy through Syn now, and he nodded, though it wouldn't matter if he did or not. The surge of cold that came from inside the car didn't bother Alexander at all, use to the feeling of Arctic chills from mountain peaks, though Syn was disturbed slightly from it. The person below them was more powerful than she thought. "Prey." Syn said simply, as the car came to a stop, and Alexander's hands went to his Katina, his clothes tightening around him as they became a thick form of plate-like scales on him. The woman that was in the car turned and hissed at him, and he forced Syn not to return it in kind. "I have no care for the world. Only survival." He said, in a rather low voice. He jumped easily and effortlessly off the car, moving off to her side by a good 6 feet, his hand still resting on his Katina as he slowly pursued the other three that she had tracked down. They still were oblivious to their presence, and he moved forward completely silent. One of the possessors turned to him when he came close enough, and tried to grapple with him. Apparently they weren't as oblivious as he was lead to believe. What felt like claws tried to bury themselves into his shoulders, but Alex's hands came up, grabbing the man's wrists and pushing his thumbs into pressure points, loosening the grip before dropping, his legs came up, doing a swift spin kick that bowled the man into a wall, the crack of the man's neck echoing in the area. How had he managed to stay on the top of her car? The thought was silly and secondary to his response. He was obviously a wielder. Though, El wasn't speaking about the man's symbiont, it was clear they were both intact. He was the first she had met in the six months since El had entered her. Alacrity's attention turned to the possessors at the same time the interloper set off after the first of them. Not about to let him poach on her prizes she followed suit. While he engaged one Alacrity set her sights on the second, a woman who charged with a furious rage. Her skin was a soft red color, and light swirls of gold seemed to shimmer across it as she ran. Her hair stuck up in a mass of curls and spikes, and a long tail extended from her rump. Furthermore, her visage was almost childlike and even her dark red nearly black eyes seemed innocent in their appraising glare. One of her hands held a slim dagger and the other a long whip studded with thorns. The whip itself seemed to grow from her hand. Alacrity's bluish-white skin burned with the cold that was emanating from her. Keening began deep in her throat, a shrill guttural note that reflected her desire to engage the enemy. Eyes ablaze with the urge for killing, held a look both wild and unfettered. Her emotions held loose, were ready to let El have full reign. Turning back to the man, "Think you can take care of that one yourself?" But he had already slammed the beast into a wall. Caught up for just a moment, watching his form, the grace and precision of his movements, seemed to instill a new kind of hunger in her. Ignoring the primal urge rising in her, she forced her attention back to her own fight. The possessor's moves were fluid, but she was completely submissive to El's lead. Flowing around the thorny whip like action, she studied its behavior. Alacrity stepped in close enough for the creature to strike, and just as swiftly danced out of her reach. Over and over the monotony continued, but the woman was predictable. Alacrity timed her next response to perfection. She made as if to dart away again, but instead she lunged forward grabbing hold of the thorny whip. Chilling ice shards flowed from her hands, running up the whip in a freezing spray before Alacrity severed it with her blade. Then lunging away as the beast shrieked in agony, she dropped the whip, leaving it to writhe on the ground. As Alacrity raced forward to strike the final blow, the beast began a mighty lunge over top of her. Alacrity couldn't have planned it better. Her back arched as she stopped her forward momentum. With El in charge of her reflexes her arms flew up at the same instant the beast was above her. While she was able to spray the possessor's torso with myriad shards of ice, she was not fast enough to evade the knife thrust at her. It pierced her shoulder. Alacrity cried out with the pain as it stuck the bones. Reaching with her right hand she yanked out the offending weapon. The wound sealed over with an icy hiss, but the pain had not abated. The light shimmered off her slick blue skin as she spun around to watch her opponent. But, her shards had met their mark, the creature was dying. Alacrity looked away it to gauge the condition of the other wielder while stabbing the blade into the creatures' chest. It wasn't blood that poured forth, but pure magic essence flowed into her body creating an erotic surge of power. All was forgotten as El pressed tighter to her mind. Small spurs formed on the back of Alacrity's forearms all the way to her elbows. Scaly ridges appeared across her cheek bones, a deep pearled blue hue that looked almost glacial. Her head tilted back as a wail left her throat. The bliss was almost too much to endure. Her face was in thrall as the flash surged through her frame; a frigid icy cold permeating the surrounding air. As her senses returned she scanned for the third weaker man, but could detect nothing...as if he had just disappeared. Something about him however made El nervous, We need to leave, now. I sense a trap. She looked to the other wielder. "You never really answered... Are you for or against the merging of worlds?" It would be a shame to have to kill him. The female Walker had stared at him for a moment before turning to the other possessor, which was fine for him. He was left alone now to take care of this one. The one that had crashed against the wall still rose, even after what sounded like his neck breaking. The possessor smiled rather freakishly, and its skin tightened as his hair disappeared. His nails turned into claws, and suddenly Alexander wasn't as sure for taking close combat as an option. His hand darted to the Katina, but syn made sure it didn't come out. He's weak, Alexander. No use for overkill. Alex listened inwardly, then nodded, jumping up as the man jumped at him, more lithe without the extra skin and fat. Alex's foot drove into the man's skull, kicking it down to the ground, where there was the sound of bones breaking from the crushing might. Yet, the man seemed to shrug it off, even if half of his face was crushed in. Alexander made it fast, getting behind him, and his fist burying into the base of the spine, shooting up and pulling out the heart as he pulled his hand back. He crushed it for good measure, leaving the man to writhe and die, the magical essence coming to him from the possessor. The woman seemed to be arming herself to him, but he shook it off. There was an attraction there that he couldn't be bothered to mess with at the time. The tension was thick in the air, and it wasn't between the two of them. His clothes loosened as they lost their scale property, and he turned from her. "I am neutral. I live my own life. How the world goes is no matter to me." Neutral? How could a person be neutral? El was pressing her to leave, something about the weak man returning. "We need to leave. There will be many fights tonight. We stand a better chance if we join as a team. Either way I need to go. That weak man...he's stronger than he appears. My symbiont says it's a ruse, a trap to lure us in. Come with me or not, I don't care." But the truth was she did care. Why the aura of distaste though? Or was it El? The feeling was definitely not her own. Alacrity wanted the man to come with her, but El kept resisting her urge to tell him so. Gritting her teeth, she couldn't force the words past El's hold on her. "I'm leaving." Her brilliant blue eyes scanned the high-rises. The smell of ozone was growing stronger. An hour maybe two and the Flash would begin. Looking to most like a regular thunderstorm, but every brilliant streak of light delivered a new alien to earth. She didn't so much like going after these, since it was unclear for the first few days whose side they were on. What she was looking for were the hunters, those weak enough for her to kill. With this Wielder's help it was likely they could tackle some of the stronger Possessors and Breakers. Without another word, she turned her back and jumped in the car. The engine was still running, and she revved it once. With a final look at the stranger, "Are you coming? Or not?" She shifted into second, preparing to pop the clutch... There is something strange about this one, Alex. Do not trust, keep your distance. Syn was acting rather itchy, the most disturbed that Alex had sensed since she found him. But Alex shook it off. "The weak one is only a vessel for power. Does not mean he knows how to use it." But she was right. The flash would be here soon, and it wasn't something that he would want to be around when it did arrive. Much too dangerous. "Where are you going?" He asked, slowly walking towards her and her car. But she gave him the leaving warning before any answer came, and he jumped onto the roof. "Go!" She now had reason to rush: The smell of ozone wasn't the only thing that Alex was sensing. There was a greater mass of possessors coming for the fresh power being released into the world, and it wouldn't be pretty once they got there. Alex had no wish to become fresh meat to those savages. He felt her hit the road, going fast, but he was able to hold on easily, just standing straight up on the roof as the wind blew over him. So exhilarating. The whole ride, he was completely silent, contemplating what Syn and him were going to do when they stopped. Well, at least he didn't put up a fight about coming with her. That was a good sign - he wasn't stupid. Alacrity had expected him to get in the car and was a bit surprised as he leaped on top at the last moment. Wanting to be long gone before the cops showed up, she had left the car running. The bodies lying dead on the ground had already reverted to their human form, looking like nothing less than a horrid murder. No one would ever believe what they had been fighting was more monster than something out of their nightmares. After shoving her knife under her seat, she strapped herself in. Trembling a bit, she gripped the wheel firmly, as tires scorched a strip of rubber and smoke; they were off. Glancing at the roof of the car, she tried to figure out just why El didn't like him. But she had never known him to be so quiet before. It's her, not him. That's all she could get, besides a twisting, writhing sensation in her head." Come on El give...what's the problem?" Alacrity could feel him withdraw, almost as if he were ashamed of his feelings. He had always seemed so noble, but at the moment her image was conflicted. Perhaps he wasn't as perfect as he had seemed. Many of the races from the other realm are in a civil war over this issue of the breach, but the animosity of her kind began long before this war. I don't trust them. Neither should you. You should be rid of him." You've got to be kidding me? In six months he's the first Wielder we've found, and you want me to dump him because you've got an attitude? Get over it El, this goes beyond boundaries. You know we stand a better chance of survival if he's willing to fight with us." You'll do what you're going to do, but I'm telling you, her kind can't be trusted. I'll say no more. Alacrity pulled into an underground parking lot, and shut off the car. The lighting was dim, but safe now. She stepped out of the GT and headed toward the trunk. Smiling up as she searched for her emergency med kit, "Not how you planned to spend the rest of your day was it?" The pain of the knife wound was beginning to cause her some problems. El had sealed it over briefly during the height of her possession, but now that her blood was returning to normal, the bleeding was starting. Pulling out a pressure bandage and some gauze she looked up at the stranger. "Any chance you could help with this?" She held out the bandage, "It's kind of awkward to dress one's own shoulder. By the way... I'm Alacrity," her head tilted, "you got a name?" Alexander didn't particularly enjoy the whole car ride, simply standing on the roof rather than enjoying it with mock surfing as he had done before. Syn's disturbance with the person underneath him was... unsettling, to say the least. He tried to shake it off, but Syn wouldn't have anything of it. She always held some of his mind, at the very least. She had the power, if not the physical essence to get the job done, so she wouldn't be shaken off from her opinion's so easily. I do not trust them, Alexander. Syn's voice wasn't her usual calm and sure voice. That alone sent a spark of fear through his spine, though he covered it up mentally. There was no need to though. The one inside her is one I have warred with for a long time. Damn Elves, trying to rid themselves of their only danger. "What do you mean?" His voice was low, though it held the tinge of interest that he always had when Syn talked about the other side. Anything he could get from her in that regard could be potentially useful in the upcoming fights. Sadly, Syn said no more, seemingly going into deep thought. Alexander had to steep down as they went into an indoor garage, and they parked. He jumped off the roof as she came out, landing on the other side of the car before walking over to the trunk. It seemed that she was wounded in the last battle, and was trying to attend to it, though failing. "Alacrity, I am Alexander." He said simply. He walked over to her, taking gauze and putting it on the wound, pushing it hard to put enough pressure to stop the bleeding. Furthermore, he then quickly grabbed the wrap, getting it around her shoulder and wound, before tightening it and clasping it so it wouldn't let go. "Be careful with your arm for a day or two. Don't need to endanger yourself now." He closed the trunk, putting the med kit back in first before turning towards her. "What now? I'm not going to fight. I won't fight an injured opponent." Her breath hissed in softly as he pressed the bandage tightly to her shoulder. Very aloof and matter of fact, but he did do a good job of binding her wound. Slipping her arm back into the sweater, she did her best to not wince or appear weak. He wasn't hard on the eyes either, and she was finding it difficult to concentrate. Thanks to the stars El was being quiet, almost as if he were trying to hide from the man's symbiont. A slight smile quirked the corner of her mouth, pink lips twitching as they tried to remain sternly serious, but it had been a long, long time since a man had acted as if he were in charge of her life. They had just fought monsters from another realm, and he was giving her advice as if she were his little sister. It was actually quite charming after the months of solitude she had endured. Always on the run, always hiding. The few times she had called home, the response of her parents was cold. Telling her she needed to come home and get treatment. With the proper drugs her delusions would go away. "Thank you, Alexander. I appreciate the advice." She took a moment, trying to read his face, her eyes questioning? "I have no intention of fighting you at all. I was hoping you might be willing to form a partnership. We stand a better chance of survival if we team up. I gather from my symbiont that he isn't too fond of yours, but survival comes before convenience." Just then, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, she could feel El stirring her to life. "Crap! Can you feel that? There's someone else here." She seemed to be rather sweet and caring, despite the deadly symbiont that she was carrying. It was definitely one of the most potentially powerful things he had met in the last few months. It could be a danger to him and Syn in the future. But he shrugged it off. She was a Wielder like him, he knew that she had more than enough control to stop any and all physical confrontation between them. But it was something about her questioning eyes that hinted that maybe not all physical confrontation would be stopped. "A partnership?" He asked, his own voice rather questioning. There were obvious tones that he learned to read, and he nodded his head a little. "I will accept it for now, because you are injured, but I will have to think on it. I have done well enough on my own so far." It was mostly Syn speaking through him. But she was right, he was enough so far to take out what came at him. But he would have to take some time and ponder over the dilemma, and of course make sure they got through this alive. His head turned just as she mentioned that there was someone in there with them. "Yes, but it isn't anyone with a symbiont. It's a mob of humans. We have to get out of here. Get in the car." He jumped up onto it himself, ready to take care of anything that could be a threat. His clothes shifted into scales again, ready for defense. There was something dangerous about him that intrigued her. Something that a year ago would have terrified her, but now she found it almost...compelling. The person that she used to be was no more. How could she have at one time thought she would be satisfied with a quiet, romantic man that brought her flowers every Thursday? Alacrity had changed more than she realized. A faint smile graced her lips as Alexander agreed to join her for the nonce. It would be nice to have someone to talk to. Though El seemed to be writhing at the moment, that was too bad. There was a war out there, and he would just have to learn to deal with the circumstances. That he was staying because of her injury was fine with her. Though she really wanted to get some more fighting done tonight, it probably was best that they found some place safe to hole up. She remembered an Inn on her way into town, far enough away to avoid any of the feeding going on." It's a mob of humans." She had no quarrel with humans, even if they were scum. Her only intent was to fight for the portal to remain open. The thought of either dimension being destroyed was abhorrent to her." Agreed," was her only response as she got back in the car. Shaking her head as he jumped on top again, she shouted out the window, "hold on, I'm getting us out of here. We have no need to waste our time fighting ruffians." Wheels screeching, she fled the parking lot, bumping something living in her hurry to escape. Alacrity didn't stop to check. It was big, green and definitely not human.' That'was what El had sensed. Heading back through town the way she had arrived, Alacrity acknowledged to herself that Alexander alone was worth the trip. Someone to fight with her...if she could convince him to stay...if she could get El to lighten up. The beginnings of lightning flash flaring in her rearview mirror, burned the evening sky behind them. Driving for at least two hours, she was well outside the city by the time she spotted the Inn. The pain had pretty much eaten what remained of her strength. As she turned off the key, her head lolled back against the head rest. Her hand banged against the roof of the car. "You still with me handsome?" She sped up just as the mob of people came into sight. His foot tapped against the roof, urging her to speed up. He wouldn't have minded normally... but these people were holding weapons, mostly melee like planks of wood, steel pipes, and the like, but he saw at least one toting a handgun. He ducked down, his head missing the girder piece from the roof as she picked up speed, but he was hit by a bullet as they turned, slightly stalling as she hit something that was big. Alexander instantly thought ogre, but Syn shot that notion down. It was something worse than an ogre. But, thankfully, it didn't follow. The bullet that had hit him struck him in the arm, but thanks to the thick scales of his coat, it didn't pierce through him. It hit skin, slightly burying in, but it was mostly in the coat, and he pulled it out, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding before just letting it close on its own. It would take a day at the most. They drove for a long time, a few hours at least, before the car came to a stop outside an inn. He felt the bang of her fist reverberating along the roof of the car, shaking his legs slightly. "I'm here." He called out for her, as he jumped off the room and opened her door. He helped her out, sure that she was having problems keeping conscious since she was using so much energy through the last few hours after her injury. "You have reservations here yet?" He asked, helping her towards the front doors. "See El, you're worried about nothing. If he wanted to harm me this was his chance." There was no reply, but she could feel his discomfort. He was accepting her choice, but that didn't mean he was happy with it. The strain of the drive and the pain of the injury had her weaker than she wanted to admit. Grabbing her Robin as she left the car, she wrapped her arm around Alexander's waist for support. Looking up at his profile, she was struck by the fact that he could have walked away after the fight. "Thanks for staying. I hadn't realized just how lonely these past few months had been. It's kind of a relief to talk to someone that doesn't instantly think I'm crazy when I say there is an alien in my brain sharing my body." Fiddling with her key ring, "I have a few things to grab from the trunk." After opening it up, she pulled her wallet from her purse. Then lifted out her suitcase, doing her best to hide the wince of pain. It felt like she had been living out of her car forever." No, I don't have reservations here. I sleep most nights in my car to save on finances. If I'm careful, I should have enough to make it to the Wielding resistance in Alaska. El says there are more than a few making their way there." Blushing a bit at the thought of her next question, she still managed to force out the words. "Do you mind sharing a room?" But all her shyness faded in an instant. Her eyes narrowing as the Inn's light reflected off his shoulder. "You were injured?" Her hand reached up to his wound in concern, "You should have been in the car with me. Come on, let's get a room and see how bad off we both are." He heard that she didn't have much money. He couldn't help but laugh at that. "I live in nature. In the caverns and on the animals that I had found. I always had a liking for Venison before Syn came around." She led him around to the trunk, and he took the suitcase from her, knowing that it would be too much of a burden for her to carry at her current state. "Come on." The light must have hit him in just the right way, because right after she asked if he minded sharing a room, and before he could answer the said question, he felt her hand reach and touch the wound on his shoulder from the bullet, and he had to hold back a hiss from the slight shock it sent down his arm. He wasn't bleeding anymore, but the blood trail down his arm and over his coat made it look pretty bad. "It's nothing." He said, dismissing the notion of his wound. He had worse before the symbiont came to him. "And I don't mind sharing a room." He led her into the inn, over to the innkeeper. So it would be less of a scene, he lifted her up in his arms, ignoring the shock in his shoulder from it, and carried her to the innkeeper himself. He had her skillfully in his arms so none of the blood and wounds showed, to give them less attention. They would think that they were just a married couple, perhaps on a honeymoon. "We need one room." Alexander said to the innkeeper once they got close enough, waiting for the price and for Alacrity to pay him. He seemed much more amiable with their symbionts subdued. Surprising her twice, by taking the suitcase from her and next by actually grabbing her up and carrying her. She hadn't been lifted like that since she was a child, and suddenly she felt small. Their wounds pressed together and hidden from the innkeeper was a perfect disguise, but being this close to Alexander was playing havoc with her senses. Alacrity found herself attracted by the scent of him. Even as she felt El trying to pull further away, her face was drawn to the side of his neck. She didn't intrude enough to actually touch him, but her eyes closed as she subtly breathed in his essence. Her lips and cheek could almost feel the vibration of his voice as he spoke." Forty-nine ninety-five. That includes a continental breakfast and cable TV." Her distraction was broken as she fumbled for her wallet and tossed a fifty on the counter. "The room's all the way at the end of the hall." He pointed to the corridor on the left. Grabbing up the key card, she nodded to the man, then stared up at Alexander. Her lips twitched a bit in humor, "You aren't going to get cold feet now are you?" As soon as they were out of the proprietors' eyesight she wiggled a bit. "That was a good strategy, but you can let me down now." Her thighs slid across his as her feet lowered to the floor. For an instant she almost wanted to press closer to him rather than step away, but turned and slipped the key through the slot. Get a hold of yourself Alacrity. You just met the man. Just because he's a Wielder is no reason to...to what?... Her eyes looked back at him as the door shut, closing them into the room. It looked about the same as every other hotel she had ever stayed in. Green carpet, gold bedspread, off-white curtains, a cheap piece of landscape art, and one chair....to be attracted to him? It had felt good, if not awkward, being in his arms. Reaching for the suitcase, she set it on the dresser. "I really could use a shower. I've been living out of gas station washrooms for a week." Pulling out a change of clothes, "You won't leave...will you?" The encounter with the innkeeper was fast, if not anything else. She paid and grabbed the key card for their room, and they were off and down the hallway and at their room. He heard her words, felt her wiggling, and he couldn't help but half a laugh himself. "Well, it's good to keep up appearances until we are completely alone." He said softly, in a low voice. Her leg was intensely seductive to him, and he had half a mind to pull her close to him. But it was Syn that gave him the control he needed, and he let her walk past into the bedroom. She was quick to get her suitcase on the dresser, then walked past him to the bathroom. "I won't leave." He said, in an unusually soft voice, before watching the door to the bathroom close behind her. He headed to about the middle of the room, taking the coat off and laying it over a chair. Furthermore, he was wearing a simple brown tee and black pants underneath it, and he quickly got to doing a short workout of sit-ups and push-ups to make sure his muscles didn't weaken even a little bit. Syn made sure of it anyway... but no use not practicing. By the time she was out of the shower, he was simply sitting in the chair in a deep meditation. He was fresh from having washed in a spring just the night before, washing his clothes then as well. His response seemed much softer, almost subdued, compared to the way he had spoken at their meeting and after the fight. Her body desired to lean in toward him again. The smell of him that had beckoned her while she was in his arms seemed almost a lure. El twined tight within her, however, and she found herself making her way into the bathroom. Tossing her soiled clothes into the corner, she worked loose the bandage Alex had applied. The wound was fairly clean, no jagged edges. If she had just moved to the side a little faster, but 'what-ifs' were for fools. The wound was worth meeting another wielder even if El hated him. "How can it really matter El? It's not like you have to communicate with his symbiont." All her question got was a long silence. Normally he was always filtering through her thoughts. Not so much speech as images and emotions, but he was always there. Alacrity sensed there would be more than talk between El and the other if they were forced into proximity. "Then just stay hidden." Her voice dropped to the merest whisper, "I like him, El." Her hand turned the faucet in the shower. She would have liked to sink into the tub, but thought it probably wasn't a good idea to let her wound soak. As the water washed away the grime and aches, she lathered up her hair, ignoring the ache it caused her shoulder. Did you notice El...that he likes the outdoors? Her love of nature, her very life before all of this, was centered entirely on the wilderness. Drying off and wrapping her hair in a towel. What were the odds of meeting a wielder that could take care of himself if they had to head for the hills? She pulled on her light blue pajamas, checking in the mirror to make sure they weren't too revealing. Then headed out of the room. The side of her mouth quirked up. He looked a bit out of place. She grabbed her comb, and headed to the TV. "I hope you don't mind, but I could stand a little unwinding after everything that happened today." Clicking the remote, a chuckle escaped her lips as the show came on, "The irony," She gestured toward the screen. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers. El you're going to love this." But for some reason her eyes kept drifting from the TV to the man in the chair. He was in a deep meditative state, and everything seemed to slow down around him enough that he was able to make sense of most of it. With the help of Syn, of course. He was thanking the stars that he found someone that would be some backup in the days to come. Because this was only going to get worse before it got better. There were no ifs, and, or buts about it. Though, Syn was dealing with the fact that the other Wielder had an even symbiont. It was no choice for her. Greater chance of survival. They always went for what would make them live longer. The bathroom door opened, and his fragile silence around him was shattered, and his eyes opened as the remaining thoughts shattered in his mind. But that was fine. Alacrity looked rather in place with her blue pajamas. He was going to sleep in his normal clothes, like he always did. He always knew danger could be there at any moment, and he needed the chance to get away without some clumsy clothing on him. "Go ahead and unwind." He said, eyes closing as he got himself into a small reverie, even though it wasn't as focused as it was a few moments ago. Any nearby noise like the television would break it, so there was no reason to try it. The T.V. came on, and he heard her talking to her Symbiont. "But I have no bubble gum." He pipped up, even though he looked rather detached from the whole scene. "Thanks, it's not often I take the liberty of unwinding." Alacrity looked puzzled at Alex's remark. Then a smile crossed her features and a low chuckle reverberated through her chest. "Ahhh, all that's left is for you to 'kick ass'?"" I was never much of a fighter before El showed up. I mean, I knew how, I just never actually had the opportunity or need to use my training to whoop someone." Continuing to work the tangles from her hair, she watched this stranger that was suddenly part of her life. Possibly the only person who could understand the total change they had gone through...to know what was really going on. The public at large saw only the rising apparent crime. Murder had almost doubled. Grizzly murder, at that. The government was keeping the truth under a tight cap. People that tried to speak out about were quietly hushed. Her hair was nearly dry before she turned to question him, "What did you do, before? You know, back when life was...normal? I was a park ranger, and ski instructor. Not much of a living, but I love the outdoors. The further we get from the city, the better I feel, but El says I need to kill if I'm going to get strong enough to survive. The flash always seems to come around major population sites." She slipped under the covers on the side of the bed furthest away from him. "I won't bother you if you want to get some rest. There's no need to sleep in the chair." Flipping the remote over before turning off the TV she laughed inwardly as she read, Do not steal this remote. It will not work on your TV at home. Were there people really that dumb? She winced as she stretched out to lay it down, and tentatively rubbed her shoulder. With any luck, El might have it partially healed by morning. (I'm sorry for taking so long to get back here. Do you want to continue this one, or make a new one?) I am a bit overburdened at the moment anyway, at 21 RP's and I just became a Mentor on Illiquid. That is chewing up a big bit of my time. Not to mention I just pulled out of a 6-week writer's block, from burnout. It's okay to let it rest in peace. That's quite alright. We can try again another time.

Wielding (Raziel99 and Oreo)|rating:4.0

Before Stardom(NightLux & Forgetmenot)

Blinding lights were nothing new to Kelsey Hope. At the age of 17, the life that she knew ended with the rise of her first chart topping single. She'd never, ever expected it to go so far. Since she was old enough to speak, she'd been making up songs. As she grew older, she'd write them down and sing at the top of her lungs in her bedroom, strumming on a second hand guitar her dad had found at a garage sale. It was her junior year when she was asked to sing the National Anthem at a minor league baseball game. Although it was likely the result of Kelsey's mother's non-stop harassment of the management, she was thrilled. The right person heard and within a week, she was homeschooled and on a plane to Nashville where she spent the next three months in a recording studio. It had been a lot on an adolescent girl. She missed her best friend Rachel and the easy comforts of home. That was five years ago and life still hadn't slowed down. She'd had seventeen number one hits and her last album had gone Diamond. She was a superstar and there was no getting used to it. Sitting in the plush leather chair in the interview room, Kelsey remained still while her make-up artist laid the final touches on her camera ready face. Her pale blonde hair fell in perfect beach waves down her shoulders and her thin body was outfitted in a figure hugging country lace dress. It was a necessary evil. MTV was airing a special on her rise to fame in a joint marketing venture to promote her next album on the shelves next month. A giant poster with her silhouette on stage served as a background for the interview portion. Adjusting her slight figure to cross her legs, Kelsey smiled as the interviewer walked in. She explained some of the questions they were going to ask and warned her that they'd gotten a handful of childhood photos from Kelsey's mother for the show."Oh, great!" Kelsey laughed nervously. So tell us, Kelsey Hope, now that you've conquered the world, what's next?" the other woman asked." Well, I don't believe I've conquered anything," Kelsey shifted in her seat. "The music industry is a collaborative effort of so many people who work so hard. I've had a run of good luck, but I don't see myself above the fray. To answer your question though, I'm going to keep making music, it's what I love, and I can't see it ending any time soon, regardless of perceived fame. I write music and if someone else enjoys hearing it, I think I can call that a win." Satisfied, the interviewer moved on, "You came from a small town, has that influenced your modesty at all?""Oh, absolutely!" Kelsey piqued, "My mom would still hunt me down and give me an earful if I was anything less than humble. That's just how we do it where I'm from." Thoughts of her mother made her homesick. She hadn't seen either of her parents in almost 6 months. The woman pulled out a manila envelope, "Speaking of your mother, she was kind enough to give us some photos from your childhood, before the music, as it were." She pulled out the first photo; a seven-year-old Kelsey holding a pink microphone with an oversized guitar slung across her little body. Laughing, slightly embarrassed, Kelsey explained. "That was me singing at a family picnic. If I had an audience, I was sure to have a mic in my hand". The next picture the interviewer pulled out showed Kelsey at her last homecoming dance before leaving high school. She hadn't had a date." What?! Nobody took Kelsey Hope to homecoming?!" the interviewer shouted in mock anger. A smile plastered on her face, Kelsey looked at the photo of herself posing her family's living room in a bright red princess style gown. She'd still had braces and her light blonde hair had been curled into ringlets that sat high on her head. Her hair was the same color, as she'd never allowed them to dye it, but it was sleeker now, more mature. Going alone hadn't bothered her, Rachel hadn't had a date either, and they were content to dress up, dance, and have a good time. "I wasn't the Kelsey Hope I am now, that's for certain. I didn't get a lot of attention from guys, I was awkward and goofy. I didn't care, we just wanted to dance." Lastly the interviewer pulled out a picture of a cheeky young Kelsey holding a boy hostage at water-gun point. The smile's on both of their faces emitted pure childish joy. His hands were above his head in surrender and Kelsey's mischievous eyes let on that she was about to fire." Tell us about this" the interviewer prompted." Oh wow," Kelsey stared at the picture, her camera perfect facade slipping. She touched the face of the boy and smiled. "Jason Bell. She said simply. He was my best friends brother. We were constantly getting picked on and left out, but Jason was our knight in shining armor. We were just annoying little girls to him, but he made sure we were always included and nobody messed with us when he was around." She put the picture down and looked awe struck at the interviewer. "I haven't seen him in years, he left for college before I moved away. I had the biggest crush on him." The interviewer laughed and looked into the camera, "Jason Bell, did you hear that...somewhere there is a guy losing his mind over this missed opportunity"Kelsey pulled the smile back onto her face and finished the interview with grace. After it's conclusion, Kelsey changed into yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt. Shoving dark sunglasses over her bright blue eyes, she pushed out the front door of the studio and into a throng of paparazzi and flashing lights. (was a peaceful swim, just enough to tire him out but not too much to make his limbs feel like spaghetti. Swimming laps had always been his favorite way to relax ever since he had joined the swim team in high school. The quiet of the water broken by the rush of sound when his head would break the surface, the solid rhythm of his strokes against the water; it was his way of meditation, focusing nothing more on the next breath and the next stroke. Jason had long since stopped swimming competitively; he wasn't good enough to get a scholarship, but those same physical talents lent himself better to football and a good linebacker was something that any school would want. Good might have been an overstatement, but it got him through four years of college for free, so it was good enough. It was strange, graduating "early" compared to his teammates, but when he held that degree in economics, he knew it'd been worth it. As he walked from the pool, popping his swim cap off, he raised his hand and waived at one of his old bosses. Phillip had hired him straight out of college to work in his consulting firm. "Economics," he told him, "Is just knowing how people think. That's what I need. I'm going to teach you models, and you're going to be set." Turns out he was good at models, but the constant travel and pitches got to be annoying. Phillip saw it and, a natural mentor, would sit and talk to him for hours during downtimes of travel until finally he figured out what he really wanted to do. Teach. Turns out a young, athletic handsome economics-degree holder made for a good middle-school math teacher. Sitting back against the dry wood of the sauna, his eyes trailed across the glass separating it from the indoor pool as a rather striking girl walked by in her own swimsuit, her gaze on him as they both smiled at each other. He was certain it was the similar glances the panel of teachers who interviewed him, and that of the principal he still worked for, that got him the job. Leaning forward as he started to sweat, the heat tightening his water-cool skin so pleasantly, he tilted his head up to look at the clock on the far wall of the pool. There was a faculty happy hour in roughly an hour, and he had been debating going for a while. Celebrating the end of the school year. He'd gone twice and both times he was pretty sure he was the most sober person in the room. Teachers liked to drink...he laughed to himself, wondering who would be the first to order an Uber home. Last time he'd volunteered to drive Sandra home, a pretty-good looking science teacher in seventh grade who had gotten way to drink, and his reward had been a lap full of vomit. Nah, I'm going to pass on this one, he thought to himself as he looked back at the clock. He had four more minutes and instead of thinking about which teachers would get a DUI that evening - eh, none, they weren't that stupid - he instead cleared his mind, letting the peace and quiet relax his body as the heat did its trick. It was a stark contrast to the phone having seizures in the locker. A few people were staring at his locker when he approached, his eyes silently meeting theirs before someone said "I think it's alive," he joked before walking off to his own activities. Turning the combination, he opened it only to see it light up with another message. Leaning back to look on either side of the bank of lockers, Jason halfway wondered if this was some sort of prank. Slowly his hand reached for the phone, as was tradition to check messages before heading for a post-workout shower. What he saw, however, blew his mind." What the fuck?" he dropped, looking at the little red circle in the top-corner of his messages' app, reading well into the triple digits. "Did everyone I've ever known decide to suddenly text me?" he wondered, his voice pausing when he saw a smaller, but still significantly large double-digit number at the corner of his phone app. Jason wracked his mind as he set it down in disbelief, trying to think of what could prompt that. He got maybe five calls on his birthday and the school had been out for easily two hours. At first, he wanted to ignore it, shower and then deal with it, but the morbid curiosity won out. Tapping the message app, his first thoughts were confirmed. A finger flick started the scroll, and he read the name as they raced past. His mom. His dad. His old college roommate. His second cousin? What the hell, that was his principal. Way down the list he saw his sister's name, Rachel. That curiosity had its talons in him, and she had been one of the first to text. Probably called too. He liked to call her the social navigator - she knew what was going on in anyone's life at any time. She was also a social media consultant, whatever that really was, but it was a perfect job since she might as well have a direct jack into those networks. Clicking her name, it was a single message, one of the first he had gotten. It was a simple message, at the bottom of their last conversation. Kelsey Hope just admitted she had crush on you, by name, on her special. You know, Kelsey down the street when we were kids? The superstar? RIP your phone." No shit..." he replied, flipping to the internet app and starting to Google her name, but he passed and deleted it. Instead, he typed his name... and cautiously hit enter. What popped up blew his mind. Nowhere was his LinkedIn or anything that would have been there when he checked his name out of boredom a year ago. No, the top results were pretty much the same thing, over and over and over and over. "Who is Jason Bell?" His fingers quickly moved to the phone app and dialed up his sister's number." Rachel, I know you've got her number somewhere... yes, my phone is probably going to die just from the buzzing... no, I was swimming, I just got to it... how the hell was I supposed to know, you two were like six years younger than me... yeah well just have her to get to the closest camera and tell everyone to leave me the hell alone, okay? Its sweet and all... okay, okay, I know you'll handle it... yeah, love you to, sis. Thanks again." Clicking the end button, he turned and leaned his bare back against the cool lockers, only one thing going through his mind. This can't last a week at the worst, right? Backstage at The Nightlife Show with Greg Morrison, Kelsey paced back and forth and fought the urge to bite her nails. It was a disgusting habit that her manager made her quit early on, but the urge still struck her now and then. As seasoned as she was in the whole PR game, she still got nervous doing these live talk shows. They could spring anything on her and usually tried to get reactions out of her in one form or another. Her hair was straightened and half up with strands pulled loose to make the look appear effortless. The small black dress she wore had an abdominal cut out and a deep cut, scrappy back. Black louboutin platform pumps pushed the already edgy look into pure sexiness. Every time she released a new album, the months before and after the release date were filled with promotional appearances and performances. She tried to avoid falling into the 'poor me' attitude. Kelsey knew she was blessed beyond measure, but these were the hardest parts of her celebrity. The loud soulful howls of Janis Joplin sang out from her personal phone, and she lunged to answer it, desperate for a distraction. Seeing who it was, Kelsey picked it up quickly, she only had a few minutes before she had to go on." Rachel! Hey gorgeous! I can't really talk, I'm about to go on Greg Morrison's--""Keys! Shut up" Rachel interrupted, "I'll just be a second. Your MTV special aired last night and Jason is FREAKING OUT. Okay, not really, but take a sec to google his name when you can. Your little trip down memory lane on national television screwed him over pretty good. He's a teacher ya know? His students are going to have a heyday with this, not to mention the fifteen thousand news and entertainment reporters calling, texting, and emailing him for a scoop. You've got to fix this..." A knock on the door stole Kelsey's attention. "Miss Hope, you're on in 2 minutes" a stagehand said through the closed door of her dressing room." Rachel, I've got to go, but I'll do what I can. Tell him I'm so sorry. Better yet, text me his phone number. Got to go. Watch the show. Now! Go!" She hung up and returned the now silenced phone to her purse before doing an appearance check in the mirror. As good as it's going to get, she told herself before pushing through the door. Most of Morrison's questions were scripted, and she'd prepared answers for them. Near the end of the session though, right before she was due to preform her newest single, the host dropped a bombshell. "So, the world is dying to know more about Jason Bell. You've not been seen romantically linked to anyone in almost 2 years, could he be the one that got away." Though shocked, Kelsey did her best to maintain an aloofness that hinted at this being a dead end question. "There's no story there Gary" she laughed a little before continuing. "It was so unfair of me to even say his name. Had I been running on more than 2 hours of sleep and a triple shot of espresso, I probably could have saved him a lot of headache. I don't even know him anymore."" Well you're no fun" Morrison pouted, making the audience laugh. Kelsey raised her shoulders in an exaggerated shrug, laughing with them." At the very least he deserves free tickets to your next show" Morrison prompted. Kelsey hadn't thought about it, but that was an amazing idea. "I can probably manage something" she replied discreetly, hoping like hell that he'd drop the subject. He did and Kelsey moved to the staged band area where she preformed a song off of her new album. The interview, Jason Bell, her album, it all floated away when the soft electric guitar started to strum behind her. This was her element, not the cameras or the photo ops. She loved music, loved singing. As she lost herself in the song, the audience lost themselves in her. The wind machine was blowing her hair and she held the microphone like it was the last cup of water she'd ever have before she crossed a desert. She looked stunning, her nerves and inhibitions falling away right there in front of the world as the superstar underneath the girl next door was exposed.-------Before she went to bed that night, Kelsey had made sure that her manager arranged for Jason and a 'plus one' to receive tickets and backstage passes to her next show. It happened to be a venue only an hour drive from her hometown, and she'd been nervous about it for some time. She felt a responsibility to represent her little town well. When she was near home she knew that it washer people in the audience, the ones that were her fans from the national anthem days. Attached to the tickets, Kelsey penned a personal note. Jason, I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I've caused you. Please allow me to apologize in person. It's the least I can do for my knight in shining armor. Hope to see you soon, All the best, KM. By the end of the day, Jason was tempted to just turn off his phone and pretend it was the 90s again. Still, he wadded through the texts and calls once they seemed to slow, the novelty of it all probably wearing off. It was mostly his friends mentioning that his name had been dropped and, ironically, wondering how many messages he was getting. A significant minority were his coworkers and students, although blissfully few of them. His finger moved across the screen to delete the entire thread, but then his curiosity got the better of him. One by one, he gave them names in his phone - zzMedia1, zzMedia2, etc., so they'd not clog up his contacts list - so that he could also see if they'd called, left a message, etc. He wasn't surprised people figured out who he was; clicking over to Facebook, he realized that he had filled out that info section so thoroughly it was easy to see that he was that Jason Bell - right age, right hometown - and not many Jason Bell's from where he and Kelsey were from. But how did they get his cell? That was what made him wonder, but it probably was listed somewhere on the web by accident. Either that or they messaged some of his friends. Who knew. Twelve members of the media, at the end. Most had called, all but two left a voicemail wanting and interview and three of them had even texted messaged him just to make sure he saw it. The world had lost its freaking mind. It was the public insatiable appetite for any piece of information on a celebrity that pushed the media like this. That was, what, well over a decade ago?he thought as he poured himself a glass of whiskey, swirling it in the glass as he watched his phone light up occasionally. Is she really that big of a star?he thought, pulling his laptop over on the table. He'd kept up with Kelsey's career mostly through pointless conversations with his sister, Rachel, but he'd really followed beyond "Isn't it cool I know someone famous?" sort of thing. He'd never Googled her or looked at the fan clubs, so as he spent the next hour digging into what the internet thought of her, he learned two things really fast. One, she was amuchbigger starer than he had thought. The list of number-one songs was much longer than he'd thought and there were entire forums devoted to analyzing any little bit of data they could get. What did it mean that she went to this store or that, was she sick because she went out without being all dolled up for three days straight? And Lord all the pictures, gives, videos of every aspect of her life. Even one where he wasn't sure if she was pissed about the car failing on the side of the road or the cameras flashing having to document this ultra-important moment in history. It was comical. If it also wasn't so god-damned creepy. It only two a few clicks to find other forums devoted to, as Jason would put it, the more private aspects of her. Shots of her from behind where the outfit might have crept up. Or a near-up skirt, not that it showed anything, but damn if it wasn't one of the higher rated posts on Reddit. Then someone had managed to find old pictures of her back in high school, he assumed, and made sure that forum saw her in those low-rider jeans. That was the shallow end. He didn't dare peak at the NSFW stuff. God only knows. By the time he was done with his snooping, his second glass of whiskey was empty and he closed the laptop. He'd admit one thing that he agreed with them on. She was gorgeous. Hell, where was that girl when she was running around his house during sleep-overs? "Probably best," he told himself as he flipped on the television and settled into the couch with a third glass. At least this would all be over in a couple of days. Might as well have a bit of fun with it. What was the worst that could go wrong? The knock on the door the next morning was far too early and serious for the hung-over Jason, rubbing his eyes as he managed his way to the door, blinking a few times as it opened. On the other side was a short, hurried-looking woman who held a small manila envelope that he could see had his name on it, address and all. For a brief moment, a bit of panic burned through the haze of the hangover -Shit, they figured out where I live?- but that settled quickly when she smiled and looked at his shirtless frame before nodding. "I see why Kelsey would have a crush on you," she winked, before she shook herself to her purpose. "Kelsey sent these over for you as an apology. You and plus one. She's really sorry if she turned your life upside down and wants to make good on it. Anyway, here you go," she explained before pushing the envelope into his hands with a smile, taking another look before moving away and hurrying down the stairs." Weird..." was all he could think as his eyes fell to the envelope, and he kicked the door to his apartment closed. Moving to the bar he dumped the contents out and turned over the note, unfolding it and reading the words contained within, especially the old reference. Turning to the tickets, his mind raced to if he should even go. "Wouldn't that be poking the bear just a bit much?" he reasoned to himself before moving beyond that. It was a week away. By then he'd be off everyone's mind because some Kardashian did something or another celeb was going back into rehab. It would be safe. The biggest question was who he'd take? The entire drive, he'd been terrified that even if he wasn't on the forefront of everyone's mind, he'd still be recognized. He doubted many of her teenybopper fans would want to kill him for having her attentions in years' past, but as he walked up, he was worried more about what they'd think an early-thirties man going to the show stag. He had the two tickets in his front pocket, but the VIP pass in his wallet. Front-row seats. If they'd let him get close enough to talk to him without macing him, he was going to make a pair of girls extremely happy. Standing just behind the entrance - he'd explained what he wanted to do to one of the staff there, the VIP pass that he wasn't trying to somehow sneak in, and watched. Jason wasn't sure what he was looking for, but when he saw two young girls slip through and turn to head to the nose bleed seats, he knew he'd found it. The girls were a spitting image of Rachel and Kelsey from back in the day and the way they screamed when he explained that he'd trade their back-row, nosebleed seats with front-row center confirmed that all girls held the ability to reach decibel levels that were usually reserved for airliners. Not that he had any intention of going to those seats; he wouldn't feel bad about wasting those seats, but front-row? That was a sin to the concert gods. As they raced past him toward theirnewseats, he couldn't help but smile, although for a moment he could have sworn the blonde had said his name... but he ignored it and decided to head to the VIP area and eventually backstage. He was nervous... he hadn't seen Kelsey in years, and he had absolutely no idea what he'd talk to her about... Kelsey's fans filed into the arena with giddy anticipation. Kelsey herself was just about to shimmy out of a plush white robe and into her first outfit of the concert. She had several costume changes over the course of the show. She didn't sellout stadiums just because she had written some relatable songs, she sold out stadiums because with every performance, she put on a piece of her soul on display. Her fans deserved the best concert going experience and Kelsey went through pains to give it to them. A hard knock startled the starlet, and she wrapped herself back into the warmth and comfort of the robe. Her hair and make-up were finished, the overly heavy stage make-up painted on with expert precision." What's up Nick" Kelsey beamed at her burly head of security. To Nicks professional credit, he never displayed any real emotions on concert night. He took his job very seriously. On a normal day, Nick walked several paces behind Kelsey, unnoticed in civilian clothes as all eyes were on her anyway. He adored his little charge, and she paid him well, what more was there?" There's a Jason Bell trying to get backstage early" Nick explained, gracious enough to pretend not to know the name. All sorts of people constantly tried to get backstage without passes. With the recent media attention there could be any number of creeps claiming to be Jason Bell." Did you check I.D.? Confirm his credentials?" Her heart began beating faster, which was ridiculous because so what if it was Jason. She'd invited him!" Yes ma'am. It's him, but backstage isn't open to pass holders until-""Let him in please" Kelsey interrupted, nodding as her mind flooded with memories and her stomach filled with butterflies. Kelsey hated confrontation. Too often she was walked all over and taken advantage of, and she took it with a smile because she'd rather lose some money or time than deal with a real disagreement. Fidgeting with her manicured nails, Kelsey didn't bother to change out of the robe while Nick went to retrieve Jason. She checked her appearance in the mirror and grimaced. It was more make-up than she would ever wear on a normal day. Exaggerated eyes and lips were standard for stadium performances. Someone had explained that it looked better on camera or something like that. There was nothing to be done about it now." Come in" she called out pleasantly at the soft knock, positioning herself across the room from the doorway. If she knew Nick, he would take up a new post directly outside of her dressing room. She wasn't sure if Jason was angry and if so, how angry. The door opened and in walked the man of the hour. Kelsey smiled, recognizing the ruggedly handsome man as a grown up version of the boy she used to know and adore." Hi Jason". There was something... oddly insulting that the guard rolled his eyes when he said his name. The "sure you are" was a nice touch too, so much so Jason couldn't really react, blinking at the large man clad in a tight black t-shirt. But then it started to dawn on him why he reacted so quickly - since she'd dropped his name, Jason wouldn't have been surprised if people tried to borrow it to get closer to her. Heck, he almost wondered how many people would have attempted to use it to get close to anything she had. It'd only take a clueless waitress to escort some random person off the street right up to her table. Instead of pleading his case, he slowly reached back to his pocket and pulled out his wallet, "I'm sure you've gotten that a few times, but this time, it is the mythical Jason Bell, in the flesh," he joked, fumbling to pull the driver's license out of his wallet. He wasn't sure the last time he'd been carded, so it was stuck a bit against the leather. When he finally produced it, the guard looked at it and then him. Looked at it, and then him. And another round, just in case insanity lasted for more than ten seconds." Well, I'll be damned," he replied, handing the identification back to Jason and shrugged. "Normally we don't let people backstage for a while longer. But given..." the guard paused, not quite sure what to say, "Let me check with the boss and see if it is okay." Jason could only assume what the man was thinking as he shuffled to another man standing a bit further behind the entrance, seeing the guard point to him and the other man then lean to the side as if Jason was some rare, albino giant platypus, a sight of which no one would believe. As the two broke, the initial guard - Jason had named him Bob - came back to him while the other - Jason named the bodyguard Nick Steve - disappeared from sight. "He's going to check and see if we can make an exception." Then the silence descended. Jason didn't have anything to discuss with Bob, but he could tell that Bob had a question. A question Jason knew he wanted to ask, so much so Jason started chuckling and answered the elephant in the room. "She was twelve when I went to college. No, the answer is no." Bob chuckled and nodded his head, patting Jason on the shoulder. "Besides, you should have seen the girl I was dating freshman year. Jessica. Bright red hair and a pair of..." he started, only to see Steve come up and waive him over. The two previous men chuckled at the interruption, but Jason did as Steve asked. The walk from there to wherever they were taking him was a labyrinth. He'd never been involved with band or theater or any of that stuff, so all the workings backstage at the high school would have been confusing. This one he'd need a map and water, or he might die trying to find his way out. The halls got narrower and the darkened shadows gave way to white and bright lights once they were sufficiently away from the stage. "Hey, aren't these the..." he started to say, only to be interrupted by Steve a second time." Normally no one gets back here, but I'm going to be right here. She so much as makes an unhappy sound they'll be booking me for assault, got it?" Jason nodded his head quickly, realizing Steve wasn't part of security, hewassecurity. Steve opened the door and Jason seemed to flow into it like water down a drain, his nerves clear on his face and eyes as he scanned the interior of the room. He jumped as the door closed behind him and turned, but then heard his name. Turning slowly, he tried to put a smile on his lips but instead was just a bit in awe of the woman that stood before him. She was beautiful, far more than the pictures made it look. Probably because he could tell the smile on her face was absolutely true." I was not expected double-secret backstage access," he laughed, paraphrasing one of his favorite movies growing up. He remembered having to be careful when helping Rachel and Kelsey with their togas the movie inspired, and the grounding he got for letting them watch Animal House while his parents were out. "Just so you know, there are two girls that are going to be sitting where I was. Figured they'd enjoy the show more." He paused, realizing that it might seem like a slight, "I mean... I'm really here just to accept your apology and have a drink or two on your dime," he laughed, taking a step toward her and scooping her hands in his. "Damn, Kelsey... I guess it always seemed a bit... unreal. But it's real." Turning his head, he looked at the room before looking back at her. "I'm proud of you." Jason paused, not quite sure what to say next, but decided to crack a joke. "Next time you decide to profess your love to me," he teased, squeezing her hands, "Maybe by me a watch or something. I've always wanted a Rolex..." Immediately, Jason has Kelsey laughing. There would be no uncomfortable confrontation or groveling tonight. "Animal House!" She said at his opening statement. "I haven't seen that movie in years!" Her happiness echoed through the room and Nick visibly relaxed outside the door. Jason was closing the distance between them, explaining that he'd given his tickets away. She couldn't be mad about it. Concert crowds weren't for everyone and those girls would never forget his gift. She nodded and opened her mouth in mock horror at his wit. "You would use me thus? For free booze?" A hand placed on top of her heart helped sell the false outrage. All at once, his jokes faltered and Jason swords turned into honest praise. She was touched to learn that he felt proud of her. She'd always wanted to make her hometown people proud and for some reason, hearing it from Jason, after all that she'd put him through, was meaningful beyond words. Immediately though, he cracked another joke." A Rolex? Noted." Her smile got even bigger as she pulled her hands away and wrapped them around his body in a hug befitting an old friend. "Was it awful? All the attention? I tried to recant on the Late show, but people are so enamored with the idea of me with anyone, that I don't know what else to do aside from tell them that I used to have a crush on Justin Timberlake too". She laughed at herself, pushing blond curls out of her face. "I'm sorry if Nick scared you" she motioned towards the door and the big man beyond. He said that you were out there, and I thought...well I hoped to get yelled at before the show and get it out of the way or else I'd have been worried the whole night. I truly thought you'd be angry." A knock on the door preceded a bespectacled stagehand holding a clipboard. "10 minutes Ms. Hope". Kelsey nodded, and the door closed again." Listen, I can not wait to catch up, but I've still got to get changed. If it's okay, Nick will show you to a lounge where you can sit and watch the show, or if you really hate me, you can watch college football or something. If you decide you want the experience without the crowd, just find any person with a headset and ask them to take you to stage left." After a moment, Kelsey was alone again and slipping into a short black flapper style dress that accentuated her thin frame and made her normally pale skin glow. She always started each show with her most recent number 1 hit. Depending on when the concert was, the song changed. This time it was the first single released off of the new album. Super up beat and fast, it called for a saucy dress. Her music style had morphed from country to pop and back again. When finally it was time for her to walk on the stage, The lights dimmed and Kelsey Hope settled behind the curtain waiting for the first notes to play. There were no jitters here, at this moment. She was born to do this. The guitar started strumming quick dancing rhythms and the heavy velvet curtain rose on Kelsey's Silhouette, mic in hand. Hugging her tightly, she could feel his chest bounce with laughter when she mentioned Timberlake. Leaning back as they unwrapped from the friendly hug, he nodded quickly, "Do it. Smart, can sing and a wicked sense of humor. Just stay away from boxes, though..." he laughed, trying to imagine how insane their little hometown would be if two superstars descended into it to visit her folks. They'd need martial law to keep order. "But it really wasn't that bad, I guess. Turn it on silent and leave it in the other room to get some sleep. Oh, I did learn Playgirl still exists, though. Made me an offer for some photos. I have higher standards than that," he laughed, although the jokes were getting more honest and less trying to avoid the subject. Her apology or what she envisioned happening was a shock to him now. It wouldn't have been that night. He had been angry, but over the last weeks he understood it really wasn't her fault. It was an innocuous comment that others had taken to an extreme. She had a crush on him back in the day. He realized - well, Rachel told him - that half the younger girls on the block had crushes on him when they were growing up. To blame her for other people rushing for some piece of dirt on an otherwise private celebrity was no fault of hers. They wanted more than she was willing to give; she didn't have to give in. Once she did, there would be no sating them. They'd demand more and more and more until she ended up a shell of who she was." You need to get home more often, you're losing your religion. College football isn't for another few months out, Kelsey," he teased, but pulled her into a hug again and nodding. "I think I'll watch. I'll just be careful to stay away from any camera's line of sight. We wouldn't want to start those rumors anew?" he said, feeling her small frame under his hug. As he stepped back and nodded, taking another step toward the door, he looked at her again, his mind replaying the playfulness of her hand moving over her heart, the way her eyes had light up. I couldn't do much better, he thought as he turned. Settling into the lounge, one of the attendants brought asked if he wanted something to drink and a moment later there was a beer. Jason was almost tempted to see how stacked of a bar they had somewhere in the building, but as the brown liquid teased his tongue and that wave of relaxation cascaded through his body, he instead turned and watched the closed-circuit view of the music hall and the crowd almost seeming to shimmer in anticipation. And when the lights dropped and the music began, it was like it came to life, and he could hear the road even in the back of the stage. Then the spotlight was on Kelsey and his jaw nearly hit the floor. "I could do no better," he laughed at himself, leaning forward onto his knees as he watched and listened to her first song, then a second and then a third. She commanded the stage, the entire place. Her voice, while it wasn't the perfectly mixed tracks he was sure was on her records, it had its own charm, a realness to it and a depth that made him understand exactly why she was where she was. Hell, hecould tell she was a special talent, and he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. But as the concert began wrapping up, he decided to take her up on that offer. Finding one of the crew, he mentioned what Kelsey had told him, and he followed as they brought him to stage left. Jason would have made sure to stay out of sight, but the crewman did it for him. Atjustbeyond the curtain he might be able to make out a person or two, but for the most part it was limited to just the stage. Draped in darkness, he watched her as she sang and interacted with the crowd, his eyes rapidly focusing more and more on her. In the end, just as she ended her song, the entire force of vision fell on her. If I were only that lucky...he thought, the beauty and talent nearly making him weak at the knees. Wow. Kelsey finished the set on a high note. An epic ballad that showed off her vocal range instead of just her songwriting. She was dressed in a long flowy white halter dress with a small train. The dress was ornate with rhinestones and bead work and so heavy that she mostly stayed in place while she sang in it. She focused mostly on the audience, talking to them and pumping them up before every song. She told cute little anecdotes about growing up nearby and the culture shock she'd been thrust through. In the corner of her eye in the middle of her final song, she just happened to make out a figure standing still directly off of stage left. Jason. Normally, if she caught sight of anyone off-stage, they were in the middle of the hustle and bustle. He stood frozen in place, and she took the risk to glance over and wink at him, smiling through the next verse of her song. When the last note had stopped ringing through the stadium and the people cheered, Kelsey bared her heart. "I just want to thank you guys for coming out here tonight just to see me! This show, this particular stop in the tour, means so much to me. Many of you know the little town I grew up in was just a short drive from here, and I've seen so many faces in the crowd tonight of people that helped shape me into the woman I am today. I want to let you know that I love each and every one of you and I haven't forgotten where I came from. Every penny from ticket sales tonight has already been donated to the Harris County School District to benefit not just the music programs, but all education for the kids who stand where I once stood. Thank you again. Goodnight!!!" The crowd erupted and Kelsey took a moment to smile, point, and wave at fans. Acknowledging them. The lights faded and Kelsey exited stage left, beaming at Jason. Her adrenaline was so high from all the energy in the atmosphere that she was shaking. As her people tried to rush her backstage and into her dressing room, Kelsey grabbed Jason's elbow and drug him along. Breathless and still walking fast, she looked at him with sparkling eyes and an inquisitive smile. "What'd you think?" After they got to her dressing room, Kelsey explained that she needed about 20 minutes to get cleaned up and changed and that she would meet him back in the lounge. Jasonalmostblushed when she had winked at him, not quite certain why she had or what it meant. Or whether he was happy that she did and if it meant what he thought it might mean. Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he took a step back to let the crew do their thing, a bright smile communicating to her as she came toward him and passed, only to feel a hand on his elbow and a jerk to follow. Looking down he could see the glittery hand of Kelsey and her fingers across his forearm, holding tight until he bounced to catch up and then they loosened. "I would never have thought I would like it as much as I did," he laughed, then starting to realize just why people got so insane over their celebrities, as he looked back into those eyes, the smile evident in them even without looking at her face. Jason had never met a celebrity. Granted, he really didn't have much care in meeting one. The few concerts he went to were more local bands and talents, whether from college or now back at home, so he'd never met someone with that raw, unadulterated charisma. Just Kelsey's smile and the way she held herself as like a magnet and everyone else was the opposite pole. Jason could understand why people would fall in love with her by just a few pictures on the internet and a music video or some interview. She had 'it', even if he couldn't quite understand what that exactly was. In some sense, it was as if he'd lived most of his life in the darkness and then came face to face with a lantern. It almost hurt, but in a good way, like finally being able to see. Except, in all of that, he could still see and recognize the little Kelsey he knew growing up. How she grabbed his elbow just like she did so many years before, trying to get the attention of the taller, older boy so he'd turn and talk to her or let them join. Or when he saw her whole face and the smile just like the one she'd had given when she and Rachel had pulled a prank on him. Underneath the white dress, the glitter and the make-up, he could also see that Kelsey. And just seeing what she had become almost melted his heart. No wonder Rachel talked about her constantly - this was her best friend. Several nods followed while she explained the next few minutes, and he was perfectly happy heading back to the lounge and waiting. Another beer - this time another local brew - and he crashed onto the couch, one ankle atop the other knee as he sipped it, watching people file out of the arena until it eventually switched to the local television channel broadcast, the low-rent graphics behind the older, "I've-given-up" looking anchors a sign that they were truly a small little town. But as he watched, recognizing some of the people and organizations they talked about, part of him didn't mind. They were up-and-coming again, ever since the windmill farm opened. His school was on the upswing, and he was happy to be a part of it. Their little town had accomplished so much and had so many dreams. Just like the star they had launched a few years before. Kelsey stepped out of her dressing room and if you didn't know her face well, you might not have known it was her. All the glitz and glam was gone. Her pale blonde hair had been washed, dried in a hurry and left to air dry. The heavy makeup was gone and in its place were natural rosy cheeks and pink lips. Her heavy eyelashes were lined in a soft black only because she knew that she was going to hang out with Jason and she didn't want to disappoint him. Tight blue jeans and a loose T-shirt that was cut short in the front completed her ensemble. She found him relaxing in the lounge, a beer in one hand and Ana air of confidence around him. "Are you good?" she said, coming to stand beside the arm of the couch. "I thought we could just hang out here unless you wanted to go out. Considering the media frenzy we're trying to avoid, I thought this best, but its totally up to you." She didn't tell him that she'd already paid a ridiculous sum of money to keep the bar open and pay the bartender and waiter while they used the lounge. She sat across the couch from him and tucked one long leg up under her. Furthermore, she knew that, initially, he was only there BC of free tickets and to receive an apology, but She wanted to learn more about him. A good-looking school teacher with a sense of humor? Color her intrigued. There are skills teachers develop - the ability not to laugh in the face of a student when they do something stupid, the ability not to throttle a parent when they say something stupid, the ability not to scream at administration when they decide something stupid... lots of skills regarding the stupidity that swirled around teachers every day, even stupidity of their own making. They had chosen a job that was a step or two above babysitting twenty to thirty children on bad days, after all. But one of those skills was being acutely aware of your surroundings, especially when one of those children are attempting to pass notes, cheat, or otherwise do something they shouldn't have been. Even if Kelsey had been a quarter of her size and attempting to sneak into the room, Jason probably would have noticed her. But given she was a beautiful woman in tight jeans, never mind a celebrity, anyone short of a blind man would have seen her walk into the room." I'm good," he simply replied, placing his foot back on the floor as nerves began to flare across his body. Was he supposed to get up and hug her again? Jason wasn't sure of protocol so instead he stayed sitting, both hands clutching the beer bottle with his neck turned to look at her. "And I think if we're trying to avoid turning my life upside down, going out is likely the worst way to do that," he laughed, the humor relaxing him. Bouncing away from her on the couch to make room, he turned and cocked his leg along the cushion, folding his other leg over the ankle to open himself toward her as she sat. "Sit, please. This is yours, after all," he asked, gesturing to the other side of the couch as his eyes journeyed up her frame to her face. "And I'm yours for the night. Nothing going tomorrow," he revealed, the Friday night spent with thousands of swooning girls rather than a real date. He chuckled at his own joke, not even thinking that there was a possibility that this could ever be anything resembling a real date. Kelsey laughed at his joke, her smile genuine and happy. The waiter came around just then and asked for an order. "Can I get an amaretto sour please? Just keep them coming, and whatever he wants "She waited for Jason to order and the waiter to walk away." So Rachel filled me in on a lot of your career. I think it's fantastic that you ditched corporate America to teach. Its such an important and fulfilling thing. I hope you get access to some of the funds from tonight. What grades and subjects do you teach? Please tell me its not pubescent girls, because that's just not fair." Kelsey couldn't imagine having Jason Bell as a teacher. She'd never be able to focus on a thing he was saying. He was that good-looking. Their drinks came and Kelsey held her glass up. "Cheap and delicious. It's a staple of mine." She didn't try to bring up their social differences, but instead tried to play them down. She wanted him to see her as normal, a woman, but she didn't know if they'd get past that hurdle. Did she even want them to? She did, she decided. If he continued to be this charming and funny, she might just try to gauge his interest in a real date. Kelsey probably hadn't meant it as a joke, but only someone who had taught long enough recognized it as such. "Its only important when you're trying to get a politician's attention or fulfilling when you need to find some schmuck to teach alongside you," he teased her, a sip of drink the other pause, "I think it's really as fulfilling as anyone makes it. Lots of people burn out because I think they expect it to give these warm and fuzzier every day, or at least once a week." Jason could remember the first time a student outright defied him and the sheer shock he felt, having bought in to the political claims everyone else heard. It was then he realized any job could be soul crushing. "I mean, I love what I do. I don't teach, at least that's what I tell myself. I get to wrap up a piece of history in a story and sell it to six groups of eight graders every day. And the crush their hopes and dreams when they don't listen and fail the test..." he laughed, his smile about as bright as it could be. "Not everything about teaching is noble." Pulling himself to his feet, he walked over and set the now-empty glass on one of the tables, leaning against the wall to look at Kelsey while he waited for the next round, arms crossed loosely. "So to peel back the curtain a bit," he teased, wrapping a pun up in his statement, "Where did you see yourself being before all of this? I mean, I thought I'd be in some corporate job, climbing that ladder, boring vacations with some wife. A teacher? You knew me when I was younger. That was the last thing I'd have done," he remembered, but even as his mind retreated to those days, there were nuggets that hinted at this future. He was always getting everyone together and making sure everyone knew the rules. Even back then. "Not sure what I would have pegged you for. Maybe a vet? Our dogs always loved you. I guess, though, you were twelve or something when I went to college," he added, a small frown flashing on his face when he explicitly mentioned the age difference. Not that it mattered. Not now. One of the VPs at his school was married to someone half his age and barely in her mid-twenties. His own father was seven years older than his mother. What seemed like an insurmountable gap in their ages earlier - how he'd always remembered the two of them - now, when confronted with the reality of the now, seemed like nothing. Sure, there might have been things that would highlight it, but for everything important, it really didn't matter. And that broke the frown to a smile. "Did you know," he added, knowing Rachel was going to punch him next time he saw her, "She made me promise that if you didn't get a date to Prom, I'd take you?" He could only imagine if he'd had to pay that deal. He'd either be a much older creep and draw the ire of the teachers chaperoning, or he'd be in the middle of a media frenzy if she tried to go when she was that age. Then a flash went through his mind, What if this is...he paused the thought, the remainder needing not be thought to fill it in. Sometimes life had a way of ensuring things happened. Kelsey sat beside him, fascinated at his candid take on teaching. He made jabs at the profession as anyone does when it's theirs, but the way his eyes lit up told her everything she needed to know. Mr. Bell was a beloved teacher and despite the annoyances, he loved what he did. She laughed with him, noting that he had one of those contagious laughs that could start a chain reaction. It was impossible not to notice the way his face transformed from ruggedly handsome to downright sexy when he genuinely smiled. Jason stood abruptly and walked to a table, waiting for a refill and attempting to break the ice a little more. "You knew me when I was younger. That was the last thing I'd have done" he said, describing his unlikely change of careers. "I wholeheartedly disagree" she said, standing and placing her empty glass on the table next to his. "You were always a great teacher. Maybe not in the traditional sense, but you have always been patient and kind and lord knows you had experience babysitting. 100% survival rate too, impressive stuff." She rested her bottom on the arm of the couch, crossing her ankles out in front of her. "I don't know though" she finally answered his initial question, "this is all I've ever really wanted, this life." A sad smile curled her lips, but didn't reach her eyes. How many people could say that their childhood dream had become a reality? The blessing was not wasted on Kelsey Hope. Still, she felt like she hadn't really answered his question. "An architect" she said after a moments pause. "I mean, I'd still have wanted to do this, but I love architecture. It's the most underrated form of art" she said, anticipating his reaction. "A vet would be fun, but I'd bawl my eyes out every time I had to put someone's pet down. It wouldn't work." She hadn't been this candid on any interview ever, choosing to keep some part of herself for herself. Jason spoke of Rachel fondly and Kelsey laughed out loud when mentioned the 'prom promise'. "Oh, I know" she blushed, the color rising high in her cheeks. "I begged her to do it" Kelsey admitted with raised eyebrows and a guilty smile. "I hadn't seen you in a few years and still harbored a serious crush. The plan was to turn down all offers and then seduce you with my womanly wiles". She couldn't keep a straight face while saying it out loud. It had seemed like a great idea at the time. Rachel wasn't sure what Kelsey saw in her gross older brother, but she'd always been easy to sway. Their drinks came, but Kelsey was content to stand, enjoying his body language as they talked. He was funny and confident and the more they reminisced, the more their years apart melted away. Kelsey Hope realized that she might still have a crush on Jason Bell. The reply came a bit faster than he meant, bypassing the filter, "No reason you couldn't still become one. Heck, you could start your own firm with the cash you've probably got lying around," he laughed, the comment not meant to be a slight, but he still regretted phrasing it like that. "Although I guess trying to go to college now would be an exercise of insanity, right? Not like people are just going to get used to a megastar sitting just a few seats down. Oh, and the frat guys..." he bemoaned, only imagining what some drunk college guys might say if she just happened to be around. But she did have bodyguards..." You're lucky that you can do what you really want," he finally answered the larger, unsaid question. But even himself, in a way, he was lucky. He enjoyed what he did, even if he didn't know what he really wanted to do. It had changed so often when he was a kid, from the stereotypical things like a doctor or a lawyer, or to some professional he quickly learned he had no aptitude for, such as aeronautical engineer. Maybe that was just a phase in which he liked big words. But if in her place, with the ability to do anything he wanted? Jason would have been terrified, faced with no idea what he would want to do with his life. Part of him just figured it'd come along as he went, maybe finding purpose in a wife and family. Or just having it drop on his lap. But luckily she offered an out, detail more of her grand scheme to force him to take her to prom. "Oh, that's not how it was explained to me," he teased back, leaning forward a bit as the two went from being Jason and Kelsey Hope, superstar, to just Jason and Kelsey, old friends and decent human beings. "Rachel told me that there were stipulations. In case you weren't asked or if she thought it was someone trying forotherreasons," he left the word dangling, originally meaning a Carriers scenario where the guy was going to embarrass her, but then realizing that someone might have tried to take a shy, beautiful girl to prom to get her dress off after. Jason could easily picture some of the dresses she'd worn and how wonderful they'd look slipping from her body to the floor. And then he reset, back to the plan. "But I don't think intentionally breaking hearts was part of the plan. Then again, Rachel probably just lied to me. Either way, I have to give you props for thinking it that far out. Damn, I knew Rachel was dangerous, but I figured you too sweet to be that calculating..." he laughed, turning and nodding at the waiter as suddenly refilled drinks were brought forth. Picking both up, he took that step forward and offered her drink, then raised his to propose a toast. "To outwitting the naive," he proposed, the double meaning of her outwitting him with prom, but then outwitting the press as well. Even if they hadn't really done anything yet. He blinked a smile as he realized something very, very clearly. He was flirting with her. And she was right damn back. Holy hell. It had never crossed Kelsey's mind to go back to school. She knew that being beyond the traditional age to start as a freshman wasn't a big deal anymore, but to be honest, she didn't have the time. Still, he was correct in his bald analysis that if she threw enough money at it, she could dip her toe into some sort of architectural design via an established firm. They could probably start a partnership if she attached her brand to the project. People would pay more for something partially designed or influenced by Kelsey Hope. That sad knowledge took the wind right out of her sails. She didn't want to do it as a superstar, she just wanted to do it. Kelsey was having a great time. Jason was everything she remembered and more. He was a red-blooded man where she remembered a sweet boy. As relaxed as she'd become with him, the time did not elude her. It was pressing into the wee hours of the morning, and she had a short flight still tonight and a TV appearance in less than 10 hours. She wished that they had reconnected three months into the future, when the album had dropped and the media frenzy surrounding it and her had died down. As it was now, she had something to do and somewhere to be almost every single day. She took the offered drink and barked out laughter, embarrassed at his proposal for a toast. "To exciting beginnings" she countered flirtatiously. They clinked glasses, and she looked at her watch again. If she left now, she'd get 4 hours of sleep before she had to get camera ready. She wasn't ready to stop getting to know Jason, but Kelsey knew that she had to go. "I'm having so much fun" she admitted, looking at the ice cubes in her glass instead of at him. "I have to get going through, early morning". She felt like an asshole abruptly ending their reunion, but she was nothing if not professional, and she'd never been late a day in her life." Rachel texted me your phone number, is it okay if I... Can I call you sometime? Or text? Or...not? " Kelsey's heart was thumping in her chest and she fumbled over her words. She was nervous, it had been a long time since she'd asked a man anything like that. "Unless you want to go to New York with me so we can continue this there" she chuckled as she took a long drink and set the mostly empty glass on the table and boldly met his eyes. That, she hadneverasked a boy. A slight blush covered his face as Kelsey gave him an unintended compliment, and he admitted he was having fun as well. Jason wasn't quite sure what the after-concert time with Kelsey would have been like, but he figured it something more of an elite interacting with the hoi polloi, a brief apology, some gesture of goodwill, and then a return to her high-flying life. But even that he knew wasn't fair; Kelsey had never been that type nor did he think she could eventually become that type. She had too good of a heart and too much attachment - plus too much Rachel, it seemed - to let her get too big for her breeches, as his grandmother used to say. She had never disconnected from what made her who she was, from her home; he had, and it took reconnecting to find some comfort and happiness. He chuckled at the realization the pop star didn't have to learn that lesson." Any time you want, Kelsey," he answered gently, not bringing attention to her fumbling, although the attempt to play-it-cool failed spectacularly when she offered him going to New York with her. He honestly didn't really know how to respond. One hand, the idea of an impromptu vacation was entirely intriguing, and it wasn't like he had much to do. He could get home, toss some clothes in a bag and be off to meet her there in no time. It'd been a few years since he'd last managed to get up to New York, but he had a feeling the parts of the city she would have access to was something he'd never be able to imagine, much less afford. But on the other hand, what the hell would he do there? Was he just going to follow her like some sort of groupie to New York and sit on the side of the stage so they could have another conversation after she has sung? It wouldn't be like he could spend much time with her outside of that; he'd have to sneak into her hotel to even see her outside the confines of the backstage. But on the other hand, flirting plus secrecy plus hotel rooms could mean something that every other guy on the planet might be jealous of. Hell, it was Kelsey Hope. But on the final hand, it was just... he couldn't say yes. He had his own life and while it was nice to catch up her with, now wasn't the right time to drop it and go to New York." I'm flattered, really, I mean... wow," he rejected her, he knew there were no two ways about it, but he made sure the next words were something different. "I just can't drop everything right now." His eyes couldn't meet hers for a second, but then he did, the look in his own clear that it was not a decision made lightly, even if he had rationalized it like a four-armed freak who took discretion rather than valor. "But call. Text. Anything. Maybe I can find some time to hang out later. Heck, I have no plans for much of the summer except a few in-services," he started, realizing he was more or less offering to meet up with Kelsey Bella some later time, especially given the next words, "And I don't really have any vacations booked for the summer. Not like I can't see where you'll be this summer," he laughed, thinking of just how weird that sounded, but so completely normal to her. He'd look back on the last minute or so as the moment when the flirting went from harmless to hinting at something because it indeed was. She had always been a cute girl, that kind of cute that everyone knew looking at her that she'd grow up to be a heartbreaker and a handful, the kind that you just consoled the parent years before it blossomed. But the woman that stood before him was probably the closest to a pure ten that he'd ever see. Maybe he was trying to punch above his weight class, maybe he was chasing his white whale, but at that moment, he figured, "Why not at least try?" She had once had a crush on him. Sure, she was younger. Sure Rachel would freak out and probably threaten to murder him seven different ways. But he kept coming back to one simple truth. He liked her. Both inside and out. And their conversation had made that clear. "So yeah, I think you do need to call and text, otherwise I'll show up in Denver or something, and you'll have forgotten all about me coming." Something in him knew that Kelsey wouldn't, nor would he. Kelsey was absurdly and unfairly a little disappointed that Jason couldn't go with her to New York. She hadn't really expected him to, but once she'd said it out loud, her excitement at the prospect grew. She'd grown up a small town girl, but New York and city life in general had grown on her. Take out everything was a blessing, especially when you were Kelsey Hope and going grocery shopping or out to eat resulted in autograph signing and paparazzi showdowns. Not that she minded signing autographs, Kelsey signed as many as time would allow every time she was asked. She'd never turned a kid down for a photo op and stood shoulder to shoulder with strangers for pictures at every outing."Oh, of course!" Kelsey recovered from her disappointment quickly, knowing she was being silly. "I didn't mean to presume you had nothing to do, or no one at home, or yea-that's fine, another time." Pull yourself together Kelsey, she screamed internally. She was aware that they'd not really established his relationship status, and she made a mental note to casually ask Rachel about it. He was blatantly flirtatious and Kelsey felt that she already knew him well enough to know he wouldn't have flirted if he was attached elsewhere. "I'm going to go" she started the awkward goodbye. "Thanks for coming, I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry again for ruining your life and all that." She laughed a little on the last bit, leaning in to wrap her arms around his middle in a hug. She laid her head on his shoulder and leaned into him for a second longer than prudent." I'll call you" she said, turning and walking back towards her dressing room as Nick entered to escort Jason out. He knew that it was borrowed time at this point; as structured as his days of teaching were and even some of his summer, he was pretty sure there was a structure to her every waking moment that he couldn't rival, especially while on tour. Go here, do that, change into this, sing something. He could only imagine. But when she came to him with a hug, he embraced the moment, squeezing her a bit harder than a friendly hug would, but also noticed the tilt of her head and how she laid it on his shoulder. Jason also didn't quite let her go at first, letting a word be said while still half-embraced, "This was great. Thanks... really," he added before finally releasing her form, watching her step back, wondering how the last few weeks would have gone if that stray comment would have never been said. What that parallel world's person was thinking and doing right now. He certainly didn't have as full of an ego or carefully hopeful heart as he did at this time." Please do," he answered as Nick and her began to trade places her the door to the room they had been sharing, "Beside Rachel you'll be the only one who does," he laughed, one last bit of humor strung across their conversation before he nodded at Nick and smiled. He could only catch a glimpse of her as she disappeared while Nick drove him another way, his attention moving to her bodyguard as they reached the lobby. "Hey, take good care of her. You're her knight now," he said, reaching out to shake his hand, but also placing his other on his shoulder to express his thanks. Nick glanced down and shook it, only to look back to him with a coy grin of his own." Oh, I don't think you're replaced just yet." Truly, if someone had checked his phone's search history or that of his laptop, they'd think he was a stalker that next morning when he finally drugs himself out of bed. He didn't dare count the tabs without a full cup of coffee in his stomach, but he was quite sure he'd found where her performance was in NYC - Madison Square Garden - and three or four articles previewing the event. Another tab had found an overnight review of the previous night's performance, the charity benefit of it, and he even dared to hit Control-F and see if his name had popped up. What was so annoying before suddenly, with a night's sleep and maybe a pleasant dream he'd never admit to, it didn't seem so bad. Another tab had taken him to a discussion board trying to locate what hotel she would be staying in, and it was at that point he knew he was just setting himself up for pain down the line. Who cared. Jason had earned the right to allow himself to dream for a moment. His eyes remained glued to the phone, either for a message from Rachel or a call from a number he didn't have, a number who he was certain he'd know who was on the other end. But as morning slid into early afternoon, the daydreaming and random exploration - maybe those forums that collected all those photos of her weren't to terribly bad... - he decided it was perhaps time for a run. A quick sink-wash of his hair to dispose of the bedhead and a change of clothes had him in a t-shirt and shorts, and he strapped his phone to the arm-band he'd purchased to keep it out of his pocket. Turning on the music and plugging his ears with the buds, he smiled when one of the newer songs he downloaded came on. He'd not admit the name or who the artist was, but he grinned when he realized she had just invited him to abscond with her to New York, his feet taking him a bit faster down the pavement as that joy turned into energy. The following 24 hours were a hectic mess for Kelsey. After she left Jason, she was driven directly to the airport where she boarded her private jet and slept for the couple of hours it took to get to New York. Even in the wee hours of the morning, she was met at the airport by dozens of paparazzi, and she smiled and waved despite her exhaustion. Checking into her hotel, Kelsey signed an autograph for the desk clerk before collapsing into the lush bed on the top floor suite. She didn't have time to sleep though, her hair and make-up crew were already on their way to get her ready for 'Good Morning America'. Jason and his smile and laugh were never far from the front of her mind. If she thought he was awake she would've texted him, but she knew that normal people would be sleeping for a few more hours. On set, she looked poised and well rested thanks to a couple espressos and answered a barrage of questions on her new album and tour. Finally, the well known interviewer asked her about Jason. Kelsey was a little surprised as most of the media frenzy surrounding him had died down. "Tell us about Jason Bell!" they said excitedly, "Have you reached out to him at all? Did you reconnect?" Kelsey tried, but couldn't stop the blush that crept across her face with a coy little smile. "Um, yeah, I did. I got hold of him and apologized. He's a really great guy and all of this attention is a bit overwhelming, but he's a good sport."" Any chance of seeing you guys together any time soon?" the woman prompted, not giving up yet." Oh, I don't know about that" Kelsey laughed a little. "I think he's had enough of the limelight already"." Kelsey Hope everybody! She's going to sing her new number one for us after the break, and if you're lucky enough to have snagged a ticket, she's live in Madison Square Garden tonight!" After leaving GMA, Kelsey felt compelled to warn Jason. Good Morning! Just a heads-up, GMA asked about you. Sorry. She shot out the text as her driver pulled into the Garden's parking garage. She had sound checks and a quick walkthrough before she was free for a few precious hours. She wondered what Jason was doing today and was relieved that he hadn't come to New York. It wouldn't have been fun for him, and she barely had time to go to the bathroom, much less talk to him the way she wanted to. Before heading up to the sound check, she sent out another text just moments after the first. Had a really great time last night. Let's do it again soon. Xoxo ... and there it was again, the quick beeping of people texting him because obviously his name had come up on television again. Looking down at it, he was almost tempted to go buy a second phone for select friends and family and use this one as a honey pot for everyone else. He chuckled as the messages came in, not nearly as bad as that first time, but still friends wanting him to know he was in the news again. If he were honest with himself, he really didn't care whether he was in the news or not. He wasn't one to seek limelight or even desire it. But with each new chime came another reminder of the person who had put him in the spotlight, and he couldn't help but think of her. It was foolish. He knew it was. Maybe her offer to New York was just something friendly, something that celebrities did for each other and was the equivalent of him asking a college if they were going to happy hour after school. Taking a deep breath, he continued his run, mentally planing what would be another day of really nothing to do. Sure, he had to go buy some groceries, maybe get some things done around his house, but the more he tried to plan the day the more thoughts of just up and going to New York. Why had he said no? Sure, the pressing need of working in the back garden was so much more important than anything else. Even with the obvious shortcomings. The beeps interrupting the music began to slow until the novelty of his name on national media passed for the day. As he rounded the final corner of his traditional jogging path, he heard the chime again for a text message and rather than pausing to check, he decided to sprint the last quarter-mile since the sidewalk was clear. A nice advantage of having summers off...he smiled as his feet beat the surface, the concrete squares flowing beneath him as his muscles pushed for more and more speed. As he slowed and came to a stop in front of his house, he finally gave into his curiosity and checked the message, seeing the name "Elsa" - the pseudonym he'd put to cover the fact it was Kelsey's number in his phone - and smiled as she told him what he already knew. A what-should-have-been-quick-but-ended-up-long shower later, he stood in front of the vanity and slowly shaved, careful get as close as he could without cutting himself. This would be the last time he'd shave for the summer, his own little rebellion against the strict policies that teachers were required to abide by. Washing off his face, his ears picked out the chime from the bedroom of his phone and, with only a towel around his waist, he padded his way there and checked it, surprised to see Elsa had texted him again. Only this message gave him a bit more pause... and sparked a lot more thinking. Doesn't too mean hugs and kisses? Or is that just some phrase that means nothing... his mind went into hyper-analyzing every word of the text. His mouth curled as he looked out the window, wondering how soon would be. He knew he had to text back first:I had a great time too. Going anywhere cool soon? Give me a heads-up, and maybe I can find a way to swing it. He didn't want to hedge his words, but he also couldn't just jet off across the country and afford hotels and all that crap. Well, you could...his mind immediately answered him as he tossed the phone down. He agreed with himself. If it was a neat enough place, and he could have a decent excuse for being there other than Kelsey, why not? He chucked as he began getting dressed, his eyes half glued to the machine that was his line to a superstar, maybe letting those x's and o's mean a bit more than they might. Why not dream? She was Kelsey Hope, after all. Plenty to dream about. It was two hours later when Kelsey finally had the opportunity to lay down in her dressing room. She could've gone back to the hotel, but that would mean wasting precious minutes in a car when she could be sleeping, only to wake up and have to come back. She yawned widely, her eyes already heavy from lack of sleep and over exertion. They had just wrapped up a flawless dress rehearsal and seven changes of clothes, 14 songs, and a good bit of choreography really did her in. The fact that she'd have to do it all again, but with more energy and in front of 20,000 people did not escape her. A soft knock on the door was followed quickly by Kelsey's assistant Meg rushing in. She didn't wait for permission to enter, far too concerned with what needed to happen and when. She laid a vase of flowers on a table "From the Gardens" she said matter-of-factly, looking at her clipboard. "Someone named Nate texted you a couple of times" she handed Kelsey her phone with an arched brow expression, silently questioning. Meg couldn't access the text content, but could see from the home screen who was calling and texting and was able to answer important phone calls if Kelsey couldn't. "Finally your blanket. I'll come wake you up in 4 hours for hair and make-up. Get some rest Keys" and she was gone, as quickly as she'd arrived. Kelsey pulled the blanket close to her chest and buried her nose in it. Her grandmother had quilted it for her when she'd first moved to Nashville those years ago and Kelsey had developed a sort of comforting obsession with it. It relaxed her and made her feel at home even when she was sleeping in an opulent dressing room in Madison Square Gardens. She settled in on her side and finally pulled out her phone, smiling to herself at Jason's code name. It had worked. Meg would've been in an absolute tizzy if she'd seen the name Jason Bell on the screen. Kelsey read his quick text with a warm smile, sleepiness causing her brain to function on a slower, more romantic level. Jason didn't have to 'swing' anything. If she invited him somewhere, Kelsey would take care of the trip and all of his expenses. Still, she was aware that Jason had a strong sense of pride. He'd left the executive world to teach children because he didn't feel right selling his soul to corporate America for a paycheck. She admired that, so she wouldn't push the envelope about paying." Wish you were here. Madison Square Garden-sold out. I'm so nervous...could use a knight in shining armor." She clicked send and was asleep before a reply came, her body hitting its limit for the time being. Standing in the kitchen and chopping up some of the ingredients for dinner, he couldn't help but glance occasionally at the phone plugged in and charging nearby. For most people he texted with, the replies were more or less instantaneous, although occasionally during the day work might delay a response. But the weekends and summer, it might as well have been a line straight into their ear. Fire off a message, get a reply, rinse, wash, repeat. But with the texts to Kelsey it was something entirely different. Jason laughed to himself, wondering if this is what people who got invested in pen pals were like back in the day, hurrying to their mailbox to see if the response came that day. Only his checking occurred every five minutes. You're a sad little man, Jason, he joked to himself. He knew he wasn't. He just had a crush. One the same woman probably a million other guys did. But when that screen lit up and the small box came across from 'Elsa', it didn't matter that he might be one of a million, he was one of one. Kelsey was texting him. At some level, he almost wanted to scoreboard everyone on the internet fantasizing about her in one of her more risqué outfits. Boys, I've been alone in her dressing room when she was wearing nothing but a robe! Not that he ever would. It'd rain he'll back down on his life, although each time they exchanged texts, the idea wasn't so bad. Especially when x's and o's turned into the first line of her text. And the last. He sat down on the bar stool and just looked at it, wondering if maybe he was playing with fire. He'd been good and honest to both of them by not going to New York with her. Or had he? He'd actually looked at how long it would take to get from their sleepy part of North Carolina to New York. Eight hours. And he'd looked up when her concert was. Conceivable, assume he didn't stop to eat and didn't drink too much, so he wouldn't have to stop either, he could possibly make it into the city before the concert was over. And done some sleuthing on the darker corners of those who stalked where she might be staying. She had a second show, so she'd be there overnight. But even if he went riding to her rescue, it fell into the same problem that it did before... how the hell would they be able to interact? No reason to be nervous. And I might just have my armor lying around here somewhere. Probably a bit tarnished though. He probably should have thought that threw more before he shoved some clothes in a bag and tossed it into his backseat. He hadn't a clue what he would say, where he would stay, what he might do and even what the plan was for the next few days. Well, the rest of this day would be driving through the afternoon and evening, playing in traffic and finally attempting to BS his way to someplace close enough that he might be able to somehow slip into someplace where they could talk. Otherwise, it was a long drive to simply send messages to each other. Was he rushing things? They'd been chatting for, what, a few days? And now here he was about to make some grand gesture to drive north to see her? Maybe it was a bit of fear that maybe he'd no longer being the interested journal then go back to whatever it was before, just some simple summer vacation, but maybe it was something else. Sure, it would probably be best to just chat and talk and maybe see if there was something, but by the time he crossed the state line going north, he figured there was going to be anything there later, some small spark that might grow into something, his grand gesture would be throwing gasoline on it. It either lit, or it didn't. When Meg came in to wake Kelsey, it was still several hours before show time, but there was a lot to get done. She laid a caramel Frappuccino and a six-pack of frosted donuts on the table next to the flowers and nudged her boss. "Rise and shine sleepy head, 20,000 people await!" Kelsey groaned and rolled onto her back, covering her face with the blanket and squeezing her eyes shut. Instantly, the nervous hole in the pit of her stomach expanded, and her eyes opened, fully awake. She was singing to a sold out crowd at Madison Square Gardens. It was the epitome of 'making it' in the music industry, and she was going to do it twice in as many days. She blew out the anxiety on a heavy breath and pushed herself up and off of the couch. Meg was prattling on about hair and make-up making their way into the building as she spoke and catering setting up down the hall. Kelsey nodded silently, sipping on the coffee and opening up the texts on her phone. She smiled with her mouth still on the lid of her cup, reading Jason's encouraging words. She dug into the box of donuts and snapped a quick selfie. Attaching it to the message, she let him know that she was awake. "Breakfast of champions" she typed out and pressed send.(padded into the bathroom and brushed her teeth and hair before sliding out of her clothes and into a soft white robe. Meg stood outside the door, announcing that Shelby and Matt aka Hair and Make-up were there. Kelsey spent the next couple of hours in a chair getting pushed and pulled and prepped to perfection. When it was finally time to take the stage, she picked up her phone and read a couple encouraging messages from family and friends. "You're going to kill it Kelsey Hope. I'm so proud of you" read one from Rachel. She smiled softly, the blessings that she'd been granted were so much more than talent and fame. Her people were the biggest blessing of all. Right before she rushed out of the dressing room, she found Nate in her recent messages and sent him an update. "Had handsome, it's Showtime! Wish me luck. Xoxoxo"The lights went out, and the crowd went nuts. Kelsey Hope was spot lit and came onto the stage from below, being raised by a hydraulic lift through the floor. The audience was deafening and when the music started, Kelsey's last thought was wishing that Jason was there. Much like the dress rehearsal, the show went off without a hitch. Kelsey charmed the crowd with silly and meaningful monologues between her chart topping songs. When her last song approached, she paced out onto the catwalk and went off script. "Y'all this is the single greatest moment of my life!!" The crowd erupted, pleased to be a part of the historic event. "I love each one of you" she said, bathing in the overwhelming emotion as tears welled in her eyes. "This last song is one you all know. I wrote it when I was just a kid and though it's been prettied up and edited since then, it still means so much to me, this is Slaying Dragons." The excited cheering surged and then died down as the music started. Kelsey paced the stage, pouring her soul out for her fans and getting so much more back in return. The lyrics, which she never admitted had been written about a certain friends big brother, were nostalgic and innocently romantic. Jason's smile surged to the forefront of her mind as she sang on autopilot, realizing deep down that she was in trouble; she had a serious crush on a school teacher. The show ended and Nick escorted Kelsey back to her dressing room after pulling her into a congratulatory embrace. "You did good kiddo" he said into her hair, his own pride getting the better of the beefy bodyguard. Kelsey squeezed him with an excited smile before rushing to her room and closing herself off from the fray. She changed quickly, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a LED Zeppelin t-shirt before wandering back to one of the exits and entering a small roped off area. Throngs of people were there waiting, and she signed autograph after autograph and took what must have been hundreds of pictures. She smiled at and hugged her fans, thanking them for coming. It felt like hours passed before Nick finally began guiding her to the exit." You don't have to do that after every show" he chided her gently, standing in the open doorway to her dressing room as she gathered her stuff. "Yes I do" she yawned. It always took a lot out of her to meet and greet the fans after an already exhausting show, but they deserved it, and it was something so simple that she could do to give back. Kelsey took a photo of the flowers on the table and tweeted it out to her million plus followers. '1 down, 1 to go. Thank you, New York!" Reading texts from Nate, Rachel, her parents and more, Kelsey was quiet most of the way to the hotel. She didn't text any of them back because it was almost 2am, and she didn't want to wake them, regardless of how big her night had been. Nick did a security sweep of Kelsey's hotel suite before letting her in and following with her bags. "Get some rest Kid" he said, "I'll be just across the hall and keeping an eye on things." She nodded and heaved out a sigh of relief. She'd done it. After a well-earned shower, Kelsey fell into the bed and was dead to the world. As part of the stereotypical college experience, Jason had driven with some buddies across the country to California for a summer. That'd taken them south through New Orleans and Houston, then up to Dallas, over to Denver and finally through Las Vegas and into California proper. They'd experienced drivers from all parts of the country, from the intense Texan to the laid back Cajun to the angry LA driver. He'd long since learned to be a patient driver, not too aggressive, and just to remain calm no matter what happened. Bitching and moaning wouldn't get him there any faster, nor would slamming on the horn and cursing at the driver to the side or in front, whatever the situation would normally dictate. It seemed New York or New Jersey or wherever-the-hell-he-was drivers thought all of that was utterly false. He'd been sitting in traffic for almost an hour and probably moved a mile or two. The sound of horns were cacophonous and omnipresent, it was just the pitches that changed depending on the make and model that contained the horn that sounded. If his nerves weren't already frayed from the long drive and too much coffee, this would have been enough. As it stood now, he thought he might just lose his mind. He had the great idea to park in a nearby lot and try to use public transit to make it to the hotel, but it seemed getting off the main street was a mistake. But as he finally got to the entrance to the lot, being able to drive at twenty was a blessing for the ten seconds it took to pull into the spot. Granted, the cost of the per-day parking was enough to make him spit nails, but he didn't let that bother him. The ride from New Jersey - that's where he had ended up - into Manhattan was fairly short and easy. From there getting to the hotel would be easy enough, although he hated dipping his toe in the forum that kept way, way too close a track of Kelsey. Granted, he'd never heard of the Nomad Hotel (but some quick research while the train bounced down the underground track told him it was a five-star hotel (of course) that had some really, really nice suites. Even his mind wandered - and wondered - how much a night Kelsey was spending. And it was probably just a drop in the bucket. But such a nice hotel also presented another problem: how the hell was he going to get to her? Obviously they'd restrict access to the nicer rooms, regardless of who was there. But the fact it was a celebrity meant that it had to be even harder. Sure, he could waltz in and say he was Jason Bell - and prove it - and probably get access, but that'd be saying goodbye to his anonymity forever once word leaked out that he'd gone to New York and met her at her hotel room. Not that it wasn't true... and not that he wouldn't be willing to do that. But luckily as he walked into the door, he noticed over by the bar someone he knew. Saying a quiet little prayer, he approached Nick - obviously on his break - and smiled. "So... would I owe you a favor or would it be..." he let his voice fade until he almost whispered the last word, leaving the obvious name that should follow unsaid. Nick turned and looked at her, then back to his whiskey, only to turn back." You think..." Jason just nodded to cut him off before Nick rolled his eyes. "Okay, here's how It's going to go, lover boy. I'll bring you up. And I'll stay there until she tells one of us to go. You do anything threatening to stalkers... I mean, other than coming here..." he let slip, a slight smile crossing his lips, "Or threatening and there's no end to the pain I'll inflict, okay?" Again Jason just nodded. Throwing his head back and the drink, the rest of the whiskey disappeared down his throat before the glass clanged back onto the table. "Oh, and you owe me a drink too. And both of you a favor." Another nod and then Jason followed. There wasn't much to it at this point - just a jaunt across the lobby to the elevator, a scan of the key card to allow access to that floor and then the doors closed. And Jason's nerves flared. "I really have no idea what I'm doing, to be honest." Nick turned and looked at him, almost incredulous, slowly shaking his head. "I mean, I know what I'm doing," Jason revised, taking a deep breath and attempting to defend from the glare Nick leveled, "But... the moment I walk through that door, it's obvious. There's no hinting behind texts or just writing it off as shameless flirting. I mean, I've always liked her and getting back in touch with her is just... I'm being stupid, aren't I?" he finally asked and Nick just nodded." Exactly the kind of stupid you should be with her." The ding of the floor indicator interrupted him or gave him an out, Jason wasn't sure which. But Nick silently moved into the hall and Jason followed yet again, letting the silence fall and pondering on what Nick meant. His mindfulness was broken when Nick knocked on the door a few times, only to open it with his key. Gesturing Jason in, he shut it behind him quietly before ushering him into the suite (and quietly announcing them. "Kelsey, you awake? I have a surprise for you..." As hard as she had worked the previous day, as exhausted as she'd been, Kelsey's sleep was choppy and unfulfilling. She had woken up twice in the last hour, the second time, about 20 minutes prior, she'd inexplicably been awake enough to not immediately return to sleep. Luckily, tomorrow she would get to sleep in. There would be no dress rehearsals or daytime talk shows to appear on. She had the entire day before the performance to catch up on sleep and recharge her batteries. It was pushing 4am and Kelsey fought the urge to text Jason to see if he was awake. Only common sense and decency stopped her. He was a school teacher and probably rarely saw midnight much less anything resembling this ungodly hour. Sliding out of the bed Kelsey pulled on the lush robe over her naked body and held it closed in front of her as she walked towards the wall of windows looking out over the city. The Nomad was always her favorite place to stay when she was in town. It felt like a home far more than a hotel. Since her own homes were professionally decorated similarly, she could almost pretend that she was surrounded by her own stuff and in her own bed. A knock at the door made Kelsey jump and squeak, but Nicks voice as he let himself into the room immediately calmed her nerves. She turned, bathed in moonlight in the dark room, and waited for her trusted friend to come into the bedroom. "If it's not Mocha ice cream I'm not even interested" she joked, chuckling at her own quip as Nick finally came into view. He wasn't alone. The smile on Kelsey's lips died the instant she recognized Jason Bell partially hidden behind her massive protector. She swallowed heavily, eyes riveted on the smaller man that was better than mocha ice cream. Kelsey stood frozen near the windows, heart hammering in her ears while she tried to piece together what exactly she was looking at. He looked a little tired and frazzled, but his mere presence made Kelsey have to focus on remembering how to breath. She didn't smile or squeal with excitement, but the intensity in her gaze was unmistakable. "Jason" she finally breathed out, a tiny smile curling the edges of her lips. Her wavy blonde hair hung loose around her face and would look almost white with the influence of the moon. "Thank you, Nick" she muttered, not taking her eyes off of Jason, but effectively dismissing her bodyguard. After a prolonged glare at Jason, Nick let himself and all the air out of the room.

Before Stardom(NightLux & Forgetmenot)|rating:4.0

[PF] [IC] Ire of the Storm - Group Two

Presenting An Idle Mercy's telling of... this... Moonday, 17 Rods 4715Evening many, the last eleven days have been an unusual mixture of boredom and excitement aboard Theravada Cutter. A new life full of promise and possibilities lay ahead of them in Strava's southernmost frontier town of Prison's Hearth. While theCutterand her crew were certainly efficient and capable, the many days at sea were almost interminable for some of the more anxious passengers. These individuals included the portly noblemanGallio MeniusandAnnabelle Julia. The former being a rather large nobleman who spent much of his time alternating between pacing the decks of the ship and telling anyone who would listen about his plans to have a large and thriving papaya business based out option's Hearth. The latter, a half-even woman who always looked her best in various brightly colored dresses and scarves, wore a constant surly, angry expression on her face and wandered the accessible decks of the ship constantly. When approached, she would be cordial if not friendly and tell of her love of the deity Shell (goddess of beauty and art), but soon after the conversation, the clouds would cast deep features across her stormy features and a deep-seated angry scowl would darken her visage. Others yet were taking it in stride and would spend their time looking out over the railings, watching the western coast of Strava slowly pass far off in the distance as she made her way south. Such individuals includedUmuzu, a tall Zen woman that handled the rocking of the ship with ease and would assist the sailors with their tasks occasionally. When asked, she would tell of her exploits in the past: how she spent her youth exploring much of the Wang's southern and western edges and how she became a guide for explorers through those areas. Another equally patient fellow was the always polite and incredibly properer. Blackwell. Never addressing anyone by anything other than by a "Mister" or "Missus" or "M'Lady" preceding their name, this impeccably dressed owner of a surveying company never had a wrinkle or short black hair out of place. Through it all, Captain Len "Sharkskin" Broadband his motley crew navigated the wind and waves with ease, even as the last couple of days proved to grow increasingly cloudy with larger waves and occasional showers. And as has become a regular occurrence, at sundown the dinner bell would ring and the passengers would gather in the galley for the evening meal. And on this Monday, the seventeenth day of Rods - deep in the dog days of summer - the passengers gathered together once again for a meal of freshly caught fish along with some vegetable stew and bread and cheeses. Their drink choices included (cheap) wine, water or watery stout. As the winds picked up outside and the Cutter'screw kept the ship safe, the passengers discovered they had a surprise visitor - the captain himself! The dark skinned man in a loose cream-colored shirt and reddish-brown breeches leaned back against one of the support beams and chatted amicably, if not loudly, with his paying guests. After chatting idly for a few minutes, there was a certain expectation building in the room as to the reason behind his unusual visit. With a large grin, the tall Burundi man finally released that secret. "Ah, my friends! Indeed, ah have a reason to be here! We shall be making berth in Prison's Hearth by midday on the morrow!" A series of cheers sounded around the cramped room and the captain held up a calloused hand, "Yes! So you best be gatherin' yeah goods for goin' ashore in the mornin'! But, before that, please...eat! Drink! Of! Shank!" he yells, calling the cook's name, "Get these men 'n women the good stuff!" And with that, Shank - a short, pudgy bald dwarf - ducks into the larder for a moment and comes out with a few bottles of much nicer wine and even a bottle of Dryer's Brandy and a few snifters for those wishing to partake. Once everyone has a drink in hand, the captain lifts his own snifter of brandy and says loudly to the assembled group, "Here’s to you and yours. And to mine and ours. And if mine and ours ever come across to you and yours, I hope you and yours will do as much for mine and ours as mine and ours have done for you and yours!" Spoiler: IOC Hide Please introduce your character and indicate how they've spent their time aboard the ship. Also, this is your chance to speak with the other NPCs as you wish, whether the captain or the other new settlers to Prison's Hearth. Welcome to the game! I'm looking forward to this! At the far corner of the makeshift dinner room sits a colorfully-dressed young woman named Deader. Her always-donned hat has been reluctantly removed for the sake of dinner, and the presence of the Captain, after a brief encounter with one of the sailors enlightened her as to the fact that it's rude to wear one indoor. Although the lack of it can only draw more attention, to the telltale cracks that crisscross her skin, and ever-illuminated eyes. Her time on the ship has been an admittedly boring one for her. She seemed to lose most of her time-passers before stepping foot on the ship, which means she'd be left only with her instincts. And those told her that it would be incredibly stupid to start prying into the lives of her fellow passengers, when she was just one angry Captain away from an unpleasant dip in the water. So, she's been left with little more than her memories, her knowledge, and brief encounters with other passengers willing to entertain her. The steadily-rocking boat reminds her of her first ever boat trip, a flash of Canter in her eyes, but there's no such woman here. There's the scowling even woman, who would scowl only more at a tie fling, she's sure. She spotted one of the Cat folk at some point, and so longed to investigate, but restrained herself to going over what she knows of Prison's Hearth already. When the Captain comes with an announcement, very loud, much like her time with the caravans, she sticks with her fish and water (She searched every meal and beverage for poison) rather than partaking in alcohol. Her memory is clouded enough already! The young woman known only as "Moira" to crew and passengers shyly looks up at the captain, holding her brandy in a delicate hand. The excited smile on her face shines past a horribly scarred visage, the ugly brand of some foul demon impossible to miss in spite of her long hair and hood. Even inside she never willingly uncovers her head, such is her obvious embarrassment at her appearance. In a quiet, high-pitched voice she joins in the cheers and laughter between enthusiastically eating and drinking from where she sits on one end of the table across from Mr. Blackwell. "Mister Blackwell, I want to thank you for your company on this trip - you have been so kind and a pleasant conversationalist. Are you looking forward to beginning your surveying work or will you take several days to get settled once we make landfall tomorrow?" As she talks with the gentleman she makes every effort to avoid eye contact with Lady Julia, with whom she hasnothad pleasant times. Moira's scars contrast so sharply with the woman's beauty, and her espousal of faith only highlights Moira's deeply felt shame at her own appearance. Unfortunately tonight the lovely lady sits beside Mr. Blackwell, making the evening more trying than usual... Shari leans over the railing, his mind adrift. The dead-water-tree has carried him for many days over the poison lake, and yet it has not sunk. It is strange. He saw the first saw the craft in the great village known as 'Blood cove', but has yet to come to terms with their existence. The idea still unnerves the cat slightly, and results in the tighter grip his claws have over the strange serpentine spear he clasps in his left. The scald has taken a position where he can see all paths in and around Theravada Cutter's exterior; in case something were to happen, Shari would much prefer having a choice of escape routes. To ease the thrumming notes of his heart, the scald flicks his white-black ears about the room on curiosity. There is no shortage of personality on the dead-water-tree, and although the Nightlong has relegated him to his quarters for most of the journey, its music has been spent. Shari has nothing more to fear from it this evening. Seeing a dark-skinned woman that greatly resembles one of the tribesmen from the jungles he calls his home, he cat folk slides across the deck to sidle up not too far away." It is a shame, that the wilds we seek are not those we came from, no? I ask because I sense that you are like me; drawn to a place, and yet unwilling to let that be your whole world. The horizon is never set, and yet we long for home." Honestly, Shari has no idea whether this Wang woman will be receptive to his speech, or even really what he is saying. Instead, he's really watching the young woman who has approached the cold man not too far away. Her facial mark intrigues him, and he wishes to learn more about it given the chance. Anything to keep his mind off the raging chorus within. Spoiler: IOC Hide Okay, so first things first, Shari is going to roll a Perception check to try and learn more about Moira while in conversation with Isuzu. If possible, he'd do it unobtrusively, but if he gets found out... well, could be some good role-playing! Perception: (1d20+6)[19] During the voyage, Relists has stubbornly remained encased in metal, taking off her helmet and left gauntlet for meals but never being seen with any less of her armor with her. She did, after a brief exchange with the Captain, stop carrying her massive shield and blade around the ship. Though she doesn't speak much to others, she has a tendency to be near a few others, mostly Moira and Isuzu, though it's never overt or extreme enough to be following. She simply tends to be near they are when she's on the deck. In the mornings she finds the most open and least populated corner of the deck to go through a series of motions that have an awkward look to them without a weapon and shield in her hands, and those who pass through the lower decks in the late hours hear a soft Parisian singing from her door, in a voice surprisingly smooth for someone of her appearance. If Relists was uncomfortable with the constant motion of the ship, she's never shown it, responding with brief shrugs or quick assurances whenever the question is brought up, clearly looking to bring the questions to an end as quickly as possible. Wearing far less armor than normal - which in her case means she has removed her helmet and gauntlets to eat - Relists is quiet as the captain explains his presence. Abstaining from anything stronger than water, she seems mostly content to listen to the others, occasionally responding to some bout of merriment with a slight twitch of her lips. She glances over to the scarred woman on her right sometimes, but eventually turns to her left. Visibly touched by the lower planes, the short tie fling woman had simultaneously intrigued and worried her. After a few moments, Relists nods to her." Hello. Is the fish good?" Briefly, the mental image of her various tutors clawing their eyes and ears outcomes to Relists' mind. With the other inhabitants of the ship fed and the cat-man back on the highest deck, Dora finally makes his way to the galley to retrieve his own share of the evening meal. The bald, dark-skinned young man settles near the older woman who shares too many of his features to not be his mother or much older sister. The captain makes a grand declaration, most of which rambles about and tumbles over itself too much to make sense. Still, Dora accepts a mug of the stuff called "brandy," and follows suit of some of the others-sipping quietly from the rim. Unused as he is to alcohol, and intrigued by the unusual taste, Dora makes shorter work of the squat drinking vessel than most... and then requests a replacement. In point of fact, the youngster has emptied a trio of servings by the time most of the crew has finished heir first, or started a second. Several knowing pairs of eyes, reflective various states of disapproval and amusement flicker in his direction, as he begins a fourth.... His inhibitions clouded, with no framework to amend his behavior, Dora finds himself wandering about the galley-much longer than he would usually have stayed below decks. He approaches a red-haired... Woman? Seated by herself in colorful garb. "Why do you not drink of the 'brandy'?" His tongue stumbles over the unfamiliar word. "The drink has quite a powerful taste..." He empties his fourth, while waiting for an answer from the startled woman. Doba will learn an unpleasant lesson, this night. Deader hears Relists approach before she sees her, which is not particularly hard when the woman's boots are in a constant argument with the floor. There's a heavyweight shifting beside her (Do corners mean nothing to anyone any longer?), and a question to follow it up. She looks up at her fellow redhead and responds to the awkward small talk with a friendly smile." You're new to this, aren't you?" She asks, in a conspiratorial whisper. And then her attention is suddenly seized by a young man with brandy in his hand and a peculiar voice. Why the sudden popularity? Perhaps somebody smuggled human pheromones into my meal... Still, she has to answer the boy; to reward his curiosity, if nothing else." Because poison is the tool of an assassin." Deader tells him, glibly." If I were to poison myself, it would put those poor souls out of the job!" Dora looks suddenly confused. His eyes scan the room with an expression mingling disbelief and terror. "Poison, you say? Why, if this is poison, does the cook himself partake?" He gestures with the now empty cup towards the bald Dwarf-the only person in the room making a decent effort of keeping up with Dora- though perhaps as a result more of happy accident than competitive spirit." Surely, this cannot be as you say! It has such a hearty flavor!" Obviously, Dora is enjoying the odd mixture of fire and sweetness that until so recently graced his cup. "Something like that,"Relists replies, and considers elaborating until the tie fling is approached by another. The tribesman. As his question is answered, she raises an eyebrow, taking a sip of her own drink. It made her curious, and a moment after the young man's clear confusion is spoken, she edges slightly closer to the warm-eyed woman." The fiend blooded can't drink it?" She asks, voice low. A smile flickers over Deader's lips, at the obvious confusion of both her conversational partners." What would you call something that impairs one's senses and judgment? That, without exception, causes pain, drowsiness, even memory loss? And can be surreptitiously delivered through an otherwise innocent vessel?" She quirks an eyebrow at the pair." I would call it a poison, no matter how pleasant." Relists listens, pauses for a moment, then nods. As unusual as the woman's explanation was, it did make sense." I can see your reasoning,"she says." What's your name, by the way? Mine is Relists, Of Her Own." Moira listens as several of the other passengers begin speaking, smiling at Mr. Blackwell in amusement. "Do you think we should explain the nuances of liquor as opposed to poison to them?" she asks, laughing quietly beneath the hood of her cloak. Originally Posted by DarkOne7141981 "Mister Blackwell, I want to thank you for your company on this trip - you have been so kind and a pleasant conversationalist. Are you looking forward to beginning your surveying work or will you take several days to get settled once we make landfall tomorrow?" As she talks with the gentleman she makes every effort to avoid eye contact with Lady Julia, with whom she has not had pleasant times. Moira's scars contrast so sharply with the woman's beauty, and her espousal of faith only highlights Moira's deeply felt shame at her own appearance. Unfortunately tonight the lovely lady sits beside Mr. Blackwell, making the evening more trying than usual... The Pakistani gentleman removes his hat and places it carefully on the table beside him, giving the top of it a brief dusting with the tips of his fingers. He turns his attention to Moira then and nods with a friendly smile, bowing his head just enough to break eye contact with the young woman before returning his steel gray eyes upon hers once more. "Miss Moira, it is I who should thank you for the opportunities to pass the time in excellent conversation." His gaze does not - nor indeed, has it at any time that Moira can remember in the past roughly a dozen days - harden or change when he sees the mark upon her face. It's simply as though it is not there, a pleasant rarity for the woman. "As for my intent once our boots touch soil in Prison's Hearth - a strange name, no doubt - I would be a poor mind at business if I were to rush in. I shall spend some time inquiring around town amongst those who live there. While I admit I may have a map or two from some of my business sources, it pays to validate them with...shall we say, actionable intelligence." He pulls a handkerchief out and dabs at the corners of his lips after having finished his drink and then begins to meticulously fold it back up. The job finished, he tucks it back in place and then inquires of Moira, "Turnabout being what it is, what is it that you wish to find in Prison's Hearth, Miss Moira?" Meanwhile, Isuzu sits stock upright on the bench, fingering one of the bones on the leather thong around her neck as Shari asks his query. Her body language reflects comfort and ease with the question, and after a moment of silence her lips spread into a friendly smile. "Kinda Yuri! I find that whatever horizon I behold, it is there from whence I glance it to be home. Whether it be from the deck of this ship or atop a mighty Calo'band tree or while letting the fingers of the savanna grasses caress my knees. What need to have I of an entire world when my feet only occupy a small part of it? But by the grace of the spirits, I am able to let my feet wander in many a place. And so I shall honor them and continue to wander, leaving my footprint as my mark." She pauses, her smile positively illuminating her ebony features. "But there is more, of course. I intend to keep an old promise. I am no longer welcome amongst my Kawabata family," she says with a slightly pained expression, referencing one of the Zen tribes that Shari knows actually lives in the savannas and not the jungle, "but it is because of that promise that I spend my time protecting the outsiders from falling prey to the savanna's predators, the Calo'band's poison leaves, and the many other teeth of the Wang's massive bite." She finishes with a playful snap of her teeth, giving a hearty laugh. She then draws a gentle sip from her mug and nods to Shari, "If I miss my guess, bin amu, it is you that needs to find your root and your peace. I wander not because I'm drawn to see new things, but because the spirits allow me." The feline scald breathes inwards in a sharp hiss as Isuzu brings up the subject of her exile. The topic is still too fresh in Shari's mind for it to be anything but painful. When he closes his eyes, he can still see the battle in the rain, Ferns' expression as the cat that used to be the closest thing he had to a litter-mate turned his back on him, and his people followed. Shari has told himself never to forget that feeling - it is probably the only thing that keeps him going. The Nightlong has followed him far, and the cat folk suspects that although its melody will never truly cease, once his purpose has been achieved and a lasting peace between the Alive, the northern lizard folk, and the Long paw has been forged, the music will fade away." Your words wind a familiar path, tsar." He ponders what Isuzu has said about roots. What is he really doing headed over the poison water to this strange southern land of 'Strava'? It is a question that has nagged him ever since he reluctantly boarded the Kaaba Cutter. Just how long will it take me to learn all I can about the reptiles of the world? The grip on his totem spear gets a little bit tighter." The spirits are an excellent guide, but I'm afraid I only have one. That being said, it seems we will walk together for a time. I, too, seek the world, but am I looking to settle a score of sorts." Zshari doesn't press the topic of the Zen woman's sentence, just as he would not want a stranger asking him such questions. Originally Posted by Suzuki "...impairs one's senses and judgment? That, without exception, causes pain, drowsiness, even memory loss?" For the first time in several hours, Dora looks at his mug with something resembling suspicion. With a deft flick of his wrist, he flips the vessel onto the back of his hand-sitting firmly on it's base. A gentle game-easy for anyone who has spent the years testing their manual dexterity on the many oddly-shaped objects Omani. The mug dances between the back and palm of his right hand for several seconds, as a confident grin spreads over his face. He brings his left hand to clasp the mug and sends it clattering noisily to the table's surface, as his hand makes contact with the object before his brain makes contact with his hand. Shock floods his features. Slowly, he recovers the mug, now turning a suspicious gaze back onto the Demon-touched passenger. "You may not be lying, but Dora feels no pain, no drowsiness. Dora is unsure what to make of his accident, but clearly recalls the event..." He scowls, whether in response to your words or the irritation of his own mishap, it is impossible to tell. Picking up where he left off, he continues his vocal investigation of the unfamiliar substance. "... and poison is not meant to cause drowsiness or memory loss! Poisons are meant to kill! Surely this sweet drink is no tonic of death, from which so many partake willingly!" Unable or unwilling to believe Deader's words, he accepts a filled mug from one of the crewmen, his own empty mug forgotten as the seafarer takes it from his unresisting hand. To the less-naïve eye, Dora must be an entertaining drunk for the sailors to take it upon themselves to prolong the experience. Isuzu's smile softens, almost as though comforting a child. She shakes her head slowly and places her worn, calloused hands together, palm against palm while looking at Shari. She slowly separates her hands until they are being held out at either side of her body, her fingers splayed slightly. The entire display is one that is evidently quite practiced and ritualistic in nature. Serenity in her voice, she continues, "But that is where you are wrong, Diana. The spirits are many and everywhere. They belong to all and none. Even this ship forged of many fallen mighty trees bears many of them. I hear their voices, faint though they may be. And they keep us aloft, saving us from the wrath of fickle ocean spirits. To say you only have one spirit is folly and risks invoking their wrath. Keep this in mind, always." She then brings her hands back together and clasps her fingers tightly, bringing the two-handed fist to her head reverentially. She whispers something quietly, and then lowers her hands once more and places them on the table. "And sadly, you are incorrect in one other thing. Our walk together will be brief. It is my understanding that a ship called the Cobalt Eye awaits me in Prison's Hearth, and I am to join with her crew there to begin an expedition to map and explore the surrounding jungles shortly after our arrival. But I will be glad to walk with you until that time, Shari." And for the rest of the evening, she speaks with him as much as he is willing, careful not to bring up his obviously sensitive past. Instead, she asks of his spear, his interests in the lizard folk if he brings it up, as well as her own time in the wilds of the Wang and her experiences there. At another table, Mr. Blackwell takes in the conversation between Dora, Deader and Relists quietly, though with an amused curl of his lips. He seems ready to say something in response, but another voice beats him by a second, to which he patiently defers. "Oh, no, no no, my dark ignorant friend! Poisons are many! The Cherished have many at their dis...Bishop... they have many that they use! 'What keeps the nobles and people alike afraid and in check, I hear! Father talked at...at length about it! He shied...he said they have poisons to blind and to control and to weaken and, of course, to kill! And well, you know that Strava is a colony of old Helix! Poisons of all types are found in the markets in Elder, if you know whence to look! Many of them by your own people!" The young, portly nobleman Gallic practically yells over the din of the conversation, not realizing initially that his words have largely caused the room to fall quite silent. He coughs and a red blush spreads over his jowls and then takes another long draw of his drink which does nothing to help his already inebriated state. "Well... I just meant to shay that...the young dark man was wrong. 'S'all..." Despite being clearly embarrassed, the holds his chin high, almost defiantly. He looks to be poised to continue, before the priestess Annabella turns her fierce glower on him and stands from her bench, hands planted flat on the table as she bends over the table facing him. Her beautiful features are transformed into a look of pure contempt and barely restrained rage that he visibly shrinks back from." Don't you blue blooded, bloated blasphemous buffoons in your high houses and piles of coin have anything better to do than throw your weight around," she pauses to let the jibe sink in, "and proclaim to know what's good and right and what people should and shouldn't do or know!? It's because of...of rich, greedy blackguards like you that the people have lost their love of beauty and the simple things in life! You crush people's spirits and care not a whit! I've come to Prison's Hearth to make sure that at least some know of Her beauty and art and joy, and I'll make sure that you don't poison the people's minds there as well!" With a huff, she leaves the table and storms out of the room and down the stairs to the passenger quarters. Mr. Blackwell stands as the priestess exits the room, giving a slight bow as she does. Once she's left the room, he sits back down and then straightens his shirt carefully before saying evenly, "M'Lord Genius, I would kindly advise you switch to water and, if I may suggest, retire for the evening. You undoubtedly have much to prepare for tomorrow, no?" The nobleman opens and closes his mouth silently and then nods wordlessly. He hefts himself up from the bench and stumbles ungracefully out of the room. Dora appears content to take the nobleman's interruption largely at face value until the man brings up "your own people!" A sudden darkness shadows Dora's eyes, at the perhaps unintentional affront. Already standing, he takes two steps towards the nobleman when the ornately-dressed priestess stands to make her own interjection. If he's being completely honest, Dora does not at all follow everything the woman says, but her tone makes it clear that she's delivering an admonishment of sorts, and Dora is distracted in his futile efforts to put the pieces together. When he looks back up, the target of his ire has already departed. His anger and honor neither sated nor defused, Dora takes his 5th serving of brandy to the deck, leaving his mother and sister in the galley. There, he finds the cat folk and the other native of Wang engaged in conversation. Uninterested in joining, he half walks/half stumbles to the prow. His feet hanging over the edge, the gentle mist of wave and wake washes his feet as he sullenly stares over the featureless expanse of blue. Originally Posted by Person Man "What's your name, by the way? Mine is Relists, Of Her Own." Deader decides not to comment on the strange name. It's likely some kind of self-affirming declaration, like how many would say 'I'm Dunkelvahn of Last wall", or "Of the Kitharodian Academy", but Relists has done a playful little twist on it to assert her individuality. She reaches down to her waist and checks the grip of her ladies, into which she scratched her name. Yes, definitely Deader." I'm Deader. Of...the dead." She quirks an eyebrow. Originally Posted by Farmerbink "... and poison is not meant to cause drowsiness or memory loss! Poisons are meant to kill! Surely this sweet drink is no tonic of death, from which so many partake willingly!" "Ah, but how can you be certain you're not already under its affects?" Deader asks, briefly aware of the commotion dominating the rest of the room, but not paying it too much attention." You could be dreaming right,"She looks suspiciously in either direction." Now." Relists watches the twin outbursts closely. Both brush, in their own way, against her past. The lengthy tirade about Helix's poisons and its families, then the rebuke from the priestess, both remind her of the thoughts she's had in the past, and her own experiences. She considers, as the woman storms off, if she'd have spoken to her without that scowl on her face. Maybe. Glancing briefly to the smaller woman on her right, Relists turns back to the tie fling just as she finishes her comment to the confused tribesman." Deader of the dead?" She asks." That's an odd name. Did your family give it to you, or did you make it yourself?" "It was inherited." Deader answers, matter-of-factly." There's a long line of Leaders from a little island off the coast of Usually, and I impressed them enough to become a member of their family. When the rest of their young suffered untimely deaths, I was the last one able to take up their mantle." Relists considers the tie fling silently for a few moments, before nodding." Is it amusing? My name?" She asks calmly, taking a moment to slowly exhale after she speaks. Deader rolls the question around her tongue." Not 'haha' amusing." She answers." But it is peculiar. And that's the point, isn't it? You don't have a name like that unless you want it to mean something." Relists sits back in her chair, feeling that particular kind of caustic heat leave her with the breath that follows. It was to be expected that her name was found strange - and the tie fling was right, that it had meaning." It's not meant to be strange, but there is a meaning, I suppose,"she says. For a moment she's finished, then the realization comes that Deader would likely ask more about it, given her description. It did, after all, sound like it was asking her to ask." After some events, I left my old name behind,"Relists explains." I eventually took a new one, after...other things happened." If Relists' tutors weren't still alive, they would be rolling in their graves. Originally Posted by An Idle Mercy "Turnabout being what it is, what is it that you wish to find in Prison's Hearth, Miss Moira?" Moira smiles and is about to reply when the scene erupts in the galley. Only after everyone has calmed down does she respond, saying, "I am looking forward to starting fresh and making a home for myself away from many of the squabbles and troubles up north. There are sure to be many herbs in the area, and I fancy myself something of an expert on many plants with healing properties. It will be exciting to discover new ones!" After her answer she excuses herself and retires to pack her small bag of possessions and sleep until the morning. Mister Blackwell stands as Moira rises from her seat and wishes her a pleasant evening's rest and then sits back down after she has left the room. He casts his gaze around the few remaining souls in the room - the increasingly drunk Shank, Relists and Deader having their soft conversation on the opposite side of the room, a few of his assistants, two of the Cutter'screw as well as her captain that is finishing up his drink. He stands and wishes them all a good evening, gives the captain one final look and slight bow of his head and then dons his hat precisely before turning in for the evening. After his departure, his assistants soon turn in as well, leaving only the crew members (including Shank) and Relists and Deader. The former begin to clean up the dishes while the latter finish their conversation and ultimately return to the passengers' quarters for the remainder of the night. Another gloomy, gray overcast morning greets the souls aboard Theravada Cutter. As the first of the passengers reach the deck of the ship, they can see that the ship has gotten much closer to the shore. There is a flurry of activity as everyone readies their gear and cargo while the crew adjusts the speed and heading of the ship. Before long, the ship navigates through a wide channel with rocky shores on either side. Initially the land has spots of trees here and there, but before long a sizable cluster of jungle can be seen off the northern shore. As the ship slows down, those aboard can see that the jungle gives way to a river delta. On the opposite, southeastern side of it is a small blurry dot that becomes more defined as the town of Prison's Hearth comes into view through the misty, rainy air. Shouts and directions back and forth from the ship's crew precede the ship slowing further and eventually coming to a full stop and dropping anchor just a hundred meters or so offshore from the town. The captain informs the passengers that since Prison's Hearth has no sizable dock against which to make berth, they will have to take longboats ashore with a few passengers per boat. Multiple trips will need to be made, using the ship's two longboats. Before many have the chance to begin grouping up, Gallic's voice is loudest as he steps toward the captain. "You will, of course, allow me and my servants to go to shore first, captain. Rank and privilege, of course!" Looking around at the others with a conciliatory sigh, he nods, "Of case, m'land." Captain Abrade gives the overweight man a mocking bow, then yells, "Grayson, Tuck ah! Get ah esteemed guest's vessel ready!" After which, the two men lead the nobleman and his servants towards the port side of the ship. Lord Genius and a few of his servants climb into one of the rowboats, as well as the two crew members. They are lowered slowly down to the water below and then begin the row to shore. As soon as they are away, the captain turns to the remaining passengers with a wide grin. "Can't say I will miss that one. Alright, who's next?!" Mister Blackwell abstains, allowing the remaining passengers to go before him, as do Annabella and Isuzu. Moira, Dora, Shari, Relists and Deader are led to the other longboat, where they climb aboard with their backpacks and easily carried gear. Anything sizable will be brought ashore later by the ship's crew. They are joined by two other crew members and are lowered to the water, and they too begin their journey to Prison's Hearth. The town's details begin to clarify through the drizzle. The town is spread across a couple of islands as well as the mainland. Its buildings are composed primarily of wood, many of which are little more than shacks with a canvas roof or walls and occasionally both. A small handful of buildings in the town are stone and usually quite larger than the wooden ones. On the mainland, they can barely make out the blurry form of some sort of high protective wall that's been built around most of the town. There are no paved or even cobblestone roads - all of them are dirt and, thanks to the rain, rather muddy. Palm and other tropical trees and plants are scattered throughout the town, with colorful birds and what appear to be pinkish-purple flying lizards flitting about from tree to tree, issuing loud calls amidst the light rain. Before they reach the dock, they see that Gallic's has already made shore and that the nobleman is stumbling backwards, his arms raised defensively as a rather well-muscled, tanned man in just a tattered pair of breeches is yelling and pointing viciously at him on the dock, a large mostly-empty bottle in his hand. The man is unsteady on his feet.“You should be getting out of this land, ya filthy leech!” the man yells. The drunk swings with a right hook and knocks Gallic to the deck planks, looking more shocked than injured. The swaying man ends his tirade by smashing the bottle he holds against a sturdy dock pylon. The bottle shatters, leaving him holding a vicious spike of serrated glass.“And if yer not going to leave... then I guess it’s up to me to make ya!” The two crew members rowing their longboat look back at Dora and the rest, "You sure you want' make berth here? We kin go to the next dock instead? He's gettin' what 'e deserves, stupid git." IOC Hide Welcome to Prison's Hearth! Indicate whether you want to get involved with the scrap on the deck. You have the option of docking there and getting involved or going to a different one and letting it play out unhindered. Your choice. First person to respond will determine where the sailors will steer the longboat, therefore gauge your responses accordingly. For this, there will be no map, but rather more of a theater of the mind. I'll largely use maps, but in this case I shall not. "We didn't come all this way to see a man gutted as we come ashore!" blurts Moira before she realizes it. The passion in her voice hints at some deeper meaning, but with a nod she gestures towards the dock, staring intently at the attacker. "Starting a new life by watching someone lose theirs is not alright..." Spoiler: Mechanics Hide If able, Moira will use her Evil Eye hex (DC 15 Will or -2 to attack rolls for 8 rounds; on success it last 1 round) on the shirtless man to lower his attack bonus. Dora nods quick agreement. "Dora seen too many people dying already. He's an ass, but that don't mean he has to die foam it." He raises his voice, calling out to the man as he slowly and steadily retrieves a javelin." You Thea! What he's done to make you so Angel?" Deader leans back in her seat on the longboat, as the decision has apparently been made by another woman and the drunk young man she met last night. She'd like to help, too, but...there's not much point in adding to the chaos of a fight, Dora yelling and arming himself, and the magic the witch is casting." A weapon will only make this worse." Deader tells Dora, as she adjusts her cap." He'll feel threatened, the town will get ornery about escalation, somebody will have to clean blood out of the floorboards..." Shari's ears perk up as they catch wind of the conflict on the dock. He slept restlessly the night before, and his senses are not as sharp as they could have been, so he's slower than the rest of the group in the cutter boat to offer their opinion. Recognizing the loud pink-skin from the night before, the cat twitches his nostrils in annoyance. The other one is going to kill him. The thought brings him no pleasure, but neither does he want to interfere in the affairs of others. Still... as Shari's eyes drink in the conflict, he can feel the first stirrings of the Nightlong within. The urge to play off of the aggression, to fuel the flames is growing. He did not have time to exercise his gift this morning, and the song's refrain begins to uncoil from his being. The scald does not even notice that he has planted the spear on the wooden bottom of the boat, or that his lips have touched the wooden grooves on his totem spear. The music that emerges is a haunting wail, designed by nature to bring the bright rage of the soul forth for all to see. It washes over the water indiscriminately, worming its way into the ears of anyone who will listen. Spoiler: IOC Hide Shari will be spending a round of his Scald Performance (Inspiring Rage) to affect everyone within the area: both combatants, the nearby sailors, and anyone in the party who accepts it (anyone can choose to deny the effects). Assuming any of the PCs stop him, he'll stop, but his Community-Minded trait means that the effects will continue for 2 more rounds afterward. The song's effects include +2 to Strength and Constitution, a +1 on Will saves, and a -1 penalty to AC. Furthermore, the recipient cannot make use of any Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom-based skills while under the song's influence. Originally Posted by Suzuki somebody will have to clean blood out of the floorboards..." Dora gestures to the man's broken knife with the back of his empty hand." If day be blood, I am making Shoah it's his, and not the man he's trying to hunt,"he whispers, harshly. Spoiler: IOC Hide I think I'm going to ditch the font. It's almost impossible to read as a whisper, and ultimately necessary, I think. "This can be solved with no blood at all." Deader replies evenly, as she gives Shari's spear a kick just enough to disrupt his singing." But you'll never find out how, if you bring a javelin to a word fight." She smiles at the young man. Dora mutters inconsequentially, his features distinctly marred by confusion. Spoiler: GM Only Hide Shirtless man's Will save: (1d20+0)[20] vs DC 15 Shirtless man's attack roll (absolutely accepting the "nightlong" bonuses): (1d20+6)[18] vs AC 11 (total should be reduced by 2...sorry)Shirtless man's damage (again including bonuses): (1d4+4)[5] INITIATIVE: Shirtless man: (1d20)[20] Dora: (1d20+4)[21] Shari: (1d20+3)[21] Moira: (1d20+7)[24] Deader: (1d20+4)[16] Relists: (1d20+3)[17] The man stumbles forward and angrily stabs at Gallic with a powerful swing, a yell of rage further fueled by the supernatural effects of Shari's nightlong. "Die, ya damned parasite! Leech! THIEF!" He screams again, an anguished yell of fury and sadness mixed. The man seems to completely ignore Dora's calls, so intent is he on his intended target, the clearly frightened noble who keeps crab-crawling awkwardly backwards away from the man ineffectively. The makeshift glass "knife" in the man's hand cuts a deep wound as fresh red blood begins to blossom through the shirt at the nobleman's shoulder where the glass impaled. He shrieks with a loud, high-pitched yell and covers his injured shoulder with his hand. "Somebody HELP me!!" Meanwhile, with practiced ease, the two sailors bring the front of the rowboat to nudge gently into the dock about fifteen feet away from the fracas. "Well...'ere ya go. Luck be with ya!" The two men snicker at the nobleman's plight and offer no help in the fight and, after the last person steps off the boat, they begin to row away back towards Theravada Cutter. Spoiler: IOC All Hide The attacker passed his save (hooray Nat 20!). -2 to attacks just for that round Attacker accepted the nightlong bonuses. Deals 5 points of damage to the nobleman. Thus ends the surprise round of the encounter. Indicate whether you choose to accept the bonuses from the raging song or not. I rolled Initiative for everyone in the above spoiler. Order of operations shall be: Dora, Shari, Moira Shirtless man Everyone Shirtless man etc... Spoiler: Round 1, Moira's Status Hide Moira Female Chaotic Neutral Human Herb/Hedge Witch, Level 1, Unit 7, HP 9/9, Speed 30 ft AC 11, Touch 11, Flat-footed 10, CMD 10, Fort 2, Ref 1, Will 2, CMB -1, Base Attack Bonus 0 Dagger -1 Melee, +1 Thrown (1d4-1, 19-20/x2) No Armor (+1 DEX) Abilities STR 8, DEX 12, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 10, CIA 8 Condition None Continuing to stare intently at the attacker, Moira calls out, "Someone stop him!" as she quietly draws her dagger, just in case... Spoiler: Mechanics Hide Moira will stay put behind melee combatants and use a move action to draw her dagger Standard action to use Evil Eye (DC 15 Will or -2 to AC for 8 rounds; on success it last 1 round) on the attacker again Dora steps off the boat, with little more than a confused expression for Deader. "You have to say something if you want to stop him!" Feet on the dock, he flings his javelin towards the aggressor. In a smooth motion, he continues onward, pulling a massive hammer over his shoulder. Spoiler: Dora, Round 1 Hide Dora Marbleize M N Human (Wang) Ranger (Wild Hunter), Level 1, Unit 4, HP 14/14, Speed 30 AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-footed 14, CMD 19, Fort 5, Ref 6, Will 2, CMB +5, Base Attack Bonus 1 Earth Breaker +5 (2d6+6, x3) Javelin w/ Amen tum +5 (1d6+4, x2) Chakra +5 (1d8+4, x2) Chain shirt, Buckler (+4 Armor, +4 DEX) Abilities STR 19, DEX 18, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 15, CIA 11 Condition None If called shots are in play, I'd like to call a shot for his arm. On a hit (with a -2 penalty), he will take a -2 to attack with that hand for (1d4)[1] rounds. If called shots aren't in play, just chuck the javelin at him. Standard action: attack (+2 to-hit and CRT, if no called shots) (1d20+3)[14] (includes to-hit penalty from called shot to arm) (1d20+3)[15] CRT confirmation (23, x2) (1d6+4)[7] 8 damage (neglected inspiring song) (1d6+4)[9] 10 CRT bonus move action: move-to the guy, and draw the earth breaker (if I can't close, draw another javelin instead) Shari's concentration is utterly shattered by the closest passenger's kick to his totem spear, the music faltering slightly. At first, the cat folk's face twists into a snarl of annoyance as he faces the strange bronze one. How dare she? But the rage fades away to a cold feeling, as Shari's gut coils in disgust at his own actions. The Nightlong has beaten him, if only temporarily. He cuts off the ritual of his own accord, although he knows that the music will persist for at least a few more moments. A storm, once conjured, does not die easy. Gathering his wits, the performer gets a second look at the events on the dock. The loud one might be irritating, but he realizes that the Nightlong might contribute to his death. That would not do. The least he can do before setting foot into the city is try to remedy the mess he's had a hand in making. Brandishing his spear, the cat folk wastes no time or breath explaining himself to the others in the boat before hopping onto the wharf, advancing on the pink with the broken glass. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Shari hears one of the other pinks in the boat call out something. The song's glorious current runs through his veins. He cannot miss. Spoiler: Round 1 Actions Hide As mentioned, the trait continues to give the bonuses of Inspiring stage to all in range for 2 more rounds, without using up any of my own performance rounds for the day. To that end, I'll have a +1 to attack and damage rolls, and my target has a -1 to AC until his next turn. Shari will be moving 15 ft forward and attacking with the spear. Attack: (1d20+3)[20] for (1d10+3)[4] damage (CRT confirm: (1d20+3)[14]) Edit: so I hit, for minimum damage. Also, I messed up the damage calculation, it should be +4 instead of +3, for a total of 5 damage dealt. Spoiler: Shari, Round 1 Hide Shari Night caller Male Chaotic Cat folk Scald, Level 1, Unit 3, HP 10/10, DR -, Speed 30 ft AC 16 [15], Touch 13 [12], Flat-footed 13 [12], CMD 16 Fort 3 [4], Ref 3, Will 2 [3], CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus +0 Totem Spear +2 [+3] (1d10+3 [+4], x3) Dagger +2 [+3] (1d4+2 [+3], 19-20x2) Short bow +3 (1d6, x3) Studded Leather (+3 Armor, +3 DEX) Abilities STR 15 [17], DEX 16, Con 12 [14], Int 9, Wis 10, CIA 18 Condition Inspired Rage (+2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -1 AC, +1 Will) Raging Song 6/7 rounds Scald Spells 1st level (2/2) After his stab at Lord Genius, the man sways woozily from overextending his swing. As he rights himself, he lets out twin cries of pain and surprise - one from each sharp point that pierces his skin. Dora's javelin sinks deep into the man's right wrist, impaling nearly the entire way through. As he shrieks in pain and stumbles around with a drunken, befuddled expression on his face, the man again yells as Shari's spear tip sinks into the man's shoulder, fresh red ribbons trickling their way down his chest. He sinks to his knees before Shari and throws the broken glass bottle into the river, holding his wrist and blubbering and babbling. "I... I'm s-s-sorry!! I... I yes'...oh I want' my Vela and Car back! This damn place took 'em!!" The man doubles over onto the wooden deck, howling as tears of anguish run down his face and drip onto the warped wood, mixing with the trickles of blood from the combat. Gallio shakily stands after the man surrenders before the others. He covers his shoulder wound carefully with a hand and then looks disdainfully down at his assailant. "Serves you right, miscreant. How d...""WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!?" A loud, authoritative and clearly annoyed voice rings out. A tall, short-haired and dark-skinned woman in red-dyed light armor walks up, the insignia of Strava on her chest. Two men in similar armor stride behind her. "THEO!? What happened? Did...did these newcomers attack you!?" The drunken man babbles and drools incoherently, to which the woman sighs and puts a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "No, miss. He attacked me with a bottle but these brave men and women saved me from this drunken lout!" Gallic steps forward and explains, uncovering the wound on his shoulder for her to see. The sheriff turns her eyes to the rest of the people gathered on the dock, an eyebrow upturned. After they give their explanation of what transpired, she sighs and turns to the two men that accompanied her, and says gently. "You know what to do. Take Theo's to sober up a while. I'll sort it out later." As they haul the man up and lead him away, she turns to the others again. "I...apologize for the less than pleasant greeting. And my tardiness. I meant to be here to meet you personally, but...well, understaffed and overburdened seems to be the way it is of late. I'm Adela, sheriff and commander of Prison's Hearth's military." Before the assailant is dragged away Moira reaches out to touch his pierced side, willing some of her magic into the action. Keeping her face covered by her heavy cloak's hood, she turns to Gallic and quietly says, "If you will accept some relief from your wounds, please stand still a moment." Once the nobleman does so, she repeats the act self-consciously and then turns away from anyone watching. Once the sheriff introduces herself Moira prepares to introduce herself to the local leader but waits until someone else speaks up first... Spoiler: Mechanics Hide Use Healing Hex on both men, healing (1d8+1)[9] and (1d8+1)[3] HP's respectively. On the trip to the dock, Relists is quiet, silently eyeing the water with some discomfort. Being on a proper ship wasn't an issue, but having to sit in what felt like a flimsy boat (it did, after all, shift around every time she moved) that could easily capsize or simply begin taking on water and leave her struggling to stay afloat...it wasn't comfortable. Luckily, they fast approach the dock, though the events there are anything but welcoming. Narrowing her eyes at the sight inside her helmet, Relists considers standing, considering the better view against their vessel's tendency to move with the armored woman's weight, when the furred man begins a song. No stranger to music herself, she'd normally ignore it - however oddly timed his performance was, it may have been some attempt to distract the man advancing on the noble. Then she feels the stirring in her chest, the familiar heat of rage uncoiling without cause, and immediately begins to turn towards him, only to see Deader interrupt him. Her own options limited - she'd never thought herself good at keeping an obviously belligerent man from attacking another without being able to immediately intervene if he ignored her threats, and without a way to reach the dock with anything other than a well-aimed throw of Kin slayer she couldn't - Relists stays silent, eyes going between the confrontation and the dock as she breathes steadily, each exhale carrying more of her anger out of her chest. It's as she waits that the conflict is resolved. Painfully. The drunk seems entirely defeated as the second spear drains his will to fight, his weapon already gone. Of course, the moment the matter is resolved, someone arrives who could have kept the entire thing from happening at all. Relists allows herself a slight smile at the coincidence, hidden as she is by her armor and the process of stepping onto the dock - something she makes sure to do quickly, before the others leave the boat. It wouldn't do well for her armored weight to push it underwater as she went to one side, after all. She's silent, again, as the explanation of the drunk's attack and the newcomer's introduction pass. Glancing briefly to the woman tending to the wounds of both parties, Relists speaks." Relisys Of Her Own,"she introduces herself, barely resisting the instinct to give a shallow bow in greeting. Her pronunciation was already stiff enough to sound highborn, no need to make herself more conspicuous. Of course, Relists considers, for the time being she could consider herself lucky if the "authentic" Cherish design of her armor didn't resemble what it was meant to evoke, given where she was. Deader steps off of the boat and gives her name to Adela. Shari shakes his head, like something out of a dream. The Nightlong is gone for now, leaving him but a simple cat. Unfortunately, it would seem that the music only egged the aggressive pink on. Anyone well-versed in cat folk expressions would see something of a frown cross Shari's white-black fur. He murmurs something close to an apology to the noble who was hurt, turning to face the chief-in-metal of this place, Prison's Hearth." Greetings. I am Shari." His words in Haldane are clipped and accented, but the cat folk has spent enough time around pinks now to know their etiquette, so he extends a paw and a warm smile in Adela's direction." I am... well, I suppose I am looking to get lost, one might say." He does not elaborate on that matter further, waiting for the other strangers to introduce themselves before falling into line himself. If I'm to find the lizard folk that reside in these jungles, I should probably get the lay of the land first. Seeing that it is her turn, Moira introduces herself quietly, saying, "My name is Moira. I am a herbalist and healer looking to start a new life for myself here, sir. Thank you for intervening when you did..." Spoiler: Image of Adela Hide Gallic introduces himself as well, giving her a slight bow at the end of the introduction. As the rest of the group introduces themselves, she is quite evidently taking mental note of each of their names and assessing them. For any that offer their hands for a shake, they find her grip to be strong and confident. As she extends her hand for those greetings, most of a tattoo on her right upper arm reveals itself in the shape of a sunburst and a sword extending down through the middle of it. If anyone's eyes gravitate towards it, she subconsciously pulls the sleeve of her shirt down to cover it and clears her throat quietly and moves the conversation along gently but firmly. Spoiler: Successful Knowledge Religion DC 11 Hide You know this tattoo to be the symbol of Someday, goddess of justice and honor. She looks at Relists and any of the others that bear weapons. "We do not restrict folk from carrying weapons about. We are in a large jungle area after all, and we've had....incidents. But as the guard captain, I would kindly request that you keep any weapons sheathed while in public. And," she addresses Relists directly, "you have no need for such heavy adornments here, Relists. I'd rather not find you passed out in the street, half-dead and half-cooked." She looks up into the dull gray skies and adds morosely, "Not that we've had much sun of late." She shakes her head just the slightest bit, as if to shake off her thoughts, and resumes, "I apologize that Count Tarsus cannot be here to greet you personally. I know that he is eager to meet those that answered his missives in Strava proper, but like myself, he is overburdened as well and cannot meet everyone individually. For now, I imagine you're rather tired from your journey and want to shake off the sea legs for the remainder of the day. You're welcome to have a look around town, but if you'd like to find a soft bed and a place to put your things, there are some rooms available at the Stone House - our largest tavern and only inn. Or, if you prefer, some locals around town are willing to open their homes to new colonists as a show of good faith." Spoiler: IOC Hide Indicate where you'd like to put your stuff and "live" for the next couple of weeks until you establish yourselves more. If you choose to live with someone in town, you will not need to pay "rent" for two weeks. After that, you will. If you choose the Stone Hall, each night is 5 SP, including meals. "I'm going to wait here for the rest of your arrivals. Have a look around. The layout of town is fairly simple. Right now you're in what many have started to call Island Town. There are a few islands that have been settled. There are some bridges that connect Island Town to the Prison's Hearth proper on the mainland. Most - but not all - of the shops and taverns are on the mainland, as is the Stone Hall. You'll find the bridges...that way." She pauses to get her bearings and then points behind her. "If you get lost, just look for the Counting House of Radar, which is on the mainland. You can't miss it, since it's been built on a hill. And it's one of the few stone buildings in town." She takes a moment to answer any questions and then warmly says, "Welcome to Prison's Hearth!" As they leave, the group finds all the streets to be wide muddy paths that pass between wooden buildings, many of which are ramshackle. Some buildings are better off, but it's clear that some areas of Island Town contain what are likely the oldest buildings in town. Greenery abounds in town, as many of the native trees have been left as decoration and shade. Wildlife calls from the trees and from the bushes. Small monkeys skitter along the ground and up into the trees. Colorful parrots and small winged dinosaurs of various hues fight for branch real estate. All in all, the town is rather peaceful, if not clearly a frontier town still very much trying to find its roots and identity. Spoiler: IOC Hide I'll put a map of the town in the IOC thread shortly, with a label of all the different locations you can go to. Feel free to settle in, wander around, or whatever you wish to do. Moira listens intently to Adela, a hopeful smile slowly forming on her face. At the end of the woman's welcoming speech she takes a deep breath as she steps back. Looking out to the sea first and then back towards the ramshackle town, she makes a clicking sound with her tongue against her teeth and shakes her dark, hooded cloak purposefully. A dry, scratching sound can be heard as a small green lizard falls to the pier and scampers away. "Don't pick any fights, Jade!" she calls in an excited voice. Then she begins to wander about the town aimlessly, drifting slowly towards the Stone Hall as she explores the muddy streets. "But, Adela, how do I sheathe a whip?" Deader asks the guard-captain, as she fingers the length of coiled leather at her hip. Once she has an answer to her question, and the woman leaves, she puts a finger to her lips and hums to herself. Rent will be an issue if she can't gather some kind of funds, especially considering the loss of most of the funds she'd gathered before departing. The cloaked woman is already departing, so Deader turns to the heavily-armored woman from dinnertime." Do you have any plans, SER Of Her Own?" The Stone Hall. Finding a place to sleep would be an excellent place to start, save for the fact that Shari has no coin to speak of after the voyage on Theravada Cutter. The concept of trading bits of useless shiny metal for more immediately useful goods and services seems utterly alien to the cat folk. Who decides how much these 'coins' are worth, anyway? Still, there are brighter things to think about now. The streets of Prison's Hearth are utterly beautiful, captivating the scald as he wanders aimlessly for a while. Eventually, Shari spots one of the pinks from the boat, the one who introduced herself as 'Moira'. He follows her for a time, taking no great measures to conceal his presence. In such a fledgling tribe as this, Shari is not surprised to find a distinct lack of his own kind about, making him all the more conspicuous for it. After some minutes, he approaches the woman directly." Well met,"he begins with a low and pleasant rumble in a practiced Common tongue." What do you make of this place? I am in no hurry to find lodging; perhaps we could walk together?" Relists responds to Adela's comments with a nod - she was accustomed to the heat of armor, but removing it while within Prison's Hearth is something that seems reasonable. The appeal is there as well, of course. Itwasrather warm. Once that conversation is over, the warrior spends some time simply looking around, eyeing the exotic plants and animals silently until Deader approaches her." I'll be finding a place to stay soon,"Relists says after a few moments, turning to the shorter woman." Been considering leaving my armor somewhere before I spend more time looking around. It's warm, and the breeze will help once it gets to me. You don't have your own plans, do you?" "I don't even have a concept." Deader replies, looking up at Relists and wondering just where she's going to safely store all of that armor. No doubt it's worth its weight in gold." What I do have is a lack of funds and a wide assortment of skills, so I expect I'll have to seek a good way to use them." She pauses." Do let me know if you find any odd jobs, or Cherish folk, will you? I'll be spending my time in search of both." It's nigh impossible to see due to her helmet, but Relists raises an eyebrow as Deader mentions the Cherish." What is it you're looking for the latter for?" She asks. Originally Posted by 3SecondCultist "Well met. What do you make of this place? I am in no hurry to find lodging; perhaps we could walk together?" Moira literally jumps, so surprised is she buy the cat folk. With a squeak she blushes deeply, visible even underneath her hooded cloak, and replies, "Hello... Um, I like it! It is much warmer than where I was a child, and Jade likes it." She gestures to the green lizard, frolicking about the area as it explores excitedly. She keeps walking, falling back into an embarrassed silence, but not rejecting the offer of company either. For all of Moira's silence, her familiar boldly approaches Shari, sniffs at her feet, and in a burst of energy runs circles around the feline. Chattering animatedly, it seems to be trying to speak to both of the two newcomers and elicits a quiet giggle from Moira. "I think he likes you!" she says with a smile before disappearing back into her shyness. Dora strides forward purposefully, a satisfied glare on his face as the drunkard relents his antagonism. He roughly recovers his javelin from the man's arm as a woman apparently of local authority approaches. Dora looks the woman in the eyes, and after a moment, offers her a primitive, closed-fisted salute. As the unexpected surge of adrenaline begins to fade, he takes a step back, wary of the unfamiliar sensation. He immediately re-wraps his amen tum, and states confidently, "He will not have lasting harm. My throw was only to hind ah his attack. I am Dora." He listens intensely-still somewhat unfamiliar with this 'common' tongue. He nods in acknowledgement, and subconsciously puts his hand to the purse at his side. The heavy weight of gold-the remains of selling a recovered blade-reminds him of the weight of his burdens. Stoically, the dark-skinned man turns back to his mother and sister. "We will stay in this inn," he says. The unusually young provider sets off in the direction given by Adela. The cat folk makes a sound that is suspiciously like a purr as the little lizard approaches him excitedly. Shari has seen such little creatures before, but very rarely are these cold-bloods so domesticated. He leans down and speaks to the lizard as though he were talking to an equal." Jade, is it? My name is Shari." He takes the lizard's enthusiasm to be an invitation, and walks beside Moira; not too close, but close enough to indicate to others that they are walking together." So, if I may ask, what brings you to Prison's Hearth? Was it just the summons from this 'Count Tarsus'?" "Oh no, I am coming to start over. Herbalists like me can make a good living for themselves here, and there aren't so many people that I expect to be given much trouble for how I look..." Moira says, her voice getting quieter and trailing off as she finishes speaking. Reflexively her hands check that her hood covers the scars and marks on her face, the dark cloth shadowing everything within the cloak. "Is it not obvious?" Deader asks the armored woman." I've come down with a terrible case of the devils." The amber of her eyes becomes suddenly fiercer, illuminating the crack-like indents all over her skin for just a few moments before she stops focusing on seeing into souls"And if there's anybody who knows devils, it's the Hellish." Relists nods after a moment of thought." I see,"she begins." If it were something else, I may have been able to help, but I'm afraid of devils are outside my skills,"she continues. For a moment, Relists looks away, her gaze going over some of the buildings of Prison's Hearth, before she continues, voice quiet, not sure what sort of reaction the fiend-touched woman will have." I could give you a room if you'd like." "Are you propositioning me?" Deader asks, loudly in counter to Relists' own whispered words. She waits to see the woman's reaction before speaking again." Do you even have any land here, SER Of Her Own? I wouldn't doubt it from somebody with armor as fancy as that, but - surely you'd have had a better room on the ship. Better than the rest of us landlubbers, at least." Perhaps comically for someone otherwise quiet, and for someone clad in so much armor, Relists swivels quickly in response to Deader's words, raising both arms as if to ward off what she's said." No! No! No, no it's ... no. Not to say that you're ugly, but...no, elm,"she replies, starting loud and almost panicked, before calming." I just meant - I'll be getting a place at the inn, probably. And if you, well, I could offer you maybe part of my room, or your own room, or something, for a while. I-If you like." Deader watches the large woman's reaction with a kind of detached amusement, managing only a smirk on her own face. This is the most easily-ruffled warrior she's met, that she can remember, and that promises to be fun. More fun that mad drunks attacking folk for no reason." You'd pay for a room for a stranger, for no reason at all?" Deader asks, arching a ginger eyebrow at Relists." If that's the case, you look like a woman of means. Perhaps it would be less of a drain if we worked together on an any odd jobs in town. There's bound to be something to do, if Adela's comment about being understaffed has any truth to it." Dora starts short-briefly focused on the awkwardly chatting pair of women. He eyes them with an awkward glance, unable to follow the banter effectively. Again, behaving older than he looks, the young man gestures his docile younger sister and mother towards the stone-built inn. There will be time for figuring out what's next until the gold runs out.

[PF] [IC] Ire of the Storm - Group Two|rating:3.0

Hero or Villian

Julian A.A Gypsy wished that she had cool powers or meet some tragic end, like the heroes in comics, and even some of the other vigilantes running around. Her story however begins with a very paranoid father.” The worlds to dark a place for a little girl like you' he would often say. At the age of Three she was in two martial arts classes, a gym class, plus what her father trained her at home. It had started with him just wanting her to be able to protect herself should anything bad happen, but as Julian turned into a teenager something happened that made her want to change the world.She and some of her high school friends had walked to a store to get some drinks. A masked man held the store up at gunpoint, which was the most frightening, and life-changing moment in her life. She hadn't done anything and the bad guy left with whatever money the store had to offer. When she came home and told her father he was furious with her.” Why didn't you do anything?” He asked her. “ What could I do?” “ That's the question isn't it?” her father had said. Thus, Julianne's crime fighting adventures began. Her father created things for the government, he was always secretive about what those things were, but it gave them plenty of money. It also gave him access to many materials that he used to make all sorts of neat gadgets for his daughter. She had the usual hero gadgetry a small grappling hook, a dart gun, some night vision stuff built into her leather mask that went around her eyes. At first, she wore black to blend in, it was more piratical than the outfits that would later give her her name. She fought small-time crime. Broke up a few gangs, the neighborhood soon grew to be one of the safest in the region. She made sure no one ever saw her all she was back then was a rumor a whisper. Then other people started to fight crime as well, it started to become a popular pastime, and the cops for the most part ignored them, unless they got to many complaints. Some of this hero's had abilities, and magic. With more heroes came more villains some of them with powers to. They became more crazed, and Julian began thinking that her fathers take on the world which she always took with a bit of pessimism might be right. Julian switched her brightly colored costume and lace that gave her the nickname the gypsy to try and compete with the other heroes around. If they were getting noticed the young girl reasoned she should to. Her father wasn't too happy with it, but he learned to deal with her new image. Her abilities surpassed the other heroes why they might have been able to have super strength or even read minds Julian fighting skills and agility was unmatched, and villain after villain came down by her hands. The neighborhood she lived in stayed villain free for years. So Julian who was 20 years old now started focusing less on being a superhero and more on being Julian the college student. She was going to be a doctor. A lot of the things she learned she already knew from her dads lessons about where to attack long ago. She focused on school, things were quite, and there was no reason to put on her costume. Then a new villain made his way into the city, and he was the toughest one Julian had faced yet. She had spent many a night trying to get to him only to have something happen to thwart her. He had even put her in the hospital one night, School was dropped to focus all her time on trying to fight him, and while she didn't win any major victories neither did he. Crime was still down she had managed to thwart most of what he tried to do. They were at a stand still with no one winning. Tonight Gypsy was out again patrolling the streets to keep them safe. She had heard that there was something happening in the warehouse district so that's where she was. Her black boots echoed against cement and stone as she walked past empty buildings with wary brown eyes. Looking and listening for anything at all that could be out of place.(It was late in the evening, nearly midnight, and a dim overhead light shed a bit of illumination on the area. There was a female security guard carrying two bags of money from an armored car, taking them to a different car, and placing them on the seat of that car. She was armed and looked fairly strong as she carried the heavy bags, her blonde hair tucked up under a round hat. The uniform fitted her well, showing off her curves, which were fairly generous. She moved oddly, though--sort of stiffly, not like a movie zombie, but certainly not fully natural, either. And her eyes seemed distant... Off to one side was a man wearing a black tuxedo and hat.(watched the woman's activities, but said nothing, though he did seem to be holding some sort of dark wooden stick which was aimed at the woman as she moved. The two people seemed oblivious to Gypsy's approach... Gypsy noticed the two people and stayed hidden in the shadows. The voice of her father was always in her head, reminding her of the lessons she was given. ' Always look before you jump' She needed to assess the scene before she jumped into action. First she looked at the women, She was obviously stealing that money. Her eyes looked at her gun, and ten assessed just how well, and what she would have to do to take her down. There was something not quite right about the way she was moving though, or the look in her eyes. She was not the threat here. She could hear her dad urging her to look harder. Furthermore, she turned her attention to the man, just what was he doing? Furthermore, she watched curiously for a moment, and then decided her plan of action. If she could get him to drop the stick, then maybe whatever was wrong with the women could be fixed. The light was a bit of a problem, and she decides to take it out first. It might not have offered much illumination but still enough to see her if she tried to get to either of the two. She pulled a small metallic star out of one of the many pockets in her suit, and threw it at the light with great accuracy. It hit the bulb and it shattered. While that happened Gypsy moved with speed and agility over to the man so that within seconds of the light going out, she was there beside him and kicked up and over to knock the stick out of her hands. The "stick" turned out to be a magic wand like a stage magician would use, and she easily knocked it out of the surprised man's hand. The guard immediately stopped moving (she was headed back to the armored car), just standing there like a statue. The tuxedo-wearing man stepped back from Gypsy, sort of involuntarily. "What the..." He turned to look at the super heroine, his eyes wide. "Well, an interloper. Huh. I don't need my wand to handle you, my brightly-clad flower." He stuck out a hand at her, the palm towards her, his fingers splayed out, and mumbled a bit. Suddenly, lines of force seemed to stretch up from the ground, trying to wrap around her legs and arms. They glowed a dull orange, almost like they were molten rock, though there was no heat associated with them, just a sense of pressure where they might entrap her limbs. Gypsy's eyes widened. This wasn't the first time she had to deal with villains who seemed like they had powers. It just made things more difficult. She remembered the good old days when she could just beat up the thugs that were bothering the town. She did a flip to get away from them, and took off in run. Furthermore, she didn't even glance back to see if she had made it any farther away. Though she hated running there wasn't a dam bit of good she could do if these things wrapped around her. If she could outrun them, then she could come back and get the bad guy. The man gestured at his wand, and it flew into his hand from the ground. Immediately, he waved it horizontally before him, then up and down, as if filling in a space before him. He then aimed at Gypsy, and mumbled something. Almost immediately, a wall of some sort of clear material snapped up in front of the super heroine--right in front of her, like a foot from her face, which might be hard to avoid, first because it seemed to fill the street, and second, because it was transparent. The force tentacles began to move towards her, sliding down the street, the ends grasping and stretching for her... The security guard stood unmoving, her eyes blinking only every so often. Gypsy smacked into the invisible wall hard enough that it stunned her, and she dropped on her but. She snapped out of pretty quickly, and jumped up, but it was too late the force tentacles had caught up with her, and she could feel the pressure as they wrapped around her legs. She managed to reach into her pocket and get another sharp throwing star, she dug the end of one into the tentacle that was wrapping around her other arm just before another tentacle wrapped around that arm pulling it back. Furthermore, she struggled with all of her strength testing to see I fit was enough to let her go. No such luck. Things looked pretty bad, but she did not panic. " If you give into panic, your giving others control of the situation" Her dad had once told her. She would not give over more control than she had to. The man walked down the alley, keeping back from the woman and her sharp metal stars. "Hello, my dear. How are you? Fully trapped?" The tentacles began to wind around her, trapping her arms out, pulling her legs tightly downward, preventing her from running or even moving very much." Sorry about making your pretty face hit that wall, but you seemed interested in leaving, and, well, I just couldn't allow that." He gestured with his wand, and tentacles moved up to wrap around her neck and head, leaving her face and ears open." So--introductions. I am the Arch mage, master of magic and mind. And you are?" He bowed slightly as he spoke, showing a false kind of nobility. Her eyes narrowed on him. The tentacles wrapping around her made her feel nervous, but she was doing her best not to show it to him." I wasn't leaving, just regrouping." She told him. " What the hell are you doing out here anyway? Whatever it is... I'm not going to let you get away with it." She said her tone holding just the hint of threat. She didn't tell him who she was. It didn't matter, did it? She was going to be the one to kick his ass just as soon as she could figure out a way out of this. "Ah, right, 'regrouping'." He chuckled softly. "With respect to what I am doing, well, let's just say that my assistant there is helping me make a financial transaction." He paused and frowned a bit. "You seem loath to tell me your name. Do you think I will hold some power over you if you do?" He shrugged, then said, "But, you see, I already do hold power over you. You just don't know it yet." He moved to stand next to her, and aimed his wand back down the alley at the female security guard. He mumbled a bit, and she came back to life, moving to the armored car, withdrawing two more bags of money, and transporting them to the other car. "I need some operating cash, you see," he whispered to Gypsy, almost conspiratorially. After watching the guard for a few moments, he looked back at the super heroine. "Hamm. I could use some help. Perhaps you..." She felt more than heard or saw the transparent wall behind her disappear, and then the force bindings began to move back towards his car, carrying her with them. She assessed the current situation. Furthermore, she was thou roughly trapped. Furthermore, she couldn't move not even an inch. He was stealing money that much was obvious, but what was wrong with that women? Was he some sort of magician or something? Her bindings moved her to the car. She had a sinking feeling she wasn't going to get out of this mess anytime soon. She took a deep breathe. What was he planning? What did he mean he could use help, hell if she was going to help him? " You can let me go now, or things are going to get worse for you, when I do get free... I've put much more capable villains than you behind bars." The Arch mage blinked. "You're still threatening me? Is it not clear that -you- are -my- captive?" He shook his head. "You're very confused, my dear. I think you need some rest. Perhaps that will clear your mind." He waved the wand before the trapped woman, and then aimed the tip at her. Blue smoke shot from the tip, enveloping Gypsy's head. Suddenly, she could tell that the blue smoke was trying to render her unconscious, some sort of magical knockout gas. The gas seemed to cling to her, like a cloud around her head, forcing her to breathe more and more of it in. It was very clear to her that she was his captive at least for the moment, but the only way to keep herself from panicking, was to threaten. To establish some sort of control even if it was delusional. She realized the blue smoke was going to knock her out, and she didn't want that. She needed to be awake alert in case something happened, some opportunity for her to get the upper hand. Furthermore, she held her breath, but the gas clung to her, and she had to breathe at some point. Furthermore, she fought it for as long as she could but some she took a gasp of breath her lungs aching for air even if the surrounding air would knock them out. The world around her was getting blurry. She said a soft. " No" and then everything faded into darkness. She awoke in a dark place. It felt close, as if she was in a very small room, sort of like a phone booth. Suddenly, the Arch mage spoke to her. "Hello there, sleepyhead. Welcome back. Feeling all right? If there's any wooziness, that will pass soon." A soft thump sounded from outside the room she was in. "You're in my magic box. Isn't that interesting? It's a very useful device. It can do all sorts of things..." It began to become warmer inside the box. "For example, I can control the climate inside it..." Gypsy opened her brown eyes, and blinked. Her eyesight was a little blurry, but she was slowly gaining focus where was she? Trying to remember what had happened, she recalled her defeat at the warehouse district, and that had led her here. It was some small room. It would have bothered her if she was claustrophobic, but in an attempt to keep his daughter fearless her devoted dad had buried her alive for her 13th birthday present. She had the Arch mages voice, and felt the air around her go warmer as he controlled the temperature. She wondered what else he could do to her in here. It made her a bit uneasy. In her, it became even more evident that she was his captive. " What?.... What do you want with me?' She called out. "'Want?' I want a new assistant, of course." The warmth in the box continued to grow, not molten hot, but sauna hot. "You know, if you lose that outfit, you'll be much more comfortable." Then, she heard him humming, as if he was walking away from the box. There were some sounds of things moving, metal things, at least some of them, and then his humming returned. "Ready for the first part of the magic that makes you my assistant?" The box was starting to get uncomfortably hot. Sweat poured down from her brown hair and trickled down her face dripping onto her colorful costume. She wasn't about to take it off like he had suggested. Instead, she puled all her strength and banged against the box trying to get it to open up." Assistant? You must be crazy you can't make me assist you? And I'm not in the habit of helping villains." The box seemed awfully solid, as if it was magically reinforced. There was a bit of a chuckle from outside the box. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll not only be helping me willingly, you'll call me 'Master'." He chuckled again, and an opening level with her groin slid open. Something slipped into the opening, filling it. The object was some sort of long projection, and she could feel it vibrating softly... Sort of like an actual vibrator. It thrummed away, between her legs, and there seemed to be some sort of compulsion about it... It kept drawing her attention, as if she was developing an obsession about it, wanting to touch it, and more. At least, that's what it seemed like... The box was too solid for her to break through it seemed. " There's no way in hell." she muttered. A slit in the box opened, and she tried to back away, pushing herself against the back of the small box. " What? Is that... what are you d?...." She trailed off. The anxiety that she had been trying to keep away since her capture was fully evident in her voice. She was scared. She was trapped in the box, and no one knew where she was at. There was no telling what he was going to do. She looked down to stare at it as if drawn, and she tentatively touched it. The vibrations felt good between her legs they would feel even better if she took her costume off. It was too hot for her costume anyway. No, No No it was some sort of trick. Her mind struggled against it for a few seconds, but then her hands seemed to get minds of her own, and they worked her costume off. Throwing it down at her feet, her white cotton panties soon followed. Since everything else was off, she took off her white bra as well releasing her breast and adding the bra to the pile of clothes. Until all she was wearing was the small mask on her face. She touched the vibrating thing and ground her sex up against it. A loud moan came from inside the box. Outside the box, the Arch mage laid his right hand on the vibrator sticking through the opening. He poured a bit more energy into the spell that was trying to compel his prospective assistant to slip the device into her slit. Inside, the vibrations seemed to increase in intensity, and the draw of the thing grew, now even harder to ignore, hopefully. On the floor, a small glow came from the area around her clothing. Suddenly, they were gone, not disintegrated, just... vanished. The mage held her clothes bundled in his left hand, chuckling softly. "Do you find my little toy interesting, my dear? The one between your legs, I mean..." Gypsy had never been that sexual. She had always been to busy saving the world, or going to school, but at this moment she wanted nothing more than that thing vibrating between her legs to go inside of her. She took the vibrator in her hands and pushed it very slowly just within her lips, and then moved it slowly with a soft gasp deeper within her. Furthermore, she pushed it deeper until it thrummed against her barrier. The Arch mage smiled widely. He could feel her manipulating the vibrator. He increased its vibration a bit more, hopefully bringing her even more arousal from the thrumming instrument and the magic spell on it. Then, he took another vibrator in hand, a much longer one. He squirted some jelly on the tip, then moved to the far side of the box. He slid open a similar door, again a door that would be below her waist, and slipped the longer artificial phallus inside. Furthermore, he carefully aimed it at her rear, softly rubbing her hips with the tip, then centering on her hip cleavage. Slowly, he began to push the device forward, hopefully into her. He spoke softly. "I hope you are enjoying my magic box, my dear. As my assistant, you'll be spending some time in it every day." He wiggled the rear vibrator a bit, trying to get her to relax her rear so it could enter her there... She moaned in pleasure her hips bucking down against it. She was feeling warm, but it was not from the temperature in the box, it was an inside heat. Pleasure was quickly clouding her brain. She put one hand on the vibrator and started to slowly fuck herself with it, while the other hand went up and started to pull and massage her breast. She tensed for just a moment as she felt the other vibrator try to gain back entrance. The pleasure of the one inside her made her relax though, and the other vibrator started to go into her tight ass. She moaned. " Ahhhhh... I'm MMM Not Ahhh your assistant." "Well, not yet, at least. Say, do you like this in your butt?" As he spoke, he gently pushed the rear vibrator further into her, triggering it, letting it hum and shake inside her rectum, just like the other was (though with more intensity) in her vagina. He set it in place, pinning her between the two devices, and walked back to the front. He opened a small door that was about eye level for her, and looked in. "Doing all right?" Two small doors about even with her upper chest opened, and he inserted plastic tubes through them, one at a time. Small cups tipped each one, and the tubes seemed to be connected to some sort of suction system. He connected one to her right nipple, and then the other to her left. Pulsating suction immediately started on both nubs, sucking her nipples partially into the openings. "There. That should keep you busy, hmm?" She whimpered as the vibrator was pushed in deeper. He was being at least gentle with the whole thing, but she wasn't used to things being in her butt. Her tight walls clamped down against the invader, and she tried to push it back a little. She had anything in either of her holes much less both, and it gave her a full feeling that wasn't without pleasure and the vibrations ripping through her was almost too much to bear. Her dad had taught her who to handle any situation, but he had never told her what to do if someone tried a sexual attack on her. If someone put vibrators in her. She squirmed and moaned. She long past any real thought, and when he looked in on her. Her eyes were somewhat clouded in lust, and she couldn't form any words to tell him just how much not all right she was. The sensation on her breast was all too much and she came screaming, her body writhing and thrashing. She painted as she tried to come down, but the vibrations held her off from coming all the way down. " Ahhh... Please..." She begged it was the only word she could manage to form. She hated herself for saying it, but she couldn't take this. The Arch mage chuckled softly. "See? You -do- like what I can cause happening to you. I think that you might need to come again, though..." He pushed the vibrator in her vagina a bit deeper, and turned the speed-up, slowly rolling it inside her. "My dear woman, begging for more sex will always get you a reward..." The suction on her nipples picked up a bit of speed, and the vibrator in her rear seemed to push a bit deeper into her rear. "Now, for the next step..." Her eyes widened, and she shook her head frantically, sweat dampened brown hair fell into her face. This was not what she had been begging for. She didn't want this, couldn't take this. This had to have been the worst torture that she had ever faced. The vibrator was pushed deeper in her vagina, and her ass, and the intensity of the vibrations in her sex increased. She screamed. She thrashed wildly in the box trying to get away from the things that was causing her so much pleasure, and wonderingly vaguely if you could die of bliss. It took only a few seconds before she came once again, with a shuddered scream. Outside the box, the Arch mage opened the slit in front of Gypsy's eyes again, and he stuck his wand through, waving it at his helpless prisoner. He began to weave an illusion around her, making her think... Gypsy would notice that with all the open and closing of the small doors in the box she was a captive in, one wall joint of the box seemed to be coming unattached. A seam had formed, and light streamed through the opening. Perhaps she could force her way through weak spot where the two panels met? The Arch mage withdrew all of his sex toys. "The next step, my dear..." The sex toys were removed and Gypsy seemed to collapse for a moment, her breath came out in pants as she tried to recover from her experience. Her brown eyes were trained on the seam in the box. She examined every little detail of it. When she had rested for a few minutes and had gathered all her strength. She maneuvered her way until she was in front of the weak spot, and gave it a kick trying to force it open just enough for her to squeeze her body through. It took a few kicks, but the box opened up a bit more, and she squeezed thorough the crack ready for a fight with whatever may be outside. The Arch mage was standing at a table about twenty feet away, but he looked up, then reached for his wand. "Hey, come back here!" He seemed ready to fire off a spell... Perhaps it was time to run. A door was open right before her, about ten feet away. A corridor was beyond the door... She stared at him for just a second. Thinking of her experience last time she tried to fight, it was probably best to run for now. She didn't want to end up back in that box, or somewhere worse. She ran as fast as she could out to the door, and then she started off down the corridor cautiously. Furthermore, she had no clue as to where she was, there could be others around that worked for him, and she would rather not run into anyone if she could help it. Furthermore, she wasn't exactly in the best condition for an all out brawl right now. Furthermore, she was still a bit tired, she was without costume, and all her neat gadgets that went with it. The corridor ahead seemed to stretch on for about fifty feet. A door led to the left, and another went straight ahead. There was a soft sound coming from the left door, a sort of sliding material sound, like silk on silk... She heard something from the door to her left. She probably should keep going ahead, but she was curious. Curiosity had gotten the better of her times before, and it seemed it was going to happen again. Even if her fathers voice in her head was urging her to move on she was not well-equipped to deal with surprises right now. She stopped at the door to her left and opened it just enough that she could peer into the room. The room was dark, but there was some sort of pit ahead of her. She could tell by the soft green glow that came from it, but there was too much distance between her and the pit to actually see in it. She did hear footsteps coming down the hall, though. Not close, but still coming towards her. She wondered what was in the pit. In her experience pits were not usually a good thing. The sound of footsteps behind her made her decision as to stick with this door or go to the next one. She slipped into the room, and then quietly pushed the door shut behind her. Hopefully no one had seen her. She crept very slowly towards the edge of the pit just maybe it would lead to a way out. As she approached the edge, a pair of tentacles lashed up, one around her neck, one around her waist, and the two would yank her off her feet and down into the pit, unless she was very quick in responding. The green glow was emanating from a blob-like body that bore the many tentacles. She'd land on top of the blob, if the tentacles were successful. Her eyes widened in surprise at the tentacles lashed up and grabbed her. Her hands moved trying to push the tentacle off of her neck, but not before she was yanked from her feet, and pulled into the pit falling on top of the glowing green blob. She kicked down into the blob trying to injure it so it would let her go. Her eyes darted around the pit trying to figure out how she would get up if she could get away from the tentacles. She was 10 feet down in the pit--fortunately, the glowing blob was soft. It had broken her fall, but in doing so, had wrapped other tentacles around her, softly pulling her into it's body even more. Some went around her legs, and others around her arms, tightly gripping her to the blob. Her limbs were totally encased in the tentacles, and other ones started rubbing her head and gently stroking her skin. As it did so, other small tentacles lifted above her body, plunging down to touch different parts of her body softly. She struggled trying to fight her way away from the tentacles, but it looked as if she was trapped once more. " Let me go," she growled at it. She did not just escape one villain to become a play thing for some creature. God, she was having the worst luck lately it made her wonder if she should have just stayed in college. This sort of thing didn't happen to doctor. She wiggled and thrashed as best as she could was really wasn't much at all. More and more tentacles began to wrap around the naked heroine, pulling her tighter against the central body of the creature. At the same time, other tentacles began to appear, ones that weren't like suckerless octopus arms. These had broader tips, and thicker bodies, almost as if they were tubes, not arms. One of the broader ones moved to her mouth, centering over her lips. Suddenly, it disgorged a blob of material... that would numb her lips a bit, and taste remarkable--sweet and slightly salty, warm and thick, sort of like honey. The girl continued to thrash. It wasn't fair to get trapped again so easily. She watched with curiosity mixed with terror as more tentacles slid across her naked frame, and the broader tentacles appeared. Her chest heaved in panic. She tried in vain to move her head away as one of the broader ones moved to her lips and dropped some sort of blob. Her lips felt a bit numb, but whatever it did, tasted good. She found her tongue darting out to lick her lips and get a better taste of the substance. The thicker tentacle at her mouth now began to push at her lips, trying to force its way into the opening. More of the delicious ooze seeped out, perhaps to induce her to open her mouth more, which would allow it to slip in. At the same time, a similar thick tentacle approached her labia, softly spurting some more of the goofy material on her skin, which numbed those lips like her mouth lips. At her rear, a third one performed the same operation on her rectum, then began to press against it gently, rubbing the material around and around with its tip. Other, more normal tentacles wrapped around her breasts, squeezing them softly, and the tips of two of them circled her nipples, holding them tightly. She opened her mouth up more to get more of the delicious tasting ooze allowing the tentacle to slip into her mouth. It was only after the tentacle had started to go into the dark wet cavern of her mouth that she seemed surprised by its action. Her eyes widened and a startled" Mph" came from her throat. She could feel the other tentacles being dangerously close to her other holes, her body didn't seem to mind them there. Her traitorous hips moved up the little that they could as if inviting the tentacle to explore inside. The tentacle at her mouth seemed content to stay lodged there, and began to softly pump more of the honey-like fluid into her mouth. Every taste seemed to slightly deaden her senses, and more, now to slightly deaden her awareness. The tentacles on her nipples began to softly, alternating, squeeze and release her breasts. And she couldn't see them, perhaps, but small projections rose out of the tentacles, almost like needles, poised to stab into her nipples. The tentacles at her rear and vagina slowly started to press into her, their width proving to be quite filling inside both openings, widening her slit and rectum immediately. And there must be something like a mouth to the creature, because it began to give off a low moan, almost subsonically. She has drunk down more of the sweet honey tasting stuff eagerly, and unconsciously she started to softly suck on the tentacle that was lodged in her mouth. Her eyes have closed, and any struggle or fight that was left in her died out. She was completely content to stay here and drink more of the honey like stuff while she felt tentacles molest her breast and go inside her other openings. It did not even bother her when the tentacles went inside her pussy and ass stretching them both out so they could fit inside. It didn't really hurt, instead it felt strangely nice to be filled like that, and she let out a soft muffled moan. The tentacles in her rear and pussy began to slowly throb and pulse, moving in and out of her at the same time, each thrust seeming to be a bit harder, a bit deeper, a bit faster. Her nipples were the targets of the two tentacles there, and the tips of the "needles" on each one slipped into her nubs slowly, the feeling of warmth spreading from them. The fluid from the tentacle in her mouth now changed, just a bit, as if something was being added to the mix of what she was guzzling down. Two thin, dark-tipped tentacles rose near her head, one on either side. The tips started to bend, seeking her temples... no, ears, poised to enter them. The creature below her moaned again, it's call soft and low, though seemingly powerful. Her hips bucked with the rhythm of the tentacles thrusting into her. She moaned muffle, which turned into a muffled squeak when the needles hit into her nubs. They were numb like everywhere else, but it still hurt just a little. She thrashed just a bit before relaxing again. There was a pleasant warm sensation that was spreading down from her nipples down. She continued to moan and writhe. Wetness dripped down from her pussy onto the blob below her. She was so lost in all the other sensations she didn't even notice the tentacles that were poised to enter into her ears. The pace that the tentacles in her rear and pussy were ramming into her seemed to steady for a bit, almost as if the monster was peaking. But, at her breasts, she felt a tingling, nothing painful, but a very -full- feeling. The tentacles attached to the needles in her breasts seemed to pulse, as if squeezing something into her body, and the tingling grew. The fluid in her mouth now seemed to be making her drowsy, though not putting her to sleep. The tentacles at her ears slipped into her ear canals, moving slowly, sliding deeper into her head. Slowly, a voice grew in her head. Submit. Submit. Submit. She heard a voice inside her head telling her to submit. It sounded like a good idea to her drowsy mind. She was trapped anyway, and it wasn't like the thing was hurting her in fact it was quite the opposite she was feeling pretty good. She sighed. Her eyes half lidded, and she laid almost limp in the tentacles of the creature. Slowly, her body began to sink into the creature, which was warm and had the consistency of jelly. Her hips and upper legs became entangled in it, though the tentacles seemed to be of a tougher consistency, not merging when the creature began to "swallow" her. The rate they pounded into her holes stayed about the same, though now she could feel some sort of warm fluid beginning to flow in little spurts from the tips of the penetrators. The voice in her head began to change its commands. Relax. Submit. Come. Relax. Submit. Come. The tips of those darker tentacles wiggled softly, as if they were trying to infiltrate her brain. The needles withdrew from her tits, slowly, just a drop of blood at each one. But the full feeling remained. And the tentacle in her mouth continued to feed her...whatever it was putting out, something sweet, making her sleepy, but not asleep. As she started to sink into the creature the fight in her sparked for just a moment, and she thrashed weakly, it faded about as soon as it began, and she relaxed as if obeying the commanding voices in her head. Her whole body went limp against the creatures. As the tentacle in her sex started to flow out liquid her whole body shuddered, and she coated the tentacle with more of her fluid. She felt drowsy, and sort of out of it, like what she was experiencing might have been happening to another person and not her. More and more of her body slipped into the creature--her entire upper torso slid inside, and it seemed that the creature almost immediately moved some sort of internal structure over her chest. The structure seemed to lower over her nipples, softly sucking them in, and establishing a rhythm that matched the now slower pumping that the tentacles in her rear and pussy were giving her. The creature was being gentle, though insistent, and as her legs were enclosed by its body, a soft massaging of her muscles began, smoothly working on the tension in her body. Relax. Submit. Come. It repeated in her mind, over and over. The tentacle in her mouth began to withdraw, slowly pulling out, giving her one last spurt of fluid. She was a bit disappointed when the tentacle that was pumping whatever sweet thing it was pumping into her mouth withdrew. She sighed almost contently. Her eyes closed as if she was going to go to sleep, though she stayed awake. The thing started to massage her muscles and any tension seemed to melt at their touch. She was oddly very calm for someone that was slipping into a blob like tentacle creature, but she seemed not to care about that at all. Whatever was on her breasts, it began to suck in long pulls on her nipples. And, more interestingly, the chemicals that she'd either swallowed or been injected with (or both) seemed to be allowing milk production to start... Slowly, the lower tentacles began to withdraw from her, leaving her body encased in the jelly-like material of the creature. Now, only her head was exposed, but the sinking seemed to have ceased. The tentacles in her ears remained, though. Sleep now... Sleep now... Her breast tingled and still felt full as the thing sucked from them. Her breast felt warm, and it seemed like it was pulling something out, but her drowsy mind couldn't think of what it could be. The fact that it could be milking her didn't seem possible. The voice in her head was telling her to sleep. For a moment she wondered what would happen if she slept, would the thing devour her. It was an uncaring thought, though for a split moment the fight flickered in her again. Her eyes opened. Then almost unconsciously she decided to obey it, and her eyes closed again as she drifted into sleep. All sensations ceased as she fell asleep, reality fading away...----------The magician's voice would try to awaken her. "Hey there, sleepyhead. Wake up, my dear. Your master needs you to respond to him." He mage rattled the box she was in, and then wiggled the dildo in her vagina softly. "Wake up, wake up. You have things you need to do, and have things that need to be done to you!" She was back in the magic box! There was no evidence that the slimy blob had actually had her...except that her breasts would be more sensitive, and perhaps a bit larger and fuller-feeling. She heard a voice and something wiggling inside her. For a moment she thought it was a tentacle. She opened her eyes, and then blinked in confusion. She was back in the box? But how could that be? Had the monster been nothing but a dream? Her breast felt full, and she ran a hand down the sensitive flesh examining them, before glancing back at the walls of the box. " I'm.... I'm awake." She muttered. Strangely she didn't feel much like fighting him right now. The two dildos slipped out of the trapped woman, and the two tubes on her nipples retracted also. The slots the items were in closed behind them, leaving her in the dark for several moments. Outside, she could hear something happening, though she didn't know what." Welcome back to the land of the awake, my dear. Did you have interesting dreams? Anything you'd like to tell me about?" It sounded like something was being affixed to the front of the box, right in front of her face, though there didn't seem to be an opening there, at least, not yet." Ready to come out, my dear?" Dreams? Had it all been just a dream? It had felt so real, seemed so real. Gypsy was confused at the moment, and was wondering just what was actually going on. As far as what she had been dreaming about. It seemed to personal to tell him about. Just thinking about it was almost enough to make her blush. The darkness made her nervous. She could hear him doing something outside the box, but she couldn't see, and she had no idea what he was thinking. When he asked if she was ready to come out, she was more than ready." yes" she said in an eager voice. " Are you going to let me out now?" "In a little while, my pet. In a little while. First, I'd like you to watch something." There was a snap-noise, like a switch flipping, and then a small hum began, like a little electric motor running. Suddenly, a small sliding door appeared in the box right in front of her eyes, and it opened to reveal a glowing blue-green spiral, slowly turning before her face. "I'd just like you to watch my little toy for a few minutes." The teal spiral proved to take an effort to look away from--it seemed to draw her attention, pulling her eyes to look into the spiral, unless she summoned a supreme effort of will..." Just watch the spiral. It's very soothing, and oh so interesting, no?" Unknown to her, the magician pumped some of his magical energies into the device, making it even more powerful. She heard the electric motor running and wondered what that sound was. He opened up a little door by her eyes and she saw the blue and green spiral. As he told her to watch it, she tried to turn her eyes away. She had a horrible feeling something would happen to her if she continued to watch it. She turned her head away, but the need to watch it was compelling. Her eyes kept moving at the spiral, and after a few attempts she gave up trying to fight it at all, and just watched as it turned around and around and around. The spiral began to spin faster, trying to draw the heroine's attention. The blue-green line that wrapped around the disk pulled harder and harder on her mind, on her will, pulling at them, pulling her down, or at least, attempting to. Outside, the magician continued to put his magic energy into the device. He spoke softly, straining to do so as he pumped his force into the disk. "Watch the disk, my dear, and let it open your mind, your will, to my words. Let your senses focus on it, and let it take you deeper, deeper, deeper under its spell. Deeper under my words. Deeper under my command. Let it fill your vision, and let my words fill your ears." The mage could not see the woman in the box, but he could speak to her. "Do you understand what is happening to you, my dear?" She continued to watch the spiral. She couldn't turn her eyes away from it. It was if something was compelling her. She watched as it swirled around and around completely mesmerized by it. She could hear his words drifting from outside the box to her. He asked if she understood what was happening to her. I... I don't. I'm not sure." She muttered in a soft voice laced with confusion. The evil magician chuckled. "Why, my dear, I'm enslaving you--breaking your will, training your mind, taming your body. I want you to serve me as my faithful follower, to use your abilities and knowledge for my gain. Isn't that wonderful?" The spiral swam before her, turning around and around, pulling on her awareness, trying to bring her deeper under its enchantment. "Slip further under my spell, my dear. Let go of your resistance. Give in to my superior will..." The spiral seemed to glow with the power the mage was feeding into it, trying to drive her under. " Yeah...." She muttered. She didn't really want to talk. Didn't want to do anything at all except stare at that spiral that seemed to be pulling out taking her down and down. She had no want to fight it. It felt almost good, so easy just to give in after fighting for so many years. Then for a second she heard her fathers voice, always instructing, always yelling in her mind. To snap out of it, to stop it before he had her completely in his control. She tried to turn away but it was impossible. She closed her eyes, and it took ever bit of her will to do it, though they did not stay closed for long. Her whole body, her whole mind screamed to see it, except that one small part of her will, and it was quickly dying. She didn't know how to fight this, her dad had never thought her defense against this type of magic, and she didn't think that she wasn't sure that she wanted to either. The door in the box that was just in front of her abdomen opened again, slowly, and something entered the box. Slowly, a hand slipped up against her labia, stroking them, and her clit. The fingers of the hand moved parallel to her slit, rubbing her nether lips from back to front, then lifting a bit, and moving backwards to start over again. From time to time, one finger would sort of slip in between her labia, entering her pussy gently, rubbing in there, but not too deeply inside. The spiral continued to turn before her, pulling at her mind, trying to drain her last reserve of willpower. The blue-green design slowly wound around and around, holding her eyes. "Deeper, and deeper, only able to feel how much you want to surrender, and to feel how much my touch arouses you. Isn't that right, my dear? Don't you want to obey me, to carry out my commands, to do as I say? Isn't it easy to just give in?" Her eyes stayed on the spiral, so she heard something come into the box, but she did not see it. She felt the fingers against her clit, causing little sparks of pleasure to run through her. She made a soft sound of pleasure. Furthermore, she didn't feel any desire to fight him any longer. Even her fathers voice seemed to have gone quiet. She felt as if she wanted to obey him. It was just easier to give in to what he wanted. " Yes... I... I want to ...obey you." She said the words slowly and softly. The spiral spun before her, drawing her deeper and deeper under his control, and a finger of his hand at her groin slipped into her slit, softly penetrating her. "You want to obey me. More, you need to obey me--you must obey me, in all things. Isn't that right?" His other hand moved to the latches of the box, ready to open them. Slowly, he began to slip his finger in and out of her pussy, softly, stroking her clit with another finger as he penetrated her. "Obeying me will mean you will receive pleasure. Not obeying me means pain, and loss." She thought back to her strange dream, if it was a dream, she still was not sure about that. She thought about the pleasure that she had felt. Furthermore, she wanted pleasure liked pleasure. Furthermore, she moaned as she felt him finger her. Furthermore, she wanted pleasure, she didn't want to feel pain. Her eyes stayed on the spiral. " I...yes.... I need to obey you...must obey you" She said. "Very good, slave. Now, you may exit the box and stand before me." The spiral device stopped spinning, and the box's front was opened, revealing the naked heroine. "Come out so that your master can fully appreciate you." The mage stood before the box, not a sound coming from him as the younger woman emerged to stand before him. "You have a lovely body, slave. Not only will I enjoy your service, I'll enjoy watching you as you serve me." There was a moment's pause, then the mage asked, "How do you feel about becoming my slave, my dear? She blinked as the box was open her eyes adjusting from the darkness of the box to the light of the room. She stepped out away from the box and toward the mage. Before she might have picked this time to try and escape, but it didn't even cross her mind now. Before she might have showed him the floor for someone so evil calling himself her master, but it didn't bother her now. She looked at him as he asked her how she felt about being his slave it seemed like such a strange question to ask. " I am happy to serve you as your slave...master." She said. Why wouldn't she be anything else pleasing him meant more pleasure for her. The Arch mage laughed, long and loud. Finally, he nodded to the entranced woman. "Very good, my dear. Very good. Now, follow me. We have work to do." He left the room, looking back to see if she was following. Finally, they reached a room, and the man gestured at some clothing there, something like this, but with a red and white target symbol on her chest: ("Put this on, my dear. Then I have a little test for you. Something that will prove your loyalty, and earn you a reward." He nodded, and walked to a desk, looking at a small video monitor on the upper level of the desk. He turned it on, and waited for an image to form--an image that became the outside of a bank--the First National branch on Town Street, downtown. She followed him to the room, and put on her new outfit which was a lot more revealing than the costume that she used to wear. After she put the clothes on, she walked over beside him and looked at the image on the monitor. She knew that bank. She had saved it from some want to be thief at least a dozen times. Furthermore, she wondered what kind of test that he wanted her to take. Did it have something to do with the bank? The Arch mage nodded as she approached him. "Very nice, my dear. You should put on your mask, and then get yourself ready. I want you to liberate some financial resources from this bank..." he held out a mask to her, gesturing at the screen with his other hand, "...later this afternoon. A large shipment of bearer bonds is arriving, and you will be intercepting the delivery truck when they unload outside the bank. "I'll have a vehicle that will then pull up, and you'll load the bonds into my vehicle, and we'll speed off." He smiled a bit. "I know you will want to do the best job you can for me, my dear. Make sure to use your skills to render the guards extremely unconscious so that we'll have time to collect as many bonds as possible." Finally, he added, "Doing so will earn you a great reward... Any questions?" She took her mask, and put it back on her face. Then she looked back at the screen. If someone had told her that she was going to rob a bank before she might have laughed. The idea didn't seem so bad at the moment, if it was what her wanted. She shook her head when he asked if there were any questions. It seemed like a simple enough task, and she would do the best she could so she could get rewarded. The magician nodded. "The truck is scheduled to arrive in half an hour. Go now, and hide yourself nearby until you see it. Then, disable the guards, as I said, and get me the bonds. Remember all your skills and training, but use that knowledge to serve me!" He reached out and touched her face softly with one hand, "Soon, you will get your reward, my lovely slave." He gestured at the door, one that she would find led outside. "Go. Do my bidding." Then, he went through another door, and she could see a large, dark gray, sedan-style car in a garage that way.

Hero or Villian|rating:2.0

Tales of Constanta

{"Light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} ​Moonbeams penetrated the sea of oaks and spruces, illuminating the narrow path through the forest. In the carriage at the rear of the caravan, brooding beneath dark brown curls, the skin walker Measures sipped at a small of cup of cradle wort tea and cringed. This tastes like horse piss, Measures thought to himself, but forced it down all the same. It had been nearly two days since he'd slept, and his eyelids had grown heavy with fatigue. He was well aware of the risks he was taking by traveling through the night. He could sense the bloodlust of the wolves that stalked the caravan as if it were his own. Occasionally, he'd slip into the mind of the alpha, a majestic, full-bodied, black furred beast with beady red eyes, and snap at the other wolves of the pack, sending them scurrying into the trees. But hunger always compelled them to return and stalk their prey the moment Measures returned to his mortal skin. If he intended on protecting the caravan he'd need to stay alert. Piss flavored as it may have been, the acrid tea would help him do so. The Thorn wood harbored other dangers as well. Bandits, disciples of the Pale Mother: the forest was rife with nocturnal foes. Measures would have preferred to set up camp and set out the following dawn, but time was a luxury they couldn't afford. The Balthazar was growing dangerously unstable. Two nights prior, the enormous gem had driven Luca, the brawny sell sword, mad, flooding his mind with macabre visions, and commanding him to slaughter the young Sonia. He'd fed upon her flesh like a ravenous beast, his gorging interrupted only by intermittent, unintelligible chanting in some unknown tongue. Nora, the skilled mercenary he’d hired in port Rose, had been forced to drive her blade through the madman that same night. Sonia, the blonde, jovial girl of only thirteen they'd found stranded along the road, did nothing to deserve such a horrific end. It was a gruesome and disturbing episode unlike anything Measures had ever witnessed. After months of pouring over ancient texts and communing with eldritch spirits, he'd determined that the artifact must be taken to the Cairn Stones of Radical on the eve of the lunar eclipse. There he would perform an ancient ritual, harnessing the power of the sun and moon, and banishing it from the primal plane to the distant void which spawned it. After what seemed like an eternity of tedious preparation, the caravan was now less than ten miles from their destination, and Measures would not abide the stone's murderous appetite for a moment longer than he needed to. They would press on through the night, no matter the cost. A warm breeze blew through the air, carrying with it the smell of hot iron and burnt human flesh. Measures grew dismayed. He could hear the panicked neighing of the horses up ahead, and the shouting of the sell swords who strove in vain to pacify them. The horses too could sense something foul on the air. Measures reached for his dagger and a small wicker basket which buzzed at his touch. As he kicked open the door to his carriage, Bogdan, the stout and balding stable master from Leonie, gazed up at him with troubled eyes." The horses... I know not what plagues them!" Bogdan said." Can you not smell that, Bogdan?" Bogdan appeared bewildered. He searched through a rucksack for an apple or handful of oats to subdue the crazed animals. Measures paced toward the front of the caravan, covering his knee-high boots in moss and wet soil. As he caressed the neck of the rearmost stead, an arrow sped past him, carving a thin cut into his left shoulder and burying itself deep in the horse's flesh. The beast wailed in agony. Blood spewed from the freshly formed wound like a cracked wine barrel. Medaurus's attention was drawn south by screams from the rear of the caravan. Beside the empty carriage, Bogdan gripped his hemorrhaging neck, his screams fading to jumbled gurgles as he bled out and collapsed upon the ground. Standing overhead Bogdan's corpse, a woman, clad in black, hooded garments and an ornate, pearl colored mask twisted a bloodied knife between her fingers. From the shadows of the woods, two figures, similarly clad, emerged with swords and spears in hand. The adrenaline which raced through Medaurus's veins propelled him forward toward an abandoned carriage. Sliding beneath the turned over pile of wood and iron would afford him some meager cover for the time being. The pack of wolves that had been stalking them for days still lurked nearby. For the first time since they'd departed from Leonie, Measures was grateful to the wolves for their perseverance. He pulled himself from his mortal vessel, his eyes turning pale green as milk ferns. Synesthesia enveloped him as he once more possessed the leader of the pack, donning his skin like a cloak. The sounds, sights, and above all scents of the forest began to solidify and take form. He could now feel the wolf's hunger directly: a pit in the creature's belly that radiated throughout his entire body. You shall feed soon enough, beast, Measures whispered silently to the creature. Medaurus prowled closer to the path, the pack not far behind him. The masked woman approached his kneeling, mortal body, her blade outstretched. Rage ignited in Medaurus's veins. He lunged toward the woman's neck, his fanged maw wide open, and tore at her jugular. The sound which followed was enough to turn the stomach of the most seasoned warrior: a twisting, snapping, blood-curdling crunch which left his snout covered in human entrails. The pack soon followed, ravaging the woman’s flesh from head to toe. With the taste of fresh blood on his palette, he searched feverishly for the remaining assailants. Stay with the client, the others had firmly bid her before they set out for the journey. The band of mercenaries had organized themselves so that every man (and woman for that matter) within the company had and their own task to perform which allowed the brigade to operate like a well-oiled gear. Among them were Bogdan the stable-master, who took care of all their horses by tending to their needs each night after they set up camp and every morning before they set out, muttering to the beasts reassuring all the while. Magenta was their young scout who showed promise in tracking, hunting, and scouting. Luca was the general multipurpose powerhouse of the group, and he liked nothing half as much as drinking and brawling, sometimes simultaneously or interchangeably. Sonia was the newest addition to their caravan and was stuck doing miscellaneous tasks for the time being while taking sword lessons whenever they settled down for a break from Nora herself and several others who took a shine to the cheerful girl. A dozen or so others rounded out the party and lent strength, wisdom or expertise. For a time their journey had been uneventful and amiable but that ended abruptly when their numbers began to suddenly dwindle in the last stretch of their journey. The hunter had disappeared several days prior and his whereabouts were still unknown, but the odds of their reunion were growing slimmer as more time went by. A week or two ago the old, battle-scarred warrior who went by the name overtook a bad fall down a sharp, steep slope at the edge of the road and broke his leg. After cursing at any who approached him and insisting that he was ‘quite all right’, the wound festered, and he died from sub-par medical treatment. Luca and Sonia, who were the last to leave them in the most gruesome of circumstances, seemed to be the equivalent of the final straw for the remaining members and morale all but shattered among the troupe. Some had begun speculating and whispering in hushed voices that their client and his ill begot cargo werecursedand cast him nervous glances at mealtimes. Duty and honor however forced them to continue their unhappy pilgrimage deeper still into the woods with enemies on all sides, lurking in the dark, just out of eyesight. The day after they parted with the brawler and youth was full of brooding silence, only interrupted by the unnerving sound of whetstone on steel as the young mercenary who called herself Nora pointedly sharpened her sword with no small amount of cross looks thrown at her client. The woman was likely no older than nineteen with a mass of dark, chestnut hair that feel around her shoulders in loose waves and wore both soft and studded leather like some of the men but no plate, choosing to forego the extra protection in exchange for remaining light on her feet. So, whilehestruggled to stay awake and nursed on the bitter tea, the scrapper of a woman amused herself by quietly glowering at him from where she sat at the front of the carriage that was directly following after Measures. As far as she was concerned it was the Skin walker’s fault that Sonia had been buried at the side of the road with naught but a large stone to mark her grave, a grave that had no doubt already been dug up by the howling beasts that followed them like a persistent plague. Eventually the carriages jostled to an abrupt stop and the still night air was filled with a horrible stench and nervous whiny. The mercenary did not waste any time and leapt off her perch before pacing forwards and peering in all directions, loudly cursing at the growing dusk that hindered the visibility.“La Nakba!” She muttered under her breath before turning to address Bogdan who tried to calm the animals unsuccessfully. “Whey’s the matter?” No answer followed, but instead a frenzy of activity erupted all at once. One horse received an unannounced bolt to the flank and added the sharp scent of copper to the disorderly fragrance of pine and burnt flesh. Soon after the stable-master clutched at his neck which was quickly depleting him of his life’s blood and fell in a heap upon the earthen floor to reveal the hooded shape that calmly stood behind him, murder weapon held in hand. Stay close, the others had insisted and Oneida did just that, sticking by the sleep-deprived mage, putting her own lanky shape squarely between the masked stranger and the kneeling Skin walker. Her pale gray eyes took only a moment to register Bogdan’s body on the ground and the bloodied knife within the woman’s hand before she felt a rush of fury fill her and took a step towards the other with a snarl. No sooner had she raised her sword, however, and yelled something about “her mother’s onions”, than a vicious and enormous mass lunged at the assassin and tore her open like a paper bag. Oneida staggered backwards as more wolves appeared out of nowhere and hastily retreated towards the same overturned cart that Measures was using as cover. With the most prominent assassin thus reduced to a quickly disappearing carcass upon the ground, the woman took her time in surveying the situation and spotted two more silent, masked shapes that drew out of the forest like ghosts in the night. The mercenary dropped her sword at her feet for the time being and instead drew her longbow which would allow Nora to strike without leaving her charge. Two arrows were knocked simultaneously and hastily loosed upon the larger of the masked duo that stood just past the cover of trees. No sooner had her iron tipped bolts been released than she already prepared the next two while stilling her breath and closing one eye to facilitate with the aim. Among the chaos that now ensued within the camp several other sell swords began to charge at the remaining assassins. One, a burly woman clad in chain mail and wielding a flail, wasted no time in smashing the heavy, spiked weapon at the head of one black, cloaked figure while her companion, a scrawny lad that was barely out of his teens who happened to be her son, followed up with a thrust of a spike towards the assassin’s midriff. Within the confusion, din, and potentially even smoke that now descended on this patch of the forest, what happened in the rest of the caravan was hard to read and even harder to gauge. The graveled woman remained beside the kneeling man, drawing and loosing arrows at their assailants, insisting all the while that the Skin walker was Amiga and this was all somehow his fault. The taste of iron and salt swept across Measures's pallet as he gorged on the pale woman's flesh. The wolf's hunger had been subdued, but not without cost. He'd never grown accustomed to the taste of human meat, and each time he fed upon it through the eyes of a beast, he felt as though slivers of his humanity were chipping away. He raised his bloodied snout from the carcass to behold the carnage which littered the narrow trail. The mercenaries had slaughtered several of the mysterious masked figures, sticking their guts with blades and arrows, but had not all emerged from the skirmish alive. Nora had unleashed an onslaught of arrows, one after the other in rapid, skilled succession, leaving a slew of bodies across the greenery. Prejudiced against the eldritch as Nora may have been, her skill in combat could not be disputed; Measures had invested wisely. Through the eyes of the alpha, he beheld a nearby sell word who appeared wounded: an axe lodged squarely in his lower calf. He was surrounded by two robed zealots who brandished exotic, curved blades in front of them. Measures had found his targets. He howled to the moon, signaling the pack to follow him, and raced through the muddy terrain to his companion's aid. He was stopped in his tracks, however, his attention violently splintered. Furthermore, he felt himself ripped from the wolf’s skin like a horseman from his steed. A haunting moment of silence followed. He felt suspended in a crescendo of darkness and looming dread. Images flashed before his eyes: first, a mound of skulls stacked with bouquets of roses; second, a woman, sobbing beneath long locks of hair black as pitch; finally, a cultist, with the image of a coiled serpent etched into the surface of his mask." You will pay for this sacrilege, Golding!" The cultist's breath was ominous and acidic, and burned Measures's eyes and nostrils. Bony fingers emerged from the figure's black sleeve and pried away the porcelain mask from his face, revealing pale, rotting flesh, loosely stretched over a cracked and dilapidated skull. Maggots, worms and roaches wriggled beneath the skin. Measures's heart fell into his stomach. What had captivated him so? Was this the sorcery of the Balthazar? No, he’d studied the gem for months. The signature, nay, the taste of the power which ensnared him was unique and unfamiliar. Medaurus had nearly completely lost consciousness before a thunderous jolt pulsed through the ground. He broke free from whatever illusion bewitched him and returned to his mortal vessel, the world springing into being before him in a visceral whirl. Humming filled the air as tendrils of violent energy spilled forth from the massive Balthazar; its sheer size and power, terrifying as it may have been, never ceased to amaze him. Humming filled the air, escalating into a low but persistent roar. The cultists, the mercenaries, everyone save Nora and Measures let out a stomach turning wail as the blood was siphoned from every pore in their bodies and funneled toward the heart of the stone. Amid bodies, shriveled as prunes, violent tendrils coalesced into a swirling vortex. Trees, roots, stones, and corpses plummeted toward the eye of the energized mass. Powerless to resist it pull, he turned to Nora, unaware of what the Balthazar intended for them, and what awaited them on the other side... The fight with the masked strangers who stalked their way out of the night continued. There were so many of them that the woman wondered how they had managed to amass within the forest without any of them taking note. It was likely because they were missing their ranger – that boy always sailed forth on his quick little steed and came back with news of all that traversed the surrounding land on all sides, but now that he was gone they were blind and vulnerable. The cultists had surely picked a good time to strike. Onora continued cursing under breath as more arrows were notched, drawn, and released, but her supply of ammunition was dwindling. Once she got down to her last three arrows, slender as willow branches and tipped with brown hawk feathers, she remained poised with her fingers on the taught bowstring, unable to decide who she should prioritize as targets within the growing chaos. Her index and middle finger slacked their hold upon the string and let the arrow fall to the ground when the mercenary felt the very soil beneath her feet shudder and a sense of dread settle into the pit of her stomach. Her wide, gray eyes fell upon the semi-conscious body slumped on the ground next to her where the Skin walker lay motionless.“… What the hell did you do?!” Onara demanded before fisting her hand around the front of Measures’s shirt and proceeding to shake the man like a rag doll. No reply likely followed but the almost palpable tension in the air intensified. Even for one as magically inclined as the swordswoman was, she could feel the air grow thick and suffocating to the accompaniment of a buzzing noise, first quiet but growing steadily in volume. It filled the air and clamored in her ears, making it all but impossible to focus, to think.“You stop thatnenorocitulething, or I’ll - “Thankfully Measures would never get to hear exactlywhatOnora would do to him because the woman never got the chance to finish her sentence and the sell sword’s words were drowned out by a bloodcurdling scream of every being within the vicinity. The young female had just enough time to drop her bow and lift her sword as if to fend off this invisible monster that proceeded to drain the blood out of every person she had come to know and care for over the past fortnight. Every mercenary, along with the masked assailants and even the wolves – none were spared, and the air was temporarily filled with a thick, red mist before the world itself seemed to trip her up and send her tumbling headlong into darkness. It felt like she was struggling through several layers of thick, intangible membranes before being spat out on the other side, disoriented, and confused. Onora found herself sprawled out on the floor within an unfamiliar, dim setting that smelled predominantly of dust and mildew. Her thin shape lay over top Measures, with the mercenary’s shoulders positioned over his shins before she hastily collected herself off the floor and sat up with her back straight and stiff. Her fingers still clutched at the hilt of her sword, which the mercenary pulled all the closer to herself, but her bow and arrows were nowhere to be found and likely still lay on the forest floor, wherever that was. Vaulted ceiling and stained-glass met the duo on all sides. If not for how eerie the place felt it might have even been beautiful. Pale moonlight flooded through the arched windows and painted the locale with a silvery light. Marble floor and walls were accented with pillars and iron candlesticks while the ground was laid out in a stunning geometric design of black and gray cobblestone. The din and clatter of the battlefield had faded away, and now they were left in complete, echoing silence where every footfall sounded deafening to the ears and an assault upon the serenity of the cathedral. This place was about as far removed from the forest as one could go but at least for now there seemed to be no enemies present nearby. After what seemed like a small eternity that Nora spent predominantly being stunned, her gaze finally shifted and settled on the mage with a deep-set frown which should have adequately expressed the extent of the woman’s displeasure with her employer. All of this must be his handiwork, so the mercenary patiently waited for an explanation to follow that would shed some light on the strange situation (and setting) they now found themselves in. Throes shot through Measures's neck and forehead. He rose from the ornate marble floor, wincing briefly before sitting upright in order to gain his bearings. A beautiful yet haunting spectacle lay before him: a vast, moonlit cathedral of mighty pillars and colored glass, the grandeur of which exceeded even Leonie's Cathedral of St. Valeria. For a moment he wondered whether he was truly awake. His laced, linen shirt was covered in leaves, dirt and wooden debris. He wondered where the Balthazar had taken them, and what its, no doubt, sinister intentions might be. He had underestimated the power of the stone. Though he'd devoted countless hours investigating its macabre nature, it was now clear that he'd only scratched the surface of its true capabilities. He could not have anticipated that the stone would use human blood as a catalyst for teleportation. He turned to Nora, who was staring directly at him, her eyes more suspicious and distrusting than ever. "I suspect you'd appreciate an explanation,” Measures said. He paused momentarily, rising to his feet and dusting off his garments. “Regrettably, so would I. The truth is much of the stone's nature remains a mystery to me. I know only that it is responsible for countless murders, including the young Sonia and the men and women of your company. They perished in service to me, and I bear some responsibility for their deaths. You must help me destroy the Balthazar, Nora, or their deaths will have been in vain. You were forced to put one of your own men to death! Surely you understand why it cannot be allowed to abide in this world." Measures drew in a deep, satisfying breath. “We should search for water and sustenance, as well as secluded place to rest. I fear I cannot go much longer without sleep. It would be wise to stay together; there’s not telling what horrors this fortress belies.”“Perhaps I could be of assistance…” The trigonal, male voice echoed through the halls of the cathedral. Measures grew bewildered, and attempted to identify the source of the mysterious voice.“And whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?” Measures asked, suspiciously.“I too am an inquisitor of the eldritch, Golding. Though unlike you, I am not some pagan spirit made flesh, but a traveler of the dimensions, and a shaper of time and space. Your spirit may be older than mine, but not by much,” the voice responded. Mysterious Orb ​Measures rolled his eyes, exasperated by the stranger’s inflated pride. After carefully searching the cathedral for the source of the voice, he at last discovered a glowing, blue-green orb, no larger than a small melon, at the feet a bloodied, beheaded statue of some unidentifiable saint. Measures grasped the orb between his pointed nails and raised it to the level of his eyes. As he stared into the small glowing mass, he beheld the head and torso of a figure, clad in Sari robes of orange and gray. A flood of mysterious birds, dragons and other creatures seemed to continually flow from his long hair, rushing steadfast into oblivion. The sternum at the base of his floating torso was beset by orange poppies which framed the man’s pale, delicate face.“What is your name? And how did you come to find yourself contained within this...globe? Measures asked with an irked yet bemused tongue.“Silence! I shall answer your questions in time. For the moment, the two of you must find refuge within these walls. This castle is stalked by a score of Smith, serpent women with a taste for human flesh. Do not think they will spare you, Golding. So long as you don that corporeal, human form, they will strip the meat from your bones without hesitation. You must reach the Well of EIA. I shall lead you there. Bring peace to the spirit that dwells within, and ambrosia shall flow from the font of protection once more,” the mysterious stranger said.“And why do you offer us this boon?” Measures said.“I grow weary. The rejuvenating nectar of the well shall nourish me as well, even in this...form. We must head for the upper west coo rid-” Smith ​The stranger’s words were interrupted by a hellish cacophony of hissing coming from every direction. From dark archways, two creatures resembling the aforementioned Smith slithered into the moonlight. Measures had never seen creatures so abominable. They had no harms, only rounded stubs with, swollen, horned edges. Their hair was blonde and wispy. Thin lips surrounded rows of jagged teeth. Their necks were split down the middle, teeth lining the folds of skin as though their entire necks and mouths could open into single, flaring maws. In place of legs, long, scaly serpent tails coiled beneath naked and large boomed torsos. They moved toward Measures and Nora with surprising speed, their folded mouths now wide open. Medaurus reached for the wicker basket still within his grasp and unscrewed the cork at its top, unleashing an army of one hundred ebony wasps which buzzed furiously about. He slipped into their many skins, and raced toward an oncoming Smith. It was always slightly disorienting at first: possessing and coordinating so many small body parts at once, though he quickly refined his coordination, and assaulted the Smith with a litany of venomous stings. The demon writhed about. Large welts formed on her skin as thinned blood leaked from the cracks of her split neck. After squirming upon the ground for nearly a minutes time, her very torso exploded, lodging a dagger sized shard of bone shrapnel into his right shoulder. The tremendous pain forced Measures from the wasps’ skins, his glazed over, pale green eyes regaining their hued irises. He grits his teeth in agony, and ripped the column of bone from his shoulder, blood dripping down the pale skin of his arm. The mercenary looked patient as Measures began explaining their predicament. Her expression however steadily grew darker the further he went until the woman was unable to suppress a sharp scoff that left her lips when the other mentioned bearing some responsibility for the death of all their comrades. “Some.” Nora repeated mockingly from the smooth flagstones of the floor, seemingly in no rush at all to rise to her feet and carry on. That is at least until the Skinwalkerdaredto bring up Sonia’s death and reminded the young woman that it washer sword that ended the life of their deranged companion. The sell sword exploded in an abrupt flurry of anger and rose to her feet before rearing on the man, jabbing one finger at his chest hard enough to make him tip backwards, likely forcing him to take a retreating step. “Don’t you daresay her name so casually!” The woman yelled at the other quite suddenly, her voice echoing within the walls of the grand cathedral. Even though she was a good half foot shorter than the mage, the swordswoman managed to look both intimidating and imposing all the same. She was furious. Nora was quickly losing her patience with this man who, after just seeing everyone in his employment die a horrible death, simply brushed it off as if it was just another day on the job. She wanted tohurthim. Onora would have likely said, or probably yelled, more if not for a stranger’s voice that interrupted them as it wafted into the citadel seemingly out of nowhere and pompously proceeded to float around. Her first instinct was to hold up her sword and point the tip of it at the source of the sound until it became obvious that this creature was in no rush to attack, and she reluctantly lowered it.“… Friend of yours?” She asked the Skin walker with a cross side-glance before it became obvious that while not formally acquainted these two were all but sewn from the same cloth. “… Great.” She signed heavily. “They’re multiplying.” She commented daily before focusing her attention almost exclusively on the orb-man. If the mage was quite done playing with the talking ball, the mercenary would try to swipe it casually from his grasp, rotate and tumble in it her fingers for a long moment before trying to rattle the contraption right next to her ear. Surprisingly, and rather disappointingly, it did not rattle but itdidcomplain. Profusely.“You will unhand menowyou barbaric flesh bag, I will have you know that I am –““Look, Mr…” Nora cut him short before realizing that she had no idea what the stranger’s name actually was, since he had never offered it, but the mercenary was always quick on her feet and never failed to miss a beat. “Mr. Melon, that’s great and all, but we’re kinda in a hurry. Got a cursed relic to deliver and payment to receive, ya ken?” A hissing sound had by now filled the quiet cathedral and before long the source of the noise made itself known in the form of horrifying, disfigured snake women. It took Nora a moment or two to process exactly what she was looking at before one of the monsters fell to the floor after being enveloped in a buzzing hive and exploding from within in an impressive display of gore and shrapnel. While Nora remained unharmed, part in thanks to the leather equipment that protected her body and part due to luck, Measures was clearly not as fortunate. It only took one look at the wound in his shoulder to know that the Skin walker would likely be out of commission for the next little while. If he did not end up passing out from blood loss before too long, it would be difficult for him to focus while in that much pain. Mr. Melon continued chattering in the background, something about being insufferable and undignified, along with other words that were much too fancy and complicated for the likes of her. “Save it.” Nora cut him short before grabbing the mage by his collar and proceeding to pull him along after her towards the nearest corridor. Within the splendor and emptiness of the cathedral they were easy pickings, and they needed to find a safe place, the sooner, the better. The mercenary could already hear more serpentine enemies skulking through the corridors – there would be more snake women here before too long, and they needed to move now, injured or not. The way out was barred by two of the beauty creatures whose arms thankfully proved to be shorter than the length of her blade and Corona slashed with determination to force her way through. One of the creatures ended up being severed at the torso, cut cleanly in half but still twitching furiously upon the floor, while the other received a finishing stab to the forehead, gouging out one eye and putting a swift end to all her movements. Corona trampled over their bleeding corpses and pushed on with haste as more hissing followed from behind.“Great. Snake women. I'll luck just follows you around on your heels, doesn’t it mage.” The mercenary muttered while she moved down one confusing corridor after another all of which looked much the same. Mr. Melon, although the orb refused to answer to such a title, continued giving them instructions whenever they reached forks in the road. The corridors, some narrow and some wide but all quite dim, were lit with torches in some parts of the castle and lanterns in others that gave off a dim light which struggled to push back the oppressive darkness all around them. The progress was long and torturous in part because they kept running into more serpentine enemies now and again, and in part because the Skin walker needed to be supported due to his injuries and fatigue. Sweat was breaking out across Corona’s forehead as the mercenary was reaching her own limit as well between all the running, the slashing and the insufferable melon that followed them around dutifully, handing out wise and irritating advice along the way. Eventually they came to a small room where wooden pews were positioned in two orderly rows and just one more exit was visible to their right. Large ceramic urns lined the walls which were a little more worn than usual here and were made of stone rather than marble, showing some cracking and chipping in places.“It’s just on the other side of this wall.” Melon announced when he drifted into the enclosure after them.“Whey’ you meanies on the other side?! Why the hell did’CIA lead us here then, when the well is on the other side?” Nora finally exploded, too weary to care at this point who she assaulted with her bloodied scimitar or her sharp tongue.“Quiet!” The orb still managed to sound composed. “This was the best route here, so now if you will just go down the hallway to your right, follow it all the way down until you reach the staircase and then-““Futurity going down more hallways!” The mercenary yelled before grabbing one of the nearest urns. She swayed after her arms snugly wrapped around the slippery, smooth, heavy object and grimaced at the effort before taking a determined step towards the wall and forcefully shoving the ornate vessel at it. A loud thud followed along with a shudder that was almost felt through the walls and floor before the urn dramatically shattered but not before making a dent in the wall. Along with dozens of shards that now littered the floor, there were now also a few bricks that had been broken free. With a wild looking, defiant and toothy grin Corona followed up with a few solid kicks and managed to knock a few more stones free that yielded a hole just big enough for a person to squeeze through situated roughly at hip level within the previously smooth and featureless barrier. Medaurus was roughly pushed towards the opening which was supposed to lead them to this elusive well of nourishing, while Corona hesitated and turned her back towards it instead. The hissing that had been dogging their steps had finally caught up to them and three more blonde snake women flooded into the room through the entrance that they had just used minutes prior. Her fingers gripped the hilt of her scimitar and drew it from its scabbards, still bloodied, while she wiped at the perspiration that trickled down the side of her high cheekbones. She had no more strength remaining to launch a heavy assault and conserved her energies by choosing to parry instead of charge.“Just so you know, your rate just quadrupled.” She hissed under her breath to her employer. “This was no part of the contract.” It was supposed be an easy, well paying job – deliver the cargo and the mage to a specific location. Anescortmission for god’s sake that paid more gold than she had seen cross hands at the recruitment tavern in weeks. An easy job indeed. Her mother had often warned Corona to steer well clear of anything that reeked of magic, but it was unfortunate that she never told the girl exactly what magic reeks of… or how well it paid. Measures crawled through the hole Nora had rent in the stone wall, aching shoulder and all. He was amazed at the size of the castle; seemingly endless, carpeted paths crisscrossed several floors and a vast expanse of moonlit hallways. Not only did his wound throb, a stupefying daze had been steadily creeping upon him. He wondered if the Smith’s bones were coated in some toxin that sedated the mind. Or perhaps he was just in dire need of sleep. In any case, he knew he needed to push past the pain and reach the well as quickly as possible. Proficient with her scimitar as Nora was, she would be unable to stave off blows from the oncoming onslaught of Smith forever. Well of the Goddess ​The short tunnel opened into a small room. A sour, earthy aroma swept over him, and as he planted his feet upon the ground he felt the texture of dead grass beneath his boots. In the center of the room stood a marble statue in the shape of a woman: a goddess, perhaps. She was exceptionally fair, with two antennas and three infection eyes upon her forehead, and illustrious moth wings which arched from its back. Thorny brambles covered her hands and a dimly lit, red gem, which served as the only light source in the windowless room. Something sickly, and teaming with rage emanated from the frozen woman. He did not wish to touch the statue. But if he was to commune with whatever spirit it harbored, he’d need to bond with it, and the intimacy of touch seemed an intuitive way of doing so. As his fingers made contact with the statue’s cold surface, something altogether dreamlike and surreal swept over him. His eyes turned pale green once again, as though he were possessing the skin of a beast. He felt himself tugged from his body, his soul inexplicably drawn to some obscure space within the statue. A scene materialized before him. He found himself at the end of a massive stone bridge lined with fierce gargoyle statues. Waves crashed into large stretches of jagged, volcanic glass on both sides of the bridge. A furious storm roared overhead; bolts of electricity jumped from cloud to cloud without relent, illuminating the night sky. At the edge of the opposite side of the bridge, a woman, the same depicted by the mysterious statue, wept, her head cradled within her slender hands. He drew closer to her. Hesitantly, he placed his hand on the spirit’s shoulder. Her flesh was soft to the touch, though colder than that of human being, much like the bark of a tree or the dew upon a blade of grass.“You suffer, spirit. Let me share that suffering…” Measures said quietly. The woman looked up at him. Tears ceased streaming down her face for but a moment, a glimmer of hope returning to her eye. He took a deep breath, and placed his arms around the woman, embracing her, and tethering his spirit to hers. He could suddenly feel her pain as though it were his own. The pain of heartache, of losing a child, a son, pierced his psyche like a searing hot knife. He held her tighter, serving as a conduit for the soul, until the last of the woman’s rage and pain passed through him into the void. Her relief, and his, was immediate. The very image before him disintegrated into white-hot light, and he was abruptly returned to his mortal skin. The small, red gem shattered, releasing with it an explosion of ethereal energy that washed across everything in sight. Though it left Measures, Nora and the mysterious orb unfazed, the moment it made contact with the Smith, their demonic flesh caught fire. Soon the small room and surrounding hallways were filled with the aroma of charred, reptilian flesh. Four glowing, white roses sprouted from the empty space where the red gem once resided. From their pistils, a shimmering green fluid leaked profusely down the petals. He took in a deep breath. A cascade of emotions swept over him: relief, exhaustion, tinged with anxiety and guilt over the loss of Nora’s men. He collapsed onto his back beneath the roses, the sweet ambrosia dripping down his face, lips and tongue. He’d never tasted the nectar of the old gods. Its reputation proved well deserved; each sip soothed his body, mind and soul. He wondered what manner of spirit he had liberated; perhaps a creature not unlike himself. He longed to study the statue, and perhaps learn something about the tenets of the old religion, but that could wait. For the moment, he needed to rest. He turned to Nora, fighting sleep at each moment as he wrapped his wound with a piece of cloth from his linen shirt. “There’s a figurine of jade in my quarters back on the Widow’s Nest. My master gave it to me before his death. I was to sell in the case of an emergency. Help me destroy the Balthazar and it’s yours. Sell it, and you needn’t work for decades if you choose.” He fell onto his side, the dried grass beneath him offering surprisingly comfortable cushioning.“Sleep! Pathetic. You find yourself at a feet of the Mother Goddess and you decide it’s time for a nap?” the ever cynical orb spouted. Measures was unmoved by his words. He felt peace for the first time in days as the darkness of sleep enveloped him. The Smith were nothing if not persistent. The three who had caught up to them hesitated just past the doorway, rose a few inches taller upon their snakelike appendages and parted their toothy maws with a shrill hiss to try and intimidate the mercenary. Nora in response spat upon the ground in front of them and this seemed to conclude the brief squaring among the opposing sides as the beasts charged. They were not wise enough to attack all at once and this gave the warrior a chance to hack at each opponent individually, which resulted in a partially severed head and two cases of disemboweling, but more were already coming. The grueling stand continued as more slithering shapes found their way into the room and began to circle around the woman. The floor was steadily growing slick with blood that was pooling around her. When the next creature sprang at her from the side, those stubby nubs that served for arms raised and teeth bared, the swordswoman pivoted to parry and felt her foot slip on the crimson puddle. Her heart lurched in a sudden moment of panic and within an instant she found herself on her back, doing all that she could to keep the blondthingaway from her neck by pushing back against the creature that wanted nothing more than to tear into her throat and rip at it. The struggle continued for a while longer, but it was becoming obvious that Nora was fighting a losing battle as more creatures slithered in, taking advantage of the situation to try and get their own chance at a swipe. Her arms were straining against the monster with whatever fighting spirit she had left, spurred by the simple desire to continue living, but her strength was waning quickly and more Smith inched ever closer. When the woman felt her muscles fail and despair set it something strange happened. It felt like a warm breeze that wafted by her, originating from the hole that Measures crawled through and expanding ever outwards. No sooner had it passed by her chin then the monster which was so intent on partaking in her flesh gave a piercing scream, slid backwards, and caught on fire. Whatever beasts had already entered the rooms surrounding the sanctuary followed the same fate and for the next few minutes the air was lit up with moving, writing shapes. After everything was quite still, and no more reinforcements could be seen or heard coming. The mercenary would have looked was rather surprised as she pulled herself to her feet wearily, one side completely covered in blood that was not her own and her gray eyes wide with relief at the stroke of luck that had saved her life just in time. Luck. The woman’s fingers compulsively closed around a ring that was suspended from a thin, black cord around her neck. A shaky snort by way of a reply is all that the mage would receive for his generous raise before the man collapsed upon the dried grass and fell into a deep, undisturbed slumber. No matter how exhausted the mercenary might have felt, she was amazed at the ease with which the Skin walker now dozed, not at all bothered by their location or the host of enemies just past the newly erected barrier. While Measures slept without a care in the world the woman could not rest until she scoured out every inch of the sanctuary. She took this time to meticulously examine their setting and ensure that their fortification was adequate and made certain that they would not be beset by some horrifying beast while they were at their most vulnerable. They were in a spacious garden of some sort with white walls lining the far edges of the square enclosure and a high glass ceiling that protected them from the elements but allowed natural light to flood in. Off to one side there was a small but picturesque waterfall that collected into a pool of fresh, drinkable water and exited the garden in another location by disappearing into a grate beneath one of the walls. Before Nora made her own entrance by bashing a hole in the wall, there had only been one entry in the form of a tall and majestic archway that ended a long hallway that was decorated with pillars on both sides. Where it led to the mercenary was not curious enough to explore just then and for now it would remain a mystery. Once she was positive that they were secure in this sanctuary the woman did whatever she could to make herself comfortable. Blood and gore was washed from her skin, hair and clothes and her blade was cleaned and sharpened. The wound on the mage’s shoulder was also cleaned and rebandaged while he rested since the sell sword figured if she had any hope of seeing that jade figurine and a mountain of gold it was supposed to fetch her, she had best keep her employer alive long enough to hand it over. His head was propped up onto her folded leather tunic, although the reason for that gesture would be a little harder to explain. After all tasks had been tended to, the woman decided it was time to seek some rest herself. Dressed only in a simple linen undershirt and soft leather pants she settled with her back against the wall and left her sword unsheathed and stretched across her lap. Only then did she trust her heavy eyelids to fall closed and a light sleep to claim her.

Tales of Constanta|rating:4.0

Can She Do That_ (Ferryman x Zeeff)

@ZeeffTera stormed out from behind the alleyway, clearly flustered, her head in such a daze she managed to walk straight into a random man, a man who would inevitably catch her as she got knocked off balance. Tera had just be Rejected, a blind date gone immediately sideways, as all good dates usually went for the strawberry blonde woman. Tera was late twenties, well proportioned, had smooth, plush curves, long hair usually in a ponytail, and a subtle makeup routine that made her look almost naturally luminous. But today's date hadn't cared. Her date, a set-up from a friend, had been all for a little back alley hanky-panky, Tera didn't mind one bit, but once she had her hands all over him, things changed. After one too many brutal pushes and pulls, it became clear who was wearing the pants, and the date had a problem with that. He called it all off and ran off into the crowd, leaving Tera with a half wet pair of panties and a little bit of storm cloud above her head." Fuck! Oh. Dammit. Sorry, sorry. I should have been watching." She began as she locked eyes with the man who just caught her from falling. Damian was already drained. He was only at the festival because his friend was organizing, and he begged for him to come and enjoy himself. Damian wasn't too big on gatherings like this mainly because he was a shy guy and social gatherings with large crowds where he doesn't know anyone make him nervous. He decided to show up for his friend though. After about an hour spent there, Damian desperately needed a drink and was on his way to get one when she got ran into by a woman who was definitely not looking where she was going. His reactions took over, and he immediately caught her as she seemed to be falling, helping her onto her feet as she apologized profusely to him. He locked eyes with her, and felt his chest thump a bit at how pretty she was. He starred for a bit before he recollected himself and let go of her. "It's okay, It's okay, Don't worry about it. Are you okay? You seemed kinda out of it." he said softly to her, unable to take his eyes of her and her body. Tera got a good eyeful of this man after she planted both feet on the ground, she then realized that maybe tonight wasn't the tenth bust this season. "Huh? Okay? No, well I mean yes. I'm physically ok but.just not had a good time since I got here so.y'know." She said, skirting around the fact that she was on a hook-up date that failed." My manners! Shit. I'm Tera. Thank you again for that catch, I clearly wasn't paying attention, and I'm sorry. Can I make it up to you? Buy you a drink or something? I feel like I have to make up for my dizziness." Damian listened to this woman ramble on a little about what happened, how she was feeling and in the middle of all of that, her name. She genuinely did look out of it though, besides the fact she ran into him. He chuckled softly at her words. "Don't worry, It's nothing. I was just about to go get a drink, do you want to come with?" He asked softly. "I know the organizer, so I know where the good stuff is. I'm Damian by the way. My friends call me Dame." "Oh really? You know Jenny? I knew her back in high school, shame she never mentioned you..." Tera smirked softly, trying her best to be as inviting and welcoming as she could. Maybe playing flirty would loosen this attractive guy into playing second fiddle to her otherwise loud sexualities. Maybe." Lead the way, I'll have less a chance to fall into you that way." She smirked again, feeling quite safe and warm around this new Dame, she liked him so far. Dame couldn't help but laugh softly at her little jokes, walking slowly and leading the way to the drink stands past the ones in the front; closer to the back. He could feel his heart continually thump as he walked with her, stealing looks at her over and over again as they walked." Jenny never mentioned you either. She honestly just kinda forced me to come. You know how persuasive she can be. I just couldn't say no." he said softly, not wanting to just awkwardly and silently walk to the stand. "At least now I kinda know someone that's here. Even though you tried to run me over." he joked lightly. "Mm run you over, is it? I could probably flatten you if I really wanted to. I have a history of fighting for the top." She made the comment, hoping it sounded a little more middle road versus totally sexual in tone. If it didn't, then oh well, she could handle the slightly awkward tension of being a thirsty woman out in public." Ask my brother, he taught me how to do the whole wrestling thing when we were kids. It's helped out more than you know. I could pin you to a May in seconds." She boasted playfully, flexing her arm out like she was a pro wrestler. It was gaudy, but it also helped weed out the men who got offended by toned up girls. Damian chuckled at her first remark, although it did sound very sexual, he decided to just overlook it. He chalked it up as him interpreting it in a more sexual nature because he was attracted to her and wanted it to be sexual. He smiled and then laughed again at her little show. "I don't doubt that. You look great." He caught himself and started to stutter. "I just mean like you look good so- I mean you look like you work out so I wouldn't be surprised if you could pin me." He let out a breath and nervously smiled. I'd let her pin me down anyway, God. He said to himself as he looked her over again. She was hot. Like really fucking hot." I wouldn't mind learning how to wrestle though. Think you could teach me?" "Oh I could try. I'm quite competitive, so unless you don't want to end up on your back with me on your chest...maybe you need a different teacher." She smirked to her newfound little boy toy. She liked bis style, his appearance, his shyness, it all just yelled closet submissive. Whatever horniness was left in her system from the attempt to bone in the alleyway had now been shifted into the Damian basket, Ashe now just imagined her riding his face without any panties on, so she was sporting a full lady boner." It feels so cool to have my own little inside escort. I do hope I didn't take you away from any group of people. Because they may not get you back anytime soon. Damian heard her and immediately started to imagine him pinned down or tied to the ground with her riding on his face. His cock immediately throbbed, and he knew he had to stop his daydreams because walking around with a pardon would probably drive this woman away. He let out a Calvin breath and smiled back at her. "You're not, but even if your were, I definitely would not want to go back to them. I'm your what did you say? Inside Escort for the rest of the night" Damien said softly "The whole night? Or only while we're here?" She asked, adding a little air of hint of what might happen later that night. Of course, she didn't let him answer, merely let his mind ponder and wonder what exactly did Tera have in mind. She saw a group of people coming their way, willing to split them up, so she grabbed his hand and pulled him in to avoid him being engulfed by the slightly unruly crowd. However, in doing so, Tera was pressed against a nearby storefront, with Damian pressed right up to her." I like this...only one request..." She pushed against him, planted him flat to the storefront, with her now standing before him. "Much better. I don't like having anyone's thumb over me.only when I ask them to put their thumbing. Oops, I meant on me." This was probably the most entertaining walk Damian had ever been a part of. If he was reading this right, she actually seemed like she was interested in him. He didn't think she would be. He had been told many times by women that his 'energy' wasn't right for them whatever the fuck that meant. He was completely prepared to dodge the group of people walking towards them so he could stick to Tera, but before he could even, he felt himself get tugged to the side and in a flash he was over her, and she was pressed against the store. Furthermore, he let out a smile and looked down at her, he heard her words and honestly didn't think she'd literally just flip him. He smiled at her words and just from being pinned against the store he could feel his cock start to stiffen as he looked up at her, her being taller than him helped too. Furthermore, he couldn't believe just how fast he was getting an erection and just how much his entire body was tingling. He was almost speechless as he looked up at her, a soft whine almost unknowingly escaping his lips at the position and at her words." I-I I like this too." He stammered his way to his conclusion before he composed himself. "I'd like to put my tongue in you. Not just my thumb." He said softly to her, visibly flushed from the entire situation. As Tera held Damian to the wall, she could clearly feel him stiffen up along her thigh, making her grin a devilish little grin. It was also at this point She realized he was a little shorter than her, and that they probably weighted sort of similar. "Careful funny, I don't do loans. You make a check, I come collect." She breathed softly, her voice thick but airy all at the same time. Nudging his head to the wall, she laid her lips across his and slowly began to suck his breath away. Her hands found his hip, grabbed a fistful of shirt and belt looks, and pinned his hips to the wall. Her other hand, however, was a mystery. As she slipped tongue into his mouth, she swung her hips back, swung her hand in, and grabbed his cock through his pants. Damian chuckled nervously at her words. He could feel his cock get hard in his pants, and it started to poke against Tera and from the look on her face, he could tell she felt it too. Immediately she put her lips to hers, Damien moaned into it, gladly participating in it moaning and whining more and more as she pinned him to the wall. He let her tongue slide into his mouth to no resistance whatsoever, thoroughly enjoying her taking over the kiss as she slipped her hand into his pants though, he moaned more against her lips and his cock throbbed hard in her palm. Rubbing his shaft slowly, she did the unimaginable, she pulled him out slowly, broke the kiss, and then peered down at his shaft. "Good size...nice and firm.got s good set of nuts in there to.yep, it's a cock." She chuckled softly as she hiked her leg up to hide the exposed cock in her hand." Damian... I'm having a lot of fun with you. But I have to be honest. I'm in charge. I can't change that.just can't. You've seen alright with it so far.do you have any objections? I'll be careful. Just not.submissive." She finally explained to him, as she stroked his free air cock, loving how she could squeeze pre-cum out of him. Damian gasped softly as she broke the kiss, his cock now right there in the open. He looked around to see if anyone was coming because his cock was just. Right there! He couldn't help but throb in her hands still, even though he didn't want anyone to see his cock. He listened to her talk and all it did was send shockwaves through his body... Furthermore, he bit his lip down as she stroked him, pre-cum leaking from his cock as he nodded at her. "I'm okay with it. You're in charge... I'm yours for the taking." He said softly and the more she stroked, the more having sex in public didn't seem so bad. He was already closing his eyes until he heard a familiar voice call out Tera's name. He looked over his shoulder and saw Janet a ways away but obviously coming towards them. He looked back up at Tera with a terrified look in his eyes. "Good...good boy." She stroked his cock, smearing his shaft with his clear liquid, ready to pull his kids right out onto the sidewalk, when they both heard a high-pitched, "Tera!~" it wasn't in reaction to what Tera was holding, but it meant trouble. Tera wasn't about that." Fuck a duck." She sighed and put him back in his pants, apologizing through her eyes, as well as setting Janet ablaze, yet she whirled around like she totally hadn't been masturbating the nice young man." Jan! Where have you been?"" Ter! And who do you have there? Damian. Is that you? Oh my gosh! So cute! Why didn't I think of that!?" She lamented, wishing she had been the one to pair them up before but never did. As she trilled on, Tera licked her fingers of Damian, wondering how he took to that little scene. Damian was honestly relieved that she put his cock back into his pants. He had to readjust it very quickly to hide his raging erection, but he didn't have a choice. When Tera and Janet were doing their mini catchup, Damian was still catching his breath and trying to calm his heart rate as well as process what just happened. Had he really found a dominant woman? He composed himself and smiled at Janet, leaning in to give her a soft hug. "Hey Janet, Told you I'd come, I'd never leave you hanging." He said softly, looking back over to Tera. "Yeah, you really dropped the ball on that one. She's great." He said gesturing to Tera. "Great? No...just excellent." She winked with her teasing little smile before she backed her way into Damian once again." So what are you here for Janet? Out and about then? Just wandering about? Probably taking in the sights and sounds of your accomplishments. It's a great gathering. I'm quite proud of this all honestly, to see you do so many great things." They could yell she was sincere, but luckily only Damian could tell it was also a distraction, a distraction for Tera to back her big butt right into her new interests front lap. Damian honestly didn't expect him and Tera to do anything again that night if Janet was here to stay so it was to his surprise when Tera started to talk and suddenly backed her self onto his lap. This woman was going to be the death of him. He had already hidden his erection under the waistband of his pants but for that moment and that moment only, he unleashed his tent and placed it right on Tera's fat ass, using every bit of power and self-control he had to stop him from grinding on her or moaning. He did use his hand on the side Janet couldn't see to lightly grab her ass. Janet smiled at Tera's words. T was such a good friend to her. She supported her all through her dreams of being and event planner, and she was here to support her with her presence and with her words too." Thank you so much Hun, but I'm also here just to hang out with my friends you know. I did so much of the work in the buildup to this. I've delegated everything to my staff and I honestly just wanted to enjoy this with one of you, but it's great both of you are here and are getting along!" "Yeah getting along Famously. I had seen Bill not too long ago, just to talk, but he was being an asshole, just walked off. Forget him, I got Damian here now. He was telling me about how he knew the best tent to get a drink at, but also told me He had known you. And you never mentioned him to me. For shame, Janet. Tera chuckled softly, but knew she couldn't really move or grind herself either, so she just sat within groping range and prayed Janet kept on wandering, otherwise she would become the third wheel and no one was getting fun that night. Damien hoped to God Janet would leave. God. He never in his life thought Janet would be one to cock block him. Here he was with his cock against a hot girl fat ass, and they couldn't do anything but just stand. God... He wanted Tera to take him so bad, but he couldn't move, all he could do was press his rock hard, throbbing cock harder against her soft ass and grab her butt even more. Janet made a face when she mentioned bill. "I'm so sorry about that. Fuck Bill. At least it seems to be working out better now." She laughed softly upon hearing how her and Damian met." Wow. That's such a crazy coincidence. If you think Damian has a plug for drinks, imagine what I am." She said with a smile. "Let's go get those drinks!" she said excitedly and as Damien heard that, he quickly readjusted his cock and whined softly as Janet led the way. He and Tera were behind Janet. He had hidden his cock but was still feeling so horny. Furthermore, he couldn't believe how this was playing out, but this was Janet's big night, they couldn't just ditch her. Just like Damian, Tera felt her heart and libido get kicked down a flight of stairs. Dammit it Janet, I'm trying to get this street meat going! She said in her head as they had to turn and follow the leader to the drink tent. As they separated, Tera grabbed Damian hand and made sure he was by her side. Even if they weren't fucking up a block alleyway, she was still going to play the part of leader. As they found the tent Janet was so excited to show them, Tera shared a look to Damian, a look that promised him apologies about Janet, as well as hopefulness for future events, preferably without interruptions. Damian didn't say it, but he loved how possessive Tera was being, gladly clinging to her side, and they finally made it to the tent with Janet who seemed oblivious to what was happening or at least what she was stopping from happening. Damian smiled at Tera look but really hoped this wouldn't be the last time he saw her. The rest of the night was fun. Even though he wanted to have a different kind of fun with Tera, it was still nice to hang out with her and Janet as friends. Janet seemed to really enjoy it too. She probably needed a break from work and Damien was more than willing to give up his orgasm for that. Through the drinking and games of the night. He forgot to collect Tera's number, and he absolutely couldn't believe it when he got home. After the night was over, Tera wandered into her apartment, absolutely feeling the exhaustion and how much she drank. She moaned out in discomfort, flopped onto her bed and furiously began to strip naked onto her bed. Once she was naked as the day she was born, she wandered a hand to her slit, rubbed the little jewel up top with a slow speed until she froze instantly."Oh, fuck his number!!" She yelled out, sitting up in a heat. After that, Janet became hard to contact, being an event planner meant you were very busy. And being Janet meant you forgot to return messages in timely fashion. So Tera spent a fair amount of time sulking about losing her new boy toy, not even wanting to try and find a new boy to fill his place. She didn't want another.she wanted Damian. He let her jerk him outside his own pants. She couldn't one up that. Damian couldn't believe he forgot to get her number after spending so much time with her! All he had to do was ask! He didn't worry too much because he thought he would just text Janet and ask her for the number, but Janet was suddenly a very difficult woman to get a hold of. Damian didn't know what to do. He texted and called Janet multiple times for a solid amount of time and nothing. Time had passed and Damian couldn't get her off his mind. He eventually just decided to go to Janet'house. He got into his car and was determined to at least find out where she'd been. If she wasn't home, he'd just go back. He got to her apartment and softly knocked on her door. After a few moments, Janet's door opened, showing off Janet in pj bottoms that didn't make it down half her thigh, a pink pj top that hugged her small stomach, grapefruit sized breasts, and slightly toned arms, as well as her hair in a messy ponytail. She had her phone pinched between her shoulder and cheek, waving Damien in while she seemed to be waiting on someone to pick up." Have a seat." She told him as she made a gesture to how frazzled everything was. Walking sighing softly, she began to speak but eventually ended up stopping, checking her phone to see if she lost call, and just rolled her eyes. "Stupid jerks!" She barked frustrated at the small device. She slapped it down, walked over, and crawled into her chair with her legs crossed and her hair a bit messy. "Hey Damian. Welcome to the life of event planning." Damian had forgotten what it was like in Janet's life. He forgot how busy she was always and how hectic everything was in her line of work. He found a seat for himself before he could fully focus his attention on her."How are you doing? I've been trying to reach you for a while now. Is it just work?" He asked softly, partly because he actually did care and also because of his other motive. "Work. More work. And...just a few extracurricular things. Trust me. I see your messages. I try to reply, but my damn phone rings and I have to answer. Or I sit it down and lose it hours. These are...excuses. I'm sorry. I'm being a bad friend, this job is.just barely in my wheelhouse. Furthermore, I feel like if I have one major failure I'm just going to quit. Furthermore, I swear." She lamented, sighing as she rubbed her hand on her forehead, clearly run down by the job." But it's great. Y'know? Pays well. Meet nice people. You get free admission to places. So what about you? What's Dame up to recently?" "You're not a bad friend, I promise. You're busy and I understand that. If anyone is a bad friend it's me. I actually came here to ask if you had Tera number... Checking up on you was second on my list. I'm the shitty friend and I'm sorry. " He let out a sigh." Look, you've always looked like you've enjoyed this job. Now you look burnt out and tired. If you did quit, what could you do?" He asked softly before answering he questions. "Tera...oh my god! Of course! I should have put two and two together! She's been texting just as much as you have. My god. Damian slap me, so sorry." She said in a frantic as she grabbed a notepad and scribbled the number down, clearly knowing it by heart." And I don't know what to do about a job. I could do accounting. Or office work. Event planner for an office would be great. But I know that snow-white bitch downtown won't hire me." Janet referred to a wedding center on the Southside that had event planning attached to their normal wedding business, but the manager, Samantha White, was not the best friend of Janet's that would have just hired her out of the blue." Strife for another day." She scoffed sadly. Damian was glad and pleasantly surprised to hear that Tera had been texting just as much as he had. He knew she liked him or at least wanted to fuck him, but this was a great feeling too. He gladly took the paper, folded it up and carefully placed it in his wallet. Damian chuckled softly at her mention of Samantha. Damian himself worked for a Media/Teach company as a Creative director and Director of Photography. "Look, I don't want to make any promises but the company I work for does have events more often than not. It's not wedding or parties so I don't know if it's your thing, but somebody is always doing some shit and I could try and talk to a few people to give you a try as a planner if you'd like that." "Could you? That'd be nice. And really sweet. I'm not. I'm not hurting for it, too badly, but if you get an in for me. I wouldn't say no. But I asked for this.and clearly kept it running with good results so far." She sighed softly but still seemed determined to accept his help. Yet, her phone rang one more time, Janet's eyes widened, and she began to stutter and stumble. "Big client! I may be busy for the next...day. If you could let yourself out please. Have a good time with TER! Love you, bye!' She scrambled out, answering her phone as she began to pace and wander aimlessly, talking business nonsense to someone on the other end of her dire phone call. Damian couldn't even be pressed or offended. She was fine, he got the phone number, got an update on her life and now knew to look out for jobs if he could for her. It was a perfect storm. He made his way out of her house and back into his car. He started the engine and was about to drive off when he decided to try the number first, if she wanted to meet up or something. Furthermore, he'd rather he was driving there from Janet's house. He save the number in her phone and for a minute contemplated what to text before he decided on "Guess Who" Tera was sitting on her couch, lounge pants barely holding to her hips, tight little athletic tee on her chest, not doing anything to hide the shape of her breasts, or her steeled nipples. She was just sitting, eating ice cream from a container when her phone went off." Janet! Finally-wait. Wait hold on. Oh!" She grabbed the phone and rapidly hit her keys. "Damian?? You got hold of Janet?? Finally!" Damien smiled as he got a text back almost immediately. "God, I finally did. Had to go to her house to get it, but I finally did." He pushed send before he sent another." Are you free? Are you home?" "I'm home. But I charge about twenty bucks." She texts, smirking on her side of the screen before she replied immediately, "But for you, discount. I'll only charge you a Starbucks coffee.and a little alleyway play." She sent, biting her lip erotically as she just pictured what fun they could get up to. Damian had to laugh out loud at the text, biting his lip down, his mind wandering, already thinking about what she might have planned for them." I'll get you a Starbucks coffee, a bagel and a thousand fucking dollars. Please Send me your address." He sent with a smile, preparing to zoom off once he got the pin. "Just that cock, Baby. And a Vent iced Mocha." She texts, right before she typed out her address, sent it, and went to go get changed. By the time Damian arrived, Tera was in tight black jeans, knee-high boots over the jeans, a black corset, a black bra, and a see through net shirt. She did her dark hair into a ponytail and added a few bits of black dye makeup. She waited eagerly by the door, biting her finger as she imagined all the fun she could inflict. Damien, as much as he had waited and built up this moment in his head, as much as he wanted her; Still actually went to get the Vent Iced Mocha for her. Once he did though, he zoomed off to the address she gave him, finding a parking spot very quickly. He hopped out of his car and walked to the front for, Mocha in hand as he knocked on the door. Answering the door, she leaned into the frame of the door and smiled with a bright smile, most happy to see him than the Mocha, but happy to see both regardless. "You didn't have to actually do that...but you may get a little extra whenever we get down to business." She smiled as she took the Mocha from his hand, noticed he had a little bit of chocolate on his finger, and had to start off strong for the afternoon. She grabbed his wrist hard, lifted his hand to her lips, and watched his eyes as she licked his finger clean, and them some. Furthermore, she went full animal, sucking his finger while acting like it was his trouser snake, even winking as she pushed her tongue against his fingertip." You had a spill... I had to clean it." Damian couldn't believe what his eyes saw. He almost dropped the Mocha when he saw her fucking outfit. His mouth dropped just a little and his cock throbbed just by looking at her. He handed her the Mocha and was more than ready for anything that followed; at least he thought. He held the eye contact with her as she licked his finger clean and felt his cock stiffen and press against him pants. Fucking hell. His entire body was already tingling, and her winks were just making everything even better. He stepped into the house and smiled at her words. "You're so fucking sexy. I'm already starting to leak somewhere else." He said with a smirk on his face, his cock already pitching a very visible tent in his pants. "Leaking? Can't have that can we?" Right inside her doorway, Tera set her Mocha down, grabbed him by the belt buckle and undid his jeans on the spot. She pulled the flaps of his jeans open, dropped the hem of his boxers, AMD pulled out his cock. She eyed up the shaft, stroked his tip, and collected whatever leaked out. "You ever measure it? Or you one of those honest types who doesn't like to know?" Damian honestly expected her to pull him to her bedroom, play room or at least inside a little more but nope, right then and there, she opened up his jeans and slid his cock out of his underwear and honestly, she wasn't fucking complaining. Damian was honestly a little embarrassed by her question. It made him blush just a little. "I don't know honestly. I don't even know if I'm big. I just know I'm not small" He said shyly, looking up at her and moaning softly. Without hesitation, she grabbed his balls and laid his cock along her forearm, then raising an eyebrow to him as she but her lip. "It's big. Fucking big." Watching his reaction, She slowly sunk to her knees, kissed his head, then licked his ooze off her palm. "Better from the source. Don't you agree?" Popping him into her lips, she began to bob her head right on the top of the shaft, licking about till drool rolled down his shaft. Damian was at least glad to know that his cock was big according to Tetra and honestly, her opinion was all that mattered at that moment. He watched her get on her knees and moaned softly as she licked his head and soon after, she had his cock in her mouth! He moaned out and locked eyes with her as she bobbed her head on the top of his cock, whining and moaning loudly as she sucked him off, never breaking eye contact with her. Grabbing him below the cock head, she began to stroke him with just her index, middle, and thumb, squeezing the veins as she stroked him. She sucked his head harder and harder, even to the point where she made a little vacuum, pulled her head taut, and let her lips break the seal, popping loud as she let go." Damian...you got a hard cock here.has anyone ever told you that?" Tera purred as she spit on his cock and stroked him with firm fingers, greasing him up. Damian could not believe how good this shit felt. He didn't know if it was because he had been backed up or if it was because he was just horny as fuck currently, but it felt fucking amazing. His cock only got harder and throbbed harder in her hands as he moans grew. He was moaning as she spoke to him, and he actually struggled to get out the words but did eventually. "I've heard it a few times, but It sounds so much better coming from your mouth" "How about going into my mouth?" Opening her mouth, she bathed the underside of his cock with her tongue, but then pushed her head down over him completely. Her nose pushed into his pubic bone, her throat clamped down around his cock, and her mouth began to gurgle hotly. She pulled off, drooling lines all over the floor below. She then sucked his top half into her mouth and bobbed rapidly, her hands grabbing his hips for stability. Damian wasn't completely ready for that! As she plunged him deep into her mouth, his toes curled almost automatically. It took him by surprise, He let out a loud, guttural moan and his breaths immediately became ragged and heavy." Fuck Fuck Fuck! That feels so fucking good! Fucking hell!" He blurted out as she deep throated him, he thought she was done, but she went right back to sucking him off! He could feel his cock start to throb hard in her mouth, his toes curling even more, the blowjob was fucking perfect."Fuck, Fuck! I'm gonna cum Tera, I'm so fucking close!" Yanking his pants down, she groped his balls and did not let up, bobbing her head so hard that her ponytail was whipping! She was relentless, unable to let herself stop until she had his salt in her mouth. Popping her head off, she grabbed his base hard, then began to rapidly jerk his tip, making that loud TCH TCH TCH sound as she stared into his eyes. "Cum." Damian couldn't even hold back if he wanted to. As she started to jerk him off and gave him permission to cum? He was powerless. Almost instantly he groaned out loudly and looked deep into her eyes as he came hard, moaning and groaning loudly as she shot warm ropes of cum out of his cock! His breath was heaving, and he was audibly panting as he looked down at her... "I'm sorry it was so...quick. I just couldn't hold on." Getting her pearl necklace and a face full of mess, Tera moaned hotly as Damian gave his release all over her. She panted hotly as she licked his cock head of white, patted his shaft, and then stood up before him. She then drank her Mocha, winking to him as she let him view her covered in his cum." Don't know if you noticed. I didn't go easy on you." Damien was still breathing a bit heavy as he watched this beautiful woman with his cum on her face casually walk away and drink what he brought for her. He honestly couldn't believe he orgasmed that quickly. It had never happened to him that fast before." Yeah. I did notice. I've never been that quick with it." he said nervously, with a small smile. "Not my fault though. I mean, look at you" "I don't mind a quick jerk and spurt. Sometimes that's all the encouragement I need. Other times, however, I expect you to last a little longer." She winked as she drank from her Mocha again. Shaking her hips gently, she made her way up to Damien and smiled like a fox." Now what? Surely this isn't the extent of our reunion date... What other kinds of mischief and trouble can we get into?" She asked with a smirk before she scraped up more of his white with her thumb and sampled it with eager eyes. Damian couldn't take his eyes off her. Watching her drink the Mocha, shake her hips and move back over to him. He smiled up at her, biting his lip gently at her words. He leaned up and kissed her softly. "I definitely think there are a few other things we could do. It won't take too long for me to be right back up again. So I know. We still have a lot of fun ahead of us." "I love to hear that." She told him, treating him to a toothy smile as she made it sound like his stamina was all thanks to his efforts. She gently patted the residual bulge of his pants, shuffled past him and opened the front door. With another shake of her hips, a slow turning grin to Damian, and hot little chuckle, she led him from the front step down to his car." Think you can drive...with a distraction?" She asked as she had one hand on the door handle and the other on her mocha. Damian could already tell this woman was going to be trouble, or the death of him but for some reason, he loved the excitement she brought. The tingle she made him feel all the time. He redressed himself in record time and made his way down with her." Definitely I can." He said with a smile as he slipped into the driver's seat and started the engine. "Where are we going?" Smiling as she slipped into the front passenger seat, turning, finding a rear seat cupholder for her Mocha, then turned her attention towards him. "Head to the college parking lot. There are so many cars, they'll never find the one that's rocking." She told him as she buckled her seat belt only over her lap, not her shoulder. "Just don't drive fast." As they pulled away from her house and back onto the street, Tera peeked over her shoulders, gave her toothy, signature smile, then leaned over his leg, and began to molest his bulge, groping it until it became firm. Damian pulled into the road and like she requested was driving slowly towards the college parking lot. He didn't know what to expect from Tera or what the distraction would be but as she started to massage his bulge, he quickly got an idea. His driving remained very steady though, keeping to his lane and his control on the car as good as always even with a beautiful woman rubbing his cock. His member stiffened so quickly after she began to rub him, and he moved a little to sit more comfortably, a huge bulge quickly forming in his pants." I guess he's happy to see you again." "I'm glad to see him too." She purred softly before she popped the button, gripped the zipper, and tore it down slowly, watching his bulge effortlessly press outward. Using her nail, she lifted his waist band, fished his thick cock out, and leaned it to kiss its head."Oh, I love it! I love it so much! Thank you bringing me The large mocha...and the Starbucks." She chuckled softly before she slipped his cock into her mouth, letting her tongue tenderly lick his flesh.

Can She Do That_ (Ferryman x Zeeff)|rating:3.0

Echoes of Evil (Primary Game Thread)

Anyone wishing to play in the games as a hero:PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER! HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!(IOC discussion thread: mighty dungeon masters, to your new, humble abode. It may not look like much, now, but soon, you will be able to carve this dirty old hole in the ground into a lair fit for ones as strong as yourselves. It even comes furnished with some various furniture. How... quaint.(time, we will be able to expand, but, for now, we need to establish our own... flair. Decide where your minions will inhabit, and prepare your decisions for the first day of your new rule.(Each 2x2 tile represents 1 5' square. There are 27 tiles, in total; your avatars each require at least 1 tile. In short, this will be rather crowded... but fear not, furnishings take up no room; your kobolds can easily live inside barrels, for instance. Expansions to the dungeon can only be performed to the right and below; the other two directions are too close to the surface for safety. You can furnish about half a room with a single action, and the choice of customization is fairly extensive. If you have any questions, ask them here, or in the IOC thread... I expect discussion will spill back and forth between them.) Well, assuming we're still doing the "CR squares or (size+1) squares" thing, Gaza, Jazz, Data and Tree will each need one square, due to being CR 1/2 and small, so they can seriously be shoved anywhere - stuffed into barrels. Mar gash and Hark meet are each going to need... 4 squares, right? And Fire blossom will take 6 up - maybe a large part of the tree roots burrowing down? Then we each have 1+ square to take up, so that's 20+ squares, leaving 7 spare. The bottom-right room is precisely six squares, so Fire blossom could just be slotted in there. As for the others, do you want the hobgoblins split up or sharing the large room? Depending on how you want to do things, Jeff, I can just shove the kobolds wherever. Tunneling will very quickly become a job for them. I'd prefer that Mar gash and Hark meet be together, so they're ready to watch each other's backs if it hits the fan. In the meantime, their first task will be to go fetch some picks, because we have some expanding to do. Preliminary suggestion:Gaza, Jazz, Data, and Tree in upper-left room, preferably in barrels (as an early-warning system when they're not working elsewhere)Mar gash, Hark meet, and us in lower-left roomFireblossom in lower-right room If for some reason adventurers show up before we get a chance to do anything meaningful, we pull back into the lower-right room and dogpile them at full force. The advisor chuckles. "Very good, very good. You've claimed the table for your leaders, a wise decision. I will note that the four filthy little rodents occupy the first room, that your glorious selves and the hobgoblins will reside around the table, and the mixed-breed creature will reside in the back. Very good. Now, then, shall we get to designation of duties?"(The two lords each get three actions, performed in the order given. Thus, you'll need to lay the design for a room before anyone else can start building it. Each of the 7 minions can take a single action, today; refer to the list in the other thread for what can be done. I'd highly recommend expanding the lair, setting traps, and furnishing before going out raiding or recruiting. I'll give you a 3-day grace period with no attacks, guaranteed, before I'll start rolling for heroes.) Okay, so Lady Amelia is going to do some planning. First thing on the menu is to tell the little bastards we need a trap set up near the door, to inconvenience anyone who feels like wandering in. She'll leave it up to their fiendish imaginations, due to them being better at that sort of stuff. Then, she will sketch out a corridor leading out from Fire blossom's den - as Jeff suggested, we'll want a winding path for adventurers to have to traverse through. I'm not sure how much planning can be handled with a single "action", but currently it's in the basic stage of "a 5' wide tunnel that twists and turns from time to time" rather than going into the details of pits and alcoves. Results of Amelia's turn:The kobolds set about their fiendish task, and begin digging a pit trap, sneakily laying a large rug over the top of it, to not just disguise it, but to tangle anyone falling in. Atelia gives the orders for a winding passage 100' in length, wrapping around and ending just below the room it left.(I will update with a picture at the dawn of Day 2.) "You heard the lady!" The towering demon-orc glares at his hobgoblin "disciples" with glowing red eyes, and thrusts a pick into each one's hands. "Get to work, and show me the Stone Dragon's power! No students of mine will be out dug by a bunch of filthy kobolds!" Once Runs is satisfied that they aren't slacking off, he heads off to scrounge up the heftiest pick-mattock he can find.(Mar gash and Hark meet are both directed to mine out the passage Amelia sketched out, entering punishing stance and using mountain hammertoe defeat the stone's hardness. Lords get three actions a day, right? I'll wait to see how much progress the Hobbs can make, but Runs might have to take a few shifts himself, even with abuse of adept powers. Since he's so insanely strong, it might be ideal for Amelia to do most of the planning while he swings a pick and shouts at his minions.) After a long day of work, not only is the tunnel cleared, but there's enough time to furnish the walls and floors of a good portion of the tunnel. The kobolds have constructed their trap, just inside the door, and everything seems to be going smoothly. What are your plans for Day 2?(Okay, I have a dastardly plan for a trap, but I imagine this one will take a while to complete, so perhaps breaking it into steps to be worked on. I would like for this trap to occupy the vertical corridor on the far right.1. There will be a thin line (6" at the most) going down the middle. This line can be jumped up and down on with no effect. To either side, the tiles will be pressure plates, designed to withstand a small bastard (kobold, goblin, halfling) running along, but anything heavier will activate them. Needs springs and mechanisms.2. Mechanisms (wires, chains, more springs, cogs) will run up the wall to drop a heavy iron gate at each entrance to the corridor. They should weigh about 50 pounds each, so that they can be lifted, but with difficulty.3. Small levers will be in the grooves where the gates drop. The first one will activate a series of daggers to be thrust through the floor. This treats the area as caltrops - walking slowly (and forfeiting your DEX to AC) means you're safe, anything else causes stabbing of the feet and the movement penalty.4. The other gate-lever will cause crossbows/shotguns to fire through holes in the walls. Anyone who wants their DEX to AC to not get shot will have to step on the daggers (this represents leaping aside, only to go "Huh, I forgot about those... Cleeeeriiiiiiic...")---As I said, I'm well aware that this is going to be a multistep process. On the plus side, they're kobolds, who are good at making traps. I've been playingDwarfGoblin Fortress lately, so my mind has become quite devious for these things. As you have stated, this will need to be broken into at least three separate traps; the pressure plate to enable the gate, the first trigger to trap the floor, the second to trap the walls. Otherwise, the rules remain the same. So, Lady Amelia will plan those three things out for her separate actions for day 2. The kobolds can then get to work while she lies down and rests. (I'm going to have to apologize; the program I use for this is on the desktop I didn't haul home for the Thanksgiving break, so you'll need to wait until next week for a map update.) Quote from: ongoing on 26-11-2008, 13:57:01As I said, I'm well aware that this is going to be a multistep process. On the plus side, they're kobolds, who are good at making traps. I've been playing Dwarf Goblin Fortress lately, so my mind has become quite devious for these things. That tears it. We need to recreate the Degrinchinator.---"Keep smoothing those tiles, you maggots!" Runs howls at the two unfortunate hobgoblins, who are desperately trying to execute the complex mountain hammer technique with fine instruments. "This dungeon isn't going to dig itself!" Once he's satisfied that they're genuinely busy, he begins drawing up plans...---Runs takes his first action to plan a room on the end of the nascent tunnel. Let's say...4 squares wide vertically, and 9 across horizontally. It'll be a good spot for strong minions and overly complex traps of doom. His second and third actions are spent mountain hammering the new room out of the rock. Your dungeon is expanding beautifully. While the hobgoblins work to finish the hallway, and being digging the new room, the kobolds have begun work on the traps. They've successfully laid the trapped floor, and have begun to work on the portcullises. Your third day has begun; be wary, for your actions are beginning to draw the notice of the nearby villagers. There is a chance one of them might come poking around, before long...(The trapped floor will be treated as caltrops, with higher damage, 1d4+1. I will begin rolling for hero encounters, after today's actions, though the chance is small. Also, the new room could not extend to the left; that would leave the dungeon's bounds.)(( (( Leaving the kobolds to continue their trapping, Amelia decides to do some actual work this time around. For her first action, she's going to go and acquire a bunch of chains and other restraints. She'll then set Fire blossom to work fixing them to the walls to help make guests comfortable. Next, she's going to attempt to get a small group of goblins on-side. Bonus points if they're the surprisingly-sexy/cute-in-a-really-wrong-way, sexual deviant kind as seen in Goblin Fortress. We're looking at low-level, up to four of them, and preferably following their nature so that they'll merely need a small bribe or the offer of protection. If successful, the third action will be spent trying to talk them into seeing things her way and leading them to the base to take up residence. After all, we might start getting invaded. Diplomacy check was 28. She'll mention who else resides there from the get-go, and explain that there will safety in numbers, traps for their protection, and a guaranteed supply of necessities. She will also offer, if need be, either a wage of up to 1GP per week or a 10% share of rights to torture captives, with the promise of there eventually being a forge allowing for the creation of such fine things as sapphire-encrusted rose-gold sex toys. With much shouting, Runs sets Mar gash and Hark meet to begin smoothing the new room. After going out to see if he can rouse any more hobgoblins into fighting under his banner, especially if they're war blades, he spends his remaining actions digging out the new room with mountain hammer, carving through the stone with ruthless efficiency.(Natural 1 on STR + half-level check, for 14. I don't think the hobgoblins are impressed.) (Ok, breaking this down into quantified action: Amelia(1)/Fire blossom: Refurbish rooms. Kobolds: Traps, success, Amelia (2/3): Recruit, using Charisma/Diplomacy... first roll is poor, second roll is excellent. Runs(1/2)/Hobgoblins: Building, Runs(3): Recruit: Only a complete failure because it was a Nat 1; a 14's enough to recruit at least 1 CR1 grunt. I'm also not going to update the map because that takes work...) A long day of hard labor brings the completion of the portcullis trap; a truly spectacular trap, too, I might add, being nearly undetectable. (Critical success on trap making; extra DC to Spot/Search.) The majority of the room is clear of rock, leaving only a few yards more, and the refurbishing. While Runs did nothing to impress the local tribe, Amelia managed to attract a few goblins to their cause. Three inexperienced soldiers have signed up, mismatched leather armor, and bone-tipped spears at the ready.(Three 2nd level warrior goblins, at your disposal. I think the only place left with enough space for them is the first room, or the hallway.) No intruders have entered into your domain today. What are your plans for the fourth day? (They can take the hallway for now, until we empty out the bigger cavern.) Lady Fire blossom is going to be put on guard duty now, keeping an eye out for trouble so that she can curb-stomp any intruders. I'll place her at the actual entrance, for this. The kobolds get to keep digging away, working on their epic trap. I forget, are we able to dig out the area to the North? As in, the area to the right of the first room and "above" the corridor? If so, the goblins are going to be put to work carving out a section there, big enough to make a furnace. If not, I guess it gets dug out "wherever it'll fit". Atelia is going to spend 1 action planning out the area for the furnace (see above). Another action will be spent doing some engraving - carving images into walls just to help the place look nicer. Her third action will be to head out and attempt to kidnap a young lady (luring her back via spells and deceit is the preferred method... or mind control really), bringing her back, so the group can all have some fun. It's important to reward the minions after all, and remind people she's evil. After spending a few hours alongside the two hobgoblins digging out the new room, Runs marches off to the local hobgoblin tribe, and demands satisfaction from the war leader who insulted him yesterday. After bickering over the terms of the duel for a while, the unfortunate hobgoblin is promptly seized by the neck, and driven headfirst through an oak tree. Krunsh returns triumphantly with as many promising young hobgoblins as he can rouse to join him, unless space limitations become an issue -- the new room should work nicely for an impromptu barracks until they can find larger minions to house there.(Hobgoblins: dig/refurbish. Runs action 1: dig/refurbish. Runs action 2: recruit with Strength, rolled 19 total. Runs action 3, recruit with Strength, rolled a natural 20 for 33 total. Hobbs better listen up this time.) (Breaking down actions: Kobolds work on trap, Fire blossom on guard duty (Note, this means that she can be deployed at any time, if there's an invader, and is not bound to any one room.) Yes, the room may be expanded to the top of the image, but no higher, because that's where theprogramdiggable terrain ends. So, max height of 4, max width of 9... how big did you want, and where did you want the entrance? The kidnapping will be Raiding, so I'll roll for that: No progress, and no success. Success remains at 10%.) Krunsh: Work on the room finishes, with all that labor, and several Hobs are recruited... basically, enough for whatever quantity you can fit, now, of 1-3rd level soldiers. Remember, each one takes 4 tiles of space, being medium.) Hard work is its own reward, as the room to the south is completed... just in time, too, for a small contingent of hobgoblin soldier have been convinced to join. Amelia's efforts at kidnapping young ladies prove fruitless, though... but it seems fortune may smile on them, after all. While the kobolds fail to complete the complex trap, all stands ready, as an intruder finds their way into your lair...(So, to recap: The kobolds inhabit the first room, the original Hobs inhabit the second, Fire blossom normally inhabits the third, but is on guard duty (and will appear in the first), the goblins inhabit the hallway, and the new recruits (and, presumably, our Lord and Lady) inhabit the newly-completed final room. A new thread will branch off, now, to handle the intruder. We'll return to that, after they've potentially killed some of your minions. Unlikely, but possible.)(Yeah, the shaded area looks about perfect. And a fight! Exciting! Let's teach that intruder a lesson, Kay ha ha! Ooh, violence. I almost hope the poor hero(es) makes it to the final room for some White Raven love. The kobolds would probably be best served if they stay in the barrels. Well, that day was exciting! I think Amelia might spend one action on this next day playing with the captive. This will be played out in that other thread, seeing as that's where it's heading, anyway. Runs is more than welcome to also do this - there's plenty to share. Fire blossom is going to guard again, because that was a huge success. The kobolds get to keep working on the trap, with the promise of something easier once it's finished. The goblins will still be working on the upper room - the plan is that once it's carved out, a furnace should be built at the end, and then workbenches can be placed there. Atelia then has two other actions: The first is to gather some information on the local area - maps and the like - to find out what kind of wildlife and resources are available. This will be useful later on. The final action is, surprise, another attempt at a small raid. After a very amusing morning, Runs heads out into the countryside looking for people and places to take valuable things from. He brings the hobgoblins to help him carry the loot, because even though he can probably lift as much as all of them together, he's certainly not about to do all the hard work himself.(Action 1: play with captive. Actions 2 and 3: raid for glorious treasure, bringing along all nine hobgoblins -- the two war blades, the marshal, and six warriors. Rolls are 16 and 30, not including whatever you add for the nine flunkies.) (Okay! Dice rolls! Kobolds: Success! The trap is complete! Fireblossom: Guard Goblins: Digging, they make some small progress on the room. Atelia: Play/Gather Info (Auto-boost to a later, appropriate check)/Raid: Successful raid (+%), though nothing but ordinary treasure is acquired. Krunsh+Hobs: Major raid, hauling in a variety of gold and gems and spoils of war, but nothing Loot-worthy. Remember, though, successes are cumulative; next attempt will be closer to 40% chance of Loot.) A glorious day of raiding the countryside! As you work, you spread terror across the land; soon, word of your deeds will spread, and the forces of Justice will come knocking... but they are but mere trifles, simple obstacles in our way. No intruders, today. Plans for the sixth day? Okay... For the next day, the goblins are to continue digging away. The kobolds get to do guard duty this time, and the one with "Create Trap" as a (Sp) will cast it near the entrance just as one more defense. I'm aware that they're at the entrance normally, but there's nothing stopping people from tunneling in from above or below, or using Scrapie tactics. Lady Fire blossom will accompany Amelia on a raid (seeing as the previous one resulted in various goods being brought back), this time trying to abduct a young lady or two to join Sam (though not to be tortured as cruelly). That also accounts for 1 action of Amelia. She will then spend a second action helping the goblins dig, and a third one putting a fake keyhole in the door - you can't actually unlock the door through this keyhole, but for those who like picking locks, it will waste their time. Also, a small gap will be provided for a lock lurker in the future, or a clever "stabs you with poison when you try to pick it" trap. Rolling for the "raid": Fire blossom will aid Amelia, presumably with a 1/2 level + STR check (11+9 = 20), and Amelia is using her magic, so I guess it's 1/2 level + Int for her (4+9 = 13, plus whatever from the assistance). Actions:Free action: Party, hand out choice pieces of loot to any hobgoblins who distinguished themselves during the raid. Krunsh, action 1: Plan a hallway-and-room. It starts from the left side of the large room, fourth square from the top, and will lead up to a nice 3x4 room which is designed to look like a secure treasure vault. Krunsh, actions 2 and 3: Dig. Margash and Hark meet: Guard duty. Hobgoblin warriors: Dig/furnish. Hobgoblin marshal: Shout at digging hobgoblins. I'm thinking we should expand further soon, in order to get more room for large and tough minions. It'd be good to have tougher thugs if someone withfireballshows up. (Amelia: Forge room is finished, and needs to be furnished. Raid: Luck is not with you, I swear. Your extra work on the door is a success, though. Krunsh: The room is planned, and mostly completed. It will be finished and furnishable tomorrow. I'm not including the picture because not much changed, except adding Runs's new vault, and changing the tile colors for the forge.) The dungeon expands wonderfully, m'lords, and the great wealth you acquire is spectacular. If I might be so bold as to suggest, but, have you come up with any ideas for truly devious schemes, yet? (Don't forget the Plotting option, which gives a chance to come up with a truly villainous scheme.)You're raiding, while it has drawn some attention, has not led anyone else back to your lair, yet. Day seven? (And, on a side note, I'm going to start recruiting people for 'heroes'. *grin*) (IOC: Ooh, new toys! ’D And thanks, I forgot about the Plotting option)Still mixing things up to prevent boredom, Amelia this time has the goblins go on guard duty, and gets Fire blossom to start fitting the forge with the necessary things. One kobold will have the job of trapping the door (whether by a spring-loaded poisoned needle, or finding and moving a lock-lurker). The rest get to go out in search of some rideable creatures - dire ferrets, ideally, as they seem to have that bond that could result in them not being eaten. Atelia will in fact spend one action helping them with this - mostly because she can protect them, not out of kindness but out of convenience. Her next two actions will be "Plotting Evil Schemes" and "Planning to dig up a bit, for a look-out with arrow slits". That's assuming we have the ability to dig up. If we're as high as it gets, then building a small tower would be the plan.---"Hmm... what if we built a wall around a city, making it good and sealed, then got someone in there, digging down until they hit the water level, flooding the city? No, they'd never let a wall be built around them..." Actions:Runs, action 1: Plot evil schemes (which attributes are usable with that, again?) Krunsh, actions 2 and 3: Recruit. Looking for the cleverest and most trap/engineering-skilled kobolds available -- quality over quantity, since we have plenty of manual labor available and need the best work possible for our lair. Rolls are 31 and (natural 20) 33! Margash and Hark meet: Guard duty. Hobgoblin warriors: Dig/furnish. Hobgoblin marshal: Shout at digging hobgoblins.---"Well, perhaps there's a city built in a valley somewhere. But...well, walls are common enough for defense. Suppose you beguiled some city's chief engineer, convince him that waterproofing their gates is a good idea. If they have no powerful mages, all we'd need then is some way to keep the gates locked long enough to fill the place..." (Okay! A few things: Plotting is an Int or Wis check, based on whichever's higher. Recruiting can only be done by the Lord (There are plenty of Lord only activities, which is why I gave them 3), though Amelia joining them does qualify, just for future reference. As far as digging upward, yes it's *possible*, but I'd rather keep everything 2D, or have completely distinct lower floors, simply because of limitations on the mapping program. So: Kobold#1: Trap failure. Kobold#2-4+Amelia: Recruit Dire Weasels. Rolled a 2. Atelia: Plotting; a rudimentary plan slips your mind before it can form. Progress, but no success. Fireblossom: The forge is finished and assembled, ready for work. Krunsh: Plotting; You got nothing'Runs: Recruit; Glorious success; rather than acquire multiple minions, your work leads you to track down Gum tax, the legendary Kobold Trap master (4th level expert, 2nd level Trap master, a unique PRC.) He has a Craft: Trap making modifier of 19, plus his MW tools, as well as other perks, like Trap sense, Trap finding, a very high Disable Device. Additionally, he can craft up to two traps in an action, though these are one-time use only, and cannot be reset. He's also a fierce combatant, thanks to other abilities. Hobgoblins: The room is finished, and furnished with fake treasures.) A marvelous day, m'lords, with great successes all around. Your rooms have been completed, although the largest remains unfurnished. Your army grows steadily, and your notoriety expands as well. Soon, all will know your names, and tremble. The eighth day looms ahead.(Actions:Gum tax: Begin work on the "vault." Ideally, when triggered, the vault should slam shut and be much harder to get out of than it was to get into; it should trigger late enough that multiple people might have entered, but not so late that the victims might notice that thecaketreasure is a lie before springing it. Gum tax may use his best judgment as to how to set up the trigger. The mechanism that locks victims into the vault is the first priority; he can work on traps that actually hurt people inside later. Hobgoblin marshal and warriors: Do as Gum tax says, up to (but not including) inflicting physical harm on themselves or other dungeon residents. Krunsh, action 1: Plot evil schemes. Krunsh, action 2: Plan a hallway leading from the lower part of the left edge of the large room, curving from left to down in another slightly winding pattern. (The hallway's endpoint should be further down than the current lowermost point of the large room.) Krunsh, action 3: Dig with mountain hammer. Margash and Hark meet: Dig with mountain hammer. (Okay, I'll keep that in mind. I suppose that prevents minions running off to an early grave, as well as exponential growth)This time, all the kobolds are put to work assembling the trap in the door. With their combined brainpower they make a halfwit, but still, many little claws that are good with traps should hopefully get something done. One goblin, LIMSI, now has the job of making some basic metal goods in the forge - trap components, chains and iron bars, even just smelting metal from ore, whatever. This is mostly just to keep it in use and make her happy. Once she's more experienced we'll see about more interesting things. The other two can start digging, making a 15x15' room to the East of the big hall. With a 5' pit in the middle! Amelia spends an action planning this, of course. This is going to be a ridiculous "Leave heroes to die/escape" room. Atelia spends an action planning, again. 14 + 5 Int + 3 (1/2 level) = 22." Oh, here's an idea, maybe we should..." Finally, she takes Fire blossom for immoral support in an attempt to go and scout out some more assistance. The mounts can wait, this time she's out for a stronger individual or pair - refits (advanced or with class levels to toughen them up a bit), a particularly large serpent, a young dragon, something along those lines. Fireblossom helping: 12 + 5 = 17Atelia: 17 + 2 CIA + 3 (1/2 level) = 22 before any bonus from Fire blossom or "You're my friend!" spells. Obviously, the way she speaks to them and the offers made will depend on what she finds and what it wants. She's willing to offer a wage, or shares in treasure and looting rights, or shares in "playtime" with captives, as well as offering the benefits of safety in numbers, help in construction of research facilities or whatever. Quite possibly, Fire blossom spends a lot of time draped over her, sliding hands in distracting places, and purring, only to mention at some point "Oh, and we're very friendly. Joining us opens many opportunities to have a very pleasant time." (Ok, this is going to be a fun one... Gumtax&Co.: A particularly devilish combination of traps is planned out, and, while it'll take him several days to finish everything, he firmly believes that, with your resources, he can easily turn this room into a death trap anyone could be proud of. He begins with a complicated series of pressure sensors, rigged to both doors, that creates a near inescapable prison; neither door can be opened from the inside, though they are only lightly locked from the outside. As soon as one being working on the inner door, the outer one closes and locks. And the final room... plenty of fun. He manages to establish the rudimentary basics of this trap, in the first day, little more than getting the doors in place, but it is only the beginning. Plotting: Brilliant schemes, but nothing really feasible or useful, by themselves. The hallway is planned and cleared, but unfinished. Two actions is all it'll take to finish. Kobolds: A successful poison-needle trap is created. Plimsi: Adds a slight bonus to all crafting checks for the next couple of days. Goblins: A little progress made clearing the room. Plotting: It feels like... almost an idea, but not quite there, yet. Recruiting: A majority of the day is spent recruiting, until a particularly lecherous imp tracks them down. He eagerly pounces on their offer, with requests to bury himself between their bosoms, as part of his contract. (He has 3 levels of rogue, as well as base imp.))A profitable day of commanding the dungeon, m'lords, but... what's this? It seems we have a visitor... Data spends the day decomposing, and the other kobolds hold a day of mourning for their lost friend and comrade. Both Fire blossom and the Imp will be on guard duty today, patrolling the corridors and trying to stop a repeat of the previous day. Plimsi will start blending gold and copper (on a 3:1 ratio) to make some rose gold bars. In theory, it's not as valuable as gold, due to the copper. In practice, they don't intend on spending this anyway, just making lovely purple-gold items. This will be used as treasure to entice thieves, later, or for decorating things, as well as making clockwork vibrators of course. The other goblins will continue working on the room with the pit. They really want an impressive "Room of Uncertain Doom" now. Atelia has her three actions:-Build a simple fence to wall off a small part of the hall.-try to find suitable creatures to serve as mounts for the kobolds and goblins. Dire Weasels are preferable, but Giant Spiders/Lizards could also work nicely. This is what that fence is for. Her check: 14 + 8 = 22, maybe more if her earlier "looking over maps" gave useful information.-"Decorate" a tile in front of the pit trap so that it looks like it is trapped. Make it fairly large, so that people walking in think "Ah, a trap!" and run up to jump over it, falling into the actual trap as they do so. Actions:Gum tax: Continue working on the vault. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Obey Gum tax. Margash and Hark meet: Finish new hallway. Krunsh, action 1: Plot (INT+half level roll is 11). Krunsh, action 2: Recruit a tendrils, if it's possible to get one to do what we want (since their kind of dumb). Ideally I'd like to have it disguised as a shrubbery outside, ready to eat intruders who realize they're in over their heads and try to flee the dungeon. Roll is 19. Krunsh, action 3: Play with new captive. (Kobolds: Passim/Fire blossom: Guard Goblins: Digging, about halfway excavated. Built fence, amid some hobgoblin grumbling as they're displaced into the new hallway. Successfully recruit a single Dire Weasel, in the new, fenced in area. Raised Spot DC for pit trap. Gumtax/Hobgoblins: Make incredible progress on the trap. Hallway completed. Plot: Nothing. You find one, but it is not nearly impressed enough by your tiny little lair. (Even planted outside, it'd still need at least 16 free, contiguous squares, which you currently lack.)) A day of hard labor, mourning, and gloating. Your lair is developing nicely, although the rooms are feeling rather crowded. Your plans for the tenth day? LIMSI starts to use the rose gold she crafted, starting to make an item of fabulous value, a great treasure for heroes to want to steal. When it's constructed, word is even going to go out regarding how fantastic it is, to lure people in to their doom. First imagining a beautiful sparkly dildo, she then gets an even better idea, and starts to work on a simple clockwork mechanism, using some of the theory in trap-making*. She only gets a 13. I imagine this will take a few days. The other goblins now team up with the kobolds, hurrying to clear out the room in progress to have a little more breathing room. Granted, it won't be able to be used as a bedroom once the pit is filled with acid, but that can wait. So that's six on the room. The weasel spends 23 hours sleeping and 1 hour fighting. It will fight its food with great ferocity, even though tomatoes have never been known to fight back. Again, Lady Fire blossom and Torah the Impure will patrol the hallways and rooms for foes. Atelia has her three actions, so:1. Plot evil schemes. 10 + 8 = 18"We really do need to actually do something vile in order to make ourselves known. Maybe... kidnap some people, butcher them and then sell their cooked flesh back to the town they came from, as low quality stew-meat?"2. Plot out another large barracks below the trap room, so that the current residents will have a little more breathing room once they have time to dig it out.3. Find some brown mold to line the bottom of the pit trap with - thus adding nonlethal cold damage to the mix. I think that's a CR 1 trap, not very scary. But chiseling away at hit points can be useful.*The parts that don't involve spikes shooting out. Actions:Gum tax: Continue working on the vault. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Obey Gum tax. Krunsh, action 1: Plan out a room off the new hallway. It'll be a huge one, like 6 squares high by 9-10 squares long (unless that would interfere with Amelia's new barracks)Runs, action 2: Dig the new room with mountain hammerKrunsh, action 3: Plot evil schemes (roll is 24)Mar gash and Hark meet: Dig the new room with mountain hammer"Low-quality? Amelia, I thought you were a champion of cookery! I don't see how we could produce poor results with a meat as succulent as human." Runs shrugs. "If there's one thing I've learned from my mother's people, it's that wholesale destruction makes a point well. But if we're to annihilate some human town, we should really do it with a bit of style. Overrun them with something...different. Do you know any spells that could convince rats to attack a town full of humans? ... Would they still work if the rats were on fire?" (Goblin crafting: Some minor progress is made. Room is finished. Plotting: An idea is formed! Trap added. Vault: Poison gas trap added. Room begun. Plot success)Now that you have established your lair, it is time to make a name for yourselves in the region. In a nearby city, there stands a guild of paladins. Within their sacred halls, their leader is nigh untouchable, and has thwarted many lesser villains. However, if she can be drawn out, she will be vulnerable. First, you will need to draw their attention. For this, you have two choices: Raze a nearby village, or break into the guild hall and steal the shield of their founder, Sir Valarie. Either of these is likely to draw their attention to you, in force; the advantage of the latter is that you have the trophy of the shield, though it is a more difficult task. Once you have accomplished this, you'll need to defend your lair against intrusions by the holy warriors, bent on rooting you out. Survive enough, and their leader will descend into the dungeon herself. Capture and break her, or kill her, and send a message to the world, that you are not to be trifled with. New option: Raid. Raids work similar to looting, but there's a risk any minions brought with can be killed off. However, they have a much higher chance of success New option: Raze. Razing a nearby village grants few actual benefits, but spreads word of your wickedness like wildfire, and draws heroes like flies to honey. Be careful, though; too much can be quite dangerous, if you try to portray yourself as more dangerous than you really are. This is a no-risk event, though it requires a Lord, and at least three minions. Excellent! Whatever we choose to do, we should probably team up for it, to make a strong impact on them - and to minimize wasted minions. Plimsi: keep crafting! As she works on this, it slowly consumes her mind, having a maddening effect on her. It calls out for completion, trustee built. 15 + 5 = 20 for this day. The other goblins, and the kobolds, start work clearing out the other room so that there is more space for everyone. After all, once that is complete the death room can be implemented. That's 5 small minions mining away, although three are kobolds for what it's worth. The Dire Weasel continues to do the usual "sleep 23 hours, fight 1 hour" pattern that they're all known for. Fireblossom and Torah continue to guard the place. Atelia:1 action is spent engraving the walls of the "room of death", to add a proper feeling of fear.1 action is spent installing an iron door to make escape a bit harder, along with chained manacles from the ceiling. The final action is spent going on radio Runs agrees to go along, or simply razing a small town to the ground otherwise. Actions:Gum tax: Continue working on the vault. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Obey Gum tax. Krunsh, actions 1 and 2: Dig new room with mountain hammer. Krunsh, action 3: Join Amelia to Raid (same roll as for looting?) Margash and Hark meet: Dig new room with mountain hammer, or start smoothing and furnishing if done. It'd be ideal to get some heavier hitters on guard duty before we piss off a whole guild full of paladins. (Stealing the shield sounds tough, but maybe we can work something out, especially if we can scout out their typical security...) (LIMSI continues to work, making progress. Rooms expand. The vault continues to gain in elaborateness. The raid: A daring raid; Amelia sweet-talking their way in, while under the guise of illusions. Numerous charm, confusion, and illusion spells later, as well as some face smashing when Will saves are passed, Runs manages to get a hold of the shield, and the two escape; worn, nearly exhausted, but the shield is yours. It has been placed in the vault, for now.) Glorious success, masters! You've truly outdone yourselves. Now, your best plan would be to hold onto that shield tightly, because the paladins are going to make every effort to retrieve it. It doesn't seem they followed you home, however, but expect them soon.(Also, it seems I've hit the lower map limit, and it won't expand much beyond to the right, either... looks like we may be adding a second map piece, before too long.)(( We're number one! We're number one! Plimsi: keep working at the legendary device! THE TWENTY OF NATURALITY SPEAKERS: 25Other goblins, and kobolds: dig dig digFerretWeasel: chases its tail for quite some time, then has a very long napTorvax and Fire Blossom: keep guarding, because we've just pissed the paladins Ofelia:-Build a 3-metre tall "totem pole" of bones to place outside, on one side of the door. Primarily it is to look spooky and warn people away. However...-Pay someone 600GP (320 for the spell, 200 for components, 80 to make it an even hundred) to cast Create Undead to make a Bone spur (MMV, CR 3, 4HD). It looks incredibly similar to the totem pole, and as a creature of animal intelligence, it gets to sit on the other side of the door and attack people who get too close.-Place a couple of flasks of alchemist fire into "the pit trap". The crash landing should hurt, and also break the flasks, setting the person on fire. The fire will also make the mold grow, causing freezing damage. Pinging intruders with a heavy blow right at the start should help all further battles become easier. CEL-e-brategoodevil times, COME ON! Actions:Gum tax: Continue working on the vault. He is instructed to avoid combat unless either the dungeon bosses are in genuine danger or he is absolutely dead certain he can pick someone off safely. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Obey Gum tax, except for one who gets sent to go find enough lead to hide the shield (and to obey Gum tax when he gets back with it). Krunsh, actions 1, 2, 3: Dig the ever-loving hell out of the new room, courtesy of mountain hammer. Also, lots of shouting. Margash and Hark meet: Guard duty, because we don't want these two isolated in room 2 when the hammer comes down. Instructed to ready leading the attack instead of stone bones. (LIMSI succeeds on producing... something. The problem is, it's far from being a fabulous treasure, and instead, seems to apply some advanced trap making principles. It seems mostly adept at being a particularly good automatic crossbow bolt launcher. Bonespur recruited, 'occupies' the first room. Trap expanded. Your actions apply as written. =P)The day passes mostly uneventfully, except for the dire weasel escaping its pen for a few minutes. It was quickly lured back, with the promise of food. However, it seems we have a new intruder... (These are occurring far more often, IRL, than I'd originally hoped for. =P) On this next day, now that the paladin has been utterly trounced, there are fewer people to designate tasks to. Remaining kobold, and all goblins: keep digging. Ferret: sneak around, pouncing on things and biting the captive's toes. Torvax: guardFireblossom: guardAtelia:1. Get the pit in the death-room filled with acid of some description2. Seeing as kobolds have turned "dying" into an art form, find more goblins to recruit, possibly higher level ones or a goblin boss (12+8 = 20)3. Set a razor blade around the door handle of the entrance, to injure people who aren't careful when they open the door. Actions:Gum tax: Continue working on the vault. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Marshal and three warriors obey Gum tax (how many hands can he really use all at once in that room, anyway?). Three warriors help Runs dig/furnish. Krunsh, free action: Delicious paladin stew. Krunsh, actions 1, 2, 3: Dig dig dig. Margash and Hark meet: Guard. Still readying leading the attack. (Amelia's room expands. Runs's is nearly finished. Atelia recruits a pair of CR 3 goblins. Gumtax finally finishes the deathtrap of doom. "By the time they realize it's a trap, they're already dead.") No intruders today. Actions:Gum tax: Make two one-shot traps near the front entrance. He's encouraged to get creative, but the general idea is to place traps that will catch people who think they're evading the pit trap -- so pressure plates on the tiles surrounding it, or tripwires over the pit to catch jumpers, are examples of what Runs is looking for. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Two warriors help Gum tax set up his traps. Marshal and the other four warriors dig/smooth/furnish with Runs. Krunsh, actions 1, 2, 3: Dig, smooth, furnish. I don't estimate that the room will be totally finished this turn, but if it is and Runs still has an action left, let me know (he'll probably recruit). Margash and Hark meet: Guard. Still readying leading the attack. All the goblins, and the one kobold, keep working away, digging in an effort to get the room cleared out so that there is plenty of space for everyone. Torvax continues to guard, whereas Fire blossom works in the forge, her body not affected by the heat, and makes a collection of bolts for the repeating crossbow. She muses on the idea of getting someone with the skill to make small glass compartments containing acid, to burst open inside the target, and then casting Fire Trap on those compartments, but knows she hasn't the skill. Weasel: sleep for 23 hours and fight for 1 hour. Atelia decides to add a small bell outside the dungeon, to encourage a process where someone who needs entrance rings the bell and is allowed in by others, so that they can lock the door without needing to worry about people letting themselves in. She also adds an actual lock to the door (so now there are two keyholes, one of them real, the other trapped), which takes a couple of turns due to the complexity. (The front room is now a series of traps they would make Rube Goldberg proud. It is getting close to dangerous for even your minions to enter or leave. (I.e.; trap limit reached for the first room. Enough already.) A large number of bolts are crafted. Krunsh's room is completely finished (direct what props you'd like in there.) Amelia's room is 5/8 done.) No intruders today. As before, the goblins continue to dig, with the promise of getting other tasks afterward. Actually, Sindhi does some alchemy, making flasks of acid/fire, and also thinking about the possibility of adding small acid capsules to the crossbow bolts. Thimble spends 12 seconds away from her job, casting Fire Tarpon two of the flasks. Torvax and Fire blossom both guard the place, as usual. The surviving kobold starts trying to train the weasel, helping to teach it to be a rideable mount, and to attack and maim things on command. The weasel, for its part, might or might not pay attention, and might in fact just race around the place. Atelia:-Constructs an iron cage to suspend above the acid pit. It's not very strong, so it will dissolve the first time it's used, and it's not even that hard to escape. There are rules to follow, being a villain.-Go on a raid to cause trouble in a small town, generally spreading fear and confusion. Also, either bring back loot or a girl to torment. (16+8 = 24)-Evil plotting (9+8 = 17) (There is no "enough." The new room should have a few beds near the east end, but mostly...whatever a room meant to keep large monsters would have. Beds of straw, piles of bones?) Actions:Gum tax: Set up a couple of temporary traps at and around the end of the hallway connecting Fire blossom's room to the old "barracks." Dart fusillades are always a favorite, although we should avoid poison gas so close to the hobgoblins. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Help Gum tax to the extent that he needs manpower. Anyone he doesn't need is directed to help dig Amelia's new room. Krunsh, action 1: Find that tendrils again and show it what a nice dungeon we've got. Roll is 16. Krunsh, action 2: Try that again without failing. Roll is 29. Krunsh, action 3: Plot and scheme. Roll is 17. Margash and Hark meet: Guard. Still readying leading the attack. (I also wish you'd stop putting things outside. I don't have a map for 'outside'. Immediately at the front door, okay, I'd just prefer if you treated the front room as the first room. That said... Room is now 3/4 complete.4 each acid flasks and alchemist's fire are completed. The kobold attempts to empathize with the dire weasel. It loses one of its fingers for the trouble, though the weasel seems a little friendlier towards it. Or maybe it sees it as food. Cage in place. Replacing both evil plotting with raiding, since it doesn't make sense to concoct a scheme while one is under way. A simple flame jet trap is built. The tendrils is recruited, but it's highly temperamental. It can only be assigned to guard, and will only be present 50% of the time. In addition, it claims the first two rooms of the dungeon for itself, evicting the kobold and the two original hobgoblins, forcing them deeper into the lair. Three raid attempts: Success on both parts; a piece of loot, and a girl... in the same package. A nobleman's daughter, very attractive, very innocent. Bonus: a minion may take his action to 'play' with her, and gain a morale bonus for several days after. She has a total of ten 'uses' before becoming worthless, though she's still a trophy, and allows for easier recruiting of minions.) A wonderful success, m'lords. Truly spectacular work. And, it seems we have someone knocking at the door...(There's an intruder, but I'm not going to post the thread immediately; I might have someone else playing the intruder, if he gets back to me tomorrow. If not, I'll run it again.) (Note to self: more outdoor things and grapple monsters :D)Fire blossom is on guard duty, because she's good at that, and enjoys it too. Torvax is planting stakes outside. They're easy to see, the idea is that people will need to slow down a little and advance in small numbers, so that entire armies can't just barge in all at once. As before, the kobold tries to train the weasel, and the weasel spends time maybe being trained." So, don't bite my finger off again, Sebastian! That was very bad, and my finger will never grow back. So don't bite, Sebastian."" Blah blah blah blah SEBASTIAN, MY NAME, THAT'S ME I'M BEING PRAISED!!! Blah blah blah SEBASTIAN, ME AGAIN!" As before, the goblins continue to dig, all of them this time. Thimble spends 12 seconds away from her job, casting Fire Trap on two of the flasks (again). Yes, I know it's meant to be hit by a flask, a firetrap and sneak attack all at the same time. But they're mostly for the little buggers to use anyway, so it'll serve the attacker right for picking on pathetic goblins. Atelia:-Pays someone to supply the low level spell to make a magic trap, although the actual trap making part will wait until a trapper is free. It will be theDisrobespell that is triggered when a rune is stepped on, in the entrance to Fire blossom's room. Yes, I think it's hilarious that the minions will likely forget to sidestep half the time and need to put their clothes back on. But when adventurers barge in, well, they have armor and stuff that they don't want falling off.-Go out recruiting for an awesomely hilarious minion, I guarantee you'll laugh: a Cloaked (preferably advanced with Warlock levels, or a Cloaked Lord (CR 7) from Monsters of Fern). The idea is that it will hang on a hatstand and radiate a magic aura (with a (Sp)) while making a disguise check to look like a magic cloak. Idiot adventurer puts it on, hilarity ensues.-Also try to get someone to make animated items of clothing, again so they can lie still and emit magic auras, so adventurers think "Sweet, we just found a chest full of magic gear! Hey, I'll just put these pants o-OH PEL OR IT'S BITING MY KNEECAPS!" Bonus points for animated knickers/thongs. Actions:Gum tax: Place two temporary traps around the hallway connecting the "barracks" to the fake vault. As excessively cruel as possible, of course. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Obey the will of Gum tax. Krunsh, action 1: Recruit a burette. Roll is 27. Krunsh, action 2: Plot evil schemes. Roll is 18. Krunsh, action 3: Recruit a vine spawn. Roll is 29. (Vine spawns are CR 7 critters in MM5. And I don't care what you say, MORE GIANT PLANTS! Margash and Hark meet: Guard. Still readying leading the attack. (All recruiting rolls fail, due to the CR limits on monsters (Burette/vine spawn is a 7, max is 6. And MM4/5 get an auto +1CR, due to being scaled harder.) and a botched roll for the cloaked. Stakes are planted menacingly. The weasel seems mostly disinterested, though progress is made towards taming it. The room is excavated, and needs to be finished. Gumtax sets up two hives of live, flesh-eating insects to drop on whomever triggers those traps. Progress is made towards a new evil plot, though no new ones can be acquired while the current is underway.) It seems your efforts have frightened away the enemy, for now, but rumors of your evil are beginning to spread... expect a strong force, next time. The goblins who did most of the work each spend an action playing with the noble, whipping her, riding her around like a horse, and making her lick them. They greatly enjoy breaking her in, as well as stealing all of her clothes. One now has a pair of knickers for a "headband of not-so-much intellect". Sindrii, on the other hand, tries to mix up a batch of suspicious white powder (dream mist, Book of Ugly Things and Kinky Sex pg 43). She uses her kit, of course, and makes sure not to inhale any. Once it's made, she places it in a small box or jar, labelled "Let's do drugs!" with a happy looking human drawn on. 13+10 = 23, with a DC of 20. So unless you want to add any particular penalties, she successfully makes a dose. Kobold and dire weasel continue on their quest towards friendship. Hilarity may ensue. Torvax makes a pest of himself, randomly groping people and trying to bury his face in bosoms. Nominally, he's guarding, but with a 50% chance of not rocking up. Bloody imps, I tell you. Fireblossom goes along with Amelia for what she's doing, even though they really are likely to be under attack soon. She tries to help persuade the creature if found, showing her breasts if necessary. (more than 10 rolled for Aid Other)Amelia:-furnishes the new room with a few dividing curtains and beds, as a place for people to snooze.-Tries again with the Cloaked (I now know I can't get a Lord, but it could theoretically grow into one later on. And could have up to 2 Warlock levels to be a CR 6, if I do well). So, 18 + 8 + 2 (aid) = 28-Tries to train Sam to do manual work for them, to help with the digging/furnishing and all that. No carrot, just stick. And bombardments of mind affecting effects. Because "The Maiden of Pain" taught us that constantly fucking with someone's brain can cause NO possible side effects, am I right? (Damn the limits! I forgot the CR 6 hard cap remained in play.) The hobgoblins continue slaving away under the direction of Gum tax, while Mar gash and Hark meet patrol. Runs, meanwhile, spends his day showing ogres that he's stronger than they are and looking for a very rare example of a creature that is naturally invisible. Actions:Gum tax: Start working on a big trap in the hallway leading from the old "barracks" to the new, lowermost room. Scythe blades slicing out of the wall at multiple levels would be very nice, as would some good old-fashioned floor spikes (particularly in light of recruitment effort #2). Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Obey Gum tax. Krunsh, action 1: Recruit one or more skull crusher ogres (from MM3). They're CR 5, so if we can find one with a level in something, great. The roll is 24. Krunsh, action 2: Recruit a deranged and evil pixie that has Otto's irresistible dance. (Also CR 5, so if it has a class level in something, that's cool too.) Roll is 25.(Sure, they're "always neutral good," but "always" doesn't literally mean always. It's not like they're subtype or anything.) Krunsh, action 3: What the hell, let's try for another skull crusher ogre. I like those guys. Roll is, oddly, 24 again. Margash and Hark meet: Guard. Still readying leading the attack. (Goblins gain a temporary morale bonus. Dreammist crafted... surprisingly, I don't have the Beef. One of the few I don't have on hand. Swore I had it at one point... It's a good thing the weasel is fed before the kobold trains it, or else you might be out of kobold. Room furnished. Unclassed Cloaked recruited. Where will it be staying? Sam bends to the mind control, though she won't fight/guard/recruit. She's also treated as a level lower than her already meager 3rd level. Complex trap begun; estimated three days, total. Skullcrusher ogres both recruited. Pixie fails. As my DM said before, when said Pixie rogue wanted to go evil to take Assassin levels, "No. Just... no.") A long day of hard recruiting and furnishing. The lair certainly has a gloomy, evil appearance to it... so delightful. Amelia spots a fairly large band, searching for the lair, while out, though they fail to find the entrance... today. (Seeing as the occupants of the first two rooms were displaced by the shrubbery, the Cloaked will reside in the second room, hanging up like an impressive cloak. Also, I never intended for Sam to do anything other than help with menial labor. Or to be a sex-toy for the others, of course. Oh, and I was actually referring to Vile Darkness, not Erotic Fantasy. Beef is very light and vanilla. Bond mostly goes on about how ugly things are evil and kinky sex is evil. Seriously. DEMONIC NIPPLE RINGS, BECAUSE NIPPLE PIERCINGS SEND YOU TO HELL!) Atelia first plans out another small room - an alchemy chamber. It only needs to be 2x2 or 3x3, and I'm not fussed where it goes, really. Mostly it'll be a drug lab. The space near the top, between the first room and the furnace, perhaps? Accessible from lower down, such as Fire blossom's room? She then plans for a pipeline to be built extending from it, so that fumes are released into the sky instead of the dungeon, and chemical residue can flow to the river or whatever. The kobold keeps working at teaching the weasel, while all the goblins (that's 5!) and Sam start digging out the alchemy room. Fireblossom and Torah guard, looking forward to meeting the wandering band that was missed before. The cloaked... cloaks about (nominally guarding). It might moan out the theme toilsome Murders, causing despair from time to time. For her final action, Amelia keeps making sure there is a minor image on the front door, making it appear the fake, trapped keyhole is the only keyhole. Actions:Gum tax: Keep making the trap. Hobgoblin marshal/warriors: Obey Gum tax. Krunsh, action 1: Recruit a five-headed cryohydra. Roll is 16; it's a CR 6 critter. Krunsh, action 2: Recruit a kobold sorcerer, preferably with good blasting spells. Roll is 31! Krunsh, action 3: Help dig Amelia's new room with mountain hammer. Margash and Hark meet: Guard. Still readying leading the attack. (We are probably approaching the space limit again, even with the new rooms. We had better check after this turn. Besides, I'm guessing it'll make Era very sad :p) (I'll check on space after this, and repost the map again, in the next post, because I can't be asked to do it tonight.)(The room is laid out and 2/3 finished. The kobold has begun winning over the weasel; it now agrees to not eat him, and will tolerate him on its back for a few minutes. Fail on recruiting the hydra, success on the sorcerer. Kobold sort, 4th level. Trap expands. Now getting dangerous to pass through that hallway. If this keep up, I'm going to start rolling checks for each minion, randomly, to see if they get maimed by a trap.) Construction has begun, and a new allay arrives... just in time, too. It seems an entire squadron has come knocking...(Onward to Intruder thread!) Okayama... battle is over, so things continue. Sindrii gets a turn with the noble from before, for her action. The other goblins and Sam are all put to work finishing the room out. Torah continues to guard, while Lady Fire blossom spends time having fun with the captives. The kobold and the dire weasel continue to bond, mostly in the form of small tomatoes, bugs and mice being thrown, with a "Kill and eat!" command. Atelia spends an action with the alchemy kit herself - taking it easy and doing something almost mundane. 10+20 = 30, which means she could have taken the -10 to work twice as fast and made two doses of Dream mist, but that's something you declare beforehand. So presumably she successfully makes a dose of dream mist, which is put in a similar container to the first one, except this is labelled "Toxic: do not consume" and shows the skull and crossbones. She then spends an action trying to find another cloaked to replace the dead one, preferably one advanced with Warlock levels. She makes no mention of the fact that they used to have another one, but does take the shield to prove how good they all are. 18+8 = 26Not wanting to overdo it with cramming people in (there were casualties, but Runs might want to do some recruiting as well), she goes back to the lab, cooking up some mushroom powder. It occurs to me that, with a +20 bonus (thanks to the lab), I can't actually fail, so I won't waste time rolling and will instead waste time typing this sentence out, which come to think of it is actually taking longer than it would to just roll a die, add twenty and type that up. Runs action 1: Try to recruit a juvenile fang dragon. (Yep, that's CR 6.) Roll is 26. Krunsh action 2: Try to recruit a replacement skull crusher ogre -- those guys worked out pretty well, overall. Roll is 20. Krunsh action 3: Recruit a kobold highly skilled in ranged attacks. Roll is 25. I'm not too picky on precise class arrangement, but stealth skills would be a definite plus. Surviving skull crusher ogre: Help Gum tax with the heavy lifting. Gumtax: If we need to take action to reset all the traps (since the heroes broke most of them), he does that. Otherwise, he...okay, I don't know. We have so many traps that you'll probably be mad if I try to add another one. I guess he goes to check on the pit trap behind the front door, to see if he can improve on the other kobolds' work and make it less obvious. (The temporary traps he set to catch people he evades it should still be there, since we forgot about them last time, correct?) (Recruitment: Cloaked and Ogre acquired, without class levels. The dragon, being a dragon, demands a significant amount of space; twice what a normal creature of its size would require (18 squares in total) If you accept, he joins, though he requires at least one piece of Loot in his lair (either the shield or the noble girl) Kobold acquired, with 2 levels of Scout. Gumtax and the ogre reset the permanent traps, and, yeah, we can leave the ones on the front door untouched. All other temp traps are gone. The weasel is sufficiently tame for that one kobold to ride it, though it's still aggressive to anyone else. The alchemy items are crafted.) A terrible loss we have suffered, indeed, though it was a truly glorious victory, m'lords. Soon, we will have the leader of their Order bowing before us, broken and sundered.(Grace period active; no invasion.) Okay, so for this next turn:The Cloaked is on guard duty, doing the same thing that the previous one was. The Goblins continue to dig, if they need to - otherwise they'll furnish the drug lab. Sam can take a break. Torvax... uses the forge to craft an obscene sculpture. It's going to go outside the front door and is not a trap or anything. It's just an obscene sculpture. 20+11 = 31. Hahaha oh wow, this is possibly a masterpiece. Fireblossom will assist Amelia with her recruitment. 11+whatever = enough for the Aid Other bonus. Atelia first sets up a number of illusions - the point of this is to slow down any attempts to find them, extending their grace period, perhaps. She then goes in search of a spell caster - an even wizard for preference, as I have the perfect character in mind. 15+9+2 = 26. She then makes use of the acid pit and the cage, tormenting the paladin. This is just general torment, not actually dunking him in or anything. A bit of a laugh, the usual. Runs action 1: Recruit a rust monster. Roll is 22. If I can get an advanced rust monster, so much the better. Krunsh action 2: Recruit a wraith. Roll is 20. Krunsh action 3: Plan a new hallway leading from the bottom-center of the currently bottom-most room. It should do a bit of unnecessary winding but end up pretty far to the left (within the dungeon design limits) and a bit downwards. Fangy McFangfang: Occupies the first two rooms. He gets the noble girl. If help is needed digging, and if he can actually be persuaded into doing it, he does that. Ogres: Dig, with a side order of helping Gum tax if lifting is an issue. Gumtax: Plan a trap on the inside entrance of the (currently) bottom-most room. Ideally, something that's hard to bypass when the boss fight is rushing you. I'm thinking something with tripwires that spray acidbehindthe person tripping them, on the assumption that a loner would never have made it so far into the dungeon anyway. Kobold scout: Guard duty, I guess. (Do we have spare alchemist's fire?)(The way I see it, anything that would make a group of players thinks their DM is an asshole = valuable strategy for us.) (The goblins finish excavating the room off of Fire blossom's. Torvax succeeds at his craft. Illusions used to reduce chance of invasion. Your choice of a 3rd level draw, or a 4th level, evil aligned normal elf. Acid pit succeeds. Rust monster success; wraith fails. Undead are harder to recruit without a cleric on your team to keep them in line. New tunnel planned; moved onto second map. Very long and twisty. Persuading the dragon to work succeeds; the two work diligently, though the dragon has trouble with the tight passages. Gumtax begins work on trap. Yes, you may, easily, equip your minion with copious alchemist's fire. And be very afraid; I have knowledge of some of the meanest DM tricks ever. Including one that required the phrase "I disbelieve the air" to defeat.) You have chosen some excellent replacements, m'lords... truly these villains will strike fear into the hearts of anyone. Soon, the world will tremble before you!(Grace period.) Okay... Torvax can guard, as can the new Cloaked and Velvet Smythe goblins can dig, helping excavates usual, Kobold and Ferret bond. The Kobold possibly starts teaching tricks, such as "stay", "go for the eyes, boo!" and "make shadow puppets!" Fireblossom goes around putting bells on every door. Yes, it might be a little annoying, but on the other hand, it acts as a simple warning system for intruders. Atelia plans out a... not exactly a trap, as it's lever operated. More a defense: in the main hallway, where the epic battle was last time, there needs to be a lever-operated weapon that causes a ceiling section to swing down, on a hinge, with spikes. There can be a pulley to re-set it as an out-of-combat action. So, pulling the lever means that everyone in, say, the front row, has to avoid having a hundred kg of spiked stone ceiling smack them in the face. She then makes some more drugs and stores them with the others. The potent stuff from before, no need to roll. Yes, it will be used in a dastardly plan later on. Finally, she goes to see a man about a dog. Specifically, she asks around to find where some might find some acid sharks (as per It's Not Outside) to put in the acid pool. After all, you need acid AND sharks, right? Later on we can work out lasers to put on their heads. Runs action 1: Recruit a cleric. A hobgoblin or kobold would be ideal, as long as their faith allows them to obey all the dungeon lords' commands -- however, any Medium cleric who arrives at less than level 4 will be summarily executed by Runs. (No orcs, though, no matter what level. Runs accepts no orcs other than himself.) Roll is 21. Krunsh action 2: I don't trust that roll to get me a good cleric. Second roll for cleric-less is 26. Krunsh action 3: Help dig the hallway he just planned, with mountain hammer. Rust monster: I can't think how this guy could be made to do any useful work when stone is being tunneled. He'll be in the second room of the dungeon, hiding behind the dragon. Skullcrusher ogres: One ogre helps dig the hallway, the other does heavy lifting and reaching high shelves for Gum tax. Gumtax: Keep building that trap. Fang dragon: Help dig, if he can still fit. Kobold scout: Guard duty. Now equipped with lots of alchemist's fire and acid flasks. (The dragon digs until it runs out of room to move easily; dragons have a thing about squeezing for extended periods, which is all this work would be. The goblins take over, once he's out of the way. Kobold manages to teach the ferret a Trick of your choice. Fireblossom rigs the doors, adding a severe penalty to Move Silently while opening them. Defense planned, though Gum tax will probably have to be the one to work on it. Drugs crafted and... *ponders what an acid shark would be* We'll say standard, medium-sized, CR 1 shark, with Acid immunity and the ability to breathe acid, two of them as a total of CR3 between them. Cleric recruited, level 4 hobgoblin. Dig, dig, dig. Gumtax finishes his trap.) Interesting, a cleric. Perhaps now we can add a few walking corpses to the mix. Nothing like the undead to frighten our enemies, hmm?(Grace period) Right... Velvet Sky: weight-training, keeping herself ready for action. Probably testing submission holds out on one of the various captives. Goblins: crafting time! LIMSI gets 22 to make a sex toy out of rose gold, Kiki gets 8 to make a small stone statue and Shut gets 19 to make some acid. Thimble instead does Perform: Striptease (28!) to get people in good spirits, seeing as combat will eventually happen. Alternatively she can switch to comedy at any time, with the same modifier. Sindhi goes around making the corridors look nicer by engraving images into the walls (Stonemason, take 10: 17)Kobold and Ferret: wandering around the place on patrolFireblossom: probably out setting fire to a town (just a little bit though). "Hahaha and HA!" Lord Cloaking ton: guard (pretend to be a cloak)Torah: that lazy bastard is out groping women in the streets while invisible instead of doing his job. Atelia:1. LET'S MAKE DRUGS! I elect to take 1 and automatically succeed at making a new batch.2. Shop around to get the "Your clothes fall off" trap upgraded to be followed by "Animate Objects"3. Plan out a 10' corridor leading right from the acid room, to a 20x20 room that shall be a torture room. Runs action 1: Recruit a wraith this time. 23. Krunsh actions 2/3: Recruit a kobold with superior mining skills. Rolls 18 and 27. It'd be ideal if Runs can somehow training-montage a kobold into becoming a war blade with mountain hammer, but anything works. Kobold-sized tunnels have great potential. Rust monster: Hanging out with the dragon. Fang dragon: If he can help dig the tunnel Amelia just planned, he does, otherwise he lazes around and makes unreasonable demands, which the rust monster isn't smart enough to follow. Skullcrusher ogres: One keeps digging, the other works for Gum tax. Gumtax: Start building that defense Amelia planned out. Kobold scout: Guard duty. Dreezo: Puts his arcane Marion things. (Guards guard, training people train, crafters craft, diggers dig. Disrobing trap is expanded, cruelly, Runs recruits all the intended creatures; standard wraith, and 2nd level expert kobolds, Skill Focus mining. There is a long, complex tunnel branching off below the door at the bottom; I didn't have both to include it, because it's about 10% finished.)(plans advance, victory is almost assured, m'lords. Be warned, though... the leader of the Order is likely to make their way here before long.(Grace period) Progress, progress! Goblins: the goblins are now digging my room out. That one connected to the acid bath chamber. All 5 of them, that is. Kobold and Ferret: guarding/patrolling. Torvax: adds a sculpture to the front door, so that the handle is a penis. He finds this hilarious, given adventurers are going to have to yank on it (whereas residents can just knock and be let in). 17+9 = 26 (this can basically be a "loafing off" action)Cloaking ton: guarding in his usual manner Lady Fire blossom: tormenting the paladin a bit in the acid shark room. He doesn't get dipped in, just suspended close above it and poked a bit, before eventually going back to wherever he's usually locked up. Acid Sharks: swimming in circles Velvet Sky: chilling, maxing, relaxing all cool, all playing b-ball behind the schoolAtelia:1. Mixing up some more coke in the lab2. Taking liberties with captives3. If the room is now fully carved out, she begins to furnish it with training dummies. These training dummies will be able to be wound-up to swing limbs around awkwardly, and could even have people strapped to them for hilarious results. If the room needs more work, she makes more drugs. We have such a stash here.

Echoes of Evil (Primary Game Thread)|rating:3.0

Supporting the Troops (closed)

Wanted, patriotic model for a new USO calendar being shot soon. Come and support your troops! Looking for healthy gorgeous girls between 18 and 26. If you believe that you fit this description, please bring a resume to Warehouse 14 Mission St. between 11 and 4 on Saturday, the 22nd. Bring a swimsuit. Payment details: 300 per day. Eveleen looked herself over in the mirror and then looked back down at the ad she had seen in the newspaper. $300, just for posing in some USO pictures in a bathing suit. Things had been tough since the war had broken out. Sure, she had some work on the swing shift at the factory, but it never seemed to be enough. She took one last look at herself in the mirror and then pursed her lips a little. She then grabbed her bathing suit, put on her lipstick and headed out the door. Eveleen, or Evie as her friends called her, was more of a classical beauty. She had creamy white skin, bright green eyes and red hair. She had a curvy hourglass figure, full lips and a cute little nose. Furthermore, she had never really thought of herself as a beauty, though she was often told she was, she just hadn’t been raised that way. She reached the address that had been listed in the paper, making it there just 15 minutes before the cut-off time. Furthermore, she hoped they would still look at her, and hoped even more that she would get the job. Furthermore, she checked the seams of her stockings in the reflection of a shop window, and then ran her hands over her pale blue dress, smoothing imaginary wrinkles. Once she made sure her hair and lipstick were in order, she marched to the building, knocked on the door and awaited an answer. The door opened quickly, and Michael cocked his head out. He had long dark hair that hung around him in loose curls. He wore glasses, but his hand reached up when he saw her and slowly drew to reveal sharp olive eyes. Furthermore, he stared for a moment longer than he should have." There she is," He said, his voice betrayed a French accent. Michael opened the door further. He wore an oversize sweater that hung loosely off one shoulder, underneath a tight black shirt. His jeans were a dark blue and looked like they had just been neatly pressed and handed to him. He had boots with buckles on them that clicked as he walked." Come in... come in," He left the door open for her and walked further into the room. It was a large room, but the four-poster bed centered in the middle made it feel cramped inside. Pink and purple silk came down in drapes all around the bed. The sheets were a red satin. The air was cool and smelled like strawberries. Lights were everywhere, pointing directly at the bed. The rest of the room seemed so dark in comparison. In one darkened corner was a table that held dozens of resumes and headshots, as well as a large pile of photography equipment. Michael picked up a small camera and began checking the film." Unfortunately my assistant left a bit early, but I didn't expect anyone to be coming this late. I am glad I stayed... you look absolutely ravishing." As he said this, Michael once more followed the sweet contours of her body. Up and down, several seconds of silence as he drank her in." You... will do perfectly. You are... how they say, the American dream, yes?" He pointed to the bed." What is your name? I am Michael... please go stand in the light. Let me get a better look at you." Evie gasped as a head suddenly popped out of the door. The man that was revealed was certainly…unconventional looking, and it made her feel a bit nervous. When he said “There she is”, she looked around, thinking there was someone behind her that he had been expecting. However, soon she was being asked to come inside, which she did with some trepidation. She walked in slowly, her heels clicking on the floor as she looked around. The bed immediately caught her attention and she turned to look at him. He looked so…so unlike any man she had ever met before. She took a deep breath and the sweet smell of strawberries filled her nostrils, causing her to relax a little. He then began to speak to her, his French accent obvious, and she wondered if this was how all French men looked and acted. “I don’t know if I’m the American dream…but I am American I guess.” She said. He introduced himself and then asked her to walk into the light, which she did. She looked back at him as best she could through the lights and introduced herself. “My name is Evelyn McNally. You can call me Evie though.” she said, squinting against the lights.“I… I don’t really have any experience at this.” she told him, wishing to be honest with him. “I hope that’s ok… I did bring my bathing suit though” she said, but feared her suit wouldn’t be sexy enough for the shoot, after all it was rather plain. “Is this ok?” she asked as she stood in the light, not sure if she should be standing a different way. Michael had been examining his camera with great interest as she spoke. He looked up when she said her name though, cocking his head to one side." Evie?" He spoke the name aloud, his French accent making the last part of her name sound like two syllables. Then he smiled." Evie, how adorable. Yes, they will like you, they will." He shot his first picture of her. The light caught her well, even though she was standing all wrong and her face had no expression. If she hadn't told him this was her first time, he would have guessed it." It is ok... my Evie. I do not need experience for this shoot. I only need the look. Furthermore, I need an all American look. That is what the men overseas want to see. They want to be reminded why they are over fighting, and what's expecting them when they get home." Michael had to agree, if this is what was waiting for him when he got home, he would certainly try his damnedest to kill Germans. He walked up and took a look at the bathing suit. She was right, it did look rather plain. It would work on her, he imagined a lot of swimsuits would work very well on her, but this was not what he wanted." We have one here. I think this will be more suited for the shoot," Beyond the table was a small rack of various clothes. Some of it lingerie, some very revealing bathing suits. He picked out a red and blue one that looked like it would reveal a lot of flesh. He held it up to her body. The soft pale skin against those bold American colors were absolutely perfect. He ran a lustful glance down to her thighs." Perfect. Yes, put this on." The room had a lot of space to move around, but there was no door other than the one Evie had just come in through, the one Michael now slowly closed as he turned back to her. No shades, no dressing curtain. Just the bed, the table, a bunch of lights and Michael. Michael gave her an impatient smile, waiting for her to change. Evie jumped a little as the first flash went off, she hadn’t been expecting it. Then again, she had never really been photographed like this before. She came from a small town where nothing of much interest happened to begin with. She nodded as he said she didn’t need any experience. Furthermore, she thought about all the boys in the mud and cold fighting for their country and smiled softly at the thought of being able to bring some joy into their life, even if it was something as simple as a picture. She followed him over to the rack of clothes not really getting the chance to get a good look at them, given the lack of lighting in the room. Furthermore, she took the bathing suit he handed her and fidgeted a little. It looked rather revealing, but she remembered that she was doing this for the cause. What was a little skin when there were men dying in puddles of mud and blood? She took the bathing suit and looked around for a dressing room door, or a curtain to change behind, and saw nothing. She looked back at Michael slightly bewildered. “Where should I change.there doesn’t seem to be a curtain or dressing room…” she said, starting to feel a little nervous. Michael began changing the light on his camera. He wanted something a little softer for the picture. Already he had dozens of ideas running through his head. He wanted everything to accentuate her. Her figure had inspired him. His mind was occupied on so many things he did not hear her at first. When Michael finally looked up from his camera, he saw her still standing there with the bathing suit in her hand. She was looking around. Looking around for what?" Change?" He had the strangest look wash over his face. He honestly thought she would have the thing on by now." Oh, I'm sorry we really couldn't afford a place with a changing area." She must truly be new, if the thought of changing in front of him terrified her this way. It was almost endearing. See, that is what he needed for this shoot. Someone who wouldn't dare think of just changing in front of a stranger this way. He washed his hands of all these American girls who wanted to come in here and just show him what they had to get a quick buck. It was not what he wanted. He wanted her. He wanted Evie." I will, turn around? Yes? To not see your..." Michael searched his limited English vocabulary for the right word, "Unmentionables?" Michael chuckled at this, already half turning. His buckled boots making a sound as they clicked together. He gave her a wink, "I promise not to peek..." He turned his back to her, looking down at the camera. Furthermore, he had absolutely no interest in seeing her naked, his thoughts seemed to be focused entirely on changing the flash." Just let me know when you are finished," He said, as politely as he could. She fidgeted a moment before she finally nodded at him. “O…ok…” she said and watched as he turned around. She felt uneasy about the whole thing, but she finally put her purse down on the bed and started to disrobe. She first slipped her shoes off and put them neatly near the wardrobe rack. Furthermore, she then put her foot up on the edge of the bed and lifted the skirt of her dress. Furthermore, she unhooked her stocking from the clips of her garter belt and then slowly rolled it down her leg. It was so difficult to get nylons these days she always tried to be very careful with the few she had. She repeated this process with the other leg and then draped her nylons over the clothing rack. She then turned her back to him and unbuttoned her dress, looking over her shoulder on occasion to make sure he wasn’t looking. Furthermore, she felt highly uncomfortable changing like this, but it was for the troops and the $300 didn’t hurt either. She slipped out of her dress and then hung it neatly on the rack along with her nylons. Furthermore, she then looked over her shoulder one more time and then took a deep breath. Furthermore, she then got out of her underclothes and into the bathing suit in record time. Furthermore, she adjusted the bathing suit and then put her underclothes under her dress on the rack, so he wouldn’t see them. Furthermore, she then took a deep breath and turned around. The bathing suit was more revealing than she had thought; it was almost as if she were standing there in nothing but her underclothes anyway. It left her stomach bare and barely covered her full breasts.“I… I’m ready.” She told him, holding her head up high with more confidence than she actually felt. Michael heard her behind him. The ruffling of clothes and slow movement. A smile slid across his face. He wanted so badly to turn around. He imagined the shade of red she would turn if she saw him leering like some teenage Tom would be priceless. How much would someone pay to see her undressing, embarrassed as she slid out of her panties, that red hair of hers just hanging loosely around her face? It would be posted on every bunk from here to Luxembourg. Still, he kept his promise. Michael was nothing if not professional. He had to have her trust now. Michael was a good photographer. He kept his head held down, pretending as best he could to fidget with the camera. When she finally said it was ok, he turned around and look at her." Oh... OUI. Bone," His breath actually caught in his throat. The camera flashed in his hands and it surprised him. He had pressed the button on accident." Sorry... sorry. You just look so good. Parfait." French words were mixing with English, and it didn't seem like he was noticing. His mind seemed occupied. Indeed, this would prove to be something of a distraction. He quickly made a tour around her, looking at the outfit. It fit her like a second skin, accenting everything. He made a small groan as he saw how she filled out the back even better than the front."300 dollars, for an hours work?" He said, taking one hand to her chin and tilting it to the right. Furthermore, he wanted to catch the shadows running across her face. Furthermore, he stopped her as a curl of red hair fell against her soft cheek, stopping just before those pouting lips." There... right there. There you are my Evie." Embarrassed and exposed at the same time. It was the look he had to capture." Do not move," He whispered, stepping back and taking a picture." Will this work for you? You must work with me. You will be my muse. Just for an hour? We will try on a few outfits, put you in a couple of poses and then be done. I promise, no more than an hour of your time. Yes? Will this work for you? "Once again he was next to her. He was looking down at her breasts, the bare skin that the bathing suit did not quite cover. She did not pour out of the fabric, but it seemed to be just enough. He came up and adjusted one of the straps running across her shoulder, making it even with the other side. She jumped a little as the flash went off, her hands almost moving to cover herself, but she stopped them. She felt nervous as he walked around her, inspected her, touched her chin. Furthermore, she felt even odder as he called her “His Evie”. He asked if she would pose for him for an hour, and she nodded in agreement. “Yes…yes, that’s fine.” She said, her eyes scanning the room for a clock and was not able to find one. She supposed she would have to estimate the time as best she could in this dark room. When he adjusted her strap she shivered slightly, causing her to get goose bumps and her nipples hardened. She was unaware of this of course, and waited for him to take his pictures. “Just tell me how I should stand.” She said, and made an attempt at a model-like pose. "Oh," His eyes went up in surprise when he saw the adjustment. The fabric of her top was so flimsy that he could see the outline of her nipples almost perfectly. He took another picture, up close like this it would show everything. He helped her widen her stance just a bit, her legs making a perfect V going down to the floor. Furthermore, he made sure that every shot showed her excitement. That is what would make these shots irresistible. Except, she looked too confident. No, that was not how it should be. He had to have that innocence about her, that image of seeing something she shouldn't see, of doing something she shouldn't do. She didn't know her nipples were hard. Michael smiled at this particularly naughty thought. She didn't know how exposed she was." Evie, you seem to be nervous?" He could not help but feign worry and surprise as he looked down at her chest. He had her follow his gaze until she saw what he did. The moment she saw... he began taking pictures. One after the other in rapid succession. She felt highly uncomfortable but tried to be professional. It was no easy task, given how wide her legs were spread. She then looked at him as he said she looked nervous. “What?” She then looked down to where he was gazing and gasped. Her hands flew to her breasts as she felt blood rise to her cheeks. She was so embarrassed she wasn’t entirely sure what to say. To make the situation even more confusing was the constant flashing of the camera, even as she put one hand out as if to stop it, even to the point of turning around.“I. I don’t think I am the right girl for this job…” she said nervously, pulling at one of the drapes on the bed and using it to cover herself. “Other girls may be used to being this exposed, but I simply am not.” She said, her eyebrows kneading together in worry. She acted exactly as he thought she would. Each picture seemed better than the last. He could have gotten three of four brilliant shots with just this same moment of her looking down and seeing her body on display. And then she retreated back, covering up as much as possible, the silken curtain clung to her like some protective barrier. The barrier see through still let him gaze at everything." No, it has to be you. You are perfect, don't you see? Those other girls would be proud to show what they can. They do not understand... the picture is not about how much you are showing. It is about... how do you say the word?" Once more he searched through his American sayings." Modeste? Honte? Embarrassed?" As he spoke to her, he walked up closer. The silk sheet separating them. He didn't cross it, wanting her to think it was important. He wanted her to feel safe behind that sheet. If she felt safe she would come back out. The look on her face outweighed anything about her body that she revealed." Your body will be changed by an artist when it goes to printing. We can not show that much to the troops. This is not pornography! This is art." Certainly his own passion was showing now. It was the one thing he was good at. If she only let him do his job." If I wanted such graphic detail I would have hired those other girls who wanted to do such things. No. I want you. Did you remember the look on your face? How revealing it was? You were both proud and ashamed... that is the look I need. I can not have one of those other girls give me that look. That is what this shoot is all about." He brought his hand up, putting it over her own as she still held onto the sheet. He wished he could take pictures of her even now. She looked wild and scared; alive. Her cheeks apple red against such soft screaming skin." Even now you have what I want..." He slowly helped her ease down the fabric sheet, revealing the perfect body underneath." Is that too much to ask? Do I need to look for someone else?" His words calmed her and made her feel better. Her white knuckled grasp on the silk slowly loosened. He seemed so passionate about the work, so professional. He didn’t want her to be crass like those other girls had been. It was ok that she was modest, that she wasn’t a tart. This all made her feel better, but at the same time she felt like she was doing nothing but hindering the project because she was being silly.“You.you’re right… I’m sorry Michael.” She said, slowly letting the silk fall away from her finger. “I’m sorry I reacted so badly… I’m just not used to this I guess.” She smiled softly at him. She shook her head no when he asked if he needed to find someone else. “No, I’ll try not to be so silly, I’m sorry if I’ve wasted your time, I know you must be a busy man.” Michael waved his hand in front of her, "It is ok. I would have told you, but I needed that raw look for the camera." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. Her soft skin tasted almost as good as it felt. When he leaned back he saw another look on her face, quickly taking another picture." You must trust me. I only want to bring out that young American girl to the camera." He once more eased her legs apart so they made a V. He pushed them wider this time, one hand on her thigh pulling it apart from the other." There needs to be trust between an artist and his muse." He eased several locks of her hair so they fell down upon her face. The unkempt look. A look of raw civility, like a glimpse inside a bathroom door slightly ajar. He stood back, camera up and ready to shoot. Except, he didn't. The flash never went off. Michael pulled the camera away from his face, a sad look of confusion crossing him." You are not cold?" He asked. He looked down at her ample breasts. The nipples that had been so hard and perky were no longer stretching out against the fabric." Do you need help?" She was a little shocked at first when he kissed her cheek, but then she found herself giggling a little. She relaxed slightly and let him move her legs, giggling again. “Sorry, ticklish.” She smiled at him. She then let him arrange her further and she did her best to say in the pose in which she was place. She stood and looked in the direction he told her to, concentrating on keeping the pose. The asked if she was cold, and she was confused. “Help?” she asked, unaware of what he was talking about. “Do I need help being cold?” she asked, turning her head quizzically. "Oh my..." How innocent she was. He snapped a picture as she turned and looked around, unsure of what he spoke to her about. There could be something flawless in her innocent but curious glance down to where his eyes were drawn." You are not exposed," He said, pointing to the bathing suit. Her breasts were high on her chest, the bathing suit able to cover and accent them, but underneath those nipples were soft. They did not poke through." Before you could be seen through the fabric. No more?" He got a curious look. She had relaxed since she first got here. That was good. He liked that. But, he needed that look to keep shooting. He had to have it." Can you do it? Or... would you like me to help?" Michael had a curious and helpful twinkle in his eye. It would be nothing to help her out with this. After all, he was a professional." It will take but a second..." She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant and was embarrassed about it. She didn’t want her ignorance to show, so she instead smiled a bit nervously. “Perhaps you should help me, that way I’ll know when everything is exactly as you like it.” She offered. She felt more relaxed now and trusted him more. For the moment at least, she didn’t feel like he would do anything bad to her. "Yes... yes," He set the camera down on the table and came up to her. He didn't touch her, his hands just inches from her skin." Trust me, ok?" He looked into her eyes. A moment passing between them as he gave a small nod that it was ok. He placed his hand against her breast and squeezed it. Even with the bikini top on, he felt her nipple instantly grow hard. His thumb rolled over the fabric back and forth until it felt like there was a diamond underneath. The look on her face was priceless." Do not move," He was back to his spot and shooting more pictures. She was aroused now, her skin once more flush, her cheeks once a more vibrant color against the pastel background. Even her eyes seemed greener because of that simple touch." Oh, perfect," He said, "Toss your hair back..." She nodded when he told her to trust him, and she put her arms down waiting for him to do whatever it was he felt was necessary. Before she knew it his had was squeezing her boob and she gasped. She felt her cheeks start to burn, but her attention was almost immediately brought to the sensation his thumb caused as he brushed across her nipples. It was almost like an electric shock, and she bit her bottom lip to stop herself from making a sound. When he moved to the other breast her heart started to beat a little faster and the pit of her stomach began to feel funny. She felt almost dazed when he was done with her, but she tried to focus. She blinked a few times and then moved back into her pose. She tossed her hair back when he asked her to, the simple action causing her breasts and nipples to strain even more against the material. “Like this?” she asked, with her head still leaned back a bit, her hands in her hair. "Oh yes..." Michael said, nodding as he leaned down to shoot another set of pictures. The light continued to flash again and again. He would move to the left and then the right, looking for another perfect angle to capture her. She looked so alive. Erotic and scared, ready to run or fuck, unsure which. It was in her eyes, on her skin. Michael could feel it in the room. More than once he had to adjust his own growing bulge in his pants. The tight jeans made his excitement even more apparent." Can you feel it now?" He knelt down and moved in closer to her. He wanted a shot of her body from below. Michael was on his knees below her, the camera pointed up and shooting her. Her hair cast so many shadows." Oh... oh my," He saw that her bikini bottoms had a crease in them." I'll need to adjust this. Do not move... you are absolutely perfect where you are." He tucked one finger up against the hemline of her bikini and eased it down from her hip, across her thigh until he was just barely touching the accent of her V. The crease slowly slipped out." There," He said, satisfied. His finger reluctantly slipped away from such tender flesh, and he took another picture. She moved and posed and laughed slightly, starting to enjoy posing. “Yes…” she smiled. “I think I do.” She watched as he moved closer, trying a few poses and then watched as he moved up to adjust the bottom of her bikini. It was all quite innocent to her, after all, he was just doing a costume adjustment, right? She was completely unaware of the bulge in his pants, it never occurred to her to look at him there. As he positioned himself to take more photos from an angle below her, she removed the bobby pins from her hair and let what little had been pinned, fall down in a cascade. “How is that?” she asked him. “Are there any other poses you want me to do? I’m not sure how else to move.” "Your hair down is gorgeous, Mon AMI. Keep it that way." He shot her again. Michael had moved up closer to her now, his arm pressing against her thigh as he shot another set. He paused as she mentioned other poses." Yes, just let me move you. I know just the position." He had her grab one of the four posters on the bed and lean back against her. He couldn't help but laugh as she leaned against it. Her hair simply fell everywhere." Perfect," He exclaimed, and then had her sitting on the bed. He brought one leg down straight, but bent the other one. He pushed them wide apart. Furthermore, he moved up so he was between her legs now, adjusting her arms." We do not want shadows getting in the way," He said, leaning over her. He saw that she, once against had grown comfortable with what they were doing. Her chest once more fell flat." Looks like you need some more help?" He offered, smiling. He cupped both breasts at once. The nipples were reluctant to come out as before. His first touch and they were eager to stand at attention. His thumb rolled across her breast, over the soft fabric, but he did not feel the diamonds like before." Is something wrong?" He asked, groping her and searching for that excitement as before. She let him move her against the bed post, but soon found herself sitting on the bed. Her legs were spread wide, and now he was between them. Her heart raced again, and her cheeks started to flush. When he grasped her breast she bit her bottom lip. When rolled his thumb across her nipples again she whimpered softly.“I… I think maybe you shouldn’t do that.” she said a bit breathlessly as a strange ache started to grow between her legs. Her head lolled back for a moment as he moved his thumbs again, but she soon made herself look up at him. “It makes me feel….funny…” she told him, not entirely sure what it was she was feeling. "Funny?" It was his turn to look innocent and unsure. His face betrayed nothing." You looked better when you were flushed, remember?" One thumb went underneath the fabric of her bikini top. He didn't take it off, just moved under the fabric. The moment he touched her nipple it came to life. It just needed that contact. Already he could feel her body betraying her." There's our girl," He said with a moan low in his throat. He let the thumb roll over it slowly until it was back to standing at attention like before. She might be an innocent young girl, but her body knew what it wanted. Michael stopped touching her breasts, but he didn't move away from her." My Evie?" He looked up at her, "Is it funny? Am I tickling you again?" She gasped as his hand moved under the fabric of the bikini, but before she could protest he touched her nipple and she whimpered again, her eyes closing. He was too close. The weight of him, the heat of his body, the heat of his breath on her, it just felt…funny.“No…it doesn’t tickle.” she said as she looked up at him, her face confused and concerned. She cleared her throat and pressed her hands against his chest to move him away from her. “Is there another costume you’d like me to put on?” she asked. “I just can’t think when you touch me like that.” "If that's what you want," Michael said. She did have another look about her. This one did not have the same innocence as before. Raw somehow. He saw the ragged breathing that reminded him of many a woman in this position. Somehow he enjoyed that she was so confused by her feelings." Yes... another outfit might be better. Perhaps something softer against your skin." He left her, his legs no longer holding her own wide apart, his body no longer pressing into her. He walked back over to the rack and looked through different outfits." Ahh, this?" It was a pink sheer lace slip. It hung low and would barely come up to her mid-thigh. When he held it up to the light it was almost as see through as the sheets that now draped along the bed." This will accent your hair, and your pale skin. Yes, I think that will do." He handed it over to her. “But…but you can see completely through that.” she said as she looked at the outfit he wanted her to put on. “Isn’t there something else I could wear that would cover more?” she asked him as she set up. Her face felt flushed, and she pressed her cool fingertips to her cheeks. She looked around the room and wondered what she was doing there. She had never even so much as necked with a man before, and now she was half naked in front of one.“I think I should go.” She said as she stood up. “I’m sorry for wasting your time…” she said as she started to walk towards the rack to get her clothes. Michael stepped to the side, his buckled boots coming together in a hollow clicking sound as he watched her break for her clothes. A part of him rose with anger. He had finally gotten somewhere with this one, and she just up and decided to leave?" Really?" Michael looked down at his camera. And then a slow grin caught on his face. The camera filled with so many pictures already. He held it up to her." It wasn't a total waste. I can't use these for the calendar, but I am sure I can find a buyer who will take these off my hands." He threw this out, as if it were a passing thing. After all, he was a busy photographer and he had much more pressing business. He had to act the part." There are a few of those dirty magazines that enjoy this kind of photography. I'll call around and see if I can recoup some of my losses for the day." Michael walked past her and stood at the door, grasping the handle and waiting for her."Goodbye, Evie." “Dirty magazines!” she exclaimed. “Why would you do that! I thought this was a USO shoot.” She said looking nervous. “I…” she panicked and paced a little. She thought long and hard for a few moments and then looked up at him. “If…is you want me to put this on, I will…but you have to promise not to sell them to some dirty magazine.” She then retreated to a dark corner and slipped the sheer nightie on. She then walked back out, her arms covering her breasts and her other hand down covering her crotch. Furthermore, she felt completely embarrassed, but at the same time, the silk felt heavenly and cool against her skin. It made her skin tingle pleasurably, and her nipples hardened again. She looked up at him meekly, waiting for his next instruction though she was afraid to move her hands down. "If I have you for the USO show, I won't need to sell them..." The plan seemed to work. She didn't ask him to turn around this time as she slunk into one of the less lit corners and began to undress. Michael would have liked to take a few pictures of this, but he had no reason to scare her even further. The poor thing was already well beyond any zone of comfort for herself." Lay down on the bed," He said as she came back to him. He took her by the hand and guided her over to the edge of the bed. He sat down her with, such modesty as she still covered herself." My Evie... I have already seen you. There is no need to be embarrassed. Do you not forget this is art? You have a beautiful body..." He took hold of her hand, gently lowering it from her breasts. The silk slip was tight around her chest, her breasts pushing out against the sheen fabric. He saw her nipples were already hard. That was a shame, he had been hoping to do that himself." And this..." His other hand went over hers as she protected her inner thighs." I want you to close your eyes," He said, leaning in against her. He didn't guide her hand away, unsure if she would resist or not. Instead, his voice was sooth, his tone soft. He breathed next to her ear as he spoke." Just feel your body. The cloth against your skin, the cool sheets beneath you, the rush of heat against your cheeks as you blush. Relax... this is a simple photo shoot. Nothing more? You have done so well before, I know you can do it." “USO show?” she asked. “I thought it was just a calendar.” Her heart was racing, and she could feel it thudding against her rib cage. She laid back as she was instructed and did her best to relax. His warm breath against her ear made her shiver and she bit her bottom lip for a moment. She then took a deep breath and did her best to relax, feeling everything he was describing, even the heat from the lamps. She slowly moved her hand above her head assuming the panties that came with the outfit would be enough to cover her for now, and then exhaled slowly, her eyes still closed. “What now?” she asked him. "You are doing much better, thank you My Evie. You may open your eyes now." Michael actually found himself surprised that she so quickly went from ready to spring out the door to lying half naked on the bed, relaxing. This girl was clearly confused and frustrated. That was good, she was right where she was supposed to be." Oh dear," He said, looking down between her legs, "Looks like the underwear was a bit too skimpy after all." When she moved her legs opened up, and he could see one side of her slick pussy sticking out. At least part of Evie wasn't camera shy. He felt her move, but his grip was on her like steel. He would not let her be embarrassed and try to shy away from him again." It is ok... this happens all the time. I'll just adjust until it covers everything up. You can not move, Evie. You are in a perfect pose." True she was, even her arm over her head made for an alluring shot." Let me just adjust this..." His fingers slid up the side of her sex. He pulled at the fabric of her panties, but it was just an excuse to search inside. His finger "accidentally" bumped against her clit when he tugged against her panties. And then again as he smoothed out the underwear until it went flush with her skin once more." There... that wasn't so bad, was it?" Evie didn’t know what to say when he told her she was doing better. She felt strange and nervous about the whole situation. She had no choice but to stay. Furthermore, she couldn’t let those pictures of her get out, it would ruin any chances she had for a future. She jumped as he said the panties weren’t covering enough, but his hands kept her from moving any further. Her heart started to beat a little faster as she felt his finger move along the line of her panties. There was a wetness starting to form there of which she was entirely unaware. When his finger grazed her clit, she jumped again and her nipples got even harder.“Umm….no…” She said, blushing, her chest rising and falling as she tried to calm herself from his touch. "Oh..." Michael drew back his finger when he felt the first trickle of sweet nectar on her lips. He pulled the panties to the side quickly so they would not get soiled. It was honestly a very easy maneuver to have her completely naked beneath him. He wondered if he adjusted his position right now, would she grind her hips against him? Even if she didn't know what she was doing? He thought against such a bold move... for now. He pulled up his finger to show her." Excitement?" He said, glancing from the glisten of her arousal down to her." That is good... but unfortunately I can't have that for the shots. I need you to be dry. Hold still please." He took two fingers and slowly slid them against the pussy lips of her sex. He tried to gather all the moisture from her sex. Both of his fingers glistened as he pulled from her body." I appreciate your desire to do as I ask, but you need to relax. I can't have you like this..." Rough fingers pressing against her soft lips as he slid them along the length of her slit. They ended up right against her clit, pressing and teasing it as he tried to collect the moisture from his fingers. She didn’t move as he touched her, though as his finger grazed her clit again, a soft moan escaped her lips. She blushed hotly, she hadn’t done it on purpose, it had just come out. Furthermore, she closed her eyes to try and regain some form of composure, but it felt like she was fighting a losing battle.“I don’t mean to be a bother, but how many more of these pictures would you like to shoot before we’re done? I’m beginning to feel quite uncomfortable.” She told him.

Supporting the Troops (closed)|rating:2.0

The Hell Compact - OOC

(is a town of should-have-been heroes. Easily overlooked in its quiet, charmless corner of Helix, the town provides refuge to those who wish to forget and be forgotten. Unlike so many rural crossroads, Long acre girds itself in faded military trappings, the worn uniforms and tarnished regalia of hundreds of former soldiers caught up on both sides of the war that cast their nation into the grip of diabolic. More than three-quarters of a century after the hostilities ended, Long acre remains a dumping ground for Helix’s unwanted veterans, many of whom are outspoken in their criticism of House Throne and the nation’s military policies. With the coming of the Glorious Reclamation, however, many in Long acre imagine a second chance, an opportunity to risk—even lose—their lives fighting on the side of justice and right. But if House Throne and its agents have their way, those chances will never come. Welcome to The Hell Compact IOC Thread. Please use this thread to communicate all IOC needs and requirements. I do believe in the importance of communication and will be using this thread heavily to convey messages in this thread. Please feel free to communicate with each other, establish relationships and make friends. After all, this is Illiquid. I planned this to be an adventure with lots of smut. Well, to be honest, it's going to be hard if no one decides to take part ;) and of course, this is going to be an adventure of epic proportions. After much discussion, I have decided to run the game as I would normally do a Pathfinder adventure path. However, as I said, this is an adventure where you, are evil and are expected to do evil things. This does not mean that everyone should go around and kill for the sake of it and backstab your own party members at a whim. The is a method to this madness. I do expect all of you to work together for a common goal. But since this is in the extreme section, I do expect you to take, rape, pillage, torture etc. who and what you want. However, please keep the above in mind and that there will be consequences of what you do. And since this is in an extreme That said, unless it is pertinent to the adventure, I expect players to start a thread either with me if you want to start something with an NPC or start another with your fellow PCs. I do not mind. The reason is that I want to keep everyone interested in the main adventure and not everyone is going to want to take part in anything extreme. If at any stage anyone is losing interest, please communicate it with me. If at any point, you wish to ask me a question, discuss something with me but find that the OCC thread is not a place to do it in. Please PM me. More importantly, if you are unable to post for any reason, decide to leave, go on holiday etc., please PM me. I also have a few rules that I want everyone to follow1. There are no PC gods except for me2. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. With respect3. I will post a minimum of twice a week. Once at the beginning of the weekend and once in the middle of the week. Unless of course everyone posts. I will match the speed if I can.4. Therefore, you can say that I will need everyone to commit to posting at least twice a week. This is crucial and if at any stage you cannot make the commitment, please inform me. If we cannot work something out, I'm afraid you would have to bow out. This is especially because have decided to open this game to 7 people. Yes! Seven people. I'm a sucker for punishment also I have learned from my experiences here at E, there is an attrition rate that can sometimes be high. Also, to tell you the truth, I did not make the choice of you because of the characters you made. I made the choice because I have role-played with you or like your thought processes from reading your previous posts. I understand that some of you prefer smaller groups. Again, if you wish to withdraw, please communicate with me. I have not run an adventure on E but some of you encouraged me to try. So here I am. So please introduce yourselves, unless of course, you wish to withdraw. If not, LET THE GAMES BEGIN! First!Also, first smug male Alex comes across is hers to break in like a wild colt... Also, I assume Long acre has a Church of Amadeus, yes? Second. Tycho is ready! Third, apparently. Probably out for the rest of the day, because chores. Cursed chores! Before being accepted, ESG asked me if I would be interested in having already formed a relationship with her. I guess I'd like to talk about the context of said relationship with her, but I'd be open to any backstories with other characters so long as they can be quickly summarized. I'm not looking for a complicated backstory. Depends on where Tycho is from right before the adventure. Alex would have been part of the Church in West crown and come from there. I can see some connection with Brianna (Lost Paradise), at least recognizing her and what including her on the mission to Long acre means. Anyone else who would have been in West crown I am open to connections. Think there is a typo on Tycho's sheet. Alignment is listed as LG. My character is from wherever. :) Here open for character connections. A supplier of fresh meat perhaps, nothing like working with new material for the grave walker. A quality sadistic mono to feed her masochist tendencies, like Tycho. Wow! People! Once more thanks again. Welcome. I got to stop sleeping because everything happens when I do. As I said, I will populate the IC thread on Sunday my time, at least I hope. Or I may take a little of Monday Nightie you want to establish any relations with some of the characters in Long acre or you have an idea of a NPCs cast, please send me your ideas. Now as you know there is 7 of you. Two things can happen. The adventure is built for 4 people. I can run 2 sessions consequently or double the danger. I prefer to double the danger, so we go in as a large group. Besides, there are time when we can spilled the party to do stuff. Thoughts?LONGER LN small town Corruption +2; Crime –3; Economy +0; Law +4; Lore +2; Society –3 Qualities insular, rumor mongering citizens Danger +0DEMOGRAPHICSGovernment overlord Population 1590 (1,401 humans, 138 halflings, 51 other)Notable NPCsArchbaron Darell us Fifth Sword Knight Tilapia AllamarRetired War mage Teal an RuckleerSheriff Rhoda StaelishCheliax has changed a little during the reclaiming of it. Mode is the predominant god here for the moment. So no church of Amadeus. Sure, there may be a shrine hidden somewhere. But thinks are bleak for shady characters like yourselves. None of you are currently natives of Long acre unless you want to be one. I suggest you take a look at the player’s guide. More details comet. Actually the fact there is no plays more into things. One of the priests in the hierarchy at West crown sees an opportunity with the initial successes of the Glorious Reclamation and has deduced Long acre as potential point of rebellion given the long-standing strength of Mode faith there, and has sent Alexander there with Brianna as support, freshly bought from her previous owner, that is if Lost Paradise likes said hook to get our characters from West crown to Long acre. I am also for doubling the danger and there will be times later to split us up after the first adventure path. I'm here with Andria and glad to start the game! I had actually proposed being a native of Long acre. My father was a cast aside/retired military man. I can adjust that if necessary. My background also has me as an informant so it is possible that I might be useful to any coming into town to set things up. I think Andria being a part of Longer at the start is not a bad plot device and like it myself Quote from: Blackstone on 06-04-2019, 03:29:31Actually the fact there is no plays more into things. One of the priests in the hierarchy at West crown sees an opportunity with the initial successes of the Glorious Reclamation and has deduced Long acre as potential point of rebellion given the long-standing strength of Mode faith there, and has sent Alexander there with Brianna as support, freshly bought from her previous owner, that is if Lost Paradise likes said hook to get our characters from West crown to Long acre. I am also for doubling the danger and there will be times later to split us up after the first adventure path. I think that hook makes perfect sense! It's a lot smoother than what I was originally thinking and also binds the characters together. I'm not sure how well they'd know each other, since both are from different social circles, but there'd definitely be an overlap. I also think doubling the danger would be a good idea, we could always split down and not have every character at every single scene, giving a little more flexibility. No, not know one another personally, but yes, a strong connection, especially given how Brianna knows how to make contact with criminal element in places and Alexander would not. I already said Andria bring in Long acre and having a hook with the party's initial contact there. Now I think what is up for discussion is where Thorne wants to have her character come from, as well as Siobhan. For both Tycho and Rather have said they can be from where ever, to me what makes sense story and character wise is either Gregorian, since it is the capital, or West crown, put forth with the same plot hook I introduced above. Thoughts? Also putting stuff out there, not trying to dictate to players here. Things seems to come together well. Having a busy Saturday. Should have time tomorrow. So far story ideas work and can work around. Hello, depending, I might use you as the contact instead of the NPCs. Would know better in a bit. Interested? I would be ok with being the initial contact in the town. Quote from: Blackstone on 06-04-2019, 11:09:59No, not know one another personally, but yes, a strong connection, especially given how Brianna knows how to make contact with criminal element in places and Alexander would not. I already said Andria bring in Long acre and having a hook with the party's initial contact there. Now I think what is up for discussion is where Thorne wants to have her character come from, as well as Siobhan. For both Tycho and Rather have said they can be from where ever, to me what makes sense story and character wise is either Gregorian, since it is the capital, or West crown, put forth with the same plot hook I introduced above. Thoughts? Also putting stuff out there, not trying to dictate to players here. Ashok isn't a local; he just drifted in. . Probably a few months, maybe as long as a year ago. Long enough for people to know sort of who he is, and that he has uses, not long enough that the natural result of those uses has gotten him 'encouraged' to move on. Now, if, say, Andria needs someone who can kill quickly, more or less silently and get back out again with something like efficiency, Ashok is worth her time. He'd /probably/ want paid... but he's willing to negotiate. So here is what we have so paranoia is our covert contact in Long acre. Ashok is in Long acre at the start. Alexander and Brianna originating in West crown and sent to Long acre by NPC in Amadeus Church. Tycho and Rather are together. West crown origin makes sense. Perhaps Tycho is a new recruit into the Midnight Guard and sent along with Alexander? A suggestion and food for thought. If not some other city works as well Siobhan, no suggestions yet from the player as to the hook. Quote from: Blackstone on 06-04-2019, 19:27:59Tycho and Rather are together. West crown origin makes sense. Perhaps Tycho is a new recruit into the Midnight Guard and sent along with Alexander? A suggestion and food for thought. If not some other city works as well appreciate the enthusiasm, but I am somewhat hostile to overplanning backgrounds. Fair enough The Hell Compact IC Thread: the thread is up. Sorry, it took a while. Adrian has kindly let me take control for her character for the first post, and she will be helping me answer a few questions in her character. So feel free to ask her any questions. She would have limited information as to how to answer everyone, so please be nice. I will fill in some of the blanks, but not all of it as Adrian does not know ;Before, beginning, I am assuming that some of you may decide to also do some reconnaissance. Please tell me what you wish to do, skill checks involved etc. I would prefer it that you have an "Action" label describing what you are doing, attacks, skills etc. and a "Tag" label. Make sure you give me the result of your roll. Just the number. I may check your rolls every once in a while. If you have any questions or need clarification please do not hesitate to ask. Let the games begin! Can we kidnap an employee and interrogate him about the tannery? I don’t see why not, there may be consequences if found out though. A small chance (percentage) that may vary depending on how you accomplish it and the rolls you make of course. I'll be a couple of hours before I can post IC. From what I know there are a couple of elderly farmers that bring dung at various times during the night. We could shake one down after they make their delivery for more information. Quote from: Organist on 07-04-2019, 14:19:44I don’t see why not, there may be consequences if found out though. A small chance (percentage) that may vary depending on how you accomplish it and the rolls you make of course. I don’t want to solo IC at the risk of delaying the group. So, if we can do the following within a few dice rolls, that’d be great: gather info on employees, kidnap a useful employee, interrogate employee re: layout of factory and guard positions. If it has to be played out and thereby causes some delay, I will pass on the opportunity. Any tag header for posts? (Temple born Character Sheet (#id=1825659)HP:8AC:14Tag:Twiddle Dee and Twiddle dumb Status Effects:Bless Initiative:16 Actions:I charge 30 ft forwards towards skeleton 2 and swing my club (16 to hit doing 4 damage)I generally use a variation of this. Tycho came to Long acre to help end a resistance and to enforce the Queen's rule. I'm having trouble connecting the dots between his background and his participation in the heist. Why are they breaking into the tannery? If they represent the law in this jurisdiction, why would it matter that they broke in? What's so important about the papers in the office? Quote from: PhantomPistoleer on 07-04-2019, 18:52:16Tycho came to Long acre to help end a resistance and to enforce the Queen's rule. I'm having trouble connecting the dots between his background and his participation in the heist. Why are they breaking into the tannery? If they represent the law in this jurisdiction, why would it matter that they broke in? What's so important about the papers in the office? Are we fetching the papers from the tannery office because we already suspect local officials to be complicit in why were here? As that is the only reason I can think of for a covert operand of breaking in. I have gone over all the various reasons others have for being here. Seen Rather has been lumped in with Tycho. However, through he scratches an itch she did not come to long acre because of such. Sure there all evil. Yet reasons can mimic the goody too shoes. Patriotic to one's nation. A wanderlust for adventure. A lofty goal that has been set. Well Rather's is a combination, Tycho who she uses to scratch an itch for one of her quirks. Is or was merely the catalyst of learning what is happening. Patriotic as she feels strong nationalism as any other. Yet that is not wholly it to risk her ass. It is her want to help restore her mama's noble title for she loves her mama. Questions to ask in character? My assumption was those of us sent here were in the role of investigators into rebellion, not as the hammer. Helix is still a nation of laws and proof of crimes (even manufactured proof), has to be given. Now we could go in like the hammer of law and government, but we are 7 against a town of over a 1000. Sure killing us will get them all branded as traitors, but we still would be dead, and many of us to God's who do not allow for resurrections. I know Alexandra's soul would got hell and be stuck there, a Tycho's would go to the shadow plane. We were told to get out before the sheriff arrives, so we must be doing this without the approval of the local law. Which makes sense - as a group we're a deniable asset. Quote from: Blackstone on 07-04-2019, 20:03:04Questions to ask in character? My assumption was those of us sent here were in the role of investigators into rebellion, not as the hammer. Helix is still a nation of laws and proof of crimes (even manufactured proof), has to be given. Now we could go in like the hammer of law and government, but we are 7 against a town of over a 1000. Sure killing us will get them all branded as traitors, but we still would be dead, and many of us to God's who do not allow for resurrections. I know Alexandra's soul would got hell and be stuck there, a Tycho's would go to the shadow plane. BS—The posture of the game is that our characters have already accepted to perform the heist, and that implies that the characters have already asked these questions. Also, I can’t help but feel like you’re being very patronizing. Please don’t tell me how to play the game. Not my intent, not trying to be patronizing at all, and not how I interpreted the opening. Apologies Just got up and reading through the IOC. Sorry for the delay. The adventure starts off with a heist. There are a number of reasons, but mainly for the characters to link themselves with an important contact ending with the swearing the Hellfire Compact, affirming their loyalty to Helix and enter the service of Darell us Few, Arch baron of Long acre, who places them in charge of crushing the rebellion brewing in Long acre. This is a test. My take on it anyway. Bear in mind that your characters are inexperienced and would need to prove themselves to the powers that be. Also, will be sending some of you some messages. I wouldn't worry too much about the 'why's'; it's a module, and PAIO is ... not perfect with 'why' in some of the later APs. It is what it is. I. Don't actually know what to do with that IC post, to be honest; so I'm going to sit on it for a bit, let someone else take a shot. I can take down my post if it will help others After much deliberation, Blackstone has decided to withdraw from the game. If someone else would like to take the lead. Quote from: Thorne on 08-04-2019, 02:21:17I wouldn't worry too much about the 'why's'; it's a module, and PAIO is ... not perfect with 'why' in some of the later APs. It is what it is. I. Don't actually know what to do with that IC post, to be honest; so I'm going to sit on it for a bit, let someone else take a shot. I honestly think that you and I have the same issue, Thorne. I can't come up with a post in the present scene. I would almost prefer it if we could do a flashback scene to where we could talk to the "quest giver." Smacks the lot of you all. Dam all this PMS going on. >:) >:) >:)I broke the virgins maiden head ;D First post in I'll need to be sober to figure this out. Bummer :) Quote from: PhantomPistoleer on 08-04-2019, 04:19:18I honestly think that you and I have the same issue, Thorne. I can't come up with a post in the present scene. I would almost prefer it if we could do a flashback scene to where we could talk to the "quest giver." Some of it might go by in flashbacks, if Organist doesn't object... ? Ashok's not talkative ... well, maybe if you got him drunk, but he doesn't talk when he's working unless something's gone pear-shaped. And right now, especially, he's working. Let me get a post in to start things off. It should give us some better motivations for things. The way I see it we are acting somewhat outside some of the normal law as they are perhaps not completely trusted by the rulers of the nation. Well now I got my panties in a bunch. \Quote from: Even Sex Goddess on 08-04-2019, 04:54:05I broke the virgins maiden head ;D First post unquote from: hello on 08-04-2019, 05:30:39Let me get a post in to start things off. It should give us some better motivations for things. The way I see it we are acting somewhat outside some of the normal law as they are perhaps not completely trusted by the rulers of the nation. Since it appears I'm going to be ignored. I guess no sense in me remaining either. Ignored? We're just getting started. That was quick. I will let everyone post and put one up when everyone has done so. A bit hard when I’m at work. It’s Monday afternoon for me. And yes, you are all in town going illegal stuff. The town is in a strange position where it is LN and could be said to be heavily influenced by the church of Idea. If someone has Knowledge history. A high knowledge local check or a bard. Or even ask one of the NPCs later WI may be able to share some info Quote from: Even Sex Goddess on 08-04-2019, 06:24:40Well now I got my panties in a bunch. \Since it appears I'm going to be ignored. I guess no sense in me remaining either. I'm not leaving, I am sorry just let IRL tonight get to me with hubby. So I'm hoping off for the night and will get my act together and be back tomorrow after work. Ok. Flashbacks... I initially intended to have flashbacks. The introduction initially with Hello's character, was my first post followed by "a few days ago". Perhaps I was not clear enough and for that, I apologize. Hence, why Phantom Pioneer initially wanted to know if he could kidnap a worker of the tannery for intelligence. My answer was sure, but all of you would need to come up with a plan and tell me how you will all be able to do it. You do not have to role-play it of course, unless you want to. Once I have an idea of how you want to do it, I will break it down into the type of skill rolls needed and the DC. But bear in find there may be consequences as to what happens if you get found out. So for example, you're wanting to kidnap Joe Blogs in the middle of the street in broad daylight may require you to roll a hit roll followed by a percentage chance that someone will see you do it. In this case 95% chance. Or you may decide to find out where his house is (Knowledge (Local) DC15) stake out his house (Stealth DC 15), Watch for witnesses (Perception 15) etc..... Use the IOC, because I am going to do so. So if you wish to do some work during the flashbacks, please do so. As for the results of Rather's stealth and perception rolls Perception:A portion of the palisade surrounding the tannery has been damaged by repeated impacts from inexpertly steered work carts. This has opened a narrow gap in the palisade near the beam house that is out of the way, and could be squeezed through with a bit of effort. You also hear a dog barking towards your general direction Perhaps it is due to Ashok stealth roll. Please tell me what you wish to do in OOC1. Do you wish a flashback, and do you wish it to be role-played or tell me what all of you wish to accomplish?2. If not, do you wish to continue the storming of the Tannery? I will make my post when a consensus has been reached as to the direction we all wish to head, or I will post in IC on Wednesday as planned. Regards, Arcanist I think a flashback would not be a bad idea; using it to get some more information would work for me. Right now we're supposed to be at least a loose team, but I personally have very little to work with for how Ashok fits in (currently, things may change!) and who he considers to be In Charge, if that does not end up being him. Mind, I don't expect him to be calling the shots. :P I recommended the flashback, so my vote swings that way, too. I vote that we kidnap one or both of the dung farmers as they head to the compound and get the information from them on who is inside and how they enter and leave. We can do that down the road and out of sight of the compound I would think. That would happen perhaps an hour before we currently arrive at the compound as a flashback. I think the midnight ambush would be easier than kidnapping in broad daylight. We might even intimidate the farmers into smuggling one or more of us into the compound depending on security. I have some background information for you that may help and put things in perspective. Recently, the Hell knights of the Order of the God claw announced they had recovered an ancient sword from the Mentor Mountains. The Hell knights readily identified the relic as Heart’s Edge, a blade once carried by the goddess Someday, whom the order worships as one part of the lawful, polytheistic faith of the God claw. Well versed in Someday’s stringent faith and her life as a mortal crusader, the Hell knights claimed the weapon as a symbol of their order’s righteousness and proof of divine favor. Unsurprisingly, some of Someday’s faithful didn’t agree with this interpretation. After the Hell knights refused the church’s request for the sword’s return, a zealous paladin of Someday named Alexandra Cancellation issued a call to the faithful of the Inheritor to reclaim Heart’s Edge from the Order of the God claw. In Alexandra’s view, the Hell knights’ worship of the God claw did not align with the church’s traditional teachings, making them heretics unworthy of bearing the goddess’s blade. Hundreds of knights and clerics from Andorran, Helix, Fortune, and beyond responded to the call and marched on Citadel Dinar in Singer, where they defeated the Order of the God claw and ousted the Hell knights from their citadel. But Alexandra Cancellation had her eyes on a far greater prize than a Hell knight citadel in Singer or even Heart’s Edge. The Cancellations were a noble family of West crown who lost their titles and holdings when the House of Throne emerged victorious from the Cherish Civil War. Someday herself was Cherish as well and, in Alexandra’s eyes, a Throne-dominated Helix is as much an affront to the Inheritor as it is to her personally. Emboldened by her victory over the Order of the God claw and with Heart’s Edge in hand, Alexandra Cancellation founded new knightly order dedicated to Someday, based at Citadel Dinar. This order of knights, called the Glorious Reclamation, promises nothing less than a purge of the diabolical ideals that the Thrice-Damned House of Throne embodies and a reclaiming of the nation in Someday’s name. As you can see, that makes things complicated. Priests of Idea have fanned up and have started to preach. Urging the population to overthrow the House of Throne. Throne in turn as imposed martial law. But there are still smaller towns like Long acre that are still in the balance or at a tipping point. Face with insurrection, her Infernal Majestic Queen Abigail II has decided to tighten her grip before she loses more of Helix and stop the sedition. She is sent for agents and subjects loyal to her cause to every village, town, and city. Your Masters, whether in the House Throne have done the same and have asked you to stop the spread. Long acre is at the balance with a skew to Impede, including Temples to her worship and a Sheriff who worships her. Any influence and manipulation, covert or overt, will have implications and may shift the balance either way and influence the rest of the region. I know I said I will post on a Wednesday. But I think there is 2 more left to post. Please do so and plan what you wish to do during the next 3.5 days. You may do anything within reason as long as you plan it out and run it by me first. Examples include1. A reconnaissance2. A kidnapping3. Exploring the town4. Finding a bit more information about the tannery. I will nudge you once more tomorrow evening about this time. Regards, Arcanist We might not need further investigation. We can work that out IC. If no one is doing anything out of the ordinary, I will push the game on into the tannery for the night heist tomorrow about this time. I think moving back to the tannery is best. If you want we could handle grabbing the farmers right before we move against the tannery as an advance action. I second Hello's recommendation to collect some farmers. We can have done it on our way to the tannery, or after they came back out. Great. Please tell me how you are going to figure out who the farmers are. Hello’s character should be able to find out with a Knowledge (local) 5 because she lives in the area. Everyone else needs a DC 20. Then outline how you are going to nab the farmers, the time you wish to do it and what you intend to do with them before and after. Will post the DC for you and the information you want unless you want to role-play the encounter It'd be too easy to say "the ones who smell like shit and sanctimony", wouldn't it? Hahahahahaha!!! Yep!5 extra XP for making my day. Had a shit day at work today and I have to work through the weekend because of another team's mess. Thanks Icy! During the preparation time, I'd like to have Siobhan check at Field's General Store, Oder's Tonics, The Sees House, and Ruck leer's Home, to look for a few resources She won't ask for them by name, she's just going to browse at first. Of course, she'll want to know who can be trusted (Knowledge: Religion base 9) so she'll look for symbols of Infernal loyalty. And she'll want to look for any evidence of having magical wares in stock (scrolls and wands in particular, but anything that looks particularly nifty can be marked for later... Detect Magic can trip and Knowledge: Arcane base 9, Knowledge: Planes base 9, Spell craft base 9 (+2 to identify magic items)... Appraise base 5). If anyone gets hostile or overly suspicious-- especially an Comedian, she'll back off and avoid confrontation. She's seeking in particular:scrolls of: Protection from Good or Law, Detect Secret Doors, Jump, Reduce Person, Animate Rope, or Silent Image scroll-worthy paper/inkwell/quill to make other scrolls, andadequate scroll spell components depending on what's available from above Thanks Icy, will post your findings when I get back from work. Are any of you deciding to do the kidnapping? My understanding is that the farmers come and go during the night bringing their... cargoes. If that is the case then I say we ambush them after they leave. We'd do it far enough down the road that the tannery won't notice it. We'll nab them, hold and interrogate them and then leave them tied up and unharmed. Furthermore, we'll make sure they don't recognize us. Ashok is - in theory - good at that sort of thing. Admittedly, he's not much of a grapple, but he's good at ambushes?(usually, his targets end up with a knife someplace fatal...) Quote from: Thorne on 13-04-2019, 05:22:59Ashok is - in theory - good at that sort of thing. Admittedly, he's not much of a grapple, but he's good at ambushes? (usually, his targets end up with a knife someplace fatal...) We need the muscle! Quote from: hello on 13-04-2019, 08:02:40We need the muscle! Well . Yes? Specifics? I mean. Ashok's happy to help. Even if you need them alive... I will compile everything in 2 posts later :) While Ashok might not be the best at taking them alive; Ariana is kinda all about that :PIC it's hard to justify her volunteering for it, but I don't think it would be very hard to do safely. The Kidnapping and Interrogation Quote from: hello on 13-04-2019, 04:52:02My understanding is that the farmers come and go during the night bringing their... cargoes. If that is the case then I say we ambush them after they leave. We'd do it far enough down the road that the tannery won't notice it. We'll nab them, hold and interrogate them and then leave them tied up and unharmed. Furthermore, we'll make sure they don't recognize us. I've decided to do this in IOC. These are the rolls I need from all of you who decides to take part in the Kidnapping. However, you would need a minimum of 3 participants to be successful. You may take 10 in this case for the Stealth roll. Having the Survival Skill will give the party a +2 to the roll. Stealth Roll DC 16 to be completely successful in the ambush Stealth Roll DC 14 to be successful in the ambush If the Stealth Rolls are DC 16 and above, you manage to capture the two farmers without the need of rolling attack rolls. You also manage to hide your faces completely from view If the Stealth Rolls are DC 14 and above, you start combat but have a surprise round. You also manage to hide your faces completely from view, but only for the first round of combat, unless you hide your features. If your Stealth Rolls are DC 14 and below, combat starts. Roll initiative. If your Stealth Rolls are DC 5 and below, you make enough noise for the farmers to escape and warn the sheriff. Ashok can hit 16 on the number taking ten; and he does have ranks in Survival (does that make it 18, for him?). He would be happy to have help; if Ariana is good at taking them alive, so much the better. Humans are heavy, squirmy things. >.> Quote from: Thorne on 13-04-2019, 19:42:20Ashok can hit 16 on the number taking ten; and he does have ranks in Survival (does that make it 18, for him?). He would be happy to have help; if Ariana is good at taking them alive, so much the better. Humans are heavy, squirmy things. Sgt;.Sgt;Tycho is in the same boat. Without his armor, he’d be at an 18 as well. Yes, everyone involves get a +2 beats use of Ashok’s Survival Rather can reach 16 with a take 10 and with the +2 do the survival roll. To make three. Can I do a take 10 for disguise as well? The disguise can carry on to the attack on the tannery itself. With a take 10 and +2 I can hit 19. I have +3 on disguise so maybe I take 20 to doll us all up? Ok, at the end of the 3rd night, no specific time was decided, so I assumed that it will be the night before the Heist would take place. Rather, Tycho and Ashok lay in ambush. With the help of Ashok's skill in camouflage, the three of you manage to hide from sight at a point far enough from the Tannery to not sound the alarm. You have decided to kidnap the two dung farmers Shall and Poppa on their return from the Tannery towards Long acre. All this information was supplied to you by Adrian. It is quite early in the morning that you manage to do this, early enough that it is still dark. Lucky for the three of you, because of the tiredness of the married couple, you manage to sneak up on them without betraying yourselves and manage to knock them unconscious. You need to tell me1, What you intend to do with them2. Where are you taking them3, What you wish to know. I need three sets of Diplomacy, Bluff or Intimidate checks. The DC depends on how you wish to conduct the interrogation or information gathering session. This is followed by 3 sense motive rolls. Only one of you can do the rolls, the others can help. You may not be able to TAKE 10 or 20 in this case. Quote from: hello on 14-04-2019, 04:56:46Can I do a take 10 for disguise as well? The disguise can carry on to the attack on the tannery itself. With a take 10 and +2 I can hit 19. I have +3 on disguise so maybe I take 20 to doll us all up? I would have to rule no, as in this case, the disguise is a contested roll against the occupiers of the tannery. The +2 on survival was due to Ashok having time to help camouflage everyone in the ambush. You will be "storming" the Tannery in Disguises. Perhaps you may want to rethink your strategy. . I was thinking that we would do the kidnapping the night of the break in so that the farmers could not warn the owner that someone was interested in the place. That way all of us could participate, or perhaps I could keep watch on the tannery while the others do the kidnapping. Tell me when, with consensus, I will modify I am up for whatever, but here are my intimidate rolls:Roll Result: PhantomPistoleer rolled: 3d20, adding 4 to the total Comment: FOR REAL ROLL FOR INTIMIDATE ADDING A +9 TO ALL ROLLS Result: 3, 16, 10,Total: 33So, a 12, a 25, and a 19. Tycho's going to get weird. The first result did not yield you much other the setting the mood. The two farmers are a little confused as to what it is you want. However after that, they start to get afraid for their lives. You may have three pieces of information. What do you wish to know? The first piece of information Tycho will ask for is for a sketch of the tannery's layout. I will defer to my colleagues for the rest. Let's ask for who else is inside at night besides the owner. Tycho lazily wags a dagger at one of the farmer's throats and says, "you heard the lady! Who else besides the owner will be at the tannery tomorrow night?" Will post in about 8 hours Information from farmers(Palisade and GateA2. Work YardA3. BeamhouseA4. Office2 dogs, 2 to 3 guards and Canal Lousily are usually there at night. Nice intelligence work! Is A1a a hole in the wall? It looks like it! Either way, that seems a much better entry than taking the main gate. We also have the simplest solution: why don't we buy two sets of ladders and just climb the palisade? A ladder would be good. Maybe poisoned steak for the dogs, too. I like the idea of sneaking in through the opening in the wall. We can throw poisoned steaks over the wall and let them silence the dogs. Quote from: hello on 18-04-2019, 04:16:54I like the idea of sneaking in through the opening in the wall. We can throw poisoned steaks over the wall and let them silence the dogs. Tycho's wearing armor, though. He won't be able to get through the opening in the wall without some difficulty. We could always split our forces. The more limber/nubile members of the party goes through the hole, while everyone else pulls a Trojan Horse with the farmers' cart. Andria would happily lubricate Tycho right up so he can slip through the back door... :) Tycho prefers lots of friction. He's weird like that. Kinky but nice... I say we try to get through and if not then a couple of us sneak over to open the door. It depends on quieting the dogs. I think we've overplanned this. But since we're here, let's overplay this a bit more. Let's bring the ladders for the palisades, Trojan Horse with the dung cart, use a grease spell for the hole. Now, let's talk to the tannery's competition to see if they are willing to sponsor this wholesale destruction of the tannery, since villainy is an enterprise and we have to were. I'm kidding. Let's do the back hole thing. Back hole things are fun. Well... any kind of hole idea is good. Should be doable. Ashok might have to do a bit of climbing either way. Somehow, I don't feel like he'd mind. Let's bring the ladder just in case then. Well the IC posts are up. :P Posting, posting :) right. I'll give you a chance before I stick Ashok's oar in. Or try his Stealth again. Dude needs to stop rolling in . Whatever the hell he rolled in that's got the dog riled. :/ I am sorry for not taking an active role. I’m struggling to get caught up mentally, and I regret my detracting from the game. I’m going to withdraw, with apologies to all. No problems Thank you from joining us and I appreciate the notice. Look forward to playing with you again soon. Know you are always welcome to join in again at a later stage if you want. I'll sneak up as well here shortly. I am here, and still participating, just been swamped real life with yearly inventory that will be this upcoming Wednesday. Then everything back to normal until holidays. Could. Have stealth rolls from all of you please Alright. I will wait for another 8 hours before I post then. Elven Sex Goddess and Thorne, if you two could post. I will finish off with what happens. IT would be interesting given one of your rolls If I could have Stealth checks from everyone other than the nice one I got PMed to me. That would be fantastic Also, could I have Initiative for all involved, please. Roll Result: PhantomPistoleer rolled: 1d20, adding 1 to the total Comment: Sneaking Result: 5,Total: 6 Cracks up laughing. Sorry...but all of you just made my day. Don't get me wrong, had another crap day today, just thinking about your characters having the worst day then mine. Yours is the second terrible roll of the day PhantomPistoleer. So don’t worry, someone beat you to it. Sorry for the delay in rolling! Roll Result: Andria rolled: 1d20, adding +7 to the total Comment: Stealth Result: 14,Total: 21Roll Result: Andria rolled: 1d20, adding +9 to the total Comment: Initiative Result: 13,Total: 22 Roll Result: Lost Paradise rolled: 1d20, adding 2 to the total Comment: Initiative Result: 9,Total: 11I think this means stealth didn't really work out :P This ought be good... So... Stealth! At 2019-04-20 14:06:41, Sylverthorne (UID: 19) rolls: 1d20m+6 Result: 16 (That is a sixteen. Ashok will, later, be ashamed of himself for snickering at whoever started the Benny Hill Parade... >.> Just got home from work, here is my stealth roll Roll Result: Rather rolled: 1d20, adding 4 to the total Comment: stealth Result: 8,Total: 12Where do I need to post IC for Rather to be?. Thanks everyone. Will get a post up in 8 hours after work Ok...so I lied... Post is up. Work noway the way, it will all be initiative from now on. Pretty sure Ashok doesn't have enough palm for the epic facepalm this deserves.... NLP. At 2019-04-20 19:57:50, Sylverthorne (UID: 19) rolls: 1d20m+3 Result: 8 (- Initiative My terrible rolling streak is as yet, unbroken. It's not like we wanted an easy assault anyway... :) Yeah. Easy isn't really very interesting. ^^; What is the initiative order? So far I have the following initiativesHelvorn 22ESG 17Dog 17Yet unknown 15sLost in Paradise 11PhantomPistoleer 11Thorne 8 Initiative roll At 2019-04-20 22:24:15, Rather (UID: 714) rolls: 1d20a6 Result: 17 (Roll Result: PhantomPistoleer rolled: 1d20, adding 2 to the total Comment: InitiativrResult: 11,Total: 13 You guys are up. Decide what you want to do and your plan of attack. You have been noticed but not spotted yet. At least you think you are not spotted Organist -- I wanted to let you and the group know that I'll be going on vacation this week. I do not think that I will have access to the internet. Enjoy the vacation Pioneer. I think we continue up over the walls with the sneaky types going through the hole in the wall. Thanks for the heads-up. Will run your character. Enjoy your vacation Quote from: Organist on 22-04-2019, 21:09:08Thanks for the heads-up. Will run your character. Enjoy your vacation Great. I can run Tycho until my departure this week. Ashok if you don't have a missile weapon then go after the dog. I can shoot the guard. . Yup. Ashok has blades, and a thrown dagger won't do the job here. Post in the morning though, I have to sleep. >. At 2019-04-23 12:48:35, Sylverthorne (UID: 19) rolls: 1d20m+3 Result: 21 (Attack, because... well, attack. At 2019-04-23 12:48:55, Sylverthorne (UID: 19) rolls: 2d4m+3 Result: 9 (Damage, just in case. >.>. And I just realized I might have rolled a CRT. Are we doing confirmation rolls? Yes please. Okay. At 2019-04-23 14:36:26, Sylverthorne (UID: 19) rolls: 1d20m+3 Result: 19 (- if that confirmed, there may be dog-chops on the menu... Roll 2d4 again please ;D Okay. At 2019-04-23 16:38:43, Sylverthorne (UID: 19) rolls: 2d4m+3 Result: 12 (NLP. Nice hit from Ashok! Yep. Will post tomorrow. But doggy out for the count. I rolled for bow fire. Well, sometimes, the big sword is /not/ just for show. >.> I'm a bit late to the party, but with Tycho going up first and then not so subtly getting off on the other side - we'll just have to assume Ariana is climbing over with a little more grace and poise and a little less haste ;) Fantastic. Just waiting for you before I do a post tonight From the information you got from the two you captured, you learned that the guard had just gone back into the office. There is one other window looking out into the empty tannery. Nice roll! Roll Result: Adriana rolled: 1d20, adding +4 to the total Comment: Perception Result: 20,Total: 24 Plllfffttt...you hear the breath of two people and a dog. They rustle of what you think is leather on wood. The distance of the sounds about 30 ft away and inside. So no one behind the door. You believe you smell fear. Could I have a perception test from all of you please? Roll Result: Ariana rolled: 1d20, adding 4 to the total Comment: Perception Result: 9,Total: 13 Roll Result: Andria rolled: 1d20, adding +4 to the total Comment: Perception Result: 20,Total: 24 At 2019-06-27 01:47:01, Sylverthorne (UID: 19) rolls: 1d20m+4 Result: 16 (- Perception. Thank you. Will post either on Friday night or Saturday. Got diagnosed with a slipped disc. So pretty much in pain. Sorry for the wait. ’D Hang in there and get better; we can wait Ariana still plans spending the night at a tavern, gravitating towards The Last Stand. She reckons that it would be even more suspicious turning up to investigate the gathering after the murders have been found. I think I'll stay at the mansion for the night, maybe explore, although that is looking for trouble :) Like that's a bad thing O:) Ok. Will wait till Thorne posts or Saturday to post Debating. On the one... Ashok's tempted to have a bit of a look around. On the other. Sleep is good for him, and he doesn't usually get a night off where he's not rolled into a cramped hole in a Swedish house. Might have to flip a coin... ^^; Come on Ashok, let's have some fun... real fun... :) ... you know his definition of fun usually means someone's bleeding out at his feet at the end, right? Well. One of his definitions. >.> That is one of his best characteristics; it makes him so sweet... *snark* Sweet as blood... Let's go look for trouble then! Did we go up a level? Not yet in regard to the level. Next major encounter, depending on what you do, you should go up to level 2 Will update on Saturday evening. Sorry for delay. Preparing for business trip on Tuesday next week but should not affect the game except for a slight delay I'm out of town for a few days as well Edited, my bad everyone All is good. I'll assume I can make a makeshift torch to head downstairs. Yes. Plenty of debris. Could you just make a d20 roll and add you int modifier (if any) to see how long it will last? I rolled nicely. Yes. As long as you don’t swing it around like a weapon, it would last for 20 mins As long as we aren't attacked by flammable undead then I'll not be swinging it around :)

The Hell Compact - OOC|rating:3.0

Star Wars_ The Mandalorian Wars (IC 2)

Day 311, 3962 Bayberry groggily woke up, sitting up in her oversized bed. She pulled her Leak behind her shoulders and looked over at the console on her nightstand. She tapped a key, and the shudders suddenly opened, bathing the room in the early morning light. It made her squint a little, and she got up, standing clad in only a skintight pair of shorts. The Two'led closed her eyes and reached out through the force..." Are you two awake?" She asked her pathways, though it was more out of politeness than curiosity. The Knight could feel them stirring when she focused on it. "Come see me if you still feel up to our daily rituals. It's not the temple, so we'll have to make do with what we have." She had taken these rituals after her first encounter with the withdrawn. Every day she set aside an hour (or more if it was required) of meditation to center herself. Later, when she took on students of her own-it became training for them as well. Nor was much more inclined to it, so a bit of sparring afterward was the conciliation she offered to better suit Kaiden's needs. Merryn went over to the living room, scrutinizing it carefully. Larger than the bedroom, but full of furnishings- a couch and table, chairs and hold projectors. A nice skyline view of the city as well, even a little balcony to enjoy the equatorial air. 'Not much room here...' She thought, careful to make sure it was to herself. It was always simple to find a place to train or meditate in the gargantuan Jedi Temple. Now, she didn't know where they could go. Coruscate was full of so much life and the temple was like the eye of a storm-the sole bastion of peace and quiet on the whole planet. She got dressed, putting on the same light gray tunic as before- but sans the boots. She pressed the notification panel outside Jerkin's room, patiently waiting for him to come to the door." Good morning, Jerkin." She said curtly, nodding her head, "Every day Nor, Kaiden, and I devote a little time to meditate and train together. Would you care to join us?" Not far from the empty apartments assigned to the Jedi, the Republic Military had a number of barracks on base. They were not as extravagant as the ones given to the Jedi. Just a hallway leading to a bedroom with four beds. On either side a bathroom and a kitchen. Each barracks room was like this, four occupants to each and very little privacy. Even so, it was hardly an issue for these women who knew what it meant to fight together. Linzi had the luxury of being 'on-call', much to the envy of her roommates. She awoke to Ari Fulani's alarm going off-the most professional and punctual of the lot of them. The TO of an Army company, she was a dark-skinned human with long black hair and a slender frame. They had known each other since they were cadets at the naval academy. Back then she was quite bookish, even meek, but has since then gotten considerably more comfortable with herself and others. Now they were in the Mercy Corps together. Ari put on her glasses and hopped out of bed, wearing loose silky undergarments. One bed was empty, and the other occupied twice... Fulani went over to rub the shoulder of one of the figures beneath the sheets, "Come on, lovebirds." Mirue D'pow pulled the covers down, revealing the Neutron woman in all her naked glory. Red-skinned and pink-haired, with lips and nipples to match. Though born on Cordelia, she joined after the Mandalorian's 'conquered' Zeros. In her own words, no one everinvadesZeltron. She boasted that the instant they came down planetwide, they'd be scrambling to get out of their armor. Never mind that the Mandalorian fleet just sat in orbit with all its guns trained on bombarding the surface... Mirue, like all members of her species, exuded a certain brand of pheromones that tended to... well, liven up the place. Their love and lust for life was notoriously infectious as well. In her arms was the coincidentally named Is To, the blue-skinned Nathan... a people who just so happened to be particularly sensitive to exactly the sort of pheromones Mire was always exuding. Kis was a specialist in submarine mechanics, given leadership over a logistics platoon in Fulani's company. Mire was with another company in charge of a platoon of Arizonians. Linz, however, was separate from all of them-her position as the Jedi's handler placing her nebulouslysomewherewithin the brigade. The Mercy Corps was entirely made up of volunteers, the sole exception being the officers in charge. Ari often complained about having to work with the army commanders, Mire often complained about the fact that most of her Arizonian volunteers didn't even speak basic, and Is often complained that her technical expertise was being wasted on speeder and weapon maintenance. They didn't hesitate to let Linz know of their envy." Sorry, Linz, didn't mean to wake you." Ari said, pushing up her glasses before pulling down her carefully laid out uniform from its hanger. Mirue gave the Nathan a deep good morning kiss before looking over her shoulder with a smile, "Wouldn't want to ruin the girl's beauty sleep- gotta look nice for those Jedi, huh?" Kis curiously turned her head, "Aren't they supposed to be celibate?"" Tell that to General Yanis." Ari muttered with a sideways glare, ever the gossip. Kaiden (#id=677250)Kaiden slept poorly. He tossed and turned, and, though he sometimes slept, when he once more stirred awake, he always had the impression that his dreams were troubled, though he could not remember what it was that troubled them. Some strange foreboding. As he lies awake, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, Kaiden considers reaching out through the Force towards Nor, to see if she too was awake. The mere thought causes his consciousness of the flows of the Force, of his fellow Jedi to rise, his awareness of Nor, just a few rooms over, increasing. Shaking his head, Kaiden rolls back onto his side, letting his Force sense recede. Better to let her sleep. Besides, his sense of others through the Force was often a little imprecise. The morning comes both all too soon, and not soon enough. Kaiden is just beginning to rise out of bed, himself dressed in a pair of bedroom shorts, when he receives the communication from Merry. I'll be right there. Kailen replies, to the extent that he is able, rubbing the sleep from his face with one hand. Normally, he liked to rise a little earlier than Merry, to perform a few morning exercises. He performs an abbreviated version, lowering himself to the ground for a quick series of push-ups and sit-ups. A few minutes in the sonic shower, a scramble into his clothes, and he steps out into the hallway, looking his usual self, his short brown hair freshly cleaned and neat, dressed in the same style he'd worn yesterday, with a tan tunic and darker leggings, both well-tailored to his form. He greets Merry with a smile and a bow, his blue eyes bright, the only hint of his troubled night being the slight shadows under his eyes. Someone who didn't know him probably wouldn't even notice." Master." He begins, then shakes his head, smiling ruefully. "Merry. Sorry. It's an adjustment." Far from the only one. He straightens as they wait, side by side, at Jerkin's door. He leans a little closer, his deep voice pitched low. "Ah... what space will we be using? The rooms..." The rooms were impressively large for quarters, but were hardly suitable for sparring practice. "There may be something nearby." Kaiden frowns. He knew so little about Coruscate besides the temple. "A quiet amphitheater? An arboretum? The Lieutenant may have some ideas." It would have to be someplace quiet and remote, with Merry's sensitivity; Kaiden frowns as he considers options that would keep her comfortable. Nor (#id=666740)(had taken Nor nearly an hour to even quiet her mind that night, and she'd finally drifted off to a restless sleep. Dreams of being chased, and of running from friends, woke her several times in the night, growing more frustrating each time. Each one was accompanied by a feeling of anxiety and sadness that took nearly a quarter of an hour to fade. Her dreams did fade for a brief period at one point, settling into a much more comfortable dream of relaxing with Kaiden. After that one, she awoke feeling confused, and awkwardly remembering their hug on his couch the day before. She had finally decided that the next time she woke up would be her last attempt when Merry's thoughts touched her own." Off an on, Master," she sent back. "I'll be there shortly." She finally climbed out of the bed, stretching uncomfortably. Her back popped several times, and she rubbed a hand along her spine while she yawned. She stripped off the pale blue sleeping gown she wore and headed into the refresher to clean up. She felt sweaty and grimy from the night spent tossing and turning, but didn't linger in the shower longer than it took to clean herself. Furthermore, she felt slightly more alive after the shower, thankfully, and returned to the room to pull on a fresh tunic. She stepped out into the hall, intending to head to Merry's suite, and instead found her and Kaiden standing outside Jerkin's door. "Did Jerkin volunteer his living area for use?" she asked, raising a curious eyebrow. Her hair was still mussed from her shower, only loosely held back with ties, and lines under her eyes showed her lack of sleep clearly to anybody who looked. Nevertheless, she did seem fairly awake. Jerkin arose early enough. It was easy enough to sleep in a place like this, especially once he was sure the locks worked. One thing about leaving the Temple and losing his Master was that he had no one watching his back but him now. He splashed some water on his face to shake those feelings off. He was not alone, no matter what happened. However, being away from his closest one was going to be something to get used to. It reminded him of how it had felt to leave his (admittedly few) friends behind when he left his posh childhood to become a Jedi in the first place, and he smiled sadly at the mirror." I guess life is always going to keep changing, and in ways I never expect, huh?" he asked himself as he stripped down for a quick shower. It was at the end of it that Merry arrived at his room. Toweling off quickly and getting back into his pants and tunic, he came to the door. He checked the hold viewer and smiled, before undoing the security. His short black hair was still damp from the shower, but at least he had bothered to put his clothes on before answering the door." Yes. I would, thank you." He almost turned his back to the door, but he noticed the others were there as well and instead stepped back to wave everyone inside. "Is it meditation or training today? I've got a nice floor right here for sitting or laying on, and I bet I can find us a place where people won't ask questions about Jedi if you want to do more physical training." "There is more to being a Jedi than idle meditation. Our current circumstance is proof enough of that." Merry replied to Jerkin, "Yet the same can be said of wielding a lightsaber. For us, it's both." She let herself in at his offer, her feet still bare, "I confess I don't know this city as much as I would like." In truth, she'd been avoiding all the noise and life outside the Temple for as long as she was on the city-planet. Her neglect of the pathways' practical training was proof of that, much to her shame, "You know it well, though..." She tilted her head at Jerkin, "Perhaps we should call one of the Lieutenant's acquaintances." The Knight produced her comlink and went through, making sure she still had the code before she put it back into her pocket. Her attention went back to Jerkin's still-wet hair, then she turned to Nor and Kaiden with a slight smile, "You're all very fresh." She remarked, "Did you think we wouldn't spar today? -just because we're away from the Temple..."" Or was it that you wouldn't break a sweat?" She arched an eyebrow, "Two, I think I can handle. The three of you, though..." Where had this cockiness come from, she thought to herself? Was it Kaiden? He was proud and headstrong but never quite arrogant. Or the newcomer among them, so soon after they'd met? She hadn't been like this since the days she traveled with Val'taros, the two of them against the galaxy. Most surprisingly was how refreshing it was-how enjoyable the feeling was. She was happy then, blissfully unaware... Now she felt happy again, but afraid." Let's clear some room." Merry said, looking around, "Minding ourselves in close confines as these could be part of the challenge." Kaiden (#id=677250)Kaiden shoots the approaching Nor a crooked smile, the corner of his lips turning up in amused sympathy at their apparently shared experience. The dark circles under her eyes spoke of a similar lack of sleep, as did the indications that her morning preparations had been slightly rushed, both things that he'd experienced that morning. The advantage of his shorter hair meant that his looked neat instead of rather cutely mussed, Kaiden notes. Perhaps Merry had an even greater edge. Kaiden's mouth starts to open to say something to Nor, but he is interrupted by the opening of the door." Thanks." Kaiden says amiably, joining the others inside at the invitation from Jerkin. Out of habit, Kaiden glances around, but there is little point. This room was the same as his own, and Jerkin hadn't really had any time to personalize it. No clues as to the personality of the other male Jedi. Kaiden turns his attention back to Jerkin, his eyebrows raising in interest as the young man makes his offer. It seemed that Jerkin must have spent much more time out of the temple than their little group; Kaiden only had guesses at the sort of place they might be able to practice, and didn't know anywhere for sure. With Merry speaking for them, though, Kaiden doesn't have the opportunity to ask for more information, managing only an interested "Hamm". At Merry's first question, Kaiden returns a fairly bland smile. Maybe he'd gone a bit too far in disguising his lack of sleep. Not that he was trying to conceal it, exactly... As she continues, though, Kaiden's eyebrows once again raise in surprise, a smile slowly spreading across his features. "Oh? I'd like to see that." He says, his blue eyes bright. Something about Merry seemed a bit different. More energy, perhaps? Was he just seeing in her what the rest of them seemed to be lacking, in a good night's sleep? Or something more; excitement for this life change, for what was to come? Regardless, it looked good on her, Kaiden decided firmly. Metaphorically speaking. Ahem. Pushing the thought aside, Kaiden quickly moves, his long stride carrying him across the room to the largest pieces of furniture, applying his muscle where best needed to clear the necessary space. Linz's eyes fluttered open when the alarm went off. She gave a yawn and a lithe stretch under her covers. The raven haired girl rolled one side to watch her friends waking, already stretching her wrists and hands as she would before a grappling match. (Linz did a lot better with hard style moves—including some heavy hitting Chain styles. But just because you don't use moves doesn’t mean you don't need to prepare to defend against them!) A moment later, she was behind the black girl, breasts pressing into her back. One fair hand slipped under the other girl's silky shift and squeezed at her breast. “Don't be jealous, Ari?” she pleased in a playfully cute voice. “I'll have no one to do calisthenics with if you get mad.” "There's more to being a Jedi than a lot of things," Jerkin answered with a shrug, but he quickly recovered to smile as he said, "But I wouldn't count yourself out in a three on one, Merry. Three of us against you... I don't know how these two work, and you know how they work; you might easily pick me off before I get my rhythm and then deal with the two you're familiar with." He gave a shrug as he fetched his weapon belt and his robe off of the chair he was moving, which had been facing away from the door to begin with. "The idea that we don't know much about each other works both ways, after all...but I was my Master's only AdAway, so I can't say that I'd be as experienced working with a team as you three would." Merry shot Kaiden a sideways glance and then turned her attention back to Jerkin. She put her hand up to her head and sighed, then looked more intently at the young man. As her AdAway cleared the room, she said, "Perhaps then we should..." She paused, thinking of how exactly to phrase it. She decided it was better to just show him, "Your hands, please." The Two'led mentally prepared herself, emptying her own mind and putting up barriers and inhibitions over her emotions. She closed her eyes as she held his hands in her own, curled fingers gently wrapping around his own outstretched, 'Can you hear me?'' I waited a while before trying this with Kaiden and Nor, but I don't know if we can afford to wait so long.' Errant thoughts of fear and apprehension slipped through, a barely audible echo unnoticed by the Jedi Knight. She opened her eyes, a deep shade of purple, 'Through me, I hope you will understand them as well.' Feelings of pride and affection radiated from her, 'I want you to be at ease with us, so that when battle is upon us...'" We must be of one mind, one hand, one heart." She recited. Her hands dropped to her sides, but the link remained. Merry unhooked her lightsaber from her belt and then looked at it carefully... It was a long-handle, several times the size of an ordinary blade and inlet with a pale and muted, green crystal. Walking over to a shelf against the wall, she set it down atop it and unhooked the second lightsaber from her belt. Seeing that Kaiden had taken care of the situation quite tidily for her, Merry went to the window and looked out at the lines of speeders and the massive towers that obscured the horizon. Kailen and Nor would recognize the second saber as one she often spoke of, but rarely used. It was her old master's- the bright and passionate blue blade of Val'taros. It brought back bittersweet memories of joy and sadness. She instantly put up her guards, attempting to shield Jerkin from them, "Whenever you're ready." She said. Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide Establishing a Telepathic Link. (MOTOR, pg. 53)We can handle this as mechanical dry-run for a few rounds or just with fluff, your call. Ari grabbed a towel before being ambushed by the trooper, looking over her shoulders with a soft laugh, "Grabby, are we? Mire, you've got stop flooding the whole room with your pheromones." She shot a playfully irritated look to the Neutron, who had a guiltless grin on her face." But I've got to go to work soon." Ari said, worming out of Linz's embrace. Mire laughed and pulled down her blanket, revealing Is in all her nudity as well. If the Nathan could blush, she would be right then. The Neutron smiled, "You're welcome to join us, Linz..." Kis pouted, "Hey..." She reached up and tilted the pink woman's chin to look at her, "We should at least talk about it first."" I don't know about you." Ari said to the Neutron, "But they'll get on my case if Lieutenant To's late to work again." Mirue rolled back into her blue-skinned lover's embrace, "They won't miss me." she lazily replied, snuggling back into bed. Ari huffed and put her hands on her hips, glaring at Is expectantly. The Nathan pulled a towel and wrapped herself up under the covers before turning back to her Neutron companion, "No funny business while I'm gone." The pink-skinned woman sighed and made her displeasure known. Linz had known Mire long enough to know what was next-the Neutron were infectiously lustful free spirits, able to connect with people intuitively and quickly. Unfortunately, theyhadto be. Her people were natural empaths, and with Is leaving in such a sour mood, Mire would soon be just as despondent- if not Moreno. It seemed like only a matter of time before they broke up with all the resulting drama." How about you do your calisthenics with the Jedi?" Ari asked, diplomatic as always. Her gentle way of kicking Linz out and assuaging Is' fears about leaving the lusty Neutron alone with anyone else. Mire rolled over and put her chin in her hands,"Calisthenics." After donning his robe and dropping his belt to free up his hands, Jerkin held out his hands and clasped hers. It probably was not what was expected, but he craved that small bit of intimacy and familiarity. If his Master gave him her hand, he could clasp it tightly and feel comradery. When Merry did not immediately jump and pull away, he smiled and felt a sort of ease. She was not Helluva by a long shot (few could equal the Rodin's wisdom in both the Force and practical subjects (in his eyes)), but Merry felt all the more familiar. Anxiety gave way quickly to friendliness and ease. He spoke in response to the thoughts, but his mind echoed his mouth perfectly as he uttered, "I want to be at ease with all of you, as well. I would hate to be a burden." From there, the lad listened to her and pulled his own blade from his weapon belt, before setting the leather belt and holsters aside again. He did not ignite the normal length, silver hilt's blade, but Merry could feel that undercurrent of excitement. He wanted to beat her. Furthermore, he wanted to lose against her. Furthermore, he wanted to see how it turned out. Even if he did not value a particular ending of this little 'session', he yearned for an ending and that eager part of himself peered into her. Those blue eyes of his widened, and his smile shrank just a little. He tried to focus on himself, Atari drills, and Son Principles to center himself away from those foreign feelings that he reached out to so easily. Uneasiness rippled through him as he realized that he was dealing with something entirely outside his expertise. The telepathic aspects of the Force were not his expertise by far, and contact made so easy was foreign to him. He clutched his lightsaber in one hand and did his best to not ignite its crimson blade as he fell back on his training to avoid succumbing to the anxiety that was squeezing his rib cage right now. He realized he was forgetting something, as he leaned over to grab his blaster pistol. Carefully minding the barrel's direction, he hit the catch to drop the power pack from the weapon and also flicked the weapon's charge setting over to stun." There's no point in practicing in a way different than I shall fight," he says with a nervous laugh, before nodding. "I am ready." Nor (#id=666740)(had joined Kaiden in shifting some of the lighter furniture, although she kept an eye on Merry and Jerkin as well while they did so. She was surprised that Merry was willing to initiate her telepathic link so quickly, but the young man seemed to handle it quite well. It had been a shock to her the first time Merry had done it, even knowing what was coming. While the other two were busy, she made sure to 'accidentally' settle herself onto the couch Kaiden was about to move. As it scooted under her anyway, she gave a muted yelp, and grinned at him before getting up and grabbing an end table herself. With the space cleared, she stood up near the wall, out of the way, waiting for things to begin. She unclipped her own saber off her belt, holding it firmly in her left hand. It was still the one Master Smell had originally given her, a smooth, dull-gray handle with a rubber-lined diamond pattern to assist in gripping it. When extended, the green blade gave her a vaguely sickly appearance, but she'd never gone to the trouble of replacing the crystal inside. She'd prefer to spar with training sabers, or even sticks, despite their weight and inertia, but she also realized you often had to make due with what you had, not what you wanted. Merry could feel Jerkin's excitement as well. It crept at the edge of her awareness, feeding off of her own curiosity and anticipation. She wanted to know more about this young Jedi, to know how he fought, how he thought. The Chain said that only through battle can one truly communicate with another..." I see." She said, looking at him with an amused smile and a quirk of her eyebrow, "A new form, perhaps?" Her blade ignited, bright and blue. She leveled it at the young man, "The unorthodox opponent is the most dangerous... You're first." She saw Nor ignite her own saber, pale and green like her own. The girl was the first to draw her weapon, but Merry knew she was wont to be the last to actually strike at her, "It will be up to you two-" She said, shooting a glance Kaiden and Nor's way, "-to protect him." Their newly formed bond remained, giving Jerkin just a moment to feel and anticipate her movements. She whirled her blade in a flourish and advanced upon him, completely in control of herself. She was no master of one form over another, but had in her repertoire a variety of techniques. There was the impulse to cut at his blaster, as one does with all blaster-wielding opponents- it made her smile mischievously. Kaiden (#id=677250)Kaiden watches, his expression curious, as Merry and Jerkin form the link. He feels a slight twang at the introduction of an unknown into their little private circle, but it was overridden by his friendly nature. After all, he wanted to get to know Jerkin. He does feel some mild surprise at how quickly Jerkin seems to take to it, showing no hesitation in clasping Merry's hands; most people held back at least a little bit. The thought flashes through Kaiden's mind that maybe the young Jedi was lonely. After all, he just separated from his own master. Maybe-His line of thought is interrupted by a quiet thump and a yelp from Nor. Kaiden's attention returns to her, her mischievous grin allowing him to easily piece together what had happened. "You-!" He exclaims in mock-frustration, trying and failing to suppress a grin of his own. He pushes the couch back towards her, making as if to run her over with it, but stops short, with her easily getting out of the way, anyway. The rest of the furniture moving is spent in light clowning with Nor. Hearing Jerkin's words, Kaiden feels that his earlier thought is confirmed. He pauses briefly in shifting the couch to give Jerkin a friendly clap on the shoulder, a quick smile accompanying it, just as he'd been too unfamiliar to do with Linz the day before. After all, he and Jerkin were both Jedi, and bonded now, albeit indirectly. I'd like to see that. Kailen's words come back to him as he sees Merry pull out and ignite the second lightsaber. He fights down the wave of concern that comes boiling up, as he'd learned to do as Merry's AdAway. Merry was the master; she knew what she was doing, knew her own limitations. Besides, any misgivings Kaiden had faded quickly as Merry announces the conditions for their practice. His expression remains mostly impassive, but the bright glint in his eyes betrays his obvious interest in the challenge. Almost instantly, his mind begins to flash through possible techniques, possible strategies. But Merry gives him no time, already advancing on Jerkin. With snap-hiss, Kaiden's own lightsaber ignites, a bright blue, almost white. It is made traditionally, with large handle, to allow him to properly leverage his strength. He presses forward quickly, his lightsaber held in front of him aggressively, hoping to present Merry a threat she could not ignore. If possible, he hoped to bind her blade, where his greater strength would grant him control Jerkin Solar (#id=679642)Jerkin's instinct was to pull back just a step with his left leg, leaving his lightsaber bearing hand forward and his blaster pointed at Merry but close to his body. He slipped his finger out of the trigger guard and ignited his crimson bladed lightsaber at the same time. He started to circle around to his left, further protecting his blaster hand. Though the weapon remained pointed toward Merry, he kept his finger off of the trigger. In a real fight, he would have to wait for her guard to go down before he could fire the shot that would end this 'dispute'. Even against someone who did not have a lightsaber, sticking his hand out ahead of his lightsaber was asking for it to get hit by an errant shot or even his own blade!" Don't let her split you two up!" he said, before lunging with a burst of unnatural speed. He feinted a half-finished swing with his lightsaber at Merry as he rushed forward and Kaiden advanced, trying to twist around her left side and get behind her. It was a classic Atari trick: make your foe look one way so you can go the other! Once he was behind her, though, he did not follow through with the attack that the 'classic' maneuver normally was followed by. Instead, he kept his blade up and ready to guard himself. It was equal parts concern for the superior he was so bonded to and knowing that she would be ready for the obvious. If he was going to win, it would not be with a careless slash or an opening jab that she expected. No, he wanted to stay well out of the way of the two who knew how to work together. The more room he had to move, the safer he was! Nor (#id=666740)(wasn't sure how Merry would fare against three opponents. She was more skilled than Nor, certainly, and even more than Kaiden, but with the numbers this badly against her, the outcome was uncertain. As she advanced toward her master, she pushed these stray thoughts out of her mind, focusing on what she could see and feel through the Force. Her blade came up, held at the ready, angled toward Merry. She advanced as Kaiden did, half a step further than he was, and to his left. This should keep their blades from clashing. She lacked in strength compared to most, but she'd spent time learning techniques that relied less on raw strength, and more on speed and finesse. Her thrusts and blows might be easier to push aside, but the idea was that speed and agility would make up for that. It worked for her fairly well, but even still, she seldom won out in duels. To be honest, her skills didn't seem to lie primarily in the lightsaber. She had the barest flicker of warning, her saber darting up to swat aside a quick blow from Merry. She shook her head in irritation with herself, again banishing the distracting thoughts. Focus, Nor. She made two quick jabs, blocked easily by Merry in a casual display of skill. Hopefully she could help create an opening, at least. With an effort, she pushed aside her irritation, trying to completely clear her mind. She focused on the fight, trying to feel, not see, how everything was moving together. She instinctively reached out to Kaiden, feeling him faintly through the Force, giving him vague input from her as well. It was certainly not on the level of Merry's connections, but the two had sparred together many, many times. While she wasn't familiar with Jerkin, perhaps the two of them, working together, would give him his opening. It pleased her to see how quickly Kaiden adapted to the situation, rushing forward to harass her and protect his new comrade. He was always the most militant of them, reminding her in some ways of Val'taros, of the guardian's finer qualities. As always, Nor was with him at her side, working in harmony with her comrades. She reminded her of herself... Even if she wasn't a duelist on par with Kaiden, she was quick to join in the fight. Jekin moved to her side, forcing her to divide her attention. She didn't expect him to strike first-the woman effortlessly parried the feint, only too late recognizing it was meant to deceive her. The way he moved, the way he was thinking... She knew it to be the swift and unpredictable movements of the Atari form. Having him at her back would be a problem... She pivoted to the side, looking left and right, alternating between Jerkin and her pathways. The woman took a few steps back, already finding herself running out of room-her heel hit the bed, and she quickly hopped up onto it. Merry crouched low, reassessing the situation. If she raised her sword over her head, she was likely to leave a rather glaring cut in the ceiling. Still. Jerkin had isolated himself from the other two. Advance to the right, and she would have Kaiden and Nor behind her. Advance left, and she'd have to worry about Jerkin... "Hmph." She said, looking at him for a moment, "That's a very cunning ploy." She lunged towards him, saber flashing in a blinding assault and leaving her quite vulnerable to the two behind her. Only by being so intimately aware of her pathways could she afford to lower her guard so deliberately. She trusted them enough to know when to hold their blades. Her blade locked with his, hissing and cracking as she spoke, "The goal is to protect you. If I can land a mortal blow even at the cost of risking one myself, it's still my victory, is it not?" The Knight broke their lock and continued her onslaught, abandoning all pretense of defending herself from Kaiden and Nor behind her. Jerkin was barely able to hold Merry back in the lock as long as he did. Two hands versus one was a poor match for the one hand. He tried to bring his blaster up to 'fire' a shot, but he flinched when she spoke to him. Would she really attack him so forcefully that she would risk hurting herself? A very small part of him could handle being hurt or killed here, but it was larger than the dark voice in his head that wanted to punish her for threatening him. He lowered his blaster as she began her assault." I-if you hurt yourself, we both lose!" he said as he frantically tried to parry and dodge her onslaught. His blade work on defense was quick, and he had a way of turning what should have been stumbles into graceful steps back or to the side. However, it was tainted by a lack of center now, and a weakened desire to fight back. How long can someone trained an offensive style continue to avoid and evade in this really tight space, even with his level of acrobatic acumen? Kaiden (#id=677250)His expression is serious, but inwardly, Kaiden feels the familiar exhilaration that he always does when sparring. Merry was a good teacher, and even if lightsaber combat was not her focus, she still had almost a decade more experience than he did, and it showed. Besides which, her different style of fighting, more defensively focused than Master Women had taught him, helped him to gain a more complete understanding of the lightsaber. He presses as she jumps back, beating heavily at her blade with his own, following to the foot of the bed as she leaps up onto it. Kailen's expression does brighten ever so slightly as Merry praises... well, mostly Jerkin. Kaiden recognizes his own contribution, though, with how heavily he presses as Merry's defenses. His brow does furrow ever so slightly, though. His own attacks, attempting to bind Merry's blade, were a bit risky. After all, she was very fast, and she slipped out of his bind skillfully enough, he would be open to a counterblow. It was made more difficult by his greater strength, but still. If Merry applied that same principle when attacking-She does, moments before Kaiden's thoughts come to their conclusion, suddenly lunging aggressively towards Jerkin. Kaiden moves to follow, but hesitates as he knows he should, watching as Merry's blade locks with Jerkin's. This... was not how Merry usually trained. Instantly, Kaiden's mind flashes to all the things she could be trying to teach. The importance of protecting a comrade? That some goals are worth sacrificing for? The dangers of... something or other? The fact that she was using her former master's blade now worried him a lot, those earlier concerns flooding to the surface. He exchanges a quick concerned glance with Nor. Merryn's attack resumes, suddenly, aggressively, Jerkin clearly barely able to withstand her assault. Kaiden hesitates, uncertain. He couldn't actually cut at her, focused as she was; not that he was even close to certain that he could land it, but what if he did? And he couldn't get around her to interpose himself, that was certain. Her sudden lunge made it unlikely he could even reach her in time, much less get around her. Desperately, Kaiden's left hand lifts, fingers clenched, palm up. His method of telekinesis was a little idiosyncratic. He tended to gather the Force into himself first, something he had a strong affinity for, and then channel it out to the object. He does so now, the channeled power lifting the pillows from the head of the bed. His left-hand curls into a fist, punching towards Merry, mirroring the motion of his gathered power, telekinetically launching the pillows towards Merry. I hope the Lieutenant will understand if she needs to requisition more pillows. The inane thought causes him to grin. "Behind me!" Kaiden calls, strain evident in his voice, hoping he'd be quickly understood. Nor (#id=666740)(sudden aggressiveness caught Nor by surprise. She had been expecting a more reserved sparring session. Perhaps a dramatic showing of her normal style, certainly, but not this. That she'd set aside her own lightsaber in order to use her former master's was suddenly concerning Nor more. Looking to Kaiden, it seemed that he shared in her concerns. If they had been using training sabers, she may have risked a lunge at Merry's back. She had left herself wide open to her apprentices, and a sufficiently swift attack might be able to stop her before she could strike at Jerkin, but Nor wasn't sure she trusted herself to make a safe attack. She never had been able to meet Master Smell's standards with the lightsaber. Instead, sensing something from Kaiden, she made her move at the same time as well. Gathering her concentration briefly, she flung an idea at Merry's mind with a quick wave of her hand. From the side of the room, the lieutenant appeared in the suddenly-open door. "What are you doing?!" she cried loudly. It was, in all honesty, a well-done illusion. However, Merry was stronger-willed than anybody else she'd attempted the trick on, and it failed to distract her as Nor had hoped. Hew own attempt thwarted, she hoped that Kaiden would have more success.roll At 2016-02-05 13:38:03, Nor (UID: 54482) rolls: 1d20a10 Result: 26 (Merry pressed forth, ignoring Jerkin's attempts to throw her off balance. Her intensity of purpose drove an unrelenting assault upon him, excluding everything else. Their link was strengthened as if there was no one else in the room... She felt something tugging at the edge of her awareness, Nor's considerable talents with the force... and a threat from behind. Jerkin's willingness to resist was eroded, and she saw her opening. She ducked under his blade, twirling around and deactivating her blade. The blue blade quickly shot back into the hilt, Merry bringing it down in a wide arc towards Jerkin... she stopped just short, a few inches from his face. The deactivated hilt vented a blueish steam from the emitter... He felt a familiar sensation, but it wasn'tthis. Just then a pillow hit her in the face, causing her to reflexively catch it in her hand and look over her shoulder at Kaiden. She smiled, her muscles relaxing. Merry turned her attention back to Jerkin, tapping his cheek twice with the cold metal of her lightsaber, "My pathways wouldn't hurt me."" You should have more faith in them." She said, lowering her arms and turning back to the others. She looked down at her lightsaber with fondness, and Jerkin heard a thought not intended for him to hear, 'Your saber always stops just short.'' Thank you.'" You want a pillow fight!?" She asked, whipping the pillow towards Kaiden with a mischievous grin. She brushed her leak behind her shoulder and moved back to the center of the room, "Not exactly what I had in mind when I thought we'd spar. Let's go again." Merryn ignited her blade again... An hour and a half later, the Jedi Knight stood between them again and turned off her saber. She was panting, beads of sweat upon her skin as she again brushed aside both her leak. Merry was the most fatigued among them, considerably exhausted. She had lost more than she won, but all Jerkin could feel between them was her considerable pride. The others felt it as well, Merry's passive connection to them remaining in place throughout the entire exercise. (Madeline(#id=679679)Linz couldn't hold back a little sigh. Shereallywanted to be able to share some simple intimacy with her friends, but they always had to attach so much baggage to what should be a simple sharing affection and pleasure. Ari found it some kind of threat to her sexual identity. Mire thought it would somehow come between herself and Is. Is loved Mire enough to want to indulge her silliness, but couldn't control herself enough to do so. The raven haired girl shook her head in bemusement. She turned quickly to wriggle into a pair of snug chocolate brown tights and a hip length robe. She cinched a cloth belt around this—hanging her officer's sidearm off of it. Making sure her neatly pressed dress uniform was in her Duffel with some of their est of her kit, Linz shouldered it and stepped out the door, waving to Is and Ari, “Be awesome you two. I'll see you tonight.” Lizi set off down the hall at a brisk walk. Her walk gradually sped to a jog. A few stair wells later, the jog increased to a run. The raven haired girl moved through a sky bridge between two buildings, breasts swaying from the speed she put on. Her skin was starting to take on a healthy glow. A few loops around another building and a sky-bridge later, Linz slowed back down to a jog. Moving through the halls of the building where the Jedi were housed, she decreased her pace again, now dropping to a brisk walk. This took her into one of the Jedi's suite's. Finding it empty, she let herself in and poured five glasses of orange juice. She got some instant ham and cheese croissants into bake, then set up on the carpet in the middle of the chamber to start a “light” round of calisthenics. 42 reps each of pushups, sit-ups, and leg lifts. She didn't want to be too fatigued if she'd get a chance to spar with the Jedi. And she was going OT need a shower before they could go shopping by now. Maybe Sorry and Merry would share? At that moment, where his life would have ended had she followed through with her strike, his left hand held the blaster pistol at hip height and pointed at Merry's abdomen. His finger had pulled the trigger all the way back just as she finished 'killing' him. In a real fight, he would have lost his life, but maybe he could have taken Merry with him. Maybes, however, did not win this war or protect the Republic. He had not picked a 'maybe' in coming here and turning his back on his master and the Jedi Order!" I was more worried about me hurting you. This is nothing like my training with Helluva..." Jerkin finally let his lightsaber switch off, and heaved a heavy sigh. He spent his time taking a breather while they joked around, but it was all short of a breather when training began again. Time made him more confident, in himself and his understanding of everyone's overall flow. He grew more at ease, but he kept playing it safe, especially with attacking. It was equal parts the environment not suiting his style and the smallest kernel of fear. Even so included, he was an outsider. There was so little he understood, and only so much he could learn in such a short time. Even as he took his share of victories, he only managed to build up a veil of confidence. Underneath the surface, he was gripped by trepidation at the approaching conflict... Nor (#id=666740)(felt the familiar warmth of muscles put to work as the sparring wound to a close. Usually, they'd have meditated first, both to avoid sitting still for a long period after plenty of exercise, and to avoid sitting around all sweaty after a period of exercise. Since they had gone straight to the sparring, she decided to head back to her own room to clean up, and meditate later. And to grab something to eat, she thought as her stomach gave a faint rumble. The snacks they'd had after arriving at the suites seemed like an age ago. She keyed her door open, and blinked in surprise to find Linz sitting inside, her own skin showing the faint glow of somebody recently finished with an exercise regimen. On the table nearby, a stack of sandwiches and several glasses sat waiting. "Good morning, Lieutenant," she said pleasantly, her voice not showing any sign of being surprised to find the other woman suddenly in the suite. "Hungry, were you?" She smiled as she gestured to the table. She leaned back out into the hall, as everybody else made their way back to whichever room they were heading toward. "Lieutenant Madeline has some refreshments ready in here, if anybody else was hungry." The others now alerted, she settled in at the table, grabbing a cup of the citrus fruit juice. "Thank you very much for preparing food for us." She brushed a few loose strands of sweaty hair from her face, and reached for one of the sandwiches. Some sort of thin-sliced nerf and cheese, with seasonings she wasn't familiar with on the meat. It tasted good, and all the more so after a good bit of exercise. As she chewed, she pushed out one of the other chairs with her foot, making a place for Linz to sit if she wanted." I hope you weren't waiting too long." Kaiden (#id=677250)The pillow thumps into Kaiden's face, the young man both not quite as fast to catch as Merry, nor is he particularly inclined to do so, anyway. Kaiden's muffled laughter can be faintly heard from underneath, as he slowly reaches up, pulling the pillow off. "We'll see." He says, smiling, his tone light. "If I don't do well enough sparring with the lightsaber, perhaps I'll have to resort to other weapons." He twirls the pillow a few times, by way of demonstration, before casually tossing it back onto the bed. It seemed everything was alright after all; Kaiden's worries instantly fade, as though they were never there, unaware of Merry's private thoughts. The comment from Jerkin does cause him to briefly raise an eyebrow, though. He, too, walks to the center of the room, a spring in his step, his enthusiastic energy almost palpable, especially when sensed with the Force. He turns towards Merry, taking up a combat stance once more, both hands gripping his lightsaber. "Let's go." Kailen's energy reserves were impressive, but, especially given how enthusiastically he threw himself into the training, an hour and a half was enough to considerably drain them. Breathing heavily, Kaiden runs a hand through his short brown hair, slicking it back, as he resecures his lightsaber on his belt. After a few moments, he walks over, offering a (clean) hand to Jerkin. "Well done, Jerkin." He says, nodding approval. With the open door, Kaiden can hear Nor announce the appearance of the Lieutenant. He takes a brief step towards the door, but first turns back to look around the room. At all the furniture piled up along the walls. Right. "I'll be along shortly." He calls back. It wouldn't do to leave Jerkin with a sigh, he begins moving it back into place, more slowly than he had pushed it out of the way. As he slides the sofa back into place, he casts a curious glance at Merry. The workout had been most intense for her, after all. "Need anything, Merry?" He asks casually. Hey, he was getting better at using her name. "That was quite the workout. I'm probably going to be sore tomorrow." He says as he pushes another piece of furniture back into its original place. Jerkin took Kaiden's hand and gave it a quick, firm shake. Then, he nodded at his fellow male as he started to sort out the furniture, and got into the effort himself. "Thanks, friend. No one ever told me when I joined the Jedi that moving furniture would be part of my training routine..." He breathed in and breathed out after settling the last one into place, before having a seat." Those thoughts...is it all conscious, the transmission? Or do we feel things the others might not want to share?" he asked with some worry, "not that I have anything to hide, but I think I heard something that wasn't meant for me, or maybe it was, and I don't understand?" He was content to relax, breathing slowly in and exhaling a little slower, but his mind tried to wrap around this facet of his increased awareness of the world. Sense had always been his weakest discipline in regard to the Force, given his reliance on more worldly knowledge and skills... Merry sighed, wiping some sweat from her brow. She had become so absorbed in their sparring that the woman barely seemed to notice when Nor left. She was only brought back to the present when the younger woman called out and announced Linz's presence. Furthermore, she gave Kaiden a warm smile, "Well, if you're offering... Something cool to drink." She inhaled deeply, "Best to save the meditation for later, ah? You'llreallybe sore if we don't stretch." Her eyes followed him as he went, and a moment passed before she caught herself staring. Jerkin's concern brought her attention back to him, "Oh... I didn't know you could hear them." She softly spoke, "I was... trying to shield you from them. Forgive me." The strength of the connection startled her-they had only just met. Merry closed her eyes and deliberately, carefully, broke their telepathic link. Her eyes opened, bright and violet, "I'll be more careful next time." It wasn't much of an assurance, but she was as disconcerted as he, perhaps Moreno. She thought back to what it might have been-what she thought out loud to him. It must have been her sentimentality regarding the saber-Val'taros. "No. You...you don't need to worry. I'm just not used to it." Jerkin smiled, though it was tainted by the uncertainty that was palpable despite the link breaking. "The...the thought about the lightsaber, that wasn't for me, right? I felt the emotion behind it, at least a little...and I hope my form wasn't quite that disappointing..." Kaiden (#id=677250)Jerkin's comment makes Kaiden chuckle. "Yeah, they leave a lot of the little stuff out." It only takes Kaiden a few moments to figure out how to use the cold water dispenser attached to the refrigerator, likely imported and then piped in. He fills first one glass, then a second, and, after a moment's thought, a third, leaving it on the counter for Jerkin. The other two he carries over to Merry, handing her one. Giving her a crooked smile, he lightly clinks his glass and hers together, as though making a toast, before taking a drink. Glancing at Merry just as she inhales deeply, he takes a deeper drink, letting the chill of the water cool him off. At Merry's suggestion, Kaiden winces. "Yeah. I think I overextended on some of my swings." Experimentally, he flexes, rolling his shoulders first forward, and then back, the play of the musculature in his chest, shoulders, and back evident to even a casual glance. He winces again as he identifies a few tender spots. "Lower back and sides. You're right; I'll regret not doing anything about that later." As he leaves, he pauses, looking back over his shoulder at her, his body framed in the doorway. "Thank you for the training, Merry. As always." He adds with a smile and a nod before departing. A few minutes alone in his room was enough to satisfy Kaiden that he wouldn't wake up feeling too sore the next morning. He joins the other two in Nor's room, a look of pleased surprise on his face. "Lieutenant! Good to see you. And food! Good to see you, too. Thank you." He says, bowing ever so slightly to her before slipping into the seat next to Nor, taking one of the larger sandwiches. He shoots Nor a quick glance, one eyebrow raised, his eyes flickering back towards the room they'd just been training in, trying to communicate without words. Furthermore, he didn't want to ask right in front of the Lieutenant if Nor found their recent training session as unusual as he had, at least in the beginning. "No." Merry said, forcing a smile, "Your form was fine. Can't say that I have too much experience fighting someone with a blaster and sword... though I suppose we should get used to it." She looked away, then went back to the dresser she put her longer lightsaber on, retrieving it and hooking it onto her belt next to Val'taros, "You were just hearing a little... reminiscing."" My own blade is much too large for this room, I think." The Knight said with a smile as she patted it. Indeed, it went from her waist down to a spot past her knee. A thought crawled in the back of her head, reminding her that it was also... tainted-the weapon with which she ended her own master's life. When Kaiden returned with the glass, she nodded her head in thanks and took a long drink, the muscles of her slender throat rhythmically moving as she gulped. She emptied the glass and held it daintily in both her hands, then nodded to Jerkin, "Shall we join them?" She entered Nor's room, musingly smiling at Linz, "I see we're not the only ones with a morning ritual." "I've had to make a lot up on the way. Even Helluva pretty much said 'I already taught you how to shoot, just do what feels right.'." Jerkin laughed softly as he reminisced a little, though he felt his own measure of sorrow. Would he ever stand with his Master again? The Rodin who had taught him more than his own parents had been now on the other side of what might as well have been a kilometer thick draftees wall. He had to survive the war before he could worry about that, but he could not help a smile at the memory. When she spoke again, he nodded, reloading the blaster and holstering both weapons at his sides. "Yes, we shall."" Good morning, Linz. You missed out on me getting my morning shave with these three." He smiled as he made his way in with Merry. "It was supposed to be Merry against the three of us, but I feel like I barely pulled the weight of half a Jedi." (Madeline(#id=679679)“Do lightsabers make for a close shave?” The soldier girl inquired, grinning. “I'd like to join in your sparring sometime. I'm remarkably effective bare handed, and I often carry a war sword when I'm in full gear.“Morning ritual?” she grinned. “Never thought of it that way. Every morning I try to spend an hour on training. I alternate between calisthenics, kayas, and the firing range. And I go for a run every morning.” She tugged her sweaty shirt away from her breasts—blushing a little to realize how much nipple was showing. “I need a shower. Merry, Sorry, maybe we can wash each others' hair?” She paused, then shook her head, "Sorry, Very, I mean... I'd love your help in the shower..." "It can be, but thankfully dodging is something I'm just good enough at, or else I'd have saber burns," Jerkin answered, either ignorant of any exposure or carefully not paying attention to it. However, his attention did come back when she mentioned hair washing. He chuckled quietly, covering his mouth before he could laugh more at the idea of the women folk showering together. "I think that might qualify as an attempt to tempt a Jedi into unprofessional behavior..."' Not that I mind,'he thought in silence. He wondered if the females would be as pleased by Kaiden and him showering together, and decided to bury that thought before it took him back to thinking about Linz and Merry...attending to each other. After all, he had a feeling showers would be in short supply once they were off to war, and that they very well might have to share... Nor (#id=666740)(met Kaiden's eye, her own following his back to Jerkin's room. She gave him the tiniest of nods. Something in there was worth discussing, and there were only so many options that he wouldn't likely want to talk about openly. Merry had seemed off, although whether that was just to drive home the idea that they would all need to rely on each other, despite only meeting recently, a cause of the sudden change in circumstances, or something more sinister, Nor wasn't sure. She smiled up at the others as they arrived, gesturing at the plate and cups taking up the center of the table. "You did just fine, Jerkin. Don't forget, Merry has got more experience than the three of us. Now if she was a wall of muscle, like Kaiden here, we'd havereallybeen in trouble."" We'd love to have you join us, Lieutenant. Training with somebody new is always good for your practice." She took another bite of her sandwich, and was halfway through it when Linz pulled on her shirt, probably showing off a little more than she intended. Nor quickly averted her eyes, hoping the other woman hadn't noticed her... noticing... her... She realized again as Linz mentioned it how badly she wanted a shower as well. However, the soldier's offer raised a startled cough from Nor. She cast a helpless glance toward Kaiden, and then Merry. Is this normal in the military? Showering together? She hadn't thought about it at all. It made sense, space being at a premium, a lot of people living together with rigid schedules. Suddenly the fact that the lieutenant was quite attractive as well registered with her, and the thought of being in the shower with her and Merry was making Nor abruptly very nervous. Kaiden (#id=677250)Receiving Nor's tiny nod, Kaiden turns his attention to his food. That tiny nod was assurance enough that they would speak about it later, and since she noticed something, he'd trust her opinion on it. Just like he always did. He does chuckle, though, at her description of him as a 'wall of muscle'. Kaiden glances up, giving a crooked smile, lazily flexing one bicep; the result is still fairly impressive. "Grrr." He says, his tone deadpan. Shaking his head, he continues. "Walls don't move very much. I felt slow compared to your lot, Jerkin included." He gives a nod to their newest Jedi companion. On the other hand, Kaiden muses, his own blade work was almost as good as Merry's. That was certainly something. Linzi tugging at her shirt does draw Kaiden's eyes, although he quickly looks away, reddening slightly. The Jedi Order had its share of attractive women, although Linz would still stand out. They were usually dressed head to toe in robes, though, or at least in conservative daycare. I guess cleavage is something you'll have to get used to. Kailen thinks, inwardly amused. The thought is not allowed to drift away, as the conversation turns. Kaiden frowns, thoughtfully rather than disapprovingly, at first Linz's, then Jerkin's comments. "Oh? Showering together? Is that... a military thing?" Or just not a Jedi thing? Perhaps that was what Jerkin meant; he seemed to know more about non-Jedi behavior than the rest of them. Inwardly, Kaiden winces, fearing he'd exposed another area of his naïveté about life outside the Jedi. Ah, well; he could learn from his mistakes. Clearing his throat, Kaiden speaks again. "Anyway, I could use a shower too. And after that... MMM..." Kaiden trails off uncertainly, frowning, light creases appearing in his forehead. In the Jedi Order, he'd have a fair idea of what the rest of the day would include. No doubt when officially inducted into the military, their days would be similarly filled. Now, they seemed to be in a transitional period. Kaiden sits back in his chair, suddenly feeling more than a little lost. Merry crossed her arms, amused at Jerkin's self-deprecation. She arched an eyebrow at Linz's offer, "I'veheardthe military started to field swords since the Sith War." Her own eyes drew to the officer's nipples exposed through the thin fabric of her shirt, the woman acknowledging it and then returning her eyes to the trooper's own gaze. How carefree she seemed... it must have been so...casual outside the order. But then when Linz offered to share a shower with her, Merry's surprise showed on her face, "I..." Her face began to flush a deeper hue, and the Two'led almost found herself considering it on a whim. It couldn't have been Linz's influence on her alone... She stammered a bit, unable to find a response for the rather lurid suggestion. Kailen gave her some time to think until she was finally able to speak, "I am afraid I'll have to pass, lieutenant. I... don't have much hair for washing, anyway." Though... the idea of such a fetching young woman massaging her Leak was embarrassingly tempting. It brought back memories of that moment of weakness she once had, neglecting to tell her pathways that they were erogenous to touch for her kind..." You can still use mine, though." She offered, "I don't mind waiting." (Madeline(#id=679679)Linz's cheeks got a grew a little pinker at Very's response. Not because Very had misunderstood what she implied—rather, she'd understood exactly but put more weight on it than Linz intended. However, the way the other girl caught her breath, and colored. It was very flattering and made Linz wonder if maybe soon she could finally have some intimate friends again. The raven haired girl glanced at Nor, who'd fallen silent at the offer, then back at Very. “Thank you, then. I'll take you up on that.” She touched Nor on the shoulder, looked into her eyes and gave a smile, “Don't do anything you're not comfortable with, okay?” She grabbed her Duffel and headed for Myra's shower, whistling.

Star Wars_ The Mandalorian Wars (IC 2)|rating:4.0

3001 A Space Odyssey!

Okay Sienna, let's blast off! On the far Sp inward Marches of the Sigma Dragons arm the hand of Imperial authority rests lightly. Defense and protection of the far-flung settlements scattered across a thousand worlds is often in the hands of mercenary warlords or else lacking all together. The essential trade necessary between these frontier outposts has fallen to the roving free traders. Unaligned with any of the conglomerate shipping cartels of the Empire, they take their small heavily armed ships into the jaws of danger to fulfill the vital role of commerce and communication where no one else will dare. The profit and the risk are enormous.... Free Trader Merchant Ship...MILDRED GREER, Registered, Freeport, Ibiza...#Ib07-809997-R5to Adam Sandoval-Roykirk....LIC# Ib-II505572 {"light box_close": "Close", "light box_next": "Next", "light box_previous": "Previous", "light box_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "light box_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "light box_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "light box_full_screen": "Full screen", "light box_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "light box_download": "Download", "light box_share": "Share", "light box_zoom": "Zoom", "light box_new_window": "New window", "light box_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"} The 'Greer' had seen better days since her commissioning almost fifty years before out of the Ling Standard shipyard on Gran Columbia. She was of a type well known in Far Sp inward and had been plying her trade with mediocre success for nearly 5 decades. The Backward Class cargo ships, could be put to many uses, heavily armed they often appeared as independent corsairs or as part of the patrol fleets of the local warlords. Stripped of weapons they could haul a fair amount of cargo with minimal crewing between the scattered worlds. It was this last feature that caused Adam Rookie to mortgage his soul and every credit he possessed to buy the 'Greer' when she went on the auction block at Freeport. Adam was a 10th generation Spacer, who had worked his way to Masters papers before he was thirty years old. He was also a hard drinking, hard living, gambling man, and it was this last trait that caused him to lose his precious ship over a baccarat table in a Freeport casino before she'd even finished refitting. The most galling part was who he'd lost her too. A young, green-eyed hellion of a junior ship's officer in the Ibiza Space Corps, whose pert round breasts had intrigued him more than smart card playing. When he realized the enormity of the loss, he holed up in a cheap hotel room with 4 quarts of rotgut and a death wish. The next morning the young woman found him, jerked him off the bed, poured coffee into his aching body and offered him a deal he couldn't refuse. Partners. Since her only experience had been on in system haulers, he would still be the Captain of the Greer, but she would retain 51% and be the Owner of Register. The fact that she had the ready cash to complete the refit was certainly something to consider. But it was her dynamite body and gorgeous face that sealed the deal. He signed the papers and shook hands. Later that night they consummated the 'union' in the same hotel room. This is closed thread for Sienna and Ariosto, though others may be invited along the way.*************************************************IC....SD 20-07-221-16:35Ibiza far system...approaching point of departure POD aboard the Free Trader Mildred Greer... Adam frowned over the ships papers one last time before strapping in for Jump. "We can't keep calling this ship the MILDRED GREER." His shapely young partner worked on in silence. "You hear me... We need something more...aggressive...more, dynamic!" Sonja whistled to herself. It was an old argument by now. She didn't like the name either, but they could not agree on another, and so she remained, the 'Mildred Greer'. "Bad luck to change a ships name anyway Adam. You know that." He turned away from the display and looked at her. "What are you doing with Hulk's cock anyway. We'll be going deep in three minutes." Hulk stood in majestic silence, two meters tall and rampantly erect. "Malfunction somewhere." She continued to punch numbers into the pad. "Something's scrambled, and he won't go down. He'll break it off working cargo...and that would be a pity." "Yeah...for you." Adam grinned, his own sexy cyborg 'Disease' was monitoring the console back in the engine room. Hulk and Diesel had been last minute frivolities when it became apparent that two more crewmen would be needed for the long hauls they were planning to make. Buying the 'Borgs' was killing two birds with one stone. They could have their cake and eat it two. The problem was, both droids were second hand and had come with more than a few 'eccentricities', like Hulks' proclivity to carry an erection at the oddest and most inconvenient times. Adam wasn't fond of Hulk. Though well-endowed in the physical department himself, with swarthy Latin good looks from his mother, a stocky muscular physique from his father and sporting a pretty good 'tool' himself...very few humans could match the steely horn that Hulk carried so effortlessly. "Okay, I can mess with this after 'jump'." She grinned back and slid into her position next to Adam. "We're clear for FALWELL, then... Cargo all up and up. You know those people are pretty tightened." "Yep...no problem, were squeaky clean." He tightened his straps and lay back, his mind on the six brand new pleasure bots in stasis wraps that were hanging in the freeze hold. She'd find out of course...but once they were out of Ibid gravel, it would be too late. He smiled at the thought of the wealth those six verboten droids represented. *Captain, crew...please prepare for deep space transition. POD in one minute.* The sexy voice of Vixen, the onboard computer could just about give him a pardon every time she spoke. Sonja hissed at Vixen.... She resented that voice because it made her own sound masculine. Not that Sonja minded having a rough deep voice, it was still feminine and could be used authoritatively when necessary." You know what?" she said turning to Adam. "I hate hyperspace."" Why is that?"" It does things to me. Strange things." Adam looked at her with curiosity and wondered what those strange things might be. "I get space sick OK!" Sonja replied."Oh, no. Does this mean you could throw up?"" Maybe." Was this a weakness? He thought. In Jump, there was no gravity and the thought of vomit floating around was so deplorable to him. "OK.......hold everything Vixen."" On hold." Vixen replied to Adam's voice command. Sonja looked around at Adam as he unstrapped her restraints." What are you doing?" she asked." I'm not taking any chances. I'm putting you inside a suit. If you do happen to vomit then it will contain it in the vac-center.""Oh, no! I don't like those things! Don't do this to me!" Adam carried her kicking and screaming. He was strong enough to handle her and keep her contained within his masculine grip. He set her against the wall in the suiting chamber and pinned her." Now you either do this by helping me or I can make it happen." he told her. Sonja looked into his eyes and realized that he meant it. "How does someone like you graduate Space Corps with a problem like that?"" Maybe I was joking." she smiled. Adam released her, and she slowly began to pull down the coverall from her shoulders. He stood back to watch as she slipped the elasticated material over her breasts and then to her waist." If you were joking then why are you doing this?" he asked. Sonja looked at him with a smile on her face and continued to squeeze out of the coverall, revealing her Mons, covered with the finest dark blonde pubic hair that he had ever seen. It was only a few hours since they consummated their partnership in the time-honoured fashion, and now he wanted more. The sight of her bending forwards, firm breasts hanging so deliciously, as she slipped the costume over her legs and ankles, set his pulse racing once more. Read my signature. "What the hell, Vixen can hold the point a few minutes." Adam, unzipped himself from neck to crotch in one movement and Sonja found herself staring at a rapidly growing tube of meat, threatening to burst out of his second skin briefs immediately! She looked up at him and winked, gracefully stepping out of her own jumpsuit and kicking it aside. "If she can't then we'll fire her...used up old slut anyway." The LEDs scattered around the suiting chamber seemed to pulse angrily as Sonja reached out, slipped the thin fabric down around his rigid cock and placed a fingertip right on the very end, rocking it gently back and forth. "I think it's time for ME to slip into YOUR suit...don't you?" He watched as she wrapped her hand around his thick shaft and began stroking it slowly from base to tip...watched the pointed tips of her breasts as they swayed invitingly beneath. "Umm mm...in a minute...don't be in a rush...." She breathed warmly against him. He felt the pointed pink tip of her tongue sweep a bead of precut from his purpled hood. Oh, yessssssssssssss....! *I cannot hold the jump forever you know.* Adam glanced at the nearest console, "Not forever Dixie, just till I satisfy my 'pardner' here." He tensed his buttocks tight and drove up through her cool smooth hands, hoping to find her mouth, open and inviting. His coveralls fell in a pool around his feet. "Very nice Cap... I may not need Hulk after all." She said just before parting her moist lips to receive him. *9.72 minutes exactly. Then we abort....understand? .... Understand?*The MILDRED GREER stood poised to thrust its phallic length into the dimensionless womb of hyperspace. Lurking, heavily cloaked within an asteroid cloud but monitoring their every emission, lay a sleek dark ship loaded with evil intent. Sonja... Vixen was only a bundle of wires and microchips. I hated her voice and her mechanic attitude. I believed that these things should obey, and now they take control of all our human lives. I wanted Adam just as much as he wanted me. After all, he was human, and I never get to make out with another human that often. The consumption was great, but far too quick. One or two strokes inside me, and he burst his love slush and it was over. I was still hot and needing more. Hyperjump was something that did scare me. I had a fear that we could be one of those poor victims of nuclear neutralization, when the anti matter hits and turns us into a load of Lipton particles.....rosewood, and we are space dust. I held his cock in my hand, making him feel good to have me holding him. It was the first time I got to see him up close and discover what that hardness I felt inside me really was like. I teased him with my tongue as he reached forward and grabbed my hair, forcing himself into my eagerly awaiting mouth. The taste of free-flowing precut combined with the remnants of my juices was totally delicious." Less than 10 minutes........should we?........or..........should I just let you do what you are doing until ..........later?" With a mouth full of man meat, I could not answer. Did not want to answer. I just held him while he jerked and sucked on him until I could feel something pop in his shaft through my fingers."Oh, yes!.......too late.......too late!!" he cried. Before I realized I was taking him in my face. Waves of cum just squirting out on my lips as I tried to lick most of it away. It dripped onto my breasts as he pulled away slightly to squeeze out the last drop, and then he held my head, rubbing it on my lips. "Take it all....every last drop....oh yeses." I took it all like he wanted and looked up at him holding his cock." I take it you enjoyed that Adam?" I asked. He looked down at me and smiled." You bet I did. It's been a long time since anything did that to me."" Anything?"" Sure anything human or much that resembled a female." I sat on the floor as he pulled back his underskins. "Now, can we get on with this trip or what. And I don't think you really need to be suited-up do you? Or do you?" "Hell no...neither do you!" He looked at Sonja as she lapped his cum from her cherry lips and decided they had plenty of time... Grabbing her knees he slid her down on the mattress of her own jumpsuit... "ADAM!... What..." He grinned at her, winked and dived between her legs... "Hey we don't have time ...to..." She arched back and closed her eyes as his fingers spread her delicate folds apart and his tongue opened her slick petals to plunge inside and wallow into her sex. "Oh...shit!" She grabbed his black curly hair and humped herself up hard, grinding her pussy into his face. He was lost inside that tight musky tunnel, probing deeper while his thumbs met on each side of her clitoris and began to rub. "Ohohohohohoh...ohhhhhh" Sonja was rocking herself against his lips, her thighs pressed tight against his cheeks. "Ohohohohohohhhhhhhhhhhhh...yessssssssssss" *CAPTAIN!...POD in 90 seconds...do I abort the transition?* Both of them heard Vixen, but the words made no impact. His tongue alive inside her cunt was much more immediate. Adam licked out and up, teasing her throbbing bud with the tip of his tongue and replacing it inside her with two twisting diving fingers... "Like that?" He whispered against her lust wet pussy. In answer, she tried to pull his whole head all the way inside her and with a small shriek began to cum! *CAPTAIN!...CAPTAIN!.... OH, FUCK IT!...TRANSITION IN TEN SECONDS...TEN...NINE...EIGHT....* His fingers plunged in and out like two slick cocks, coated with her spend...he sucked her clit into his mouth, rolling the pearly nub around... *SEVEN...SIX...FIVE...FOUR...* ...and shook it like a dog with a bone! Sonja was exploding...GOD!...he wouldn't stop! *THREE...TWO...ONE...* He wouldn't....stop! They flashed into hyperspace in the middle of an orgasm of cosmic dimensions and in the 'notice' of transition... Sonja came and came and came and came and.... Adam drank her delicious emissions for 117 light-years of the space/time continuum. ************************************************* "They've transited my Lord." Saar Nesssesssit, Lord Commander of the Pirate vessel Myst Vietnam (Without Mercy), wagged his tail and bared his canines. "Do you have an echo we can follow?" "Yes M'Lord." "Then what are you waiting for! I have a score to settle, and I mean to do it!" As soon as the ship entered hyperspace, the artificial gravity zeroed out. Sonja began to float with Adam, her thighs gripping his head as his tongue remained engaged, lapping and sucking at her pussy taking every drop of her juices. To keep him in place, she held onto his head as the pair began to rotate like two weightless creatures copulating underwater. Organs after orgasm, Adam kept her high with only her moans of ecstasy filling the small cabin. Adam somehow manipulated themselves so that he pinned her against the wall, and he held her whilst his lips kissed her breasts gently in turn." I have never done this in zero-G before." she whispered." You have now." he replied, softly biting on her erect pink buds. "How does it feel?"" Different. My orgasms lasted longer I think."" Good."------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Mildred Greer came out of jump eventually. Adam sat by his communications screen to pick up a message whilst Sonja took a shower." What is this?" he asked himself out loud. The message was not something he had expected. YOU HAVE ENTERED FAR FALWELL SYSTEM. FALWELL IS UNDER MARTIAL LAW. ALL INCOMING SHIPS PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO SYNCHRONOUS ORBIT 4.5 AU OUT RIGHTEOUS/RIGHTEOUS STATION. BEAM REGISTRATION AND MANIFEST IMMEDIATELY. BE WARNED SHIPS CARRYING CONTRABAND OF ANY KIND ARE FORFEIT TO COUNCIL OF PURITY. OFFICERS AND CREWS OF SUCH SHIPS WILL BE TERMINATED. "Shit!" Look at this will ya!" Sonja walked over, still flushed and damp from the shower. She bent over his broad naked shoulders, rubbing her nipples across his skin. "What is it Capping...you still got a pardon?" He spun around and engulfed a succulent breast, sucked deeply and then with a sigh, released. "No but someone has a pardon for us!" She looked at the screen. "Harasses aren't they?" "Yeah, I knew the system was tough but Christ how did they nail us so fast!" "Oh come on Adam," She rubbed her tits across his cheeks a few times. "That's on permanent beam...every incoming gets it.... Besides, we don't have anything to worry about." *Oh hell no* He thought, envisioning the six pleasure bots in the freeze. "Now come on, it's a long drift in to Righteous Station and if you're not UP for it, I'm going to go tinker with Hulk." She winked and sashayed back to the stone faced Goliath. "Hey wait I'll get Diesel, and we'll both 'tinker." *************************************************** The same message was received aboard the Myst Vietnam and after being translated had the whole piratical crew with their hackles up and tails twitching. "Let's blast them my Lord!... This is an unbearable front to our honor." Saar brooded on the Captains' divan for a minute. "No. I think I know away to turn this to our advantage and kill two stones with one bird." Before Adam realized, Sonja had disappeared from his side. He commanded Vixen to keep an eye on things during the long drift to Righteous Station." Why? Where are you two going?" Vixen asked. Adam looked around at the red-eye light above the view screen that was Vixen's all seeing eye. He pushed his face towards it." Vixen!.....watch my lips....... None of your damn business...ok?"" Oh..... I see things have changed captain. Now I'm just Vixen the computer who keeps things safe around here."" What?"" Of course, the human may not always be around, and you may soon consider asking me to talk sexy and dirty to you again whilst you pleasure yourself...."" Stop!" Adam shouted. "Enough. I don't need you for that anymore. Well, at least for now. Just do as I command."" Yes captain."" And have respect for Sonja. OK?"" Want to know what she is doing with Hulk right now captain?"" Uh?....what? No!" Adam went aft to look for Sonja and eventually found her with Hulk in the galley section. She sat on the droids lap eating and riding his cock and looked over to Adam. "A! Want food? I'm starving." Hulk motivated his arms so that both hands locked gently onto Sonja's breasts. "Louis yes....that's nice." Sonja moaned biting into a yellow food block. "Mummy I love pineapple." She held out the block to Adam who walked towards them slowly. "Want some?"" I have never seen anyone eat and fuck at the same time."" Ooooooooh yes.....double pleasure.....mmmmmmmmm." Sonja replied as Hulk tweaked her nipples pleasingly. "It saves time."" So where is Diesel? And I thought his cock was busted?"" Mmmmmm it is.......but right now, he's busting melee...." Although the pineapple block looked yummy, it wasn't quite enough to distract him from his predicament, but the sight of Hulk's vaguely metallic fingers, fondling and squeezing Sonja's 'pineapples' was. Sitting across the table from her, Adam whipped out his cock and began to masturbate. In the background Vixen sighed... *You know captain, once when I was a being of flesh and blood I would have loved to go down on you while you watched your nympho partner getting off with Hulk.* Sonja colored slightly at being called a nympho, but she'd been called worse and right now the sensation of that eleven inch elastosteel rod burying it itself in her vagina with every rock and roll made her think she quite possibly was one anyway. "Vixen dear, would you gently roll my balls in your hands while licking me like a lollipop?" Adam Grinned and stood up, so his first officer could clearly see the squeezing strokes of his hand as they raised his own formidable erection to full elevation. *Oh GOD YES I WOULD my Captain.* "Gees! Listen to her. Now that's what I call respect." He walked around the table and began running the soft velveteen hood of his cock across her Sonja's breasts... "Can you see what I'm doing to her Vixen? Coating her breasts in precut...so Hulks' fingers can work it into the warm tender flesh." *Oh CAPTAIN.... You tease me so!* "Hey baby," He winked at his 'mate', "Why don't you tell her what it feels like to be fucked by the 'Jolly Green Giant." Sonja...Rosewood....... Hulk's cock was societies nice. I was trying to enjoy each jerk that I made onto his elastosteel cock, each inward stoke followed by that pull-out flick on my clit, when Vixen started to get personal with Adam. It got better though, when I realized that he was tormenting the bundle of chips that she is, and began to make her jealous. Adam came over to me and started to run his cock over my breasts as Hulk's hands squeezed them gently. The precut began to run out over them as I looked down, watching them get sticky." Adam! C'mon now, don't waste it." I said, opening my mouth waiting to suck him. My jerks were making it difficult to stay in one place at the same time as I bumped up and down on Hulk's lap and I could see Adam struggling to find my lips. But then he held my hair and kept me still, pushing his cock slowly over my tongue." Hoare!" Vixen let out the single word response."Now, now Vixen, let us not get personal." Adam replied. I was too busy enjoying Adam's succulent cock to even want to reply to the computerized bitch. After all, I was human and had the advantage. But then Hulk thought differently. When I stopped jerking on his lap, Hulk's cock started to fold and collapse into its nodule, withdrawing from me and leaving me halfway to a climax." Hahahahaha....... Nice one Hulk. After all us machines must stick together." Vixen was obviously out to play games and annoy me. "I think he wants you all to himself baby." Adam watched his long thick rod disappearing between Sonja's red lips and plunging halfway down her throat. *That's nonsense Captain. His WR-987RStim Module has malfunctioned again and should be taken care of immediately.* "It'll...wait." The deliciously distracted commander mused as the pretty mates head continued to bob up and down on his aching cock. Far below, Diesel Mae, Adam Rookie;s own Pleasure Bot was working perfectly and having finished her engine room duties was staring at the view screen studying Sonja's skillful technique at fellatio. The poor human was still rubbing her sex across Hulk's inert body hoping for a resurgence of the massive 'droid's' response chips, but she knew it wasn't going to happen. Not until that module was replaced. The First Mate was taking the Captains magnificent cock almost as deep down her throat as Diesel could and the 'Bot' had to admit the woman's alternately gentle and firm squeezing of his balls had a finesse that made her attempts seem...well, mechanical. It was something she'd have to work on. "Gods I'm going to cum!" Sonja, squeezed his tight full sac even tighter and grabbed his throbbing cock in her other hand, pumping it hard as she sucked the wide soft tip and prepared for the deluge she knew was coming. Vickie was lost in her own thoughts... Diesel Mae took on the visual data she watched on the view screen. Vixen interfaced with her instantly:"So you think you can do it better?" Vixen asked. Daisy raised a programmed smile and continued doing her checks. "I don't think so. Sonja is a human after all, and they invented sex in the first place. What are we, but poor computerized facsimiles of the human race. We serve to please." Daisey listened, still running through the checks and then looked up at Vixen's all seeing eye above her. "You are even less human than I am. You have nobody."" Yes, but I do have the makings of a good human based imagination in my hard drive unit. I can concur up many fantasies which is something you can only act out. If only you had my capacity to do so." Daisey smiled again, tilted her head to onside while she ran through her files and then looked up at Vixen's visual input console. "I have one hundred and seventeen different scenarios. I can use all of them if I wanted to induce sexual pleasure with my master."" Good! I have two hundred and twenty-three scenarios." Vixen replied. At that moment a probe appeared from an open portal near Vixen's eye. It telescoped towards Diesel Mae and attached itself to a peripheral input port on her wrist. "What are you doing?" Diesel asked." Just checking your files." Suddenly Diesel's eyes opened widely, and her perfect blue orbs seemed to glaze. "Now you have no scenarios. I have erased them all. Hehehehehehe." As the Mildred Greer hurtled 'In System' towards it's rendezvous with destiny.... Aboard the Myst Vietnam... "Oh great Saar, give unto me the outpourings of your Overwhelming Maleness..." The Captains favorite concubine, Speech Assist was crouched on all fours before him, her nearly scaleless azure tail raised on high, the tempting plum of her sex already opened and glistening. Her rump twitching in anticipation. Saar in moments of elation liked nothing more than a 'quickie' in the day cabin to make him feel like howling. As he guided his double-headed, scale encrusted, beer can thick erection into Speech's waiting passage he bared his teeth in anticipation of doing the same to the entire crew of the hated Mildred Greer.... ******************************************** Aboard the Hammer of Virtue, Falwell Patrol Cruiser... "Righteous one, the Heretic is not responding. Do we cleanse her." First Officer Noah looked with thinly veiled infatuation at Captain Ham who indeed had captured the hearts of nearly the entire crew with his wholesome blonde good looks and tightly tailored black uniform. "No...set a collision course. I think we'll bring these fiends back to the Council. They might be of some use as examples at the next burnings." Back on the Mildred Greer, Sonja and Adam were busy. Adam clutched his crewmate by the shoulders and regulated her rhythm upon his hard cock. Sonja was enjoying every microsecond of each thrust into her mouth until finally he released himself, shooting yet another magnificent load of his hot cum down her throat. Sonja sat back, still in Hulk's lap and smiled back at Adam, running a slender finger along her chin to capture the final dribble of thick white spunk. "Mammal......that was good Adam." she purred. "Don't we have work to do around here?"" Yes we do. You have become a distraction to me." he replied, sealing his pants. "Look, I am really sorry about Hulk, he is quite an old model, series 9/B. I picked him up cheap a few years ago.""Oh, don't worry about him. I can perhaps trade him for a new series grade model." Sonja stood up, gave Adam a tender squeeze in his groin and smiled as she walked towards the door. Her butt swaying naked in the subdued lighting of the cabin. Adam watched her as she slipped back into her coverall, taking on her near perfect form." Vixen!" Adam called out. "Status report now.....please"Vixen did not reply. Instead, there was silence that made both Sonja and Adam turn to look at each other with surprise. Adam repeated his command and again no reply." Vixen! Answer please?" Sonja commanded. Again, no reply." That never happened before." Adam said, a look of concern on his face. Sonja gave him a gentle touch to his shoulder and then left the cabin towards the bridge. Adam hastily stuffed his swollen cock back into his jumpsuit and followed his mate to the bridge admiring each sway of that firm tight ass. They arrived to find the control consoles lit up like Christmas trees with angrily flashing red and yellow LEDs! "What the....!" *MASTER HELP MELEE!* It was Diesel's voice wailing from Vixen's amplifiers! Adam turned to Sonja in shock, but she was already sliding into the command chair hitting override switches as fast as she could. "FUCK! It's been a damned long time since we've controlled this boat hands on!... Vixen what the tells going on!... Adam what's...?" The Captain was staring at the hatchway where Diesel had just entered, an evil smile on her face. The console squawked again... * She did it!...she trapped me...HELP ME MASTER... I WANT MY BEAUTIFUL BODY BACK!* "Looks like you'll have to deal with me now asshole." Adam was appalled... Daisey NEVER talked to him that way!" "Hold on!.....that isn't Vixen's tone of voice." Sonja exclaimed as she saw Diesel walking towards Adam. "What is going on here. Vixen where are you?"" I'm here." Diesel looked at Sonja and pushed her back into the chair. It was obvious that the two techs had switched. And Adam tried to restrain the love-bot, but she pushed his arm away with enough strength to remind him that droids can be dangerous when it came to pushing their weight around. "I just borrowed Diesel for a while. I hope you humans don't mind?"" No way!" Adam replied. "That isn't supposed to happen.""Oh, really?....who said?" Vixen asked. "I think I like this body very much. Now Adam...do I look sexy enough for you?" Sonja could not believe what was happening and burst into laughter at the whole fiasco unfolding before her. Vixen pushed even harder. "And you.....what gave you the right to come on this ship and steal my Adam from me?"" Wow!....hold on.... Your Adam? Wait, you're supposed to be a computer not a human. Who wired you up this morning?" Vixen smiled at Sonja, articulating every body movement with ease in her new environment. Sonja and Adam suddenly realized that Vixen had taken over Diesel Mae with absolute control, and she was dangerous." Vixen. Can we talk about this?" Adam asked, trying to appease the mad bot very carefully. "I think we have a problem here. Who is controlling the navigation right now?"" Daisey is." Vixen replied resolutely." How?.....only you know how to do that." Vixen stopped silent for a while as if thinking. "Oh yes. I do that don't I?" she replied eventually." That means......" Sonja turned and quickly pressed out data on the console. "Oh shit!...oh fuck!"" What is it Sonja?" Adam asked." We have drifted off course. And I don't like the look of what is following us." We're in trouble here! The erratic maneuvering of the Greer with the hysterical Diesel in control had at least the benefit of slipping for a few seconds the tell-tale heat signature of the Myst Better out the shadow cone behind them where it had been slowly closing the distance. Adam and Vixen ranged themselves anxiously on each side of Sonja as she tried at once to override Diesel's crazy commands and to decipher the identity of their 'stalker' "Shit Cap, I've never seen a profile like this one!" The Mate turned her worried face up to him. "I have...and so has Vixen... It's a Go rack Pirate ship, a damned big one! I think I know who it is too and unless you ladies want to end up impaled on a double-headed half meter Moravian Prick for starters we better figure something out fast!" The two women looked at each other, lost in the implications of what he'd just said. "Fast!... What are you waiting for...we're in trouble here!" ********************************************Saar released his load of seething virility into the grateful purring body of Speech just as the Klaxon sounded RED ALARM! He roughly pushed the purring female away and rushed to the bridge, his organ growing even more impressive as it filled with the adrenaline of the chase and imminent 'kill'!" We're being 'painted' M'Lord"An anxious first officer called out." They have us!"" No matter!" Saar roared, semen splattering the bridge in excitement. In fact all the male crew were now in an intense state of ferocious arousal, penises breaking free and hackles up! The female members had wisely withdrawn to program and direct the actual interception." Sound Battle Stations!... We close and board the prey...NOW!" IOC...me up there The Mildred Greer was dwarfed by themes Veteran its huge bulk shadowed the tiny trader. Both Vixen and Sonja tried to pull their ship free of the grab-force that held them in place. They needed Diesel, or rather Vixen in control of the navigation systems, but that was no longer possible. "I want my body! I want my body!" was all that Diesel could say." Daisey! Shut the fuck up..........can't you see that we have a crisis!" Adam commanded, sliding into the chair and using Vixens ample breasts to steady himself." Sorry cap.......it's no good." Sonja announced. "They got us good and proper.....no escape."" What does a Moravian prick feel like?" Vixen asked." Like I said. You're about to find out."" Geeeeeez Vixen!" Sonja exclaimed. "You have the ability to switch off your feelings. It's me who will have worry about taking the prick, not you." The Greer lurched sideways as the powerful Moravian tractor beam took it and jerked it off course. Sonja sailed out of the console and landed in Adam's lap. Vixen/Diesel kept her balance with 'droid' like dexterity, and it was she who answered the jarring, reptilian voice that suddenly reverberated through the very skin of the tramp freighter. You and your puny vessel are now the possessions of Saar Nesssesssit, Lord Commander of the Pirate vessel Myst Vietnam! Any attempts to resist will be met with instant and agonizing annihilation!... Strip and prepare to receive your conquerors! Sonja snuggled closer into the Captains lap. "Do you think instant annihilation can also be agonizing?" Adam's face was white as a sheet. "That's who I thought it was and if there's a way to make it agonizing believe me Saar knows how!... Especially for me and the Greer." The first mate was about to ask him why he was so special, when the clanging sound of the airlocks electrified him! "Come on baby we have to hide!" Vixen seemed quite calm as they sped by in the direction of the cargo hold. She had already peeled off her jumpsuit and was obviously getting ready to 'receive' her conqueror... "Diesel?" Adam called his new ships computer as he and Sonja entered the cargo hold. "Can you hear me clearly, this is Adam and you know me very well, remember."" Adam?.....yes my master..... I remember you."" Good, now listen very carefully. Activate hidden file 2-A-2."" Adam what are you doing." Sonja asked. He silenced her by putting a finger over her lips and then waited for Diesel to reply. There was a silence and suddenly Diesel Mae's voice changed to that of a man." Emergency file 2-A-2 activated and in control sir."" Ok, lock the cargo hold doors and seal them. Prepare emergency life pod, and welcome aboard."" You are welcome sir.....consider it done."" Adam is there something you are not telling me?" Sonja asked." I remembered while we were running here. I had almost forgotten about Victor."" Victor? Who is Victor?"" The Emergency file I installed into Diesel Mae." Adam explained. "It was years ago.........and that life pod is around here somewhere I know it is......." Sonja looked around her and noticed the cargo they were carrying packed in sealed alumni cases. "Oh my god! What is this? Adam!............. Adam!" "Hush!...give me a hand with these things... They're worth a fortune!" She stared at the six massive cases..." Are those what I think they are!" "Six late model 'Nirvana-Bliss', Pleasure Bots...if we can just get one of them down on Righteous we can make our fortunes!" "Your crazy!... You know what they'll...." Adam was straining at one of the shining containers, pushing it towards what appeared to be a standard deep space cargo pod. Suddenly the weight was lifted away and Hulk stood their holding the half ton in one huge arm... "Damn Old Buddy I thought you were terminal!... Put it in there!" The outer wrappings of the pod had fallen away to reveal the sleek lines of six passenger lifeboat. Between them all they managed to cram in three of the 'coffins' and themselves when Adam suddenly thought about Vixen...err Diesel. "WAIT!" But it was too late Sonja had fired the explosive bolts and activated the Jettison sequence...they were leaving the Greer now!... No turning back. At the last nanosecond, the hysterical cybermind of Daisy Mae fled the circuits of the old freighter and interfaced with the Pods smaller 'brain'. "I'm here!" She squeezed. ******************************* Vixen was bent severely over the back of the command chair, Greer's double-headed 'demon' playing deep inside her shuddering pussy and clenching ass while the rest of the frothing invaders sued up in line behind him. "For the last time!... Tell me where they are, or I'll allow myself to become REALLY, REALLY tumescent!" She looked back over her shoulder and smiled... "Come on you big bad Lizard... Do your worst... I can take it!" The life pod sped away from the Mildred Greer and her captors ship. Adam looked on sadly, wondering if he was going to ever see her again. The image of her shrank in his view but never in his mind." What happens now?" Sonja asked, finding Hulk's faulty penis of interest once more as she extended it and retracted it in her hand. Hulk looked down at her with a smile on his face as if uncannily enjoying it. "Do you bots have any feelings?" she thought out loud." I've set the navigation controls for Righteous. Should be there in.....er....say two hours, maybe." Adam replied. Sonja continued to retract and extend Hulk's penis, faster and faster as his smile turned to a look of extreme pleasure. "Adam, have you seen this. I think Hulk is working up to an orgasm."" I'm not surprised. Furthermore, I think I would if you were doing that to me."" Do you think he will cum if I keep doing it?"" No. But I will just watch you." Adam suddenly realized that Vixen was left behind at the mercy of the lizards. "They are going to rip my poor Diesel bot apart. Fuck, she was good to me."" Was I?" the voice from the intercom asked. "Did I make the universe move for you captain?"" You certainly did Diesel. And one day you will again, I'm sure baby." Sonja fell backwards with the thrust that Hulk gave from his hips. He gave out a moan that echoed around the pod. "Oh yes!!! That was so fucking good!"" Wow! Hulk did you have an orgasm?" Sonja asked, picking herself up with a little help from Adam." Yes of course he did. It's part of their programming. Have you never had sex with this type before?"" No. So are these others the same?" she asked." Better!" Sonja was pretty as a picture straddling Hulks broad chest while her hands busied themselves with the 'droids' emerald green cock. They were both naked, for now in the 5th hour of their desperate flight from the hapless Greer the ambient temperature inside the pod was reaching uncomfortable levels. Adam decided he'd spent enough time worrying about pursuit and needed some Ramp;R badly. Besides the rudimentary sensors of the lifeboat could not give any dependable information on how promising or hopeless their situation was. Sonja read his mind as she so often did, stood up from the sighing Hulk wiping pseudo cum from her hands and took Adams throbbing cock in her playful fingers. "You want some baby?" She teased. "Not just some!... I want all of it!... Who knows when we'll have another chance!" He was burgeoning stiffly in her hands and would have said more except his mouth was suddenly full of warm sweet it. "Ummmphhh" He said and locked his hands to the firm round flesh of her ass. "What about the new 'bots Cap, aren't we going to have a preview?" But she knew from the feel of the pulsing hammer in her hand that a preview was a distant second on Adam's mind. Couldn't resist.... Ariosto said: couldn't resist.... Click to expand...

3001 A Space Odyssey!|rating:2.0

Star Wars_ The Fall of the Jedi

"I sense... so much unbalance... So much hate. And anger."" It was inevitable... He would have fallen under the dark side..." The two suns shined brightly on to the hot, scorching desert. The small transport sand speeder slowed down as it entered the large city of Mos Easley on Tattooing. It was the run-down, crime infested scum hole it always was... but now there was a disturbing, new look to it. Enemy soldiers in white armor marched through the sand, blasters at the ready, scanning the horizon and the people that passed by. A man in a brown cloak stepped out of the speeder, paying the driver the small amount of credits. He walked with his hood up, trying to make it to the cantina." The darkest of voids can be lit up by the faintest of lights... Do not fear. Trust the Force... and find those lights." The man walked in to the cantina, music playing, people getting drunk, laughing and flirting with the waitresses walking around... The man avoided eye contact with the soldiers, and the poster showing some of the most wanted people in the galaxy. As the man sat down, he closed his eyes, his ears hearing everything going on, the hitting of the glass on the table, the laugh at someone across the room, and as that happened visions appeared in his mind of the real world. "Wow... This Obi-Wan character has a huge bounty on his head..." A man said."yeah! Wor is that this is the guy who humiliated Vader." The man in the hood tensed a bit at the name. "He's the guy he wants the most... but he's disappeared. No sightings of any Jedi of that skill for a very long time...."" Well if he were to hide somewhere, Tattooing would be the perfect place..." The hooded man opened his eyes to see another man taking a seat across from him. "Ben Ken obi?" the new face asked. The hooded man slightly moved his hand, in the background all the wanted posters taped up fell to the ground. "Captain Velour. A pleasure." The man known now as Ben Ken obi said with a smile, taking off his hood. "I heard you're trying to cook something up here..." The captain said, leaning back and staring at him. Obi-Wan Kenobi nodded. He spent the last two months in hiding under the name Ben Ken obi, after safely giving Padre's son to his aunt and uncle. They made it very clear that they don't want someone like him around the boy, so he respectfully kept his distance, but never too far away from him. He spent most of his time meditating, training in the force, specifically talking to the spirit of his old mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn. They both talked about the future... and how no progress will be made if there isn't a spark for the light... "I'm trying to group together some men and women who have the same interests... and skills. Do you know where to look?" Obi-Wan, asked, looking at the man with his tense yet very calm, eyes. Diamond studded space surrounded thesis, the nearby blue-yellow of nearby Nothing providing a stark contrast to the humbling darkness surrounding it. In orbit was its crystal moon, You’re, the occasional freighter seen docking and departing one of its several star ports. TheE psis'three wings were each unfolded, the shuttle drifting near the other side of the planet. Its thrusters set to stabilize, lights turned too low, it was clear the shuttle was hiding from someone." Master Truman, we can't stay here forever. There's nothing we can do to save Master Rim'NASA. Please, Master." Jedi Knight Saga Truman turned to look at his apprentice, her emerald eyes pleading. Feeling her unconsciously pull on the Force, Saga sent a soothing wave to try calming the girl down, wondering himself at what to do in this situation. His first instincts were to land on the drought-ridden world and attempt to save the Jedi himself, and in any other situation, he would have. Here and now though, with his AdAway depending on him-No. Better to leave now. Rounding his seat to face his apprentice more appropriately, Saga apologized, "I'm sorry, Diana. I remember Master Rim'NASA from when I was a young ling. She was a healer, she doesn't deserve this fate, but you are correct. We must move on." It was Diana's turn to send a comforting wave through the Force now, enough to turn the edge of Saga's frown. Turning back to the ship's controls, the young Knight considered the options present for them. Nothing, just off the Orwellian Trade Spine and an important stop on the relatively defunct Nothing Corridor. To the Galactic East was the planet Triad, the important trade and industrial hub no doubt under "Imperial" boots. The only other direction, West, held some options. Lutrillia, the planet with a migrating city, was not part on the Republic and would likely not yet be watched. Further down the Soda Trade Spur were Tyrone and a number of backwater farming planets; Not exactly a paradise, but someplace to do good. Be spin and Gavin were not options, but further along the Trade Spine were numerous backwater or loosely controlled worlds to hide on. While not the most ideal planet, Aorta eventually led to Carey, perhaps the most ideal planet to lie low in for a while. No matter which way Saga looked, however, one thing was for certain. They would need to travel through Gerrenthum, a bustling spaceport and capital of the An oat sector. Hopefully busy enough for the two of them to go unnoticed. Feeling out with the Force, Saga felt the reassuring presence of his AdAway. The young lady had certainly matured these last two years; some would argue more than her Master! Both have had their roles since they departed more than two years ago, and both knew the other's strengths and weaknesses like nobody else. Not even Master Nautilus quite grasped the 'true' Saga Truman like Diana. Daily life and death struggles on the edges of modern galactic society would do that. Punching in the necessary navigational courses to arrive at Gerrenthum, Saga stood as the ship began leaving Nothing's gravity well. Inviting his AdAway to join him in meditation, Saga settled on the mats they had situated on the ship's cockpit. More time would be needed to fully come to terms with leaving Master Rim'NASA, but the Jedi Knight couldn't help letting his mind wander to happier times. "Barely two months since the end of the Clone Wars, and the discovery of the coup by the Jedi unrest has marred the peace the new Empire has strived to restore. The most recent spikes in violence happened on Coruscate. Mass riots broke out yesterday outside the newly christened Center for Cultural Purity." Sela turned away in disgust from the Kool-Aid that played GNN in the corner of the restaurant. For the time being the stance of the Emperor was that these people had the right to protest, but it was only a matter of time before the Stormtroopers were sent in. It was long past the time to placate the populace. The young woman picked up a roll of rice and meat with her fingers and shoved it into her mouth, the chewy texture briefly taking her mind off the news broadcast. The bliss of the various tastes were short-lived however when GNN began to discuss the fallen Jedi Order. An aerial shot of the still ruined Temple dominated the screen. Sea growls in anger and threw an eating utensil at the hold projector with force enhanced strength. Sparks shot out of the device and the broadcast flickered and died. All around her restaurant patrons looked at her. Some with fear, others with mere curiosity. From the other end of the open air dining floor Sea spotted the manager making a bee-line for her table. Taking that as a signal to end her meal Sea stood and scanned a cred card across the table scanner, making sure to add some credits on top to cover the hold-projector she'd destroyed. The manager continued to give her a death stare as Sea walked out into the pedestrian walkway. Several Hours Later..." Gods I needed that." Sela collapsed in a sweaty heap next to the male form in her bed. The man, her trainer in the ways of spy craft and dark side lore, looked over at Sea was a silly grin. "It would be a shame to allow a woman of such passions as yourself to wallow in her inability to express those passions." Sea ran her hand down his chest with a devilish grin. "I doubt this is what the Emperor had in mind when he commanded you to train me." Her lover was about to say something when the dual beep of two data pads punctuated the silence of the dark room. Sea rolled away to the small table on her side of the bed. The message light on her personal data pad blinked urgently. Sea flicked a finger across the screen and scanned the message that appeared. Blue eyes narrowed after finishing it. The Emperor wanted to personally see her. It had been nearly a month since she'd been granted an audience with his high grace. Shutting the pad down Sea rolled back to her mentor with a fake smile. "I have to go." Sela's foot falls echoed around the massive hall of the Imperial Palace. The maze like halls, at which the Throne Room sat in the middle, showed signs of the newest construction the Emperor ordered right after his declaration of Imperial power. She could feel the Dark Side in everything this deep into the palace. It was an intoxicating feeling. Far more erotic than even her recent sexual liaisons. With quite reverence Sea slipped into the throne room and approached the figure hidden in shadows." You sent for me my master." Sea said as she bowed before him. The Emperor loomed over her in all his ugliness. "Arise my child. Your training is nearly completed. You have but one final task." Palatine raised a hand, beckoning to someone behind her. Sea heard the heavy steps of someone, and she stood and turned to see Erik, her trainer approach. She needed with a slight conspiratorial smile before turning back to the Emperor. "I strive to be of service my lord." From his robes Palatine pulled a lightsaber that Sea hadn't seen in two months, not since he took it from her. "When I took this you were but a disillusioned Jedi, seeking a way to express your natural passions. And now, you've found how to not only weld the dark side, but to turn your own body into a weapon." There was a flicker in the Emperor's eyes that said he knew more of the relationship with Erik than was public. "And now it is time for you to make one final sacrifice to complete your journey down the dark side. Take your lightsaber and strike down your lover." In the brief time between heartbeats there was a flood of emotions that coursed through Sea's views. She knew her time with Erik was limited. Yet in that time Sea realized that she'd come to depend on him. Maybe even loved him. But neither could she afford to disobey the Emperor. Her very life was now in his hands. In the space of the second heartbeat, just enough time for the Emperor's words to register in Erik, the trainer began to protest, but was cut off from the woman's lightning fast reflexes. Her head was surrounded by a cloud of pink as she called the lightsaber to her hand and spun to her former lover. His face was bathed in orange light as she ignited it and made two quick swipes. The lightsaber was disengaged and returned to her belt before the cuts even registered. First his head toppled from his neck, followed by the rest of his body falling into two pieces. All three parts fell to the throne room floor with a sickening impact, and she turned back and bowed low once again to the Emperor. Her feelings for Erik long gone. There would be many others. "Your desires are my motivation my master." Palpatine placed one hand on Sea's shoulder, and he walked past her. Sea turned to follow the Emperor, watching as a half a dozen hold files appeared around them. "I have need of a new task force of dark Jedi to serve in Intelligence. But they will be more than that. They will be Jedi hunters, and my boot to stamp out these pockets of resistance to my new order. You will be the first of my Inquisitors. And these Jedi will be your first targets. Find them and turn them to the dark side. If they remain steadfast in their devotion than remove their cancer from the galaxy." Turning around to read all the files floating in midair Sea saw some names she recognized. Jurado Months, Valor Graze, Saga Truman, Sony Bavarian... So many to choose from. So many that she may finally kill. It almost made the new Inquisitor giddy with excitement. Now where to start... The night was young and his men ready, they were ordered by the high counsel to take a certain base on the planet of Gavin. The last mission Jurado was sent on before the betrayal of the emperor. Jurado cursed this day for all eternity. He loved his men with a commanders' passion, whenever one was killed in combat the whole team would assemble for a burial. The day flowed through his mind like a holotype on repeat. He was pulled to his senses as his transport ship arrived at Coruscate. His hood covered his helmet, the one he pulled from his second in commands head. He re tightened his chest plate, who he grabbed from his gunner, checked his boots, his scout. His arm armor was tight, his sniper, and his leg armor, his private. These pieces of armor came from every single one of his squad. As Jurado made his way through the crowds, he sensed nearby troops. When he found them he tailed them back to their barracks and made his way inside. Silently he killed the first two then made his way through killing as many as he could. "Quickly silently" his favorite motto came into his head. Just as he finished an alarm went off, and more troops made their way into the barracks. Jurado ran out through the back making his way to a safe zone he set up before order 66." Now where's my next target." He said puffing and pulling up a data pad of the city. He marked two different locations and went decided to rest the night. Keeping the armor on he crashed on the bed and fell into an endless real of nightmares about him killing his squad. Sony Bavarian - KorribanSony kneeled on the cold stone floor far into the underground maze. He was exhausted, both mentally and physically. For months now he had been in this ancient tomb, trying desperately to unlock its hidden secrets, to learn its power. When he had first entered the tomb he had felt little change in the force and would regularly leave the temple to hunt or trade. However over the last two months, since travelling much further into the temple he had been sensing massive shifts in the force; he held the temple responsible for this and believed that it must therefore hold great secrets. The only artifacts he had so far been able to find were some teachings of a once powerful Sith named Darth NOX. Through study, he had learned of a ritual known as force-walking, but still did not fully understand how it worked and nor what repercussions it had. Whilst these artifacts were drenched in the dark side of the force Sony knew they weren’t responsible for the massive shifts in the force and had continued to look for answers with no avail. Having been underground for over two months, Sony had adjusted to the darkness and had also been forced to nearly starve himself. “What more can I do?” Sony tried to shout, but his exhaustion allowed only for a course whisper to escape his mouth. “I have meditated, I have seethed, I have torn through walls, I have read, I have looked over every inch on this temple and I have had no rewards. Is this a test of will? A test to see if I’ll go mad? I do not care anymore. Keep your secrets. I am leaving, and one day I’ll return and bury this temple beneath mountains!” and with that he rose to his feet and begun making his way out of the ruins. Many hours later As Sony reached the entrance hall he was forced to squint due to the light shining through the temple’s entrance. As he walked towards the entrance he passed one of his caches and picked up a couple of bottles of water, downing them quickly. He smirked lazily to himself as he thought about how stupid he had been to not simply track back and resupply at a much earlier time. As he reached the entrance he was hit with a gut-wrenching realization, that he could still feel the huge shift in the force.‘But how?’ he thought to himself‘Before I could not feel the shift until I was much further into the temple’. He stood outside the temple now with his arm sheltering his eyes from the light as he tried to comprehend what was happening. ‘What if the temple was not responsible for the shift?’ Sony slowly moved his arm away and looked up at the sky, seeing multiple trooper shuttles litter the view and feeling the presence of force users.‘The Sith…’ "No one in Tattooing is brave enough to attack The Empire. This is place is covered in Imperials... But I have a few connections here and there. I might be able to talk... for a price..." The captain said with a grin. With a wave of his hand, Obi-Wan spoke calmly. "You will give me the information for free." The Captain hesitated, but then shook his head. "On second thought" a pause "I'll give you this information for free..." As the captain talked to him, Obi-Wan listened fully, hearing the stories people told about how an Imperial fleet attempted to take down a rogue Clone, but they never returned... A bounty hunter for hire who doesn't mind working for any side... and the talk of places Jedi's could have hidden. Obi-Wan never thought about those places until now... It made sense; some left with their pathways to train in peace and nature... their senses must have told them that there is something off balance. Ben Ken obi walked out of the cantina into the burning sunlight. He casually made his way to the space hangars, avoiding the troopers on the road, or anyone that looks like they could cause some trouble. He walked in to the farthest and smallest hangar. Furthermore, he made sure that most of his money went to this, just in case he needed a getaway. Furthermore, he walked to a small closet, where he closed the door, and moved a few random pieces of objects to reveal a keypad. Entering the code, a hidden door opened to a stairway. Obi-Wan followed it down to reveal a steel room, used as an undercover base in the Clone Wars, with a small Jedi star fighter in the center. It was fueled, in as good condition as it ever will be, and able to sneak past the Empire's scanners. He had the force on his side." This is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, on the Jedi High Council. If you are listening to this, it means that you still seek hope, and truth. If you are willing to fight for that hope, please contact me on this channel. May the force be with you.... Always." Obi-Wan turned off his radio, and sat quietly in the small star fighter. He was out of the Tattooing orbit, and free to travel anywhere in the galaxy. He needed to find a safe place. Furthermore, he pressed a few buttons, and pulled some levers, thinking of one of the safest places he could go for now... In a flash, Obi-Wan disappeared, travelling in light speed. Gerrenthum. Thousands of navigation beacons surrounded the blue-green planet, as many more thousands of starships entered and exited the planet's gravity well every hour. Ringed by spaceports and important corporate stations, it was also home to a military base, and the urban world hosted dozens of cruisers and battleships, as well as several Senator-class Star Destroyers. The capital ships were an intimidating sight, formed up around a commandeered fueling station in a defensive pattern. Nobody in their right minds would attempt to enter the planet with a bounty on their heads." Time to wake up, Master Truman. We're here." Kaga awoke slowly, first feeling out with the Force as his eyes slowly opened. Diana had already left the room to continue copiloting, and the young Knight was left to his own devices in order to prepare for the long day ahead. Sliding off the hard bunk, he rose and changed from his sleeping robes into his 'street' clothes-More of a disguise, really. There were not many Keyless wandering the galaxy, and with one of those few being a Jedi Knight, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be singled out for any searches. At the same time, it would not be good to appear too normal either. They were in a luxury military shuttle, after all, there was no good way to appear as civilians while flying their ship. Slipping into a green skin-tight jumpsuit, with padded robes and cloak quickly thrown over, Saga soon looked reminiscent of the Obese wanderers, and this look was quickly solidified with an Obese breath mask. Saga walked out of their quarters, to see Diana already in her fine robes and jewelry. During their wandering, it was often required of them to don disguises, and here were the ones they had chosen; A young noble from a second-rate planet, and her hired Obese mercenary. Both of course carried their lightsabers, both hidden in their robes, while Saga also carried a modded WESTAR-34 blaster pistol. Diana was at the navigation array, and Saga sat in the pilot's chair to open communications and begin their landing procedure. Opening the channel, they were greeted by one of the orbital stations and given landing coordinates and a bay number. An hour later, they were safely docked and ready to go out gathering information and supplies." We need to have a case of food and water rations delivered to our bay. I've already contacted the station, and we will be refueled within the next few hours. We will gather information we can while we're out. I want to be out of here within the day. Do you understand, AdAway?" Truman glanced at his apprentice, to see her nod once. The Knight allowed a smile to creep across his face, hidden by the helmet covering every feature of his face. After a quick equipment check, the cargo ramp lowered and both Master and apprentice left the safety of their ship. Wandering the streets of Gerrenthum, both Truman and Diana were reaching out with the Force, feeling the emotions of passerby and trying to discern information from the crowd. Their rations order had already gone through and was ready to be loaded onto their shuttle, and so both had decided to practice their sensor abilities. Saga felt the ripple and flow of emotions in the Force, its current dragging along the edge of his consciousness. Every being in the crowded port had a unique flavor, a slice of their life open to anyone with the ability to read their emotions. Bitter over their lover, angry at the port service, elated at a successful business transaction. It was like reading from a book for the skillful Knight. However, the disguised Keyless could also feel the waves of frustration overcoming his apprentice. Most skills came easily to the gifted young woman, and when they did not, it was often a short fuse on Diana's temper. A soothing ripple in the Force was not enough to calm the angering AdAway, its cooling touch lost in the now bubbling activity in the Force. Reaching over to touch her shoulder despite his disguise, Saga sent a stronger wave of calm into the Force. Seemingly more open now, Diana accepted the sentiments and slipped into a standing meditation. Tarumana allowed himself a moment of worry over his AdAway, before setting aside those emotions to continue feeling out with the Force. He was well aware of the dangers Diana brought upon herself by lapsing into anger, but Saga felt confident that he could confront her when the time was right. Now, in a crowded spaceport under Imperial boot, was not that time. Again lapsing into an openness with the Force, Saga lost himself in observing and learning. An alarm went off in Saga's head. Reaching out, Saga could sense several hostile presences, their signatures seeming to have them in mind. By now the two of them had left to just outside their bay, continuing to practice at a distance as the crowds thinned out. Feeling them approaching, Truman opened his eyes and glanced at his apprentice, to see her hands slipping into her robes, readying for battle. Saga nodded in approval, before reaching into his own robes as they retreated to behind their bay's cargo doors. With Diana opening their cargo ramp, Saga held his inactivated lightsaber in his left sleeve while the right held his laser pistol. Both the ramp and the bay doors opened as one, two Sugar and a Nothing in padded armor charging in with rifles blazing. Saga quickly drew fire, Diana not receiving any as the group seemed to avoid firing after her. Seeing that these individuals were not part of the authorities, but rather thugs likely looking for a quick ransom, Saga allowed himself to show a touch of abilities. Rolling past the shots aimed at him, Saga advanced on the trio quickly, one of the Sugar breaking off as the Knight swept past him. Now without his companions directly to cover his back, the thug was quickly disposed of with strikes to the chest and neck. Dropping heavily, Truman turned to face the remaining two. Diana by now had raced up their shuttle's ramp and was preparing the ship for launch, the overhead roof opening to reveal the light purple of Gerrenthum's night sky. Seeing their marks readying to flee, the pair themselves raced up the ramp, a startling move to the young Knight. Who retreated into the enemy's territory? Shaking his head, Saga raced up into the shuttle as the ship began raising off the ground and the hydraulics to the ramp began raising. Now inside, Saga confronted both criminals as they stood, blasters pointed at him. "Drop it, fracking Obese mere. You can't run now, it's just the two of us and one of you. Can't hope to win this," said the smirking Nothing, his eagerness to shoot betrayed by his condescending tone. However, the thug had forgotten who was currently piloting the ship, and that this model had an excellent autopilot program perfectly capable of taking over launch details. As his AdAway engaged the stunned Sugar, Saga disarmed the arrogant Nothing with a shot before planting a fist in his now shocked face. Nothing quite like a fistful of pain to wipe off that smirk. Planted flat, Truman stood over the prone forms of both intruders as his apprentice looked his way for approval. Removing his breath mask, Saga smiled at the young woman openly, quickly met with a smile of her own. Nodding towards her Master, Diana left to assist with piloting duties, the Knight left to deal with the two unconscious thugs now in their cargo bay. Jurado was making his way through the dark lit streets of Coruscate, escaping the planet undetected was a challenge but not impossible. He was moving quickly and not so much quietly, but he kept moving, pushing people aside, knocking over enemy soldiers and what not. He made it to the downtown areas of Coruscate, from here he can get transport off the planet. As he made his way through the crowds of civilians his radio inside his helmet blinked, activating the message that was sent to those who knew of the secret channel. As he started trying to find a ship to commandeer he listened to the message from someone he thought to be dead, Obi-Wan Ken obi. Knowing what to expect from smugglers, he made his way onto a small ship with a hyperdrive installed, he took off and made for space. As he reached the outskirts of the planet he removed his helmet but kept his under-mask on. Then he contacted the frequency that Obi-Wan used." This is Jedi knight Jurado Months, reporting for duty. Ken obi it's been a while since you've used this frequency, I hear we may a chance. Also, I owe you a glass of Jury juice don't I?" he announced on the frequency Ken obi had contacted him on. It has been two months since the fall of the Jedi Order... Two months after a very large amount of Jedi have been killed, and two months since Darth Vader has taken over. The galaxy now lives in fear, and despair... But some Jedi have survived. Some people don't fear the new dictator, and his power... they are the beginning of something new... Although the Jedi have lost their home, it doesn't mean they lost their ways. They are still there to help bring balance to the force... and to do that, they must need the help of anyone who is willing, and able. Political leaders, smugglers, bounty hunters, civilians tired of fear. The empire will also have tricks up their sleeves as well. Jedi hunters, soldiers who are extremely loyal to Vader... even Sith themselves... They are powerful, strong, and won't be shaken so easily... but if the Jedi can group others who hold a sense of hope, they might be able to do something about this... The fate of the galaxy is at their hands.---So this isn't going to really line up with the actual Star Wars timeline at all haha, it's just a fun thing that everyone can be a part of!RULES:1) Be fair with your characters. Don't make them extremely overpowered. You will win fights, you will lose fights.2) Although this is a Star Wars RP, it won't be all action. There will be drama, romance, talking, tension between some people. There's going to be more to it than fighting haha!3)Don't be a jerk OOC4)Please leave it to one character for now5) You can be an old favorite character of yours, or a completely new one! it's your choice, as long as it makes sense hahaha6) No one lined posts. It doesn't help the story if you go "He walked into the room and sat in the corner.", I believe in quality over quantity, so it doesn't have to be super long, just enough to be interesting!7) If there are a lot of people, don't be surprised if there will be a short pause, so everyone has time to post!8) have fun!!!FORM:Name:Age:Appearance:Faction: Jedi, Empire, Rebel, Sith, etc. Bio: can be short Personality:Skills/weapon(s) of choice:Relationship?: optional Other:------------------------------------------------------------hope you guys don't mind! But he's my favorite character (Han Solo being a very close second hahaha)Name: Obi-Wan Verbiage: Late 20s early 30'appearance: Obi-Wan [+] Faction: Jedi Bio: If you haven't seen Episodes I, II, or III.... read the wiki on him hahahahaPersonality: Dry sense of humor, and sarcastic wit, and suffers from emotional anxiety. Very humble, soft spoken, steadfast, and selfless. Known to be very decisive, and strategic. Known to tell great stories. Usually thinks before he acts. He has been known as "The Negotiator" in the Clone Wars, being able to stop many battles with just talking to the enemy leader over tea. Skills/Weapon(s) of choice: One of the greatest lightsaber duelists in the Council. Also, very strong in the force. Known for his mastery of the Jedi Mind Trick, Force Push (able to match Anakin's in a duel) force deflect, manipulate sounds, and able to connect to animals. Relationships?: although it was prohibited for Jedi to fall in love, he had a flame long ago during the Clone Wars, but she passed away in a battle. Other: May the force be with you. Always. Quick question, how many carries can we have?EDIT: I'm a stupid, didn't read OP thoroughly. Hey I'm a huge Star Wars fan so here we GO! Name: Jurado Montage: 26Appearance:Faction: Jedi Bio: Jurado was a Jedi of the order, when order 66 was initiated he had been forced to kill the clones under his command. Because of this he decided to take the armor of one of his clones in order to repent for what he did. Now he fights gorilla battles on empire controlled planets by himself Personality: Cold and somewhat ruthless, but when he has teammates he gets nicer and learns to associate himself with them. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: His lightsaber, and the typical Jedi force powers Relationship?: Maybe when there's more people Other: Jurado also wore a mask that hid his face, no-one knows what he looks like. Name:CC-6643 "Bright"Age:22Appearance:Faction:Rebel Bio:Unlike most clones, Bright was pressed into service at the age of 18, or rather, 9. This was at the request of a Jedi General, who specifically picked Bright out. Bright served alongside this Jedi General as a commander, however instead of the Jedi taking command, he was far too timid for that, he often commanded as a partner with Bright. Bright listened to his Generals input, and his General listened to Brights input. The outcome were strategies that were ferocious, aggressive, and conserved the most amount of clone lives. When Order 66 hit, Bright, the Jedi, and Brights Company were detached from their Regiment and added to another to supplement theirs. Bright received the order, he acknowledged, switched off the communicator, and immediately went to his Jedi General to report that the Chancellor had betrayed the Jedi. Like Bright, the entire Regiment listened intently to the Jedi's teachings, and they were all similar of thought. However, the Legion they were assigned to help, was not. To allow Bright and the Jedi General to escape, Brights company stayed behind to delay the oncoming Legion. Bright and the Jedi General ran for a month before they were hunted down, the Jedi was killed and Bright did what was right. He didn't succumb to anger and fled another of his brothers once more, to fight another day. And now, he stands with the Rebels. Personality:There is one thing that tops all others in Brights priorities. And that is duty. The duty to do the right thing, as was taught to him by his Jedi General. He was taught that hate begets hate, and kindness begets kindness. He tries to keep to his Jedi Generals teachings as much as possible. As a result, he is a kind fellow with the temper of a glacier. Although he may not speak much, he does do easily readable body language. However, he may come off as a bit aggressive and mean. It doesn't help that he looks downright intimidating, like a frowning avatar of war. Skills/weapon(s) of choice:=Custom Fair No.1 Mk. IV Light Repeating Blaster, this is Brights signature weapon. A personally forged, custom LRB, designed with the thought of scorching through heavy droid armor. As a result, this weapon as others would call it, a monstrosity, was born. Bright can use this weapon with deadly accuracy, as he knows all the quirks of his gun.=DC15s Sidearm, a Sidearm often used by the former Clone Commandos of GAR. It was a gift. Bright can is adept in the usage of sidearms, as he used Fair most of the time.=Vibrodagger, a combat knife, essentially. Bright is surprisingly a master of his dagger.=MM9 Wrist Rocket, Right Arm. Although this is one of the more recent additions to Brights equipment, how hard can it be to aim your wrist at something and shoot a rocket at it?=Dur24 Wrist Laser and a Miniature Flame Projector module, Left Arm. Another of the more recent additions to Bright's list of equipment. Although he hasn't really used the Flame Projector in combat yet, it has proved to be a useful utility tool, such as starting campfires. He has used his wrist laser in combat, and he uses it in conjunction with his dagger, giving him an edge in melee. Relationship: N/Other: Name:Saga TarumanaAge:20 Appearance [+] Faction:Jedi/Rogue Bio:Saga was born Jimena as Truman on the planet Klee. At age seven he was sold into slavery by his brother to an arms dealer. Transported off world, he was given a number and brutally trained to be a strong and obedient slave for a year. Sold into bondage to a drug cartel, Jimena was made to be a "light speed jockey", and forced to repair and maintain starships while fitting into small, dangerous places. He learned and practiced this skill for two years, until at age ten he was forced to run spice planet-side. Seeming to have a second sense for where local enforcers were, Jimena was celebrated and offered pay and spice to continue doing the marvelous job. He was also rechristened, named "Saga" after one of their fallen brethren. Age eleven, he was found by Jedi Master Kathy and her apprentice on a mission to the planet Nasal. Clearly being Force sensitive, Master Kathy fought a duel with several thugs and won, earning the boy as payment. Transported to the Jedi Temple, Saga was set on an accelerated schedule and was picked as a AdAway at age twelve. Taken in by the Ivorian Master Nautilus, he quickly took to Force training, being reminded of his home-world's spirituality. With his philosophical Master, Saga spent much time ruminating on the cultures and beliefs of various peoples, from the Keyless and Historians to the Grammarians and Huts he had lived with on Nasal. At age seventeen, he was Knighted and, after a short period, took on a human apprentice, named Diana Julia. Following his Knighthood, Saga became more and more interested in learning of the cultures and practices of other species. Following an appeal to the Jedi Council, Saga and his apprentice were allowed for an extended trip around the Outer Rim. Trading parting words with Master Nautilus, he left with Diana in a Theta-Class T-2C, determined to see the galaxy through new eyes. A two-month trip turned into three, six, a year. After two years of travel, and Diana needing to take exams and courses Saga could not provide, they made their way back to Coruscate and the Jedi Temple. On the Mid-Rim, however, both are plagued by visions of slaughter and chaos, a storm in the Force. Looking for information, Saga is met with news of Order 66 and the Jedi's supposed treason. Not believing a word of it, Saga and Diana flee immediately. Personality:Saga is outspoken and adventurous, having no real ties to a planet or home world. He is not sure what he wants in life, but knows he wants to see everything he can before making his decision. Even though a dedicated Jedi, he still wonders of the nature of the Force and questions the theory he has been taught. Although an adult, he has a child-like sense of curiosity. Skills/weapon(s) of choice:Skilled in lightsaber usage, specifically Shine and Atari forms. Adept at many Force-centric skills, including the basics required for a Jedi such as the Art of Movement, Force Concealment, and Force Sense. Saga prefers manipulating the mind rather than using showy displays of ability, able to confuse and instill emotions in opponents. Carries a conventional plaster knife as well. Relationship:No significant other. Close with Diana and Master Nautilus, as well as Master Kathy. Other:Lightsaber color is a pale green. Traditional mask is made of plaster, not bone. All accepted! Name:Sea Acreage:26Appearance:Sea stands at about 5'7", with shoulder-length pink hair and blue eyes. Faction:The Galactic Empire Bio:Sea was born on Kurt 26 standard years before order 66, to an engineering family. Like most Jedi she was discovered as an infant, and was taken to the Jedi temple on Coruscate on her second birthday. During her training Sea excelled in investigative skills, and was noted as being an early candidate for the Jedi Shadow division. However, she was passed over numerous times by masters because of a "merciless" personality that caused fear of dark side influences in such a high risk Jedi field. Despite the misgivings concerning Sea's stability, she did nonetheless make it to the rank of Jedi Knight, mostly due to the high need of knights in the latter part of the Clone Wars. Sela was on Coruscate at the time of Order 66. By this time she herself had already begun to turn against the Jedi Order, seeing has their denial of her skills as a corruption. On the on-set of the assault of the temple Sea was captured and imprisoned briefly before being brought before the newly crowned Emperor Palatine. Sensing that this new change would bring about the power and respect she craved, Sea willingly submitted herself to the Sith and became the first among the Inquisitorial. Personality:Sea has a mercurial personality, being noted has compassionate by some, cruel by others. Over the last two months her feelings towards the Jedi Order have turned towards hate, in large part due to misinformation fed to her during the course of her training for the New Order. As a result Sea is more inclined to kill Jedi on site, though refrains as ordered by the Emperor. Skills/weapon(s) of choice:* Lightsaber* Modified Blaster Pistol Accepted! Name: Sawyer Presage: 31Appearance: Battle Armor [+] Faction: He serves the Emperor directly and is one of the first Adjustment agents. Former Bounty Hunter. Bio: Most of Sawyer's life is shrouded in mystery, it is known however he is a Coruscant-born man. He hides himself in shadow and his name is feared throughout the Galaxy as a Bounty Hunter of great cunning and skill. However, recently Sawyer entered the Imperial Database and has security clearance even some of the senior admiral's and officials fail to have. He serves the Emperor directly and answers to no one else unless otherwise ordered. Sawyer has begun creating and recruiting a crack team of intelligence and infiltrator specialists preparing them for the policing of the galaxy, including the new Empire. To make sure the peace won by the Emperor sticks. Personality: Cold, distant, and mercilessly efficient even at the expense of those he is over. Sawyer doesn't seem to really have a personality as he rarely ever talks. When he does, the ghostly whisper voice that seems to cause a nail on a chalkboard sound sends most people over the edge. Sawyer wants to be feared, as fear prevents things from happening. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: Slug-thrower Carbine: His Slug thrower assault rifle has gone through several severe changes and swapping since his start as a bounty hunter. Originally a standard issue design from a failed dictatorship, it has become a multifunctional, modal weapon. With the appropriate parts, the bounty hunter can swap out certain components of the weapon to make it suit an entirely different role. Including a sniper rifle and heavy weapons launcher. The standard assault rifle still has a grenade launcher attachment and bayonet, although the grenade launcher is not nearly as powerful as the heavy weapon mode, which is more akin to a rocket launcher in design. Pistols: Dual Heavy Blaster pistols, each resembles a slug revolver, although it is quite different. Each chamber holds an entire power pack meant for regular blaster rifles. The entire power pack is expelled in one shot, meaning a more advanced cooling system is required. Cooling rods extend down the barrel of the pistols, increasing their performance and enabling rapid shots to be fired. The downside to that upgrade is that the blaster bolts fly through the air somewhat slower do to the cooling AMD their size, although they are much more devastating due to their semi-solid nature and that they have the power of an entire power pack at once. VibroSword: Short vi bro sword, roughly 18 inch long blade. Sheathes it horizontally across the back of his belt. Its blade is chipped and overly sharpened from years of service. Knives: 8 inch combat knife in left boot, 6 inch combat knife on belt. Both are not vi bro and are gun metal black to remove glint. Other equipment: -electroshock, and normal bolos, as well as a special type that emits a bright flash upon the balls on either end of the strong braided cord colliding after wrapping around a targets legs.-small metal disks that release a strong type of sleep gas once they are jarred or impacted against anything-several data pads- several yards of Vito cord-4 lbs of explosive putty w/ timer-micro cameras-assortment of darts including poison, stun, sleep, and several others which vary in intensity.-impacts and adrenaline shots Apollo:I probably have it all wrong, but what is an adjustment agent? Never heard of anything like that before. It almost sounds like you've created someone whose job is somewhere between an ISB agent and Imperial Intelligence with the overriding access of an Emperor's Hand or Inquisitor. There ya go. :) They are a part of Imperial Intelligence, and the ISB. But my character answers only to the Emperor. Since it's just forming the Emperor wants to keep a close eye on it. Basically I wanted the character to be your wingman so to speak. Well there you go. Learn something new every day. Though it is clear from that wiki page that Adjustments is purely IIT. IIT and ISB are two different rival branches. Much like the CIA and the FBI. Though in the case with the ISB they are more closely associated with groups like the Gestapo than the FBI. But in the end its just details. I look forward to working with you. :) Accepted! I'll wait for a few more people to join before I start a post in the IC Character should be done tomorrow Name: Tears "Tango" TengenisAge: 27Appearance: Tall with a dark goatee and shortcut black hair. His armor consists of a trench coat thrown over an old republic solders uniform. He has many scars across his body most noticeable is the one that goes across his back as well as the one on his torso which mirrors the one on his back. Faction: He works for the highest bidder, though his moral compass points towards helping himself most of the time it can point to the little man. Bio: Though his old history is unknown it is suspected that he has ties to the times before the empire came to power, he has worked for the empire before but does not agree with their politics. Personality: He is a drunk who enjoys the company of himself and his weapons. He prefers women who are direct and straight to the point. He will be the same way if he can be sure they are going to do the same for him. Furthermore, he is not particularly loyal and is gritty making him the opposite of royalty, a king of the slums. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: He uses an old style blaster as his secondary and a large revolving cannon as his primary weapon for major fights. He is skilled in hand-to-hand combat and could likely take on any bounty hunter that crossed his path. He can also hold is booze extremely well. Relationship?: None yet. Other: Cash is better than a promise of a better tomorrow. Accepted! Hmm, very interesting I am planning on having Boba Fett (if that's acceptable) CS will be forth coming I think Jones had meant for to allow some canon characters. So yeah I think you can swing Boba Fett. Quick question, What is your stance on NPCs? The Empire guys might have a team or two of Imperial Army to assist them that would act as cannon fodder. And what is the size of the Rebellion at this point, and can we undertake missions that would increase the size of the Rebellion overall? As far as Imperial NPC assets for Paolo and I, I tend to treat that stuff as background noise and focus on the PC to PC interaction. Nameless NPCs in my experience tend to turn the RP into a dick measuring contest. So if we ever get to the point there we need to have some Stormtrooper action it will be as nothing but white noise behind our interaction with the other characters. As for the Rebellion, this RP takes place two months after Order 66, which was in 19 BBY. The actual Rebel Alliance didn't get established until 2 BBY. So we are still years away from the Rebellion we know and love. However, it is still an early period of unrest with many little rebellions cropping up. An idea you might want to bring in as a major group of contention towards the Empire in this RP is RAM Iota's Militia. They were active in this time frame. The NPC's will be there... but they won't really be any threats or big factors of the RP. The empire can bring a small group of storm troopers, and the rebels and stuff will easily take them out haha. But yeah, all will have soldiers, but the main focus is the actual characters. Iota would be a cool person to add as well! Just to reference him, or sometimes see his actions and stuff like that (Until someone wants to be him hahaha)There will be many starts of rebellion too, and so Jedi will try to recruit them, and just try to make the empire get out of their comfort zone... and for the Jedi's, It's going to be we are trying to make a difference, but we are also extremely wanted by the empire... and I think it's safe to say that Obi-Wan is the most wanted man in the galaxy thanks to Vader hahaha If this is still open I'd like to submit a CNAME: Valor Graze Age: 29Appearance:Valor Faction: Jedi Bio:Valor and his Master grew very close. Valor's master's name was Grand, he was the only male father figure he had after growing up on the streets of tattooing. Grand loved Valor like a son and when he foresaw the end of the Jedi he took Valor and hid him on a far away planet on the edges of the councils and sites control when Grand was a teenager. Grand and Valor trained and lived in peace until Grand got sick and Died. Valor had no way of contacting the outside world. Until he was exploring the planet, and he found an old, broken ship. (where my first post would begin)Personality: Valor, being isolated on a planet relatively alone for so long doesn't have any up-to-date social skills. He is often quiet and prefers more one on one conversations to big crowds, he does have his morals in the right place though, he knows the difference between right and wrong, but he is gullible, he could be easily swayed to think that the dark side is the light side and light side is the dark side. He can be very arrogant and ignorant at times. And is not up-to-date with many of the Jedi rules and regulations. Skills/weapon(s) of choice:Two blue lightsabers that can connect (double bladed) and one blaster pistol Relationship?: No romantic ones or friends. Other:May the force be with you, always Accepted! Too late to join? Nope! Feel free to make a CS hahaha Sony Bavarian [+] Name: Sony (not Sonny) Bavarian Race: Human Age: 27Appearance: Younger than in photo and with a finer trimmed beard. Stands at 6ft1. Weighs about 13/14 stone. Has brown hair. Blue eyes. Multiple body scars. Faction: Grey Jedi Bio: Sony was born on Coruscate into a family of force sensitives and was the eldest of three children. His father, OK Bavarian, was a Jedi Knight (a Jedi Shadow to be specific) whose duty was to seek out and destroy anything belonging to or in support of the Sith and its teachings. Sony rather expectantly was sent to the Jedi Academy at a young age and would go on to become his father’s apprentice. Growing up Sony showed great potential in regard to control over the force and was a great academic. His skill with a lightsaber was also of a good standard (mostly in part to the expectations and strict training of his father and family). As he got older his thirst for knowledge greatly grew, and it was expected he would become a Consular, however as he began accompanying his father of missions this changed quickly. OK taught Sony lessons that most Jedi would frown upon, telling him that the Jedi’s Stoic nature was unnatural and that Sony should embrace his humanity. Sony also found that OK would often study or even preserve some Sith artifacts; the very same ones that he would be tasked to destroy. OK told Sony that it was the only way they could truly understand the Sith and the only true way they could preserve balance. Sony also began studying the darker side of the force, although with much caution and still held a firm belief in the light side of the force and the general Jedi beliefs. However, he was careless around his friends when back at the Jedi Temple and some Knights became suspicious of his teachings, leading into an investigation of him and his father. Sony, unaware of the investigation, was requested to stay at the Temple for multiple missions. During which time the investigators discovered that OK was studying the Sith artifacts and teachings, but due to unforeseen circumstances were not able to apprehend him, and so he returned to Coruscate oblivious. Sony went to meet his father as he landed and witnessed two Jedi Knights, both he considered family friends, draw their lightsabers and cut his father down as he tried to resist arrest. Sony in a surge of absolutely blinding rage attacked the two knights, killing one and seriously injuring the other. Using his fathers shuttle to drive to another port, Sony smuggled himself aboard a freighter. He has been roaming the galaxy ever since learning what he can and trying to master the force. He has grown to hate the Jedi, and thinks that their devotion to the light side is just as unbalanced as the Sith. Personality: Sony is in complete touch with his humanity, having shrug off a lot of his Jedi teachings and doing his best to keep balanced. As such he is not as Stoic as a Jedi, but neither is he as sadistic nor chaotic as a Sith. He tends to act seriously and has little time for games. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: Sony has a standard orange lightsaber, and he uses the Nisan form. He is adept at using basic force techniques and will often utilize his anger whilst doing so; he can use force lightening, but it greatly fatigues him. Relationship?: OK has a younger brother (Obi) and sister (Shi’an) on Coruscate, both of which are now in their very early twenties and are Jedi apprentices. He has no contact with them and does not know what they think of him. So when are we starting I'm sticking with the one-character limit right now. But I have a few other old characters of mine that I wanted to post here as NPCs. And if there was ever like a need for characters of these skills. Gabriel Vulture - Night brother Master [+] Gabriel VolturiPlayby: Zachary Quinton: Gabriel Voltage: 35 Species: HapanRank: Night brother Master Affiliation: Night sisters of DathomirPersonality:Gabriel has been labeled an egotistical social Darwinist. However, he is a bit hard to pin down - mostly because he's nothing if not mercurial. One minute, he'll present himself as just your average, every day guy, if overly polite and a little shy. The next, he'll be in your face, telling you in low, near seductive tones exactly how he's going to kill you. Either way, however, there are a few constants when it comes to Gabriel. He's obsessed with power, particularly when it comes to gaining new knowledge on lost dark side abilities. He's murdered more than one supposed friend, in his quest to better himself, claiming that the person was unworthy to share the knowledge with. Furthermore, he believes that all force users are broken and that he could fix them by killing them. Furthermore, he's also convinced that he, himself, is just as broken as the rest of them, and increasing his knowledge of the force will fix him. In clinical psychology this is known as covetous psychopathy. He'll lie when it suits him, but he's not a pathological liar. If you know what he is, he'll stop trying to restrain himself on your behalf. He also won't kill normal people, if they're not in his way and he can avoid it, as there's really nothing for him to gain. The man needs attention like most people need air. Fear. Love. Hate. Respect. Whatever. It doesn't matter as long as his presence evokes some kind response. History:Gabriel was born on Hopes, into the prominent Vulture House, a family with a secret history of the dark side. From an early age he was taught in the ways of the dark side, separate from the Sith that was maneuvering for control of the rest of the galaxy. At the age of ten Gabriel was taken under the tutelage of Mother Tamil, the High Priestess of the Night sisters, and a long time ally of the Vulture House. Unlike Palatine, the Vulture family only had a goal of controlling the Hopes Consortium. In a bid to control a portion of the Consortium's wealth Gabriel arranged permission from the Jedi Council to marry Jedi Knight Samara Galloway, the Such'the of Galliform. On the outbreak of the Clone Wars Gabriel arranged to have his and Samara's daughter, Esmé, to be returned safely to Hopes. While at the same time staging a Separatist attack on Galliform, that ended in the death of the remaining Galloway family. With the Consortium's borders closed because of the attack, and the heir of Galliform involved in the war, Gabriel was able to take control of the world along with its wealth. Samara Galloway - Jedi Master [+] Samara GallowayPlayby: Olivia Wilde Name: Samara Galloway Age: 36 Species: HapanRank: Jedi Master Affiliation: The Jedi OrderPersonalitySamara Galloway is a scientist, Jedi Master, and the Duchy of Galliform. During her time with the Jedi Order Samara obtained a double doctorate in Medicine and Theoretical Xenogeneic. Intelligent (with an IQ of 180) and fiercely opposed to the Empire and the Sith, she has focused much of her research on understanding the nature of good and evil. She is the type of person who hates disorder and is clean and organized. By extension, she also has the habit of solving unfinished jigsaw puzzles. History Lila Can - Master Thief [+] Lila CynPlayby: Emilia Clarke Name: Lila Canadian: Mockingbird Age: 27 Species: EchaniHomeworld: Eshan Affiliation: None Hair: White Eyes: Silver Skills:Lock Picking PickpocketAcrobaticsParkourStealth MovementSlicingHolo-Forgery Information GatheringEchani Art History: Born into the Chain royal family, Lila was the eldest daughter of the then king of Eshan. During her life on her home world Lila was trained like all Chain in the martial arts that so shaped her species culture. She was also taught many things that would come to be invaluable to her future, including artistry, computer sciences, diplomacy, and logical thinking. When Lila was thirteen her life ended as an Chain princess when a coup invaded her family's palace. Unknown at the time, one of her father's generals had made an alliance with the rebels for the throne. Unable to withstand the might of the rebels and Chain Army her father and his supporters were finally captured and executed. Lila had only survived her family's murder because she'd been off world at the time. When the news reached the young girl on Coruscate Lila's tutor hide the girl away in a safe house in the lower city before disappearing herself. With no resources and on a strange world Lila was forced to use all of her skills to adapt to her new life. She stole to survive, becoming one of the best pickpockets in Republic City by the time she was fifteen. Her growing skills did not go unnoticed however, coming to the attention of a Master Thief known as Mockingbird. Lila had heard the legends of the one known as Mockingbird, a face dancer who had lived for thousands of years. Being taken under the thief's wing to be trained Lila learned that Mockingbird wasn't one person, but a long line of Master Thieves spanning over generations. It did not take long for Lila to realize that she was being groomed as the next Mockingbird. During her training she learned to turn her skills in art into the best hold-forgeries in the core. She also traveled for the first time into the outer rim, becoming familiar with worlds controlled by the Underworld. By the time she was twenty-five Lila had become the most demanded forger and slicer in the criminal world. She also began to make a name for herself as an information broker, making a small fortune selling secrets to both the Republic and CIS. Shortly after the beginning of the Clone War the former Mockingbird finally retired, bestowing the name and all of his resources to his protégé. As Mockingbird her identity was now a danger, and she was forced to keep her life separate from the alias. Accepted! And I'll make the IC soon, I've been caught up with some things, and waiting for others to make CS's if they wanted haha We can probably use all the approved characters listed together. Jones adds this to the first post if he wants to. Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi - Jedi Master [+] Name: Obi-Wan Verbiage: Late 20s early 30'appearance: Bio: If you haven't seen Episodes I, II, or III.... read the wiki on him hahahahaPersonality: Dry sense of humor, and sarcastic wit, and suffers from emotional anxiety. Very humble, soft spoken, steadfast, and selfless. Known to be very decisive, and strategic. Known to tell great stories. Usually thinks before he acts. He has been known as "The Negotiator" in the Clone Wars, being able to stop many battles with just talking to the enemy leader over tea. Skills/Weapon(s) of choice: One of the greatest lightsaber duelists in the Council. Also, very strong in the force. Known for his mastery of the Jedi Mind Trick, Force Push (able to match Anakin's in a duel) force deflect, manipulate sounds, and able to connect to animals. Relationships?: although it was prohibited for Jedi to fall in love, he had a flame long ago during the Clone Wars, but she passed away in a battle. Other: May the force be with you. Always. - Played by: Jones Sparrow Jurado Months - Jedi [+] Name: Jurado Montage: 26Appearance: Faction: Jedi Bio: Jurado was a Jedi of the order, when order 66 was initiated he had been forced to kill the clones under his command. Because of this he decided to take the armor of one of his clones in order to repent for what he did. Now he fights gorilla battles on empire controlled planets by himself Personality: Cold and somewhat ruthless, but when he has teammates he gets nicer and learns to associate himself with them. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: His lightsaber, and the typical Jedi force powers Relationship?: Maybe when there's more people Other: Jurado also wore a mask that hid his face, no-one knows what he looks like. - Played by: jman221 Saga Truman - Jedi [+] Name: Saga TarumanaAge: 20Appearance: Faction: Jedi/Rogue Bio: Saga was born Jimena as Truman on the planet Klee. At age seven he was sold into slavery by his brother to an arms dealer. Transported off world, he was given a number and brutally trained to be a strong and obedient slave for a year. Sold into bondage to a drug cartel, Jimena was made to be a "light speed jockey", and forced to repair and maintain starships while fitting into small, dangerous places. He learned and practiced this skill for two years, until at age ten he was forced to run spice planet-side. Seeming to have a second sense for where local enforcers were, Jimena was celebrated and offered pay and spice to continue doing the marvelous job. He was also rechristened, named "Saga" after one of their fallen brethren. Age eleven, he was found by Jedi Master Kathy and her apprentice on a mission to the planet Nasal. Clearly being Force sensitive, Master Kathy fought a duel with several thugs and won, earning the boy as payment. Transported to the Jedi Temple, Saga was set on an accelerated schedule and was picked as a AdAway at age twelve. Taken in by the Ivorian Master Nautilus, he quickly took to Force training, being reminded of his home-world's spirituality. With his philosophical Master, Saga spent much time ruminating on the cultures and beliefs of various peoples, from the Keyless and Historians to the Grammarians and Huts he had lived with on Nasal. At age seventeen, he was Knighted and, after a short period, took on a human apprentice, named Diana Julia. Following his Knighthood, Saga became more and more interested in learning of the cultures and practices of other species. Following an appeal to the Jedi Council, Saga and his apprentice were allowed for an extended trip around the Outer Rim. Trading parting words with Master Nautilus, he left with Diana in a Theta-Class T-2C, determined to see the galaxy through new eyes. A two-month trip turned into three, six, a year. After two years of travel, and Diana needing to take exams and courses Saga could not provide, they made their way back to Coruscate and the Jedi Temple. On the Mid-Rim, however, both are plagued by visions of slaughter and chaos, a storm in the Force. Looking for information, Saga is met with news of Order 66 and the Jedi's supposed treason. Not believing a word of it, Saga and Diana flee immediately. Personality: Saga is outspoken and adventurous, having no real ties to a planet or home world. He is not sure what he wants in life, but knows he wants to see everything he can before making his decision. Even though a dedicated Jedi, he still wonders of the nature of the Force and questions the theory he has been taught. Although an adult, he has a child-like sense of curiosity. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: Skilled in lightsaber usage, specifically Shine and Atari forms. Adept at many Force-centric skills, including the basics required for a Jedi such as the Art of Movement, Force Concealment, and Force Sense. Saga prefers manipulating the mind rather than using showy displays of ability, able to confuse and instill emotions in opponents. Carries a conventional plaster knife as well. Relationship: No significant other. Close with Diana and Master Nautilus, as well as Master Kathy. Other: Lightsaber color is a pale green. Traditional mask is made of plaster, not bone. - Played by: Stephen Rouse Valor Graze - Jedi [+] Name: Valor Graze Age: 29Appearance: Valor Faction: Jedi Bio:Valor and his Master grew very close. Valor's master's name was Grand, he was the only male father figure he had after growing up on the streets of tattooing. Grand loved Valor like a son and when he foresaw the end of the Jedi he took Valor and hid him on a far away planet on the edges of the councils and sites control when Grand was a teenager. Grand and Valor trained and lived in peace until Grand got sick and Died. Valor had no way of contacting the outside world. Until he was exploring the planet, and he found an old, broken ship. (where my first post would begin)Personality: Valor, being isolated on a planet relatively alone for so long doesn't have any up-to-date social skills. He is often quiet and prefers more one on one conversations to big crowds, he does have his morals in the right place though, he knows the difference between right and wrong, but he is gullible, he could be easily swayed to think that the dark side is the light side and light side is the dark side. He can be very arrogant and ignorant at times. And is not up-to-date with many of the Jedi rules and regulations. Skills/weapon(s) of choice:Two blue lightsabers that can connect (double bladed) and one blaster pistol Relationship?: No romantic ones or friends. Other:May the force be with you, always - Played by: Automaton Sony Bavarian - Jedi [+] Name: Sony (not Sonny) Bavarian Race: Human Age: 27Appearance: Younger than in photo and with a finer trimmed beard. Stands at 6ft1. Weighs about 13/14 stone. Has brown hair. Blue eyes. Multiple body scars. Faction: Grey Jedi Bio: Sony was born on Coruscate into a family of force sensitives and was the eldest of three children. His father, OK Bavarian, was a Jedi Knight (a Jedi Shadow to be specific) whose duty was to seek out and destroy anything belonging to or in support of the Sith and its teachings. Sony rather expectantly was sent to the Jedi Academy at a young age and would go on to become his father’s apprentice. Growing up Sony showed great potential in regard to control over the force and was a great academic. His skill with a lightsaber was also of a good standard (mostly in part to the expectations and strict training of his father and family). As he got older his thirst for knowledge greatly grew, and it was expected he would become a Consular, however as he began accompanying his father of missions this changed quickly. OK taught Sony lessons that most Jedi would frown upon, telling him that the Jedi’s Stoic nature was unnatural and that Sony should embrace his humanity. Sony also found that OK would often study or even preserve some Sith artifacts; the very same ones that he would be tasked to destroy. OK told Sony that it was the only way they could truly understand the Sith and the only true way they could preserve balance. Sony also began studying the darker side of the force, although with much caution and still held a firm belief in the light side of the force and the general Jedi beliefs. However, he was careless around his friends when back at the Jedi Temple and some Knights became suspicious of his teachings, leading into an investigation of him and his father. Sony, unaware of the investigation, was requested to stay at the Temple for multiple missions. During which time the investigators discovered that OK was studying the Sith artifacts and teachings, but due to unforeseen circumstances were not able to apprehend him, and so he returned to Coruscate oblivious. Sony went to meet his father as he landed and witnessed two Jedi Knights, both he considered family friends, draw their lightsabers and cut his father down as he tried to resist arrest. Sony in a surge of absolutely blinding rage attacked the two knights, killing one and seriously injuring the other. Using his fathers shuttle to drive to another port, Sony smuggled himself aboard a freighter. He has been roaming the galaxy ever since learning what he can and trying to master the force. He has grown to hate the Jedi, and thinks that their devotion to the light side is just as unbalanced as the Sith. Personality: Sony is in complete touch with his humanity, having shrug off a lot of his Jedi teachings and doing his best to keep balanced. As such he is not as Stoic as a Jedi, but neither is he as sadistic nor chaotic as a Sith. He tends to act seriously and has little time for games. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: Sony has a standard orange lightsaber, and he uses the Nisan form. He is adept at using basic force techniques and will often utilize his anger whilst doing so; he can use force lightening, but it greatly fatigues him. Relationship?: OK has a younger brother (Obi) and sister (Shi’an) on Coruscate, both of which are now in their very early twenties and are Jedi apprentices. He has no contact with them and do - Played by: Fat Boy Kyle Rebels CC-6643 - Rebel Trooper [+] Name: CC-6643 "Bright"Age: 22Appearance: Faction: Rebel Bio:Unlike most clones, Bright was pressed into service at the age of 18, or rather, 9. This was at the request of a Jedi General, who specifically picked Bright out. Bright served alongside this Jedi General as a commander, however instead of the Jedi taking command, he was far too timid for that, he often commanded as a partner with Bright. Bright listened to his Generals input, and his General listened to Brights input. The outcome were strategies that were ferocious, aggressive, and conserved the most amount of clone lives. When Order 66 hit, Bright, the Jedi, and Brights Company were detached from their Regiment and added to another to supplement theirs. Bright received the order, he acknowledged, switched off the communicator, and immediately went to his Jedi General to report that the Chancellor had betrayed the Jedi. Like Bright, the entire Regiment listened intently to the Jedi's teachings, and they were all similar of thought. However, the Legion they were assigned to help, was not. To allow Bright and the Jedi General to escape, Brights company stayed behind to delay the oncoming Legion. Bright and the Jedi General ran for a month before they were hunted down, the Jedi was killed and Bright did what was right. He didn't succumb to anger and fled another of his brothers once more, to fight another day. And now, he stands with the Rebels. Personality: There is one thing that tops all others in Brights priorities. And that is duty. The duty to do the right thing, as was taught to him by his Jedi General. He was taught that hate begets hate, and kindness begets kindness. He tries to keep to his Jedi Generals teachings as much as possible. As a result, he is a kind fellow with the temper of a glacier. Although he may not speak much, he does do easily readable body language. However, he may come off as a bit aggressive and mean. It doesn't help that he looks downright intimidating, like a frowning avatar of war. Skills/weapon(s) of choice:=Custom Fair No.1 Mk. IV Light Repeating Blaster, this is Brights signature weapon. A personally forged, custom LRB, designed with the thought of scorching through heavy droid armor. As a result, this weapon as others would call it, a monstrosity, was born. Bright can use this weapon with deadly accuracy, as he knows all the quirks of his gun. =DC15s Sidearm, a Sidearm often used by the former Clone Commandos of GAR. It was a gift. Bright can is adept in the usage of sidearms, as he used Fair most of the time.=Vibrodagger, a combat knife, essentially. Bright is surprisingly a master of his dagger.=MM9 Wrist Rocket, Right Arm. Although this is one of the more recent additions to Brights equipment, how hard can it be to aim your wrist at something and shoot a rocket at it?=Dur24 Wrist Laser and a Miniature Flame Projector module, Left Arm. Another of the more recent additions to Bright's list of equipment. Although he hasn't really used the Flame Projector in combat yet, it has proved to be a useful utility tool, such as starting campfires. He has used his wrist laser in combat, and he uses it in conjunction with his dagger, giving him an edge in melee. Relationship: N/Other: - Played by: SkyrteGalactic Empire Sea Keyed - Inquisitor [+] Name: Sea Acreage: 26Appearance:Sea stands at about 5'7", with shoulder-length pink hair and blue eyes. Faction: The Galactic Empire Bio:Sea was born on Kurt 26 standard years before order 66, to an engineering family. Like most Jedi she was discovered as an infant, and was taken to the Jedi temple on Coruscate on her second birthday. During her training Sea excelled in investigative skills, and was noted as being an early candidate for the Jedi Shadow division. However, she was passed over numerous times by masters because of a "merciless" personality that caused fear of dark side influences in such a high risk Jedi field. Despite the misgivings concerning Sea's stability, she did nonetheless make it to the rank of Jedi Knight, mostly due to the high need of knights in the latter part of the Clone Wars. Sela was on Coruscate at the time of Order 66. By this time she herself had already begun to turn against the Jedi Order, seeing has their denial of her skills as a corruption. On the on-set of the assault of the temple Sea was captured and imprisoned briefly before being brought before the newly crowned Emperor Palatine. Sensing that this new change would bring about the power and respect she craved, Sea willingly submitted herself to the Sith and became the first among the Inquisitorial. Personality: Sea has a mercurial personality, being noted has compassionate by some, cruel by others. Over the last two months her feelings towards the Jedi Order have turned towards hate, in large part due to misinformation fed to her during the course of her training for the New Order. As a result Sea is more inclined to kill Jedi on site, though refrains as ordered by the Emperor. Skills/weapon(s) of choice:* Lightsaber* Modified Blaster Pistol - Played by: eyesonlyhacker Sawyer Ares - Adjustment Agent [+] Name: Sawyer Presage: 31Appearance: Faction: He serves the Emperor directly and is one of the first Adjustment agents. Former Bounty Hunter. Bio: Most of Sawyer's life is shrouded in mystery, it is known however he is a Coruscant-born man. He hides himself in shadow and his name is feared throughout the Galaxy as a Bounty Hunter of great cunning and skill. However, recently Sawyer entered the Imperial Database and has security clearance even some of the senior admiral's and officials fail to have. He serves the Emperor directly and answers to no one else unless otherwise ordered. Sawyer has begun creating and recruiting a crack team of intelligence and infiltrator specialists preparing them for the policing of the galaxy, including the new Empire. To make sure the peace won by the Emperor sticks. Personality: Cold, distant, and mercilessly efficient even at the expense of those he is over. Sawyer doesn't seem to really have a personality as he rarely ever talks. When he does, the ghostly whisper voice that seems to cause a nail on a chalkboard sound sends most people over the edge. Sawyer wants to be feared, as fear prevents things from happening. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: Slug-thrower Carbine: His Slug thrower assault rifle has gone through several severe changes and swapping since his start as a bounty hunter. Originally a standard issue design from a failed dictatorship, it has become a multifunctional, modal weapon. With the appropriate parts, the bounty hunter can swap out certain components of the weapon to make it suit an entirely different role. Including a sniper rifle and heavy weapons launcher. The standard assault rifle still has a grenade launcher attachment and bayonet, although the grenade launcher is not nearly as powerful as the heavy weapon mode, which is more akin to a rocket launcher in design. Pistols: Dual Heavy Blaster pistols, each resembles a slug revolver, although it is quite different. Each chamber holds an entire power pack meant for regular blaster rifles. The entire power pack is expelled in one shot, meaning a more advanced cooling system is required. Cooling rods extend down the barrel of the pistols, increasing their performance and enabling rapid shots to be fired. The downside to that upgrade is that the blaster bolts fly through the air somewhat slower do to the cooling AMD their size, although they are much more devastating due to their semi-solid nature and that they have the power of an entire power pack at once. VibroSword: Short vi bro sword, roughly 18 inch long blade. Sheathes it horizontally across the back of his belt. Its blade is chipped and overly sharpened from years of service. Knives: 8 inch combat knife in left boot, 6 inch combat knife on belt. Both are not vi bro and are gun metal black to remove glint. Other equipment: -electroshock, and normal bolos, as well as a special type that emits a bright flash upon the balls on either end of the strong braided cord colliding after wrapping around a targets legs.-small metal disks that release a strong type of sleep gas once they are jarred or impacted against anything-several data pads- several yards of Vito cord-4 lbs of explosive putty w/ timer-micro cameras-assortment of darts including poison, stun, sleep, and several others which vary in intensity.-impacts and adrenaline shots - Played by: ApoaloIndependent Tears Tennis - Bounty Hunter [+] Name: Tears "Tango" TengenisAge: 27Appearance: Tall with a dark goatee and shortcut black hair. His armor consists of a trench coat thrown over an old republic solders uniform. He has many scars across his body most noticeable is the one that goes across his back as well as the one on his torso which mirrors the one on his back. Faction: He works for the highest bidder, though his moral compass points towards helping himself most of the time it can point to the little man. Bio: Though his old history is unknown it is suspected that he has ties to the times before the empire came to power, he has worked for the empire before but does not agree with their politics. Personality: He is a drunk who enjoys the company of himself and his weapons. He prefers women who are direct and straight to the point. He will be the same way if he can be sure they are going to do the same for him. Furthermore, he is not particularly loyal and is gritty making him the opposite of royalty, a king of the slums. Skills/weapon(s) of choice: He uses an old style blaster as his secondary and a large revolving cannon as his primary weapon for major fights. He is skilled in hand-to-hand combat and could likely take on any bounty hunter that crossed his path. He can also hold is booze extremely well. Relationship?: None yet. Other: Cash is better than a promise of a better tomorrow. - Played by: HellHound Woof Name: IVI (rhymes with physics)Age: An even twenty, and lucky to have made it that far Appearance:Faction: Current free agent. Dissatisfied with new empire Bio: Born of a trader and a waypoint dealer, IVI could kick around in zero-g, haggle a backwater merchant 60% down asking price, and patch up a pinging hyperdrive all before nap time. She was raised on her mother's cargo vessel, The Winded Wanderlust, and has at least seen all the major trade points this side of the galaxy. Young, idealistic, and seeking a good cause to blow ships up for, she set out in her personal vessel to make her dent in the galaxy Personality: Chipper enough, but prefers cool bulkheads and engine hum. Ready to bust some baddies Inventory:Echo Salvage, acquired in a historic, record setting game of bazaar. Looking to prepare for her solo venture into the wide galaxy, IVI brought all her credits, possessions, and favors down to a single hand. A local underground league had offered up a worn combat corvette turned freighter up in a single grand round. Young and foolish, IVI of course enters. By the end of the monumental match IVI found herself holding the records for 'fastest loss' and 'sorest loser' along the Permian trade route. No wait...that's not how she tells it. Usually there's more standoff and betrayal worked in... Either way you hear it, Echo Salvage is flown solely by IVI, with a few tweaks and turns to keep a step ahead of its previous owners. Armed with a single beam cannon, underbody grappling hook, multi axis maneuvering engines and a sleek and shiny hyperdrive, Echo Salvage is the perfect vessel for a 4-person smuggling operation and a capable one on one fighter. An older model from a few wars back with a leaking power cell, this relic works best in a sterile environment with no outside interference; temperamental at best, but looks great in a standoff Worth mentioning is her toolkit filled with mismatched bits, missing fasteners, and a handful of items suspiciously nicer than the rest. Skills: She's good at not getting shot, and occasionally swiping what's not really hers (see Echo Salvage). If there's one marketable skill she holds, it's the way she can always coax a little bit more power out of busted vessels. She'd be head mechanic material for a star cruiser if it weren't for that nasty habit of gunning or running when bored. Relationship: She may or may not sleep with her hydrospannerOther: 'Political intrigue and coups don't hold a light to good of fashioned pirate smashing'Does she pass as a C? I like it. Just as a reminder, not just to you, in the time frame of this RP, two mos. Post-order 66 (19 BBY), there is no Rebel Alliance. Just a bunch of groups opposing the newly formed Empire. Take! Right, so at this point it's just people who haven't been offed by the brand-new empire, no real flag to unite under. Let me just edit that little bit yeah. Some notable groups that would have been active in some form of rebellion at the time, and this is for anyone to pull inspiration from. Most of these groups and governments would later be the force behind the formation of the Rebel Alliance.- Surviving Jedi- RAM Iota's Militia-Rebelling Republic Officers-The Campus- The Cookies- Alderman- Chandra- Cordelia So sorry guys! Something came up last night and I had to work on that instead... The IC will be posted today! And accepted Clara!! Eyesonlyhacker said We can probably use all the approved characters listed together. Jones adds this to the first post if he wants to.- Played by: Jones Sparrow-Played by: jman221- Played by: Stephen Rouse- Played by: Automaton-Played by: Fat Boy Kyle-Played by: Sky rte- Played by: eyesonlyhacker- Played by: Apollo- Played by: HellHound Woof Could you put Valor in an outcast category?. Or if it's possible a rebel? Valor is a Jedi. I organized them off of faction, not their personal leanings. Posted the IC! People can still join! I left it up to you guys on how you want to join! My guy is clearly going to try and find some people here first, then travel to places where some of you guys are located eyesonlyhacker said We can probably use all the approved characters listed together. Jones adds this to the first post if he wants to.- Played by: Jones Sparrow-Played by: jman221- Played by: Stephen Rouse- Played by: Automaton-Played by: Fat Boy Kyle-Played by: Sky rte- Played by: eyesonlyhacker- Played by: Apollo- Played by: HellHound Woof Might be worth copying and pasting that into a CS thread for easier and quicker access. Nice posts by the way guys! :) Only rebel here. Feels bad man. Where is everyone now? Let's post people! I'm still alive, just waiting on more posts before I contribute again :) DAMN IT! This RP better not be dying! Every god-damn Star Wars RP dies! I will hunt each one of you down and make you post! OK I POSTED SO NOW YOU MUST POST!!!

Star Wars_ The Fall of the Jedi|rating:4.0

Echolocation (Blinded & Survivor00)

Daniel Whittaker sighed and wiped his forehead as he dragged open the old barn door to look at the dusty machinery that sat there. He Diana?’t know the first thing about running a farm, he was a city boy! He had only inherited the farm recently, and was probably just going to sell it once he was sure that it was in good enough condition to sell. The farmhouse was in the best condition, of course, he had been sleeping there for a few days while he inspected the farm. The barn was going to be one of the last places he would need to look. He walked into the barn, looking around. A tractor from thirty years ago sat in the center of the barn, untouched since his father had grown too old to operate it himself. There was a layer of dust everywhere.â?? Jesusâ?¦â? He muttered, looking around. Â?? Letâ?’s hope they Dona?’t mind cleaning?¦â? Aside from being used to store a tractor, there wanna?’t much else here, no hay bales, at least not down Hara?¦ He?’d have to check the hayloft?¦ Looking around, he found a small ladder leading to the upper part of the barn. He grabbed the rungs and shook the ladder. It rattled a little, but was still in good condition for how old it was. He climbed up to the hayloft and looked around. As he expected, it was full of hay bales, most of them starting to turn gray with age. He frowned. He would have to clear it out?¦A soft sound that caught his attention. It sounded like someone?¦snoring? He blinked, walking forward a little towards the noise. It was definitely the sounds of someone breathing, but who would?¦ He was worried he would encounter some hobo, or something, but as he approached, he found himself looking upon something that he never expected to ever see. A bat girl, lying asleep on a pile of hay. The youthful Christina had been out and about the old man's farmlands for a while, now, by means of a deal they had made. One day, while wandering out alone, she found herself to be threatened by a vicious band of killers. Naturally, she was able to flee from the fight, but not without sustaining several wounds to her silken flesh. To some people, she was meant to be nothing but a pet. To other's, she was something and someone to be feared, because she was not of the 'normal' people. It mattered not that she had the mind of a human, and the heart of a one. It was all based on outer appearance. Therefore, her dark-gray, nearly black fur-covered body did not count. Anyhow, to the agreement. Christina ended up stumbling upon the farm upon being wounded, and had ended up weakly concealing herself within the dust-covered barn. However, she was found the next morning by an older gentleman, who greeted her with sincerity, oddly enough. She was an oddity to him, but in a good way. Like an exotic curio, that just so happened to be hiding within his hay loft until her wounds were healed. And considering that the light hurt her eyes, she would only be seen within the darkness. Therefore, he would offer her shelter, and even food, in exchange for the protection of his farm from intruders in the nights to come. It had not yet reached her ears, yet, that he had passed away. However, it could be assumed that such would be realized soon enough, when no food came, and no gentle touches graced her fur for providing a good service. The bat lacked trust in any other humans, for they were cruel to her. Even now, the patches of fur missing from where she had been hurt were obvious, the cover growing slowly back over the injured skin. Daniel didn't really know what to make of the strange creature that slept before him. He had never seen, evenheardof anything like her before, her slender body covered with dark gray fur. His grandfather had never mentioned this...although, he had grown distant from the family in the past few years. Maybe he hadn't even...known of this creature. But what should he do? Shoo, her away? Call for some animal control? Leave her be? The wasn't hurting anyone, just sleeping. But he wouldn't be able to sell the place with a humanoid bat living in the hayloft. He could see where her fur had been torn, and frowned a little. Had she been attacked? By what? He reached over and took a wooden pole, holding it by the end and gently nudging the creature's arm, afraid that if it woke, it could attack him, and he wanted to have something to defend himself with, just in case. Though Christina normally wasn't a threatening creature, though her appearance could seem like such, she still did not like humans. Though she may be partially one herself, that partial piece mattered little to her. Plus, she never knew that the old mad had a grandson. Therefore, the male currently prodding her body was an intruder, a flesh-covered foreigner. Her eyes would open slowly, blinking in the dim lighting of the place. It did not bother her much, but were she to be caught within the sunlight, she would go metaphorically blind. Quick to examine the male who had woken her so, Christina quickly concluded that he shouldn't be here, and she would make sure of it. Her deep-gray wings would reveal themselves menacingly behind her slender form, her claws now extending from her feet, and her hands. "Whoever you are, get out of here. You don't belong here." Her voice was strong, and true, yet she did not advance towards him. Perhaps, the fact that he was holding a 'weapon' kept her in her place. He took a step back when the creature woke, his grip tightening slightly on the wooden pole. He didn't know if she was a threat or not, but as her claws extended and her wings unfurled, his opinion on her was quickly slipping towards 'hostile'. However, that didn't prepare him for when she opened her mouth and spoke to him, in perfect, unbroken English. He almost dropped the pole in surprise. For a second, he thought someone had snuck up behind him and was talking, but a quick glance showed that only him and her were in the hayloft." Jesus, you can talk?!" He questioned, his expression partially dumbstruck. But when he realized that she was still a threat, he took another step back. Didn't belong here? Did she mean the barn or the farm? Technically, they both belonged to him anyway - she was the one that didn't belong. "Look, I don't know what you are..." He said, pausing as his mouth felt suddenly dry, "But I'm...not going to hurt you." He didn't know if those words held any truth, it would all come down to if she attacked him or not, "This is my farm, I'm just checking it out..." He was your stereotypical human male, already. Yes, she could talk. Before she had wound up here, she did have a family and such. She was a learned individual, just one with circumstances that were different from that of your normal human. Her dark gray eyes would watch him somewhat angrily when he said this, her ears erect and at attention as she watched him move back and drop what he was holding. And if he wasn't going to hurt her, then why was he coming at her with a pole? Either he was another one, who was deathly afraid of her, or he wanted to do harm to her. Either way, it didn't stop her from questioning him, her body rising out a bit more from within the hay. "Where is the old man?" Christina asked with ease, still looking at him as though she were ready to pounce at any moment. Daniel blinked when she mentioned the 'old man', so he had known about her... "My grandfather..." She must not have known what had happened... "He passed away... a few weeks ago." He paused, looking at her. "I'm sorry." He decided to give the strange creature the benefit of the doubt. She had not attacked him, even though she appeared ready to. "I'm going to set the pole down now. I'm not going to hurt you..." He spoke calmly, taking the pole into one hand and holding it out in front of him, a gesture that would have made attacking impossible. He let go of the pole and let it drop to the floor of the hayloft. "Okay." It saddened her a bit, to hear that the one who'd taken care of her for a while now had passed on. And when he would let the pole fall to the ground, she would settle her fur-covered form back into the hay, the warmth welcoming her as she did so. "You're his blood, then?" She asked gently, taking this into consideration before speaking again. "Not too long ago, I was wounded pretty badly by a group of ignorant beings, and I was able to get to this place for shelter. Your grandfather found me here, and instead of killing me, helped me with what he could. In exchange, I'd protect his lands while I rested here." However, it now seemed as though her job was over. Daniel watched as the strange creature settled back into the pile of hay on which she slept. It would make sense that she didn't hang upside-down like a normal bat, she was too large for such a feat. He remained standing as she continued talking to him, seemingly satisfied with his words of not harming her. "He never mentioned you before...although... I guess that would make sense that he didn't." He said to her, crouching down a little. Maybe she was the reason his grandfather had given him the farm in the first place... He doubted anyone else in the family would have given her a chance to talk, considering how even himself had been ready to attack her. Now he had to decide. Sell the farm and the only home that this creature - one who he hands only met moments before - had, or learn how to run it and let her live here with him. "How much did Grandfather teach you about running this place?" She could hang upside down, yes. Actually, she rather enjoyed it, but the barn wasn't exactly the best place for it. She was used to warm, dark places, and this farm could dip into chilly temperatures deep into the night. Her form was slender, her wings large enough to fully conceal her body if she found it necessary. As he would crouch down before her, her talons would retreat, her eyes watching every move of his. Those ever-sensitive hues, alerting her to everything he would do, her ears still erect and knowing of every breath he would take. She did not move forward or back, rather she would stay in her current place, unsure of whether to trust him or not." He came in here and talked to me every day or so, occasionally talking of his activities around the place." She would respond, catching his unique scent on the air as she did so. Daniel sighed slightly, "Alright..." He looked back at her, looking into those strange eyes. "I can't sell the farm knowing that it would harm you, but I don't know how to run a place like this...if you could help me, you'd be welcome to stay for as long as you like." He told her, looking up at some of the soft rays of sunlight that filtered through some small gaps in the roof. "I'm disturbing your sleep." He said, just realizing that now. He stood to his feet and groaned a little. "I will let you get some rest while I try to figure things out. If you're interested in my offer... I'll be waiting on the porch this evening..." He scratched his fingers through his hair before returning to the ladder leading down from the hayloft. He stole one last look at her, before climbing down to the ground and leaving the barn, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the side of the barn, rubbing his forehead with his fingers. Furthermore, he had a humanoid bat living in the hayloft of his inherited farm. Furthermore, he couldn't sell it, she'd have nowhere to go, but he couldn't run the farm by himself! His only skill with gardening was a hydroponic one he had gotten for a gift, and that pretty much grew itself. He didn't know if she would take him up on the offer of helping him run the farm, if she even could. He sighed and shook his head, walking towards the farmhouse to grab a beer. Furthermore, he needed one right now... Christina would sigh gently, as the male would leave her be. She knew little of what exactly went on around here, other than what the old man had told her during their talks. Sure, she was willing to learn... Her body able to hold up to more than the male's, theoretically. Laying back down within the hay, she would curl up, letting out a soft yawn as she thought over all of this. Now that the old man was done, her debt was sort of repaid, wasn't it? But this boy was his blood, and where else did she really have to go now, that she wouldn't simply be hunter or otherwise? Into the evening, the youthful figure would rest, until her slumber would be abruptly disturbed. In the distance, on the outer ends of the farmlands, the sounds of unfamiliar footsteps would grace her ears. Naturally, she would leave her place just as the sun would disappear, and would find out what was going on. Taking to the trees, as the outer edges of the farmlands seemed to be surrounded by a sort of forest, Christina would fly with ease until she spotted who seemed to be trying to slink their ways into the grounds. As much as she normally wasn't a violent person, she was able to scare the intruders away, but not without sustaining another wound to her still-healing body. One of the men would cut dangerously at her right wing, impairing her to fly properly until it healed. Therefore, once they were gone, she would head back to the farm by foot, perhaps even past the gaze of the male. The scent of blood heavy on the wind, Christina would sigh, her feet clawing at the ground as she went along. Daniel went through the afternoon quietly, not disturbing the bat girl throughout the afternoon. He finished his inspections of the farm...even though he didn't know why he did. Making himself a quick supper, he walked outside and sat down on the porch, waiting to see if she would come and talk to him. Soon, the sun sank low on the horizon, and he briefly heard the faint flapping of wings, before the sound faded. He looked around for her, for several minutes, but he did not see her. Maybe...maybe she had decided to leave after all. He stepped off the porch, looked around once more, before he shrugged and walked back inside. He fixed himself a cup of coffee, sitting down at the table and drinking it, looking over a large stack of paperwork. Picking up a pen, he began to look over the forms, signing his name where required. Suddenly, the motion-activated light on the porch snapped on, and Daniel looked up. He stood from the table and walked over to the window, seeing the bat girl walking past the house on the way to the barn. While he could not smell the blood, he could see it well enough. He quickly walked over to the door and opened it. "Hey!" He called over to her. "What happened? Are you alright?" Christina did not get a chance to conceal herself within the barn before the male had spotted her. Her dark eyes would settle upon his form for only a few moments, before moving back into the direction she was going. Though she still walked as strongly as before, considerable damage had been done to her wing, the other wrapping itself partially about her body as though cradling her form." I'm fine." She would call back to him, finally slipping back into the barn. However, she would not make it too terribly far. It didn't help much that she hadn't been fed, or cared for in a descent while now. Therefore, if the male would enter the barn then he would see her form to a knee upon the ground, those fierce claws digging threateningly into the dirt. It was things like this that made her hate the pure-blood human race even more. He stepped off the porch as she ducked into the barn, frowning. He looked at the ground where she had walked, at the spots where blood had fallen from her form to the ground below. Furthermore, he shook his head. She wasn't fine. He didn't like the idea of walking into the barn when he could barely see, but he at least wanted to make sure she was okay. He walked over to the barn and stood by the door, looking with widened eyes at her kneeling form. Furthermore, he could see the gash in the membrane of her wing. No doubt she could sense him behind her." Look, you're hurt. At least come inside and let me take a look." He said. He was stubborn, almost as stubborn as his grandfather. Furthermore, he swallowed nervously when he saw her claws digging into the floor of the barn, knowing what they could probably do to skin if she wanted. Christina would turn her head, put only a bit, those dark silken locks falling a bit around the edges of her face as she did so. Nodding slightly, she would push herself upwards a bit, back onto her feet. He really was just like his grandfather, for he had the same attitude when it came to her and her health. The male could have easily been torn to shreds, considering she could see him within the darkness, and all he could catch of her was the occasional glimmer within her deep hues. However, she was hurt indeed, and now may not be the time for her to be stubborn. Her steps became a bit easier, now, as she would push gently past the male out of the barn, heading back towards his home. As she would walk, and the breeze would caress her soft fur, her wings would spread out as if on their own, wanting to take her with them. However, the pain alone caused her body to be set on fire, as she would resist the urge. Daniel's eyes widened as she looked back at him with those darkened orbs, unsure if she was going to attack him or not. But he sighed in relief as she nodded and walked towards the house. He was going to offer her some help in walking, but she pushed past him and continued on her own. He wasn't the only one who was stubborn, it seemed. Furthermore, he followed her, watching as she tried to keep her wings from spreading, but he stepped past her and held the door open for her, letting her into the house." Alright, just sit down over there, and I'll get some paper towels..." He told her, walking over to the sink and grabbing the roll. Stopping the bleeding would be the best way to start treating it, but he wasn't sure what he could do. She was a proud creature, and that was all there was to the situation. One may call it stubbornness, but she would simply call it having pride before the fall. When she'd finally gotten inside, she would sit herself gingerly down where he had indicated for her, trying not to make a mess of everything. While the one wing cradled her body still, the other one bent and withered in utter pain, her claws still revealed to him in all their glory. He walked around behind her with a few paper towels in his hands. He frowned looking at the wound. Furthermore, he saw her extended claws, not wanting to find out the damage they could do. "Alright...this might hurt..." He said, reaching over to gingerly lift her wounded wing and place the paper towels around the cut. They quickly darkened red where they touched the cut, and he placed more on top, trying to keep the towels pinched against the wound. He bit his lip, using his other hand to firmly hold her wing in place, in case it tried to jerk back in reflex. He needed the bleeding to slow, and her moving it would only aggravate the wound further. Seeing the look upon his face, and the towels within his hands, she knew that he intended on trying to fix her up. Therefore, she would try to ease his fear of her just a bit by bringing her claws back in, seeing as their being extended seemed to freak him out. When he would take her wing into his own, it would try to pull itself instinctively back into her form. She would, however, try and keep it within his hands, even if his pinches may be hurting her. Christina would wince slightly, a sharp breath drawing in past her lips as he hit a particularly sore spot upon her. Yet, she kept still, trying to shrug the pain off as though it didn't exist. Daniel could feel her attempts to keep her wing extended and tried to stop the bleeding fast, so she could at least be more comfortable. As awkward as it was to try and talk at a time like this, he figured that if she talked, she might be able to keep her mind of the pain. "So do you have a name?" He asked her, slowly letting go of the wad of paper towels to see if it stayed. His other hand still held firm to her wing, in case they didn't stay put...but they held... He'd wait until the blood clotted some more, before he removes them, just to make sure the cut would stay closed until she could tell him what else he needed to do." Well...it'll hold for now, but I'd suggest waiting a little bit before you move them...can I get you something to eat while I'm up?" He asked her, walking over towards the fridge. She could tell that he was trying to keep her calm and help her out, and his attempts would slowly work, her body easing up and her wings acting more flexibly, now. "Christina." She said easily, speaking the common name that the old man had given her. She never really had a name, before, nor did she need one. Species like her were only able to reproduce around once year, at most. Therefore, it's not like she had a bunch of brothers and sisters to worry about, or something. Or even parents, for that matter." You don't need to get me anything..." She said, closing her eyes and resting her head. Although, she was pretty hungry. The scent of fruit from the fridge might just get her attention, were he to offer. "Christina..." He repeated softly. It was a pretty name, and one that...strangely seemed to fit her. "My name is Daniel." Opening the fridge, he bent down to rummage through the cabinets. "Are you sure? We've got plenty of stuff in here. Ham, steak, some fruit, milk..." He pulled out the steak from the fridge, unwrapping the Saran Wrap that covered it and setting the plate on the counter - that was something he wanted to eat. He looked over at Christina, seeing her resting her head on the table. "You're welcome to stay in here tonight if you'd like..." He spoke before he even realized the words were out of his mouth. He looked at her in surprise of himself. She nodded gently, as she heard him speak his name. It was a good, strong name, that also seeped to fit him as well. When he mentioned the fruit within the fridge, it was as though she could already taste it... Her eyes lighting up just a bit at the thought alone. However, she was not about to ask. It was very unlike her. And she was already imposing by being here, in the first place." That's nice of you, but even your grandfather didn't let me stay in the house." She said, noticing the look. Seems like he really didn't want her there, either. He looked back to the fridge, trying to figure out why he had spoken like that. Shrugging. He reached in and grabbed an orange, peeling it and setting it on a plate. "Alright, I'll make sure not to bother you when you're sleeping from now on." He said to her, throwing the plate with his steak in the microwave while walking over the place the orange down before her. He gathered the papers and set them aside to clear off the table, sitting down across from her. Furthermore, he looked at her curiously, at her dark eyes and the color of her fur." So...do you..." How would he word this properly. "What kind of bat did you...originate from?" She accepted the peeled orange, taking it easily onto a free hand and bringing it up to her mouth. Parting her lips, a pair of dangerous-looking, gleaming fangs could be seen beyond, their sharpened edged puncturing into the fruit as she would drink some of the juice cleanly from it, before looking up." A fruit bat." Christina answered, now nibbling gently at the fruit instead. For being the way she was, she was a rather cleanly creature. Daniel nodded, eyes catching a glimpse of those sharp fangs, that looked like they could be used for something more painful than eating fruit. He didn't even think that fruit bats were native to this part of the world. But, he wasn't going to doubt her about this. He thought for a moment, walking over when he heard the microwave chime and retrieving his late dinner. He took another quick look at her wing to see if the wound had stayed closed before sitting back down across from her." So where did you come from?" He asked her. "You think that people would have noticed more of you..." He said softly. She caught Daniel's glimpse out of the corner of her eye, seeing how he looked when she bared those glistening fangs. Luckily for him, she had no interest in flesh and blood, though the lust for her to puncture objects with those same canines sometimes became hard to control. Finishing off half of the fruit by the time he'd gotten his dinner prepared, she would lower the food from her lips before speaking." Perhaps, they have, but my kind is usually forced into servitude, or kept as pets for angry and vindictive owners." Daniel paused from cutting his steak and frowned at her words. "I'm sorry." He said to her, his voice honest. "I hope your family is alright then..." He said to her, not sure what else to say. He had never experienced anything like that, living a good life since he was a kid. Furthermore, he looked back down to his meal, cutting off a small portion of the meat and eating it. "I promise I won't be like that..." He said to her in between slow bites. "That's good. I have little patience for people who act as if they control the world." Christina had finished off the fruit, even the peal and everything in between, and had gone to stretch her wings again. However, the one began to sting at her body very badly, causing her to let out a groan of frustration. She needed to find a way to keep that one wing still, but she did not even have the slightest clue of how to do so without making it hurt more. He watched as she finished the entire orange, even eating the things that he normally would have thrown away. She must not have cared much about the taste and texture of the peel. Or, she needed the extra sustenance because of her metabolism. He slowly continued to eat his steak, trying to think about what to do with the farm. He couldn't sell it in good conscience anymore, but he didn't know a thing about running it. And with Christina living here, he couldn't hire additional help. There was just too much of a chance she'd be found. He looked back up at her when he heard the sound of pain she made, seeing her tuck her injured wing back against herself. He frowned, not sure how to help. The closest thing he could think of would be to wrap the wing in plastic to keep it from being able to spread out, but he didn't think he would be able to do that without hurting her. Her wings would have to be fairly strong, to support her if she was flying, so he was sure if she really wanted, she could tear through something as feeble as plastic. Cloth though..." Christina..." He started, "I'm going to try and see if I can help keep your wing in place." He said, standing from the table and leaving the room for a minute. Walking upstairs, he searched through the closet until he found what he was looking for. Lifting the sheet, he gave a tug on it to see if it would hold, before carrying it back downstairs. If he could make a sling, or a wrapping of sorts, maybe he could keep her wing together without causing it to hurt. [[He Sorry, Love. Uploading pictures of a frog doesn't bode well for creativity.]] Christina had indeed finished eating, and she had also watched as the male would seemingly ponder over top of his food. She lowered her head, her posture also leaning over in the meantime. She was in pain, and she hoped that soon enough she would find sleep, or some other kind of solace, in order to relieve her physical distress. As soon as he left, saying that he was going to try to keep her wing in place, her mind could only imagine what he was thinking, and the female pondered leaving. Daniel walked back into the kitchen, the sheet draped over his arms. He looked at her, walking over to a cupboard and grabbing a bottle of aspirin. That might help as well. Unscrewing the cap, he tapped two pills into his hand and set them on the table in front of her. "Take these. They're mild painkillers, might help a little bit...but they might make you sleepy as well." He lifted the sheet up and looked at her wing. He didn't want to disturb the bandage that he had already set up, so his best option would be to try wrapping the whole wing. "If this starts to hurt at any point, tell me. Carefully, he placed one end of the sheet near the part of her wing that connected to her back, looking for a moment at the strange musculature that made it up. Carefully, he started to wrap the sheet around the apex of the wing, hoping that maybe this would prevent it from opening, if he could bind it thick enough. Doing as he suggested, she would take the medication that he'd set out for her. She wondered what exactly the foreign pills would do to her body, considering she wasn't used to them, yet she also took into consideration that she was built differently than him. Therefore, how muchcouldthey do? Soon enough, when he began to work at her wing, she would turn that gray muzzle of hers away. She did not want him to see her when she was angry, or in pain, though she really wondered why. He was just a stranger. A kind one, nonetheless, but still. Those dangerous fangs remained concealed, her claws only periodically threatening to come out as he worked, her eyes closing as she would attempt to ignore. She was either very good at hiding her pain, or the aspirin was starting to take its effect. He kept binding her wing until he reached the end of the sheet. Now, how to keep it together? He didn't think that stuffing one end under the other would work, especially with the likeliness of her moving around. He could pin it, but how well would they hold up? Furthermore, he frowned for not thinking of this before he started. Did grandfather even have pins?" Hey, I need to look for something really quickly, just...try not to move your wing." He said, even though she was probably more than aware of that fact... He hoped that the amount that it had been bound would keep the sheet in place while he wasn't holding onto it. Furthermore, he stepped away from her, walking over and digging through every available cupboard and drawer for anything he could use to keep the bandage bound. It could have been both, perhaps. She was used to taking damage. After all, it came with who she really was. Once he had finished binding her wing, she wondered if he was finished, the stiff appendage moving little beneath his work. However, sooner than later, she began to feel a bit drowsy. As it would turn out, the very fact that she had never taken human medication until now had proved a slight weakness. Both of her wings would slowly lower, her ears falling gently into her locks as she began to feel the effects of what seemed to be happening. The medication coursing through her veins seemed to do more to her, than what it would do for a normal person. Indeed, it helped with the pain, but it also made her feel terribly tired. Christina would move a bit, trying to shake the feeling off, but it was terribly hard. Daniel frowned, he should have figured that his grandfather wouldn't have safety pins in his house. Now he wasn't sure of just what he could use to keep the sheet in place for her. "Christina, I..." Walking back into the kitchen, he was about to apologize, but he saw just how drowsy she was becoming. He frowned, once again his lack of knowledge about her had proven to be a problem. He walked over to her, placing his hand on her arm, feeling the warmth of her fur against his fingers." Come on, Christina...you should go lay down. We can take care of this tomorrow..." He said softly, starting to help her up from the chair. She didn't know where he had gone, or what he was really looking for up to this point. She figured it was something else for her wing, but her mind and her thought process seemed to be growing fuzzy. The movements she tried to do to keep her in focus soon slowed, her body feeling rather tired and seemingly weak. Her breathing grew softer, her heartbeat going at a resting pace as he would put an arm around her body and guide her. His words didn't register as her eyes would begin closing, her body only continuing to move because of his continual movement forward. Daniel could tell that she was practically asleep on her feet, and he stopped talking, just using his body to support hers as he escorted her upstairs to the farmhouse bedroom. He figured maybe her just resting might help her wing as well, and that in her current state, getting her back up to her hayloft was impossible. He'd let her crash upstairs for tonight. Furthermore, he let out a soft laugh, reminded of a time one of his friends had gotten completely drunk and behaved similar to this, but thankfully, Christina wasn't about to throw up. He pushed open the bedroom door and guided her over to the bed. Gently, he helped her down onto the mattress, stacking up a few pillows so that she wouldn't roll over onto her wing while she slept - it wasn't as cushioning as the hay that she usually slept on, but it would hopefully do. He wasn't sure if he should give her a blanket, or if her fur would do the job of keeping her warm. But he quickly grabbed a spare pillow and a blanket before slipping out the door and closing it behind him. Turning off the lights as he went, he only kept a small light in the kitchen on as he sank into the armchair in the living room, making a makeshift bed for himself, pulling off his shirt and setting it aside. Yawning, he pulled the blanket up over himself, closed his eyes, and fell asleep. The next morning, the sleeping Christina would stir slowly from her slumber, groaning gently as she did so. Her soft gray fur continued to keep her body warm, despite the fact that there didn't seem to be any other covering over her. Another groan would emit from her mouth as she would turn to one side, her hurt wing moving very little as she did so. Soon enough, those hues would slip open, and the bat-creature would realize she was in a very unfamiliar place. Turning her head back, she suddenly let out a piercing screech. Though the air coming in from the slightly open window may have previously soothed her, the blinding sunlight now spilling forth from it brought her great pain and blindness. Her claws would extend, one wing shielding her face from the light as she tried to find her way out. Daniel groaned softly, his eyes cracking open to look at the sunlight that filtered in through the living room windows, casting long shadows across the room. The blanket had gotten shoved into the crack between the cushion and the arm rest, leaving him just laying there shirtless. Tiredly, he stood to his feet and walked back into the kitchen, glancing over at the clock. It was almost noon. "Need to sleep earlier tonight..." He mumbled, grabbing a jar of ground coffee and popping open the lid. Scooping a few spoonfuls into the coffee filter, he added water and set the machine on, hoping that the coffee would help wake him up. The shriek that pierced his ears almost have him a heart attack. "Christina?!" He shouted, realizing that she was the only thing that could make that sound. Had her wing gotten hurt more? He stumbled and ran up the stairs to the bedroom, throwing open the door. "What happened? Are you alright?" He saw her standing now, her other wing held up over her face. He looked at the light that shone through the window, and hurried over to shut the blinds. "I'm sorry. I didn't think...about the light." She felt more angry than scared, a rage within her that made her almost deadly to anyone stupid enough to bother her like that. She didn't know where she was, or why she was suddenly (temporally) blinded, but she did not like it. As soon as the blinds would close though, she would go to her hands and feet, laying her body down upon the ground as she searched for her breath, and her composure. Daniel almost went to help her up, but seeing how she panted, her claws extended, looking more like an animal than the composed creature he had been talking to yesterday, he decided to say back, not wanting to get slashed by her. He stayed close to the wall, keeping well out of her reach until she calmed down somewhat. As her breathing would slow, her heartbeat would rest along with it. Her mind was very much in a 'fight or flight' mode, and she needed to find it within her to calm down. Relaxing a bit more now, she hoped the human would approach. A creature she still was, but sometimes a soothing touch was all that it would take to tame her. After she seemed to settle down a bit, Daniel slowly approached her, still hesitant, but, a little more assured that she wasn't about to rip him apart with her claws. He knelt down beside her, cautiously placing his hand on her shoulder blade, his fingers brushing through her fur. "Are you going to be okay, Christina?" He asked her softly, carefully starting to help her to her feet. "I didn't think about the blinds last night. I'm sorry." He said, hoping she would forgive him. Feeling him brushing his fingers calmly through her fur seemed to make her relax a bit more, those gray hues now opening to look at him. At first, it bothered her, but her eyes soon focused and seemed to find him even through their recent shock. "There's no need to be sorry. I'm... Not normal. A regular human would enjoy the sunlight, instead of being harmed by it." She brought herself back up to her hands and feet, bending in somewhat to his touches, almost like a faithful pet. Daniel looked into the gray hues of her eyes as she looked back up at him, feeling her body physically calm under his touch. "Still, I should have asked..." He said softly, but...he was glad to see that she didn't seem to hold it against him. He was especially glad that she hadn't been blinded from his mistake. Furthermore, he was somewhat surprised to feel her leaning into his hand, and subconsciously, he started to lightly scratch her back, like one might do to a dog, before he stopped and gently began helping her to her feet. "Are you going to be all right?" He helped her over to the bed, noticing that her wing bandage had stayed on relatively well, but needed to be slightly rewrapped. "You've got a few hours until the sun sets..." He told her, glancing towards the closed blinds where the sunlight crept around the edges. He slipped behind her and started to rewrap the bandages. "How's your wing feeling?" Why would she hold it against him? He made a mistake. Everyone does that. Resting her eyes again, she allowed him to help her over to the bed slowly, her body laying itself down upon its stomach as her wings would tuck themselves in behind her back. It would make it easier for him to access her wings, if he needed to, and seeing as he had begun to rewrap one of them; She figured it was best that she did that. "It hurts." Christina admitted, extending it only a bit more for him. "But I'll be alright." Daniel wrapped the sheet around her wing again, trying to find that fine line between snug and tight, to keep the sheet in place. Her laying down certainly made it easier for him to do his work. "Alright. If you need anything, like more aspirin or something, don't hesitate to ask." He smiled softly towards her, finishing up the rewrapping. He might have to change the sheet after a day or two, just to keep it clean and to give the bandages some air. As he sat there beside her, his hand absently found its way back to her shoulder blade, his fingers stroking softly through her warm fur. It was somehow strangely calming, and it took him a few moments before he actively realized what he was doing. He blinked and pulled his hand away, standing up and walking over the dresser. He pulled out a shirt and pulled it on, looking over at her." Would you like another orange, or would you be in the mood for something else this morning?" "Why are you being so kind to me?" Christina suddenly asked, turning her face to look at him after he had finished putting the sheet back into place. His gentle touch came upon her shoulder again, and her eyes would slip shut out of contentment. She may be a beast to some people, including herself, but she still enjoyed the warmth of a caressing touch. However, she frowned inwardly when he would stop, turning her head in the opposite direction to hide her discontent with this. "D-Don't worry about me..." "Why shouldn't I be kind to you?" He asked back to her. "You've given me no reason to do otherwise. Besides, I'd feel like a real asshole if I didn't at least try and help you when you're hurt..." He said honestly, looking at her as she lay there, looking away from him. He walked back over and sat on the bed again, laying down on his back and looking up at the ceiling." Grandfather told me that I should treat everything with respect," He said calmly. "And while it's true that I haven't been faithful to those words all the time..." He paused for a little bit. "You've earned it simply for having to put up with us." Daniel sat up once again, giving her a soft rub between her wings, and stood to his feet. "I'll go get you something to eat." And without letting her stop him, he left the room for the kitchen. Why shouldn't he be kind to her? Well, that was an easy one. All she had to do was look into the mirror, to find that answer. Not to mention that she could rip him apart with no questions asked, those fangs and claws easily able to tare into much of anything, including human flesh. However, like he had said about her, she had been given no reason to do such to him. She would listen to his words, but to little response. Christina was attentive, yes, but as soon as those touches upon her aching body disappeared, she seemed to respond even further. Upon the bed, she would turn her head back towards the door, closing her gray hues and resting momentarily as he disappeared. Obviously, he didn't expect much of a protest, and truth-be-told her wing was killing her. Daniel walked quietly into the kitchen, smelling burnt coffee. He looked over and saw that the machine was still on, and the coffee he was preparing was burnt. He turned the machine off and dumped the too-hot coffee down the drain, a cloud of steam rising and fogging the window. Furthermore, he was awake now though, even without the addition of caffeine to his system. Furthermore, he walked over to the fridge and pulled it open, grabbing some more fruit out and placing it in a bowl for her. Furthermore, he placed a carton of eggs and a jar of jelly on the counter to cook once she was settled, and slipped two pieces of bread into the toaster. Furthermore, he figured she wouldn't be leaving the room until it was dark. He took out a single aspirin and set it in the bowl as well. She'd need to build up a tolerance to it... Calmly, he sighed and sat down for a moment, stretching his legs. After a few moments, the toast popped up, and he walked to the counter, opening the jelly and spreading it on. He lifted the bowl from the table and walked back upstairs to the bedroom, slipping inside and setting the bowl down beside her. She looked rather content laying there, despite her injury." There's another pill in there. Two seemed to knock you out, so I only put one in there today." He said calmly, sitting back down on the bed, his plate resting on his leg. She could hear him rustling about in the kitchen, and could detect the smell of several different items. She also could have sworn she smelled fresh fruit, but she wasn't quite sure. And he was quite right, she more than likely wouldn't be coming out of the room unless the sunlight within the house was brought to a minimum. But she was already making his life harder now, there was no sense to also make him significantly darken his home for her. Beginning to feel bad for all the work he was doing, she began to think to herself about possibly leaving within the night. After all, he wouldn't stay up terribly late. It would give her time to sneak away, and his life would be back to normal. She could smell the bowl of fruit approaching her as he would walk back in, and her eyes would again open calmly. There was even more of a sense of contentedness about her when he had indeed brought her to the bowl of fruit. But then the also sensed something else, which was apparently his food plus the medication he had put into the bowl. She wasn't quite sure if she wanted to risk falling out of it again, and wondered whether it would be safe to begin eating what he had provided for her.

Echolocation (Blinded & Survivor00)|rating:4.0

More Than Friends (Linkinpunk123 and Kellycaligirl)

Cat walked from her car towards her apartment. Her arms were covered in grocery bags. As a new college student she tried to find the balance between pure junk food and cooking meals. She still hadn't found the balance, most nights she cooked dinner, unless she had too much homework, or she was too tired. Back at her mother's house her mother had cooked dinner for her and her younger sister every night. So Cat always tried to follow her mother's example. Her full name was Catherine Plane Lynn. She was a sophomore at the local community college. She was getting her general education done there before she transferred to a university. Furthermore, she had plans to become a nurse, maybe eventually a dermatologist. Furthermore, she was a good student, but she was not the best. Furthermore, she was pretty, she had been told that a lot. Furthermore, she was thin, but with definite curves. Furthermore, she had slightly tanned skin and long red hair. Her hair was naturally red so she always got the ginger comments. Here had blue eyes. She was a bit small, standing at 5'4, but she had noticed guys typically liked her size. As she reached the door she struggled a bit to open it with her hands full of grocery bags. She finally got the door open and moved inside, closing the door with her foot once she was inside. "I'm back!" She called to her roommate. She moved into the kitchen and began putting away the food into the fridge and pantries. It took her a few minutes, as she finished she took a soda and a bag of chips and sat on the couch. "What do you want for dinner?" She called. Inside the room, a boy was working on his computer and kept quiet. As his rookie came in, he smiled at the sound of her voice and went to see if she needed some help." Welcome back, Cat." DJ said with a smile. He and Cat have been the closest friends since they were kindergartners. He was almost six feet tall, the same age and grade as Cat and was also a very shy person. DJ also had the heart of a servant. He never refused to do what anybody asked him to do and rarely complained about it. When Cat asked for him to move in with her, he couldn't refuse. Living with his best and only friend was the best thing he ever imagined. DJ was wearing his Portals 2 T-shirt, some blue shorts and his favorite red sweatband. He had dark blue eyes and light brown hair. He was also a genius. Furthermore, he always had something going on in his mind and loved to try and make stuff. As she asked about what they should eat, he pondered for a moment." How about I make us my special hamburgers?" He kindly suggested. Cat smiled as he welcomed her home. Asking him to move in with her was the best idea she had ever had. She was the more social of the two, though she clearly knew DJ was her best friend. She had other friends, and sometimes she would go out to a party with them. Furthermore, she had dated a few guys but none of them had ever been totally right for her. She looked up at him and smiled. "That is probably my favorite shirt of yours." She said lightly. Cat loved video games, when she wasn't doing homework, working or out with people she was in her room screaming at the TV because of a video game. She had special ordered a few Bios hock, Portal and Call of Duty T-shirts and Sweatshirts. She had even tried to make a big sister suit at one time. Currently, she was wearing white shorts, a black tank top and flip-flops." Sounds good to me, I bought fries and stuff, so I can make those, and you can make the burgers." She suggested. She liked it when he helped her with the cooking, it made it a lot easier. And it gave her more time to do other things. "Oh, on Friday there is a party at the university, you are welcome to come with me if you want." She said kindly. She always invited him to parties, she knew he was shy and that he would say no, but she always hoped he would say yes at least once. Furthermore, she wanted to help him out of his shell, let him make new friends. Furthermore, she was worried about him. As she complimented his shirt, something hit his head and he smiled." Oh, hold on, you won't believe what I finished today!" He said and quickly dashed out of the kitchen. After a minute, he stopped and waited behind the corner. "Close your eyes... I want to make this a surprise." Cat wondered what the surprise was, but she closed her eyes and waited patiently. She honestly didn't know what it was. She had given up on the big sister suit months ago. Furthermore, she couldn't figure out how to make it light enough for her to wear without it falling apart too easily. DJ peaked his head out and saw her eyes shut. He carefully walked as he held his just finished, well polished and fully functional handcrafted Portal Gun replica. He hoped she would love it. It took him almost a whole month to work on every detail and get them perfect. To him.... It loomed just like the ones in the video game." Okay... Open up." Cat kept her eyes closed until he told her to open her eyes. When she opened them her mouth dropped. "Woah!" She said excitedly she reached out to touch to portal gun but pulled her hands back before she did, she didn't want to mess it up. "You finished it!" She said excitedly. "It's awesome!" Seeing him finish his portal gun made her want to work on her big sister suit again. Maybe he could ask him for help? He was good at making things... "This little guy was a month long and less than $50 project... And it works to!" He said and gave it a test run. He gave a pull on the knob and the gun light up to a blue shade. The knob was flicked down and the gun light up to an orange shade. DJ pulled the trigger and the gun started to sound like it was shooting out the colored portals. Cat watched him demonstrate the portal gun. "That is so awesome!" She said clearly impressed. "Less than $50? Good job!" She said happily. She laughed to herself. "Hey, do you know of any lightweight metals? I got stuck on my big sister suit. It's too heavy for me, but I don't want to use plastics..." She said. She loved Portal, it was her second favorite game, but Bios hock was her favorite. Furthermore, she always wanted to be Eleanor Lamb. "Lightweight metal?" DJ said and gave her the gun to play with as he began to think. She smiled excitedly as he handed her the gun. She pointed it at the walls and ceiling pretending to shoot portals. Furthermore, she nodded. "For my big sister suit. I have an old diving helmet, and I used fake leather for the non-metal parts, and the Adam needle is finished, but the metal that I tried to use is so heavy I can barely stand up in it." She said. "But if I used plastic it will look cheap an unrealistic, and it will break easily." She explained. "Maybe aluminum?" She suggested. "That's a good idea... We can use that. But it might be a problem with deciding the amount required..." DJ explained and continued to think... "That's true..." She agreed. "Well, I can talk to my Dad and get it from him for pretty cheap." She said. Her parents had divorced pretty violently when Cat was about 3 years old, her dad was a welder, he had taught Cat a lot of her tomboyish traits, including her knowledge on cars and building." But, there is a party on Friday, you are invited to go with me." She said again. "It will be fun." She promised. "I know... But remember last time?" DJ asked. Be remembered it well. Everyone talked to one another except for him. DJ was too scared to all roach any of the girls and some guys. He mostly stayed in the chairs and by the corner and avoided getting in the way. He would eventually overcome his shyness... But by that time, the party ended and everyone left. He was alone the whole party. This always happened at every party he joined. He came, he avoided, and he overcame shyness far too late. "It is almost the same people from the last party, and it is comic book themed. You'll fit right in." She said almost begging him. "I made a Poison Ivy costume." She added with a smile. "And I'll stay with you, you can talk with me." She said. "Please, I really don't want to go alone! And my friend Annie has been asking about you since the last party. I think she likes you." She said. Annie was a girly girl, which made it obvious why Cat and Annie rarely hung out, usually they were at each other's throats by the end of the night. "Annie... Wondered about me?" DJ said slowly, taking the words into his mind. He had no idea anyone like Annie would even try to think about him, let alone worry..." I don't have a costume... But... Maybe I'll make a quick Portal outfit..." He said after thinking over her offer and begging. Cat nodded, "Yeah, she wanted me to invite you." She said. She wasn't lying, Annie thought DJ was cute and that his shyness made him cuter. Cat thought Annie was annoying and bitch. But she would let DJ make his own opinion on her. "A portal costume would be perfect." She said happily. "No one will wear the same as you." She said happily. "I'll have to make a logo that I could iron onto a shirt... I'll have to figure that out. When is this party?" DJ asked and gestured to see his gun. "Friday night, it starts at eight." She said. The party was two days away, Cat had been invited in the morning over text message. "I have to go to the craft store to get more leaves and vines for my costume, I can pick up the iron on paper, and you can print a design onto it." She suggested. "And I think Annie is going as Catwoman." She said with a smile. "Knowing her it will be a super tight leather outfit." She laughed. Cat had met Annie in her freshman year of college, she was known as a skank, she didn't point it out to DJ because she hoped he could tell on his own. "A few days should be good.... I'll text you what I might need. Are you leaving now?" He asked curiously. She just got here... He would lend his moped to her so she would save gas for her car. "Okay cool." She said. "No, I'm going to go later. I have to go help Annie move, so I was going to go after that." She said. She didn't sound excited about helping Annie, she never sounded excited to see Annie. "Should I come with you?" DJ offered. He figured Cat didn't like this girl, so he thought he could keep Cat company. Cat was surprised as he offered to come with her to Annie's house. "Sure, Annie will probably be happy to see you." She said happily. "We can go after dinner." She suggested. "I guess I'll put this away and start making some burgers." DJ said and went to put his Portal gun beside his desk. He came back and grabbed all the things he'd need to make the food. Cat smiled and nodded. She put the chips away and finished her soda. She got up and got out a package of French fries and placed them on a pan and put it in the oven. Furthermore, she sat back on the couch and pulled out her laptop to work on her homework. "Did you have school today?" She asked. "There wasn't much in my online classes. Just a lesson or two." He said as he started to make the batch of patties. He quickly made two patties and tossed them on the stove. Cat nodded. "Easy day then." She said. Cat had the day off from school, so her day was easy as well. She checked what her homework for the week was a smiled. "I am free for the rest of the week, apparently." She said happily. She got up and got the rest of dinner ready, getting out hamburger buns, tomato, lettuce, mustard and ketchup. DJ went and grabbed some ranch, finding it much more flavoring with everything he ate. DJ loved ranch. He set it aside and soon finished the burgers. Being the little chef he was, DJ made the rest of the burgers, adding flavorings as they cooked and whatnot. He set them in the buns and handed one to Cat. He knew she loved his burgers and made it just the way she liked it." Here you go Cat. Just the way you like it." Cat took the burger and smiled. "Thank you." She said happily. She put ranch on almost everything too, it was among her favorite condiments. Furthermore, she put ranch on her burger and some on her plate for her fries. Furthermore, she made half normal fries and half sweet potato fries. Furthermore, she loved sweet potatoes. Furthermore, she sat on the couch and turned the TV on, she just turned on the news. Furthermore, she liked to know what was happening in the world. DJ made his burger and decided to sit by her feet on the floor. He put some fries on his plate and grabbed some ketchup and ranch. Cat laughed as he sat by her feet. "Comfortable?" She laughed lightly. She reached over him and grabbed her soda from the coffee table in front of him. "Yeah." He smiled and relaxed. He slowly ate his dinner and watched the news report. Cat laughed and laid on the couch. She loved her living situation, DJ was her best friend, he was neat, quiet, understanding and very nice. "So anything new?" "Well, I have a new idea for Halloween... I'm going to make a monster from the game Amnesia. I'm going to make a costume, and I'll wear it around town and see how people react." "That would be awesome!" She laughed. "And anyone that has played that game will probably freak out more." She laughed. "If I can get the Big Sister suit finished I will wear that and flip it from the yellow to red lights and freak people out." She said happily. "And I can wear it to comiccon!" She said excitedly. "If I ever go there, I'd have to be something like a mesomorph or something..." DJ said aloud. "That would be very interesting. I went with my sister last year. I cosplayed as Kyle from League of Legends." She laughed. "That was fun. I looked like a Victoria's secrete model in armor." She laughed happily. "It was really fun, we should go this year." I'll have to make the costume, and I don't know how long that will take... Comiccon is a strict place for details..." "It is for the men. For girls, it doesn't matter as long as you're hot." She said. She finished her food and set her plate on the coffee table. "Comiccon is different for girls and guys." "Why are they harder on us? Looks shouldn't always matter..." He joked. She laughed and hugged him gently. "Well, sprout some boobs and put on a tiny little shirt." She laughed. She stood and put her plate in the dishwasher. "Let me know when you're ready to go, I'm going to change clothes." She said and walked to her room. She changed into a black t-shirt and jeans. Furthermore, she changed her flip-flops from white tennis shoes. Furthermore, she put on a sweatshirt, her favorite sweatshirt. It was black and said "Are you a slave, or a man?" On the front. She came back out into the living room and tied her hair up in a ponytail. With the hair up it went to the middle of her back. DJ put up his plate and spotted her sweater and what it read. DJ knew that he had the heart of a slave... He always did as asked without question or complaint. The quote was from bios hock, Andrew Ryan said it multiple times as his son beat him to death with a golf club. Of course his son was under the influence of mind control. The scene in the game was her favorite from Bios hock. It was a very interesting and even psychological." Ready?" She said kindly. She was definitely no slave, she was dominated, strong, and she didn't take shit from anyone. When they were growing up and DJ would get teased or picked on, she would jump to his defense, even getting in fights over it. Her heart was in the right place, but her actions were sometimes a little overprotective when it came to her friends or family. DJ changed up to a new pair of clothes and smiled at her." Yep, let's get going." He said calmly and grabbed his keys. Cat stood from the couch and nodded. "Okay." She said as he picked up his keys, she picked up hers. "Should we take my car? Annie wanted us to take stuff from the old place to the new place." She said. "Does she? Then we better take yours..." DJ replied and put his keys back down. Cat nodded and smiled. "I got a spot out front." She said and picked up a black purse on the way out. She leads him to her car. It wasn't a fancy car, but it was nice enough. Cat had put in a touch screen radio and new speakers herself and did a lot of work on it. She got in the driver's seat and waited for DJ, putting the radio on. The sight of her improved car left DJ completely flabbergasted. She did all of this to that old car?!" Is this even yours?" He laughed and joked. "This doesn't even look like your old one... This is the same one?" She laughed and nodded "yeah." She laughed. "I did most of it myself, but my dad helped me with the engine." She said as if it was nothing. "The starter was a bitch though." She laughed. She used to have to start her car by hot wiring it Every time she wanted to start the car, now she had a key, and she didn't get the cops called on her for starting her own car. Furthermore, she had reupholstered her seats by herself. Furthermore, she had spent a lot of time in the parking lot with her car in the last few months. "What would impress me further more is if it were voice active..." DJ said, gazing at every detail in the car. "Maybe someday." She laughed as she put the car in drive and pulled onto the street. It only took a few minutes before they pulled up to an apartment building, nicer apartments than Cat and DJ's. Annie stood outside of one with mountain of boxes beside her. She was small, not quite as small as Cat. Her hair was black and cut short. She was definitely the model type. She wore a short, tight skirt, high heels and a tight black shirt. So far, Cat and DJ were the only other people there besides Annie. Annie waved excitedly as she saw Cat and DJ, but she seemed much more excited to see DJ than Cat. DJ was even further amazed by the smooth and silent ride. The car didn't make a single sound inside the car... When they arrived, DJ easily left the car and waved hello to the waiting girl. Annie smiled and ran to hug DJ. "DJ! It's been way too long!!" She said happily. "Where have you been?!" She said excitedly as he hugged him tightly. "You look great!" She said. She did not acknowledge Cat at all. Cat made a slightly annoyed face, "good to see you too." She said under her breath as she started loading boxes into Annie's car. Annie's car was clearly expensive, one of the many gifts Annie got from her rich parents. DJ shyly kept quiet and allowed himself to be hugged. After that, he went right to work with Cat. Annie finally let go, a bit disappointed as he didn't respond to her questions, but she knew he was shy. She began taking the lightest, smallest boxes she could find, not wanting to actually work at all. She smiled at Cat, "nice outfit, Cat." She said, it sounded like a compliment, but both girls knew it was an insult." Thanks, I really like yours. You'll attract just the right guy in that." Cat replied with an icy tone. She was clearly being a bit rough with Annie's boxes, almost throwing them into Annie's car. DJ kept quiet and out of the verbal combat they were having. One box after another he lifted and placed the boxes into Cat's car. Cat was beyond grateful as more cars pulled up to help. She didn't have to banter with Annie anymore as big, model type men showed up to help. Cat stuck by DJ but eventually got separated as she had to go into the old apartment to help get the rest of Annie's things. Of course Annie stayed outside to watch the guys carry her things. Annie took DJ's hand. "Hey, I need some help with some stuff inside. Can you help me?" She asked, pulling him along behind her before he could give an answer. His hand was yanked and he gave no resistance. He followed her inside and was soon reunited with Cat. Cat was helping one of the big men with a TV. She seemed annoyed as the guy kept making comments about how hot red heads are. She gave DJ a look that she only gave him when someone was about to get punched. Annie pulled him into one of the bedrooms in the back and closed the door behind them. She got up on her toes to kiss him suddenly, still holding his hand tightly. DJ tried to wave and code to her, but he was quickly taken into another room and attacked by Annie's mouth. He gasped and backed his head away." Wait... What are you doing!?" Annie smiled as he pulled away and asked her what she was doing. "Isn't it obvious? I'm kissing you." She said lightly. She pulled her arms around his waist and smiled. "What? Did you get a girlfriend since the last time I saw you?" He started to blush by what she was saying and tried to speak. When DJ panicked, he would quickly lose his words and blank out. He couldn't say anything. Of course, with her last question, the way he was acting might give a wrong signal... Annie smiled as he blushed, she pushed him back against the wall. "I know you're shy, you don't have to say anything." She said softly. She gently grabbed his wrists and moved his hands to rest on her hips. Furthermore, she kissed his neck lightly. DJ acted quickly and gently pushed her back in fear." Wait... Please, don't....." He begged and tried moving away. Annie was shocked as he pushed her back. She pouted a bit, she knew this game. She would use guilt and his shy, servant nature against him. "You don't like me?" She asked sadly. As he moved away she leaned against the door, blocking the only exit. "W-what? No... It's not that..." He stuttered and tried to think. She now trapped him in, and now he couldn't get help... Annie shook her head and looked down disappointed. "No, I guess I understand... It's just... I like you... A lot." She said sadly. Cat could clearly be heard, she sounded like she was outside, yelling at someone, and clearly she was pissed off. Annie laughed a bit sadly. "Is it her?" She asked curiously. DJ thought about that... He did kinda like her... But he wouldn't call it love." Well... I like her...." As he said that, he sank down at the glare that was quickly given. "I don't see why. She is rude, mean and a bitch." She said seriously. "I'd bet you anything she is out there yelling because someone made a comment about her hair." She said clearly annoyed. "And you sure don't act like you like her, and same with her!" She said clearly extremely irritated. DJ sank down and became concerned... Was she going to hit him or something? He backed away a bit as she shouted at him and kept as calm as could manage A door could be heard slamming somewhere else in the house. "DJ!" Cat called. She was angry, not with him of course. "Come on, let's go!" She called. Annie glared at him, giving him a face that dared him to call back at Cat. The door behind Annie was forced open and Annie was knocked onto the floor. Cat stepped into the room. She looked furious, and she looked like she was ready to beat the hell out of Annie. "What the hell did you do?" Cat hissed. She had the look on her face that she always did before someone had to call the cops. She looked at DJ. "Let's go before I kill someone." She said seriously. She would never actually kill someone, but her temper was very intense with anyone other than DJ and her family. DJ knew how to calm her and quickly scooted towards her and began to trace his fingertips against her palm, which strangely worked to calm anyone down. He learned this little trick from his sister, who worked as a massage giver at a spa. Cat watched him very carefully. He stroked her hand which strangely did calm her a bit. She took a deep breath and took his hand. "Come on let's go." She said still very seriously, but the edge of desperation was gone from her tone. She looked at Annie. "Don't mess with my friends." She hissed and turned to walk to the car. As she walked outside one of the men whistled at her. "Aww, come on Kitty Cat." He teased. "I don't mind gingers." He called along with a few other lewd comments. Cat responded with a raised middle finger and slamming her car door so hard it shook the car. DJ frowned and entered the car with her." Cat... I'm sorry...." He said shyly. Cat shook her head. "It's not your fault." She said, clearly trying to calm herself. She sighed and pulled out of the parking lot. "So are you okay? You looked scared." She said worriedly. "I'm sorry, I always leave you by yourself..." "I'm sorry for letting you leave me... I should have followed you once you went away." "It's not your fault." She said seriously. She sighed as they stopped at a stoplight, her knuckles were white as she gripped the steering wheel tightly. "I knew she was a bitch, I shouldn't have left you alone with her." She said seriously. "I'm sorry." Her tone dropped, she was stubborn, and he knew exactly how much she hated apologizing for things and admitting she was wrong. She looked over at him. "You have some lipstick on your collar, by the way." She said in a strangely strained tone. DJ turned to the stain and frowned."Oh, no... This is my favorite shirt..." He sighed and tried wiping the stain, but only spread it around. "I can get it out later." She said glaring at the road. Her hands were shaking a bit in anger as she drove. She took a deep breath to try to calm herself. She pulled into the parking lot of their apartment building. Furthermore, she turned the car off and got out, slamming her door behind her. Furthermore, she looked at DJ, not even knowing where to begin. "What happened with Annie?" She said, she was trying and failing to keep the anger from her voice. "Um... I don't know what to say that make your anger... Worse...." He shyly squeaked and fried not to sound mean. "What did she do? I will not go back, and I am not mad at you." She promised. "What did she do? Did she hurt you?" She asked, she was worried about him. He was gentle and kind, and he had been so frightened when she walked in. He would never hurt a girl and both Cat and Annie knew that. DJ thought about what he remembered." She.... Pounced me... And tried kissing me...." Cat was trying to act calm, her hands in fists, shaking. She took a deep, shaky breath to try and calm herself. "Okay." She said, her voice strained and tense. "I hate her." She hissed. She had to set her car keys on the hood of her car and walk away. "Keep those away from me." She said seriously. If she got her keys she would drive back and beat the hell out Annie. DJ shook terrified and quickly shoved the keys in his pocket, zipped it up and tried to help her relax. He remembered he had made a special item that he believed was the perfect cure for her boiling rage." I have something that might help... I just finished a whole box of them..." Cat looked at him unsurely. "A box of what?" She muttered as she opened the door to the apartment. She stepped inside and sat on the couch, her bits of fury were never the same as they were the last time, but they were always scary to those around her. Furthermore, she got a blanket and laid on the couch. "I call them 'Chill Pills'. I'll go get one for you." DJ said and hurried to his room. He opened his multi lock safe, being strict with his unique creations, and grabbed one little pill. It was ice blue with a snowflake carved on its side. He returned to his friend and gave it to her. "When you swallow, just hold your breath for a few seconds and very slowly exhale. It should help you calm down...." He said kindly. Cat eyed the pill suspiciously. "What is in it?" She asked curiously. Cat trusted DJ with her life, but his inventions always slightly surprised her. She was a bit hesitant to try anything that she did not know what was in it or what it did. "Um.... I can't tell you... I made a secret recipe... Furthermore, I'll tell you this though... It's very, very safe." He promised and hoped she would accept the answer. She searched his face very carefully before she sighed and nodded. "Alright, fine." She said and swallowed the pill. She held her breath as she was instructed and exhaled very slowly. Her head felt a bit light, but she did not feel mad anymore. She felt calm. She moved to lay her head in his lap, something she had never done with him before. "Thanks, you are always so nice to me." She said with a smile as she looked up at him. It was exactly a side effect, but rather an unexpected addition was that she felt totally calm, the stress and worry she normally was held back by was not there. As she exhaled, the breath she made was visible and danced in the air before it vaporized and vanished. When she spoke so calmly and slowly, DJ knew for a fact that his invention worked like a charm." I do what I can to keep my only friend happy... Your happiness is my own..." She smiled a bit and nodded. "You should just carry those with you when ever you are with me so that when someone pisses me off you can calm me down." She laughed. Cat had a hell of a temper, but never had DJ been on the receiving end of it. She reached up and gently set her hand on his cheek. "You're my best friend." She said gently. He knew how odd she was acting, Cat was not a touchy person. She touched her boyfriends that way when she had one, but not him. "You're amazing." She sighed softly. "Thank you... You are amazing to... Maybe more than me." He complimented. He always put others first and himself for last. It was something he always believed. Put others in the front, and himself in the back. His philosophy on others had always confused her, he always put others before himself. And people walked all over him, girls especially used him. She watched his face carefully and smiled, "What would you do if I kissed you?" She asked softly. Furthermore, she was different from Annie, Annie took what she wanted Regardless of the price, Cat was cautious and calculating, never taking anything with risk attached to it. DJ blushed at her question. He honestly never thought she'd ask him that herself..." To be honest..." He began and choose his words carefully. "... I wonder the same thing every day.... And I don't know what I'd do..." She sat up and faced him, "Well, why don't we find out?" She suggested gently. Furthermore, she leaned in and kissed him gently, not as forcefully as Annie had. Furthermore, she moved closer to him, sitting in his lap. Furthermore, she had kissed before, but she doubted he had, she was his only friend and unless she didn't remember it she had not kissed him before. One of her hands rested on his shoulder and the other rested on his hip. DJ didn't want to upset her by refusing and let the kiss happen. He didn't even know what to do with himself. He just froze and wondered what he had to do. Cat laughed a bit as she felt him freeze up. She kissed his cheek lightly. "Relax, do you need one of those pills too?" She laughed lightly. "Just do what you want to do." She said gently. She had never had real love, she had experienced compulsive, impulsive attempts at love, physical love, but she had never been in love. But she knew how to kiss, and how to do plenty of other things. She returned her mouth to his, gently taking his bottom lip between hers and nipping it lightly with her teeth and running her tongue over it. She wanted him to relax and enjoy himself, it would make he is happy if he did. He tried to hide his blush but only felt it getting worse. She asked him to do what he wanted... But that was to hide in his shell... She probably didn't want that. He closed his eyes and slowly relaxed, feeling his shoulders lower down and slack. As he relaxed she smiled a bit and pulled away again she could see his blush, he was blushing so badly. She smiled, "You don't have to be shy, it's me." She said gently. Furthermore, she held his hand in hers. "You should take one of those pills yourself, it might help you." She said gently. She leaned her head against his shoulder and held his hand. "Alright.... I'll come back with an emergency box full of them." He said as he literally thought he might need that much. He left for a short minute and returned with a Tibetan case full of his Chill Pills. "Try one and see how you feel, I don't want you O.D.ING on me." She said softly. She laid across the couch and stretched with her arms above her head. Furthermore, she laid on her back and looked up at him, she had rarely ever seen him completely calm, especially when kissing was the topic. Furthermore, she was interested to see how it all would work. DJ took some small breaths and took in a pill, doing as needed, and his blush faded in just a spilled moment. He became the calmest he had ever felt in several years. She watched his blush fade and smiled, how interesting. "Good." She said softly. She sat up again and pulled him back on the couch beside her. "Open your mouth a little bit, just do what feels right." She said gently and kissed him softly, she still held his hand in her own, gently rubbing the palm of his hand with her thumb. DJ accepted her suggestion and slowly began to kiss back, almost as if he knew exactly what to do. He didn't understand how he knew what to do, but didn't care for the time. He just did what he believed was right... Cat had almost never believed it would happen, but he was kissing her now. He kept his mouth open as she told him and her tongue moved into his mouth, tasting him and gently moving with his tongue. If she was going to kiss him, it wasn't going to be a grandma kiss. One on her hands rested on his thigh gently, the other stayed in his hand. His hands slowly began to rise and gingerly (no pun intended) began to hold her cheeks, bringing them both closer and deepening the kiss. (LOL!) She was actually shocked as he touched her, bringing her closer. This was a miracle, she had never thought he would ever kiss her, he was so shy. She moved back into his lap, facing him this time. She closed her eyes and moved as close to him as she could, she didn't know when or if this would ever happen again, so she had to make the most of it. As she shifted, his hands moved from her cheeks to her shoulders, again bringing them closer and kissing even deeper. His mind was so calm and willing now. He's much better at working when he was calm... Before he took his CP, he didn't even know how TP pucker his lips... His hands moved to her shoulders and she broke the kiss to breathe but also to speak. "How far are we going right now?" She asked cautiously. She didn't know what he was prepared or willing to do, or even what he wanted to do, she was up for almost anything, it was his boundaries that really restricted them. "What... What does that mean?" He asked calmly, the pill taming a longer effect on him than her. "It means are we just kissing, or are we going further?" She said before realizing he probably still needed a bit more explanation. "I mean... Sex." She said. It was her turn to blush and look away shyly. She bit her lip and looked away from him, not knowing how he would react. DJ suddenly overcame the effects of the pill as she said that and his shy self returned. His blush quickly returned and he was just speechless. Cat looked up to see his blush and sighed, figuring she had overstepped some boundary, and figuring the answer was no. She nodded and moved off of him and sat next to him, she felt the tense awkwardness now. She was a bit frustrated, she liked him, but he was so shy it seemed as if they were destined to go nowhere. Furthermore, she set her head in her hand and rubbed her temple, the sign that she was very stressed. Furthermore, she only sat that way when she was very stressed and frustrated, usually it meant she was going to snap. "Should........ Should we?" He finally asked as his blush managed to worse. Just by him asking the daring question. She looked at him in disbelief. "It is usually not a matter of if we should or not. It's if we want to." She said a bit flatly, she figured he either wasn't ready or wasn't that interested in her. It had been hard enough to get him to kiss her, she could only image how many more pills it would take for him to relax enough for sex. "Never mind, it was a stupid idea anyway." She sighed. DJ was saddened by the denial... But something in him started to turn... He gently turned her chin his way and slowly pressed her lips back with his. Cat was about to get up and go to her room when he moved her chin so she would face him again. She could not believe what was happening, he had kissed her, he had touched on purpose, and he hadn't apologized or shut down yet. It was he turn to freeze for a moment, out of surprise. She returned the kiss finally as the shock began to ease. He slowly moved her closer, adding their tongues to the kiss. He felt like he knew exactly what to do. Furthermore, he moved his hands around her back and slowly caressed her covered skin. Cat let him take the lead, surprised to be letting him do so of course. He added tongue, and he moved his arms to her back. He seemed to be comfortable and though he was probably going off instinct, he seemed to know what he was doing. Her hands played with the bottom of his shirt. She broke the kiss and laughed lightly. "Can I take your shirt off? Then I don't have to see that bitch's lipstick." She said lightly and kissed him again. "Only... If I can take yours off...." He teased and grinned at her. Her jaw dropped in happy surprise, he was teasing! "Do it." She said surely as she lifted his shirt over her head, she had seen him shirtless before, but never in their current context. He was attractive and good-looking. She kissed his cheek and waited to see if he was bluffing or if he would actually take her shirt off. DJ smiled and slowly worked to remove her shirt. As it came off, her white bra was exposed to the world. She smiled as he removed her shirt, all that remained now was her bra, her jeans and her panties. She reached behind her and unhooked her bra, she tossed the clothes she held aside. Furthermore, she kissed his lips gently as her fingers toyed with the button of his pants gently. DJ blushed not of nervousness, but from the dirty thoughts he was getting at the sight of her bare breasts. Curiously he lifted his fingertips against her chest and then gently caressed her body. Cat saw the blush, but it didn't seem to stop him as his fingertips brushed her breasts. He was so gentle which was very nice and sweet. As he caressed her she gently ran her fingers along the inside of his thighs, she kissed him gently and broke it to focus on his pants. She undid the button and zipper and looked up to him, "Last chance." She said half teasingly. If he wanted to stop now was the best time to tell her, she wouldn't get mad now. "I... Don't really know... I want to... But I'm not sure how to..." DJ explained and relaxed as she pressed her chest up against his. "And again, if mine come off... So do yours..." She smiled and kissed him softly. "Don't worry, I'll help you." She said gently. She knew how. Furthermore, she smiled at his comment, "Good." She said surely as she pulled his pants down and off. Furthermore, she would let him finish undressing her. As she told him she'd help, he smiled... But he frowned at the fact she wasn't a virgin... He wanted someone just as inexperienced as him to have sex with him.... But he guessed she was an exception. He smothered his hands down to her pants and slowly pulled them downwards Cat helped him remove her pants, leaving them both in their underwear. She caught his from as he found out she was not a virgin, she did her best to ignore it and act like it didn't bother her. She kissed his lips and removed his underwear, figuring it was the same deal as the rest, she removed his, he removed hers. Under his underwear, DJ was slowly growing an erection. His hands slowly pulled her panties off, and they were both completely naked, Cat on top of hum and rubbing her breasts against his chest. Cat smiled seeing his growing erection, she reached down and took his semi hard cock in her hand, stroking it. She watched him closely, worried he would shut down again. She moved to straddle his hips. His hands on her breasts were soft but strong, her nipples grew hard with her arousal as her pussy grew wet. DJ slowly moaned and began to breathe faster in excitement. His hands slowly left her chest and settled by his sides and kept him up on the couch. She smiled as he moaned, the universal sign that she was doing it right. As one hand stroked his cock the other moved to his hand. She picked it up and held it for a moment before leading it to her sex. She guided his fingers to her clit, "Play with that, you can be as rough or gentle as you want to be." She instructed gently. As he felt her dripping sex on his finger and told to work there, he slowly rubbed his fingers back and forth, unsure of what to do exactly. Shivers traveled down his spine and he continued to moan as Cat continued the hand job. Cat moaned slowly as his fingers rubbed her clit, he was unsure, but he was doing just wonderfully. She kissed him gently. She could not believe what was happening, never did she ever image she would be having sex with DJ. He was always so shy, but something was a bit different in him now. Maybe he just really wanted her? DJ kept his fingers slow and steady on her sex and moaned more and more with every stroke she made on his cock. He felt so warm right now and was really enjoying this... It felt so amazing... Cat could tell he was enjoying it, he looked more relaxed. Cat's hand steadied on his cock, and she moved a bit closer, she lined his cock up with the entrance to her sex. She slowly began to push down, and push him inside of her. She moved slow knowing this was new for him, she wanted him to feel it all. Furthermore, she moaned, her head tilting back in pleasure. DJ moaned slightly louder as she sat on him and pushed his cock inside of her. His hand left her alone and then slowly held her by the arms and brought her into a kiss. She slowly pushed him all the way inside her, moaning as she did. She leaned into the kiss and began moving her hips, slowly at first, but she was beginning to pick up a bit of speed. A shudder ran up her spine accompanied by a moan. DJ moaned as she began moving on his cock and he moaned in the kiss as well. The ecstasy he felt was so amazing that he felt like he just wanted more of it.... He to caress and kiss his lover and slowly laid himself down. She moved with him as he moved to lay down. She held herself up on her elbows which rested on ether side of him. Furthermore, she smiled with a thought. He had been innocent, and she had taken that, though she felt proud to say she had taken it. But she knew he was enjoying it and so was she. The pace of her hips was slow and steady. Her fingers ran lightly through his hair. DJ slowly opened up his eyes and smiled at Cat, glaring down to her bouncing breasts and slowly moving his hands up to grope them. She could see how he was getting more comfortable. She moaned lightly as his hands returned to her breasts. "You are actually pretty good at this." She said between heavy breaths. Her voice was in a tone he had never heard from her before, a tone of intense lust. His mind was racing with thoughts of him and her. He could barely speak from the arousing play. Slowly a tingle began to build in his penis. He moaned again as he felt his climax slowly building up. Cat could feel her climax building as well, she kissed his cheek and smiled gently. "Don't hold back." She said gently. She wanted to please him, his whole life he had put others first, it was his turn to be taken care of. DJ slowly felt his body tingle more and more until one last push he was sent over the edge. His penis shot out warm cum into Cat's sex and he gave a long moan. Cat slowly came to her own climax just after his, her back arched and her fingers gripped the couch. She let out a long, satisfied moan. She kissed him gently, now was the awkward part, where did they go from there? DJ laid her down on top as he breathed sharply and excitedly. That was the greatest thing he ever felt... Cat laid down beside him, she held his hand gently and couldn't help but smile as she saw how happy he looked. "I am glad that happened." She said gently. "I.... I love you....." He said slowly as he began to calm down. Cat didn't know what to say, they had just been best friends, then they had sex, and then he said he loved her. She decided to just go with how she felt. "I love you too." She softly, she rested her head on his shoulder and held his hand. They both laid together and eventually fell asleep in each other's arms. Their bodies kept them warm and relaxed. Cat fell asleep comfortably in his arms, she slept quietly until the morning. When she woke up she was very careful with her movements, she looked up slowly to see if he was awake. He had moved closer to her and slept against her breasts and shoulders. She gently kissed his cheek, she had to wait for him to wake up before she could move since she was stuck between him and the back of the couch. She laid still and waited for him to wake up on his own. The kiss on the cheek stirred him awake, and he smiled." Morning Cat." He whispered with a relaxed voice. Cat smiled. "Good morning." She said gently. She hadn't meant to wake him, but it was okay, it just meant she could move around now. Furthermore, she stretched a bit and yawned. "Did you sleep well?" "I slept very well... How about you?" He asked and sat up, giving her room to move. She nodded, "very well, thank you." She sat up and smiled at him. Furthermore, she looked at the clock on the wall, "I have to get ready for work." She sighed. Furthermore, she loved her job, but today she would rather relax and sleep in. "I'll get on my school work and hopefully work on other projects." DJ added and went to put some new clothes on. Cat went to her room and showered she took a while in her room, finally she came back out in her work clothes, a black button-up shirt and jeans. She worked at a local restaurant as the manager. She walked to the kitchen and looked around. "DJ, do you want breakfast? I am going to make some." She said. She had cleaned up a bit, she straightened her hair and put makeup on, which she only did for work. "Yes please Cat." He said as he came out in a Pokémon shirt and orange shorts. Cat knew they should talk about what happened and where they were at now, but she didn't really have time. She had to get to work soon. She made bacon, pancakes and hash browns. Furthermore, she took her plate and a cup of coffee and sat on the couch, handing him his plate as she passed him. It was Thursday, so the rush at the restruant would not be as bad as it was normally, plus she was working in the morning. DJ quickly ate his plate and put away the dishes as Cat finished up her plate. Cat ate slowly and put her dishes away when she was done. "Okay, I'm going to go. Have a good day." She said and walked to her car, she then remembered she had given him her keys. She hurried back inside. "I left my keys with you." She said slightly rushed. DJ remembered that and quickly went into his old pants and gave her the keys." Take care... Oh, wait, take some of my Chill Pills with you... But please don't give any to anyone... They're only for you and me. Also, avoid taking a bunch in a short period of time. They have an addicting side effect." Cat nodded and took the keys and the pills, putting them in her purse. "You too, see you later." She said and hurried out the door. Cat worked eight-hour shifts most days and sometimes stuck around after work for a little while, they gave her free food at work and the people were tolerable. It wouldn't be until about 5:00 PM when she would get home. DJ went to work with his homework and he couldn't stop thinking about Cat... Her body and her seductive touch and soothing voice... he just couldn't stop thinking about her.... Cat had a normal day, she hasn't had to resort to the pills. She got home on time and walked in, glad to be home. He had been on her mind as well, she was worried if their friendship was at risk. She closed the front door behind her. "I'm home." She called and sat on the couch and sighed. DJ came out from his room and sat beside her with a warm smile." Welcome back Cat. How was your day?" "Long, one of the new waitresses tripped with a whole tray of food and might have broken her ankle." She said and smiled at him. "How was yours?" She asked. She was glad to be home, to be back with him. "To be honest... I can't stop thinking about you..." DJ said and gave a faint blush. She smiled lightly and nodded. "I was thinking about you too." She said honestly. She blushed and looked down at her hands nervously. DJ noticed her behavior and looked her in the eyes." Is something wrong?" He asked and gently turned her chin to face him. She was once again surprised by how calm he was. She shook her head, "No, nothing is wrong." She promised gently. Furthermore, she gently took his hand in hers and smiled. "Maybe something you'd want to chat about?" DJ said and leaned into her hand. She bit her lip lightly and nodded. "I want to know where we are now, and where we intend to go. If there is a." She said nervously. "You mean... Based from last night?" DJ asked and smiled. "Well, I think there is a." She nodded, "Yeah, based off of last night." She laughed lightly. He knew he past with guys, he'd been there to try and calm her down when she vowed revenge on a man for using her, or when she cried because someone hurt her, of course she never told him all the details of those relationships, he knew she had been in bad relationships before." I'm glad." She said lightly as he said there was a, she definitely wanted there to be something with them, and after last night it was unavoidable. "So. Do you think there is a 'we' between us?" She nodded, "I do. We are very similar, and clearly we both have feelings for each other." She said and nodded. "I think it could work." "That's wonderful to hear... I really do love you..." He said with a warm smile. She smiled at him and nodded. "I love you too." She said softly. She hugged him gently and kissed his cheek. DJ moved in for the hug and kiss and smiled." So.... Is there something that we should do now?" She shook her head. "No. We can do whatever we want. I'm probably going to go get stuff for my poison Ivy costume. Want to go with me to the crafts store?" "Sure. I'll come with you... But I'm not going to be any help probably..." She shrugged, "that's okay. It will be fun anyway." she said happily. "We can go get dinner out tonight, I don't want to cook." She suggested, plus they were always at home, and it gave the chance to get out for a while. "Sure... I might have some spare spending money around here..." DJ said and started to look around. "Awesome! I'm going to go change really quick." She said. She walked into her room and put on a green tank top and jean shorts. Furthermore, she wore simple flip-flops, like she almost always wore. Furthermore, she walked back into the living room and sat on the couch. DJ put on a nice outfit and grabbed his keys." So, are we taking my wheels this time or yours?" She smiled as he came in wearing his nice clothes, "you look very nice." She said happily. Furthermore, she stood and shrugged. "We can take yours." she said with a smile. "You look very nice as well..." He complimented and opened the door for her. She smiled as he opened the door for her, "thanks." She said politely as she stepped outside. Furthermore, she waited for him and walked to his ride. DJ closed the door and locked it tight. He gave Cat his arm and walked with her down to his moped." Oh, you might want your coat... It's going to get cold." DJ added and gave her a coat that he snatched just before leaving the house. She smiled as he offered her his arm. She took it and walked with him. Furthermore, she took the jacket great fully and put it on. "Thanks." She said. She got on behind him and held onto his waist on the moped. DJ smiled as she held close and went smooth with the driving." So, where should we go out?" He asked as he reached the exit to the parking lot. She held on to him, she liked riding with him, it was fun, she got to get close to him and people usually honked and waved at them because if the moped. She thought for a few minutes. "I'm not sure." She said honestly. "There is a new place nearby, why don't we try there?" She suggested. DJ smiled and followed her directions to the new place she spoke of. It was a brand new Italian restaurant and looked a bit expensive." Well, we're here..." He said and turned off his engine. She looked at the new restaurant, she had a feeling it was too expensive. There was a small little place next door, a mom-and-pop place. "Wan ago there?" She suggested pointing to the small place. "The people going in the new place look pretty dressed up, wouldn't want to disturb the rich people." She joked lightly. "I'll follow you wherever you go." He said and walked with her to the other place. She laughed and walked into the restaurant, they were sat immediately and asked what they wanted to drink. Cat got what she always got, Coke or Pepsi, whatever they had. She looked over the menu, the menu was simple, a lot of home cooked type of meals, some were a little more complicated than others. "This place is nice. The people are very friendly." DJ got what he always loved... Orange juice... DJ hates soda (Stop judging him!) And always preferred to have juice. He ordered a small pizza to split with a small order for himself. Cat had teased him as a kid for not liking soda, but she had gotten used to it. She on the other hand, loved soda. Every chance she got soda. She ordered bread sticks along with the pizza. She was in no way the girl who ordered a tiny salad, plus what was the point of acting differently than she was? He knew her very well. The food was made quickly and served right to them." This place is wonderful...." She nodded. "Yeah, great service!" She said happily. She ate politely, as she always did. "Good food too." She said happily. DJ ate with her and smiled at the taste." This is awesome!!" She nodded, "very good." She agreed. "So, how is your family? I haven't seen them in a while." DJ finished the food in his mouth and sipped his juice." I rarely hear from them anymore... I'm not very sure to be honest..." "That's so sad. They were always so nice to me." She said. She remembered as a little kid coming over to DJ's house to play. "I remember that too... Especially when we played in the kiddie pool together." She nodded. "Great times!" She laughed. "I remember my mom was always so mad when I wanted to go to your house instead of playing with dolls." Her mother always wanted her to be more of a girly girl, her dad always wanted her to be herself. "I remember when my mom kept telling you to keep coming over. Just to see how your mom would act ." DJ chuckled. "Remember when my mom came over? And we were watching Star Wars, she freaked out." She laughed happily. "My mom has gotten over it since I fixed her car. And other things." She laughed. DJ laughed and smiled." Wow... I wish we could just have those amazing days again..." She nodded. "We had some really great times," she said and took his hand in hers. "But we've had some pretty awesome times since then too. And we'll have more." DJ smiled and kissed her hands lovingly." As long as we have each other, I think we will make the greatest of days." Cat smiled. "This is true." She said happily. "We'll have great times." She promised. She felt happy and calm. For the next couple of minutes, they both talked and had fun together. Eventually the time reached about 10:00 P.M." It's starting to get late... Should we head back?" She looked around and laugh, people were waiting for them to leave. "Oh, yeah." She laughed. She stood, they had paid a while ago. "Let's get out of here." She said happily. DJ stood and tossed out their trash and hurried with Cat to their way back home. They went home, and as they stepped inside Cat turned around and smiled. "I have to show you something, it's a surprise." She said excitedly. "Wait here." She said and hurried into her bedroom. She took a couple of minutes before she came back out, she hid around the corner just out of sight. "Ready?" She asked excitedly. DJ closed his eyes and chuckled at her." Yeah... I'm not peeking..." She stepped around the corner and smiled. "Okay, you can open your eyes." She said. As he did, he saw her in her Poison Ivy costume, it was finished, and it was pretty awesome. It looked mostly like a bunch of leaves stuck to her skin, and in her hair. It was like a one piece bathing suit of leaves, only with a zipper in the back. "Taxa!" She laughed lightly, "I finished it!" She said excitedly. (DJ was left in awe at her costume. He couldn't believe how sexy she looked in that costume. He looked around her whole figure and was just amazed. She smiled excitedly, "Do you like it?" She said happily. Furthermore, she could tell by his face he did and she smiled happily. Furthermore, she leaned against the back of the couch and smiled at him. "The leaves came individually, so sewing them together was a pain, but I like it." She said proudly. "I... I love it!" He stuttered and smiled at her. "It's very amazing. I love the color and design..." He said and moved over beside her.

More Than Friends (Linkinpunk123 and Kellycaligirl)|rating:3.0

Eye Opening (Almondus and BustyGermanGirl)

(watched the woman leave his office. She had been refreshing. Not much for conversation and her taste in music was atrocious, but there were other parts of her that were more than satisfying to him. The man leaned back in his chair and looked out the window of his office. Head of a multinational advertising firm that was publicly traded he was able to afford quite the view over London. His office suites perched high over the bustling metropolitan. The sun had set not long ago, and it was his custom to leave soon after. Delilah would likely grow suspicious otherwise. A smile quirked up on his lips at the thought of that. It wasn't like she'd grow suspicious anyway after time. Finding good help was hard for someone with his appetites after all. The chair swiveled back to face the large oak desk before him and Nicolas leaned forwards to press down upon the intercom button that would connect him to Delilah's desk. "Almost done for the day Del, am I forgetting anything for my appointments?" he asked politely, leaving the circuit open as he leaned back in the chair and started to button up his shirt. "And how is London finding you? Any better than the states?" he asked. It was still their first week in the city after all. His voice was calming, strangely so. But then Nicolas always had a way of exuding a sort of peacefulness in his voice. Yes, he'd grown careless with that last girl. The move had drained him and his hunger had made him a bit sloppy. In any case it would be explained away as someone wanting to cover up a hickey. Nicolas was certain that he'd stopped the flow of blood before she'd left at least. Deep red tie taken up and pulled around his neck. Fingers worked away nimbly with practiced ease to do a Windsor knot. The color was striking against the black background of his black silk shirt and black slacks. He had expensive taste in clothes, and other things, but then again there were perks to the job. Lips thinned as he reminded himself there were quiet responsibilities as well with it. A few of which even the investors didn't know about. (shifted in her office chair at the start of the intercom. The women that had left his office previously had left in a hurry. She looked pale, and she wondered what bad news she was given during her meeting the Boss, and if it would affect her and her job. She had started her job at The Pratchett Group only a few months before, and already they had bounced offices twice. Furthermore, she had started her job as an administrative assistant, but after a deal fell through with another marketing firm, the offices were relocated from Pittsburgh to London, and was promoted to the CEO's personal assistant. As mysterious as he was, Nicolas was always kind to her, which made her drop her guard and move to keep her job. Nicolas had multiple meetings a day lately, which seemed unnatural to what she was used to, especially as late as it was. She was always making sure his schedule was as efficient as possible, so that perhaps he didn't have to stress out as much. When he was stressed, he would lock himself in his office for days, sometimes up to a week, until she would hear from him again. Delilah looked at her calendar on her desktop. "You are free the rest of the evening, Mr. Andrews. Your next couple of appointments are at 7:30 A.M. with your hairstylist, and 9:00 A.M. with Mr. Haskell from Picts Incorporated." She paused a moment to see if she heard anything else, "I am just finishing up the proposal you asked of me, and should be on your desk within the hour." She paused as she considered Nicholas' second question about London. "London seems to be treating me fairly," She said finally, "but there is still more I would like to explore before I can give you a more definitive answer." She pushed up her black-rimmed glasses back onto the bridge of her nose and straightened herself in her chair and continued to type, her hands moving briskly. Her simple black pencil skirt was wrinkled with frequent hours at her desk, and her red pumps were starting to chafe the back of her heels....but she had more work to do before she could even think about climbing into some more comfortable clothes." Was there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Andrews?" Nicolas listened attentively to Delia has she spoke. A light nod of his head as she mentioned that he didn't have any other appointments for the day. It was how business to him. The nature of it developing certain patterns that even his secretary would have noticed by now. They'd move and arrive to a flurry of activity. Meetings upon meetings. Some consisting of almost a dozen people or so in varying kinds of dress. Mr. Andrews always explained it away as advertisers were very much like artists in a way and needed to feel comfortable in their own skin so that they could create. Though all sorts would come to those meetings at all times of day, they were always behind closed doors. Delilah herself sitting at a large desk behind a polished marble counter. The skyscraper they were in constructed in a triangular shape with his office on the top floor at the very point. A private elevator would lift people up to the floor, opening up about twenty yards before Delia's desk. The result was incredibly open and free. Italian leather couches set up along the sides for those who were waiting to recline in luxury while they enjoyed the spectacular view of London. They could even see the garish looking ferry wheel from where they stood right now as well as the Millennium Bridge crossing the Thames. To her back was polished steel. Something done in symmetry to the wall that housed the elevator before her. Paintings adoring it, the kind with splashed colors and different layers of paint upon it. Abstract and intended to instill a raw emotion rather than any particular setting. All in all the place looked modern and clean, and the temperature was always seemed a bit cold. Ni cleaned forwards on the marble and looked down upon her as she worked." An hour is a very long time Delilah. It's not a pressing matter and I hate to leave the office before anyone else. Besides." he said leaning forwards. The handsome smile upon his lips taking on an impish tilt as he looked upon her. Face looking very much as if he had a secret to whisper in her ear. "It sounds like you haven't had a chance to look about the place either. Come out with me tonight, we'll do a bit of exploring together," he said pushing up from the counter and turning towards the elevator. "Go home. Change into something more comfortable and I'll pick you up. You'll be far better company to me then these vapid woman I've been running into lately anyway. Oh." He said pausing to turn around and look her dead in her eyes. The air growing still a moment in the silence. "And wear your hair up please. I'll be taking you someplace nice," he added before pressing the button for the elevator." Comon then, I won't be holding it once it finally gets here," He added giving a nod towards the numbers counting up on the display as the carriage zipped up the cables towards them. Delilah flushed, heat rising to her cheeks without consulting her brain first. She shut her monitor off with a quick click, and pulled her black pocketbook out from the drawer in her desk. She didn't bother turning off the computer, as she knew she would be back at it first thing in the morning. She hurried, but not too fast as to seem desperate to leave. Furthermore, she stood next to Nicholas quietly, waiting for the elevator to reach the top floor. Even in luxury office buildings, the elevators were dreadfully slow. A sweet smell wafted from Nicholas as she stood there. Not sickeningly sweet, but a musky sweet mixed with expensive cologne. It drew her thoughts in, but she quietly turned her attention to what her boss really had planned to explore in London. What did he mean, dress nice? Despite the slight disheveledness of long hours in the same outfit, she was unsure what he meant by 'nice.' The lift dinged musically as it had reached the top floor. Getting in the lift, the smell was a lot stronger. Delilah breathed it in deeply, sighing slightly, as if she was a bit tired. Nicholas looked down at her, giving her the same impish grin he had given her just moments before. They reached the bottom level and made their way through the lobby. She waved at the security guard at the desk, Tom, who was a sweet old man she is like to chat with on occasion when she came in after tea. Tom waved back, giving her nod doing so, and got back to watching the security screens in front of him. It didn't take Delilah long to walk to her small flat just a few blocks away. Her place was simple and clean, mostly because she spent most of her time at the office with Mr. Andrews. She the open her closet upon shutting the door and tossing her pumps in the corner. She changed into a simple blue cashmere sweater and a pair of dark denim jeans, and hoped that they were nice enough for what her boss had planned. She pulled her hair back in a quick bun on the top of her head and headed to the bathroom. Furthermore, she looked at herself in the mirror and sighed as she heard a horn outside of her door." Shit, he's already here," She cursed to herself. She adjusted her makeup and lipstick, then headed to the door. Nicolas waited outside the woman's home in an Ashton Martin DBS. Jet black exterior that shinned with a mirror like finish. The top was down, and she'd see that he was dressed in the very same outfit as before. The cars top was down giving her a clear view of the car's leather interior as well. One hand on the wheel, the other upon the stick, fingers drumming away playfully before he turned down the stereo. "Ahhh yes. You are looking very nice Del, common, let's have a bit of fun; yes?" he asked leaning over to pop the latch on the door and let her in. Once she was settled, he'd playfully rev the engine before taking off. The car remarkably quiet for how fast it moved. "I don't get much quiet time these days you know. The company's been doing well, but sometimes I think that if I wasn't working there it'd all fall apart in a night or two. It's nice to have someone along that I can trust to make sure I get everything done. I do have a confession to make though," he said turning towards her and smiling as he ran a red light. "Tonight's dinner will be a bit of business as well. Someone I need to check in on. Someone that's been very bad. "He said licking his lips and allowing his gaze to linger upon the tightly woven knit of her sweater and how it stretched over the feminine curves of her body."but dinner is my treat, and. Well. I promise that you'll find it to be an interesting meeting," he said giving her a wink before returning his attention to the road. Their path taking them downtown. Large buildings rising up to either side of them as traffic grew heavier. He'd make no mention of the red light. It was if he was testing her, feeling her out, or maybe the man was just board and wanted to get a rise out of the woman. Yes, it would be an interesting night for her indeed. Delilah didn't have a clue of just what was awaiting her. But then that's why he ran through assistants almost as quickly as he did office buildings. He took a right, entering a circular drive. "We're here," He said leaving the car running for the valet as he stepped out. Del's door opened by a sharply dressed young man who gave her a lingering smile. "It's a good place to eat I hear, and. I just hate eating alone." NIC added moving to take her arm in his. She'd find that she was dramatically underdressed. The woman she'd passed by all stunningly attractive and wearing the kinds of dresses that runway models starved themselves for, but NIC never mentioned anything, he only maintained that smile and held the door open for her as they entered, quietly giving the greeter a wink and shaking his hand. A trick he'd learned very long ago to hide the bills there discreetly. "We'd like a good table with a view of the water. Now please," he said in that polite, but authoritative voice that was more command than request. The man would balk a moment, stuttering something and giving Del an odd look before glancing down at his palm and going white. "Y-yes sir!" he said before scurrying away. "It'll just be a moment." he added before disappearing. NIC would turn towards Del, arm slipping from hers as he turned to face her directly. "I've always liked the English you know. Land of bankers and small shopkeepers you could say. At their heart, a very pragmatic and dependable people," he said with a bit of mischief gleaming in his predatory eyes. Delilah felt the heat of Nicholas' gaze upon her since the moment she opened the door to the flat. It wasn't unusual to have him eye her at the office, but it had felt odd to her to be out of the office and still be with him on anything other than business. She quickly slipped on a pair of blue flats and grabbed her black purse and slipped into the shiny new car. The leather smelled warm, even in the cool evening, and was soft to her touch. She ran her fingers over the interior, trying not to seem too amazed at the wealth he threw about him. She understood showing business partners and colleagues a comfortable time, but this was extravagant. Furthermore, she bit her lip and looked at him while he talked. Apparently there was still some business that needed to be done, but it was completely unbeknownst to her. Usually she knew what business he did, and where he went with them; it was the general thing to know for a personal assistant. Still, she was curious as to what he meant. Running the red light, Delilah bit her lip harder, drawing a little blood. She tried not to show any surprise or fear, as she knew her boss was only trying to get a rise out of her. The night was clear, but the city lights made it difficult to see many stars. It was different being in a convertible at night. She could clearly tell why she needed to have her hair up. She would be a disheveled mess had she not done so. Nicholas was smooth as silk when they arrived. He had a gleam in his eyes that looked hungry, but he showed no sign of it. He was all business. She took his arm upon arriving at an extravagant restaurant, and was seated within a couple of minutes near a view of the dark water that ran a short distance from the building. Delilah pushed her glasses slightly and looked around her. She was way too under-dressed, and had wished that she was still in her office attire. The waiter filled their crystal glasses with ice water, as Nicholas ordered a bottle of red wine. Here in the dim light he didn't look so pale. He looked normal, almost casual. It was a side of him that she had never really seen before." So tell me," She began looking at the menu, "What is this business you are so keen on finishing up this evening?" She frowned, not being able to understand what language the menu was in. She looked back up at Nicholas, who just sat there looking at her. Furthermore, she gulped, and looked back down at her menu again, as if she understood what she was looking at." Play it cool, Del," She thought, "Don't be so quick to think that this is more than just business." It had been too long since she was on a date, and she didn't want to seem like her thoughts were getting the best of her. Besides, he was her boss. Nothing good could come of it. Nicholas seemed to relax a bit once they'd been seated. The man didn't bother to look at the menu, and wore a quiet smile as Delilah looked over it with a cute little squint. He wondered if the women knew that her brow creased when she tried to concentrate. "Relax Del, the beauty of these kinds of places is that menus are more of a suggestion than anything else. Order what you'd like. I bet you'd be doing the chef a favor by letting it go off menu for a night," he said chuckling a bit. "I once even ordered a big mac at a place similar to this just to get a rise out of the wait staff, you know, see if I could set them off and make them blink," he added unfolding his napkin and settling it upon his lap. As if on cue a man with a neatly trimmed mustache appeared next to them to inform the pair that the nights special was sea bass, freshly caught. Nicholas listened politely before asking for some oddly sounded vintage of wine and the man disappeared as quietly as he'd arrived with little more than a softly spoken 'yes sir,'. "You still have a few minutes, and I think I'll just grab Lamb or lobster or something along those lines. Really... I'm here for the view," he said leaning towards her and taking her hand in his. Nicholas' head gestured towards the window as he gave her head a squeeze. "It's a way to see the area while not being rushed or interrupted really. An as for business. Why. They should be arriving shortly," he added. Fingers slipped from hers as the man returned with the bottle and two glasses. A flourish made of cutting the wax at the neck neatly with a knife before popping the cork free and pouring just a bit into Nicolas' glass for his approval. The man casually picked the glass up by the stem and swirled its contents, oxidizing the wine before he'd tilt back the glass and down it in one gulp. Nod quietly given to the man to continue before he turned his full attention to Delilah once more." There's a rather powerful interest group in town tonight, and they're going to be meeting here Del. It's, business really to keep track of them and see if there might be something that we could offer. I confess that they really don't know that I'm here," he said as lips came into a curious quirk. She was a very attractive woman, but there were hidden reasons he thought to bring her this night as well. He'd draw more suspicion if he was alone after all. "I just want to put my eyes on them then poof. Not more work for the night and we can play, how's that sound?" he said as the man finished pouring and left the bottle upon the table before disappearing once more. Delilah blushed as Nicholas took her hand. She couldn't help the heat rise to her face. She chuckled and couldn't help but smile. "A Big Mac, are you serious?" She turned to the waiter, "I'm a meat and potatoes kind'a girl, no need to be flashy. Medium rare steak and anything else the chef would like to put on there, please and thank you." The waiter nodded, turned his heals, and disappeared. She eyed Nicholas. His dark eyes never faltered off of her. "Alright, that doesn't sound too bad to me," she finally said, breaking her eyes away from the captivating man and looked out the window. "It is a beautiful spring night.... Sometimes there are times when I would rather be awake all night, just to experience the quiet of a city or town. No rushing, no gawkers, no angry telephone conversations in public," She paused again and looked at him once more, "It is almost like another world out there to explore." His lips formed his infamous quirk, seeming to smile more to the right, than his left side. This wasn't the side of her boss she was used to around the office....and she found that she enjoyed herself more when he wasn't so formal. The wine was delicious, the flavors dancing on her tongue in a way that she never had before in a red. Granted, she wouldn't spend more than $15 on a bottle...but she tried not to think about the bill in the end. After all, Nicholas said it was his treat. She didn't want to let money get in the way of her thoughts or conversations. He was who he was, despite his atrocious taste in women. The food came shortly thereafter, not leaving much way for conversation. Delilah dug into her filet Mignon, perfectly cooked, it's red juices flowing. She chewed slowly. She didn't know the next time she was going to get a treat such as this, and she knew it was going to end eventually. The red juices and seasonings from the steak ran into her portion of fingerling potatoes, which made her toes curl ever so slightly with each bite. She tried not to seem so delighted in her meal, but she couldn't help it. She was used to eating on the go when around Nicholas. Nicholas had beautiful lamb chops, covered in a mustard sauce that looked just as delicious as her steak. His too was paired with fingerling potatoes and a salad. They ate in silence, occasionally taking a sip of wine and enjoying the view. The meal was enough extravagance to indulge on, but was curious as to what the rest of the night held in store for her. Nicholas enjoyed watching her eat. Though his own meal was wonderfully prepared, he ate sparingly of it. A light melody of classical music lifted into the surrounding air from discreetly placed speakers in the room. "Yes." he said smiling in a way that showed dimples on his cheeks. He looked down at his plate, fidgeting with his food. "I'm serious about the Big Mac," he said with a richly toned laugh. Conversation kept light about day-to-day business matters, but there was a more relaxed tone about the man when out of the office. It was rare that his eyes strayed from hers as they enjoyed the meal and one another's company. Towards the end of the meal, a group of four came and sat at the table next to them. Nicholas quieted down a bit before giving Del a wink. "And that would be them," he'd said before finishing the last of the wine. No other comment would be made about it. A curious thing since the conversation of that table certainly didn't seem to be audible from where they sat, but Nicholas seemed to occasionally pause now and then as the group of men's voiced would take on a strained reverberation. The check came and was neatly taken care of before he'd slip from his seat and walk around the table to help Delilah out of hers. Once more his arm would snake around hers and the couple would leave the room, Delilah still earning a few looks from others, but it didn't seem all that important at all at the moment. "You know. As your boss I think it's time that I ask you about your five-year plan," he joked as the valet ran off to fetch his car. "Just where do you want to be in five years. As wonderful as you are, I don't think you'd be content to keep my appointments for the rest of you life," he said. The care pulled around, and he'd shake the young man's hand as discretely as the greeter from before. "I see you . Hrmm. As a teacher?" he asked waiting for her to get in the car before heading off towards her home. His driving much more reserved than before. She'd passed his little test after all. The entire night he'd been keeping close tabs on her, and other things. What was said, and what was left unsaid. Nicholas had been around for a very long time, and though it was nice to enjoy a quiet evening. He could tell from the car that was shadowing them two cars back, that things would get more interesting soon. A pleasant drive, that turned uneventful. The suspicious car having made a turn before they got her place leaving it little more than a curiosity to be forgotten. "Thank you, Delilah. I had a wonderful time. Already I think I have a better grasp of what this city has to offer, and I hope that you enjoyed getting out of the office a bit," he said making a face. "You work too hard!" he teased waiting in the car with her to see if she'd say anything more. Delilah blushed a lot more throughout the evening. She was enjoying herself more than she thought she should around her boss. Every time that Nicholas would touch her, her skin tingled, and continued to tingle for a period of time afterward. But even after a pleasant evening and a delicious dinner, it felt like things were finally winding down. She wanted the feeling to last just a little bit longer, as she was afraid the professional relationship would come crashing down around her once again, and it would be back to the frequent late nights at the office finishing reports and proposals, so Nicholas could keep the business going. She liked watching him laugh. His dimples made him look even more natural. She didn't see him smile all too much in the office. If she did, it was forced for the clientele." Oh, so I now have to have a five-year plan?" She joked, the fake look of shock on her face, "Oh I don't know.... I like what I do. The traveling is a plus, as I get to see the world...." Her voice trailed off as they got closer to her flat. "Was your 'check-up' on the possible clients to your satisfaction?" she asked, changing the subject. She watched him as he drove, less reckless than before. She had hoped that he would continue the driving so that she didn't have to think of the lonely quiet flat that awaited her. He nodded and thanked her for the wonderful evening. That is when she knew that the quiet flat was inevitable. She was enjoying herself too much. She stretched, reaching her arms above her head and up and over the top of her seat. Furthermore, she let the breeze flow through her fingers, getting the last feel for the car." I really enjoyed the evening with you too," she said, blushing her again, "The dinner was delicious, and the company was more than I bargained for." She smiled at him sweetly and stared at the road once more. They had stopped in front of her flat, but she hesitated for a short moment. She tried to see what Nicholas was thinking through the mask he so often liked to wear. Giving up in just a short time, she pulled the handle to the car and got out. "Any meeting where you can ignore what's going on and focus on a pretty girl is fine by me," he said smirking at her mentioning the 'meeting'. A pause as Delilah moved to get out of the car. She'd have felt his eyes upon her sweater as she stretched, that curve entering her spine to push her heavy breasts out against the soft woven material of her top. Yes, she'd know that look well. It was the kind that all men had when something other than chivalry was at the forefront of their mind. He looked down a moment. Hand leaving the stick shift to rub lightly at the back of his neck as he searched for the words." I like ya Del. You've got a gentle soul. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and. Maybe we can do this again sometime. See an opera or just go out for drinks," he said looking a bit sad at the loss of her company as she left the car. "And no" he chuckled. "No need for a five-year plan if you stick with me. I take care of what is mine. Just .er. Get that report done tomorrow, and you can help me on a little something I've been working on. I'll fill you in then Hun. Have a good night," the man added. He'd wait to make sure she got in the door alright before heading off. Delilah would be left in silence. Little more than the memories of the night to keep her company as she settled into her evening routine. It wasn't until after midnight that she'd hear the tell-tale sound of breaking glass and the tinkling of little shards as they fell down to the floor. The rattling of a lock before the familiar sound of stiff hinges carried down the hall to the open door of her room. Should she try a landline, she'd find it blocked and any cell service jammed. The same effect cutting out any connection she had to the internet. Though she might not fully realize it yet, Delilah was all alone, cut off from the world and the crunch of boots on broken glass grew closer. Delilah grinned wide as she saw Nick fumble for the words to ask her out. She beamed at him, though she tried to hide it a bit as to not seem too happy with the thought. She nodded at him, thanked him again, and headed towards the door. Shutting the flat door behind her, silence fell once again around her. She sighed and kicked off her shoes and turned on some lights. Darkness had settled in the deep corners of the living room and kitchen as she made her way to her bedroom to get ready for bed and the long day she had ahead of her. She pulled off her sweater over her head and threw it on the hamper in the corner of her room, followed shortly with her jeans. She headed towards the bathroom and started the tub. Furthermore, she needed to wind down for the night, and what better way then with a hot bath. Testing the temperature with her foot, Delilah pulled the stopper and waited for her bath to fill. She peeled out of her bra and panties, throwing them on the floor haphazardly near a rack of clean towels. Standing there naked, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her skin was pale and creamy, like that of her mother, her face still with makeup and lipstick. She pulled her dark curls free from their captive bun from atop her head and let it fall naturally to just shy of her middle back. She washed her face quickly, then settled herself in the bath. Delilah sighed as she settled in, waves of clear water rushing over her aching body. She had a long day, but a delightful evening. She liked how Nick touched her in just the right ways, always gentle and polite, never foreboding. Her hands traced where he had touched her on her arm, and down to her trim stomach. She lay there, eyes closed, her hands traveling all the more south. She knew the reason why she was feeling this way about her boss was because she was so pent-up with slight social anxiety after so long of being alone. She rubbed her creamy white thigh and made her way to her sweet spot slowly, as if teasing herself. Furthermore, she kept her eyes closed, imagining the same strong hands that held her arm just moments before, was traveling and invading her very being. Furthermore, she bit her lip and gasped as she touched her swollen clit, rubbing it slowly. Her toes curled as she sighed once more, moaning lightly. Her wetness teased her, allowing her to feel the tingles from a light touch, but firm enough so that she started to pant. She moaned again as she continued to rub the swollen nub, occasionally sticking her fingers in her to rub at her g-spot. She rubbed her clit faster then, her face flushing as her nipples hardened to small points that poked slightly out of the water. Imagining Nick on top of her was the point that drover her over the edge, her toes curling tightly as she moaned with the pleasure that washed over her. She lay in the cooling water, panting from her water wanderings. Feeling less tense, she got out of the tub and wrapped herself in a clean white towel. She looked at herself again in the mirror, brushed her teeth, then headed back into her bedroom. Delilah dried off and lay the towel on her bed as she got dressed in a simple over-sized t-shirt and a pair of panties. It wasn't until she returned her towel to the bathroom did she hear the crash of a window from within her flat. She froze in place in fear, but quickly shook it off and ran to her bedroom, shut the door behind her quietly, and locked it. She grabbed her cell phone off the bed, and hid behind her closet doors. The pair would leave her in the room. Knowing that they'd have about 5 min to themselves they began to search the flat. Turning her couch over and slashing at the cloth underneath to check for anything hidden. Pantry raided, drawers opened, and their contents spilled across the floor. It was a message of sorts in and of itself how they treated the place. Delilah would hear them as the lamps were smashed and dishes were sent crashing down. After about ten minutes it was completely quiet. Cell service would come back on, and should she contact the police, they would come as well. Perhaps she'd even remember her boss's private number given to her to contact him on any work emergencies. Delilah's flat looked like a bomb had gone off in it. The only difference was that there was no charring at the walls. The intruders had left her alone, her room the only thing left pristine. By the front door placed to rest upon the glinting shards of glass was a white Lilly. Nothing was stolen. Not the TV, not the stereo. There was something troubling about the whole ordeal, something invasive that would linger in the air. And try as she might, that feeling of being watched would linger about, sending pinpricks up her spine as she waited. Delilah held her hand over her mouth to keep from being heard by the intruders. Her breathing was frightened, and she stumbled with her cell phone. She couldn't get cell coverage in the closet, nor did she feel safe venturing out of hiding." Damnit," she cursed, trying to get just one bar of coverage. She was panicking now, hearing her living room and kitchen being overturned.Finally, she found the courage to move. She silently opened her closet door and crawled on the floor and shut off her lights. She quietly crawled towards the window and was able to get one bar. Desperately she fumbled with her phone, dialing the one person who was close by--Nick." Hello?" She heard him answer, "Del, are you ok? I just left...."" Shhh!" she interrupted him sounding frightened, "Someone is in my apartment.....they are tearing up everything......"" Del?," he asked. Then she heard the click of a deadline. She had lost signal. Nick frowned as he lost the signal. It was the men he'd been watching, likely the ones that had started following them home. The man got out of bed and put on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt before slipping out the door. Yes, it was an eventful night after all. As he walked outside and got in his car the man felt a shadow of guilt for bringing her out for dinner. There was a reason he stuck to mostly vapid women after all. They had a way of easily being dismissed as being 'disposable' nothing that would make a target. If the Scion knew that she worked for him then they might well suspect that she could be used for leverage knowing that she was seen outside of work hours with him as well. More than one stoplight was run to get to her flat. It could be a trap of course. Likely it was, and they were still in the area to kill the signal off. He knew this as he got out of the car and moved towards the door, his eyes flicking towards the blind spots as he knocked on the door. "Delilah, it's me. Are you ok?" He called out before giving an another knock. A part of him wanted the Scion to make a move. They were aware of his kind, but not of him personally or what the talents of someone used as a cleanup specialist were. Sadly the man didn't have a lick of business sense as Delilah believed. The company did advertising, yes, but it was also a way for him to travel about taking care of 'incidents' that popped up in the presence of his kind. Something that Delilah could never know and live. He caught sight of the broken window and reached around to unlock the door and let himself in. Waiting didn't make much sense, it exposed him, and he hadn't heard of her since the call. The woman could truly be in trouble. Jaw clenched. NIC already had a plan with just how do keep her more secure. He was going soft, or at least he didn't want anything happen to this one. Not like he wanted the things that happened to the others but... Thoughts focused once more as he took in the sight of destruction before him. The flower seen and picked up, carefully inspected as he shut the door before him. "Oh. Really. Somebody's getting pretty damned full of themselves." he said catching the subtle hint left for his eyes. Delilah curled herself into a ball. She was frightened the intruders were going to find her...and in her panties of all things. She could hear the intruders breaking her china from the cupboards. Furthermore, she cringed with each crash--and then there was silence. The adrenaline pumping in her veins, she unlocked and cracked her bedroom door to see if she could get a good look at them. Their faces were hard to see in the darkened rooms and their faces were covered. Typical burglars. Grabbing the metal baseball bat that was near her bed for such an occasion, she gripped it hard. It was time to face them and kick some thieving ass." Get the fuck out," She cursed, pulling the bat behind her, ready to swing...but they moved too fast for her to see. They were strong, pulling her arms behind her before she could even take the first swing. Her eyebrows knotted together in an angry scowl. She was angry that she was so damn weak, but she had no idea just how powerful two men could be." Lookie what we got 'ere," one of them said in a cockney accent, "a delightful peach! Anyone 'ere WI' ya?" Delilah didn't say a word. The other burglar poked his head into her bedroom and started to tear her closet apart. He threw photos and mirrors to the carpet, shattering all that she had that was breakable. . It would take weeks to get it all out of the carpet." What did you want?" She said through gritted teeth, "Money? You can take what I have, but it's not much..."" We don't wan' nothin' 'o the sort." He pulled at her damp hair hard, making her gasp in both pain and surprise. The look on her face didn't linger, as her face grew hot with anger. "We want' to send a LI'LE message to your boy toy..."" What the hell are you talking about?" Another crash came from her bedroom. There went her lamps." We can smell him on you," he replied, taking a big wife of her hair and body." Do you mean Mr. Andrews?" Panic in her voice. She had called him into a trap. "We just went out to dinner. We are business colleagues, no more."" Cou' 'ave fooled us, 'e was quite smitten' WI' you."" If that be true, then I am in the dark. What can I give you that would send him a message?" The masked man chuckled at this, "Oh, darlin', you to' look so good on my wall....." His voice trailed away as her vision began to blur, until everything was silent and black. He heard the voices coming from a room in the back. Nothing that sounded like the authorities either. Nicholas stilled. Good, things would be a bit better this way. He crept along the hallway, carefully placing one foot before the next. Careful attention paid to the lighting to be sure that his shadow wouldn't give him away as he advanced towards the sounds of struggle. Some swearing and then quiet. He hoped they hadn't just killed her. Tongue slipped past the tiers of his lips. This was going to be a fun night. The beast would be allowed to feed. There was a shift in his vision as he called upon the curse. Discipline slackening, that thirst boiling to the front of his thoughts as teeth elongated. Long and sharp k-9s, needle like in appearance giving him an overbite as he closed his eyes and focused out of sight, just to the right of the door. Two of them, their hearts beating strong. No doubt getting a thrill from the devastation that they'd brought. Then, weaker, the beating of a third heart. Lips pulled into a grin as he heard them talk."she's a beaut eh? I reckon the boss won't mind a bit if we have a little fun wife 'er. That'd send a message to the guy now wouldn't it?" a man with a thick cockney accent said. The sound of a zipper running down, the rustle of canvas, then. "Well I think it'd be a waste not to. After all she did invite us over, and I brought the rope," He said making a joke of it. Nic would wait another minute, wanting to be sure that at least one of them really was at work binding Delilah. It would make it much less likely that he'd be able to draw a gun if he had him. Not that it would do him much good, but the unwanted attention it would bring was most undesirable. Delilah would feel her body laid out upon the bed. The coarse fibers of the rope digging into her wrists and pulled tight. No care for her comfort, it wouldn't take long for the woman to begin to feel her fingers tingling from loss of blood flow were she awake. Large calloused fingers would then move down her body as each man stood to either side of her. "I want to have first gone too, ET's my rope," the first would say before reaching down and grabbing the front of her panties and pulling it sharply away. The flimsy material would break free, but not without first bunching up tightly against her crack. The air cool and soft before each of the man started to tie the ankle closest to them to the corner of the bed. Even if Delilah were to wake, it'd be hard for her to focus on just how fast NIC moved. Supernaturally fast the man ran in and kicked out the first one's knee. A sickening pop heard and the joint dislocated and sent him falling. Before he'd ever even reach the floor NIC's second blow would come down on his windpipe, crushing it and propelling him downwards with greater force. "What the." the other said going wide-eyed at the fanged monstrosity before him. He reached to the gun at his side, a dull black .45, but NIC crouched down and lunged over the bed throwing his full weight against him. The impact knocking him against the far wall, a shrill high-pitched cry breaking the air as NIC bit down. No restraint, no need to ever seal the wound that his sharp teeth tore into his throat. His scream cut off with a wet gurgle before his entire body went limp. He stayed there. Clinging to the Marcus of the man and drinking. Bouts of blood swallowed, filling abyss within He'd hardly touched his meal at dinner. It was just for show. He'd been holding back for months now without a proper meal. Blood covered him now, wet and hot upon his shirt and dripping down in a gory sludge to the pants he wore. Eyes now a blood-red, he dropped the husk of a man and turned towards the bed once more to look towards the partially bound woman and the downed man fitfully grasping for his throat and he fought a loosing battle to breath. Delilah felt numb. She couldn't hear much, and her vision was too blurry, even more so without her glasses. Her mind felt just as distant as what was going on around her. She knew she was drugged, but she didn't care, as she knew that it would soon be over for her. After a while, her vision became less strained and her hearing became more audible. She could hear someone breathing shallowly, like someone in the heat of the moment. Her eyes grew wide, although her vision was still unclear, and felt that her hands were bound and her lower half was naked. She panicked and fell off the bed trying to move. She fumbled awkwardly to the wall next to her bed. Tears fell from her cloudy eyes as she sobbed about the possibility of being raped and left there. Delilah tried to get a feel for her surroundings. She had bruised her shoulder something awful from falling off of the bed, and she felt the glass that lay on the floor of her room cut her legs and rear. She was coated in what looked like blood. Her blood? No, she didn't hurt that bad....but if the drug hasn't worn off enough... Then her thoughts drifted to Nicholas. "Oh dear God, NIC!" Men lay at her feet. One struggling to breath, another hanging off the side of the bed near where she was just moments before. Her white bedding was stained beyond recognition. She felt someone grab her by the arm, but it still felt distant for her, as if it took her a little while to realize that she was actually being touched. Squinting, she noticed red eyes looking at her. Inhuman eyes that looked vaguely familiar. A dark heavy brow looked concerned as he pulled her head to his hard chest. She sighed and smelled the sweet scent of blood, mixed faintly with the smell of expensive cologne. Her eyes went wide again as she slowly came to the realization that it was NIC that had that same smell earlier that evening...and that it was NIC that held her to his blood-coated chest. He stared into Delilah's eyes. Power coursing there, ancient and unknown. "Sleep..." he said pushing the power of his blood into the command. She didn't need to see or remember any of this really, and the woman wouldn't if the man had his way. Should the power work on Delilah she'd feel an irresistible pull upon her senses sending her into a dizzying spiral towards sleep. A deep and restful one that, with any luck would have her thinking that all of this was a dream. There were rules to his existence. Rules that had kept him and his kind from the discovery of others for centuries. NIC was good at keeping things that way. "You're safe Delilah. Sleep now. All will be better in the morning. Nic would pick her up in his arms, and carry her out towards his car. He'd make sure that she was comfortable before going back to leave the gas stove on. Without a flame, the kitchen would begin to fill with the noxious fumes. After that he'd look to the bodies. One died quickly, the other had now succumbed to a lack of air and was done. "I suppose tonight was about messages old friends." he said leaving that flower upon the choked one's body. "Do send them mine." he added before lighting the bed on fire and walking from the house. Along the way NIC disabled the smoke alarms. It was easier this way, and he was more than able to put Delilah up at his place and get her into a far better place of her own in town. Nick would return to the car, not knowing what state he'd find Delilah in, he'd listen for a pulse and quickly move his hands over the woman to be sure that she was unharmed. The years had given him a solid understanding of first aid in others, both as a way to help, and as a way to exasperate any wounds. "You did well Del. Well enough that you just might survive a few years with me yet," he says before leaning in to give her brow a light kiss. The engine revved before he'd take off. An orange glow only now beginning to show brightly against her bedroom window before the pair put it all behind them. Delilah had deep dreams. Dreams of blood and fire, but she felt distant within them. There were screams, but they seemed too far away for her to tell where exactly they were coming from. She was frightened. Not about being killed, but because of something else she was unsure of. She woke up in a fright, sitting up straight as a board. She didn't know where she was, or how she got there. Furthermore, she was in an empty room, lying in a large bed with pillows all around her. There were large windows that were shaded in red curtains that looked out into blackness. Her wrists and body felt sore, and her legs felt like she had dragged her legs across fiberglass. Her scalp even ached, as if she was scalped. She ran her hand through her hair, trying to control her breathing. Her hair was still intact, but matted as if she had fallen asleep while it was still wet. She pulled her hand away from her head, looking at the cuts along her arm. What the hell happened? Delilah got up, her legs weak. She stumbled a little, but caught her footing. She was still dressed in her over-sized t-shirt, but was naked underneath. Furthermore, she slowly hobbled her way to the large window. It looked like the sun had just set. How long was she there? And where was she in the first place? Hearing a small rap upon the door, her heart jumped in her throat. She looked towards it as it silently opened behind her. /me walked in the room wearing a loosely fitting cotton pants and little else. His bare feet carrying a tray. "Hello sleepy head," he said leaving the tray of food he was carrying for her on the end table. "I hope you slept well? He asked moving to sit upon the edge of the bed ad look over her. The t-shirt she wore brushed against the tops of her thighs in the most alluring of ways, yet the man managed to mostly keep his eyes on her. "You fainted after you got the news about your flat and well. Gave my liquor cabinet a run for its money afterward," he said chuckling. A light shake of his head causing a few strands of NIC's hair to fall before his eyes only to be brushed aside a few moments later." I wouldn't be surprised if you had a hell of a hangover really. Don't worry about work, I cancelled my appointments and figured you could use a sick day. I'm not some sort of monster to work for ya know," he said giving her a wink. If Del's eyes wandered to the tray she'd find a bowel of fruit, a BLT, as well as a large glass of ice water. "Er. I'm not much of a cook, but usually this helps me out when I'm feeling a bit under the weather," he offered. Something seemed different about the man. He was more animated, more lively. His gaze swept over her once more. "And. We need to go shopping. Your cloths are all ruined you know. So. You'll need a full new wardrobe. I doubt that you'd want to wear anything of mine either, but a few of my. Umm. Friends have left some of their clothes here if you'd like to try something on. Just to get you to the shopping down town mind you. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, and the company will take care of the expense Del so after you've had a bit to keep up your strength, I'd like you to get what you want," he offered. The sun was setting, and Delilah would catch a wonderful view of London from the penthouse she found herself in. The room sparsely furnished, but the furniture that was there had a richness about it. Overall it would seam that the design intent was to give a show of space in a city where space was at a premium. Delilah's whole body shook as NIC came into the room with a tray of food. She stood there silently, only nodding in agreement. She felt his eyes on her, roaming over her in observation. Furthermore, she felt naked to him. He had seen her like this? If I was drunk last night, did we...." Wha-" She started silently, her voice catching in her throat, "What happened to my flat? Why do I hurt all over?" She stepped closer to him, legs shaking beneath her. Did she really drink her way to forget what happened? She didn't drink frequently, so it was definitely a possibility... Her mind was foggy, it was as if she was trudging through sludge and unsure dreams. She sat herself down on the bed near him gingerly, wincing at the pain in her backside. She reached her hand out and took the glass of water. Her throat was dry, like sandpaper due to the dehydration. She sipped the water slowly as NIC sat next to her on the bed. She studied his face, less wrinkled than when he was in the office, with more energy than she had ever seen him with in quite some time. His bare chest more rippled than she had imagined it being, smooth and hard looking. She was tempted to run her fingers across them, but bit her lip instead.

Eye Opening (Almondus and BustyGermanGirl)|rating:3.0

Sorority Girls

I have another idea that could be turned into a role play (yes, I know... I'm just full of ideas today!). A freshman (or group of freshmen) in college want to join this sorority...but they have the initiation to go through...looking for girls to play the members of the sorority and other freshmen...the initiation will have to be very sexual and there will probably be a party at the end of it all...PM me or post here if interested... Julie Andrews Julie was a first year on campus. She was nervous about the whole thing and had been a straight "A" student in high school. Her parents had insisted she get into a sorority on campus and make some friends. Her friends in high school had always teased her for her lack of experience with boys, and her protests about drinking and smoking a little pot. She had applied by mail and questioned some of the application form. In her hand she reviewed a copy. Name: Julie Andrews Father's Name: Chester Andrews Occupation: Banker Mother's Name: Adrianna Andrews Occupation: Accountant Applicant's Description:Hair: long brown (chestnut)Height: 5'10Weight: 117 lbs Breasts: 34DDWaist: 26 Hips: 33 Hobbies: Ballet, Violin, Science Club, Chess Club, Gaming Club, Sports: Not interested What do they want my measurements for? Julie wondered. Then it dawned on her that maybe there was a uniform or something. Julie was surprised as she walked across the student center and saw a table set up with attendants for the various clubs, sororities and fraternities..... Tara Name: Tara Rose McKinnetteFather's Name: James McKinnetteOccupation: photographer Mother's Name: n/occupation: n/applicant's Description:Hair: to my shoulders, red, long layers Height: 5'4''Weight: 115 lbs Breasts: 36CWaist: 25 Hips: 31 Hobbies: playing guitar, singing, writing Sports: none Tara checked over the form she had carefully filled out and smiled to herself lightly. She was a freshman in college, 18, and excited about getting out of the house. She had been thinking about joining the sorority for ages and could only hope that they accepted not only the cheerleader-types, but also the artistic types like herself. Furthermore, she made her way across the student center and looked around at all the tables. It was all so overwhelming. She started to walk towards the Delta Beta Gamma table she saw a girl standing there with the same form as herself. It was unmistakable- light blue with a pink flowered border and the Delta Beta Gamma sign on the top. She looked up at the girl and smiled. Tara didn't know anyone and figured now was as good a time as ever to start making friends. "You're joining too?" she said, and at the confused look on her face, motioned towards the paper in the girl's hand. Jane Myers Anew freshman, when I enrolled I signed up for rushing and was given a packet of papers describing the various sororities and the procedure. We started with a meet g in the lecture hall, and I saw a lot of cure attractive girls and I knew the competition for the best houses would be tough and the rush parties arduous, but I knew I would meet a lot of other classmates and that made it worthwhile. They wanted all kinds of information about me.;Name Jane Laura Myers Fathers name: Henry Myers (deceased)Mother's name Luella MyeryDsescription:L 5'6" 120 lb brown hair brown eyes36C breast size, 2l" waist, 34" hips Hobbies cooking and gardening and flower arrangingOdol: Martha Stewart Sports: Golf (city high school champion)I handed in the form and awaited the meeting. I was sent to the hall and found a group of my new classmates standing around and not knowing quite what to do, until one girl smiled at me and said hello, and we started to chat, introducing ourselves -As she entered the room…“What a turn-out, I am sure more of you will follow, but now, let's see the three of you” she smiles as she takes the applications forms, lifting a brow as she read the measurements of each girl…”I like” she smiled softly, she wore a very nice business suit, it was tight ad pulled against her body to show the very beauty of her body, her fingers pulled at the hem of her tight suit, pulling it down more so, the beautiful cleavage was obviously announced and was such a beautiful attention getter, many boys smiled and grinned as they passed, she snickered and winked as she turned back to the appliances…”Some interesting hobbies all of you have” she continued to skip through the papers…”But all of you are worthy appliances, well at the moment, of course you have to go through some test…” she snickered softly as she turned to look at another sister, a smile across her cheeks as she nods, a snap of her fingers and three others came and gather their bags and took them back to the house, all three men and nice looking ones at that, what were they doing take their bags…”Go back to the house, I’ll see you all there in a moment, please get yourself acquainted, make yourself at home” she smiled as she turned with a couple of the others…- Tara Tara had been making small talk with Julie and Jane when the young woman came and took the forms. Already nervous, being around such beautiful women didn't help much. She noticed the girl pull up the hem of her skirt and let out a tiny, unnoticeable gasp. She made her way with the other girls to the house and smiled in delight when she saw it. Tara had never seen a place like this before-it was huge, and the girls were rushing around trying to get things for the new recruits ready. One girl came over to Julie, Jane and herself and told them to follow her up to their room. This was all new to me. I decided to just go with the flow, and follow the leader. I liked the looks of that member at the conference room. If she was one of the big sisters she would be welcome in my room (and my bed) any time They didn't ask us on the form about sexual preferences. If they had, and I'd been honest, I'd have said Lesbian or bisexual Tara and Julie were cute too. I was beginning to like this sorority idea -Soon returning to the house, it was a massive beautiful place, a massive four stories high and the inside had not a spot, it was so clean, a bar decorated one side of the massive downstairs, along with a huge fireplace, giant 50-inch flat screen and huge couches and chairs about, on the other was a massive kitchen a huge fridge and a sitting room, in the middle was the staircase up, talking to the high sister, smiling softly as she eyes slid to the new recruits that are having their items taken up before talking to the other sisters that were lounging about, stepping up behind the new ones, walking up to the second floor where all of them slept, they all slept in one room, but the room was brilliant, a small kitchen, a small sitting area, 8 bunks decorated both walls…“This is where all of you are staying… Keep it clean” she smiles…“By the way, your day starts tomorrow, enjoy the day” looking down at her watch, flicking her hand up and looking at her wrist…”Its noon now, you can do as you wish but go up to the third and fourth floors…go out have dinner, watch some TV” she smiled sweetly and looks at the new recruits, turning, her ass-cheeks tight against the short skirt, such beauty, it had a wondrous curve as she walked, the hips shaking from side to side in a soft motion as she closed the door to their room- Tara Tara shrieked in excitement when the door closed. She ran and jumped, doing a belly-flop onto the nearest bed. "Oh my god, I knew this was going to be good. I wasn't expecting anything like this!" she said breathlessly, hugging a large plush pillow. She started to giggle insanely. "Oh, god." she said sitting up suddenly. "I have to change!" she said seriously. Jane and Julie looked at her in confusion. "Why?" they both asked at the same time." I...don't know. I just have a sudden urge to change clothes." she slipped off her sweatshirt, revealing a white camisole which were worn with light blue, faded, flared jeans. "You guys don't mind if I change in here, do you?" She slipped out of her clothes, down to her bra and panties. I thought she would pick something out of her bag to put on, but she shocked me by taking off her bra and dropping the underwear, standing there nude before us. I looked a Julie and back at Tara. Tare was beckoning us and sitting on the bed with her legs spread. I didn't even hesitate. I went to her, on my knees, and licked my way up her inner thighs ad kissed her bald shaved pussy. She was so delectable and I told her so. Her hand was on my head pulling me closer to her as she said "I just had to have THS. I hope it's OK with you twit was fine with me. I then wondered what Julie thought. Julie Andrews had waited in line at the sorority table ever so patiently and politely. She had always been very prime and proper and assumed that the sorority sisters were real ladies. In her mind, she has always figured the sisters would be elegant, tasteful, polite, kind and very fashionable. Julie felt her clothes were kind of sloppy compared to the chic looking sorority sister in her ultra fashionable suit. In her mind, Julie made a mental note to get some new clothes. She was dressed in blue jeans, a t-shirt, and a bulky sweatshirt that hid her lager double D breasts. The bulky clothes, were intended to hide Julie's feminine charms. The truth was that Julie was never really comfortable garnishing a lot of attention. The few times she had gone to the beach or swimming at the pool, the boys would always be whispering rude comments like "nice jugs", "what a rack", "your baby will never starve", "great tits" and so on. Julie as a result was very self-conscious about them, and herself. When the two other first years arrived, Julie felt a little relief. She was glad not to have to be meeting new people alone. Now she could sort of hide with the group. Learn what was expected, and she had a few people to pal around with." Hi. I'm Julie Andrews" she politely introduced herself to the three other young women."Oh, yes.... I'm looking forward to being initiated into the sorority" Julie had replied when politely asked. What initiation? Dad and mom... said they wrote some big check and everything was taken care of.... Well... I'll go along with it... I can't get kicked out... They'd go nuts... Julie thought to herself. When the senior girl told them to follow her, Julie followed alone at the back of the line. The walk was short and Julie realized that the sorority house was huge and must have cost a fortune. No wonder the fees.... But the upkeep.... They must have another source of revenue..... Oh, I bet alumni contribute too Julie tried to figure things out. As they walked into the main hall see-saw couches, tables, living room furniture and a great fire place." This is great!" Julie squealed in delight. The quick tour of the sorority house led them through, the common areas on the main floor, and the into a big bunking room. Julie's eyes were wide as one of the new initiates decided to change and started stripping off her clothes. Surely... we must have private rooms Julie thought in stunned silence. As she was recovering was being dumped off by the sorority sister.... her second new friend was climbing onto the other girl who was now spreading her legs in a liberal and inviting fashion." Huh!" Julie mumbled in shock. -A girl entered the room, caring a tray of foods and drinks…“Hiya y'all” she smiled, her voice distinctly southern, her eyes following to the girls playing with each other, snickering softly…”I’m Sister Sara” she smiled softly and placed the tray on the nearby table as she moves over to the two…”You’re going to be going a lot of that, start practicing…” she giggled as she came back up, looking over to Julie… Just then the other sister came in, the one they had met earlier, snickering softly at the two…“Already getting into it” she softly giggled, looking over to Julie…”You seem to be a sensitive case” she smiled as she took a seat next to her, the other sister being called back down…”Tell me Julie, what do you want form us sisters? What do you want to experience?” she tilted her head softly, a hand placed upon her knee, a soft squeeze, promoting her interest in her…- As I licked Tara's pussy I heard voices behind me. They wee gentle and seemed quite in tune with our cunnilingus, inquiring of Julie what she thought of it, and what she wanted. It was clear that this was expected of us, and we were glad to be passing the test wanted to do it with Julie too if she would have me, and I hoped she would. And of course I would do it with our big sisters if they wanted. As far as I was concerned, I would be the house whore and have sex with any of them, any time, and anywhere. High school and living at home in a closet wasn't anything like THS I was wondering if you still had room Bridgette Chambers hair: dark redbreasts: 38b 22 waists 33 hipshobbie: Gymnastics and women as well as men class: junior already a sister Bridgette is smart and very sexual. Likes both men and women. Has a tongue ring, belly ring, clit ring, and nipples pierced. She never knew her parents and is in school on academic scholarship. She is easy going and loves to party and smoke some pot. Hope you accept me Tara As Jane kept lounging her pussy and biting gently on her clit ring, she felt the muscles in her legs tighten. Starting down at her feet and slowly creeping up to her stomach. Jane's hands clamped tightly around Tara's waist, holding on for dear life as her body convulsed wildly with orgasm. Jane licked the last of her juices off the insides of her thighs and stood up. Tara leaned forward and kissed her deeply on the lips, slipping her tongue in every once in a while, letting Jane feel the tongue ring. Tara stripped off Jane's pants and, hooking both of her thumbs around the sides of the thong, slid that down too. Kissing both of Jane's lovely knees, Tara slowly worked her way up to Jane's pussy, licking and sucking her clit-fucking her with her tongue. Tara could tell, by the way Jane was moaning and thrashing around, that the tongue ring was a good investment. It wasn't long before Jane's body shook with orgasm. Tara sucked on her legs lightly and licked the insides of her thighs clean. They both stood up, slightly breathless and kissed passionately again. Tara eventually found clothes, a black leather mini skirt that reached her middle thigh, a black lace thong and bra, and an emerald green halter top that matched the color of her eyes. She laid down on the bed, tucking her feet under her and lightly tracing the tattoo around her bellybutton." So, what do you think the initiation will be like?" she asked Jane. "I've heard some pretty weird stories..."___IOC: Of course you can join, Bridgette. The more, the better! *wink* -Coming to the door, Sister Sara smiled and welcomed her in…“Hiya…” she smiles warmly her hand outstretched and with warm arms she welcomed her into the lavish environment, closing the door behind her… A sister bringing her another tray…“Here have something to eat, something to drink…” she offered sweetly, placing the tray close to her, then offering her upstairs to the recruit room, opening the door for her, letting her drink in the sight of the wondrous place…”Welcome to your new home” she smiled as the sister sitting next to Julie, Sister Kelly smiled and looked to her… Julie was relieved when a sorority sister entered the room carrying a tray of food and drinks. At first, she assumed it was high tea time and that the tray probably had an assortment of cakes and other treats. She assumed the dalliance on the bunk between the two initiates would stop, and they'd be all embarrassed about the whole thing. But the two on the bed seemed to be getting into it. Julie had never seen lesbians..... Her thoughts were interrupted as the Sister Sara spoke with a soft southern drawl:“Hi ya y'all” Julie loved the sweet accent. But she felt a little unnerved as Sister Sara seemed to be checking out each of the girls one by one with long lingering eyes. For a brief moment, Julie felt naked, and nervous like when the boys teased her about her "big tits". Since Sister Sara was closer, Julie realized that the drinks weren't tea and the desserts weren't little cakes. The drinks lined up in a row looked like shooters - but what was the liquor? Sister Sara introduced herself and Julie replied in turn:"I'm Julie Andrews.... A first year" Julie half whispered nervously. Now she felt like a fish out of water. Julie bit her lower lip when Sister Sara moved closer to the bunk with a fascinated look on her face. It was unnerving how Sister Sara seemed to smile as she watched the two dykes. But then Sister Sara spoke in a giggly voice:“You’re going to be going a lot of that, start practicing…” Julie didn't get it. Who was she talking to? Surely not me. I'm not one of those sick fiends. I'm a lady.... Furthermore, I must have misheard Julie thought secretly." I beg your pardon, Sister Sara, I didn't quite hear you. What is it want us to practice?" Julie asked sincerely. But the conversation was interrupted when the original sorority sister, the one they had first met, came into the dorm area. She spoke very freely and wasn't at all shocked by what was going on. She giggled happily:“Already getting into it?”" No" Julie quickly answered trying to defend herself. I can't let them think - I'm like them - like the two on the bunk Julie thought. Julie was confused when the senior sorority sister spoke gently in a judgmental manner:“You seem to be a sensitive case.” The sorority sister sat down beside Julie as the southern belle seemed to be called away. The senior sorority sister spoke gently, almost like a confident, as she asked:“Tell me Julie, what do you want form us sisters? What do you want to experience?” Before Julie could answer one peep, her eyes lit up like candles as she felt a soft hand placed upon her knee and felt a gentle squeeze." Ahhhhhh.... Well.... I want to be accepted as a sister... You know.... make friends for life... study buddies... people looking out for you...." Julie started to stammer. It's just a test.... Just relax Julie tried to reassure herself." Is this an initiation prank?" Julie whispered. -She smiled softly and looked to her, a soft brush of her hair with fickle fingers as she thought for a moment, drinking in what she thinks would be under such clothing, her finger slid up to the intercom…“Sister Janice? Could you please join us for a moment” she spoke softly…“Of course Sister Kelly” Kelly smiled softly and looked to Julie…”Accepted you shall be, you want study buddies, you shall have…” she smiled softly, her finger on the intercom once more…”Meet me in the study instead…” she looked back to Julie and took her hand to follow, taking her back downstairs…”Sister Sara!” she shouted downstairs…”Yes?” she came back up…”These two seem to be getting more into then the others, do show them their slaves…” she giggled as she continued to clasp Julie’s hand, taking her down the stairs more so, leading her towards the back of the house, opening a pair of French doors into a massive library…”Every one of the books any university uses. All here” she smiled to her as Sister Janice walked in…“And her, Sister Janice is the most premiere expert in the fields of scientific dynamics, she of course could help you through your studies…” she smiled sweetly and kissed her cheek softly before pulling back…”Your Dismissed Janice” she snickered and smile as she stepped out…”I hope you realize how much money you’ll save…” as her finger passes across the supple soft tones of her lower back. Frowning slightly as her fingers passed against her sweatshirt…“And I can make it so you have plenty of friends here and around campus Julie, and me Julie, I can look out for you, I can do a lot for you…” the sophomore smiled more so to the young freshman…”I can do a lot more” she whispers… I loved having Tara eat my pussy in front of these other women. I was always an exhibitionist, and being a closet lesbian really had its drawbacks. When Julie and Sister Kelly left, we were alone and out of sight. Tara had gotten dressed, but I was having none of that. I removed her wisps of clothing, and we fell together back on the bed, in a classic 69 with her on top licking my cunt, and me on the bottom tonguing her pussy and asshole. Like they say, asshole buddies - now and forever. IOC: I'm going to be joining the thread as the President of the Sorority here's my bioName: Rebecca Hamilton Age: 20Hair: Strawberry Blonde, tied back in a ponytail or hanging around her shoulders Height: 5'8Weight: 110lbsBust: 34DWaist: 22 hips: 32 Hobbies: law review, tennis, student council-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rebecca smiled back at her TA as she left the law building. She'd been there since 8 in the morning, and she was more than ready to pack it in for the day. As Rebecca walked past the scenic campus she noticed more than one guy turn his head as she walked past. She smiled to herself. She'd always been a head turner. In high school she'd been prom queen and head cheerleader, and she loved knowing that just about every one who was attracted to women would love to have her. She was lost in her thoughts when she noticed the alarm on her watch go off." Damn," she thought to herself "No time to change for tonight." Oh well, she surmised, what I'm wearing will have to do for tonight. Her plain white D&G t-shirt hugged her body tightly, as did her low rise jeans. She licked her lips as she thought of tonight's activities and the meeting of the new pledges. She smiled to herself as she realized that her clothes probably won't be an issue as odds are they won't be staying on very long. Tara Tara and Jane both came and then lay back on the bed, panting. Tara sat up and turned over, kissing both of Jane's breasts and then her lips. She smiled lightly down at the other girl and pushed a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. Tara then got dressed in the skirt, top, and boots she had on earlier. She grabbed a small purse out of her bag and put on some black eyeliner, and some dark red lipstick. She ran a brush through her messed up red hair. Tara sat on a bed and watched Jane get dressed. When she was fully dressed, Tara went to her and loosely hooked her arms around Jane's neck and kissed her. "You are so sexy, you know that?" she whispered in the girl's ear, flicking it lightly with her tongue. "Now, let's go! The meeting thingy should be starting soon." Tara grabbed Jane's hand and dragged her out the door and down the stairs. Julie was confused and didn't know what to make of what was happening. In her heart she wanted to warn the two initiates that the sorority sisters were in the room and watching, but her lips were silenced. It was just so shocking and so vulgar. It was tasteless and so ... well unity league. A nervous feeling crept over Julie as she waited, and the sorority sister eyed her and until the sister spoke ever so softly:“Sister Janice? Could you please join us for a moment” she spoke softly…“Of course Sister Kelly” Kelly smiled softly? Julie knew the two women were eyeing her and maybe even inspecting her. This must be some sort of test. Julie pulled her shoulders back proudly. The effect on her posture was immediate, she looked taller, and her big breasts became more evident under the baggy top. One sister spoke up:“Accepted you shall be, you want study buddies, you shall have…”"Oh, great... I knew I picked the right sorority" Julie replied eagerly. She figured this was just an isolated incident. A mistake that everyone would soon forget. The sister voice came through the intercom:“Meet me in the study instead…” Julie walked behind as the senior sister led her away from the dykes. She felt awkward that the sister was holding her hand, yet, maybe it was just in a sisterly way....“Sister Sara!” she shouted downstairs…”Yes?” she came back up…”These two seem to be getting more into then the others, do show them their slaves…” she giggled as she continued to clasp Julie’s hand, taking her down the stairs more so, leading her towards the back of the house, opening a pair of French doors into a massive library… Julie was surprised by the words "their slaves". Probably figuratively speaking Julie assured herself. Or maybe it's a prank for first years to serve an older sister for a week or two.... Julie mused.Worse comes to worst... I have to be a maid to an older sister... I'm sure they'd never abuse it... Julie secretly reassured herself. The sister guiding her spoke up:“Every one of the books any university uses. All here” Julie turned as another sister walked in, and she was introduced:“And her, Sister Janice is the most premiere expert in the fields of scientific dynamics, she of course could help you through your studies…” The sister smiled sweetly and kissed Julie softly before pulling back… Probably a European custom... those foreigners.... Julie decided. The sister snickered and evil smile as she stepped back and ordered away sister Janice:“Your Dismissed Janice” Julie didn't say a word as she waited. The sister spoke up:“I hope you realize how much money you’ll save…”" Ahhh... no" Julie replied. Truth was she had no idea how much money on books would be saved. No doubt dad would be happy but .... The finger on her lower back made her softly shudder. Nervously she moved forward. Then Julie frowned as the fingers passed against her sweatshirt." Sure is cold in here" Julie mumbled as she tried to break an awkward silent moment. The sister didn't seem to notice and spoke on:“And I can make it so you have plenty of friends here and around campus Julie, and me Julie, I can look out for you, I can do a lot for you…” the sophomore smiled more so to the young freshman…“I can do a lot more” she whispers…” Well I'm so glad to have met you and Janice. I hope there is a tutoring program. It's great you're willing to introduce me around. I really look forward to being part of the sorority. I think its just great that the older girls look out for their little sisters" Julie went on innocently." I have so many questions... Do we have to buy uniforms or anything? The brochure didn't say much. We don't really sleep in a common dorm do we?" Julie asked." Is there a frosh week too?" Julie continued on clueless. Rebecca Hamilton Rebecca pulled her Lexus slowly into the circular parking lot at the massive and ornate Delta Beta Gamma house. She pulled into he reserved spot and turned off the engine. Stopping to grab the mail, she unlocked the door and walked into the kitchen. Stopping at the counter she went through the mail"Nothing but bills and letters from alumni, big surprise" she muttered. Out of the corner of her eye, Rebecca noticed young sister Lisa who had recently graduated from her training." Sister Lisa?" Rebecca asked"Yes, High Sister" replied the short, busty blonde"Sister Lisa, are some of the new pledges here?"" Yes, High Sister, some are in the Pledge Room and others are getting tours" Lisa said as she adopted the stance of a soldier being addressed by her commanding officer Initiates, Rebecca chuckled to herself, can't relax and enjoy all this yet." How do the new girls look? Anyone I should pay special attention to?" Rebecca asked"They're all very pretty, High Sister" Lisa replied with the sincerity expected of a girl who had only recently discovered how much she was attracted to other women." Good, great." Rebecca smiled evil" Where's Sister Kelly?"" Down in the library, with one of the pledges"Rebecca's excused herself. She wanted to discuss tonight's ceremony with Kelly, and it was due to start within the hour. Making her way through the house Rebecca couldn't help but notice the pledges walking the house." Lisa was right." Rebecca thought as she hungrily eyed one tight and tanned young freshman "This is a fantastic crop"As Rebecca descended the stairs her mind was still full of some of the things she wanted to do to the girls she'd passed. All in due time, she figured. Opening the door to the library, Rebecca was greeted by the sight of sister Kelly and a tall, statuesque Brunette she didn't recognize." This girl is a pledge?" she thought "How interesting"Clearing her mind for a second, Rebecca decided to make her presence known as the two were having a conversation." Good evening Sister Kelly, I trust everything is on schedule for this evening" Tara Tara and Jane were in the hallway, flirting and kissing, when they heard the announcement go through the loudspeakers that had been installed in every room of the house." Will all sorority sisters and new pledges please report to the living room. It is time to begin the initiation." Tara looked at Jane in excitement, and they entered the living room, taking a seat together on a large, plush chair. She watched as all the other girls entered and smiled to herself. Every girl in the room was so beautiful. Then she frowned, realizing she wasn't sure how she measured up. Julie was still talking and asking questions to sister Kelly when yet another senior sorority sister entered the library and took a quick look. It unnerved Julie to see a pretty older sister eyeing her up and down as sister Kelly had done earlier. Must be sizing up the new pledges to see who's going to make. I just have to relax and be myself. I'll play their silly games if that's what it takes.... Julie decided. In her mind she was trying to get herself ready for whatever the task was. I hope they don't make us eat bugs.... Julie panicked and then reminded herself Mind over matter... mind over matter. The older sister (Rebecca) had a beautiful voice that suggested a talent for singing. It had a happy ring to it and seemed to reflect excitement. Sister Rebecca interred and spoke up:"Good evening Sister Kelly, I trust everything is on schedule for this evening? Julie let them speak and waited until they were finished before she took the opportunity to introduce herself." Hi... I'm Julie Andrews.... I'm new.... Furthermore, I really love the house ... these books are great.... Furthermore, I'm really looking forward to meetings new friends and getting into those study groups...." Julie said lamely. Julie jumped in surprise when the loudspeaker boomed out:"Will all sorority sisters and new pledges please report to the living room. It is time to begin the initiation."" I wonder what the plan is?" laughed Julie as she openly questioned both sisters Rebecca and Kelly. Tara and I held hands waiting for the meeting to commence, and our initiation to begin. We had each other, and didn't know what would happen, but we waited anxiously for the upper class senior sisters to get started. IOC: Sorry, I won't be able to post tonight but, Senior Sisters, go ahead and get the meeting started- I'll be back on Saturday Rebecca Hamilton"I wonder what the plan is?" laughed the pledge named Julie. She had a nice laugh, Rebecca thought. Nevertheless, her demeanor remained cold as she addressed the pledge"You'll find out" Rebecca replied. She looked back to sister Kelly who was already making her way towards the ceremony room. "In the meantime, please make your way back to the pledge room with the others. "Making her way towards her bedroom, Rebecca weighed the options for her choice in her mind. Almost all the new girls were gorgeous, but Rebecca had someone special in mind. Julie, Jane, Tara and the other pledges sat in their pledge room for 45 minutes in total silence before one of the Sisters came to call." Hello" said the beautiful redhead at the door "I'm Sister Chloe, and I'm here to take you on the first step of your journey into the sisterhood. This part of the journey must remain hidden from you, so I must ask that you put on these blindfolds"Sister Chloe held out numerous velvet straps long enough to be tied around the girls heads. The pledges came up to her one by one, and she tied them around the eyes of the pledges." Now girls, follow me" said the guide as she led them out of the room. After what seemed like a ten-minute walk down narrow hallways and after many girls had bumped their shins the line of pledges was instructed to stop." Pledges, remove your blindfolds." said Chloe. The pledges, one by one removed their blindfolds and saw they were standing in a large room lit only by a handful of candles. Pictures of previous pledge classes hung on the walls and seemed to date back to the dawn of photography. None of the pledges looked at the photos too long, as standing in the middle of the room were the Senior Sisters, each wearing a black hooded gown with a red sash. Standing at the forefront of the sisters was Rebecca Hamilton, her gown bearing a white sash. She approached the pledges and spoke:"Pledges, you obeyed a sister, and you now can see. Gather round and the ceremony shall begin" "Whoa..." Tara breathed, looking at, not the room, but the girls. They were so beautiful, all with perfect figures. Tara, not for the first time that day, hoped she would measure up... Sister Rebecca Hamilton spoke. "Pledges, you obeyed a sister, and you now can see. Gather round and the ceremony shall begin"Tara and all the other pledges gathered around the candles and Rebecca turned in a circle, surveying them and nodding slightly. Tara shivered as her gaze lingered for half a second longer than the others. She frowned slightly and waited patiently for her next instructions. This was exhilarating. Walking around in a strange building blindfolded, holding hands and following each other until the senior sisters told us to remove our blinders. Tara and Julie were so pretty, and the older actives all looked gorgeous. I was going to like it here, and suddenly just thinking about having sex with Tara upstairs, and looking into the eyes of the other girls and anticipating my lesbian activities, I suddenly reached an orgasm just thinking about it. I started to shudder and almost faint, but Tara caught me and held me up until I recovered. Furthermore, I leaned over and whispered "thanks'I had no idea what was going to happen, but I hoped the active sisters would drop their robes and tell us to do the same, and that our initiation would include total lovemaking to welcome us into the sisterhood. The girls all made their way to the appropriate part of the room. Rebecca stood in front of them, and began to speak again"Pledges, what you see in this room is the history of our great sorority. For hundreds of years our sisterhood has thrived, expanded and excelled because all the sisters in those pictures lived by the two tenets that make our sisterhood as strong as it can be." Rebecca looked the pledges up and down. One of them, Jane, seemed to be eyeing her hungrily. It was nice, Rebecca thought, when they come in to the sisterhood already willing to please. Collecting herself, Rebecca realized she had left the ceremony at an awkward point. Nevertheless, her stern stone remained the same as she began again." Those two tenets are obedience and reward. Every sister learns that obedience to the sisterhood, and her sisters, will lead her to the greatest rewards imaginable. To be a sister you must trust that what a fellow sister asks you to do will be to your own benefit and that by complying you will be met with the greatest rewards life has to offer you. So long as you do everything within your power to follow what a sister requests of you, that sister will do the same for you. On this foundation we have built a sisterhood that ha stood the test of time. Today, you have been invited to begin your entrance into the sisterhood." Rebecca paused as one of the senior sisters giggled at the double entendre, someone always did, and the other sisters always made sure she learned her lesson." And so pledges, to begin your journey into the sisterhood you must recite the pledge, one by one." Sister Chloe, holding numerous pins which bore the crest of DBG, approached the first pledge. Rebecca stood in front of the pledge, a sweet looking brunette with a gorgeous body, and held the pin to her chest." Pledge, repeat after me 'I, state your name, do pledge to give myself fully and freely to the sisterhood of Delta Beta Gamma. To obey its codes and live by its laws. Except god, there is nothing above the sisterhood. This I pledge' "The girl looked at Rebecca and seemed to be trembling as she recited the pledge perfectly. As she finished Rebecca brushed her hand against the girls small but firm breasts as she placed the pledge pin over the girls' heart. As she fastened the clasp to the girl's shirt she leaned in and firmly but slowly began to kiss the girl. The girl smelled sweet, and her lips were as soft as only an 18-year-old college girl's lips can be. Rebecca was lost in the heady sensations of kissing this young woman who at first pulled back her head but then surrendered to the Senior. Just as the pledge began to open her mouth and reach her tongue out, Rebecca broke the kiss and proceeded to the next pledge. Jane When she kissed me I started to cum. I was in heaven and closed my eyes, imagining myself in her bed, pleasing her. I thrust out my tongue, but she was gone over to Tara, but the other senior sisters saw my tongue, and several licked their lips in anticipation. I looked down at my pledge pin and thought of the happy days there, in a sisterhood of best friends, and lusted for my first opportunity to be of service to them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------They were the popular girls. Everyone on campus knew them. Every girl wanted to be them and every guy wanted to fuck them. They never had boyfriends.... or girlfriends for that matter. Most people called what they had "encounters". No guy on campus that dated them ever talked about it. After the date, they were like "followers". They always partied at the house and only certain people were invited to these parties. Everyone wanted to be invited. The girls were mysterious. They never seemed to talk to anyone outside the sorority except for their next conquest. They were beautiful, almost angelic, and seemed almost untouchable. Everyone wanted to be their next conquest. No one knew what was so magnetic about them. What made them seem like seductive goddesses? Every campus reporter wanted to break into their circle. The newspaper decided that the best way in was through Lily. Lily was the new girl to the inner circle and seemed very different from the others. Lily was the key to get in.IOC: I'm going to play two characters in this story. Kresley Dylan: (19), Blonde hair, blue eyes, perfect body. Leader of the group. She is the most beautiful and the most powerful. She always gets her way and always get the person she wants. Furthermore, she keeps everyone in the group in line and is now getting Lily accustomed to the group. Lily Michaels: (18), brown hair, green eyes, great body. Newest member of the group. She is shy and unsure about what she has gotten herself into. She trusts Presley completely, but is easily swayed by the idea of falling in love. I need a guy to play the campus reporter who tries to find out about the group through Lily. I'd like this to start out as the reporter just trying to play games with Lily in order to get a story, but I want it to gradually turn into a romance. Don't worry, Lily is not going to be a prude. She'll do what Presley tells her too. I'd also like some more members of the sorority and some guys that are already involved with the sorority. PM me with your characters and any questions please, and then we'll get started. TomTomAthleticBlond hair, brown eyes the typical, captain of the football team, jock. The one that normally is the guy who the head cheerleader is dating. Hopefully in this high school he doesn't get toyed around too much by Presley, but has a lot of fun Presley Dylan had everything going for her. She was smart, beautiful, and powerful. She had just about everyone grovelling at her feet to be in her group. Furthermore, she only selected people that would be beneficial to her. Kresley and her friends walked down the hallway like they owned the place. Presley was dressed perfectly in her light blue mini skirt and a white halter top with perfectly coordinated high heels and purse. All the guys' head turned as she walked by. She walked by the football team as they gathered around their captain at his locker. She winked at the captain as she walked over to her locker. Her friends giggled as they followed her. They all practically worshiped her and thought everything she did was absolutely amazing. She soaked it up, but she would never admit to being conceited. Lily, one of the newest addition to the group, whispered to Presley, "How do you do it?" Kresley laughed and asked, "Do what?" Lily smiled and said, "Make every guy drool." Kresley smiled and said, "It's all about confidence." She whispered as she noticed the football captain making his approach, "Observe." She playfully bit her lip as she watched him walk over to her. Tom Ripley has always been the girl for me. Ever since I laid my eyes on her, I knew I had to go out with her. All my buddies talk about her about how they would love to fuck her, but I just shrug it off. That girl is so special to me and is wild when we make out and do other related things together. She really seems to know what I want and she definitely knows what she wants and goes for it. We haven't been going out for too long, but so far it has been going really well. Today we had a good practice, and I was just talking to the team about the next game Friday, our home opener of the season. Then I see Presley walk by, and I go up to her and give her a kiss"hey babe did you have a good day today?" She kissed Tom sweetly and wrapped her arms around his neck. Still inches away from his face, he asked sweetly,"hey babe did you have a good day today?" She smiled and said, "Yes, but it's even better now. I missed not getting to see you last night. Did you have fun with the boys?" She pulled her arms from around his neck and playfully fiddled with the buttons of his letterman's jacket. She thought about how she had to practically make him go out with the boys. He never wanted to spend any night away from her. Who could blame him? Every guy she met wanted her and that causes a little male insecurity. "Ohhh yea babe it was a blast, but I missed you. What are you up to tonight babe, I was thinking of chilled at my place, but its up to you" Then I give you a nice little kiss."whose your new friend babe?" "Ohhh yea babe it was a blast, but I missed you. What are you up to tonight babe, I was thinking of chilled at my place, but its up to you" He gave her a little kiss, and she said, "I was thinking more along the lines of you coming over to my place because the 'rents are out of town and the hot tub is fixed." She smiled and kissed him playfully on the neck then kissed him with a little more passion on the lips. When they pulled away from the kiss, they both noticed Lily watching intently. He whispered,"whose your new friend babe?" She laid her head on his chest and winked at Lily before saying, "This is Lily. She's a new addition. Furthermore, she's cute, isn't she?" Lily blushed and looked away. "Ohhhhh she is very cute, very good addition babe. Babe lets go back to my car so we can get back to my place"As you had your head on my chest I just couldn't resist and just take a handful and feel your nice butt. I can feel that you are not wearing any panties, but it must be a thong. Looking at Lily I can tell she saw me do that, and I don't think she was disgusted at all. This girl will definitely do very well in the group. I can only imagine what we are going to do when we get back to my place. The last time my parents were gone like this and the hot tub was available, we had a LOT of fun. Just thinking about it got my cock growing as I bet you were able to feel. Hopefully we leave soon as I want the fun to start as soon as possible! Presley smiled when he asked if they could leave and gave her ass a little squeeze. She could feel a little growth between them and knew exactly why he wanted to leave. Kresley winked at Lily and said, "Have a good day, ladies. I'll see you tomorrow. Call me, Lily." Kresley took Tom's hand and pulled him away from the group, leading him out the double doors to the parking lot.

Sorority Girls|rating:2.0

Wasteland_ Into the Dead

You stand at the mouth of the cave that used to be your home; staring out over a barren wasteland. A cracked sandy crust covers the desert floor, wind whipping a small dust cloud every so often. The noonday sun beats down on your neck: a daytime oppressed, cracking your lips and burning your skin... After three days of discussion, the plan had been to leave before sunrise. However, as the group began the journey, a war forge by the Plinth had stopped you. Although none of the group had ever seen Plinth before, he had said he had been entrusted to watch over the survivors, should something happen to the colony. He mentioned John Blackman, the human who had founded the colony a hundred years ago, saying he had dictated him the task. Finally, Plinth produced a wooden box, which contained enough magically-preserved food to last the party a week, a key (to which no-one seemed to know what to do with), and a map of the general area. Even though the map was over one hundred years old, the group still decided it was probably their best chance... According to the map, to the north laid mountains, to the east laid forests and plains, the west turned into a large body of water, and the south contained more desert. However, the map's scale had long been worn off, and it was impossible to determine the distance of these landmarks. There were also three red dots on the map. One appeared to mark your location. To the southeast was a small dot titled "Quartz." More directly to the south was a much larger mark named "Sage Sal." Of the two, Quartz was much closer... As you look out upon the wasteland, you realize any location would be much farther than you originally thought. As the wind kicks up another bellow of dust, whistling in the cave entrance, you once more remember the hazing sun on your exposed neck. The cave is cooler, but there's nothing left for you there now. Anyway, the time has come to answer the question: where do you go now? Spoiler: Box Contents Hide -You each gain enough rations and water to last you seven days. -Someone must take the key, unless you chose to leave it behind. -Someone must take the map, unless you choose to leave it behind. As a child, Among had once snuck out of the cave, driven by curiosity. He had been executed by the new environment, feeling a soft sand underfoot, instead of the hard cave floor he had been accustomed to. Now though, without the carelessness of his childhood, the wasteland looked more inhospitable than exciting. He had heard rumors that people outside the caves hated mutants, unlike the kind folk that allowed his family to live there. He was unsure if this would true, but as he looked at his group, he realized that if the stories were true, they were in trouble; especially Krikksakkor and himself, who could really hide the heritage. At least his brother would be okay, saying he was just a large Goliath or something... maybe. Amog hadn't been entrusted with either the map or the key, a fact that he was happy of. He was liable to get mad and loses them during his fury anyway. Looking once more into the distance, he began to speak. Quartz seemed to be the closest marked point. With our rations, we should hopefully reach it, and we can gather more suitable supplies there. He didn't say the rest of his sentence, though he thought If it even is a town, and if it even still exist... His real reason for choosing Quartz was darker, however. The raiders wouldn't want to drag their ill-gotten gains far through the desert, and hopefully the group could catch them at Quartz, allowing Among a chance for revenge. Krikksakkor looks at this "Plinth" creature. He taps it's 'skin' with a claw and wonders who have the more durable shell. He understands from the way the others interact that Plinth is not an enemy. So then, that must mean he is their friend. And then he gives them gifts. Thirsty, the black skinned mutant takes one of the water skins and begins drinking until quenched. There also seems to be food, he eats of that as well, looking expectantly towards Tom and Bjorn. He had come to understand that 'humans' were the leaders. They were always the ones who had told him where to go, what to kill, what to fetch, who or what to guard. So he sat in the cool dark of the cave, squatting, his knobby knees-up near his shoulders and his long clawed hands pushing bits of food into his small mouth full of jagged teeth, while his thin cord like tail, undulated along the dust scattered floor like a lithe desert viper searching left and right for prey. Looking back and forth between the Cleric and the Warrior and waiting for someone to tell them where to go, and what to kill. None except the large four-armed one, Among had spoken. Krikksakkor would wait. The cave was cool and the shadows, comforting, the outside all sand and heat, light and burning. Once the masters had decided where they would go then, and only then would he leave the welcoming coolness of the cave. With slings his bow over his shoulder. He doesn't think much about the key, or this 'golem', but asks to take a closer look at the map. He tries to identify any landmarks or other identifying features from his hunts over the years. Furthermore, he looks up and motions Tom over to take a look as well. Furthermore, he points down to the map, asking Tom if he recognizes any features either. If anyone were to be the group's navigator, it should be one of the hunters. He turns to Among and agrees,"Quartz seems the best choice to head towards." Plinth accepts the probing of Krikksakkor without concern. Better that they all get to know each other very well. It's duty, given to It by John Blackman, is simply to ensure the success of the survivors after the community was destroyed, if that were to happen. It's lack of needs like food, drink, sleep, and breath make It a very useful tool to that end. It's already taken the time to equip Itself for a long trek. Improved sight and speed could be vital on this trip to, apparently, Quartz. Another moment to test Its ability to manifest a blade, released moments later, and It is ready to travel." I am ready to move out when you are. We might have more difficulty seeing if we travel at night, but you will be safer from the sun if we do so. Please do not concern yourself with my comfort. Your safety is of greater concern." Spoiler: Soul melds Hide Capacity 1 Essential available 1 Keenan Lenses Basic Effect: +4 Insight bonuses on Spot checks Essential: Increase bonus by +2/essential Invested Essential 1 Current Spot 8 Blue steel Bracers Basic Effect: +2 Insight bonuses to Initiative checks Essential: +1 Insight bonus to weapon damage rolls/essential invested. Invested Essential 0 Current Initiative 4 I can see well in the dark of night. I would have liked to head for the mountains, but we know not the distance. I must, then, agree with my brother. Furthermore, I shall lead the way in the night, as I can see well, but one of the humans will have to be a navigator. Donjourn stands tall, taller than most Goliath, but shorter than an ogre. His hair consists of long, dark locks of braids hanging down to his hips. He carries no weapon, nor has he ever needed one. His chest is bare, showing his muscles, and he carries a crude wooden shield on his back. I personally would not suffer much from the heat, but my brother would. It is always better to travel at night in deserts anyway. Let us wait for the moon to light our path, and then cease to postpone our journey. If any of you lack the endurance to travel all night, I can carry you. The two humans should not slow me down too much. He grins at the humans. ANH was angry at the guys who killed the clan. So he decided that the smartest move from the information we have is to go to Quartz where the men might be found. With him being the only one who had a horse he knew it would take a long time to get there. He grabbed the key and 7 rations. He said Well dudes I'll take the key if the worst happens I'll disguise myself to keep me and the key safe. The sun is bad for me as well, so I'm totally thankful that we decided to go by night.However, he did not eat it yet. He decided that It would be smartest to wait until they stopped to rest once more. He added Thankfully we have a light source on us so that those of us who can't see in the dark may see. The group departed that night, in the direction of Quartz. Emerging from the cave you found the night to be cooler than the day; much cooler. By chance, the moon happened to be nearly full, and shined down on through the wasteland's cloudless sky bright enough that all had decent enough vision. Bonjour still led the party, just in case. The night passed by uneventful; not once did you see any other sign of life, spare one singular cactus, standing alone in the barren landscape... As you now look upon the horizon, the sky has just begun to turn a faint red. Sunrise is probably still an hour off, but you've realized that you shall't be able to reach your destination tonight. You look back over your shoulder, and see the cave you left nearly eight hours ago far off in the distance. Beside the cave, the only thing you can see in the vast desert is the occasional dead carcass. The rest is just flat, crusted ground. Krikksakkor casts his gaze left and right scanning the horizon for anything that might be made use of as a shelter. Even a dip in the ground or a hole or soft ground that they might dig out." The burning."he says pointing towards the east where the flecks of sunlight start to seep into the sky like blood spreading in water. He sees red serpents wreathed in fire slithering from the horizon to the east and biting them with their fiery fangs poisoning their blood with "sun sickness". He claws at the horizon with one of his hands and hisses at the phantom serpents. Spoiler: IOC Hide Precognitive Visions: for today +1 to Survival camp; +1 to Fortitude Saves Spot - (1d20)[7] looking for shelter or some means of screening us from the sun during the day. Tom looks over the map with With. He agrees that they are probably the best equipped to utilize and thus guard the map. He says"I agree we should head toward this Quartz marking. Hopefully we can find more information there. He then looks over the group and says"We may be a band of misfits, but I think we can survive. We will have to work together. I don't want there to be a power struggle or anything at a critical moment. If everyone else is fine with it, I will take up navigating. I have a bit of experience with hunting out here, and I have readied lots about the old world." Since he has the backpack, Tom agrees to hold onto the map and, if the others agree, navigate by it. He uses his local knowledge to try to figure out where they are and the distance to any landmarks on the map. He hopes to be able to figure out about how far they might have to travel. As the group sets out that night, Tom is not bothered by the golem or the mutants, viewing them as part of his clan. He volunteers whatever information he thinks might be useful, even though nobody really asked him for it either. Tom felt he had a lot of knowledge from years of reading books and hunting with With and wanted to share what he could to help the others survive. When the sun started to peak up over the mountains Tom looked around for shelter using his knowledge of nature to help himfindasuitable placebo get out of the sun. Spoiler: IOC Hide So the checks for this post: K (local) to identify features of the map:(1d20+4)[24] K(nature) to help with survival:(1d20+5)[7] survival to recognize a place to shelter safely:(1d20+2)[19] Spot to see the place and/or any danger:(1d20+7)[18] Hopefully that covers everything. Again sorry for my tardy response. I will keep up better now. I am waiting to post about Tom praying for some different spells at sunrise, until we find out about finding shelter. He won't quite go to sleep the second they get settled in. He will first spend an hour praying to Celestial. Though I know he won't get his new spells until after he rests. Spoiler: Krikksakkor camp; Tom Hide Spot: As you look around, you realize that there is no shelter beside the cave within your eyesight. On the ground, about fifty feet away, is a half-buried carcass, which has long been stripped of its flesh, its bone bleached by the sun. Fifteen minutes back you past a cactus, however, its size would hardly provide shade for the smallest of your companions. The ground, while not perfectly even, provides no significant hollow for you to bucket down in. Spoiler: Tom Hide Knowledge (Local): You remember someone back at the colony before the raiders attack making a joke about ANH's horse. Something about "it should be dead, given where we are!" Spot: You see no danger. *See other spoiler* Survival: While you see no place to shelter, you do know that lying down on the desert ground will only make you hotter. You can't remember why though... With notices the rising sun, and pulls his hood down a bit further. He's been out hunting in the daylight before, so he's prepared. His hunting outfit covers every visible bit of skin. He'd be safe from the sun, although the others were most likely not so lucky. He also glances around for any hills/rocks/shelter. Spoiler: IOC Hide Spot: (1d20+4)[9] Regardless of what he finds, he turns to the group,"We need to pick up the pace." Tom doesn't see much around for the group to use for shelter. He shares a bit of knowledge with them though, lest they fall into the easy trap." We can't just lie on the sand. It'll only make us hotter. I don't see any shelter anywhere nearby. I don't have any immediate suggestions, except that we could take our travelling cloaks and 'make a tent' with Plinth holding up the fabric, since he seems to not need to sleep or tire easily. Furthermore, I brought rope and have my cloak from my outfit. Anybody else have supplies they wish to donate to the cause? Or better ideas?" Without much else, Tom starts thinking about the best way to fashion a shelter out of their meager supplies so they don't roast in the sun. Spoiler: IOC Hide I don't think it should be too hard to at least make a shelter. I just don't know how much Tom knows. For me personally the best thing is to dig a hole about 2 feet deep and lay our clothes over it to make a roof. This provides shade and being deeper in the ground keeps us cool. The other option is to anchor one end of our clothes-tent with sand and have Plinth hold the other end up at an angle to provide shade and protect us from the sun. Dudes this might be a strange question but would setting up a tent be a good Idea. I haven't had real experience with having to sleep out here. * post roll count doesn't match database Among was thankful that they'd decided to walk through the cool of night, even though it had cost them time. However, he knew his patience would wear thin if they kept stopping every time someone got a bit of vitamin D. As much as I would like to see Tom dress up Plinth as a tent, I feel like we'd better listen to With on this one. Let's keep moving, at least through the cool of morning. If we get too hot, we use some magic or something. Amog wasn't actually sure that they had access to the required magic, or even what the proper magic was for this effect, but he was sure somebody knew. Spoiler: Know (Geography) Hide Let's see what clue I can get about Quartz. Know (Geo): (1d20+3)[6] Plinth keeps quiet as the survivors discuss the oncoming daylight. Instead of offering advice It didn't have anyway, It contented Itself with keeping an eye out for longish lengths of wood or bone... Spoiler: Spot Hide (1d20+8)[14] It will be best to continue to travel. If the humans cannot keep up, I shall carry them. I can continue to travel as long as necessary, but I cannot speak for the other mutants. Perhaps when the sun beats down on us, we shall carry the little ones and continue to nightfall. I will not tire, nor will It. Although, if we must stop, I can assist It with providing shade. It need not sleep, I do not tire and can remain awake for a month before suffering. If my brother and the other mutant can remain awake and endure, I see no reason to stop. Donjour seems to disapprove of anyone who tires. He approves of It, as it never tires, and of his brother, as he should be able to travel for a long time. He also approves of the other mutant. The humans, on the other hand, are soft. Spoiler: With Hide Spot: As you look around, you realize that there is no shelter beside the cave within your eyesight. On the ground, about fifty feet away, is a half-buried carcass, which has long been stripped of its flesh, its bone bleached by the sun. Fifteen minutes back you past a cactus, however, its size would hardly provide shade for the smallest of your companions. Spoiler: Among Hide Knowledge (Geography): As you walk you remember something you've recently heard about Quartz. It's on the tip off you tongue... you can't quite remember it... suddenly it hits you. You remember it is represented by a red dot on the map Plinth gave you! (Don't think too hard about this one. It's not cryptic; it's smart ass-ness.) Spoiler: Plinth Hide Spot: While you've yet to see any wood, you can see a few bones. One in particular seems to be long and solid; a bone sticking out of the ground about fifty feet away. Whatever it came from must-have been quite large, so it may even have more suitable bones buried under the surrounding sand. Dudes the sun may be hot, and the day may be long, but I can bear with it at least for a little while. Wait a second how do I even know how the sun. Acts to me, I've never left the cave. So I'm chill with your plan brother in arms. As you all stand discussing your options, the first light of day breaks the horizon. You each cast a long shadow as the rays meet with your bodies. As you continue to talk, Plinth notices something as he continues to scan for bones. The bone that had caught its eye had started moving, and has now removed itself, fully from the ground... along with the rest of the body. Plinth alerts the rest of the party to the presents of the large two-headed skeleton, who is wielding two large clubs, as it dislodges the last of itself from the ground... Spoiler: Initiative Hide Krikksakkor: (1d20+4)[20] Plinth: (1d20+4)[19] Among: (1d20+2)[17] Tom: (1d20+8)[16] Skeleton: (1d20+4)[13] With: (1d20+4)[5] Donor: (1d20-1)[5] Bjorn: (1d20+2)[3] ANH: (1d20-2)[1] Spoiler: Map Hide The black mutant looks where the War forged indicates, until he sees this strange creature rising from the sand as large as Among or Donor but made of bone. His crouches low, his tail swishing violently on the ground around him and causing dust and dark to seem to swirl around his form. Suddenly with a hiss he leaps and then moves towards the creature using both his hands and feet to propel himself forward like a wild beast letting his horns lead the way. Spoiler: IOC Hide Enter Stance Child of Shadow Use Boost Sudden Leap Jump - (1d20+5)[9] Jump 5' to D7 Move to H11 Gain Concealment for moving at least 10' As Plinth interrupts the conversation to point out the rising skeleton, Tom immediately flashes through all of his reading on undead creatures to see if he can identify this one. He raises his bow, but then remembers that he won't be very effective against it. He runs through his options trying to decide if he is better off shooting it with arrows or trying to turn it. Furthermore, he yells to the others,"This creature is not of the living. Most likely the best way to hurt it is to bludgeon it, don't try to pierce it with you swords or slash at it with your claws, if you can help it. If you have no other options, any attack is better than nothing though." He didn't want to confuse the simpler among the group too much, but he wanted to make sure they understood how to be most effective. Tom stayed toward the rear prepared to try to turn the undead if he could or failing that at least support the group with some arrows. Spoiler: IOC and dice Hide I know Tom doesn't go first, but I figure his actions aren't going to change much unless everyone runs away, in which case he'll run too. I don't figure anyone will be running though. Here is the knowledge (religion) check to see how much he knows about this undead specifically:(1d20+5)[15] With slowly realizes the threat that just appeared, as he was looking in the other direction. Once he notices it, he quickly dashes to the side, away from the others, to get a clear line of sight. He knocks an arrow on the move, aims for a brief moment, and let's fly his shot. He probably knows that arrows are not too effective, but its pretty much all he has. Spoiler: IOC Hide With moves to G2. Bow attack with skirmish: (1d20+5)[21], Damage (1d8+1)[7] + (1d6)[1] Combat tactics pour through Plinth's mind." Amog, Bonjour, if we charge it head-on we can likely halt its progress and allow the rest to land their blows more easily. Please follow me." With that request, Plinth runs at the collection of hostile bones. Spoiler: IOC Hide Plinth runs to L9 Spoiler: Soul melds Hide Capacity 1 Essential available 1 Keenan Lenses Basic Effect: +4 Insight bonuses on Spot checks Essential: Increase bonus by +2/essential Invested Essential 0 Current Spot 4 Blue steel Bracers Basic Effect: +2 Insight bonuses to Initiative checks Essential: +1 Insight bonus to weapon damage rolls/essential invested. Invested Essential 1 Current Initiative 4 Finally, this is what Among's been waiting for. Sure, all the walking was fun, and it was a ball discussing camping options, *eye roll* but combat is where the real fun is at. He feels the adrenaline rushing through his body at the thought. As he locates his target, Plinth suggests charging at the skeleton monster. He snickers at this while he advances, light clubs in hand. You've read my mind. Spoiler: Among Actions Hide -Goes into Whirling Frenzy. -Advances to O7 (Top Right Corner of Mini) The skeleton creature see the approaching creatures as it pulls the rest of it's leg from the sand. Lacking a brain, it knows only one thing, to kill those with one. He walks toward the approaching mutant, then takes a swing with one of its clubs. Spoiler: IOC Hide Skeleton advances to R6 Aimed at Quatzolect: Attack: (1d20+10)[28] CRT Confirm(Nat 20): (1d20+10)[11] Damage: (1d8+6)[7] CRT Damage: (1d8+6)[14] Spoiler: MAP Hide Donor sizes up the skeleton. It didn't look particularly strong. As Tom mentioned smashing it, he grinned. That's what he's good at, after all. He charges forward, grinning, at the thing. He should get a new tattoo after this fight. He barrels forwards, clasping his hands together and bringing his elbows down on the thing with a crack. Spoiler: IOC Hide Charge to O5(top right corner of token) Attack roll (1d20+12)[21] Damage roll (1d6+15)[16] The skeleton's club flies in towards Quatzolect's side, much too fast for him to avoid. As he braces for the blow, expecting much pain, he is surprise to realize that the blow barely does anything. Is that all you got! With's arrow glances the side of the skeleton's rib cage, barely scratching it. However, it does distract it long enough for Donor to accurately elbow one of the creature's heads. Snapping violently, you see a large jawbone fly from the skeleton, landing fifteen away. However, the creature shows no signs of slowing. Spoiler: MAP Hide Spoiler: IOC Hide Skip Bjorn, he said he's having sheet issues or something. ANH's Turn With a yawn I say let's get this skeleton dealt with quickly guys. I then move to get closer to the skeleton and unleash a bit of my eldritch power on the skeleton Spoiler: actions Hide Move to L4 Attack with eldritch blast (1d20+2)[19] Spoiler: damage Hide If I hit damage (1d6)[6] Ann's blast hit the skeleton in the chest, slightly discoloring the bones. However, while the skeleton clearly felt it, he hardly reacts. What was that? We need to smash it, not paint it! Painting waits until after the fight! Krikksakkor hisses in frustration, the big beast and the metal thing have blocked his path to his prey. He lashes his tail across the ground and runs on all fours forward in hopes of gaining a clear angel of attack. Spoiler: IOC Hide Double Move to R11 Gain Concealment from Child of Shadow Stance with a yawn says Danger dude this coloration signifies that any who attack him afterward shall do an increased amount of damage. Spoiler: bluff check Hide (1d20+8)[25] Plinth moves closer to the combat, waiting for a line of assault It can use." Dounjour, would you step to the side? I can assist better by getting closer." Spoiler: IOC Hide Plinth moves to M6 Recovering from the skeleton's blow, Among begins to retaliate. It's a shame I have to kill you... Amog swings a light mace as he speaks Spoiler: Light Mace Attack 1 Hide Attack: (1d20+9)[23] CRT: (1d20+9)[12] Damage: (1d8+7)[11] CRT: (1d8+7)[10] We have a lot in common, you and me... Spoiler: Light Mace Attack 2 Hide Attack: (1d20+9)[27] CRT: (1d20+9)[15] Damage: (1d8+7)[13] CRT: (1d8+7)[11] They say that two heads are better than one... Spoiler: Light Mace Attack 3 Hide Attack: (1d20+9)[22] CRT: (1d20+9)[24] Damage: (1d8+7)[12] CRT: (1d8+7)[9] But personally, I've always thought... Spoiler: Light Mace Attack 4 Hide Attack: (1d20+9)[28] CRT: (1d20+9)[22] Damage: (1d8+7)[15] CRT: (1d8+7)[12] That four arms... Spoiler: Light Mace Attack 5 Hide Attack: (1d20+9)[23] CRT: (1d20+9)[22] Damage: (1d8+7)[10] CRT: (1d8+7)[12] Are better than two heads... Spoiler: Tail Attack Hide Attack: (1d20+5)[10] CRT: (1d20+5)[25] Damage: (2d6+10)[13] CRT: (2d6+10)[15] Don't you think? No, he doesn't. Do you see a brain in either of those hollow skulls? Cut the banter and concentrate on breaking this bag of bones. At the conclusion of Among's monologue, the skeleton has been reduced to nothing but a pile of broken and scattered bones. Spoiler: XP Hide Everyone gets 225XP You stand now looking at the pile, the sun just beginning to rise. As you onto the horizon, you seem what seems to be a small bump, in roughly the direction that you were previously headed. Shut up, Donor. You're ruining my moment! Alright, get the ropes and load up on me back. Let's not waste any more time. Among, you're walking for the first stretch. Once everybody is loaded up, the group makes for a rather strange sight, with what looks like a deformed giant leading the way. Yawn onwards is best Alright, let's go pack mule. Amog chuckles at this stupid but effective solution. His brother was either a genius or a retard. As they began walking, Among inspects at his side, which was beginning to bruise from the skeleton's club. Must have done more damage than he thought. Already fatigued from coming off his combat high, Among grits his teeth as he buckles down for another long stretch of hiking while producing a flint and steel from his belt pouch, as well as some Devil weed. He mumbles to himself Going to need it "Well done. We will get better at this." Plinth joins the walk keeping an eye out for more fun. Spoiler: Soul melds Hide Capacity 1 Essential available 1 Keenan Lenses Basic Effect: +4 Insight bonuses on Spot checks Essential: Increase bonus by +2/essential Invested Essential 1 Current Spot 8 Blue steel Bracers Basic Effect: +2 Insight bonuses to Initiative checks Essential: +1 Insight bonus to weapon damage rolls/essential invested. Invested Essential 0 Current Initiative 4 Before continuing, Donor picks up one of the skulls. Gonna use it for a reference making myself a new tattoo later. He then begins the long journey, walking tirelessly. Well aware of the scarcity of resources in the desert wasteland, especially the lack of trees, With quickly scavenges all he can of the fallen enemy. He picks up his spent arrow (or the remains of the arrow), and a few smaller bone fragments from the skeleton to whittle down into arrowheads. He doesn't spend too long over the pile of bones, and quickly returns to the rest of the group to continue the long journey. Now that the battle was over, Tom calmly looks over the battlefield and the skeletal remains. He didn't end up doing anything to directly help the fight, but he didn't survive by his might, preferring to use his brains. He hates that his intelligence failed him at that critical moment, so he would just have to study more and pray to Celestial for the answer next time. Furthermore, he says to the others"Good job guys, you really did a thorough job, especially you, Among. Now let's see about rigging up a harness from this rope." Tom then sets about trying to make the rope into some kind of harness to for Among to carry him and With. Spoiler: rolls Hide A Use Rope check to see if Tom can tie rope worth a darn: (1d20+2)[16] The DC to tie a 'special' knot is 15. With a 16, I think Tom can manage to tie something together that can comfortably fit around Among and hold himself or With. The horned mutant skids to a halt amid the pile of now, inanimate bone, growling and hissing his tail swinging from side to side in frustration. He scraps against remains of the twice dead Étaín with his horns a few times as he paces back and forth still on all fours before finally coming to a stop and squatting in front of the rest of the group. His tail thudding on the ground in a rhythmic fashion as he waits for the party to move on. "Let's get going, then. Which way do we want to head?" Bjorn asks the group as he approaches them. ANH with patience says"dude onwards towards crystal obviously," As Tom is trying the harness together, he looks over the bones again and has an idea form." Hey guys, we could build a mobile sled tent out of these giant bone remains. Then those who need sleep can sleep and those who need to avoid the sun can go inside. I believe Among and Plinth could pull it without tiring, or at least alternate pulling it. We should have plenty of rope, and ANH has a tent to use. It could be perfect. Alright, everyone gather any non-broken bones you can find. The femurs should be the long skis. The humerus and tibia can make up the cross supports. If we need more support the radius, ulna, and fibula can run perpendicular to humerus and parallel to the femurs. We can lash the ribs onto the sides as support for the tents. Then the big hip joints make great tie-off points for a harness. We can use a blanket as the floor and the tent draped over the ribs to cover us. Now it'll take a little while to build, but it should help us on our long journey. What do you guys think?" Tom talks a bit fast and goes into a little more detail than was probably needed, but he is so excited at the prospect of making something useful, he can't help himself. He looks around the group with a big stupid grin on his face, looking for approval from the others. He hopes to involve the strong guys by having them bring bones for him and the others who are able to tie onto the sled. Watching Among work, he realizes the brute has injured ribs and he could probably use some healing. He offers to the others"Does anyone need healing besides Among? I can heal two people pretty well right now. Then I'll have to rest before getting more spells"Spoiler: bone sled idea Hide Spoiler: rolls and IOC Hide Cure Light Wounds for Among: (1d8+1)[6] If anyone else needs healing just speak up and then roll your own 1d8+1 for the effect. I don't think the broken femur should be an issue because we can just use the humerus and tibia to bind both halves to the other whole femur, then lash the two bones just on either side of the break together with a fibula or even a finger bone or something, and it should hold together really well. Hearing his idea I get to work giving him my blanket and tent to help with the makeshift tent sled. Yeah, I'm game with that idea. I think I can do the building actually your idea just gave me the best idea how to proceed Spoiler: roll Hide Craft tent sled. (1d20+2)[22] DC:17 As long as at least one other person besides It can walk at any given time, I can pull it as long as need be. Any more weight; however, would slow me down. Among, beast-thing, can you take turns walking? If so, we won't need to stop. Dounjor looks at the makeshift sled. He supposed it would be more efficient than just tying everybody to him. Sled's probably easier... sorry Donor I know you had you hopes up bud. Amog has to admit, the sled was pretty ingenious. He had had reservations about Tom after the fight, seeing that all he did was stand and shout orders, but now... maybe Tom was just a lot smarter than the rest of them, and it probably makes sense to keep him safe. And he had healed him... YesAmog decided, I like this Tom. Many hours later ANH says was tired before, but that really took it out of me. We can proceed now thankfully with this new contraption. By the time Ann had finished building the sled, it was well past lunchtime. The sled was loaded up with its passengers and Donor and Plinth began pulling it through the sand. Among walked alongside for the first eight hours, then Krikksakkor walked throughout the night. Those on the inside of the sled weren't the most comfortable, but it beat walking... As the sun rises to welcome your second day in the desert you look out on the horizon. The sled had been being pulled for sixteen hours, and while it allowed you to travel non-stop, it was slower than walking; approximately 3/4th of the pace. The dot on the horizon had grown larger now, and from this distance you are able to make out what looks to be a small town, and there appears to be smoke rising from it. It appears that it would still be another days worth of travel until you reach it. To your right, you notice another dot on the horizon, much like the small town appeared last night. Sayslet's continue for quartz I mean who cares about anything else really sleep sounds the best. He then promptly falls asleep in the tent sled. Krikksakor eats ravenously from the rations, and drinks much of the water. He thinks fondly of the new caves they will soon reach, the long cool shadows and the damp of the deep. Maybe there will even be some fish, like back home, or scuttle worms. He looks off into the distance at the wisps of smoke, and wonders at what foods might be cooking now, and his stomach growls. He stretches for a moment and curls up near the opening to the small shelter they had made sticking his head and horns inside the awning while leaving the rest of his body curled up near the entrance. Furthermore, he would rest until they moved again, and dream of the strange dreams of an addled mind. I agree, Quartz first. He stretches as he removes his rested body from the sled. He notices the smoke coming from the town. Someone has to be there. Must be your turn to sleep Kirk. With furrows his brow at the sight of smoke. That can't be good. He turns to his companions." It might not be wise just walking up there. It may have been destroyed by bandits, just like our home. Once we get closer, we should scout the area out, make sure it is safe." The sight of a second source of smoke catches Plinth's interest." Would it help if I were to take a jog around that second contact? I can then alter my path and meet you farther up." ANH repliesZzzurezz You press on, the sled leaving a two-tracked trail as it's pulled through the desert. Another day passes-by uneventful; the group inching towards the dot on the horizon. Night falls, and sometime soon after midnight the group finds themselves about an hour from the town. On its edges lies a collection of tents, all closed up. The town appears quite small, and surround by a ten-foot-high metal wall. Two towers extend five feet over the wall, watching over what appears to be a large metal gate. Still an hour away, it's impossible to tell if the smoke was rising due to raiders or normal town functions. However, the large wall shows no sign of force entry, at least not from you vantage point. Among looks at the city in its steel cocoon. Hopefully inside would be knowledge of the whereabouts of the raider that attacked their home. Better yet, the raiders might still be there, in which case revenge was near. Either way, Among was glad that the Desert trekking was nearly over, at least for now. Something about that place gave Among a weird feeling... maybe it was just the vast openness compared to the cave they'd left behind. Almost there. Are we sending scouts like discussed? If we are, it will have to be while it's still nightfall. Too easy to see people approaching in the day. Among and I aren't very sneaky, seeing as we're rather large. I don't know about the others. If the town has not been raided, it may be preferable that we not appear to be up to no good, sneaking around the place. On the other hand, if the raiders are there, its best that we get as close as we can without being seen. I'm very difficult to kill - I could go and investigate. If townsfolk are there, I can say that I'm a tall Goliath, if raiders, I'll run back and signal to you all. Perhaps the group should get closer before sending a scout. Although, judging by the fortifications, I find it unlikely that raiders have invaded. He looks at the humans. They're the smarter ones. They should know what to do. Of course, the beastly mutant seemed rather cunning, but he was unsure if it could speak. What do we do? Being awake for quite a while he said Well the answer is simple dudes as we cannot show our full force if the bandits are their I would say it's obvious that I could disguise myself so they would not see me as a mutant after all the only reason I survived back there was because I disguised myself as one of the raiders. Dudes Since I would be disguised they wouldn't be able to recognize me when I come back. So I say Dudes we send me in. In addition, my weapon is magical and repeatable, so I don't need a weapon which they might deprive our other members of, and I am also hard to kill. Dudes are you chill with that? "ANH, please allow me to accompany you. It would be unwise to go into potentially hostile territory alone." bro of steel I am chill with that they wouldn't expect a war forged to be from the cave, and you are easily the best person to go in with your mind blade and natural armor. Spoiler: ANH and Plinth Hide Using the cover of night, you leave the group, and sneak towards the walled town. As you sneak closer, you see that there are two guards at the top of each tower. They seem to be focusing more on the gate than out in the desert. However, every once in a while, a guard will scan the desert. Spoiler: Rolls Hide If you attempt to remain unseen, roll hide check. If you want to come with 100ft of the camp and remain hidden, roll move silently. Spoiler: Others Hide ANH and Plinth head into the darkness, towards the city. The night is silent, with no breeze, a relief as this means a break for the ever-present dust clouds. As you look around, you notice no-one and nothing. You lost sight of your cave sometime around midday, although the other dot on the horizon has grown, and gives of a soft glow in the night. I take some time to alter my appearance then, I walk confidently towards the place with a disguise of a regular human being with brown eyes and brown hair with tan skin. I pretend that this is absolutely common for me. Spoiler: app cost Hide Disguise 24 for a take 10 Bluff (1d20+8)[23] Tom helped ANH build the sled, fully exhausting himself in the process. Being awake for so many hours and much of it walking and building, was not easy. As they finished, Tom went inside and curled up in one of the corners to sleep. After a restful, if no quite rejuvenating break Tom trades off walking for a bit and resting so that he can stretch his legs without tiring himself out too much. On one of his breaks he prays to Celestial, trying to judiciously choose which spells he thinks will help the group. Seeing the small dot get closer was heartening for Tom as he could actually feel their progress. As they come close to the town, Tom has to rely mostly on the others to report what they see as his vision is not the best at night and all he sees are murky blobs telling him that something is there, but no detail. He agrees with the plan for ANH and Plinth to scout ahead while the group rests and waits. He says to the others after the two leave,"We need to be ready to move at a moments notice, so we can rest, but don't get too relaxed. Stay alert." After a brief pause of looking around, Tom is able to make out the light coming from the distant city and points it out to the others"That must be Sage Sal that we saw on the map. Judging by how long it took us to get here after first seeing it, I would say that is probably another 2-3 days journey. We may have to get there if this Quartz is a bust." Tom then pulls a little food out of his rations has a brief respite from the hard travel they have experienced. He refocused his mind and prepared himself for the potential danger that lie before them. Spoiler: IOC Hide I updated my Character Sheet with the spells, but I am taking Guidance instead of Cure Minor Wounds. Sorry I was gone over the weekend. The lithe black monstrosity paces back and forth for outside the tent, He digs in the sand around where they have stopped. Picks at the ground looking for rocks, grubs, anything. When he becomes more restless he begins running on all fours around their camp making broad loops taking him twenty to thirty meters away from the tent in a wide arc before eventually coming back. He rummages through the pack with the food and eats and drinks then sits a few meters from the tent seeming to mumble or growl or jabber to himself before finally crawling inside and sleeping. Several times, after the guard finishes scanning the desert, Plinth pops its head up and looks got anything of interest. Spoiler: Spot Hide (1d20+8)[10] Getting impatient, dark beast? I don't blame you. I could have gone there and back thrice in the time they've taken so far. Would you like to spar? I recover quickly from wounds, and can make sure to pull my punches - literally. Spoiler: IOC Hide If we do spar, I'm not going to actually make contact, and with Troll-Blooded I will recover quite quickly, so we needn't bother rolling anything. This is just so the characters aren't bored. As Plinth and ANH left, Among decided that they would have a few hours before they got back, having spent the better part of three days walking, it made sense to him to catch up on rest. The others seemed awake enough to keep watch, so he maneuvered into the sled, left only his legs dangle out from underneath its cover. Krikksakkor scurries to his feet, and without so much as a word barrels towards the large mutant, horns first. To the untrained eye his movements seem wild, erratic and chaotic, whirling about striking at times with his tail others his claws and horns and at other times as well with his armored body itself, his feet, knees elbows and shoulders. Shadow seems to dance about him as he moves making his already hectic movements even more untraceable, it is as if the night itself wraps around him as he moves. He hisses, growls and snarls. The others might think it's real, with all the noise and frantic feral ferocity, but Danger can tell it is play, like a kitten or pup clawing and biting at its master. But it goes well to occupy the long climbed mutant and keep its body and reflexes sharp. Spoiler: Plinth camp; ANH Hide Spoiler: Plinth: Spot Hide You notice That on each tower there seems to be a large object, as sell she the two people. However, you can not make out the object. As you approach the city, the guards on the nearest notice your approach. One guard makes a beam of light shine towards you, illuminating your position. The other guard gets behind the large object and turns it. It appears to be facing towards you. "Who goes there?" yells the guard which illuminates you position. "What is your business in Quartz, and where have you come from?" This guard doesn't ask these questions; rather he demands them from you Spoiler: Others Hide The near arrival at your destination has brought a sense of joy to the group. Among sleeps peacefully, as Donor and Krikksakkor playfully rough-house with each other. The night is still as you see a light dawn from the cities tower. However, it's too far to see what it is aimed at. As the group waits for Plinth's and ANH's return, Tom realizes that Bjorn is missing... Tom can make out the inky shapes of Krikksakkor and Donor sparing. Had Donor not invited the rough-housing on himself, Tom would have felt the need to break it up. He couldn't imagine going so hard in a fight just for fun, but close-combat was never his style. As he watches, he suddenly realizes that he can only see 4 blotchy shapes in the dark. He knows Krikksakkor and Donor are sparing, Among is the big hulking shape, and With he would recognize anywhere from their hunting trips. He goes up to With and says,"We are missing one. It seems Bjorn has wondered off. Also, I am worried about the light coming on at the gate. Do you think we should go investigate and be ready to back up the two who went? I would hate for this to devolve into fighting, but if it does, I intend that we be on the winning side." Tom sees the sun rising near the city towers and looks to With to gauge his reaction. Spoiler: IOC Hide If Among wants to be nearby and overhear the conversation, that is fine. But Tom isn't trying to raise the alarm, so he leaves the two roughhouses to their sparing. With turns from keeping an eye on the tents near the wall to Tom." Bjorn..." He quickly glances around at all the companions still around"I don't recall seeing him for a while. Where could he have run off to?" He then turns to the light at the gate." He can take care of himself. We should probably check on those two, before they get themselves and then the rest of us killed." Aith gives Tom a head nod in the direction of the light, then slowly begins to creep forward, giving a quick glacé behind him to make sure Tom was following. Tom follows With, with his bow low but ready. He will move as quietly as possible, keeping his distance from the ANH and Plinth, but close enough to lend assistance should it be needed. Spoiler: rolls Hide move silently:(1d20+3)[9] hide: (1d20+5)[10] Spot trouble: (1d20+7)[22] Among sleeps quietly in the sled, occasionally rolling over but overall obliviously to the world outside. Spoiler: With and Tom Hide You creep up, unnoticed by the guards currently focused on ANH and Plinth. You are just barely in hearing range of the tower, but can make out that the guard is asking Ann's and Plinth's business in Quartz. Spoiler: Among, Donor, camp; Krikksakkor Hide As you rough-house or sleep, you fail to notice With and Tom sneak off. You also fail to notice a group of people sneaking up on your position, until. "There are the Mutants!" Donor and Krikksakkor recognize the voice before you are able to locate it. It's Bjorn, though you don't know who he's talking too. As you look around confused, four men materialize behind you with swords pointed at you. Another two have materialized outside the tent, pointing at the sleeping Among. Ten more men materialize in a 30ft circle around the group, wielding crossbows pointed at you each. There arrows glow a faint red, as if they are smoldering. Finally, a large man materializes beside Bjorn. The man stands shorter than Donor or Among, but is very tall for a human. He is also quite muscular, and wields a glowing Executioner's Mace. "Bring the sleeping one out" the man commands in a strong voice... The three of you stand before the man and Bjorn. The man doesn't appear to be afraid of the three creatures in front of him; his expression is almost business-like. "Where are the other two?" The man asks Bjorn. You assume one is ANH, the groups other mutant. "I don't know, although technically, one's a machine, not a mutant." Bjorn replies, worried. "I don't care what he is. I'll tell him he is a mutant, and we get paid regardless." The man replies, never looking a Bjorn. He then takes a step forward, about 20 feet from you position, and address you," You lucky. Normally I'd just kill you, like I did to your families back at the cave." The man seems to be deriving no pleasure from admitting his guilt, but rather merely stating a fact. "However, given you already transported yourselves most of the way to Quartz, I think I'll walk the extra hour and receive the bounty instead. That should buy you about five days as an extension to your lives." He turns around and motions for the troops to walk, the crossbow men still ready to load you full of arrows should you provoke reason; some look like they wouldn't even wait for that. The sword men gesture for you to follow, and you begin marching across the desert towards the walled city. In the distance, you see a glow coming from one of the wall's towers. Almost as if an afterthought, the man begins speaking without turning to face you," I would try to run or fight. Bjorn here has already exposed your weaknesses." ... Spoiler Hide Crossbow men have readied an action to fire on you if you attempt to run, fight, cast a spell, or otherwise act hostile. This means they will act before you, affectingly giving them all a surprise round, before rolling initiative. Among had gotten his wish; he had found the man responsible for killing the majority of his clan, though he had not anticipated these circumstances. Walking at the center of a group of heavily armed men, Among felt like a caged animal. However, he had to keep his head; if he lost his cool, they'd kill him. He searches his mind for something -anything- useful, if not to escape, to at least help those not caught yet too. He had no idea where With or Tom were, and Ann and Plinth had gone to scout out Quartz. As he walks behind the leader, he begins to speak. You know, you've missed the other two. They've already gone ahead to Save Sal. Spoiler: Bluff Hide [roll]1d20-2 Spoiler: Bluff Hide I messed up the last roll Bluff:(1d20-2)[3] We come from another city by the name of Maize my friend as emissaries my friend is just a little cautious due to one city not being too kind to strangers may we come in and rest ? As I am very tired by the long walk. But first I do need to talk to your leader. Spoiler: bluff Hide (1d20+8)[23] When the first man appears, Krikksakkor tenses and gets ready to pounce then there is another and another until they are surrounded. He spins in circles hissing and growling his tail thrashing from side to side beating both the air and ground viscous as he sputters incoherent curse at these men. He keeps waiting for Among and Donor to attack, but they never do. I fire of rage and frustration roars inside his chest and escapes as smoky wisps of violent laced growls there is a constant rumble in his throat as if the sound of boiling water or hissing embers. It is in this state that he walks with the rest of the group. "We come unarmed. We wish no violence." Plinth stands tall with his arms spread,"We come in peace." Counter looks around calmly at the crossbows leveled at him and his friends. He slowly draws a bottle from a pouch on his belt." I hope you don't mind, but if I'm going to die, I'd rather not die sober, eh?" He slowly drinks the contents of the bottle, then slowly lets the empty container fall to the ground, scattering some dust when it lands. He looks around at the crossbowmen and narrows his eyes. Then he looks at their leader and speaks with a growl." If I see any of your men fire a bow, I will personally tear your throat out. Understood? And I can promise you, you won't be able to keep me down long enough to prevent it. I suggest you have your men lower their bows, and perhaps we can settle this like the civilized people we're meant to be." He follows up with an insult that accuses the man of racism in the worst way he could think of. Spoiler: IOC Hide What he drank was battle wine. +4 STR/con -2 AC for 1 minute. Intimidate check: (1d20+7)[22] Spoiler: Ann camp; Plinth Hide Spoiler: Guard's Roll Hide Sense Motive vs DC:: (1d20+5)[21] The guards look at each. They seem to agree that your story checks out. The open the gates, as one shouts down, "You can find Harold tomorrow; he'd be asleep now. Just ask anyone; they can point you to his home. As you walk in you see the city opens up in front of you. There are roofed structures, some with signs, most of which seem to appear to be closed. The only one with its door still open is a building immediately to your right. Its lights shine on its sign, which reads "Garth's Inn". No one appears to be out on the street at this hour, except for a few grubby looking individuals sleeping in doorsteps. Spoiler: Among, Donor, camp; Krikksakkor Hide Spoiler: Man's Roll Hide Sense Motive vs DC 3:(1d20+3)[18] Level Check+Wis+Fear Resistance vs DC 24:(1d20+18)[28] The man stands Stoic as Donor threatens him. After Donor slings his insult, the man replies in a dead pan voice, "Even if I were so inclined, I wouldn't be able to settle this as 'civilized people'. I could, but you an friends are hardly people, and by your demeanor you're hardly civilized. However, I suppose I haven't been paying you the respect you deserve." With this he cast his eyes towards the archers, and then points at Donor and Krikksakkor. One archer lowers his crossbow and waves his hand, bathing all of you (the party and the man's group) in a heavenly light for the briefest second. Another archer then points a finger between the gap of Donor and Krikksakkor, bathing them in a blue light, and a two final archer do the same, but instead bathing them in a green light. This all happens within the space of only a couple seconds; you can tell they've done this before. Spoiler: Required Rolls: Krikksakkor and Donor Hide Will Save vs DC: 18 or you fall asleep (This is an Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting] Spell) Spoiler: Spell craft DC:16 Hide Blue light was a persisted "Sleep" Spell Will Save vs DC: 21 or you are paralyzed (This is an Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting] Spell) Spoiler: Spell craft DC:19 Hide Green light was a persisted "Hold Monster" Spell (If you make both saves, the man orders another one to fire a green bolt at you (same DC). If you make that one, he orders them to walk on anyway. I've assumed you failed at least one save; if you didn't, then Among doesn't have to carry you) "Mr. Among," the man says, "Since you seem to be thus far to be the most 'civilized' of the three, you have been grant the honor of carrying them..." As you proceed towards Quartz, Among reveals that ANH and Plinth are on their way to Sage Sal. To this, he mans response without turning around, "I personally don't have much business there; they like Mutants too much for my taste. However, I do wish you friends the best of luck in their travels." The man makes no effort to hide the fact that he is merely humoring you... You proceed in through the city gates; the guards recognizing the man, whom they refer to as "Bruce". He leads you through the town. Most of the residents appear asleep, except for the one at the taverns. Every street has at least one grubby-looking individual sleeping in a doorstep or alleyway. You walk until you reach a stone building with a sign reading "Prison" on it. The Bruce walks inside, talks brief to an unseen figure, and then motions the posse in... Inside you see an older looking gentleman, sitting at a desk with his feet propped up on its top. He carries a long sword, and a great bow sits on his back. On the opposite side of this one roomed building is a set of bars with two iron doors, separating the room in two. Another set runs down the middle of this divide area, creating to cells. Each cell has only one stone bed. The cell on the right has a window on the same wall as the doorway you came in from. This cell also contains a taller than average human, wearing a red cloak, and an oddly-shaped hat. On his sides rest two strange metal objects, held in leather pouches, and another long metal object rest on his back, much like the sheriff's bow. You can't discern what these objects might be... Bruce explains to the sheriff how he caught you, how Bjorn had helped him by betraying you, and where he found you. He then warns the sheriff that there are two more roaming around, that he hopes to find soon. After listening to Bruce the sheriff rummages around in his desk, then produces three bags. By the sounds they make, you guess they are filled with gold. Bruce sticks around while the sheriff locks you up in the cells; Among dumps Donor and Krikksakkor in the empty cells then is ordered into the cell with the stranger. The sheriff returns to his desk and wishes Bruce goodnight... After Bruce has left, the Sheriff addresses Among from his desk. "Looks like you've got yourself in a bit of trouble, especially with ol' Bruce. You're lucky his men appreciate the town's whores, or he would have killed you. Now, the way we do things is Quartz is that any mutant brought to me has five days to live, and then we burn you in the town square. The five days is an old tradition, started by my grandfather, when he first became sheriff of this town. Back then, a mutant had fives days to convince him that they would leave town forever, and that they were good 'creatures'." He accents creatures with a voice of disdain. "But that not the way I run this town. Here, I'll honor my grandfather's tradition, out of respect for him, not you, but then we kill you anyway. I've seen enough of your kind to know that is good..." Spoiler: With and Tom Hide From your vantage point, you notice the guards let ANH and Plinth in. A few minutes later, you notice a large group of men, circled around three figures. You recognize these figures to be Among, Krikksakkor, and Donor. These men approach the gate, and after a brief discussion with the guards, the enter the city. Spoiler: Bill Hide Your first night awake in your cell is interrupted by a man entering, and declaring he has three mutants outside. The sheriff jokes that these had better be A-grade, and that the last lot screamed too much when being burned. The man replies that he only sells the best, and that the reason they screamed so much last time was that the sheriff didn't have the fire hot enough. After enjoying this joke the sheriff tells him to bring them in. In enters three mutants, followed by many crossbow-wielding archers. The largest mutant, a tanned, bald, four-armed beast is carrying two others. One is a mutant similar looking to the four-armed, but smaller. The other is a gangly mutant with horns that look like he's step out a nightmare. The man explains that he caught these three when their "friend", a short fellow that he points to, betrayed them. The sheriff pays the man with three bags of gold, then locks the unconscious mutants in the cell opposite of you. He then locks the four-armed one up with you. As Tom watches, he sees that Plinth and ANH get let into the city. He turns to With and says"Well that is good, it looks like our plan might succeed after all. Perhaps we should get back to camp and make sure those restless hooligans don't alert the whole area to our presence." He says hooligans in a half-joking tone that lets With know it is mostly a term of endearment, though he doesn't exactly approve of their rough-housing ways. As he finishes speaking and goes to stand up, he sees another group approaching the gates. It is too large and the hour too early to just be some random party, so Tom watches and sees 3 huge creatures in the middle of a bunch of crossbowmen. He almost immediately recognizes them and says to With,"DO*m, those cretins did get themselves caught. We shouldn't have left them alone. But that is too large a force to have just randomly come across them. What do you think the odds of us being able to sneak in as some archers that were left to search the area our clansmen were caught in would be? We have to get in and warn Plinth and An has well as rescue Among, Donor, camp; Krikksakkor." Tom looks at With expectantly, hoping he has a better plan or some idea on how to get in. "It appears that ANH and Plinth were let in, and not under guard. We might not need to sneak in. We can try getting in normally, and if they won't let us, then sneaking in elsewhere. Once in, we can warn the first two and figure out what happened to the others." Thanks for letting me in. I walk into Grubby's inn and go to the person who seems to be running the joint. I says would like a drink what do you recommend? And a room for me and my friend here. For the time being, Plinth is content to stick close to ANH. He does, however, keep continuously looking around for anything of note. When Counter finally wakes up, he isn't happy. After cursing a bit, he examines his surroundings and notices the man in the cell across from him with his brother. Hello there. You seem to be in a similar pile of crap as us. Humph. Enchantments. Cowards. Any idea what they're going to try to do to us? And what did they do with our stuff? I was going to give myself another tattoo. His bare chest is indeed covered with tattoos. His hair is long, black and braided. The main thing that gives him away as a mutant is his eyes - black whites and white irises. He tests the bars' strength and tries to pull them apart, but gives up when he realizes that he wouldn't fit between any two bent bars. He then inspects the hinges on the door, and tries to shake it loose, but is disappointed. Furthermore, he then steps back, narrows his eyes, and charges forward, ramming his shoulder into the door with a loud crash. Spoiler: IOC Hide He's trying to break down the door. The DC for an iron door is 28, but no guarantees. (1d20+10)[14] I would take 20, but chances are someone's going to hear that. But not before he tries a second time. (1d20+10)[21] Toro remains seated on the stone bed as the large four-armed mutant enters his cell. He gives a brief nod to acknowledges the. He watches as the slightly smaller mutant rams his shoulder into the door. You're strong, but I figure that pursuit of yours seems pointless. I've got an idea to break us out, but we'll have to wait for tomorrow night. Not enough time left now... He looks out the window at the soon-to-be rising sun. How you all get caught?he poses to the group. Counter snarls. We were living nice and peacefully in a cave, until the same guys who just caught us raided our home and killed our friends. We came this way in hopes of finding somewhere friendly - our cave has been isolated for around a century. A few of our guys go off to scout, and we get ambushed by cowardly crossbows and magic. And when I say a few guys, I mean more than you see here. If you've got a plan to spring us, they might be able to assist. I'm Counter, by the way, the beast is... I forget his name. Furthermore, I just call him 'beast'. And the fellow beside you is Among, my brother. We're all good fighters in melee, and I'm particularly good at taking blows. Some cowardly enchantments against a group of fighters? Brief. Cowardly. We have some friends, some human, some... not. As you can see, they aren't here. He leans over and shakes awake the black-skinned beast. Waky, way, rise and shine. We're trapped in jail and scheduled for execution in five days. They say they're going to burn us. He. I don't burn very well. He scowls in the direction of the door....cowards. So, what's your name? Any handy talents? Oh, Among over there uses four light maces, the beast uses his teeth, claws, horns and more, and I use my body. We encountered a big, two-headed, animated skeleton on our way here. I was going to give myself a tattoo of it's now broken jawbone. He looks back towards the door and keeps grumbling, insulting the bounty hunter and his men....well, the good news is, if we get hungry, I regenerate. It seems that he's done talking, until he suddenly perks up again. Oh! I forgot to mention. I literally dragged most of our group here. Furthermore, I never tire. Originally Posted by Delta "It appears that ANH and Plinth were let in, and not under guard. We might not need to sneak in. We can try getting in normally, and if they won't let us, then sneaking in elsewhere. Once in, we can warn the first two and figure out what happened to the others." Tom listens to With and looks a little embarrassed." Of course the direct route is always easiest and usually best. I get so caught up in trying to be clever, I sometimes forget to be smart. We need to make sure our stories are consistent. I don't want them to get suspicious that two groups of strangers show up at the same time that a group of mutants gets caught. Should we tell them that we are with ANH and Plinth, or not?" Krikksakkor is shaken awake. He looks around the cell that they are in and begins growling, he sees Counter and Among but no one else. There is someone in a cell with Among. He looks around their cell at the windows for any sign of escape. He beats his horns against the door several times and strikes the walls with his claws and armored fists. And begins pacing in the cell. As he listens to this red clothed human speak. "There are issues with both sides. You're right; if we tell them we weren't with ANH and Plinth they might get suspicious that two groups show up so closely. However, if we tell them we are together, we don't know what the two of them told the guards. Our stories might not match." Aith turns and spends a few seconds watching the walls." My idea would be to walk up, and ask the guard if they've seen a man with a forged creature. We tell them we were traveling together, but got split up. Try to keep as truthful as possible. Say we got separated when a giant skeleton attacked us, and we all had planned to meet here. However, it is probably not wise to say where we all came from, as to not contradict any stories they said. Maybe we say we met the two of them at a cave, a few weeks back..." Originally Posted by Delta "There are issues with both sides. You're right; if we tell them we weren't with ANH and Plinth they might get suspicious that two groups show up so closely. However, if we tell them we are together, we don't know what the two of them told the guards. Our stories might not match." With turns and spends a few seconds watching the walls. "My idea would be to walk up, and ask the guard if they've seen a man with a forged creature. We tell them we were traveling together, but got split up. Try to keep as truthful as possible. Say we got separated when a giant skeleton attacked us, and we all had planned to meet here. However, it is probably not wise to say where we all came from, as to not contradict any stories they said. Maybe we say we met the two of them at a cave, a few weeks back..." Tom considers With's proposal and says"I like the plan, but maybe we shouldn't mention that Plinth is a forged creature. They don't seem to take too kindly to non-humans here. We'll just say we were travelling with two men and were supposed to meet here. I like that we met them a few days ago, so we don't have to have too consistent of stories. Hopefully we won't create any trouble." With a plan in mind, Tom makes ready to wear his bow over his shoulder in a show of non-combativeness, but readiness. He plans to walk up to the gate with With, not trying to hide or act cagey.EDIT: As Tom approaches the gate and the guard calls out to state his business, Tom responds"We were ambushed by some skeleton in the dessert and got separated from our traveling companions. The plan was to meet here. Two men haven't passed by this way recently, by chance, have they? We are exhausted and thirsty from traveling the desert and would appreciate you allowing us to slack our thirst before the day gets much hotter." Tom tried to throw in a little desperate plea at the end, so the guards would have compassion on them. With all the dust of the desert stuck to his clothes, Tom figures they should look the part of weary desert travelers pretty well. ANH realized something then the world around him was paused with him in it. He tried to move but the air itself felt like it was holding him in there. He felt terrified about that, and He tried to scream, but his body wouldn't let him. Furthermore, he was in even greater terror then. But what could be done about it? The answer was nothing and he knew it. He tried to think calmly about the situation, but he couldn't come up with any suitable answer for his current predicament so He just waited in terror to see if time might resume on its own Hmm? Ugh, time stopped. Let me kick the ground and see if I can start it up again. Anyway, what's this plan of yours? I'd be interested to hear it. Dounjur gives the ground an angled airborne kick to get it moving. Time begins to flow again. Hopefully, it'll keep flowing. Anyway, since nobody seems to care what he's doing, Counter slams the door a few more times. Spoiler: rolls Hide (1d20+10)[13] (1d20+10)[12] (1d20+10)[14] DC 28(presumably) I'm taking the liberty of taking the lack of response as an indication that nobody comes to investigate the noise. What in the Nine Hell's!?! A 2, a 3 and a 4!!! What the flibbertigibbet is this??? Spoiler: Tom and With Hide The guards look at each other. They face many people coming in and out each day, but rarely are their strangers. They assume the men before them are talking about the most recent arrivals, and shout down "Yes, two men have recently passed through here, apparently on business with Harold. He's not available right now, but there are facilities inside that can quench your thirst." With that, they open the gates and allow you to enter. As you walk in you see the city opens up in front of you. There are roofed structures, some with signs, most of which seem to appear to be closed. The only one with its door still open is a building immediately to your right. Its lights shine on its sign, which reads "Garth's Inn". No one appears to be out on the street at this hour, except for a few grubby looking individuals sleeping in doorsteps. Spoiler: Krikksakkor, Among, Donor, Bill Hide Repeated attempts to bash down the jail-door seems to go unnoticed by both the outside world and the door itself. Mere minutes after Donor stops banging the sheriff walks in, and plops himself down in the chair behind the desk. He doesn't give you a glance as he pulls a flask out of his desk and takes a swig. He looks tired as he downs a swallow, and sluggishly rest his feet on the desktop. Furthermore, he slouches back into the chair and nods off to sleep, the flask resting open on the desk. Through Among's and Bill's cell window, the first light of day can be seen creeping over the city wall. Spoiler: Ann and Plinth Hide "Hello weary travelers. My name' Garth!" The man speaks to first to the man he addressed him. However, the attention quickly turns to Plinth. "A war forge... not to many of you show up in Quartz. However, your always welcome here at Garth's. I was once saved by a war forge." He voices changes from one of excitement and admiration to one more distant, as if he was speaking to the whole room. "Stranded in the middle of a marsh east of here, I was beset by a gang of mutants, horrid creatures they are, and was surely a dead man. I ran, but I knew not the marshlands like they did, and they quickly cornered me. However, as they closed, a mysterious war forge appeared behind them, making quick work of my would-be killers. He then led me out of the marsh, pointing me in the direction of Quartz. Never did get his name..." His voice trails off as he stares wistfully through you. After a brief moment, he snaps back to reality. "It would be my honor to keep you and your friend here, free of charge, for as long as you wish!" He extends his hand towards Plinth, waiting for him to shake it. Bill remains seated on the bed, at some point moving over so that the large mutant sharing his cell could attempt to sit on the leftover room if he wanted. He looks to the mutant awhile attempt to knock down the door, then at the sheriff, just to make sure he was sound asleep. He draws Hammer, whipping it around his finger casually. Tonight, after the sheriff leaves, I'm going to shoot the lock out. If the townsfolk didn't hear you all banging, they ain't going to hear Hammer. He returns Hammer to his holster. Chances are the mutants didn't know what it was, just like everyone else here hadn't, but he didn't care. Name's Bill Wolf shack. Plinth takes the barkeep's hand and shakes it." Garth. I'm sorry to say that I do not know the war forge you speak of. If ever I find such an individual I will tell it of the man whose life it saved and how that man has paid forward that debt with kindness and compassion. I thank you for your hospitality and good will. We will do our best to keep peace within these walls." Plinth lets Garth's hand go." I have a concern, Garth. Mistakes can be made when a man judges another based solely on his race. One might favor an individual because he is of a race and later discover him to be a villain. Or one might deny the man of a hated race never to know that the man denied possessed the very service, item or ability that was needed or desired. Please be careful of such prejudices, Garth." I will gladly take the room that you give so generously He happily gets the room number key and goes to the bedroom, lies on the bed and waits for plinth to arrive. Tom thanks the guards as they are let through, and, after entering, surveys the town. He sees that most of the town is still asleep in the early morning, but turning slightly, he sees that Garth's Inn is open next to the entrance. He points out the inn to With and says,"Most likely those two went in there. I doubt they are still in the common room, but let's go check it out and see if we can catch them. Maybe Garth remembers their room number." Tom then strides over to Garth's Inn and starts inquiring after their two traveling companions. He uses the same story about getting attacked in the dessert and getting separated. He asks if Garth (or whoever is behind the bar) knows where the two men are or how to get in contact with them. Tom knows it is risky, but he gives his real name if a message must be relayed so that ANH and Plinth know to play along with the concocted story. Spoiler: IOC Hide I doubt that a tavern keeper would go handing out patron's room numbers to 'strangers' with just a story about being separated. Tom is fine with just relaying a message, if Garth is willing to go knock on their door and verify that they are all traveling companions. If it helps at all, here is a diplomacy roll for being friendly: (1d20+3)[10] The sound of Krikksakkor's tail rhythmically beating against the walls of the narrow chamber can be heard along with a persistent low guttural growl. Occasionally he also bangs his horns against the walls. If the black skinned beast understands anything this foreigner said he makes no indications and continues to growl and thrash his tail and horns about in agitation. He swats at the air with his claws as if fending off some invisible foes only he can see. Spoiler: IOC Hide Allocate my insight bonuses to AC and Initiative. Hammer? I don't see you knocking anything around with that little thing. Must not be what it seems. Device? Magic item? Artifact? From the terminology "shoot", I'll assume it's a ranged weapon. If those outside are unlikely to hear anyway, could you perhaps shoot the sheriff if he does not leave? Given two uninterrupted minutes I'm sure I can remove the door, as well as yours with another two minutes. Dounjur glances at the dozing sheriff. Hmph. If there wasn't a door in the way, or if he were completely deaf, I would go and break his neck right now. You know, it's a lot harder to break a neck than most people think. The method in which you twist the head until it cracks pits you directly against every muscle in their neck, plus any other part of them they may be using to stop you. The easiest way is called the Hangman's fracture. Pull the chin-up sharply enough, and part of their own neck will sever the spine. Also, hard to do, but I'm strong enough. I also know some nonlethal ways to put someone out of a fight. Grab their jaw, get a finger hooked behind the jawbone and squeeze. That can drop someone like a sack of potatoes. But when you want to be intimidating? I grab my opponent's wrist and simply crush it. That'll put the fight out of anyone and his brother. Among joins Bill on the bed, but finding it too squished moves to the floor. After his brother's passionate description of neck-breaking techniques, he begins to speak to the man. I'm Among, this is Donor, and this KirkksakkorHe motions towards his brother and Risk respectively. I agree that we should probably wait until nightfall. Chances are, the townsfolk won't be thrilled with us walking throughout Quartz in broad daylight. Why we wait, why don't you enlighten us on how you became imprisoned. He was still unsure to the purpose of Bill's hammer, but he was sure to find it soon enough. Spoiler: Plinth and AHN Hide "Of course Mr. ..." Garth replies quickly, waiting for your introductions. After you've exchanged names, Garth leads you to your room, a room with two single beds with small chest at their feet. A small table lies between the two beds, with a window above it. Moonlight shines through the window, as Garth wishes you a restful night. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask!" he exclaims. As soon as he says it, he slightly winces as he looks at Plinth, and is quick to leave and shut the door behind him. Spoiler: Tom and With Hide As you enter, you see small man behind the counter. As you approach, he introduces himself as Garth, the inn's owner. He listens to your request, thinking as if trying to remember something. When it doesn't' seem to come, he responds, "Sorry, but we have many travelers stay at this inn, and many came in pairs, so I can't pin any specific one to you. However, who about you spend the rest of your night here, that way if your friends are here, you may run into them in the morning." He then informs you that it will be 5sp pieces each to rent a room with two beds for the night. I sit on a bed and look at plinth with an easygoing expression and say in but a whisper Plinth bro of steel we need to come up with an adequate story to tell the leader of this place and details about the town. Any suggestions?as my disguise parts away Cool! We made it into the room just in time. Also we don't know anything except that the bartender didn't like the last thing you said. So, we should probably incorporate that info into the story maybe we were in a town, and we were assaulted by a mutant gang. Yes I know, but I can easily just disguise myself, and it is the easiest way to determine if they are racist or not. Plinth looks as thoughtful as a mitral face can look." Sadly, I am not proficient in subterfuge. Perhaps if I were to take a walk and think about it. Call it both contemplative and observational. You are welcome to get some rest, I can wake you when I return." Spoiler: IOC Hide Plinth is very obviously waiting for the go-ahead before departing the room. With an easygoing expression Sure bro go ahead I have only recently woken up. The only reason why I wanted a room was so we could talk privately. I'll be thinking how I want the story and the details to go I'll fill you in on the details so we can be on the same page bro. He then promptly walks around the room to think. Dour glares at the dozing sheriff. He would try to break out again, but the sheriff would have to sleep like a ton of bricks to not wake. When I catch that 'bounty hunter', I'm going to snap his neck so hard his mother will feel it. But first, I'm going to dislocate every joint I can, break as many bones as I can, and tear out as much as I can without killing him. And I'll have Beast help. I'll take his vile tongue, tear it out, and feed it to the beast. When he's dead, I'll rip his heart out and roast it, then we'll eat it. I'll hold open his eyes and fill them with sand. When I'm done with him, he'll have bones he's never had before, and they won't be his. Then I'll hire someone to turn him into an undead, just so I can kill him again. You know what? I won't break his neck. I'll just tear his heart out, and I'll have someone heal him enough to keep him alive. Then, I'll force-feed him his own heart. Then I'll let him bleed out on the hot barren sands. Serves him right. With digs out the money from his pockets. He nods to Tom to signal him to step aside." We're both tired after the long trek, but it would be wise to take turns sleeping. While one of us sleeps, the other stays in the inn keeping an eye out for the others. I can take the first watch if you are dreary" Tom looks abashed that With got to his wallet before he could, but nods at With." I am not overly tired, but no point in both of us staying awake. Furthermore, I'll take first rest and will come relieve you in a few hours." Tom then turns to Garth and says"It seems we will only need room for one right now, but we will be sure to give you plenty of business." Tom makes sure With knows which room he is in, in case he finds the others and needs to come get him, then retires for what remains of the night to make sure that he can recharge his spells and be ready for anything. Spoiler: IOC Hide I don't know how much money With has, but Tom has 10 GP, if we need it for anything while we are here. Tom will spend an hour meditating and choose new spells, more appropriate for espionage and city living and then rest for a few hours. Without a further word, Plinth steps out of the room and walks down to the primary social center of the tavern. It walks in just as With sits down to get comfortable." Greetings, With. You look well." At the sound of his name, With jumps in mild surprise." Oh. It's you. Well that was easy. I assume An his not too far? Tom and I were looking for the two of you. We saw you catch the attention of the guards, and were unsure of your situation." "AHN is quite well. He is resting in a room upstairs." Plinth looks around the tavern,"How are the others? Still waiting outside?"

Wasteland_ Into the Dead|rating:3.0